u/No-Court9011

Hi. I've been on citalopram for 8 years and I'm February had some depression creep back in. Doc tried to get me to increase to 30 and after 3 days started having panic attacks. Something I've struggled with. Went back to 20 for 3 months and can't shake the anxiety. I'm extremely sensitive to med changes so now she has me increasing 5mg for 10 days then going up another 5 mg after that for a total of 30mg. She also put me on .25 klonopin twice a day to keep the side effects down. She says I'll taper off that in about a month.. I'm scared to death of the klonopin but don't think I can handle without it. Anyone have success upping to 30mg from 20 and not getting stuck on klonopin? I pray this works I'm so defeated

Hi, I've suffered with bouts of generalized anxiety and panic for years but then have had even longer years of remission. In 2018 I needed to switch meds after 11 years on cymbalta. A psychiatrist basically tried to switch me to Zoloft after an extremely short cross taper. Needless to say it was horrible and basically ended up stopping both. I then went through months of her trying different things mirtzipan, Lexapro, gabapentin. I could not get past the start up effects because I think my nervous system was such a wreck. I then switched to a integrative psychiatrist months later. She had me start a low dose klonopin.25 twice a day and SLOWLY got me on citalopram. I started off on 2.5 mg until I eventually ended up on 20mg. Tapered off the Klonopin..I was on it for 3 months, never increased the dose but took it at the consistent dose every day until I went off of it. I don't remember any withdrawals but was terrified the whole time I was on it. Anyway fast forward 8: years... Something set off my panic and anxiety again. Maybe my body is used to this dose. I've been trying to just find my way through the the last 4 months. It's better but not. I'm tired of feeling this way. Same doc suggested going up to 30mg citalopram. After 3 days major anxiety and freaked out went back to 20mg. I don't know if it's my trauma from years ago or really that much anxiety. Anyway doctor wants me to do what we did before. Use a bridge of klonopin same low dose while I work my way up to 30mg. Then slowly taper off the klonopin after probably 2 months. It worked before but alas I'm terrified. Anyone else have a similar experience. Does the evidence point to this being successful? My psychiatrist says I'll be just fine. Please don't scare me..

Hi. I've dealt with anxiety for 30 years now, but when I've had an episode I've been able to adjust meds and it was always resolved. Well back at the beginning of March, I started feeling a bit depressed due to some life stuff and a bit anxious. I've been on 20mg of citalopram for the past 8 years and have had no real anxiety again until March. My psychiatrist tried to bump up my dose to 30mg and I had some panic attacks. Something I haven't had for years. She had me return to the 20mg and added Wellbutrin. My anxiety went through the roof. I could only tolerate it for a week and stopped due to daily panic attacks, insomnia and nausea. I'm now just on the citalopram and terrified to try another med. The full blown panic attacks are gone but I'm still struggling with all day anxiety. I've been exercising, no caffeine, no alcohol, strict bedtime schedule, yoga a few times a week and I'm still having the all day anxiety. I've read the Claire weeks book, the DARE book and am seeing a counselor once a week. I've never tried to overcome this without a med adjustment and I can't handle another failed trial right now. Is my nervous system still hyperstimulated and that's why I'm still struggling? Please tell me it will eventually stop and I'll be able to relax someday again. I have an emergency supply of Klonopin, but I haven't been taking it because I've read is best to try and accept the anxiety. And it makes me tired and I have to work. This is hard.