I take Anti-depressants.?

Question

the 20mg ones were not doing any good, so I asked my doctor if I could be put on 30mg. He said "no, we're trying to lower your dosage rather than increase it!"
I used to see a councellor every week, but they took me off that because I missed to many appointments, so I don't get counselling anymore.
Help...
I really think I should be on a larger dose.
Was it right of my doctor to refuse me this doesage. I feel as if he wasn't listening to me when I explained my sympyoms.
I feel angry.
Sorry.

I need a higher dose because currently I have started to have panic attacks. These are really scary, and my blood pressure and heart rate go all over the place. last time it happend I got sent to hospital. I don't like them.

the anti depressents are called citalapram, i think.

Answer 1

You are entitled to see a different doctor if you want to - just ask at reception for an appointment with someone else.

There may be many reasons why your doctor doesn't want to increase the dose, you could ask him why. My doctor only increases my dose very, very slowly as I've reacted badly to increases before.

You need to ask for counselling again - if you explain why you missed the appointments and explain how you will stick to them this time they will refer you again.

Try writing down what you want to say at your appointment, as it is easy to get confused or upset and not say things clearly.

Hope this helps. If you are feeling angry, try distracting yourself - have a bath, watch a move or go for a walk.

EDIT - the tablets are likely to be Citalopram. Your doctor is right to be careful about increasing the dose as in a SMALL number of patients, citalopram can trigger increased anxiety and suicidal/self-harming thoughts. I was one of the people affected this way. Panic attacks are awful I know, but they will not hurt you - it can feel like a real heart attack, but keep telling yourself that it is 'imaginary' pain. I deal with my panic attacks by ignoring them - medication is an option, but you need to discuss this further with your doctor. Please see him again and talk things through. You can take a family member or close friend with you for support if you think it would help.

Answer 2

It's really hard to answer this question, especially without knowing what antidepressant you're taking. Sometimes, antidepressants alone really don't address the issue. Why did you miss your counseling appointments? I deal with depression too, so please understand that I'm not criticizing you when I say that just taking a pill isn't always the answer. We have to want to control this disease. If your doctor wanted you to go to counseling, and you didn't go, it doesn't surprise me that he wouldn't increase your dosage. It's perfectly natural that you feel he wasn't listening to you. Maybe he feels you don't listen to him when he tries to help since you didn't follow up on counseling. Is that possible? Please think about it?

Has your doctor's treatment been good otherwise? If so, talk to him again. If not, consider a second opinion from another doctor.

Good luck. This won't be easy, but you can do it. :-)

Answer 3

Hello Pete, I understand your anger. That is all part & parcel with depression, isnt it. I think that the Doctor is probably right, but maybe didnt really understand what you were saying. Due to that, he didnt explain why he couldnt increase medication properly. Its a shame you missed so many appointments with the counsellor,and dont get it anymore, as they might have been able to help explain with you, or for you, to the Doctor. Also, had you still had the counsellor to talk to, you might not be feeling in need of a stronger doseage. It may help talking to the Doctor again, and try & stay calm then he might understand your needs. Or see if another Doctor if you think this one isnt understanding. Hang in there and take care. Megan

Answer 4

Hi there, I started off on a 20mg dose of Citalopram over 8 months ago but after some weeks it became apparent that I didn’t feel they where working for me so after doing some research and talking to friends in the USA I upped the dose to 40mg a day and have been on that ever since. My GP didn’t know till I visited and told him and he was not too bother by it as I had researched it and slightly improved on the higher dose.

However now I am really back where I once was, up and down all the time and so I am about to see my GP tomorrow to look into changing my AD again.

I had an old neighbour that was on a 30mg dose of Citalopram, it’s being prescribed to you to help you overcome your problems if your GP won’t consider changing your dose then it’s time to change GP’s!

Answer 5

It is true that you want to be on the lowest dose possible but it takes about 6 weeks for antidepressants to have a full effect. If you haven't been on them this long, wait and see what happens. If they're still not working, tell your doctor and see if he can either increase your dose or switch to a different medication. If you feel that your doctor is not listening to your concerns, try visiting a different doctor. I understand how frustrating it is to try to get on a proper regiment. Until you find what works, make sure you have a strong support system (family, friends) that can help you through your low times. Good luck.

Answer 6

You didn't explain in your post why you feel you need an increased dosage so it is hard to say if the doc is right or wrong. Also if you missed your appointments so often with your couselor it tends to show the doc that you were not really serious about wanting to get help. Post more details about WHY you think you need your dose increased and maybe someone can offer some advice.

Answer 7

i had the same trouble with my doctors a litle while ago but the ones i was on wasnt working. they kept saying give it 4-6 weeks, 6-8 weeks 8-10 weeks. in the end i took myself of them, i wouldnt recomend doing that tho, it took me 4 different doctor to find one i felt listerned to me and who i liked, so try a different doctor and another and another untill you find one i know its hard trying to get help when fighting depression. but its worth it unless you want to slip back to what you felt like in the beginning. and ask about counselling again. even if you have a link worker which you can just call up when you need one instead of appoinments. as it is the thing that really helps in the long run

also i like the state that new anti depressent arent as addictive as old ones. also depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain so tacking anti depressent increase the chemical to make you feel normal, just like any other illness, if you were low on something your body needed you would take something to bring it up to a certin level, depression is no different. so forget people who say dont take them there addictive.

anxity is a different thing. it took me a good year to get over it and i still have it a little. tabelets can not fix anxiety, only counselling and self help can. with me i found it easily once i found out what heppens during an anxiety attack so you know your not going to faint, or stop breathing or have a heart attack. if you feel an attack come on the first thing to do is breath out wards because you feel like you cant breath, you are tacking in to much oxygen sp breath out. ask your doctor about self help booklets. once you relkise whats going on you dont feel so mad, i didnt anyway

Answer 8

What kind are they ? Yeah man, 20 mgs is the starting dose, so dont panic,60 is quite usual,I feel your prob maybe more "in the head",actually a good drug, same as cypramil, perhaps trying to get back to your councellor again might not be a bad Idea, your dose is not high at all, maybe a second opinion perhaps? good luck,

Answer 9

I totally agree with invigoration69's answer!!! This is a chemical imbalance - and the meds just help balance this up!
You just may be taking the wrong tablet - try another one maybe? Also the anxiety and depression are two different things but they can accompany one another. When you get the right med for you, you will find the anxiety lifting gradually as your anti depressant starts to work!

I hope you get the help you need - dont be afraid to question your doctor and suggest another type of medication. Our bodies are all different, and what works for one, may not work for another - its trial and error until you get what is right for YOUR BODY!

Good luck, and most of all, good mental health!

Answer 10

You may not need a higher dose, you may need a different kind of medication either instead or as well as the current ones. many antidepressants do NOT treat panic attacks, and you should write down a list of your symptoms so that you can show your dr and be clear about it.
Oh and ask to be referred for cognitive Behavioural Therapy. which teaches us positive behaviours and unpicks negative ones in a practical and real life type way - this might suit you more as you will SEE the results.