Advice on the best antidepressants for anxiety, low mood and OCD?
Question posted by Vicjones106 on 20 Jan 2022
Last updated on 19 March 2022
Hello I’m looking for some help! I was on citalopram for the best part of 10 years and it worked amazing for my ocd and anxiety, silly me stopped taking them as I thought I could cope and BOOM anxiety and intrusive thoughts came back with vengeance! I have been ruminating and a lot and I am constantly within my own head and I cannot think normally it’s driving me mad!! I’ve been on Prozac now for over 2 months. To begin with I noticed slight improvements in my intrusive thoughts being less scary and being able to manage them , and I also had small moments of clarity which was nice as I hadn’t felt them in such a long time! However the last 1-2 weeks I have noticed my mood is very low I’m starting to have panic attacks again and I just feel completely hopeless like this is never going to go!
Can I please have some advice! What medication work as well as citalopram did for me and is there any other things I can do?
I’ve tried yoga, mindfulness, reading, counseling and I’m stuck!
Why weren't you put back on Celexa? If it worked for you before, it should work for you now. Prozac didn't do much for me, other than cause further anxiety. Celexa helped my OCD for 23 years.
Votes: +0
VI
Vicjones106
19 March 2022
The citalopram stopped working towards the end , that’s when my anxiety came back. I’m going to go back to the doctors again as I don’t feel the Prozac works well for me. Thank you for your response
WI
WildcatVet
20 Jan 2022
Hi, Vic! Have you talked to your doctor about your new lack of improvement on Prozac? You didn't mention the dosage you're taking but I wonder if it's in the therapeutic range for you. Everyone responds differently and the usual recommended maintenance dose can range from 20-80mg/day. Another question... why not re-institute therapy with citalopram if it worked well before? Sorry for the questions... just wondering about the possibilities. PS, Don't feel bad about stopping your citalopram. You never know if you're able to cope without it until you do try. Many people require medication for life. Best regards, Wildcat
Votes: +0
VI
Vicjones106
20 Jan 2022
Hello wild cat thank you for your response. I’m going to call my doctor again tomorrow but I feel like I’m being a burden. I am currently on 40mg , I feel like the beginning I felt some benefits and I was able to feel moments of clarity but now I feel very low and can’t get out of my own head again. I have also developed a tremor in my hands and face/speech. I have noticed the doctors of this and there looking to send me for neurological testing , but I feel it’s the Prozac making increasing these tremors as I never had them on citalopram!
Can you take 2 antidepressants together? Citalopram worked wonders for me for so long but towards the end I felt like it started to stop working and my anxiety came back and I tried to manage it without medication but I couldn’t. Sorry for the questions also , I’m just looking for any support and help possible. Thank you again.
WI
WildcatVet
20 Jan 2022
Your citalopram "pooped out" on you. That is what we call it when a medication like citalopram becomes ineffective with long term use and it's not uncommon. I took Lexapro for 7 years and Effexor for 10 and they both eventually stopped working. There is also something called the "roller coaster" effect where you start feeling better on your medication but then your symptoms start to return. That's why I wondered about a dosage increase. Let us know what your doctor has to say and remember as a patient you have the right to consult with your doctor. This is really especially important during this initial period until you become stabilized on the Prozac. "The antidepressants most widely prescribed for anxiety are Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Lexapro, and Celexa." The best one is the one that works best for you. WC
CA
Catholicmom
20 Jan 2022
Medication seems to work differently for every person. What helps one might not help someone else.
I was on lexapro a few years ago and had every side effect going during the first few weeks. I thought I would never get better. But eventually it clicked, around the four month mark, and life got much better for me. I stayed on it for quite a few years then successfully weaned off and stayed off for three years.
When bad anxiety crept back in to my life I spoke to my doctor and she suggested sertraline. I am only on week five but I noticed an improvement three weeks in. I have thankfully had far less side effects than I experienced on lexapro.
My niece, on the other hand, had a hard time on Zoloft and switched to lexapro which worked beautifully for her. We are all different!
Is there any reason you didn’t go back on citalopram? Obviously discuss how you are feeling with your doctor. It may be just a case of taking more time like it was for me on lexapro. In the meantime I highly recommend a great book on anxiety that is available on Audible so easy to listen to. It’s the DARE approach and is very helpful. I’m using it along side the medication to calm my anxiety!
I wish you the best of luck and hope things turn around for you soon.
Votes: +3
MA
Marla82
20 Jan 2022
What dose of Lexapro helped you when you were taking it?
VI
Vicjones106
20 Jan 2022
Thank you so much for your response. I stopped taking citalopram because I stopped feeling the benefits and thought I could finally do it on my own without medication, however I was wrong and I just spiraled down hill which I haven’t don’t for the best part of 10 years. I may consider Lexapro and Prozac is not helping I’m on 40mg but I have also developed tremors in my hands from it, I have to go and have test to rule out any neurological problems but I’m pretty sure it’s the Prozac!
