Got home form doc with meds. now unsure what to do.

[pietpompies84]

Hi everyone,

just went to the doc today to talk about my situation. My blood pressure is very high today 160/100 but am very jittery today. He put me on some Meds.
This is my first time talking anything still quite unsure? He said i must take quarter tablet of citalopram(20mg=1 tablet) for 1 week every morning and then the second week half a tablet in the mornings and after that take a full tablet every morning. He will test my Bloop pressure after took week to see if it has come down. Not sure if i should take it very scared of some of the side affects and withdrawals?


Any advice please.

[lawandorder]

Hi,
I have been on Pristiq, which is similar to the one you were prescribed with. Everyone has different responses to these meds, so it's hard to say what side effects you will have and for how long. It also hard to say how effective they will be.
Taking these meds is mostly a trial and error, some drugs work for some people and not others.
I used medication as a last resort, I did not take it until I really felt like I needed to. I have been on them for 3 months, and have no intention of stop taking these at all for a while. I feel a lot better.
So it depends, maybe you can get better with out them. I was also very fearful of the side effects, especially the sexual ones. When i started taking them, I had slight insomnia. That has stopped. It takes me an extra few minutes to orgasm, but that's pretty much the only side effect i have. Everything else is good..
In terms of withdrawal, again everyone is different. My mum takes anti-depressants for 6 months once every 5 years roughly. She takes them for 6 months, and then stops cold turkey, against the doctors advice. She is fine every time.. but I have read some people struggle with the withdrawals.
If your anxiety/depression is bad, and getting worse, and you feel all other avenues have been taking, then dont be scared to take the medication.
good luck! :)

[Robbed]

Part of the reason why medications are so scary is that side effects and withdrawal are NOT figments of the imagination. They are actually quite common. Also, relief (when it happens) is often not complete. Basically, medications are quite a dicey affair. Also, even when they work their best, they will NEVER cure you. Because of these things, before you consider meds, you really need to consider whether you have exhausted all other means of dealing with your anxiety disorder. If you have not tried CBT, lifestyle changes, etc, then these should be the FIRST things that you should try. Only when everything else has failed should medication be considered.

[forwells]

Howdy

As someone that would never ever take these drugs i would bin them as i have done in the past .

But i would would to say that as robbed stated that the relief (when it happens) is often not complete. I personally think that you would be better off trying a beta blocker first in order to control the adrenaline and high blood pressure and then you can work on the thinking behind things .

Beta blocker cause little problems and can be taking as need and have very little side effects

cheers kev

[pietpompies84]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. So far I have not taken any of the pills as of yet. I am going for my blood work tomorrow to see if there might be any other cause. We have a electronic BP meter and it has come down a bit. Currently it is around 130/85 and that is a lot better that 160/100 that it was. This week has been better with the anxiety aswell. I am eating better also. Less sugery foods and more veg and fruit. Might be helping aswell.

Will keep you guys posted on progress :)


Cheers