What is wrong with me?

Antinumeric

I keep having weird thoughts about killing myself. like constantly, I'd never actually want to but I can't stop thinking about it. I have also found myself being overly worried about the smallest things (someone returning a phone call late etc.) and being unable to stop thinking about them, even after I realise i'm being stupid.
I also have a constant pain in the base of my skull that has not gone away for about a week now.
I went to the doctor about two weeks ago, they said I had depression and gave me a drug called Citalopram 20mg. I have been taking it since then but things have gotten much much worse. So H/A, what is wrong with me?

p.s. I am a 21 year old, uni student. if it makes a difference. and please no "sorry but you are crazy"

Andorien

My understanding is that not all drugs work on any given person. I would advise you to go back to your doctor and tell him the results of the medication. He'll probably try something else.

DeShadowC

also mention the pain in your head since that came after seeing the doctor

Cylarana

Not all drugs work for all people. Check the side effects list; it may have a history of causing headache or neck pain. I've dealt with mental illness a while and avoided meds because of crap like that. Ug, side effects

I'd also advise you to probably try cognative-behavioral therapy as well as meds. It's helped me some (not 100%, but a noteable difference). It's hard for me to explain because I don't have any grounding in it other than going through it. It's a non medicine based therapy approach that involves working with and identifying triggers, copiing mechanisms, training you in coping mechanisms (if yours are insufficient or dangerous). other stuff like that. It works best combined with meds, or so I'm told *shrug*.

AtomBomb

If these are new feelings after starting Citalopram, I would guess that they are mostly caused by the drug. This is from wikipedia, so take it at that:

Citalopram can have a number of adverse effects. In clinical trials, over 10% of patients reported one or more of the following side effects: fatigue, drowsiness, dry mouth, increased sweating (hyperhidrosis), trembling, headache, dizziness, sleep disturbances, insomnia, cardiac arrhythmia, blood pressure changes, nausea and/or vomiting, diarrhea, heightened anorgasmia in females, impotence and ejaculatory problems in males. In rare cases (around over 1% of cases), some allergic reactions, convulsions, mood changes, anxiety and confusion have been reported. Also sedation may be present during treatment of citalopram. If this occurs it is advisable to take the dose at bedtime instead of in the morning.


You should speak to your doctor. It can take a bit of trial and error to find the right medication to alleviate depression. There are a bunch of options available.

Cowboy Bebop

Two weeks is not enough time for the drug to take effect and it's normal to feel like crap the first few weeks. It should pass but if your still feel like crap after a month then you should get checked out.

TheMarshal

If a prescribed drug is making you feel WORSE, then tell your doctor immediately. There's no reason that any doctor worth their salt would keep you on something that exacerbates your problems. These drugs aren't one-size-fits-all, and it may take a few tries before you two find something that really works for you.

Ark

I'm currently taking citalopram's cousin, escitalopram, and yeah, it took more than a few weeks to start feeling better. If it still isn't improving a few weeks from now, you might just have to either increase the dosage or try something else (of course, talk to your doctor before doing anything like that). Using several drugs at the same time can also work; I'm also taking a mood stabilizer right now.

And to echo what other people have said, definitely talk to your doctor about side effects.

Antinumeric

O.K. thank you for the advice guys. I'll go talk to the doctor when I can. but if you say that the first few weeks are hell I think I will try and stick through it.

Christ Puncher

I didn't take that one, but I've taken Lexapro, and it took at least a month to really feel the effects of it. I'd say stick it out at least for that long. Your tension should ease and things should be easier to deal with in general, because your brain will pretty much be in lockdown mode. That's how Lexapro worked for me at least. Don't look at it as a be all end all to your problems though. It's just a temporary escape, whatever emotional disturbance you feel will not just go away. I'd advise you to take advantage of your "release" while on the drugs and use it to work out (if you don't already), and in general just do new things. Anxiety is a bitch, and the drugs will lessen it considerably, but the real way to conquer it is to understand what makes you so anxious and how what is worth being anxious about. Focus on things you can control and things you can't. It'll take a while to figure these things out, and the drugs aren't gonna do it for you. Ween yourself onto it, then off of it once you feel ready.

About your headache problem, I wouldn't worry about it too much, I am pretty sure it is just a side effect. I had a bunch of weird stuff happen to me the first couple weeks I was on Lexapro. If it persists ask your doctor about it.

Nocturne

I have had first hand experience with very similar symptoms, and I think this is a common case of Anxiety being misdiagnosed as Depression. They signs that doctors look for are pretty similar, and I think as soon as a doctor (psych or MD) hears the word "suicide" 99% of the time they jump to the conclusion of depression.

In my case the many antidepressants I tried simply made things much, much worse. I tried many different kinds over a long period of time, and none helped with my so-called "depression." I wish I knew then that it was extremely bad anxiety that I was dealing with.

My recommendation is to bring up the possibility of anxiety, as I've seen more people helped by anti-anxiety medications than by antidepressants.

I am obviously no doctor, but I just see striking parralels and honestly think that the misdiagnosis of depression when it should be anxiety happens WAY too often.