My 86 yo mom has just had her Celexa cut form 20mgs a day to 10. She was actually very depressed and anxious at the 20 dose. She is displaying almost psychotic behavior at night. She has also just been treated for a UTI (now gone) as well as a bone infection in her toe which had to be removed under sedation. She does not have diabetes BTW. She’ll be seeing a doc next week. I’m curious if any one has experience with any of this as the crazy behavior is not the norm. She does have mild dementia.
Unfortunately this is a "necessary evil" when changing from one type of medication to another type of medication and means that the person has to suffer their illness without medication for a few days before another medication can be started. It is not because the doctor wants it that way. It is all due to the pharmacological or chemical properties of the medications. :(
Please keep us updated on what antidepressant medication your doctor plans to start your Mom on next.
I would strongly question this if it was working well before. Just my angle.
Missing doses of citalopram may increase your risk for relapse in your symptoms. Stopping citalopram abruptly may result in one or more of the following withdrawal symptoms: irritability, nausea, feeling dizzy, vomiting, nightmares, headache, and/or paresthesias (prickling, tingling sensation on the skin).
If she wasn't getting relief from the depression on this Celexa, decreasing the dose isn't going to help.
Changing the medication would be in order.
I tried hard NOT to give doctors or mom's facilities the impression that I was "insisting" on anything. In general, I told them that I respected their expertise and would like to be a partner in figuring out what was best for mom.
I'm a mental health professional; it bothers me when parents abdicate their responsibility and say "you guys are the experts". I want a partner in figuring out what the kiddo needs, not someone who is saying "my way or the highway" or "do what you want,I have no input". There's a middle ground that is best for the patient.
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