mackem1

I have OCD with intrusive thoughts. Since March 2020 I have been self isolating with my wife because she has severe asthma. It might sound weird but I feel sad and grief stricken when a tv series ends or a news programme finishes. I miss the news presenter or actor in a very profound way. Does anyone else have similar feelings? If so what do you do ? Thanks Steve

Thanks for the replies speaking to a GP tomorrow

When I was 65 my Citalopram dosage was reduced from 40mg to 20 mg and I started to take 40 mg of Propranolol in combination to control my OCD. This has worked well but since August 2020 I have had three falls caused by drops in blood pressure and been hospitalised twice. I am now awaiting to see a cardiologist. There could be a long delay because of Covid. In the meantime I am taking daily BP readings and sending them to my GP surgery and they have reduced my BP medication Lisinopril from 40mg to 20mg which means my BP readings are high. Can I ask has anyone had health problems when continuing to take Citalopram after the age of 65?. What alternative medications to Citalopram have you been switched too? Has anyone had similar experiences too me and what has happened Thanks

Hello I have had two courses of individual CBT in the last years and with medication of 4omg daily of Citalapram my intrusive thoughts have been easier to manage. When I was 65 in June the dosage was reduced to 20mg and also in recent months my wifes bipolar has been worse. The effect is my intrusive thoughts and anxiety are worse and as a result I have been offered a place on an 8 week (2 hours per week plus 1 hour per day home practice per day Mindfullness couse by my local Mental Health Team of the NHS. Does anyone hve any experience of this type of course or Mindfullness in general. Any input advice or information welcome Thanks Steve

I was suffering severe intrusive thoughts 3 years ago.I received 2o sessions of CBT with the NHS and was put on Citalopram 40 mg daily dosage. My condition improved and I have for the last 2 years been stable. I have relapses but I have learnt to cope better with my condition although sometimes the thoughts still cause distress and anxiety. I am 65 in June and my GP has told me the maximum dosage of Citalopram will be 20mg a day or change medication. I am currently on the waiting list for further CBT with the NHS. Any information or advice welcome Thanks Steve

I have had a bad few months with intrusive thoughts and my first CBT therapy did not help. I then went onto medication and was very nervous about it and scared of the side effects. With the support of my GP I gradually increased the medication and I am now on 40mg of Citalopram.I was lucky and was offered a further course of CBT and have now had 6 sessions. The Citalopram has reduced my anxiety levels and lessened my depession. To be honest I was not aware I was depressed but now I realise I was and I am more interested in life and doing more activities. I am not cured I still have intrusive thoughts and I am stiill very anxious int public places.. The jump out of the car thought is still intense. However I am not tacling these yet with CBT. The therapist suggested that we tackle my checking rumination or as I call it checkitus first.I have had it all my life and he feels if we can successfully tackle this then it might help resolve the others more easily. I doing exposure therapy for the checkitus with his assistance on a couple of occasions. I am finding it very difficult and anxious making but I am trying and will continue to try. So I do feel for me that medication with CBT is the best option. At least I have hope where 6 months ago I had none

Thanks for the input. This morning I went for a long coastal work with a neighbour after returning from the doctors. This afternoon I did some gardening and this evening will try and watch a bit of tv drawing and later play cards. Yesterday we drove to the garden centre and bought a lot of plants. This is the start of our garden project which will start in earnest on Friday with some planting. I am trying to keep busy and not think about OCD apart from when I am trying to tackle the anxiety of a thought. But I am a worrier by nature and just wanted some input from the forum about increasing the Citalaopram dosage from 20mg to 30mg

The doctor has increased the dosage from 20mg to 30mg from today for 4 weeks. This to be reviewed in four weeks on 4.6.2015. She did say come back if any problems. I rightly or wrongly agreed to this? I would welcome the views of the forum and especially from someone who had the dosage increased by the same amount

Thanks for the input. I will listen to the GP but I would be content to leave the dosage at 20mg for another month to see if there is an improvement,. I have read you have to be patient with meds and not change to soon?

Thanks thats how I will try and handle it

I have purchased Brainlock from OCD UK and am trying to read a little each day but and trying to keep visiting this forum and others to minimum if possible. I am still battling with the intrusive thought but perhaps the book might help and my efforts to combat it will improve. Certainly tried to be more positive recently.Apart from coastal walks I have been doing some gardening on my own and with my wife. It is a bit of a mess because we have left it for over a year because of my condition and her bipolar. We plan it to be a project to get it in shape and are going to a garden centre by car this afternoon. I am trying to watch tv a little bit each day. It is hard but try to watch half an hour with my wife. In fact watched over half of a very moving play last night with Sheridan Smith about cancer. So I feel a little more positive. Is it the medication ???. I feel as if I should give the Citalopram longer but not sure if I could argue with the GP if she insists on changing the medication. I am not in a very assertive frame of mind at the moment but of course I might be worrying over nothing and she may agree to giving it one more month as it is

Thanks for your input. I think you are right. I think the GP is basing her review on the basis that they should kick in after 6 weeks because she normally prescribes them for depression. I do not think she has much or any experience of treating OCD. But it seems difficult to question a GPS decision if she suggests changing the medication Thursday.

I have been on 20mg of Citalopram 6 weeks on Thursday. Initially it increased my anxiety levels in the mornings for a couple of weeks then stabilised to similar levels prior to medication. There have been no other side effects, There has been no change to my OCD condition so far and the intrusive thoughts are as intense as before. I saw my GP one month ago and see her again on Thursday. She said we would review the medication on Thursday if my condition had not improved. Obviously I will have some input and have read on a NHS site that for medication to work for OCD can take 12 weeks. Has anyone on the forum experience of Citalopram. How long did it take to work or how long before the medication was changed and if so to what. I know everyone is different and it is complicated by the fact that there are several similar drugs and different dosages. However I would welcome input prior to my GP appointment on Thursday.

Thanks I will keep reminding myself the thought is false and then push on and do something else. I will try this tomorrow night when we go out for a meal to a Greek restaurant.

Thanks for the clarification