Since the drug isn’t made in any dose less than 10 mg per pill, I cut the pill into 2.5 mg. For some people the recommended “therapeutic” range is too high, yet for others it may be perfect. The main difference between SSRIs and SNRIs is that SSRIs prevent the reuptake of serotonin and SNRIs prevent the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine. How many of them have taken a therapeutic dose just once to see how it feels?Don’t tell me they shouldn’t take it, even once, since they don’t need it. The caffeine effects are generally mild. Finally, there are certain medical conditions that can cause tremors, such as Parkinson's disease, 5 years ago. As with most arguments of this nature.My personal view is that because we have a predispostion, it would take smaller amounts of caffeine to induce depression type symptoms.As far as links... there are too many to list, however if you Google "Caffeine & Depression" you will get a million hits. Nevertheless, most antidepressant do affect serotonin levels by inhibiting re-uptake in the brain. I shall not be liable or responsible for any loss or damage allegedly arising from any information or suggestions within this website. These individuals may not pick up on what the drug is doing to them and may be less quick to notice how they react to a particular medication. Most common sense would suggest that someone who is bigger can handle a greater amount of a certain drug than someone who is smaller. Nancy Schimelpfening, MS is the administrator for the non-profit depression support group Depression Sanctuary. Best I could figure, the scientific studies say that it takes about 8-9 cups a day before the caffeine statistically CAUSES depression. When I called to tell them that it was impossible for me to continue and asked if I could start at 25 mg (as read online) I was told no it was a trial and to just stop taking it.Later a second doctor allowed me to take it at a 25 mg dose three times a day. Therefore a person may need a higher therapeutic dose than they would’ve needed had their nervous system not been under the influence of the first drug. I thought I was bad at about 5 cups. I hope this rant helps someone to actively manage their meds and not be passive or intimidated when dealing with their Healthcare Professional.Tom Petty says it plain and simple. I usually get a glass of ice water instead as my med seems to work better if you stay well hydrated.I have been on Citalopram for just over 3 weeks now, I take mine before bed and I switch to caffeine free tea and coffee in the evening, say after 3pm, but Im quite happy to have 1 caffinated coffee or 2 during the day, this seems to get me a good nights sleep but I know from reading through the forums that everyone seems to be different and take meds at different times etc, this just happens to work for me. There are so many individual factors that could have a significant influence on the outcome of your particular treatment.In other words, someone who isn’t eating healthy or exercising may require a higher dose to feel a therapeutic effect of a particular drug. Caffeine also acts as a diuretic and dehydrates the body. The first doctor started me at 75 mg. Get our free guide when you sign up for our newsletter.National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This is simply a result of your body accommodating the influence of a foreign substance that you are now taking to treat a particular condition. As far as staying awake and functioning, I could probably do without half the cups I drink everyday, as long as I have that first cup first thing in the morning, but I'm addicted to that caffeine. I take trazodone at night (have been for 7 yrs) in a low dose for pain and to help me sleep and that works pretty well.Interesting about the hydration, it makes sense though, and caffeine can dehydrate you as it's a diuretic. If avoiding coffee gets me there, then so be it. Arguing for caution by its very nature sounds reasonable, but caution can be motivated by emotions. 2.5mg) is daft.Our knowledge may limited, but it’s not so limited that a person suffering depression has to languish for months on dosages that are predicted by established research to be ineffective, on the off chance that they may be one of the very few people who are hypersensitive. So when it wears off, you crash.For me the depression that results from crashing is a lot worse than the anxiety during a caffeine high. Once you have adjusted, you should evaluate how well your current dose is working.Each time you titrate upwards, it is important to reflect on the degree to which the drug is working. I also disagree with the authors comment that doctors are being pressured into proscribing higher dosages.On a pure anecdotal level as speaking solely from personal experience I have witnessed and heard reports of doctors influenced by the growing backlash against medication, but still fearing inaction, instead prescribing dosages well below therapeutic amounts as if in compromise. There's more of a relation with caffeine causing anxiety (duh) and withdrawal from caffeine causing depression.