changeover
Posted , 4 users are following.
Just wondering if anyone has any experience of coming off one drug and starting sertraline.
I have done one week at 20mg of my current meds (citalopram) and going to start a week at 10mg. After the week of 10mg has come to an end, I am going to start sertraline, but wondered if it was ok to start it straight after the week of taking 10mg had ended or leave it a couple of days to ensure the citalopram is definitely out of my system.
I dont want to bother the doctors by getting an appointment just to ask this question... so wondered if anyone had any experience or tips/advice?
Thank you.
0 likes, 9 replies
keltezza e97070lle
Posted
I too was on citalipram and moved to Sertraline, I was told by my doctor to reduce citalipram to half tablet for one week, then half Sertraline and citalipram for one week.
And then whole tablet. Now after 1 month, I have reduced to half a tablet.
Hope that helps! X
e97070lle keltezza
Posted
keltezza e97070lle
Posted
I'm very lucky to say that I don't have any side effects on Sertraline.
Though, it is different for everyone.
oliver87290 e97070lle
Posted
e97070lle oliver87290
Posted
Jane.
oliver87290 e97070lle
Posted
Stopping entirely was a little bit more challenging, but even that was more like having a lingering cold than anything worse. Most people seem to have very vivd dreams with Sertraline, and it can be a bit sedating for some too. I found I got used to the vivid dreams fairly quickly; it took me a lot longer to find a good time to take my pill, in terms of the sedating effect. For most of teh last 2 years I have been taking it at bedtime.
It took an age for me to connect that with feeling like cr*p in the morning - being too tired to shower half the time! Now, I have changed to 4pm, and the dreams have intensified, but I am most definitely brighter in the morning. Both the GP and the pharmacist dismissed the timing as being of importance - but my experience tells me different. I wouldn't dwell on how you feel too much, but it helps to note general changes.
Good luck!
e97070lle oliver87290
Posted
Do you find sertraline helpful overall? I will be taking it for anxiety so hope it's helpful!
Thanks for your reply.
oliver87290 e97070lle
Posted
I often see people on the discussion boards trying to assess the usefulness of an antidepressant after a matter of weeks. Unless you have an acute reaction to a drug, I reckon it has to be given a month or two to load the dose, and become accustomed to it. Like I said, I wouldn't try to pay too much attention to every sensation you feel - if you focus too much on your body, ever, you will find an ache and pain inplace you didn't even know you had! But adopting a mindfulness to your energy, sleeping, waking, apetite can be very helpful. I may take many months to put the feelings of anxiety entirely behind you, and it may well help to see if you can get some counselling/talking therapy, but one day at a time, those months will whizz past. Once again, good luck.
cherry123 e97070lle
Posted