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Changing from citalopram to setraline

Posted , 6 users are following.

Dawn1208
Dawn1208

Hi looking for some advice my doctor has asked me to change from 20mg of citalopram to setraline as they don't think the citalopram is working. I have terrible anxiety and have been put on 75mg of pregablin for this I'm hoping of I change it will lift my mood and help my anxiety any advice would be appreciated been on citalopram since November.

1 like, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • restart
    restart Dawn1208

    Posted

    Hi Dawn,

    cant help with any advice, but just wanted to say that I find the sertraline has helped me with my depression, I'm just starting my sixth week on 50mg a day, I still have loads of anxiety but did find that pregablin ( that I was prescribed for pain ) helped alot with it,

    I had to stop tacking it as it gave me ringing in my ears that I just couldn't cope with.

    Hope you see some improvement soon..

    • Dawn1208
      Dawn1208 restart

      Posted

      Thank you for replying my anxiety was through the roof last night but think it could be because I'm worrying about changing medications. To be honest I really don't want to feel any worse than I have. X
  • PharmaSara
    PharmaSara Dawn1208

    Posted

    Hi Dawn

    Sorry to hear about your anxiety. Changing medications is unnerving but if one SSRI hasn't worked then the next sensible step is to change to another SSRI first, before increasing doses which brings with it more side effects potentially. So worth giving sertraline a trial as you may well respond better to it than citalopram. Also, with sertraline, there's further to go with the dosage (more steps up if needed) as opposed to citalopram. Sertraline really is more favourable all round (I'm a pharmacist and am particularly interested in the use of antidepressants). You've obviously given citalopram a good three months already so it seems sensible to take your doctor's advice - how do you feel it's worked so far? Have you discussed how you feel with your doctor? If you've seen no improvement I would try another SSRI and think positively about the switch.

    A further note, please don't focus on the potential side effects of sertraline (or any medication) like a lot of posts on here....worrying causes more anxiety, and research shows if you read/are warned about side effects you are more likely to 'get' them because you expect them! Just take each day and see how you go. And your doctor should monitor you anyway every 2-4 weeks when changing/increasing antidepressants so you should have an opportunity to remedy any issues caused by the change. 

    Best of luck!

     

  • stew99160
    stew99160 Dawn1208

    Posted

    Sertaline worked for me initially but then just left me in a lifeless state.Not up not down just emotionless.I think any sort of drug effects people in diferent ways so sertraline could work for you.Good luck.
    • claire_53158
      claire_53158 stew99160

      Posted

      Hi Stew,

      Your post intrested me. Been on Sertraline 6mths. I feel emotionless. Weird place to be... Not sure what I'm supposed to be feeling. I even asked the doc. said perhaps they not working 6mths on.

      Where are you at now..???

      Claire.

    • stew99160
      stew99160 claire_53158

      Posted

      2 weeks into withdrawal.Feel much more alert, fatigue has gone appetite more balanced aware of the world again.Downside at the moment is dizziness, buzzing in left ear and tingling down right side of my face.Sertraline made me detatched and emotionless, will be interested to see how I am in a few weeks time.Hope you are ok
  • titabeth
    titabeth Dawn1208

    Posted

    Hi Dawn, sertraline can help a lot with anxiety.  It helped me, when i went onto it after citalopram.  The citalopram left me feeling kind of in an insulated bubble, whereas the sertraline improved my mood and I just stopped feeling anxious.

    However this time aroundfor me the anxiety was not as bad as it has been in the past, when I was young (20's and 30's).  I am in my late 50's now and have learnt many other  techniques which help with my anxiety.  Such as, buddhist meditation on my breath (the other types of meditation didn 't work for me), yoga and tai chi, drawing and painting, listening to relaxing music, and cognitive behavioural therapy.  Good luck and I hope you are feeling better soon. 

  • Becktoria
    Becktoria Dawn1208

    Posted

    I lost my sex drive gradually since switching from Citalopram to Sertraline and I now sweat like a beast
    • kevin42223
      kevin42223 Becktoria

      Posted

      I have been on sertraline for about 5 weeks don't feel anything like I was after a year of working to hard and and to long then realised what people were telling me were true about been sharp , snapping and looking at everything as negative to me 

      but I am glad I looked at this site and seen your comment I have been waking up as you say sweating like a beast And a little whif of b o which is something I never do and yes I appear to have lost sex drive also I feel as if my heart beats a little faster about 15 minutes after taking it

    • Becktoria
      Becktoria kevin42223

      Posted

      It's good to see someone is finding my comments useful. Apart from a small break switching back to Citalopram, I've been on Sertraline for two and a half years. 

      The sweating has lessened, even though there is less the smell is quite strong, it's worse when I work out.

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