HELP! Should I swap antidepressants or not???

Posted , 5 users are following.

Just been to docs. 

I’ve been in a bad way for 6 months now with anxiety. I feel that my doctor is becoming annoyed with me now. 

My doctor just gave me the option of changing to Sertraline or to stick with Citalopram which I’ve been taking for 17 years. 

I’m not good with decisions and will agonise over it. Don’t know what to do. I feel it will be 4 weeks of hell swapping over as I’ve got to come off one in 2 weeks before going onto the other? 

Now I’m anxious about what’s best. 

Don’t worry I don’t expect anyone to tell me as I appreciate we are all different with meds and we aren’t medical professionals.

Just don’t know what’s best. I don’t want to start worrying about this now.

Anyone gone through anything similar. ?

Help please 😢

0 likes, 21 replies

21 Replies

  • Posted

    Switch. I switched from Paxil that I was on for 15 years to Zoloft. It seemed like Paxil lost its efficacy. If mornings elae new meds will give a little boost so worth trying. 
    • Posted

      Hi Darren

      Thanks for your comments. 

      I’m just not sure at all. This i feel is going to give me more anxiety. 😢

    • Posted

      Just in case you were confused I changed my name from Samm to Tammy. 
  • Posted

    Are you taking your current medication for anxiety or depression-or both? You have been on it for 17 years, is it still effective? Are you on the same dose as in the beginning?

    In general I am opposed to switching medications unless you have a very good reason for it. I have been on Paxil for clinical depression for over 25 years. Recently, I had a major depressive episode (first in many years) so my Psychiatrist upped the dosage from 20 mg/day to 30 mg/day. That seems to have done the trick (also, legal problems that were driving my depression seem to have been resolved). I think after 25 years my body had become accustomed to Paxil at 20 mg/day and it was no longer doing the job well. Upping it to 30 mg/day helped.

    Anytime you change medication-even to another SSRI drug-it's hard to wean off your current medication and go onto the new medication. So, why do it unless there is a real good reason for it? Try increasing the dosage of Citalopram if that is an option-that is your first, safest bet. You know that medication, you are used to it, why mess with it if it isn't 'broken'?

    • Posted

      Hi Phil

      I have been up to 40mg (the highest you can go) for most of 17 years. About 2 months ago I came do an to 30mg as they tried to drop me down. They also put me on Mirtazapine (I’m on the highest 45mg). Mirtazapine is another antidepressant but different from an SSRI which is why I can be on both. 

      My anxiety hasn’t got any better which is why I suggested I change to another SSRI to try it. My doctor thinks I should stick to what I have but says he is also happy for me to switch if I want to? 

      I’m getting myself into a state trying to decide what’s best in the long run? 

      I struggle to make decisions and going crazy right now as it is making me super anxious about making the decision. 

      😢

    • Posted

      Just in case you were confused I changed my name from Samm to Tammy. 
    • Posted

      Well, you are doing all the right things boy asking for opinions at this site. The people here have had lots of experiences with their medication.

      If you can't go to a higher dosage on the Citalopram then your only option is to try something else. You'll probably have to go to a 'crossover' medication change where they wean you down on the Citalopram while they start you on the new medication. They do that to reduce the 'weaning off' issues with your current medication.

      Let us know how it works out. Good luck.

    • Posted

      Hi

      My doctor says it will take 4 weeks to swap over as I need 1 week to move down or up . So 20mg citalopram week 1, 10mg citalopram week 2 and then week 3 50mg Sertraline then week 4 100mg Sertraline? 

      I’ve written a letter and shall hand it in to reception tomorrow to ask if I can do it quicker however I am doubting he will allow that. 

      I’m just too scared to put myself through any more upheaval. But then I’m a mess anyway so I’m really confused 😢

      So it took you 3 weeks to get used to Sertraline? We’re those 3 weeks he’ll? What was it like? 

      I am so so anxious. 

    • Posted

      I think you were asking Kimbo about Sertraline at the bottom, I have never switched from Paxil in 25 years.

      4 weeks sounds pretty aggressive to me, but then I've never changed meds so I don't know. Like I said, I've been on Paxil for over 25 years. I'm sure if I ever have to switch to new medication I'll really need to take it slow and easy weaning off the Paxil. My body is SO used to it by now.

  • Posted

    Hi Tammy I've just swapped to sertraline after 17yrs on citalopram. My doctor told me i could just do a straight swap. I was a little worried cos I was going from 20mg to 50mg of sertraline but she said it was equivalent to the citalopram.

    I've been 3 weeks on it now and just about feeling bit better didn't like it at all at first.

    I have found I can't really have alcohol with it at moment..although I don't drink a lot cos makes my anxiety worse.

    Good luck..give it a go u can always change back. This is what I've said if these don't agree.

    • Posted

      Hi

      Thank you for your response. 

      My doctor says it will take 4 weeks to swap over as I need 1 week to move down or up . So 20mg citalopram week 1, 10mg citalopram week 2 and then week 3 50mg Sertraline then week 4 100mg Sertraline? 

      I’ve written a letter and shall hand it in to reception tomorrow to ask if I can do it quicker however I am doubting he will allow that. 

      So it took you 3 weeks to get used to Sertraline? We’re those 3 weeks he’ll? What was it like? 

      I am so so anxious. 

      Thanks

      🙂

    • Posted

      Anti depressants are a very topical subject now due to the adverse publicity they have been given by various senior drs. I personally would never advise anyone to start an anti depressants as they tke up to 2 years to withdraw from. That's why drs tend to keep patients on them for years ad infinitum because once on the poisons it takes a long time to wean off.

    • Posted

      If you have a genuine chemical imbalance in your brain medication is the only way to go, pauline. I know there are some folks who maintain all medication should be avoided, but I can truly say it saved my life. I lived 38 years without it and went through many depressive episodes, more than a few of which I was suicidal.

      Medication alone won't cure you of depression. You need therapy, good diet, exercise, good quality sleep and medication where appropriate. Shortchange any of the Big 5 and you'll create issues for yourself. But, if you have a genuine Serotonin deficiency in your brain neurons there is no substitute for getting on SSRI medication. If you genuinely have the condition you will see a dramatic improvement very soon, if you don't you're wasting your time and should get off the medication.

    • Posted

      No they weren't hell. Just really tired and still anxiety symptoms. Wouldn't say I was 100% but lot better. Think still early days for me on them.

      Don't worry..do u what your doctor advises.

      I'm just waiting on having CBT I'm hopeful that's going to help me 😊

    • Posted

      I'm so sorry I started on medication now..so hard to come off it.

      I really wish I'd struggled through it with alternative.

      At the time I just wanted to feel better and thought it would be temporary. Never dreamed I'd still be here 17yrs later.

      My ultimate aim is to eventually come off them..long process I know 🙁

    • Posted

      It has never been proven that there is any such thing as a chemical inbalance in the brain. 

      Drugs do not work for everyone.

    • Posted

      You can still wean off them. Some people have been taking ad for thirty years and have weaned off successfully.
    • Posted

      I hope so. I have tried a few times but think maybe tried to do it too quickly
    • Posted

      100% agree Phil!

      I also made my decision to stick with my current meds as I weighed up the pro’s and con’s and I feel it would just be too much of a risk to be mucking about with more med changes again. Hope it’s the right one but hey I can’t dwell. (Well I hope I dont). 

      I also just finished the mindfullness group today. 

      I have mixed feelings but definitely glad I did it. 

    • Posted

      I just stuck with what I have. Too afraid to change anything just now as I don’t know how my body would react. 

      Yeah I think the longer you go on it will or should become easier ✅

    • Posted

      I never said drugs worked for everyone, but they certainly did for me and for many others. Shunning all medication isn't the solution if you have clinical depression. 

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