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Switched from venlafaxine to sertraline

Posted , 4 users are following.

tree8324
tree8324

Can someone try and help me out with this transition. I cross tapered 75 mg of Effexor with 50 mg of sertraline for 4 days and then 3 days at 37.5 mg of Effexor and 50 mg of sertraline then I did one week at 75 mg of just sertraline and I wasn't feeling good. I didn't get any side effects from the switch except for these electric shocks in my toes, chest and fingers. I still didn't feel right cause I still was having intrusive thoughts and feeling down so I upped to 100mg for 2.5 weeks then went to hospital because I still wasn't feeling like myself. I had constant anxiety and I didn't really want to go out at night with friends cause of fear of what I don't know. The psychiatrist at the hospital bumped me up to 150 mg with .5 mg clonazapam for two weeks and then start 200 mg of sertraline with .5 mg. it's been 3 days at 200 mg and I don't feel great. I'm having crying spells and still have anxiety. The shocks have calmed down and barely noticeable and I can go to the gym and hangout with my friends if I push myself but I feel like something is still missing and I'm crying and I feel like this is never going to end. I still get pop up intrusive thoughts but they have calmed down. How long on this new dose till I give up and realize it's not working?

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • julie7525
    julie7525 tree8324

    Posted

    It sounds like youve bumped up really quickly on the sertraline...its taken me 3 mths to get to 125 and ive had difficult side effects with every increase of 25mg for up to 3 weeks each time. Been on 125 for a week, anxiety is so much less but got horrible dizziness standing/ walking. So now thats whats keeping me in, not the anxiety. Sounds to me youre making good progress, can take up to 3 mths to feel the benefits and another 3 for optimum results, so hang in there, patience with sert tends to pay off. A friend of mine has just settled on 150 after around 3 mths of upping and 3-4 weeks on 150, she was in a really bad way and is now back at work and feeling good, with the occasional blip which i think we all get. I was in a bad way after xmas too and apart from the dizziness im 90% better. Having cbt/hypnotherapy once a week which helps too, as does chatting to others in similar situations. Trust me, you will get better, hang in there :-)
    • tree8324
      tree8324 julie7525

      Posted

      Thanks for replying. It just seems like I'm alone with this awful feeling. I have great friends and fam that support me but it would be easier if I knew there was a light at the end of this tunnel.

  • GodsServant
    GodsServant tree8324

    Posted

    Hi Tree, wow, several things. It seems that your switchover was very quick and the doc upped your dosage very quickly, hence the increase and intensity in these horrible side effects. I had been there. You're not alone. I had crying spells, then I had cantatonic spells whereby I wanted to cry desperately but couldn't, I had tingling sensations, I was all over the place emotionally. I too suffer from OCD, pure O, no compulsions, anxiety and depression. Goodness, it takes up to 8 weeks to see the beginning of positive changes, but you could see sooner. Hand in there, stsy strong, but be gentle with yourself. Oh, you can tell if this med is working if your appetite starts to improve. Take care. Xx

    • tree8324
      tree8324 GodsServant

      Posted

      Hi,

      You said it could take up to 8 weeks. Because I have been upping my doses for the last month does that count towards the 8 weeks or should I give this 200mg a chance. It's been about a week on 200 mg and I'm still getting OCD thoughts (less but still there) and I'm still getting tingling in my toes and fingerS. I have gone out with friends and I go to the gym but somethings still feels off?! I'm so scared I'll never feel normal. I have to go back to work Monday and that's making me so nervous because I'm afraid to have those pure o thoughts and have another break. How can I tell if this is working?

    • GodsServant
      GodsServant tree8324

      Posted

      Tree, yes, any time on the med counts, but it’s better to have 8 weeks on a particular dose to confirm. Trust me, you will be normal again, just takes time. Don’t worry about the OCD thought coming. Just let it come and recognize it and know the med is working. Try to keep occupied with something, a book, a movie, a computer game. Just the fact that your fingers are tingling is showing that you are responsive to the med so most likely it will work. Your appetite should increase first. If you feel you need to take time off from work, do so. Your health is more important. Stay strong but be gentle with yourself. XX
    • tree8324
      tree8324 GodsServant

      Posted

      Thanks,

      I just keep reading people saying that they have been on this drug for 3 months and they are feeling like I'm feeling. I have never felt depressed before and I do right now. I can't stop crying and I'm scared this isn't going to work. I just want the old me back. What dose are you at? Have you ever switched meds before?

    • GodsServant
      GodsServant tree8324

      Posted

      Tree, I am at 100mg and the first time I got back on this med, which was about 17 or 18 years ago, I was afraid it didn’t work so I switched to Prozac for one day and that was a nightmare so on the very next day I switched back to sertraline. I would give a med at a particular dose for 2-3 months before I quit it to try another med. This is just because starting this med was bad so I can’t fathom what I have to deal with starting all over again on a whole new med.  
    • tree8324
      tree8324 GodsServant

      Posted

      Do you remember if your anxiety was still there for the first while? And when did the intrusive thoughts start calming? I keep getting the shock feelings still so I'm wondering if this subsided? Sorry for all the questions it's just awful not knowing if I'm on the write med.

    • GodsServant
      GodsServant tree8324

      Posted

      Tree, yep, I started to see BEGINNING of positive changes after 8 weeks. At 3 months is when you feel more calm, no intrusion or at least you can brush the thought aside when it crops up. Even at 10 weeks I was emotionally all over place. Then I experienced decreolization for 1-2 weeks, then depression, then finally I slowly felt happier. NEVER stop asking questions. I know it’s a hard time and scary time. I am no different than you, except maybe I’ve lived with this illness and med much longer and I’d loved to share all that I’ve experienced and what little I know with you. My advice: don’t get HALTS (Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired, Stressed). Keep the faith. Go easy on yourself. Stay positive. Stay strong but don’t expect too much from yourself. XX.
  • Kar67
    Kar67 tree8324

    Posted

    I have just started my transition and feel really nervous as I usually get side effects. I am on Cipralex at the moment. For 4 days I have to take 5mg (normally take 10mg) and then 25 mg of Sertraline for a week then 50 for another week until i feel ready to go to 100mg which is going to be my max dosage.

    sounds like you are doing it a bit too quickly x

    • tree8324
      tree8324 Kar67

      Posted

      Ya I was in a bad place and I couldn't manage going any slower. I suppose I wanted a quick fix. Going from Venlaxafine to an ssri is harder than I switching between two ssri I think. Just cause the Venlaxafine was working on two different neurons. I'm hoping that this works for me. My friends notice a change so that's good. I think you will be just fine!

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