Switching back to fluoxetine
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi I’m after some advice please
i was taking fluoxetine 20mg for about 7 years would have my ups and downs but generally pretty good.
about 8 weeks ago I was feeling crap and my sister is on citalapram and said she felt more stable on them so I talked with my doctor and he put me on 20mg citalapram the very next day no weaning straight swap.
i was on these for 5 weeks and just couldn’t bare the nausea and started getting pins and needles in my hands at night and waking up with knumb hands which I still get.
so after 5 weeks I said to my doctor that this was horrible which he then has now put me on 75mg venlafaxine straight swap from the citalapram no bridging weaning etc.
im taking lorazepam 1mg mid morning to hel with feeling so crap and 25mg quatiapine at night as I can’t sleep.
i feel absolutely horrible I have the shakes I have lost so much weight because I have zero appetite and am so anxious I can’t do anything.
what would your recommendation be now as I reall think venlafaxine is not for me and I want my life back.
i really think I should go back to fluoxetine but am scared about doing it as I’ve been on venlafaxine now for around 3 weeks I know you have to give drugs time but I really think fluoxetine better helped my anxiety. Please help.
carl
0 likes, 5 replies
johnkov carl67287
Posted
A switch from fluoxetine to another SSRI usually requires a break, about 7 days long. Fluoxetine has a very long half-life time, it stays in your body for weeks after taking the last tablet. As you started citalopram next day, your body was affected by both medications, which led to the unusually low levels of serotonin re-uptake. This explains the side effects which you experienced (nausea, pins, needles, numb hands).
Switch from citalopram to venlafaxine can be done by stopping citalopram and taking 37.5 mg venlafaxine on the next day. This low dose should be continued for about a week, and if the drug is tolerated, it can be increased further to 75 mg or 150 mg. As you’ve been already taking 75 mg for three weeks, I would recommend staying on this medication for another three weeks. Give the drug enough time to show a therapeutic effect.
A switch from venlafaxine to fluoxetine would require cross-tapering. Normally patients start with 20 mg of fluoxetine every other day – but this should be carefully checked by a specialist, considering that you’re on lorazepam and quetiapine as well.
joanne58498 carl67287
Posted
Hi Carl. I feel for you has you have swapped your meds a lot. I have been on citalopram in the past with great success and hardly any side effects. Since I restarted them...about 6 weeks ago I suffered terrible side effects. Everything that you said...fatigue headaches nausea tingling and numbness. I'm aware that even at nearly 6 weeks in its early days. I also understand that you just want It all to go away. Unfortunately there is no quick fix I would go see your Dr and ask him if these quick changes of meds can make you feel worse. Also go with your gut instinct. What made you feel the most comfortable. I too have no appetite and have lost weight which makes you feel weak. I hope you get some answers and feel more stable soon. I know how you feel and its unbearable at times. Keep us posted and good luck
brown45840 carl67287
Posted
My heart goes out to you. So sorry you are going through this hard time. These medications usually take time to kick in and can make you feel worse before they work for you. In your situation there is no quick fix. I am own citalapram and while it’s not perfect, because I still feel like crap from time to time and what I learned to do is supplement it with something else, for example xanax for anxiety from time to time and that helps me. You hang in there Carl. Best wishes for you buddy!
rob33890 carl67287
Posted
Don’t all SSRIs have some sort of side effects in the beginning?
carl67287 rob33890
Posted