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Original poster

Switching antidepressants

27 replies

FreddyP · 15/10/2021 19:49

Hi,
Has anyone been in a similar situation, I have suffered anxiety and depression for most of my adult life and have been taking Chlomipramine for 27 years but the doctor has advised I need to stop taking this I should not have been on this for so long, I was on 200mg and have managed to wean myself down to 25mg but I am suffering awful side effects, anyway I have spoken to the doctor today and she has advised that when I take my last dose on Monday I start on Sertraline on Tuesday starting with half a tablet (she didn't advise the dose), my question is has anyone been in a similar situation as I am absolutely terrified and am worried sick this could be dangerous as I have read some awful things and am in an awful state wondering what I should do, any advice would be much appreciated, thanks

OP posts:
Idontlike · 15/10/2021 20:06

I have changed AD 3 times, maybe 4, in my life. It’s always worked out fine. You have to reduce your existing one & stop taking before you start on a new one and gradually increase that dose.

What awful things have you read and why are you concerned this is dangerous? Maybe stop reading as it sounds as if it’s fuelling anxiety.

Did the GP say when they would speak to you again?

LatteLatteLatte · 15/10/2021 20:07

Hi op didn't want to read and run- you could get this moved to the mental health board if there might be posters there who can help more than me? I've been on antidepressants about 18 years, I was on sertraline in pregnancy and was ok, I had to switch, then switch back after BF. All supervised by gp.

But I wouldn't leave it over the weekend to ask for help if you are feeling a bit rough with the change over- I wasn't on your particular medication and they effect everyone so differently it's hard to know. In your shoes I'd call out of hours/111 and run it by them I think?

Flowers sorry your not feeling great, also I would ask for additional support from GP when they do open on Monday.
Does that help at all?

Original poster
FreddyP · 15/10/2021 20:25

@Idontlike thanks for replying it helps to know others have been in the same situation, did you start any new meds straight after coming of the older ones? The doctor has said to start with half for a week then move up to one and to contact them in a month or before then if I am still struggling and yes I stupidly went on the net and read that by doing this your blood pressure can go sky high so have like you say fuelled my anxiety

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Original poster
FreddyP · 15/10/2021 20:29

@LatteLatteLatte thanks for your reply, I have started the new ones yet that will be on Tuesday after taking my last dose of Chlomipramine on Monday but I have been struggling the the side effects of withdrawing as basically was just advised I need to stop this medication advised how to wean off and left to it so am feeling a bit drained and defeated with it all

OP posts:
Idontlike · 16/10/2021 08:00

Yes I started new medication the day after my last dose of the old one.
I think I was able to ride out the side effects of coming off the old one by telling myself that it was only temporary, the new medication wouldn’t take long to kick in and, they may even be better than my old ones!
I hadn’t looked on the internet though, once you start reading negative things it’s really hard to stop them flooding your every thought isn’t it?
Plenty of people walk around with sky high blood pressure and don’t even know it. High BP for a week or two isn’t going to cause you any huge problems though so try not to worry too much about that.

If it’s all getting too much, lie down and relax and play this. It has been proven to reduce heart rate, anxiety and BP. There is a 30 min version and even a 10 hour version but I’ve never had the time, or inclination, to listen to that one! I often play it whilst I’m sat in bed reading before I go to sleep. It is very calming.

www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/relaxing-song-best-weightless-marconi-union-youtube-surgery-anxiety-a9011971.html

hamstersarse · 16/10/2021 08:03

Is it a typo that you’ve been on anti depressants for 27 years?

FleshLiabilities · 16/10/2021 09:05

@hamstersarse

Is it a typo that you’ve been on anti depressants for 27 years?
It may not be a typo. I've been on various different ad's for 22 years now. I'm also right in the middle of switching from one to the other, in my case from Citalopram to venlafaxine. In fact I've taken my first venlafaxine this morning.

Coming off the Citalopram has been difficult, I've found myself getting angry and fed up a lot, and wanting to sleep all the time.

Idontlike · 16/10/2021 09:38

Citalopram was my favourite AD. I was perfect on that -until the guidelines changed and the maximum dose allowed was lowered. That’s why I had to come off it because the reduced dose wasn’t good enough for me Sad hence all my changes.

I’ve also been on AD for a couple of decades, I don’t think its unusual hamster .

hamstersarse · 16/10/2021 10:57

I’m honestly amazed that people are on ADs for decades.

Have you ever thought about trying to work out why you have depression or anxiety? It doesn’t have to be permanent?

Babyroobs · 16/10/2021 11:04

@hamstersarse

I’m honestly amazed that people are on ADs for decades.

Have you ever thought about trying to work out why you have depression or anxiety? It doesn’t have to be permanent?

Because actually depression can be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain so may not be able to be fixed by other means ?
hamstersarse · 16/10/2021 11:16

I know that’s the narrative but is there a possibility this narrative is pushed by the drug companies?

There’s very little / no evidence for it

For example, anyone on here who has been on ad’s for decades ever been tested for this chemical imbalance?

Original poster
FreddyP · 16/10/2021 12:25

@hamstersarse no it has been 27 years unfortunately and have never been tested for a chemical imbalance, I have suffered anxiety from being 19 and refused medication until I became totally agoraphobic and they did help me get my life on track although tbf I still suffered anxiety while on them just not as severe

OP posts:
Original poster
FreddyP · 16/10/2021 12:26

@Idontlike thank you for replying that helps ease my mind that someone has been in a similar situation and thank you so much for the reassurance

OP posts:
Original poster
FreddyP · 16/10/2021 12:29

@FleshLiabilities hope you are ok it's not a nice experience is it i have been very emotional, tired, anxious and having awful mood swings

OP posts:
ClumpingBambooIsALie · 16/10/2021 12:33

@hamstersarse

I’m honestly amazed that people are on ADs for decades.

Have you ever thought about trying to work out why you have depression or anxiety? It doesn’t have to be permanent?

Gosh I bet the OP has never wondered why she has mental health problems. Most of us just pop the pills like dumb animals right?
ClumpingBambooIsALie · 16/10/2021 12:36

People frequently combine or cross-taper tricyclics and SSRIs (I've got a friend on a tricyclic, an SSRI and mirtazapine simultaneously); if this is what the GP recommends then it's probably safe for you, but I'm guessing the combo of withdrawal from one and initiation effects of the other might leave you feeling a bit crap for a few days. Good luck 👍

ClumpingBambooIsALie · 16/10/2021 12:40

For example, anyone on here who has been on ad’s for decades ever been tested for this chemical imbalance?

How? Scoop out a divot of brain, mash it up and measure the neurotransmitter levels?

TBH the simplistic chemical imbalance stuff is more or less a metaphor these days; professionals tend not to literally believe it.

LapinR0se · 16/10/2021 12:45

Jesus Christ @hamstersarse. I have had anxiety, agoraphobia, depression, and eating disorders on and off since I was a teenager. I’m now 41 and finally live a full and fulfilling life thanks to sertraline. I’ve been on it for 8 years. When I stop, I relapse into poor mental health.
What would you suggest I do then????

Idontlike · 16/10/2021 13:35

@hamstersarse

I’m honestly amazed that people are on ADs for decades.

Have you ever thought about trying to work out why you have depression or anxiety? It doesn’t have to be permanent?

FFS. Do you actually think we haven’t tried to ‘fix’ ourselves? Hmm

Do you think we enjoy being depressed, anxious & being labelled as suffering MH issues?

Counselling -check
CBT-check

I’d happily undergo ECT to be able to be permanently happy. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be an option so I’ll keep taking the ADs thanks.

I have had periods without medication, I am suicidal without them.

colouringindoors · 16/10/2021 13:41

I switched from Fluoxetine to Sertraline last year. I was really worried as I'd felt very ill with side effects when starting Fluoxetine. I was also worried about the impact on my mental health. But I tapered down, had a minimal number of days without any and then started the Sertraline. I had minimal side effects and it's been a far better medication for my ptsd, depression and anxiety. Really hope it helps you too.

Original poster
FreddyP · 16/10/2021 13:42

@ClumpingBambooIsALie thank you it's reassuring to know it's common practice and helps to ease the anxiety I am feeling over it all

OP posts:
Original poster
FreddyP · 16/10/2021 14:10

@colouringindoors thank you so much this helps massively and is giving me more confidence in going forward with the switch over as this is also my worry as the weaning off my usual meds has been horrific and I just want to feel well enough to face the world again

OP posts:
colouringindoors · 16/10/2021 17:52

You're very welcome x

Sophfj123 · 19/02/2024 14:19

@colouringindoors can I ask why you switched? And did it work for you? Trying to find someone in similar situation to me - fluoxetine which I have been on for years and years successfully has stopped working for me. I’m so scared that sertraline won’t work for me and I will be left with life long anxiety!

colouringindoors · 19/02/2024 17:20

Hi @Sophfj123 I felt that after several years on it, it was having very little, if any, effect. And I wasn't doing great mentally. I was anxious about changing as I'd had a tough time starting fluoxetine (increased my anxiety, gastritis). But Sertraline was a dream. I came off fluoxetine over a couple of weeks then after a couple of days started Sertraline. Side effects were minimal. It's been very effective for both my anxiety and low mood. Best wishes 🌷

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