Changing from Citalopram to Sertaline due to side effects

[sleepyheadzzz]

Hi all

I have been taking citalopram for the past 4 weeks (20mg) for depression. It has had made a positive change to my moods- I feel less desperate and haven't had any really low thoughts, which I had previously. However, the excessive sweating I am experiencing is dreadful- it has been preventing me from doing things and wanting to leave the house actually as the sweat just pours off me!

I have spoken to my doctor today who has now prescribed Sertraline (50mg) instead. Has anyone taken this and had side effects? Has it helped? She did say that the cross over may be difficult as I adjust to the new medication- slightly worried about this to be honest and just hoping I don't experience the sweating again

Hey :)

I just joined today so don't really know how to go about this but didn't want to read & run.

I've been on & off anti depressants for about 4 years now & have been on them constantly for the past year & a half. In that time I've taken both citalopram & sertraline.

I didn't experience excessive sweating but I did have loss of appetite & shakiness. The cross over period can be difficult sometimes, it's kind of like going back to the beginning again but you get back up much quicker. It takes about 3-4weeks for the new tablets properly get into your system & hopefully they will make you feel much better.

Obviously there's no guarantee that you won't get side effects from the sertraline but you might find that they are totally different to the ones you experienced on citalopram & that they go away as quick as they came. You just have to persevere with it & keep telling yourself that for the first month your body is still adjusting to the new tablets & that it will take time to balance out the chemicals in your brain.

Sorry this is so long! I've been where you are & I hope you get back to a place where you feel more like yourself soon! Please don't worry about changing your meds, if the doctor has recommended it then it's probably for the best. Just take it one day at a time & you'll get there.

Victoria x

Thanks victoria

I'm going to start new meds over weekend and fingers crossed they will go well- I guess it's all trial and error! I've looked on NHS choices and it does list increased sweating as a side effect in citalopram but doesn't mention it for sertaline so I'm hoping it may not be as big an issue (fingers crossed). I can NOT cope with that level of sweating