Experiences of switching from one ssri to another?

[Used2bthin]

Hi, apologies for lots of posts on the same thing, feeling really anxious after reducing citalopram dose from 20 to 10mg in preparation for changing to fluoxetine. The GP said to reduce to 10mg then go to every other day then a gap then in two weeks she will switch me over. She said it didn't have to be such a slow transition so if I struggled to give her a ring so am waiting for a call back now.

How have others got on with doing this? I had an awful two days of headaches, nausea and really down but now just more anxious than normal, nothing major but I can feel myself slipping so really want to get back to a good dose of something. Will I feel dreadful though changing so suddenly? My feeling is I just want to get it over with rather than risk getting depressed during the change over bit. Would be interested to hear how others got on?

Gp has just called and I am going to not take one today, take one tomorrow, then not thurs, take one fri then not at all over the weekend ready to start fluoxetine on Monday. Nervous now as that's a while to have lower levels of ADs in my system. Anyone else done the same?

Hi, I've switched a few times over the years and just changed from one ssri to the other.
You could try googling 'cross tapering' too maybe?
Best wishes

Thank you, I had a look and it seems you can just switch but sometimes GPs are cautious, not sure what the risks are but I have had hyperactive/slightly manic feelings before so it could be for that reason.

On that note, I am feeling a bit overly excitable today,could just be that the citalopram was making me feel lethargic though I guess.

Did you have bad side effects when changing over? I felt rough when starting citaopram.

Not looking forward to this evening, evenings are bad for me. Seriously tempted to get this prescription and start fri after having a two day break, I've already tapered the dose down for a week. But I know the GP knows better than me so will try and stick it out, Monday just feels ages away and then the side effects again are not going to be fun.

Think I may need wine tonight...

[s
I didn't get much in the way of side effects when switching, even though I had really horrid ones at the start.
Hope you have someone looking after you tonight, help get through the crap x

Thanks maryshelley and nethunsreject, I have had one glass of wine and feel calmer (so far) I am finding it so hard to sleep since reducing the dose so will not have another now so I can take a (herbal) sleeping pill before bed.

I think it is down to the gp with the tapering the dose thing and so hoped that the gp today would just say ok switch straight over.

I also really hope I lose weight on fluexitine as citalopram has really made me pile it on. I know switching may not actually help though.

Hi op
I switched from 10mg citalopram to 50mg sertraline.
Stopped citalopram one day and took sertraline the next.
Had an awful time starting citalopram but absolutely no side effects what so ever on sertraline. I was terrified of switching.

Best thing I ever did. I wished I had done it sooner than trying to persevere with citalopram. I also put on weight. Still haven't lost it but not gained any more either.
I wish you lots of luck.

Thanks that is reassuring because I seem to just keep on gaining weight on citalopram, I could manage at this weight or try to lose it but its getting worse which scares me!

Hopefully when I am on Prozac I may at least be able to try to start to shift it a bit.

Have taken citalopram (10mg) today then its not long till I switch really, just tempting to start sooner as I want to get it out the way but maybe I won't struggle with side effects so bad,y this time either,

I know this is an old post but I’m in a similar situation. Been in Citalopram for 8 weeks and don’t feel any better in fact I feel worse. How long were you in Citalopram before you switched? Side effects were so bad for me I’m scared to switch but this anxiety is crippling me x

Ahhh bless you
I remember how scared I was.
I stayed on Citalopram for nearly a year before switching to Sertraline.
I would think that 8 weeks in you should start to see some improvement.
the sertraline helped me. I stayed on for 4 years then weaned off very slowly.
i hope you are feeling a little better now.