Citalopram to Venlafaxine

[Kion]

Hi, has anyone had any experience with this changeover?
I'm on 40mg citalopram and don't feel like they're affecting me the same as a previous time taking them where I felt really balanced and sharp on them. But I'm a mummy to a toddler now so maybe this is why I'm feeling like a zombie!

Any advice would be really appreciated as I'm in a bit of a dilemma about whether to swap the tablets or not. Terrified of side effects and anxiety returning as I work in a demanding job and need to be present in body and mind everyday.
Help! x

Bump, anyone? x

I've been on citalopram and OH has been on venlafaxine, I haven't switched over though.

He did say they worked really well

Citalopram didn't work for me, tried many others but it was venlafaxine that worked for me. No side effects for me, not to say that that would be the case for everybody though obviously.

Thank you for your replies.
It's interesting that there's some side effects for some and not for others.
I'm just worried that this might be as good as it gets and could save myself some stress changing over. I'm so torn. I have some time off work coming up and maybe I should just go for it.

Do you think it would be best to start them before I stop work so that the potential side effects can be timed right for when I'm off work?

May I ask, Down and Moomin, what your main reason for taking them was, if you don't mind?

Mine is mainly anxiety and ruminating thoughts.

Just to see what these are maybe better suited to. Although I do realise everyone is different.

I found citalopram made my symptoms worse....I've been on and off venlafaxine for 20 years and it's always worked for me after a few days.....although the physical side effects of starting it and stopping it are really hard x

Thanks user, that's good it worked for you. How long did the side reflects last for you when starting it? Was anxiety one of them?
I feel like I could deal with anything else other than the panic at work. Thanks x

I take it for depression, came off it a couple of times but went downhill about 6 mths or so later so now have no plans of coming off again, which I have come to terms with. If I had a physical illness I wouldn't have a problem with taking meds to control it. I don't think I went downhill again because of the meds btw, I just have a long term, persistent depression and meds is what works for me. And, I'm babbling! Sorry.

Also, I'm very much present in mind and body everyday. I work with children, I have to be.

When do you take it, am or pm? When I had toddlers I switched from taking them before breakfast to taking them at night. Helped with the knocked-out feelings.

That's good it works for you Moomin. I agree about taking the meds if they help. I have no issue with this and will take these forever if I have to too. I've been on the citalopram for about a year now but maybe they've just stopped working, I don't know.

That's really interesting hope I never thought of that. I currently take it in the morning. I should maybe try to take it later and see how that feels.

It's just my concentration during the day at work is not the best and the previous time I was on these (around 5 years ago) I felt really sharp and focused on them. I used to take them later in day but totally forgot about that.

I will gradually shift the time later in the day and see how I go with that before thinking of changing to the venlafaxine. Thanks for that!

I have been on venlafaxine and mutations for a long while...the Benedictine has helped me a lot , don't know so much with the mirtazipine, I am coming off that as soon as I can as I always put on a lot of weight when I am on it...something to note is that venlafaxine is often prescribed in a slow release format, I have found that this stops me from sleeping so I am soon to be changing to an immediate release tablet.

Morning kion
The side effects lasted 7-10days.....nausea, loss of appetite etc but no increase in anxiety x coming off them is fucking hideous

Failed to check the autocorrect on my kindle....mutations -mirtazipine,
Benedictine (that's quite a great idea !!!)- venlafaxine ....

I switched from 40mg citalopram (which had stopped working) to 75mg venlafaxine. Couldn't cope with the side effects of the venalfaxine though so it didn't last long.
Weirdly, what worked best was taking both together, but the psychiatrist nearly had a fit when I told him that's what I'd done - apparently the mixture can mess with your blood pressure / heart, and they only let poeple take the two together if they're suicidal to get them over the crisis.