Citalopram to Sertraline

[jaydensdaddy232]

Hi all I've been on 10mg of citalopram for nearly 4 weeks now and keep getting panic attacks, nausea, headaches which are getting better. I went to the doctor today and he said go straight onto Sertraline 50mg.

I really need advice as I'm scared of more side effects?? Has anybody else done this change?

I would say 4 weeks is not long enough. If things are starting to improve it would be bette to stick with it. I had very few side effects when I started citalopram but terrible side effects for first 6 weeks with sertraline. However, sertraline has literally been a life saver for me and was well worth the initial issues.

So stick with the citalopram?

DH did it the other way around as he found the sertaline made him anxious, paranoid and mild psychosis. The citalopram was better side effects wise but didn't help and he still felt rough and is better without either. Though he is possibly bipolar II rather than depression...
Everyone is different. Switching direct will probably have fewer side effects than starting from nothing though.

I switched straight from Citalopram to something else and was fine. It doesn't really need tapering off after only a month.

Or should I go up to 20mg of citalopram which he did mention I should before hand.

The first time I took Citalopram it worked within a few days & felt like a miracle drug. The second time (following a horrific relapse a couple of months after stopping to take it) was much harder & I only really started to notice an improvement after 8 weeks or so and it took me 4-5 months to ‘recover’ to where I’d been before (mildly anxious & depressed) but generally coping well with life. I increased my dose to 30 over the course of 5 weeks & have stayed on that since. If you can bear to stick it out I’d say it’s definitely been worth it for me. Had to take a month off work & then do PT for a while & combined with therapy & tons of running, swimming & yoga. Hope you get some relief soon xx

If you're having side effects with it then upping the dose will make them worse. I'd just switch personally.

But I have read that I will get side effects again with the ones? And with the citalopram my side effects are a tiny bit better and I'm only 3 and a half weeks in.

In my experience sertraline is better for panic and anxiety but during the first 6 weeks I had some horrendous days. You might get an upset stomach for a few weeks. So yes it's better in the long term but it's not easy getting them into your system.

Citalipram 10mg just takes the edge off your normal anxiety. It's not a high enough dosage to really control panic. Personally sertraline works better for me. However after 3 months you will need to watch what you eat as it is easier to put weight on. Doesn't mean your going to but you might need to consider what and how much you eat. Don't let this put you off. It's a small price to pay for feeling normal.

Take the doctor's advice. None of us are medical professionals. All ADs have side effects, you don't know which will affect you until you take them. Sertraline might have no side effects for you at all.

Shall I just up citalopram to 20mg which he did suggest first, then after a bit if they don't make me feel better try the other ones?