Switching antidepressants

[Surfdayssun]

I have been taking 20mg Citalopram for almost 2 weeks now and the nausea is really bad. I can’t eat, can barely drink, I’m so dehydrated and have lost 4lbs. GP has told me to stop taking the Citalopram all together for 3 days then start with a new medication Sertraline 50mg on Monday. Is stopping suddenly then starting something else going to cause any problems? Aren’t the side effects similar for both these medications so likely to also make me feel sick?

Not after 2 weeks, that isn't even established yet. You can stop no problem. 2 months maybe you'd cross taper but not 2 weeks.

Try the Citalopram, I had totally different side effects on that than I did on Sertraline. They're in the same family if you like but not the same drug. You might be ok on Citalopram.

Thanks for your reply. Glad to know that it shouldn’t cause any problems. I have tried Citalopram for two weeks and even the GP said she wasn’t happy with how sick it was making me dehydrated because I’m not drinking or eating. Which is why she suggested I swap to Sertraline.

Sorry got them the wrong way round yeah I couldn't stand either of them either. Or any other SSRI. it's all a bit trial and error really as to which one agrees with you.

I've just taken my first sertraline 50mg after being on citalopram 40mg for a few years. Fingers crossed!

Pharmacist here, sertraline is generally the drug of choice in elderly people as it seems to have the lowest incidence of side effects. From my practice fluoxetine seems to suit a lot of people if sertraline doesn’t make a difference. Don’t worry there are plenty of options. I’m not sure why the gp has told you to wait three days, its safe to take it from the day after you’ve stopped the other one but you can wait til Monday if you prefer.
cks.nice.org.uk/topics/depression/prescribing-information/switching-antidepressants/
(4th table down)

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut don’t worry I knew what you meant. Really hoping these new ones help...

@fridgemagnet123 how you feeling have you had any side effects so far?

@Berlioz23 thanks that’s really useful info. Really hope this one works are I really don’t want to keep messing round with starting and stopping different things. I’m not one to moan and usually good at just getting on with things but I honestly couldn’t go on feeling so ill any longer - I felt horrendous.

@Surfdayssun Thanks for asking. Since taking my first sertraline on Saturday I've not noticed much in the way of side effects (not to jinx it). There's been times I've felt a bit off, jittery, a bit vacant etc but then I've been feeling that way a few weeks now, hence the change in medication. Whether it's related or not I've had loose stools and been going more frequently than usual.

How are you doing?

@fridgemagnet123 that’s ok I think it’s nice to hear from someone who is going through a similar thing that isn’t a friend or family member to discuss things with..
It’s good you haven’t noticed any major side effects as I’m assuming they would have started by now. I know when I took the Citalopram for the first evening, by early hours of the morning I felt awful so the side effects kicked in quickly. I’m ok thankyou, I took my first Sertraline Monday evening and have felt ok so far 🤞. Sunday evening I felt a bit....wobbly (that’s the only way I can thing to describe it) just a bit off and tearful I think. This morning I also felt jittery and a bit like I was in a day dream but just glad I don’t feel sick.