Moving from citalopram to escitalopram

[Randomname85]

been on and off citalopram since 2010 - i now have a 4 year old and 9 month old, i've been on 10mg only since the 4 year old was born. i have consistent crashes and try to raise my dose however i cant cope with the side effects. last time i raised the dose in 2014 i lost loads of weight and had to take 6 weeks off work just to cope - i physically cant go through those side effects again with two small children.

when i first started on ssris i took escitalopram and the side effects were nowhere near as difficult - has anyone made a direct switch with good results?

Escitaloprim is purer and so works better for some people, speak to your GP about your concerns and they may be able to suggest a gradual titration. Give it ago OP life's too short to be struggling. Take care

Escitalopram has been a life saver for me - hope it works as well for you OP 💐

Watching this post, I just cannot take citalopram any more because of the side effects so I've just been prescribed escitalopram. Haven't taken my first dose yet and so hoping it's going to be better.

Hope it goes well for you

Thanks all - let me know how you get on @Shehasadiamondinthesky!

2nd day and I've been feeling faint and having palpitations, hoping this is temporary. And I almost fell asleep at work yesterday. I work in the NHS so that wasn't good.

I could never get past the first few days of Citalopram and a psychiatrist explained to me that Escitalopram is purer, as a PP said. It’s easier to tolerate and more effective for many. I started on drops first of all so I started on just 1mg a day as I couldn’t manage any more. I gradually increased over many weeks, and one day just woke up and my mind felt clear and I knew it was working.

Stick with it! It’s very effective for many people and has definitely changed my life.

I've been on escitalopram from citalopram for a week now. My eyes feel like they've been rubbed in salt and I keep falling asleep at work, at home, everywhere. I'm hoping this wears off soon because I can't cope with much more of this.
I usually took citalopram in the morning because it kept me awake all night but I'm going to try taking escitalopram in the evening to see if the daytime effects improve.

What dose are you on, Diamond? I also get the side effects with daytime sleeping and I found that a lower dose (than I was recommend) was just as effective for me but with fewer side effects. I was falling asleep every lunchtime and then getting sleep paralysis and would be unable to wake for ages. It was bizarre! It continued to happen until I reduced the dose. It can take a bit of trial and error but it’s been such an effective drug for me. I can’t believe the way I used to live when every day was an anxiety nightmare.