Antidepressants

[FreddyP]

Hi,
Has anyone been in a similar situation, I have suffered anxiety and depression for most of my adult life and have been taking Chlomipramine for 27 years but the doctor has advised I need to stop taking this I should not have been on this for so long, I was on 200mg and have managed to wean myself down to 25mg but I am suffering awful side effects, anyway I have spoken to the doctor today and she has advised that when I take my last dose on Monday I start on Sertraline on Tuesday starting with half a tablet (she didn't advise the dose), my question is has anyone been in a similar situation as I am absolutely terrified and am worried sick this could be dangerous as I have read some awful things and am in an awful state wondering what I should do, any advice would be much appreciated, thanks

I'm certainly no expert, but thought I'd reply since no one else has as yet.

You're right to be weaning, rather than stopping abruptly. What I think might be helpful to others is if you clarified:

1. Is this your regular doctor or a psychiatrist?
2. What exactly terrifies you - switching a medication, or what?
3. Did you ask your doctor about these awful things you read?
4. Are you also having some kind of talk therapy, with a goal of weaning yourself entirely?

It’s pretty standard, it’s to try and bridge the gap between the old meds leaving and new meds kicking in.
At one point I was on mirtazapine, citalopram and amitriptyline and scared myself silly over it.

I think answering @MsAmerica questions will help us advise you

Sounds like you are having a rough time

@MsAmerica hi my family doctor has now left and this is a new doctor who said I need to wean off them but it's a real struggle so the doctor recommended I try sertraline to help me and this has given me the dilemma because I'm worried this will cause more side effects, unfortunately I have had no talk therapy of any sorts through the weaning they just called and said I have to come off the chlomipramine and slowly wean myself off which I have thank you for your reply

@Mymapuddlington thanks, that's what I'm doing my regular meds finish Monday and I have been told to try the sertraline Tuesday and like you I an scaring myself silly over it, so were you on all three may I ask?

@MsAmerica thank you yes I am and desperate for some reassurance that all this is normal I perhaps should contact the doctor again Monday and discuss my worries before I send myself crazy

@Graphista thank you yes I am and desperate for some reassurance that all this is normal I perhaps should contact the doctor again Monday and discuss my worries before I send myself crazy

Yep was on all three weaning off mirtazapine, reducing amitriptyline and introducing citalopram. It takes a while for anti depressants to leave your system and a while for them to kick in so it seems your doctor is hoping there won’t be much gap between the two.
Sertraline didn’t work for me but it’s amazing for so many people and I personally haven’t had or heard of bad side effects.
If you’re worried about severe depression while changing meds I suggest keeping a notebook. Write down how you’re concerned and how you feel. If you do suffer, do what you can to let it pass and remember it’s the change in your meds and not ‘real’ if you see what I mean.

Sorry changed my username last night lol

If Chlomipramine works for you. Why on Earth change?

I'd go back to that Gp and tell him no thanks and you're happy with what you've been having and don't want to change.

After 27 years, they need a good reason (ie meds not working for you or physical illness) to take you off it.

This utter bullshit with Sertraline. They shove it at everyone at the moment. It's a terrible drug.

If your Chlomipramine was working and you were happy. I would insist on keeping it.

Your new doctor is a tool.
Sorry to sound so harsh but this isn't in your interest. Just because this GP is fresh out of the box and been told in training that "everyone should have sertraline", doesn't mean it will suit you.

@Clementineapples thank you so much it's reassuring to know others have been through this as well and just what I needed to hear and thanks for the tips, everything helps

@thesootherfairy apparently it's flagged up as it's dangerous to be on them so long as it could cause heart defects and it is in my best interest is what I was told

@FreddyP
I see. Still after 27 years of you were going to develop a heart issue, it would already have happened.

Sertraline and other SSRIs put you at high risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures. Sertraline also a candidate for causing high blood pressure and possible links to dementia.

So no picnic either.
I'm not against medication at all (I'm on plenty!) but have a lot of experiences of being pushed into something new which had devastating effects for me personally and I shouldn't have been given. But was given due to it being the latest medical trends.

I'm vary of trendy medication for this reason.

The BNF holds a lot of info on meds. Have a look at your two and have a little comparison on side effects and contraindications. Might help you.

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/clomipramine-hydrochloride.html#indicationsAndDoses

Sertraline is also a heart risk and it's listed as one of its most common side effects. This was my point that there isn't a good trade off on side effects so why switch from what is working when the risks from Sertraline are probably greater.

https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/sertraline.html

Just have a good think and decide for yourself. Don't let a fresh out of the box doctor decide for you.

And as you've been on this long term, the BNF advice on withdrawal is actually 6 months. Not a few weeks.

Again. Id go back with the BNF sheets printed out and ask questions.

@thesootherfairy thank you for your advice as I have felt very angry with the way I have been treated as they have not reviewed me once since weaning off unless I contacted them, just sort of told me what to do and left me to it and pretty much ruined my life in the process ending with me having to work from home as I was not coping with it all, and feel as though I am going backwards when I have worked so hard to get where I am today my previous doctor was very understanding of MH but he is no longer with the practice

They ought to have cross tapered you into something else and reviewed regularly as you have been on it so long.

I have Amitriptyline and have regular ECGs as it can affect the heart but they still prescribe it as SSRIs didn't work for me.

@nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut thanks, yes I am bewildered by it all as many years ago they tried several meds and the chlomipramine was the only one that suited me hence why I have been on this for so long, it's all be quite daunting and I feel there has been a lack of support

[quote FreddyP]@MsAmerica thank you yes I am and desperate for some reassurance that all this is normal I perhaps should contact the doctor again Monday and discuss my worries before I send myself crazy[/quote]
Again, I think you should try to be clearer so that you can get good advice. I can't tell what you're referring to when you want to know if "this is normal." If what is normal? Are you asking if it's normal to be depressed, or normal to be on antidepressants your whole life, or normal to experience side effects, or what?

I can't advise you on the specific medication, but I can tell you that:

• It's very common for medication to not be useful.
• It's become common for doctors to prescribe medication as the easy way out, instead of therapy.
• Exercise has been shown to be possibly the single best thing for depression.

Have you considered seeing a psychologist, not a doctor, not a psychiatrist? Psychologists aren't doctors, and can't prescribe, so they are more likely to pursue non-medical options.

Best of luck.

@MsAmerica thanks my main question was if it is normal to stop one AD then start a different one straight away? Over the years I have tried lots of different avenues to help with my anxiety this being the main issue and most debilitating for me

When my DH was put on antidepressants he was told then and there that they were for life.

[quote FreddyP]@MsAmerica thanks my main question was if it is normal to stop one AD then start a different one straight away? Over the years I have tried lots of different avenues to help with my anxiety this being the main issue and most debilitating for me[/quote]
I'm sorry, but I can't answer this, and since I don't consider this a busy forum, I'm not sure this is the best place to ask.

I know this isn't what you want to hear, but keep in mind that it's been shown that doctors often tend to resort to meds as an easy way out, and in your case, it sounds as if this isn't even being done by a psychiatrist. I can't help wondering, since you gave us so few details, if you should see someone to determine whether at this point you should continue to be on medication without therapy. Maybe it's not the best solution for you. Just because you were anxious and depressed twenty years ago doesn't mean that the situation is still the same.