Switching from citalopram to sertraline- scared.

[SameKeyThough]

Just had appt with psychiatrist and have agreed to change antidepressants. I've been on citalopram for 15 or so years but despite increasing to 40mg in January, and augmenting with olanzapine first and most recently mirtazapine, my anxiety and depression still aren't controlled. I'm due to start reducing my citalopram tomorrow down to 35mg, then to 30mg after a few more days. Then another week getting down to 15mg, at which point we'll start the sertraline. I've been given clonazepam to take as well while reducing the citalopram. I'm really really nervous about it all. I just want to be better.

@anxiety1000 yes I'm still reducing the citalopram but have started the sertraline. Seeing my psychiatrist this afternoon and think the plan is to go down to 5mg citalopram for a few days then stop. Not sure if increasing the sertraline to 100mg yet.
Update after a week at 50mg. Biggest side effect so far is my nose is so blocked up and I have a sinus headache. Weird. Anxiety is a bit up in the morning but is then controlled by the clonazepam. Don't feel much better but then don't feel much worse either. Keep waiting for some momentous feeling of joy but that might be a tad optimistic!

@SameKeyThough i hope it starts working for you! I’m now cross tapering Paroxetine whilst starting Venaflaxine. I’ve survived Day 1 with no side effects unlike when I tried Sertraline. You are so correct when you said everyone is different and different meds work differently for everyone.

Anyone one here that has lost weight on sertraline

@MummaDons best of luck - hope you continue side effect free. I'm not good today. Very low in mood, can't stop crying . Psychiatrist upped my setraline dose to 75mg on Monday so on day 2 of that. Citalopram is down to 5mg. I'm so blocked up I can hardly breathe, not sure if that's a withdrawal effect or just a bug. Doesn't help with my mood though. Really need the setraline to start doing something soon, finding this very hard.

@SameKeyThough how are you now hun? It's awful isn't it

@SameKeyThough do you suffer from anxiety or depression? My main issue is anxiety - overthinking/worrying/ruminating etc. it’s so hard isn’t it changing medications 😢 I just want to feel better and have a calm mind and body again. The side effects from lowering the Paroxetine kicked in yesterday. It really gets exhausting doesn’t it…..trying to get through each day wondering when the new med will start working! Questioning if it’ll ever work and trying to stay positive. Hope you have a better day today 😊

@Doublevision5 how are you going on the Sertraline?

@bloodyplanes how long did you suffer the horrible side effects from reducing the Citroplam last whilst switching to Sertraline? Did you do a cross taper?

Only while reducing the citilopram, literally a week after starting the sertraline i was back to normal. No i had to stop the citilopram completely then go onto the sertraline.

@MummaDons it varies. Mostly anxiety, that's been the most difficult thing this past year, but prior to that it was usually depression. At the moment it's both. Woken up feeling anxious again today. Yesterday was awful. I know I need to give it time but it's just so hard feeling like this every day.

@SameKeyThough are you any better today? The side effects from Effexor have really kicked in the last 2 days - it has made my anxiety both physically and mentally really bad. I don’t know how I made it through yesterday it was horrific 😢 I’m praying it doesn’t go on for too long - it’s so hard working and looking after my little boy.

@MummaDons sorry to hear you've had a bad few days. Anxiety really is the worst. I've also had an awful couple of days. But that was mostly because something happened at home that triggered a panic episode. Having said that I have recovered quicker than perhaps I normally would so maybe that's the sertraline. Also yesterday I randomly had an episode of pure happiness- only lasted about 20 minutes but it was so lovely. So I'm clinging onto those two things even though his morning I have woken up my usual low and anxious self...
@Meadowsalways keep putting one foot in front of the other. That's all we can do. I hope the sertraline starts working soon.

@Meadowsalways I think it must have been. I'm desperate to get it back.

Hi there I know this is an old post but I was on 40mg of citalopram for 7 years. They stopped being as effective and I was given a direct switch to 50mg sertraline. I’ve never felt so low in my life! I’ve been taking it for 26 days now. Back at the docs on Tuesday next week and hoping they either up the dosage or try a different med as this is awful!

Hey. I know this post was about citalopram to start with but I've been on sertraline for about 8 years. Saw psychiatrist in December because my anxiety/depression episodes were becoming more frequent. She changed me over several weeks to fluoxetine. Weirdly in the change over part I felt great since then absolutely awful. I've been off sick for 4 weeks now. Like you I haven't felt this bad for years.

I'm at a total loss, I dread every day! I'm trying so hard to help myself but I have no motivation at all! I've lost 8lb in weight as I have no appetite. I see my GP on Tuesday and I don't know whether to increase the dose or try something else x

@SameKeyThough i wondered if you have an update on how it all went? I’m starting the same switch tomorrow and very nervous about it. I’ve been on citalopram for 8 years so scared about withdrawal

Hi I'm much better now however I was taken off of sertraline and put on escitalopram. Didn't notice a huge improvement until 8 weeks on this good luck with your journey xx

Any one found being on venlafaxine gives them body tremors heart palpitations
and feels like you eyes are flickering

I had to give up on the sertraline and gi back on citalopram as the side effects were unbearable.

Good luck, everyone is different

Planning to come off escitalopram and switch to sertraline. Hope it works.

Hi Newbie0001,
How has your switch gone?
Thanks

This is an old post but I wondered if anyone had the same as me, been on citalapram for 12 years, felt they weren’t working that well switched to sertraline 4 weeks ago, side effects were awful, I felt suicidal. And still feeling very depressed. Thinking do I stick with it thanks in advance x