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.

Thought I would give an update. It's two and a half years since my 'breakdown', and for the last 6 months I've been really good. I'm pretty sure the main reason for that is the HRT that I'm now on. During my illness I went from taking just citalopram to taking citalopram, olanzapine, mirtazapine, sertraline, propanalol, clonazepam and pregabalin. Nothing made a sustained difference. Until I started on HRT. I'm now on just sertraline, propranalol and am almost off the pregabalin (down to 50mg from 375mg). Once I'm done tapering the pregabalin I will withdraw from the propranalol. At some point I would also like to reduce the sertraline a bit.
I'm angry that 2 years of my life were effectively taken away because of this. I lost my career. I gained 3 stone and stopped running. I have just been in hospital with acute diverticulitis which I had no idea I even had but am convinced was caused by the weight gain and constipation which were side effects of the olanzapine, mirtazapine and pregabalin.
Please, if anyone reading this has developed bad anxiety, consider your hormones. I was 49 when this happened, still having regular periods (although my cycle varied in length), no hot flushes etc. 'Just' tiredness and terrible, terrible anxiety.

Just thought I would come in here . I have been on Citalapram 40mg for many years and I have been fine . But now as I approach 65 years apparently I am not supposed to be on such a high dose and I need to come down to 20mg in stages . I really don’t think 20mg will be any good for me . I have used Citalapram for anxiety I can get quite phobic but have been fine since being on the medication.

How has you switch went? I have been on 20mg citalopram 14 years but this last year has been really hard with multiple "episodes " of overwhelm and low mood. Doc had suggested a direct switch to setraline 50mg no taper just swap one for the other. I started on Monday. Terrified of the coming withdrawal and side effects

Have you thought about trying escitalopram first?

From the web -

"The benefits of escitalopram compared with citalopram, as demonstrated by both magnitude of effect and time of onset, are superior to the benefits of citalopram"

Hey how did it all go? Changing to sertraline tomorrow after 15 years on citalopram x am nervous but want to feel better,