Switching venlafaxine to citalopram?

[boymama82]

Does anyone have any experience of this? I am tapering off venlafaxine but told the doctor I was struggling so he gave me citalopram to help. I was on 10mg initially for 2 weeks then increased to 20mg. When I did the increase I stopped the venlafaxine as I was down to 37.5mg per day at this point. I have been asleep for 2 days! If my partner wasn't off work I wouldn't have coped as we gave 2 toddlers!

Just being sat up is hard work and I'm back in bed again! Partner is back at work tomorrow and I need to feel better! Help!!

Give it time. These medications take a while to adjust to. If you’re not seeing any benefit or improvement in a month/6 weeks then do go back to your doctor.

Thos is exactly where I right now! But my doctor said go from 37.5 Venlafaxine to 10mg citalopram and taper back up to my old dose 30mg, well it was awful! I have it one day and am taking 20mg 10 was way too much of a drop in serotonin! Headaches, head zaps, sleeping during the day! Awful. I’m off work such until I get back to normal which I can thankfully see happening in the next week. But it’s a shame Venlafaxine was a good drug but renowned for its side affects which sadly I had them. Citalapram is hard to get off but it’s a good lower risk, kind of “chill” pill if I can describe it. Different to Venlafaxine you will likely feel less focus and less energy, I loved having that 😞
But you decided to come off and I think 10mg citalopram will help. It’s a good drug. Good luck