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Mental health

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Original poster

Should I increase or change antidepressant?

26 replies

Pineappledancer · 15/08/2025 19:19

I have been on 10mg escitalopram for 8 weeks.

I have struggled really badly over those 8 weeks with various side effects and symptoms, particularly weight loss due to nausea and lack of appetite and difficulty sleeping, and increase in anxiety and depression, including SI.

I have had some slight improvement but it has been slow going with lots of ups and downs.

My doctor has suggested that I should be showing more improvement after 8 weeks and asked me to consider the following options:

Continue on 10mg for a bit longer
Up dose to 15mg
Wean off and change to a different SSRI
Wean off and change to mirtazapine

5.Continue on 10mg and add in a low dose of mirtazapine

I have no clue what to do.

I am terrified of all of these options for a variety of reasons.

I know nobody can tell me what to do but if anyone has any thoughts, experience of any of these options or just some supportive words I would be grateful.

OP posts:

Rosscameasdoody · 22/09/2025 17:21

BramleySweet · 17/08/2025 17:37

I don't know why, but I'm so very if Venlafaxine - I think because it seems to be one of the strong ones and one that's tricky to taper off. That being said, I've been unwell for such a long time, that if Escitalopram doesn't work for me, it's what I'll be trying next.

Can I ask you a bit about it? (No rush/pressure to reply):

What's your background with anxiety/depression? (That's super personal, so no obligation to answer!)

What other meds had you tried?

How gradual was your cross taper?

Will you increase the Venlafaxine or do you think you'll settle on the dose you're on?

I'm glad everything is evening out for you and I can't believe it worked so quickly for you 🥰🥰

Show quote history

I was on Venlafaxine for a while and it was hell to get off. It’s also well known for putting those who take it at a higher risk of suicidal thoughts, so counter productive in that sense. Tapering has to be slow and monitored and the intended replacement anti depressant drugs introduced as Venlafaxine doses are lowered. Very tricky.

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