what to expect switching antidepressants

[mmkmommy]

I am scared to switch my SSRI.....I have been on Lexapro for almost two months and have been told to switch by 3 diffrent doctors because of dizziness. I haven't done it yet because everything else is going well and I finally have my relationships and life back.
My sister and law scared me saying when she switched from Zoloft to Paxil, she was in bed for a week straight!
Is this typical? I would really appreciate hearing experiences of anyone who has switched.
I know I need to because I am becoming more and more lightheaded as I continue the lexapro.

[intensity_too]

I think your anxiety about switching is very normal. I think as long as you withdraw the Lexapro and not stop cold turkey, you'll do better with the swtch. I'd take a week at least to cut back on your dose of the Lexapro so withdrawl symptoms are minimized . . . your doctor should do this anyway.

Usually switching from one SSRI to another isn't an awful process. You may have a day or two of feeling a little cruddy. Of course . . . everyone is different in their reaction to such things. Don't be afraid . . . do the switch . . . especially if you are having side effects like the dizziness with Lexapro. Good luck!

[mmkmommy]

thank you for your reply. I know I need to switch, but you are right, it is scary. I don't want to go back to having scary thoughts and not being able to enjoy life or my family.
One thing, all of my docters have said I don't need to taper, that I can just start taking zoloft the next day without tapering the lexapro? This seemed odd to me, since I have seen many posts where people say there is definately a withdrawl process. Is it safe to not taper? Do the docters know what they are talking about? I just right to make sure I do this the right way so it doesn't turn into a bad experience.

[loudmama]

My dr ALWAYS has me taper from one to the other. He's got a whole system he rights down for me. For awhile I take bits of both meds.

I haven't had any problems with the switches.

L

[KrisPlusFour]

Originally Posted by mmkmommy

I am scared to switch my SSRI.....I have been on Lexapro for almost two months and have been told to switch by 3 diffrent doctors because of dizziness. I haven't done it yet because everything else is going well and I finally have my relationships and life back.
My sister and law scared me saying when she switched from Zoloft to Paxil, she was in bed for a week straight!
Is this typical? I would really appreciate hearing experiences of anyone who has switched.
I know I need to because I am becoming more and more lightheaded as I continue the lexapro.

Her tiredness might be from the Paxil itself. I had a ROUGH time on that. I quit it cold turkey because it ended up making me SO sick. I went on Prozac about a week after stopping the Paxil on my own and had no awful side effects, and the Prozac actually works MUCH better than the Paxil.

Hope you find answers and relief soon, momma! Being a dizzy mom can't be any fun.

[mmkmommy]

Loudmama, how does your docter recommend that you taper? I want to have an easy transition also!

[Mommy!Mommy!Mommy!]

I was on Prozac and then switched right to Paxil. I was on that for a few months but went back to Prozac and sailed through until the end of my taking antidepressants. Paxil was ineffective and made me "sick and tired". Lucky for me I didn't stay with Paxil. My sister has been on paxil for the last 9 yrs and has tried to go off a few times (during pregancies, fed up with meds. etc) She is bi-polar and the rebound once the Paxil levels go down are bad. Anxiety attacks, manias and deep depression. She doesn't take Lithium anymore, but does rely on Paxil to stablize her. She is addicted to Paxil and is currently preparing to try a holistic approuch to go off of it. Please go on line and read all that you can on Paxil before you make any commitments to it. This is just one story and I'm sure there are brighter ones for every bad, but when I hear Paxil I have to voice the red flag. I will try to repost again with some links from her re: Paxil. Also for your sister, was her dosage of Zoloft more than her Paxil? from the people I know who have been on those two, the paxil was less dosage more side effects.

I'm glad that you have yourself back, I remember the way things were for me then. (sigh) I will send good thoughts to you, take care!

[loudmama]

mmkmommy, I wish I had a copy of my last change. It was over 2-3 weeks though. It started with just a 1/2 or something of the new meds, with the old ones being tapered. Slowly the old meds were decreased & the new meds increased.

Sorry I can't help more.

L