Question 1

when switching antidepressant meds, can it be normal to feel sad / anxious in the beginning?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The symptoms of coming off, changing, or adding a new medicine can vary. Having your symptoms may be completely normal and will likely resolve over time, but if they continue or worsen, you will need to see your doctor.

Question 2

i am going to be switching antidepressants for generalized anxiety disorder. need advice!?

Accepted Answer

BuSpar (buspirone) or antidepres: The non- addictive medications include Buspirone and some of the antidepressants including Paxil (paroxetine) (i usually prescribe pexeva), effexorxr, lexapro, and hydroxyzine. Gabapentin and Pregabalin are used in treatment resistant situations but are not specifically approved for gad. The bemzodiazepines are used as well as triazolo benzodiaepines, but all carry the risk of addiction. I will leave it to my colleagues to comment on the psychotherapy of generalized anxiety disorder. There are also not medicinal herbal treatments that can be used and i'm sure that my colleagues will comment on those as well.

Question 3

is it possible to have withdrawals when switching antidepressants when your doctor didn't taper the first one and just had you start the new one?

Accepted Answer

If the new medicine: is of similar or same class as the first, then a lot of tapering may not be necessary.  For example, if he/she is only switching you from one SSRI to another, then tapering is not really necessary.  From SSRI to SNRI is same.  If it is a different class altogether (e.g. from MAOI to SNRI) then tapering is important.

Question 4

switching antidepressants zoloft to prozac because of results of genetic testing .. is this good choice .. 8 weeks on sertraline with minimal help on ?

Accepted Answer

SSRI's/genetics: Not sure what "genetic testing" would indicate a "switch to Prozac instead of Zoloft".  Prozac and Zoloft belong to the same pharmacologic family (SSRI's). The problem with Prozac is the time it takes to achieve a therapeutic dose (15 days or so), and it takes the same amount of time to get off Prozac.  Lexapro  (also an SSRI) has a shorter half-life, and is easier to change if problems occur.

Question 5

my husband is 85 and on 40 mg of prozac. he is very quiet, doesnt talk much and still seems depressed. i am afraid at his age to have the doctor start switching antidepressants. should he increase prozac? i dont know what to do?

Accepted Answer

: Is your husband seeing a psychiatrist? At that age, people can have a different response to antidepressants and dosing can be tricky because the elderly can metabolize medications differently. This may not be the right medication for him but a psychiatrist would be the best doctor to figure out the best medication as well as the correct dose for him. So, see a psychiatrist for further treatment.

Question 6

i switched recently from lexapro 20mg to anafranil. i currently take 150 mg anafranil and 150 amisulpride. my ocd got a lot worse since switching the antidepressants. i would like to know if it's gonna go away. it's been like that for two weeks?

Accepted Answer

: By Drugs.com: it may take up to 4 weeks before your symptoms improve. Keep using the medication as directed and tell your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks of treatment.

Question 7

how effective antidepressant switching usually be?

Accepted Answer

Maybe quite: The overall success rate for any single antidepressant is roughly 70% (though a single number is very approximate). A  different antidepressant has roughly the same overall rate but the pool of people it works for will be somewhat different. Together (sequentually) they cover 85%, a third 90%. The numbers may be different depending on criteria, but the principle holds.

Question 8

if switching from one antidepressant to another, can depression get worse before it gets better.?

Accepted Answer

That might happen.: When going down on one medication ; up on another - the change is not always seamless in regards to your depressive symptoms. This would be especially true if you need to stop one medication completely and be drug free for a while before starting the new medication.

Question 9

how to ask to switch antidepressants?

Accepted Answer

Meet with your: Physician. Share the symptoms that you have that concern you. Antidepressants are often used for depression, anxiety and pain. You will need to have a medical indication for antidepressants. They aren't 'happy pills'. Ask your physician if antidepressants are a treatment option. Take care.

Question 10

how to switch from (escitalopram 5mg+clonazepam0.25mg) to duloxetine 20 mg..taking this antidepressant from last 2 years..previously i was on duloxeti?

Accepted Answer

Tricky: The switch must be done with the help of your doctor doing exactly what he/she says

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Doctor answers about:

Switching antidepressants

A member asked:

When switching antidepressant meds, can it be normal to feel sad / anxious in the beginning?

A member asked:

I am going to be switching antidepressants for generalized anxiety disorder. need advice!?

A member asked:

Is it possible to have withdrawals when switching antidepressants when your doctor didn't taper the first one and just had you start the new one?

A member asked:

Switching antidepressants zoloft to prozac because of results of genetic testing .. is this good choice .. 8 weeks on sertraline with minimal help on ?

A member asked:

My husband is 85 and on 40 mg of prozac. he is very quiet, doesnt talk much and still seems depressed. i am afraid at his age to have the doctor start switching antidepressants. should he increase prozac? i dont know what to do?

A member asked:

I switched recently from lexapro 20mg to anafranil. i currently take 150 mg anafranil and 150 amisulpride. my ocd got a lot worse since switching the antidepressants. i would like to know if it's gonna go away. it's been like that for two weeks?

A member asked:

How effective antidepressant switching usually be?

A member asked:

If switching from one antidepressant to another, can depression get worse before it gets better.?

A member asked:

How to ask to switch antidepressants?

A member asked:

How to switch from (escitalopram 5mg+clonazepam0.25mg) to duloxetine 20 mg..taking this antidepressant from last 2 years..previously i was on duloxeti?

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