How do the docs switch you from one AD to another?

[GrayEyes777]

I get the feeling that eventually I'm going to have to go off Lexapro (don't think it's really working for me), and I'm curious as to how they do it. I was on Prozac for many years and when I came off it, I came off on my own - just weaned off VERY slowly. But do they wean you off or just have you jump from one to another?

And if the latter, how difficult is it? I tend to be one of those who are VERY sensitive to any changes like that and am already getting anxiety just THINKING about this!

Thanks.

Terri

[tryp]

You can do something called a cross-taper, where you would slowly decrease your Lexapro while slowly increasing another anti depressant.

For me, it's always been super easy, but I am way more sensitive to start up effects than to withdrawals. I get much sicker starting a new medication than I ever do stopping an old one.

[Catnapper]

It's very unlikely that a pdoc will have you stop any med cold-turkey, it's not good for you for a number of different reasons, depending on the med. The cross-taper Tryp described is likely, as is keeping you on whatever you're on now and adding something in. One of the main reasons for being on multiple meds is because you can get the benefit of the med without the side effects that are more noticeable at higher doses.

For instance, I'm stable right now, but if I start slipping into depression again (likely based on my history), the pdoc and I have a plan to add in a low dose of lithium to my current cocktail as an opening salvo. The last time I was depressed I went through a few different meds before we found the right mix to get me better. Good luck to you.

[Bribarian]

I get the feeling that eventually I'm going to have to go off Lexapro (don't think it's really working for me), and I'm curious as to how they do it. I was on Prozac for many years and when I came off it, I came off on my own - just weaned off VERY slowly. But do they wean you off or just have you jump from one to another?

And if the latter, how difficult is it? I tend to be one of those who are VERY sensitive to any changes like that and am already getting anxiety just THINKING about this!

Thanks.

Terri

I'm in the same boat, I think my Lexapro has pooped out finally and I'm in a weird state of mind right now. Mostly depressed.

I'm going to go on luvox probably.

I hear they'll lower one while adding the other, hopefully that works.

[Stickler]

They can speed-taper you if you're in crisis- I went from Effexor to Zoloft in a week this spring.

I was thinking about getting paperwork taken care of, getting my car title in my wife's name.

Calling it quits in a semi-tidy fashion.

When I the doc this, and well, we decided dizziness would be tolerable.

[fishinblues]

I just switched from Lexapro to Effexor. Its only been a month now. But I am not a fan so far. Not sure if I need to give it some more time but it has turned me into the walking dead. Lexapro was slowly losing its effect ( been on for 5+ years ). I am going back to pdoc in 2 weeks and I am going to try and get off these if things aren't better by then. Then start that nightmare.