Changing meds

[Jenrolil]

Has anybody switched from taking sertraline (Zoloft) to fluoxetine (Prozac) and done a direct swap without tapering first? What was your experience ?

[Elab2]

Hey. Yeh I did . I started in fluoxetine a few years ago and headaches were bad. Dr put me on sertraline and said do a direct swap the next morning. I did this, by the night I was in hospital. Extreme sickness, blood pressure thought roof, consciousness wasn’t brill, burning all over my body and felt so suicidal which I never had before. Called 111 for help and took to hospital. After they said it was serotonin syndrome and wasn’t meant to take them as a direct switch your meant to come off one and then commence on another after a week or so. The whole thing turned my life Upside down for about 2 years. I still to this day have ptsd and suicidal thoughts that frighten the life out of me from that event. I’d never recommend ever.

Might be different for you though x

[Jenrolil in reply to Elab2]

So you swapped from fluoxetine to sertraline? I’ve read that you shouldn’t do a straight swap from fluoxetine to another ssri because it has a longer half life so stays in your system for longer. I think switching to fluoxetine from sertraline has less risk of serotonin syndrome as it leaves your system a lot faster. So sorry you had that experience. Sounds terrifying

[Pennyonthego]

I did with no problems.

Most medicines make me sick but this worked fine

[Beyonce247]

I have literally just been changed from sertraline 50mg to fluoxetine 20mg today. Picked up my prescription and I will be weening off the sertraline this week. Thinking back to the side effects of starting the sertraline I am not looking forward but hopefully it will help the depression. Will post an update when there is one. Anyone else changed?