Hi -- I've been on Celexa for over 20 years for anxiety and done really well on it. A recent cancer diagnosis sent me into a tailspin of anxiety, and I've begun switching to Zoloft -- taking less Celexa each week and more Zoloft. Has anyone else gone through this process and what was your experience like? What side effects did you have, if any? How long did it take until you began feeling the benefits?
Many thanks.
Why do you have to change...I don't understand... I had good results with Celexa, but that's just me, everyone is different, and only a doctors advice should be consulted about meds, but I'm not sure why they have to change your meds that have always worked. I have always had an adjustment period when having to change meds to find one that suited my system best, I would think this is unnecessary additional stress on you. I'm sorry about the cancer diagnosis, and hope you get the best care you can....there is a lot more hope now....
The doctor would have prescribed a higher dose of Celexa, but I was at the maximum for my age. Still interested in hearing people's experiencing in switching from Celexa to Zoloft. Thanks.
I too do not understand why you switched if you were doing well on the Celexa. Both are the same class pf drugs, SSRIs. Is the only reason to switch because you could be given a larger dose of an SSRI with Zoloft? More is not always better. If anxiety and not depression is your main problem now, SSRIs treat anxiety only as a secondary effect. That is why they are called "antidepressants", they are formulated to treat depression. I have been on and off every anti-depressant on the maket in my 55-year history of depression, and none really helped my anxiety, especially the SSRIs, which didn't even help the depression that much. I had to add a benzo(diazepine) to get any relief from aniety. I know benzos are demonized due to misconceptions about them ("If you take even one you will be addicted for life", etc). and many doctors will not even prescribe them. I dropped all SSRIs (a DNA test I took showed they were not compatible with ny metabolism, which is why they never really worked for me) , went to an SNRI (Cymbalta) with much better results, but got no real help with the anxiety till I added Klonopin, a benzo. I have now been on a very high does of Ativan (another benzo) for 12 years along with Parnate, my current anti-depressant, and don't see how I would have survived if I could not have relieved the anxiety. See if your doctor will give you a small dose of a benzo to take with the the Zoloft; if not, find out why, and find one who will. It will be the best possible thing you can do for your anxiety. And benzos work immediately, no 6-week wait. Especially with your unfortunate cancer diagnosis, no AD alone is going to help. I am sorry for your cancer, but you can help your mental situation. Good luck.
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