fluoxetine to sertraline ??

[kirstymarie96]

anyone changed from fluoxetine to sertraline and had to have a weeks break from taking fluoxetine before starting sertraline. I can’t recall doing this in the past but my current go told me I have to.

[Littlecook]

Hi what I can tell you is that you need to come off fluoxetine gradually, I've been talking them for some time but never found them worked for me ,I've also had sertraline ,but now need to wait for my referral to come from the hospital. Good luck with your serialise.

[kirstymarie96 in reply to Littlecook]

I’ve got down to the lowest dose of fluoxetine in hope I could swap but it’s not that easy apparently

[Littlecook in reply to kirstymarie96]

What's your dosage? You should be be able to change if on a low dose, I've tried different ones but now new need to wait for my hospital appointment to get my medication changed.

[kirstymarie96 in reply to Littlecook]

20mg

[Littlecook]

I was taken 60mg , cut down to 20mg for 2wks then stop completely, talk to you doctor if you want to change, maybe he / she will reduce your dosage slowly. Good luck 👍.

[Sqlguy]

Fluoxetine has a very long half-life, the longest of all the SSRIs. I believe there is still some in your system 5 weeks after you stop it. Your doctor must want the fluoxtine level to drop from what it would be if you went straight from one to the other. Only thing I can think of. When switching from one SSRI to another you ususally do a crosss taper, where you drop the dose on your current med gradually and increase the dose of the new med at the same time. I've never heard of needing a wash-out period between SSRIs. Ask the doctor why this is necessary.