How do you change antidepressants?

[cortisolqueen]

I think the Lexapro I have taken for 4 years has pooped out. I am going to mention this to the doctor at my next appointment in July. I know a lot of times people have to change meds. I had a really hard time starting medication as I have a pill phobia and really don't want to take anything. I got so bad with anxiety and now depression that I gave in. I am just so afraid to change, do you just stop one and start the other or do you wean off one and then add the other? I know some people just switch over like it is nothing. I am stressing over this. Any advice.

[JAYnLA]

I recently 'cross titrated' from Zoloft to Prozac. It's a process of lowering the dose of the drug you're on while introducing small amounts of the drug you're moving to. It wasn't too bad, and I can get really freaky about pills as well. Your doc should have a plan for you.

[cortisolqueen in reply to JAYnLA]

Thanks so much for the reply. Do you feel like the Prozac is helping you more than the Zoloft? Do you have mostly anxiety or depression?

[JAYnLA in reply to cortisolqueen]

I'm primarily anxious. I did not like Zoloft but it wasn't 'catastrophic'. I'm getting a little more out of Prozac I think, but feel a bit drugged and that's a button for me. I just do not like being on meds but reached a point where it was foolish not to be.