Stopping escitalopram and starting zoloft

Hello all.

I have been on SSRIs since I was 17 due to developing an anxiety disorder involving chronic panic attacks and obsessive/anxious worry. I couldn't even sit in classes in high school and became paralyzed by panic. I am 29 now. I was successfully treated with citalopram for years and managed my anxiety somewhat okay using a combination of meds, exercise, and counseling. I have even made it most of my way through a PhD program in the Biosciences, but I am at my wits end with this mental illness stuff currently. I probably am going to take a leave of absence which isn't helping my anxiety... Anyway, a year ago we decided to change from citalopram to fluoxetine because we didn't think the citalopram was working for me anymore as I was maxed out; however, I couldn't handle the switch as the transition was too difficult and developed severe panic and anxiety again. Looking back at it now, I probably could have pushed through if I used some sort of benzo to cope. Regardless, after about 6 weeks of fluoxetine, we went to escitalopram. I have been on escitalopram 20 mg/day for a year now and am experiencing all of the physical symptoms of depression and anxiety for about 6 months now again and recently panic attacks. Sigh. My doc has weaned me off the escitalopram over a month and started me on Zoloft (50 mg/day currently, prob going to 75 mg/day later). I have been on Zoloft for 11 days now. I have benzos for as needed, but I don't want to overdo it in this department. To be honest, I am very scared and worried. My anxiety and panic is back full blown with depressive episodes. I am pretty much bedridden except for getting to doctors appointments, reading self help, and hitting the gym when I feel up for it. I have been barely eating or sleeping and am very agitated. Does anyone have any advice for getting through this tough transition and if/when things will get better?

Thank you.

ESTALOPRAM is a superior med, and Sertraline no far behind , for me i have maxed out on both these meds they no longer work. I found i bounced off both these to top scoring meds , but i was Sertraline -Zoloft first 100mg and Lexapro- escitalopram second ,only 10MG maybe if you did well on citalopram your shrinks choice should have been escitalopram- Lexapro the same med with superior modification , sort of the new kid on the block

It could be that you need a higher dosage. I've taken all of the SSRIs over the last 20 years and they all worked to some extent for anxiety, but only at higher dosages. 20 mg of escitslopram, 60 mg of fluoxetine and 90 mg of paroxetine. I take 100 mg of Sertraline now and it seems to work about as well as the paroxetine, which is good. I stopped the meds because of side effects, not because of effectiveness (except for Celexa, which did nothing at all for me)

Have you ever discussed the possibility of mild bipolar disorder with your doctor? I went through the same deal on and off different meds for anxiety/depression with only temporary relief. Anxiety always found a way to break through. I found a new doctor who suggested bipolar and began treating me with Lamictal and I have to say my moods are stable, my anxiety is manageable and I haven't felt this stable in years. I'm not sure if the constant changing of medications caused the bipolar to emerge or if it was something I was always predisposed to...either way it's worth bringing up to your doctor if you haven't discussed it already. Zoloft turned me into a different person (not good) beginning it I experienced many panic attacks - getting off of it felt like I was being freed from a cage. Hope this helps and that you feel better soon.

Thanks for the replies. I see my shrink on Tuesday and will talk about my disorders etc and current med status. I don't think I will be going back to the citaloprams unless it is with some adjunct agent as I have quit coffee and nicotine (over a year ago) due to a headache disorder and now the citaloprams both make me tired and want to sleep all day. Coffee also caused me anxiety. This is one of the reasons I wanted to try Zoloft too cus I hear it is more activating and could take care of the anxiety and depression. Anyway, I was told that I probably want to get up to a target Zoloft dose of 100 mg/day. I am currently on Day 12 at 50 mg/day and experiencing insomnia, the jitters, anxiety, lack of appetite. I think I need to push on as I hear a lot of anecdotes about things getting worse before better. I hope that is the case for me! I have clonazepam (0.25 mg tabs) for as needed during this transition, but am worried about using too much of it. I can't even remember what it was like a decade ago when I first started SSRIs... It seems that I am too neurotic about everything currently and need to trust in the process and my doctors.

in ENGLAND if over 65 , 10mg is max you can have Lexapro ,20mg fluoxetine. 20mg Paxil , but your cool with SERTRALINE 100mg

Update. Day 16 off escitalopram (was a 5 mg/day for about 3 weeks before discontinuing, down from 20 mg/day over a month and a half) and have been titrating up on zoloft since discontinuing the escitalopram. My psych wants me to titrate up to 150 mg/day zoloft and thinks that I might have came off the escitalopram too quickly. My biggest thing right now is anxiety which I have been trying to deal with using clonazepam (0.25 mg as needed), but I am worried that I will end up having to take too much during this transition and become dependent. I am currently using 4 x 0.25 mg clonazepam a day which only has a mild effect for my level of anxiety - I don't want to suffer. Been trying to keep busy and force myself to eat, but often I feel sick and bedridden. I am currently experiencing which may be due to discontinuation of the escitalopram and titrating up on zoloft, is: insomnia, weight loss, anxiety attacks, nausea, loss of appetite, some headaches. Hopefully the zoloft works for me.

you were on an SSRI , you were going on another SSRI , You don't have to detox, you straight taper 1 to the other . i would drop my 100mg Zoloft to 50mg for 1 day , the next day take 10mg escitalopram AND no Zoloft , job done they crossed the blood brain barrier together 1 going in the other out , with no side effects Didn't your doc TALK about straight tapering, TAKES OUT WEEKS OF CRAP

Hey all. Been on 100 mg Zoloft for just over two weeks now. I titrated up pretty quickly to 100 mg after quitting Lexapro (6 weeks ago) and have been really depressed and anxious lately. I feel like my depression has been getting worse since starting Zoloft and my anxiety is worse for sure too. For about a week now, I have been experiencing side effects of Zoloft that I especially experience a couple hours after taking Zoloft. It is giving me a dull headache (all over but seems to radiate up from my neck), bad fogginess, nausea and agitation. Can't really seem to kill this pain as I can't really use pain meds (I get rebound headaches). Anyway, just wondering how long one needs to stick out these side effects. Trying hard to push through and give this med a chance, but I feel like it is making me sick. I am going to try to call my doctor tomorrow regardless. I am pretty neurotic about things right now and have lost a lot of confidence or hope in this treatment.

Sertraline may not be the med for you after 6 weeks , how long on its own your sertraline without your Lexapro ??? you need 6week solid Sertraline to think of quitting

Thanks for responding. I'm glad someone did. I have been off the Lexapro entirely for over 6 weeks now and on Zoloft for the same amount of time. I am not sure how much longer to give it. Only been on this dose for 2.5 weeks (100 mg) but I feel like I'm getting worse by the day. I called my doctor today and left a message, hopefully he will call me back today. You are right, Zoloft may not be the med for me. I am just trying to stay afloat right now.