Switching zoloft to celexa?!
Question: I have anxiety and panic disorder, so I was prescribed Zoloft. I was started on 50mg, but I had a really bad reaction....not sleeping, extreme panic attacks, weird thoughts. I also had the jittery feeling and nausea which I could have dealt with without the other symptoms (I had been on Paxil six years ago and never experienced any of these...went off Paxil because of a huge weight gain). I then went on 25 mg Zoloft, and was able to sleep some but still having the weird thoughts and extreme panic. I was only on Zoloft for a total of eight days. My Dr. has decided to switch me to Celexa. He said that it is more sedating than the Zoloft. He told me to take 5mg Celexa for four days and then go to 10 mg. I just started this today. The question is will I have withdrawals from being on Zoloft after only a week, and will the celexa cause similiar side effects such as I had with the Zoloft?
Answers: I have anxiety and panic disorder, so I was prescribed Zoloft. I was started on 50mg, but I had a really bad reaction....not sleeping, extreme panic attacks, weird thoughts. I also had the jittery feeling and nausea which I could have dealt with without the other symptoms (I had been on Paxil six years ago and never experienced any of these...went off Paxil because of a huge weight gain). I then went on 25 mg Zoloft, and was able to sleep some but still having the weird thoughts and extreme panic. I was only on Zoloft for a total of eight days. My Dr. has decided to switch me to Celexa. He said that it is more sedating than the Zoloft. He told me to take 5mg Celexa for four days and then go to 10 mg. I just started this today. The question is will I have withdrawals from being on Zoloft after only a week, and will the celexa cause similiar side effects such as I had with the Zoloft?
They have very similar side affects. Celexa also as been modified to a better compound by the same manufacturer an isomer(mirror image) actually known as Lexapro with less side effects and better response. But if you are experiencing panic attacks a good psychiatrist can also provide you with a good psychoeducation which is also a treatment of choice for panic attacks. In psychoeducation all information on how the symptoms starts, what triggers it etc will be provided to you and so you can have more control of your panic attacks by not making it worse by stopping the viscious cycle (problem-processing-panic attacks-the panic attacks/symptoms are viewed as big problems-processing-panic attacks......the cycle goes on and on). Everyones suffers from panic attacks but you probably get equally worried about your symptoms so it goes back known as catastrophic interpretation of bodily symptoms. Sometimes just surrender and enjoy life will work!
ask your doctor............ he is the one prescribing.............. the medication.
Both are SSRIs and as such you may not need them. Ask him for Wellbutrin.