Changing AD tablets, is it worth the side effects?!
Question: I have been on 20mg Escitalopram (Cipralex) for 4 months, but then the side effects were getting to me, so I went back to the docs and she swapped it for 20mg of Fluoxetine (Prozac). I'm getting wierd electric like 'shocks' in my head that travel down my spine, like if someone startles you and you jump. When I turn around the room takes a few seconds to catch up with me. I've also had a heavy feeling in my head since Tuesday when I started taking them, and I got a migraine yesterday. There's one or two other things, but they're the worst.
I know everyone is different, but has anyone else experience similar, and did sticking with the new meds mean your side effects stopped, or did you have to change again? I was thinking of giving it a week or two, but is that long enough?
Thanks
Answers: I have been on 20mg Escitalopram (Cipralex) for 4 months, but then the side effects were getting to me, so I went back to the docs and she swapped it for 20mg of Fluoxetine (Prozac). I'm getting wierd electric like 'shocks' in my head that travel down my spine, like if someone startles you and you jump. When I turn around the room takes a few seconds to catch up with me. I've also had a heavy feeling in my head since Tuesday when I started taking them, and I got a migraine yesterday. There's one or two other things, but they're the worst.
I know everyone is different, but has anyone else experience similar, and did sticking with the new meds mean your side effects stopped, or did you have to change again? I was thinking of giving it a week or two, but is that long enough?
Thanks
Escitalopram is more potent than Prozac, the usual official figure is that 10mg escitalopram is equivalent to 20mg citalopram, with 20mg citalopram being quoted as equivalent to 20mg Prozac.
So by swapping 20mg escitalopram to 20mg fluoxetine, there has been an effective 50% cut in dose. A significant drop.
That indicates a withdrawal situation, as well as the switchover situation. For the withdrawal effects you may have noticed a slight lag between the dropping of the dose, and the onset of these symptoms (Day 3-5 is when the usual onset of escitalopram withdrawal occurs, but some show it sooner, some later).
Brain and body zaps are standardly encountered withdrawal symptoms. So are headaches, dizziness, and the Star Trek 'warp zoom' effect; nausea, the 'flu', increases in agitation and impulsivity, anxiety and depression are other commonly encountered symptoms.
I've linked you to three documents. The first two give the comparative doses, the third is a list of withdrawal symptoms.
You may also have a component of switchover effects going on... agitation effects and the like... however the zaps are associated with withdrawal, which might indicate this to be foremost at the moment.
Perhaps a discussion with your doctor might be most helpful?
These side effects sound very unpleasant, I would go back to your doctor or speak to your CPN if you have one.
I had the same experience in December. My Cipralex seemed to stop working so I went back to the GP. I was changed on to the Prozac which had exactly the same side effects on me as you are experiencing. I couldn't drive - could hardly walk. I persisted for three weeks, don't know how I managed it. Back to the docs again and changed back to citalopram, (which I had been on before) similar to escitalopram (I've tried that too) and now I feel ace. Better than I have for the last few years. The doc also put me on some kind of betablockers daily and the combination seems to be working for me.
I would advise you to go back to the docs. Like you said, everyone's different, but I know what I felt like and I wouldn't want to put up with it.
good luck!
I did it the other way round changing from prozac to citalopram cos the prozac made me very jumpy. Give them at least 6 weeks and then review them with your doctor but if the side effects are too much to bare then see someone sooner.