Citalopram to Effexor

Hi All,
I hope I am in the right forum thread hopefully!
I am typing this from work so trying to hide my screen at the moment haha!

I am 27 and been on citalopram for 7 years with little of no issue I went on them after an EXTREME bout of anxiety when I was 21. The really helped once they got started and I was stable for about 5 years on them no issues just living my life. I needed to bump up twice though on them once to 30mg and once to 40mg so that is where I sit now.
My Dad passed away last year and I have had really hard time coping with that and some other life pressures and about 4 months ago I noticed my anxiety starting to spike again. As a temporary measure my Doctor put me on 60mg of citalopram but it did not work. Then she added in Zyprexa 2.5mg and I went back to 40mg of Citalopram which is where I am now. The Zyprexa helped the extreme anxiety I was having and panic attacks and I havent missed work I have been going in, socialising etc but I still feel incredibly flat and I am still getting bouts of anxiety I can have two or three very bad days in a row etc so yesterday my Doctor thought that potentially the citalopram has run it's course with me and its now time to try an snri and she suggested Effexor which I agree I think I need a change.
However this is required to take 20mg for one week (halving my dose of citalopram) then onto Effexor 37.5mg for one week then up to 75mg.
This obviously terrifies me. I took 20mg last night and I know one day will not have a difference but I am worried about the rest of the week on 20mg then the startup effects f a new anti depressant. Can anyone who has been through this tel me what to expect or even changed their ssri before? I would be so grateful to chat to people.

Thanks so much!
Reb

Hi

This is just a courtesy reply to let you know that your post was moved from its original place to a sub-forum that is more relevant to your issue.

This is nothing personal - it just enables us to keep posts about the same problems in the relevant forums so other members with any experience with the issues can find them more easily.

Please also read this post:

http://www.nomorepanic.co.uk/showthread.php?t=213239

Hi Rebeccamb have a read through pinkdoves thread, a few below this one, she moved over from citalopram to ven and did really well with it. The thread is called, from citalopram to venlafaxine good stories please. I was also on citalopram and am now doing well with ven. Everyone on here is really nice and will help and answer any questions you have.
Jem xx

Thanks so much, I had a read of it there! I am on day 6 of going from 40mg of citalopram to 20mg. So far no side effects at all, on Wednesday I start Effexor 37.5mg. Very nervous about the first few days!

:wacko:

Well, I am going to keep this as a bit of a diary. Just took the effexor xr 37.5mg 1 hour ago - here goes nothing so far nothing except my own fear with taking it so lets see.

So two days into Effexor and have noticed no difference or side effects at all so far! ( I know they are probably coming) all very well so far and no major withdrawal from the . Citalopram so keeping going for now! All is fine!

Just an update so anyone on this wild journey or about to start it can see. Day 4 of Effexor 37.5mg - nothing to report at all!

Relief!

Now we wait and go up to 75mg after a week!

Quick update - day 6 feeling a bit low today , a bit of heightened anxiety and a bit of nausea - all manageable and hopefully worth it for what is to come!

Update - Day 7 of Effexor - feel very low today and worried about the potential of this working :(
Any words of comfort would be good - is it normal to feel like this?

well felt like I should give an update here - I won't lie the first two weeks are tough there is a lot of ups and downs but I stuck with it - been on them 19 days and things are good so far - definitely something is working and no crying no panicking but totally too soon still to tell. Still on 75mg been on that 12 days so lets see!