Posted by olysi79 on May 22, 2008, at 22:43:12
In reply to Re: Need the experts- the 'cross taper' faux paux, posted by bleauberry on May 21, 2008, at 17:39:34
I definetely agree with this. So much variables to take into consideration. I am going to opt out of upping the Zoloft for now and see how I feel for a few weeks unless I feel truly awful, then up it'll go. I've been doses as high as 125 MGS, so I know the med well. 50 MGS was fine too.
From this recent cross taper experience, as well as another, I now oppose cross tapering unless it's a crisis situation. I am going to ask my doctor to not do that from now on, and to allow me to taper down, and then over to the new one, and just eat any side effects of the new med so i don;t have to deal with cross tapering issues.
At least you have a general idea of what is causing what side effects then.> Just opinion here, based on personal experiences, but when a drug is swapped for another, even with a careful taper, profound weird things can happen. I mean, despite both drugs being ssris, they are different molecules and have an array of different effects throughout the brain and genes and hormones, other than simply serotonin. Sometimes people get lucky and do a cross taper with no bumps, but other times it can be a real rough ride. I was lucky in that I went from 5mg lexapro to 25mg zoloft straight across with no taper and had no ill effects from it. Actually felt a little better on the first day. Never felt any lexapro withdrawals. Other drugs, other tapers, not so lucky.
>
> Someone might have marvelous anti-anxiety with lexapro, but terrible pro-anxiety with zoloft. Or the other way around, someone might have marvelous anti-anxiety with zoloft, but terrible pro-anxiety with lexapro. It varies so much. Some people have great anti-anxiety with either one, and some people have terrible pro-anxiety with either one.
>
> One thing for sure though is that the more time passes the smoother things should get. I agree with Scott in that the zoloft dose should go up a bit higher at this point. Time will tell which med is doing what.
poster:olysi79
thread:830094
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/neuro/20080418/msgs/830625.html