How to Switch Antidepressants
nytimes.com • • health
Key Points:
- Elizabeth, a 64-year-old former lawyer and long-term caregiver for her autistic sons, had been taking the antidepressant Celexa for 20 years to manage stress.
- Last year, when Celexa became less effective, her doctor advised a rapid switch to another antidepressant, Zoloft, which led to severe psychological and physical withdrawal symptoms.
- Elizabeth experienced new issues including continuous crying, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, facial tingling, decreased appetite, and heart palpitations after the medication change.
- After consulting psychiatrists, it was determined she likely suffered from protracted withdrawal due to the rapid discontinuation of Celexa.
- The case highlights the risks of fast antidepressant switching and the need for careful management of medication changes in long-term users.
