Cold Turkey Off One Antidepressant To Start A New One

[Mammasalt]

So I had to go cold turkey off one antidepressant I was on double dose for 6 months to start the new antidepressant. It was only two days but holy duck snap, I'm impressed I didn't end it all. Now I'm on the new one and I'm struggling to remember what's real and what's part of my dreams/nightmares I have had since going cold turkey. It's like serious topics, like cheating on my husband with my boss and someone died. Did it really happen? Is there a way without opening asking if I had sex with my boss for example to work out what really happened and what was just a dream?

 

[joeylittle]

I had to go cold turkey off one antidepressant I was on double dose for 6 months to start the new antidepressant. It was only two days but holy duck snap, I'm impressed I didn't end it all. Now I'm on the new one and I'm struggling to remember what's real and what's part of my dreams/nightmares I have had since going cold turkey.

What medications, and how long was it since you did that 2-day cold turkey withdrawal? I'm asking because the medication will still be very much in your system, and you might be getting a cross-over effect. Surprised this is the way your doc wanted you to do it, but I'm curious what the meds are (if you don't mind me asking. Only answer if you're comfortable).

 

[Mammasalt]

I was on paroxetine Sandoz double dose & now I'm on venlafaxine single dose for now. I started the new one on Monday so I was cold turkey over the weekend. I start my double dose of venlafaxine on Monday.

 

[joeylittle]

Ok. So, you haven't actually cleared the Paxil from your system yet. Calculating half-life is more than my mind can do at the moment, but you were on it for awhile, and it's normally stopped by using a slow taper.

You're probably going to be struggling for at least another week. I know this wasn't your question - but if you can ramp up the venlafaxine slower, it would be better. Not sure how many mg you will be taking - I take 375 mg venlafaxine daily and it took me 3 weeks to get there.

 

[Mammasalt]

I'm in ED at the moment, I cut up my arm. The going theory is this next one isn't doing me any good either. I just want to go back to been me again.

 

[Deleted member 31177]

I'm in ED at the moment, I cut up my arm. The going theory is this next one isn't doing me any good ei...

Mammasalt, if the new med is creating so much pain in your life that you started cutting, go off of it immediately and go to your Psychiatrist immediately on emergency basis and get onto a different class of medicine - I say this from experience and have not one care what anyone else thinks about what I have to say here.

And it IS okay to go immediately from one anti-depressant to another. If you are cutting, DO NOT stay on that med, but go to doc right away to go on a new med from a different class. I've done this a few times over the years.

Take care of you!