Zoloft was one of the very first SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) anti-depressants that came on the market and was widely prescribed, and there is no doubt that it has helped millions of individuals on their road to recovery from depression. Other people, however, have experienced troubling side effects from taking Zoloft, including feelings of fogginess, numbness, insomnia, and even sexual side effects. (For more on sexual side effects from Zoloft, see my previous Associated Content article). Many other SSRI drugs have come out on the market since Zoloft, each with their own list of risks and benefits.
One of the newer SSRIs on the market is a drug called Lexapro, which is actually an updated version of an older anti-depressant called Celexa. Lexapro is the fastest growing anti-depressant on the prescription drug market today, thanks in large part to its relatively benign side-effect profile. Most people who take Lexapro experience no side effects whatsoever, and those that do have problems note that they are much less severe than they were on older anti-depressants. Scientists aren’t sure exactly why Lexapro causes fewer side effects, but it might because it has fewer “stray” molecules that act on other receptors in the brain. For this reason, many patients are making the switch from Zoloft (or other older drugs) to Lexapro.
A few years ago, I made the switch from Lexapro to Zoloft, and I have to say that it was definitely the right decision for me. Within a few weeks of switching, many of the side effects I had been experiencing on Zoloft began to fade, and I started to feel like my old self again. However, the transition process wasn’t without its “bumps” along the way. Here are a few tips to help make your switch from Zoloft to Lexapro as smooth as possible:
1) Go slowly. Anytime you switch from one anti-depressant drug to another, it has to be a very gradual process in order to minimize side effects. Your doctor will probably advise you to slowly reduce your daily dose of Zoloft, perhaps cutting it in half every one to two weeks. Once you are down to a very small dose of Zoloft, you can begin taking a small dose of Lexapro as your doctor advises. Within a week or two, you will probably stop taking Zoloft completely, and gradually step up to a therapeutic dosage of Lexapro. It is very important to follow your doctor’s instructions closely during this transition period. Too much of either drug could cause a potentially dangerous medical condition known as serotonin syndrome, while too little of the drugs could cause you to become depressed or unstable.
2) Lay low. During the transition process, it is very likely you will experience at least some physical or emotional discomfort as your body adjusts to your new medication. Don’t switch from Zoloft to Lexapro while you have major life events going on, like a wedding, new career, or new living situation. You may want to reduce the number of social outings you schedule during this time so you don’t feel pressured if you’re not feeling your best, but be careful not to allow yourself to become isolated, as this can lead to depression itself.
3) Stay hydrated. This last tip may be the least obvious one, but perhaps the most important. Drinking ample amounts of water while switching from Zoloft to Lexapro will help your body make the transition with ease. Not only has dehydration been linked to headaches, depression, and malaise, but your body will actually be able to “move” the drugs around your body and utilize them more effectively when you are well-hydrated. So be sure to drink at least eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day…every day.
By following these simple steps, I was able to completely make the switch from Zoloft to Lexapro in less than two months, and since I’ve started Lexapro, my outlook on life has never been better. If you are experiencing troubling side-effects on Zoloft, Prozac, or another older anti-depressant, ask your doctor if switching to Lexapro might make sense for you. If your doctor agrees to give It a try, follow the simple steps in this article, and I’m sure you will be feeling better in no time.
