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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 4 of 4. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by LisaM17 on August 22, 2000, at 15:08:36
I have been on 100mg Zoloft for a couple of months now and my doc is switching me to 20 Prozac. She said to go to 50mg Zoloft for 5 days, then start the Prozac...has anyone had any bad experiences with starting another SSRI right away? Does there need to be a washout period, or is it ok since they are both SSRI's? Thanks for your help!
Posted by Cam W. on August 22, 2000, at 22:23:17
In reply to How to switch from Zoloft to Prozac, experiences?, posted by LisaM17 on August 22, 2000, at 15:08:36
Lisa - You are doing the change over correctly. There is no need for a washout when changing within the SSRI class, but you should lower the dose of the Zoloft (as you are doing) before switching to Prozac to avoid any risk of serotonin syndrome. It's nice to see a doc doing a switch correctly. - Cam
Posted by JohnL on August 25, 2000, at 5:27:34
In reply to How to switch from Zoloft to Prozac, experiences?, posted by LisaM17 on August 22, 2000, at 15:08:36
> I have been on 100mg Zoloft for a couple of months now and my doc is switching me to 20 Prozac. She said to go to 50mg Zoloft for 5 days, then start the Prozac...has anyone had any bad experiences with starting another SSRI right away? Does there need to be a washout period, or is it ok since they are both SSRI's? Thanks for your help!
Lisa,
The switch from Zoloft to Prozac should be pretty easy. Following the instructions you were given should work well, though if I were doing it I would make a couple modifications.
In your shoes, after being at 50mg Zoloft for 5 days, I would then lower it to 25mg for a few days. Then switch. And when you do switch, I would not start with 20mg Prozac. Instead I would start with 5mg the first day or two, then 10mg for a week or so, and then up to 20mg.
To customize the dosage sizes of Prozac, you can empty the contents of a capsule into juice or water. Stir it up and drink a custom size dose, saving the rest in the fridge for next time. For example, if 20mg was dissolved in a glass of orange juice, I would drink 1/4 of that glass the first day, and another 1/4 the next day, and then maybe the remaining 1/2 glass on day 3. It won't dissolve, so make sure to stir it well just before drinking so it isn't settled at the bottom of the glass.
There is no danger in doing the switch the way you were instructed. The reason I would modify it as explained above is to make it a smoother ride, a smoother transition.
John
Posted by Cam W. on August 25, 2000, at 6:59:30
In reply to Re: How to switch from Zoloft to Prozac, experiences?, posted by JohnL on August 25, 2000, at 5:27:34
Great ideas, John. I'm going to print them. - Cam
This is the end of the thread.
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