Medication transition

I grew up with anxiety and depression. By the time I was age 33 I was having multiple panic attacks each day. In desperation I went my GP who prescibed Amytriptyline. I have been on 150mg for the last 20 years. Over the years it has been very good for me in allowing me to live a normal life. However, the side effects of dry mouth, weight gain, vivid dreams, etc as I've aged have become more intense. (I now have sleep apnea w/ sleep disturbances that the sleep lab believes is caused by the drug.) I want to get off of this drug and on to another newer drug with less side effects but am not sure what to expect.

The GP that I have today said that he would recommend getting off the 150mg of Amytriptyline by dropping the dosage from 150mg to 75mg for two weeks and then transfer over to the newer drug at 75mg and then move back up to 150mg if necessary. My question is this, what would or could I expect if I went from 150mg to 75mg for two weeks and then after two weeks 75mg of a different antidepressent?  
Thanks,
Ficus

[suzi-q]

I would post the same question you just gave and in the "title of the post" address it to RCA...he is a wealth of information regarding dosages of medication and also the interactions.  Also, I would recommend talking to an actual Psychiatrist regarding the meds.  Even though your GP knows about meds, only a psychiatrist who is first hand with these meds can give you more specific and maybe different information.

[suzi-q]

see...I told you about RCA!

[ficus]

Thanks Ryan and Suzi!