One ssri after another

Just wanted to ask about peoples experience with changing  from one ssri to another. If you change from paxil (After taking it for months) to prozac (And vice versa) how long does it take to get the full effects of the new medication?
Thanks

[JSGeare]

It depends on which SSRI and it depends on the person. Results will vary -sometimes quite a lot. Can you say why you are changing, or thinking about it?

By the way, I see you haven't JOINED the forum yet. I hope you'll consider it, your experience could bne very valuable here.

[greenlydia]

Hi again Pete!
I see you are cosidering the change we spoke about. Considering the reasons you need to change, I think you'll do fine. Just make sure you stay in touch with your doc while you do the cross-over. And when you get to Thailand, hook up with a good doc and explain all to him/her so they can follow you, too.
I don't have the expertise to answer your question with any authority...........your doctor should be the best resource or perhaps a pharmacist. Also, you can search this forum by going up to the top and you'll see a little blue box that says "Search MedHelp." Type in something like "paxil to prozac" or something like that, and it will bring up all the posts that pertain to that particular subject. You may find much useful information there.
With any luck, our resident pharmacological guru, Ryan, will respond and then you will have your answer.
Keep us posted, OK?
And let us know when the big move is made!
Peace
Greenlydia

[PeteWasabi]

O.K. thanks. Greenlydia. JSGear I am thinking abput changing for financial reasons. How do you join up exactly?

[nursegirl6572]

Hi there,

Each SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) varies slightly chemically, but they all pretty much WORK the same.  How they work is by blocking "re-uptake" of  Serotonin (a chemical present in us that makes us feel "balanced" and "happy" to be simple), allowing there to be more Serotonin present in the brain.

That is pretty much the GOAL of all of those meds, how they accomplish that, is slightly different from med to med.  MOST people do well switching between the different meds.

Hope that helps!

Good Luck!