medication problems

[hmf099]

I have ocd, gad, and moderate depression (all have been formally diagnosed). A week ago my psychiatrist stopped my 200 mgs of zoloft and started me on luvox 50 mgs a day for the first two weeks then 100 mgs a day there after. A couple days later I started expiriencing major withdrawal symptoms, severe anxiety and panic (more so than usual), insomnia, and some slight agoraphobia (I don't like to leave the house, but I will if I need too) and even stronger ocd symptoms. I am on a wait list to see my psychiatrist so my pharmacist told me to take 50 mgs of zoloft every 12 - 24 hours until I can see my psychiatrist. Is this safe? Even with this lower dose of zoloft the symptoms are still pretty bad, but can these meds be taken together? I am also on 150 mgs of trazodone for sleep and neurontin for anxiety.

[hmf099]

thank you very much for the response, unfortunantly I can not get in contact with my dr before the appt. I called in a medication emergancy and all they did was wait list me.

[Paxiled]

Luvox is a different med, and won't necessarily substitute for Zoloft even though both are ssris.  I believe the safe way to do this is to slowly taper off the Zoloft and when you're about done, assuming you don't have significant withdrawal, slowly substitute the Luvox.  What you're suffering now appears to be withdrawal from abruptly terminating the Zoloft.  I'd also specifically ask your psychiatrist about contraindications with the Luvox -- it interacts adversely with a lot of meds, so I'm make sure your psychiatrist knows what he's doing -- it doesn't sound right to me already.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

you are taking too many medications for me give you a simple answer.  There are risks and side effects with each of these medications and you must get the answer from your psychiatrist.  I suggest you contact him even before your appointment.