Depression: Switching Antidepressants

Question 1

What class of drug is Venlafaxine?

Answer 1

SNRI

Question 2

What sort of drug is escitalopram?

Answer 2

SSRI

Question 3

What sort of drug is Citalopram?

Answer 3

SSRI

Question 4

What sort of drug is sertraline?

Answer 4

SSRI

Question 5

Switching from fluoxetine to another SSRI.

What should your strategy be?

Answer 5

1. Gradually reduce
2. Leave a gap of 4-7 days (Long half life)
3. Start low dose of alternative SSRI

Question 6

Which SSRI has a long half life?

Answer 6

Fluoxetine

Question 7

Switching from SSRI to TCA.

What should your strategy be?

Which SSRI is an exception to this rule?

Answer 7

Cross-taper

Fluoxetine - completely withdraw prior.

(Reduce slowly whilst increasing the TCA slowly)

Question 8

What sort of drug is fluoxetine?

Answer 8

SSRI

Question 9

When switching from an SSRI (all except fluoxetine) to SNRI,

What should you strategy be?

Answer 9

Cross-taper slowly.

Question 10

Switching from citalopram, escitalopram, sertraline or paroxetine to another SSRI.

What should your strategy be?

Answer 10

Withdraw = Gradually reduce the dose and then stop.

Question 11

What sort of drug is Paroxetine?

Answer 11

SSRI

Question 12

What class of drug is Duloxetine?

Answer 12

SNRI

Question 13

Which SSRI has a short half life?

Answer 13

Paroxetine

Question 14

What should your strategy be for switching between fluoxetine and SNRI?

Answer 14

• Withdraw
• Then start SNRI and increase slowly