Antidepressant Medications

hi there!
hoping someone can calm my nerves on this topic. i've been on 60mg of cymbalta for 2 years now - it's worked pretty well, but has recently pooped out due to losing my job, i can no longer afford it. (yikes $187/month! yeesh!)

so, my primary care doc switched me over to paxil 20mg, since it's generic and a savings of $183 a month, LOL!

i asked him how i should switch and he told me that it is fine to just stop the cymbalta 60mg and start on the paxil 20mg the next day. now, i've switched meds before and am pretty sure i've done this before (just stopping one & starting another), but i also feel like the cymbalta has really zapped my memory, so i cant remember if this sounds right or not. before the cymbalta i switched right over from effexor, but i also know they are cousins, so it may be a bit different.

does anyone have any experience with this? i'm supposed to take my first dose of 20mg paxil tomorrow!

also- while i have your attention ;)
i had good luck with the cymbalta - it made me LOSE weight! woo hoo! everywhere i look i see "paxil & weight gain".. is this a really common side effect? i'm on a diet, darn it! :)

thanks for any advice you could offer

xoxo,
k

If you haven't already (and I'm sure you probably have since you were due to start the new med a few days ago), I'd suggest calling your doctor to double check the switching of the meds.  I'd also be on the watch for withdrawal side effects.

In the past when I've been on medications for which the side effects can include weight gain, my doctor has encourged me to get in a little bit of extra activity.  Usually that does the trick to help me at least maintain my weight, even if I don't lose any more.