Switching antidepressants by psychiatrists in India involve careful management to avoid adverse effects such as drug interactions and withdrawal symptoms. Considerations include the washout period (time needed to clear the old drug from the system), risk of toxicity, withdrawal, and urgency. Washout period recommendations vary by drug class and specific antidepressants: - Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs)**: Jaipur psychiatrists need 1-7 days for switching within the same class, but 14 days when switching to MAO inhibitors to prevent serotonin syndrome. - SSRIs : Fluoxetine, with its long half-life, needs 5-35 days before switching to another antidepressant, particularly MAO inhibitors. Other SSRIs (e.g., fluvoxamine, paroxetine) typically require 1-7 days. - SNRI : Venlafaxine and duloxetine generally need 1-7 days before starting a new antidepressant, with 14 days recommended when moving to MAO inhibitors. - Atypical Antidepressants : Bupropion, mirtazapine, and trazodone also require a 1-7 day washout period, extending to 14 days for MAOIs. Transitions involving fluoxetine or MAOIs are high-risk, requiring extended washout times to avoid serotonin syndrome as per psychiatrist jaipur. For urgent cases, shorter washout periods may be possible with close monitoring. Best psychiatrist jaipur assess patient history, considering drug half-lives, and monitoring for serotonin syndrome signs during transitions, especially when shorter washout periods are unavoidable.