SSRI Switching & Dose Equivalency Guide

Switching between SSRIs requires careful dose mapping and tapering. This guide provides approximate equivalent doses, key pharmacologic differences, and clinical pearls for safe SSRI switching.

Dose Equivalency Guide

Approximate equivalent doses within Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors

Drug	Low Dose	Medium Dose	High Dose	Notes
sertraline	25-50 mg	50-100 mg	200 mg	Preferred in cardiac patients; take with food
escitalopram	5-10 mg	10-20 mg	20 mg	Most selective SSRI; fewest drug interactions
fluoxetine	10-20 mg	20 mg	80 mg	Longest half-life (no withdrawal); activating
paroxetine	10-20 mg	20 mg	50 mg	Most sedating; highest withdrawal risk; avoid in elderly
citalopram	10-20 mg	20 mg	40 mg	QTc prolongation risk above 40mg; max 20mg if >60yo
fluvoxamine	25-50 mg	100-200 mg	300 mg	Primarily used for OCD; many drug interactions

Source: Standard psychiatric pharmacology references

Individual Drug Pages

Sertraline Escitalopram Fluoxetine Paroxetine Citalopram Fluvoxamine