Changing anti-depressants

Sorry if this has been posted before, but I was wondering what the transition is like when changing meds? I've been on sertraline for about 15 months, I've been on 150mg since November. However, my dr says they may be doing more harm than good (my mood hasn't been great and I've had several incidents lately involving A&E), so he's suggesting taking me off them and trying something else. However, I was told that sertraline is one of the most effective anti depressants, and I'm not too keen on the idea of meds like risperidone because I was on that for a month last year and it turned me into a zombie. I'm just really scared of becoming really unstable whilst withdrawing from the sertraline before I build up the dose of the new meds? Anyone got any experience?

It's a tricky question, Noosh, because it'll be different for everyone. Here are a couple of posts that sort of relate.

medication-anti-depressants/topic118691.html
borderline-personality/topic129318.html

Definitely make sure you talk through tapering down, though. And whether there's a "bridging" med and / or other options that he might recommend.

I'd think that there are other choices rather than going back on risperdone. And I hope your pdoc will go through that with you too. Re the sertraline being effective. It is going to vary for people just due to individual circumstances. And the unique balance of issues going on. So it can take a fair amount of effort to find something that works with your body chemistry to keep you stable and at a good level of mood. Worth doing though!