Posted by IsoM on December 18, 2001, at 18:54:59
In reply to Re: What's with this new Celexa?, posted by Bill L on December 18, 2001, at 8:57:33
Thanks Bill for the explanation. I'm pretty familiar with chiral molecules from some knowledge of chemistry. Interesting that Celexa has been found to be one of the compounds with an inactive chiral form. Seeing I don't get ANY side-effects from Celexa (thank goodness), the newer version wouldn't be important to me but I sure can understand how people with side-effects on it would welcome the newest version.
I read recently about thalidomide making a comeback, being used in the treatment of leprosy. It's one with both right- & left-handed isomers & apparently the horrible side-effects that caused the seal-limbs in babies born to mothers taking the drug during pregnancy was caused by the inactive form of it.
At one time, it wasn't possible when making a chemical to separate the two versions but advances have made it possible now. Glad to hear about Celexa.
> Many chemical coumponds, including Celexa, have enantiomers. That means that the coumponds exist in pairs. Each pair has a molecular structure that is the mirror image of the other. So half of the coumpound exists as the first enantiomer, and the other half as the second (mirror image) enantiomer.
>
> In Celexa, only the first enantiomer (which is called the S enantiomer) is active against depression and anxiety. The second enantiomer does not help with depression or anxiety, but it contributes to side effects.
>
> The lab that makes Celexa for Forest Labs (I forgot the name of the lab - it might be Lundbreck?) found a way to strip out the inactive enantiomer leaving only the S enantiomer. They then did clinical trials. These trials confirmed that the S enantiomer worked at a lower dose than Celexa and had less side effects.
>
> Since the new drug is the S enantomer only, it's call S citalopram. But actually they decided to make it one word and they are calling it escitalopram. I'm sure they will come up with a trade name before it hits the market but I don't know what that name will be.
>
> > How is this new Celexa different than the Celexa already on the market? Curious, as that's the SSRI that I'm on.
> >
> > *************************************************************************************************
> >
> > > > lilly is also working on a new antidepressant in phase 2 trials called dualoxetine. i guess its the prozac molecule along with a new twist like effexor.
> > > > they claim low sexual side effects and less anxiety etc...
> > > > would be nice.
> > > > but esctilopram suppose to be stronger than celexa, with less side effects
> > > > anyone hear anything??
> > > > ross
> > >
> > > I regulary check the forestlabs.com site hoping that they will get an approval soon. I'm looking forward to trying it out- sounds very promising to me.
> > > Bonnie
poster:IsoM
thread:87227
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011213/msgs/87333.html