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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jms600 on January 24, 2005, at 17:03:51
Citalopram vs Escitalopram - is there any difference between these two? If so what are they?
Posted by Impermanence on January 24, 2005, at 20:33:02
In reply to Citalopram vs Escitalopram, posted by jms600 on January 24, 2005, at 17:03:51
Very little difference. Basically Forest Laboratories lost the patent for Celexa (Citalopram) and where afraid of losing hundreds of millions a year like Eli Lilly did when Prozac went generic so they came up with Lexapro (Escitalopram) the active isomer of Celexa. Supposedly cleaner with less negative side effects, it's a striped down version of Celexa, unneeded molecules removed so we can take less of the drug and have the same antidepressant effect. Escitalopram 10mg/day has been shown to be at least as effective as citalopram 40mg/day. I take Lexapro and believe me I had two months of hell before my body got used to it.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on January 24, 2005, at 23:38:30
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs Escitalopram » jms600, posted by Impermanence on January 24, 2005, at 20:33:02
The Lexapro website (www.lexapro.com) has a nice explaination of this stuff w/ some nice pix and animations. Just in case you are interested!
EE
Posted by Ritch on January 25, 2005, at 0:19:34
In reply to Citalopram vs Escitalopram, posted by jms600 on January 24, 2005, at 17:03:51
> Citalopram vs Escitalopram - is there any difference between these two? If so what are they?
I've been on both. In my experience Lexapro is 2x as strong as Celexa and has a little less drowsiness.
Posted by peacetoy on January 25, 2005, at 6:34:46
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs Escitalopram » jms600, posted by Impermanence on January 24, 2005, at 20:33:02
I'm interested in your "two months of hell" comment, as I'm coming up to 7 weeks on escitalopram (and 3 weeks on 15mg), and it feels like I've had very little benefit.
I seem to be swinging between feeling like things are improving, and feeling very anxious for a few days each week. It does feel like SOMETHING is going on in my head though (whether things are resolving or not!).
Side effects are OK, though sex drive is very low (that may be largely the depression though).
Seem to remember someone on this forum recounting their experience of it working after NINE weeks, so maybe there's hope yet....
Posted by MGOLDW on January 25, 2005, at 11:49:28
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs Escitalopram, posted by peacetoy on January 25, 2005, at 6:34:46
Hi, I have been on both drugs and I can tell you that there is no big difference between the two. I can say that I had worst side effects staring on 10mg of Lexapro that I had with 40mg of Celexa.
It took nine weeks of hell before the Lexapro "kicked in".
I now feel very good, no side effects.
Good luck!
Posted by Impermanence on January 25, 2005, at 17:20:34
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs Escitalopram, posted by peacetoy on January 25, 2005, at 6:34:46
I'm also on 15mgs and as I said the first two months where hell, I had terrible side effects. I guess you're lucky as we all have a different reaction. After two months the negative effects seemed to subside and on the third month my depression still dident seem to be lifting. After about 12 weeks I noticed I diden't feel good but I certainly wasent depressed either and thats pretty much how it is today about seven or eight months since I started. I guess I feel pretty normal.
All in all Lexapro works, It's the best AD I've tried, I think I'm ready to come off it but I'm terrified of going through the withdrawals and falling back into a hole, but I'm getting fit so I'm prepared for it. Give it time yet, you will feel better.
Good luck.
Posted by peacetoy on January 26, 2005, at 5:44:56
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs Escitalopram » peacetoy, posted by Impermanence on January 25, 2005, at 17:20:34
Thanks. It's still not really kicked in, and I think I may move up to 20mg when I see my doc next week. Reassuring to know that other people take a longish time to respond to Lexapro, and that it does work when it kicks in. The hype (and some peoples' experience) that it works in 1-2 weeks obviously isn't the case with everyone....
Know what you mean about getting fit - I think that excercise and anything else you can throw at your depression (simple breath meditation for example) are worth the effort! Good luck with reducing your dose.
This is the end of the thread.
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