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Lexapro versus the generic brand Citalopram

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Posted 1/18/2006 2:16 PM (GMT -8)
Hello people~

I am new here and would appreciate any information available regarding Lexapro and the generic version Citalopram. I have been taking only 5 mg. of Lexapro for about a year, and feel that it takes the edge off of my nerves. It also helps with my SAD depression. My doctor just wrote me a perscription for the generic version, Citalopram, which is the same ingredient in Celexa. I am concerned because it appears to be different than the Lexapro, and I don't want to take a chance of having a bad reaction.

Anybody have any experience with Lexapro/Citalopram?

Thanks in advance.

Posted 1/20/2006 1:25 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Lindi,

Celexa(Citalopram) is not the generic version of Lexapro(Escitalopram).
Lexapro is basically a second generation of Celexa. Theoretically Lexapro
is a cleaner drug with only the active metabolites of Celexa. Thus,
fewer side effects. They may work equally well for you but they are not
the same drug.

Peter
Posted 1/20/2006 7:49 AM (GMT -8)

Hi Lindi & Peter,  I wanted to welcome you both to Healing Well.  I will find lots of caring and supportive people on this site that are more than willing to help. 

Lindi, There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this site in regards to medications but the best advice I can give to you is talk to your pharmacist and physician about any prescription medication that you have.  I am not so sure by what you classified as a "bad reaction" in your post but generally when a generic comes out for a medication it is basically the same as the name brand.  However, as I said before I would ask your pharmacist who you would have a better chance of getting a hold of and talking to than your physician....... I hope that you get the answer that you are looking for.  Much luck. 

I hope that you both continue to come back.

~elisha


Posted 3/13/2006 11:44 PM (GMT -8)
My story of anti-depressants began back in October of 2005. Having lost my father now just over two years ago, I have never really healed from that loss, as he was not only my dad, but my confidante and trusted counselor...basically my friend. My doctor diagnosed my symptoms of tiredness all the time, sometimes crying (and I am not the crying type), total lack of motivation (played some video games hours upon end like a vegetable), and an overwhelming sadness and emptiness within very being. Evidently I described accurately a depressed condition (are we always the last ones to figure it out?) She put me on some samples of Lexapro 10mg. I was on these for several weeks, and it took about a week and a half before I began to feel better. However, when I went to get my presription changed to a 90 day mail-in type, my insurance company requested my doctor change me to the generic Citalopram. Let me just say that for me it never worked as well as the Lexapro, and after suffering through almost three months with it I finally contacted the doctor and am now back on Lexapro. She told me that although some people can use either or, that there was a reason that the molecules in citalopram were changed and modified to create Lexapro, and that it was the newer medicine. I've been on it now for two weeks and feel much better. I notice even a slight improvement in my motivation. I've actually begun working on cleaning up my office, but since the motivation is not full steam it'll take some time. At least I'm starting it. I also have horrible insomnia. Note that I am replying to this at 1:30a.m. I am on Ambien CR, and it has been a big help, and works great once I fall asleep, but some nights I still have a slow start to sleep. My mind just runs and takes off, and when it finally decides to stop, the Ambien takes over and gives me a pretty decent sleep.

Well, this was long but it was my first post so perhaps it can be an introduction too.

Blessings to all,
Jack
Posted 4/10/2011 2:34 PM (GMT -8)
My husband has been a very angry man and I got him to start taking Lexapro, he took it for 3 months and was a completely different man.  Kind, caring, a very nice person.  Two weeks ago he started taking Citalopram because his pharmacist told him that it was the same thing and was cheaper.  He has been on it for a little over two weeks and his anger has come back just like before. 

Can anyone help me?  does anyone know anything about this or had any experience with this? 

Beth

Post Edited (kybrovic) : 4/10/2011 4:37:27 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/10/2011 6:34 PM (GMT -8)
Talk to him about going back to what he was on. It may be a little more expensive, but if you saw that big of a change in behavior, I would want him on the first medication. Have him talk to his doctor if he has to. He can make the prescription so that he gets the med that works.

I hope that things work out for you. Do keep on top of this, the changes may have been too subtle for him to notice. But others around him will.

Take care, keep posting.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 4/10/2011 9:05 PM (GMT -8)
hi jamie here, too many brain zaps when i was on lexapro. thus i went of it. jamie. talk with your dr/pharmacist.
Posted 5/6/2011 8:17 AM (GMT -8)
I went to a doctor the other day for an SSI disability check. Never met him before. He told me that Citalopram and Lexapro are different pharmacology but some say Citalopram works the same. So I researched it and while chemically they almost identical, it said they were opposites. That doctor said Citalopram more resembled what Xanex does than say like how Lexapro works. So when my research used the following analogy, it made much more sense. It said:

Look your hands for example. Are the not identical? Now put one hand on top of the other. Now they become similar .... not identical ... they are exact opposites. So the two meds don't work the same.

Personally, I think that's why I fell drug out all the time. My insurance stopped paying for Lexapro and I was put on Citalopram. I KNOW they don't work the same. In fact for what I have it only controls irritability but not the depression. Wellbutrin sounds like it would be a perfect drug for my situation, followed by Prozac but I am an epileptic (fairly well controlled) so I guess I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place ... for now at least!

Mr Steve
Posted 5/6/2011 10:00 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Mr Steve,

Welcome to the HealingWell Depression forum. Can you not take the wellbutrin because of epilepsy? Maybe there is a similar medication that you can take. Effexor is generic now and it is kind of similar. I took it for many years, then switched to pristiq which isn't generic. But it works well and I can take less of it as apposed to the effexor.

I hope that you find what works for you. Keep posting. And again, welcome...

Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/29/2011 2:55 PM (GMT -8)
I have used Lexapro and the generic drug Citalopram and BELIEVE ME they are NOT the same. I have been off Lexapro for a while because I lost Health Benefits and now am on Medicare and Health Insurance does not cover Lexapro costs. I do not want to go back on Citalopram because it dulls all senses and definitely does in my Lebido. I feel like a zombie on this stuff. Lexapro was good for me. I maintained a 10 mg dose for a few years and felt good. Then I couldn't afford it without health insurance and went off the drug. I am trying to find a lowest cost source for Lexapro because I do not want to go on somethng else. I have been through the list of other brands over the years and this works the best for me. Citalopram (Celexa) is definitely NOT the same thing as Lexapro.
Posted 6/29/2011 4:52 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Kojoanna,

Welcome to the HealingWell Depression forum. Thanks for your input on the medications. I am sorry that you can't use the one that works best for you. It just doesn't seem right that we can't get what works for us. I have insurance, but the copay on one of my meds is too expensive, so the doc writes it out for twice the milligram and I only have to refill it every other month. That really helps me. I cut the tablets in half.

I hope that you are feeling well and keep posting.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 6/30/2011 3:13 AM (GMT -8)
My doctor gave me Lexapro samples for almost two years because my insurance wouldn't cover it...it seems to be a popular drug with pharma reps.  You might ask you doctor if he has closet full of them...mine did!

Donna

Posted 7/17/2011 11:19 AM (GMT -8)
guys first of all... citrolopram can be bought for 4 bucks at wall mart (generic form) and as for lexapro.. forest labs has a prescription assistance program for people who cant afford ther meds.. and if you make 100 ,000 a year you dont have to tell them.. they dont check..lol... USE YOUR HEADS AND YOUR STREET SMARTS...!!
Posted 7/17/2011 1:50 PM (GMT -8)
Joeyb,

Thanks for the info. Do you know if abilify has any discounts? I pay 40.00 copay. I do have insurance but I take a lot of meds, and the copays are high. I don't get that 4.00 discount on all of my meds. I wish I did. If I were to do mail order and get three month suppies, it would save me money, but I am scared to do that. Plus the initial fee is high. I don't know if I could come up with all that at the same time. As it is, it is stretched across the month. Thanks for any info. And welcome to the forum.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 7/18/2011 11:36 PM (GMT -8)
I have tried them both, I agree with one of them other posts above me citroprolam gives kinda the more xanax feeling, it has seemed like it may be helping my anxiety a bit but only been on it for 3 days, but i'm having pressure in my head on day 3 and i don't like that at all, i have tried lexapro in the past for about 6 weeks it seemed to help me i believe it was 20 mgs but wow i could not sleep no how and if i did i would only get like 2 or 3 hours a sleep each night and lost my appetite very bad, I'm gonna go cold turkey off this celexa now and i hope i don't have any withdrawls i only took it for 3 days at just 10 mg, best of luck to you, and JackG your story brought tears to my eyes, i lost my father in 2007 when i was 28 and it's been so hard without him, he used to always keep me company and calm me down from my panic attacks, and always tell me not to worry so much, and ever since he's been gone my life has gone totally down hill, but instead of these ssri's i'd like to start going to church, and excercising as long as my legs neck and back don't bother me, anyways take care and i hope you get well.
Posted 10/15/2011 11:55 AM (GMT -8)
Citalopram vs Lexapro : My doctor told me they were pretty much the same. That is not true. I don't agree with Citalopram bring like Xanex either. I have tried all 3. Lexapro is the only thing that has helped me. I was on Lexapro for 5 years before I lost my insurance. My doctor suggested Citalopram as an alternate to cut costs. I can contest it's not the same. I have all the same symptoms that I had before taking Lexapro. There is a patent on Lexapro until March 14, 2012. So there is no generic form. At this point I have to go back to $100 a month for my wellness. But that is something well worth it. I wish all of you the very best. This is not something that is easy to deal with. Especially when money is an issue.
Posted 10/15/2011 1:54 PM (GMT -8)
Try going on the Lexapro site and see if they have any offers that can help you. Sometimes the brand names will give you free medication if you don't have insurance. So I would google it and see if there is anything that can help you. Also needymeds.com may help.

I often get samples too and that helps. I take whatever I can get.

Hugs, Karen

PS Welcome to the depression forum!!!
Posted 10/20/2011 6:33 PM (GMT -8)
The GOOD NEWS: I was informed yesterday at my doctor's office that in January Lexapro will become available as a generic.
Posted 10/20/2011 10:19 PM (GMT -8)
good. jamie. that will help a lot of people out.
Posted 10/21/2011 4:15 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Wellknown,

Welcome to the forum.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/6/2012 4:53 PM (GMT -8)
Here's my story: I've been on and off anti depressant meds since high school. My current psychiatrist has prescribed Lexapro so I was on that for 10 months. Just recently I went cold turkey for this has been my 2nd week of doing that. I too could not afford the $50, before it cost me a mere $17. I've been on 30mg's of that for 10 months he told me last. So, now he's put me on the Citalopram, 40 mg. hence, me on the site. Idk how this will work but my main problem has been anxiety (I'm also on Busiprone 15 mg up to 3x daily which is cheap) and Focalin for attention. Not sure how this new mixture will work so we'll see. Fingers crossed
Posted 2/6/2012 7:17 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Wandering,

Is citalopram generic for lexapro? If that is the case, then it should be pretty much the same. If not close cousins. I hope that it works for you. Do keep us posted on that.

Feel free to start your own thread and tell us a little about yourself if you wouls like to. This is an older thread, and I don't know how many people will read it.

I do hope that you feel better soon. Keep us posted.

Hugs, Karen

PS Welcome to the forum!
Posted 2/26/2012 5:14 PM (GMT -8)
I am on Citalopram for anxiety and I switched to it from Lexapro without missing a beat. The drug insurance company recommended it because it is SO much cheaper. It works fine for me. But now I can't figure out how to get off it with experiencing the anxiety again.
Posted 2/27/2012 6:22 AM (GMT -8)
HI Penny,

Welcome to the depression forum. Have you talked to your doc about the anxiety? Maybe they can give you something in addition to your AD...

I am fald that you have joined us. Feel free to start a thread about yourself if you would like to. I hope that you feel better soon.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 2/27/2012 10:00 PM (GMT -8)
It's not the same at all, celexa made me paranoid & made my bones hurt, something I never experienced before, get lexapro, its night & day. Lexapro 20mg for me was a magic pill. Although I've made many excuses not to get back on my meds so been miz for some time. But try its a much better solution.
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