Q: Is Celexa and Lexapro the same thing?
I am glad you asked this question. It has been something I have been wondering about myself. I am not a doctor, just a person who suffers from depression, so I had to do a bit of research and here is what I found:
First of all I want to give you the links for both Celexa and Lexapro information which can be found on Health Central.
It seems both medications can be used to treat depression and are similar chemically and are both made by the same manufacturer. But they are very different in some ways and are not interchangeable. Only Lexapro is approved to treat anxiety, and only Celexa is available as a generic. Celexa might work to help anxiety but they just haven't done enough studies yet to say that it is specifically for treatment of anxiety.
The studies done on the effectivness of Lexapro vs Celexa for the treatment of depression are a mixed bag. Some studies show Lexapro is superior and some studies show no difference. It just all depends upon the individual as to what drug will be tolerated better and will be more effective.
There is a site dedicated to Lexapro FAQ's where I found this quote from a doctor:
"Theoretically, since Lexapro is the "child" of the "parent" Celexa, it should be possible to switch a patient directly from Celexa (whose usual dose is 20-40mg) to Lexapro (usual dose 10-20mg), but some patients require tapering off of Celexa even when starting on Lexapro. I have some patients doing quite well on Celexa who did not respond as well to Lexapro (I still can't figure out why), and for this reason the makers of Lexapro do not, in general, suggest switching from Celexa to Lexapro if the patient is doing well on Celexa."
There are also many threads on forums where patients are asking the same question as you ask. Here is one such interesting thread with many different responses.
The two drugs have different possible adverse side effects. Here is a short list from the manufacturer's site:
Celexa (Citalopram): GI upset; somnolence; dry mouth; sweating; tremor; ejaculation disorder; bleeding abnormalities.
Lexapro (Escitalopram):Insomnia, somnolence; dry mouth; GI upset; dizziness; sweating; fatigue; libido decreased.
I hope this helps some! Thank you for your question.
No. Although they are chemically similar, only Lexapro is approved to treat anxiety, and only Celexa is available as a generic.
No, Lexapro is Escitalopram. It's an SSRI. It's used for depression and anxiety.
Celexa is Citalopram. It's also an SSRI. It's used for major depressive disorder, OCD and other disorders.
Hello Irish Lady!!
How nice to hear from you. Please wait to email me. You're hurting enough and it would be worse if your condition was aggravated.
I'm glad that so many people are helped by Lexapro. That is an SSRI and I cannot take it. SSRIs do me no good and actually agitate me. I've been told I have some pretty screwed up brain chemistry. I can't take Tri-Cyclic antidepressants either. They make me to want to climb the walls. I was put on MAO Inhibitors too. Nobody told me that you can't eat certain things or take over the counter cold medicines. Not the doctor or the pharmacist. I ate chocolate and aged cheese and took an over the counter decongestant. I could have died.
So, that leaves me with a third generation antidepressant, Trazodone, an SNRI, Effexor, and Wellbutrin which isn't related to any of the other meds so it's a third generation antidepressant but it's not related to Trazodone. These three drugs work for me. Heaven help me if they ever stop working. I take Provigil to stay awake and a mild tranquilizer keeps me asleep all night without sleep walking.
I was abused for years and years by my mother. My dad was in on the abuse too. We lived a really unreal life.
I've babbled on enough. I hope you are feeling better soon. Can you buy Bio Freeze over there? It is an excellent rub that lasts a long time.
With Love From the United States Of America,
Jenni
Dear Jenni I never knew about your awful past, I will email u anon. I think most of us here have all had dreadful pasts as kids havent we? As ive said before on this site, were Soldiers/Veterans/Survivors only we dont have any Medals - just the Depression !
Ive been on all 4 Meds you mentioned. The maoi s I was on, I was 18 yrs and given a printed list to carry with me at all times of things not to eat. The 2nd Trycs I was on Prothiaden for a number of years but like you, Im extremely sensitive to Antidepressants - Even Prothiaden drove me thru the roof. My Depression causes Anxiety so thats an even bigger prob with the Antidepressants? Confusing? yes. So I have to take Sedation in order to be able to take the Antidepressants. I tried to go alternative some years ago, took St. Johns Worth but nobody told me it would have terribel contraindications with Valium which i take for mild Epilepsy and Anxiety. Its also good for my R.Arth. pain. god amnt I the pain going on !!!! anyway, i literally went bananas on so many SSRIs that Seroxat [irish and European name for Paxil] was the only one I could take. Then read about the awful withdrawals of going off it and decided to be my own Doctor !! Titrated off in very slow way and did very well. Big upheavel some months later, A different shrink put me on the Efexor XL and slowly built up the dose. Then I got high Bp etc so Im coming down slowly and its hell.
Im so glad Jenni that you have an antidepressant and sedation that works for you and that agrees with you. Youve been through alot. Im not kicking anti depressants Jenni theyre life savers. Many people wouldnt be able to live their daily life only for them. i just hope to go on another one thats not so addictive and with less side effects.
I love the way you say Love from the United States of America, it sounds like Barak OBama !! made me laugh. You take care of you United States of America Lady !!!
PS No cant say Ive heard of Biofreeze but we do have cooling rubs and theyre great for pain and tension.
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Hi Jenni, I only saw recently where you'd sent me an email and im sorry bout that !
My hands not great, so will send you a decent one soon. re Lexapro. All I can tell you is my best friend is in an anxiety Group, some are Depressed but the main thrust of the Group would be Social Phobia, Anxiety attacks/panic disorder/agoraphobia.
The Group [Not doctors] just a bunch of people, about 30, have agreed that Lexapro is very good with Panic and anxiety, even at a lower dose. I just thought Id throw this in. I hope to go on t his drug when I manage to titrate from Efexor which I want to get off. Hope everything going ok for you , love from Ireland x