HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lexapro to Generic, Citalopram

Support Forums
>
Depression
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 5/5/2009 11:23 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking Lexapro 10 mg per day for over 8 months now......with great results.  I have never felt this calm, sure footed and I actually slept for 8 hours a night.

I was laid off of my job April 7th

I cut my Lexapro into halves ....for 2 weeks

then stopped

Now it is May 5th and I haven't slept well for days on end

I have had migraine headaches again and they are back with a special vengenace

I made an appt with my doctor and he sent me to Wal Mart to get a "generic" for Lexapro.  Turns out it is NOT a generic for Lexapro it is a generic for

QUESTION

I picked up the Lexapro underdog...........citalopram...............it says 40 MG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  why so much more? turn

I am going straight from a prescription empty of Lexapro to this Citalopram...........I hope this is going to work............seems like a lot of mg.  I am such a wuz.  gloria

 

Posted 5/5/2009 11:25 PM (GMT 0)
citalopram is a generic for celexa.........gloria
Posted 5/5/2009 11:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Gloria,

The milligrams is a weight. So some drugs weigh more than others do. It is all in how much the medication weighs.

I know that my friend takes Celexa and says that it works well for her. I hope that it works well for you too.

Keep posting if you have more questions. There are others that know first hand of this medication as where I don't. I take effexor and it is a cousin to lexapro. I take 375mg of that each day. That is what you call a lot.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/5/2009 11:52 PM (GMT 0)
Citalopram is Celexa

Lexapro generic is escitalopram

From the info I have seen Escitalopram (Lexapro), a single isomer of citalopram is a more potent and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) than citalopram ( Celexa).

Because they are 2 different meds that most likely explains the changes in mg per dose.

Please remember I am not a professional. I would suggest you check back with your physician.

Take care

Kitt

Posted 5/5/2009 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you Karen.  I am having a "good" day today but I have no idea what the next hour or day brings usually.  I had a tuff time stopping the Lexapro but not as bad as some of the reading I have done out on the web on others.  I feel like one of the lucky ones that have gone on and off meds. 

Wow 375 mg...................yowser

I am glad I found this web site because I can read and learn and share.......that is good for "us" .....many don't understand what depression can feel like at all.

I am off to take a walk and see the "sites" around my little gated community......has lots of trees and squirrels and cats and ducks, etc.  I love it here.....a couple of blocks of condo style housing that has been around since the 80's.

I am planning on starting my Citalopram tomorrow morning.  I am sure I will be back out on the web to read tomorrow at some point in between looking for another job.

g

Posted 5/6/2009 12:51 AM (GMT 0)
so you are job hunting too. I am also. Just hoping that I can even do it, because like you, I don't know how I am going to feel from one day to the next.

I hope that you enjoy the wild life where you are. Sounds beautiful.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/6/2009 12:04 PM (GMT 0)

Gloria,

I hope you had a great walk and I hope the info I provided shed some light on your questions.

You posted "many don't understand what depression can feel like at all."  check out my thread by clicking on this link.

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=19&m=1455519

I wish you peace and hope the change in med works well for you. :)

Kitt


Posted 5/6/2009 1:01 PM (GMT 0)

Hi, I am new to the depression forum.  I have visited on the bipolar forum but it turns out that I am not bipolar, I have major depression and high anxiety.  I was just started on Celexa two days ago, and though it is too early to tell if it is going to work, I am already sleeping better.  I guess depression feels different for everyone.  Mine is total body aching, not wanting to eat and can't sleep, remember or consentrate.  When I was being treated for bipolar with some "big gun" meds that never worked, I felt like there was just no hope in me ever feeling better again.  I had a horrible reaction to a drug called Risperdal that almost put me in the hospital.  I have not felt well since.  But with a new Doc, that really seems to "get me" and new medication, I am hoping for the best.  I will let you know how the Celexa does.  I hope it works well for you too.  I have heard it is the little sister to Lexapro with far less side effects.

Let's hope for the BEST! turn

Formerly BP Gemini, I guess you can just call me Gem!

Posted 5/6/2009 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Kitt, Karen.....Gem....Thanks for the posts.....I haven't started my celexa yet.....I think I am going to wait until next Monday and start it after a rush of things that need to be done within the family......timing, for me is everything, it seems. 

I have been having such bad headaches since I stopped the Lexapro but they are finally going away.....I think. 

I hope you all are having an ok day......I am so far.....slept ok last night ...and that is a good sign for the day today.  Well off to go scan the online job ads and to make some breakfast; the other half is a retired teacher and substitute teaches here and there but normally is underfoot.  He can be a great cheer leader or distant with this depression stuff.....he doesn't understand how anyone couldn't just wake up happy as a lark and as smart as he is explaining the serotonin (sp?) doesn't seem to work.  BUT.....that's ok....I know I have to deal with this "stuff" my way and it is very nice to know you all are out here where I can say how I really feel without the pressure of saying I am "feeling great" when in fact I might not be............yeah.  cool

Posted 5/6/2009 3:56 PM (GMT 0)
People who have never experienced depression have no idea what it is like.  I have been told to just suck it up and get over it or just figure out what is bothering you and let it go.  They do not understand that nothing can really be wrong or bothering you.  and sorry folks, if you have full blown depression, St. Johns wort does not work.  I went the herbal route and I am way beyond that, though I am sure it helps some people.  It is something you have to deal with everyday.  I just remember a quote by Edgar Cayce (check out his website, so cool) he said "how happy or how miserable do you want to be" it is your choice.  So no matter what life throws at me, I try to stay as positive as possible.  Negativity is contagious.

Gem

 

Posted 5/6/2009 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the upbeat post Gem. That is true, though with depression, I think we have to learn to think differently in order to be positive. Though I feel with practice it can be done. I have to go the medication route and probably will for the rest of my life. So I know that is what keeps me from going insane. So I know how you feel.

gMaxwell, I think that you are right about the timing. Often it is better to wait until all stressors are out of the way before you try a new medication. I think it helps us to be in tune with what it is doing to us.

I hope that you both have a good day today.

Hugs, Karen
Posted 5/10/2009 2:07 AM (GMT 0)
EEEeek citroplam, darn thing made me paranoid & gave me joint pain, within 24 hours. It definitely is not the same as lexapro or a good replacement for lexapro, at least for me...

If at all possible stick to what works.

Post Edited (georgeglass512) : 5/10/2009 4:57:43 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/10/2009 4:05 AM (GMT 0)
hmmmmm, I do know that everyone is affected by each different drug in different ways.......and I have had the good experiences and the bad ones with meds over the past couple of decades.  I have been lucky to have had mostly okay experiences with the depression meds....Amitriptyline, Imipramine, Zoloft and lexapro.

The easiest one on me was the Lexapro.....both going on and coming off of it

Amitriptyline put me to sleep for days on end..........

Imipramine was great but made my skin break out badly...phsoriasis (sp)

Zoloft put on weight but made me very calm about everything....but when I had to go off of it....*in between jobs and no insurance* I could not focus at all for the following year without it......finally felt myself pull back together the following year

Lexapro, was what my son suggested as it worked for him.......worked for me too..........very well but too expensive.

Citalopram............question to George

How long did it take to realize it was making you paronoid.  ?

 

✚ New Topic ✚ Reply