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Lexapro......Celexa........The Same / Differences

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Posted 9/13/2007 10:13 AM (GMT 0)
the same lexapro and celexa, i'm taking lexapro 20mg and i took celexa first 10mg but it seem to make me depressed although i'm not sure if it was the meds faught, because i was having a problem excepting i had anxiety, i mean i thought it couldn't be just anxiety, with all the physical symtoms i was having and it was, but i have no insurance and i'm wondering if i should try celexa again because walmart has it on there 4$ program i pay $93 for lexapro, thanks for any advice

dx gad and social anxiety
Posted 9/13/2007 1:56 PM (GMT 0)
As far as I know they are faily close in doing the job
It might have been the fact that you were not accepting the A/P and IMHO I do not nor ever have felt shame or embarrassment over having this ..........
Dont beat yourself up about it .......the sooner you accept it the ssoner you can move on and find ways to help fight the fight against it .........

Take care

LYN

** Edited your thread title ........so ppl know what you are asking .........**
Posted 9/13/2007 2:30 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, Lyn nailed that right on for you. I was hiding my depression for 26 years as I was ashamed and felt it would make people think less of me. It feels good now to just accept it and to be able to talk about it.

The Celexa and Lexapro properties are very close according to info I have read re these two meds.

Take care and keep posting.
Posted 9/13/2007 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
thanks lil sis
I too accept and acknowledge my A/P ......it does feel good to do it ...........
Posted 9/13/2007 9:34 PM (GMT 0)
i have accepted it after talking to all of you on line, i felt so alone and scared at first, but then i saw that you all had symptoms like me, this forum i think saved my well being, doctors don't really tell you everything, so you go home and worry which made the anxiety worse, thanks
Posted 9/14/2007 6:31 PM (GMT 0)
NO problem
Like you I was so bad when I finally found this site and it has literally saved my soull and peace of mind ..........

Keep posting and stay with us

Luvs
LYN
Posted 9/14/2007 7:40 PM (GMT 0)
The great thing about our forum is people respect each other and truly care for one another. We all know where your coming from and what your going through.

Hugs and stay with us.
Posted 10/3/2007 3:53 AM (GMT 0)
Lexapro is a double salted Celexa. In other words, 20 mg celexa = 10mg Lexapro
Posted 10/3/2007 6:44 PM (GMT 0)

Not at all the same product.  Both Lexarpo (Escitalopram Oxalate) and Celexa (Citalopram Hydrobromide) are Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors.  Lexapro is the next generation of Celexa but both are molecularly different substances.  While many people experience less effect and more side effects with Celexa those same people may have a better outcome and with less side effects on Lexapro.  I am one of those people. 

This discussion points out the truth behind the assertion that everyone is different and that it is good to have so many choices.  We all have to find our own way and what is right for ourselves.

Posted 10/3/2007 7:17 PM (GMT 0)
Strong Lady

Thanks for posting that, I agree with you. They are not the same medication as this has been brought up in other threads. Celexa has a generic that you can purchase for the $4.00 cost at Walmart but Lexapro is the new generation and has no generic so it does cost more until the patent runs out. Each person will react differently to meds, so the info here is shared personal experiences. smile
Posted 10/4/2007 3:01 AM (GMT 0)
i took celexa 10mg when i first started having bad anxiety, but i didn't seem to get better, after a month, so my doctor put me on lexapro 20mg, but my husband isn't working so i ask my doctor to put me back on celexa 20mg, so i'm kinda scared i don't want to feel like i did before, but i don't know if i didn't give the medicine a chance because i was so convinced i had something worse wrong with me, so i don't know
Posted 10/4/2007 3:25 AM (GMT 0)
I am not trying to start an argument or create any controversy, however, I will tell you the difference in generics/lexapro/celexa.

Lexapro is the second generation of celexa. It is simply double salted (chemistry terms) celexa and is the same meds, only difference is the double salt. So you say, why? Money. That is the truth. A 10mg Lexapro is exactly equal to a 20 mg celexa. Pharmaceutical companies do this salting technique as a way to increase profits.
Now, as for generics. The FDA doesn't regulate generics like they do name brand drugs. A generic drug simply has to have a 15%-20% window (give or take, in other words 85% to 115%). The percentage is of the actual main ingredient. That is why some generics work one way when you purchase them, yet the next time you purchase the generic you may notice something a little different. Right now you cannot get Lexapro in generic form. I have tried celexa, lexapro, generic personally. Celexa is cheaper, but my doc gives me free samples as needed of Lexapro, so I go that route.

Here is how I come to find this info out.
As with all panic sufferers, if you have access to a physician or pharmacist that is a personal friend, you talk their head off with questions. Ijust so happens that I have a very good friend who was a drug rep, then decided to go to pharmacy school. After 2 or 3 years of being a pharmacist, he decided to go to med school and has been practicing medicine for several years now. This information is what I have derived from him. I believe it 100% as I understand why, how, where, and when of the matter.
Posted 10/4/2007 4:04 AM (GMT 0)
Bailey,

Hello and thank you for your posting. Lyn and I are both RN's so we understand meds well. My background is Emergency Deapartment Manager and I too have many friends in medicine to call on to explain meds, treatments etc.

I believe we are all here as peers and not as professionals. I understand exactly what you are saying. There are many clinics that are connected with a JCAHO accredited hospital. JCAHO requires many rules and standards re passing out samples therefore many people have no access to samples.

Your explanation was correct, however, people do well on the generics and that is all their insurance will cover. I know you are not trying to start any controversy............

Your input is very welcome and again welcome to the family.

Kitt
Posted 10/4/2007 4:43 AM (GMT 0)
STKITT,

Thanks for your reply.
I am a respiratory therapist who gave up the hustle and bustle for the world of radio.
I love medicine, just didn't like BS that went with it. I am sure you know what I mean. I found myself having panic attacks on the floor and didnt want to deal with the fallout of the fallout. ( I didn't want to let everyone know, and for a person that never gets embarrased, i was worried it would be embarrassing, go figure)

Thanks

bailey

Post Edited (bailey40) : 10/3/2007 10:45:58 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/4/2007 2:10 PM (GMT 0)
Bailey

As ER Manager I had Resipratory Therapy Department too. The staff was wonderful. I too took early retirement as the stress of the expectations became to much for me and I crashed and burned. I made it for 26 years so I am proud of the work I did.

Good to have you with us. Bless you.
Posted 10/5/2007 4:08 AM (GMT 0)
i hate to ask my doctor to change my dose from 20mg of celexa to 40mg because i was on 20mg of lexapro, i guess i can give it a go and see if i do o.k. on just 20mg of celexa we'll see, if not off to change meds again,

my history on meds
first i was put celexa 10mg, and a med that starrted with a t that was a muscle relaxer, and a med that was a benadrly type med to relax me
these did not help at all,

second time i was put on lexapro 10mg, and another med i cannot remember, this still did not work iwas doing alittle better. and a beta blocker for heart palpatations

third time i was put on lexapro 20mg , zyprexa which i kinda scared to take , i am taking 2.5 mg, and a beta blocker

4th time just check up i was put celexa 20mg, because of lack of money, zyprexa was greatfully given samples still 2.5 mg, a beta blocker and another med to lower my blood pressure

so hopefully i'm o.k. i hate to keep changing meds up
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