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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by linkadge on June 22, 2009, at 19:19:48
I may be seing a new psychiatrist. I had some sucess with citalopram in the past. Is escitalopram any different? Better / worse?
Linkadge
Posted by cactus on June 22, 2009, at 20:36:10
In reply to citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by linkadge on June 22, 2009, at 19:19:48
citalopram didn't work for me but it helped 2 of my sisters, they both tried escitalopram and both said it was even better but pooped out quicker.
Posted by Justherself54 on June 22, 2009, at 23:33:06
In reply to citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by linkadge on June 22, 2009, at 19:19:48
citalopram didn't do squat, but escitalopram worked well on two occasions..poop out on all SSRI's are my problem, but that's just me. I'd go for the escitalopram..good luck Linkage..hope which ever one you choose works..take care..
Posted by Phillipa on June 22, 2009, at 23:58:59
In reply to Re: citalopram vs. escitalopram » linkadge, posted by Justherself54 on June 22, 2009, at 23:33:06
My stupidity is showing as thought they were celexa is the other one lexapro or what is the other name. Link so glad you got a new pdoc. Love Phillipa
Posted by Justherself54 on June 23, 2009, at 1:04:52
In reply to Re: citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by Phillipa on June 22, 2009, at 23:58:59
> My stupidity is showing as thought they were celexa is the other one lexapro or what is the other name. Link so glad you got a new pdoc. Love Phillipa
Citalopram is Celexa and Escitalopram is Lexapro..same as Prozac is Fluoxetine..can get confusing!!
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on June 23, 2009, at 15:42:02
In reply to citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by linkadge on June 22, 2009, at 19:19:48
> I may be seing a new psychiatrist. I had some sucess with citalopram in the past. Is escitalopram any different? Better / worse?
>
> LinkadgeLingagde, I thought you were one of the "SSRI caused me dopamine depletion" people. Why go through that again. There are better AD's out there.
Posted by linkadge on June 23, 2009, at 16:57:09
In reply to Re: citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on June 23, 2009, at 15:42:02
Well, yes and no. I do think that SSRI monotherapy (especially at full doses) tends to causes dopamine depletion, apathy etc.
I think, however they can be usefull in smaller doses combined with other medications.
Linkadge
Posted by bleauberry on June 23, 2009, at 17:28:40
In reply to citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by linkadge on June 22, 2009, at 19:19:48
I never tried Celexa. But I have been on Lexapro twice. To me it felt like the strongest serotonin action of all the SSRIs, yet the side effects were the mildest in terms of insomnia and sex. After a 6 week trial of it I switched to Zoloft. My biggest symptom at the time as anhedonia, and Lexapro did absolutely squat for that.
Hey, here is an idea though. It pertains to both efficacy and poopout. To increase the odds of a robust effect and longterm efficacy without poopout, consider either Lexapro or Zoloft with a low dose of Nortriptyline. Yeah? Maybe start the Nortriptyline at 5mg for week (half the capsule), increase it by 5mg steps as tolerated. A lot of people say its side effects are actually easier than SSRIs. And people who especially do not do well with SSRIs seem to do well with TCAs or SSRI+TCAs.
It think the whole key lies in the dosing. Start really low. Don't shoot rapidly for some predetermined target. Let the journey guide you as to what is a proper dose. It might be 5mg Lexapro or it might be 20mg. It might be 20mg Nortriptyline or it might be 100mg. It might be 12.5mg Zoloft or it might be 100mg. Your body and your reactions will tell you.
When I switched from Lexapro to Zoloft, it was an overnight switch with no cross taper. I felt immediate benefits of Zoloft over Lexapro the first day. Zoloft did help anhedonia a tiny bit. If I could go back in time I would have asked for a TCA to be added to it rather than saying goodbye to it.
Posted by cactus on June 24, 2009, at 8:19:18
In reply to Re: citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2009, at 16:57:09
Not that I'd personally take SSRI's ever again, I know a few people who have benefitted greatly from adding a LOW does of a DA or NRI like reboxetine. DA's and NRI's work very quickly for me. I'm on reboxetine at the moment 4mg twice a day but I think it was too high so I've lowered it for now instead of dropping it to see how things go. Good luck. peace C
Posted by sowhysosad on June 27, 2009, at 8:53:24
In reply to citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by linkadge on June 22, 2009, at 19:19:48
> I may be seing a new psychiatrist. I had some sucess with citalopram in the past. Is escitalopram any different? Better / worse?
>
> LinkadgeI thought it was terrific and really helpful even at low doses. Only problem was it induced movement problems in my jaw at 20mg+, but I'd imagine that's fairly unusual.
It was the cleanest SSRI I ever took and had the least sexual side effects, particularly at low doses.
My wife also responds well to escitalopram, but crashed within days when a penny-pinching doc switched her to generic citalopram.
Posted by Alexanderfromdenmark on June 27, 2009, at 14:10:06
In reply to Re: citalopram vs. escitalopram, posted by linkadge on June 23, 2009, at 16:57:09
> Well, yes and no. I do think that SSRI monotherapy (especially at full doses) tends to causes dopamine depletion, apathy etc.
>
> I think, however they can be usefull in smaller doses combined with other medications.
>
> LinkadgeTrue true, i just need to know since you and I have somewhat similar experiences. I was on lexparo for a year and it caused me the whole dopamine me thingy. I think if you keep the dosage low like <=10 mg it's not too bad. I should have stayed on 5.
This is the end of the thread.
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