Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 213128

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Should I switch from CELEXA to LEXAPRO ??

Posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 15:30:59

I am having good results with Celexa, the pre-cursor to Lexapro (what a difference from EffexorXR, which had me swinging like a pendulum)

I'd consider switching to the *purer* Lexapro, but there's that saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." In any case, I will ask my pdoc next appointment about possible switch - I kinda feel like why take a med (Celexa) with a bunch of inactive ingredients when I can take the same basic formulation without them, with only the WORKING ingredients?

Any feedback, ideas welcomed ... thanks.

 

NO!! » Janelle

Posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 16:13:03

In reply to Should I switch from CELEXA to LEXAPRO ??, posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 15:30:59

> I am having good results with Celexa, the pre-cursor to Lexapro (what a difference from EffexorXR, which had me swinging like a pendulum)
>
> I'd consider switching to the *purer* Lexapro, but there's that saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." In any case, I will ask my pdoc next appointment about possible switch - I kinda feel like why take a med (Celexa) with a bunch of inactive ingredients when I can take the same basic formulation without them, with only the WORKING ingredients?
>
> Any feedback, ideas welcomed ... thanks.

If celexa is working with little side effects, do not switch. There is no reason to do so. Celexa is an excellent drug. Lexapro will not necessarily help you, brain chemistry is too complicated. There are plenty of people who made that switch, and for no other reason than their docs were convinced by drug reps to do so, and had bad results. You already said it best--If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Also, this whole thing about Lex having less S/E's than celexa is a crock of s---, there are just as many people who would say the opposite.

JACK

 

Thanks, Jack and further question: » Jack Smith

Posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 16:20:21

In reply to NO!! » Janelle, posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 16:13:03

Thanks for the advice. I have a question - if Lexapro consists *only*(?) of the active ingredients in Celexa, why wouldn't a switch from Celexa to Lexapro go smoothly? This whole issue confuses me. Perhaps Lexapro also includes some chemical or reaches a receptor that Celexa does not? There must be something more to this business of Lexapro simply removing the inactive ingredients from Celexa?

 

Re: Thanks, Jack and further question:

Posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 17:12:54

In reply to Thanks, Jack and further question: » Jack Smith, posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 16:20:21

> Thanks for the advice. I have a question - if Lexapro consists *only*(?) of the active ingredients in Celexa, why wouldn't a switch from Celexa to Lexapro go smoothly? This whole issue confuses me. Perhaps Lexapro also includes some chemical or reaches a receptor that Celexa does not? There must be something more to this business of Lexapro simply removing the inactive ingredients from Celexa?

I don't understand psychopharmacology to give you a good enough answer but I will tell you what my pdoc told me. He said that it is not as simple as just removing the inactive ingredients. Basically, they split the celexa molecule in half, concluding that one half is therapeutic while the other half is not. Theoretically, this should reduce s/e's and there were SOME clinical trials to back it up but not very significant differences. Anyway, he said that he thinks the "ineffective" half of the celexa molecule is not necessarily "ineffective" and may work in concert with the other half. He said that he and his colleagues all have concluded that celexa should be used as a first choice over lexapro because none of them were very impressed with lex and they have a lot of experience with celexa.

He did say that more and more pdocs are prescribing lex because the pharm company that owns the two drugs has completely stopped promoting celexa and is therefore not giving out any samples of celexa so it is easier to just give people samples of lex. I am sure there are some who will benefit from lex who have not benefitted from celexa but in my mind and in my pdocs, Lexapro is just a gimmick. Celexa's patent is running out so they wanted to come up with something else.

JACK

 

Re: Should I switch from CELEXA to LEXAPRO ??

Posted by Rainbowlight on March 26, 2003, at 18:20:53

In reply to Should I switch from CELEXA to LEXAPRO ??, posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 15:30:59

I have to agree with Jack, I would stay on the Celexa. I have been on both meds and I liked the Celexa alot better. Plus, if you quit the Celexa it might not work as well the second time around, which happens with alot of these meds.

 

Jack-I heard the same thing !! » Jack Smith

Posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 19:02:45

In reply to Re: Thanks, Jack and further question:, posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 17:12:54

Jack -

Interestingly, what you explained about what was done to Celexa in order to derive Lexapro is the same thing I have heard. I just added my *own* conclusion that the non-therapeutic/inactive ingredients in Celexa which were removed to make Lexapro must have been taken out because they were *useless*! (placebo-like)

I bet your pdoc is right in his thinking that the "ineffective" half of the celexa molecule is not necessarily "ineffective" and even may work in concert with the other half, since he and his colleagues have a lot of experience with celexa.

And of course there is the marketing, patent, gimmick, MONEY (business) side to all of it, as you very well explained!

In fact, when I was at my pdoc's office in walked the LEXAPRO rep, with tons of samples and *goodies* for the pdocs (pens, post-it pads, etc.)

Wow - I had no idea Celexa's patent is already going to run out ... I still think of it as a relatively new med! I wonder how long a patent lasts these days ... perhaps it can vary.

Well, based on what I've read here and my own thoughts about all of this, I'm sticking with the Celexa, thank you!

 

I've heard that also about meds on re-trials: » Rainbowlight

Posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 19:05:52

In reply to Re: Should I switch from CELEXA to LEXAPRO ??, posted by Rainbowlight on March 26, 2003, at 18:20:53

First, thanks for sharing your experience, particularly valuable to me since you have been on BOTH both meds (and it turned out that you liked the Celexa alot better)

I have also heard that if you quit a psych med, that same med might not work as well the second time around. I got *lucky* (KNOCK ON WOOD) with Depakote -- not only is it working the second time around, but it seems to be doing even better for me now. (again, KNOCK ON WOOD!)

 

Patents and Celexa » Janelle

Posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 19:49:34

In reply to Jack-I heard the same thing !! » Jack Smith, posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 19:02:45

> Wow - I had no idea Celexa's patent is already going to run out ... I still think of it as a relatively new med! I wonder how long a patent lasts these days ... perhaps it can vary.

Celexa actually is about as old as prozac, it is just new in the US. I think there is still a year or two left on the patent, maybe more. A patent lasts 20 years (actually, it's a little more complicated than that but I don't want to get into it). But that 20 years is not from drug approval, it is from when they filed for a patent.

> Well, based on what I've read here and my own thoughts about all of this, I'm sticking with the Celexa, thank you!

I think it is a good move. Really, why rock the boat. If you are doing good, stick with it. I thought Celexa was a great drug, too bad it pooped out on me after a couple years.

JACK

 

Celexa's ''foreign'' citizenship!! » Jack Smith

Posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 21:59:30

In reply to Patents and Celexa » Janelle, posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 19:49:34

I forgot that I did know that the manufacturer of Celexa (Forest?) is from another country (Australia?) But what I didn't realize was that Celexa was being used in whatever its country of origin, presumably under a different name!

So, now it makes sense that Celexa actually is about as old as Prozac (which has gone generic!) and is just new in the US.

I thought a patent lasted 17 years (kind of a weird number) because I could swear that the pharmacist told me that when Klonopin (clonazepam) finally went generic a number of years ago.

Sorry to hear that Celexa pooped out on you after only 2 years. Paxil pooped out on me after about 11 or so. What, if any, a-d are you on now?

 

Patents and Poop Out » Janelle

Posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 22:12:20

In reply to Celexa's ''foreign'' citizenship!! » Jack Smith, posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 21:59:30

> I thought a patent lasted 17 years (kind of a weird number) because I could swear that the pharmacist told me that when Klonopin (clonazepam) finally went generic a number of years ago

They used to last for 17 years from the approval of the patent. They now last for 20 years from the filing of the patent. Probably more info than you wanted.

> Sorry to hear that Celexa pooped out on you after only 2 years. Paxil pooped out on me after about 11 or so. What, if any, a-d are you on now?

I'm on Wellbutrin and just started Effexor. We added Wellbutrin to Celexa for a while, it helped some, got me out of the deep pit but it was clear that celexa just was doing nothing, so I went off it and for a few weeks just did Wellbutrin. Hoping Effexor works and I can only take that. The fact that Celexa is working after Paxil pooped out gives me hope that Effexor will work for me. Another SSRI to replace one that pooped out.

May I ask, how bad was the poop out? Meaning, how far down did you go?
Also, how long b/t Celexa and Paxil? Did you try anything in between?

 

Re: Should I switch from CELEXA to LEXAPRO ??

Posted by Bill L on March 27, 2003, at 10:20:00

In reply to Should I switch from CELEXA to LEXAPRO ??, posted by Janelle on March 26, 2003, at 15:30:59

Janelle, I am doing a bit better on Lexapro (20 mg) than on Celexa (60 mg). I have less sexual side effects, less day time tiredness, and feel mentally sharper. But everyone is different when it comes to drug side effects. Both have been excellent in relieving my anxiety and depression.

Since you are doing well on Celexa, I would strongly urge you to stay on it. I see no reaon for you to switch to Lexapro. Good luck!

> I am having good results with Celexa, the pre-cursor to Lexapro (what a difference from EffexorXR, which had me swinging like a pendulum)
>
> I'd consider switching to the *purer* Lexapro, but there's that saying "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." In any case, I will ask my pdoc next appointment about possible switch - I kinda feel like why take a med (Celexa) with a bunch of inactive ingredients when I can take the same basic formulation without them, with only the WORKING ingredients?
>
> Any feedback, ideas welcomed ... thanks.

 

Re: Patents and Poop Out

Posted by Janelle on March 27, 2003, at 11:55:30

In reply to Patents and Poop Out » Janelle, posted by Jack Smith on March 26, 2003, at 22:12:20

Hmmm ... you're on both Wellbutrin and just started Effexor. Well, from my experience with both of those, they are both quite activating, so you may need just low doses of each.

I've tried Celexa several times and this time is the first that it is showing promise! (knock on wood).

How bad was the poop out? TERRIBLE, I went waaaaaaaaaaay down. The first thing the pdoc did (cuz it worked in the past when I had minor dips) was to increase the dose of Paxil, but it did nothing. So we realized it had to have pooped out (I was on it for about 10-11 years)

If I recall correctly, the pdoc tapered me off the Paxil (way too fast, Paxil is known for HORRIBLE, SEVERE withdrawal because it has a short half-life) and was titrating me up on Celexa at the same time.

For some odd reason, back then, the Celexa did not seem to be doing anything but making me very foggy brained, so she then switched me to Effexor but I could not remain stabilized on it.

Hope this answers your questions and thanks for your info too!

 

Above message re patents, etc. is for JACK SMITH (nm)

Posted by Janelle on March 27, 2003, at 11:57:40

In reply to Re: Patents and Poop Out, posted by Janelle on March 27, 2003, at 11:55:30


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