![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Sprat on May 8, 2013, at 5:21:01
Hi, it's been a looooong time since I last posted here. I've been taking an SSRI for 15 years for panic disorder. The only problem is the pesky things keep pooping out on me, and i have to switch. Citalopram was working great, but again the poop out. My pdoc switched me to escitalopram, but it's been 4 weeks and I'm still getting break through panic attacks. He's suggested increasing the dose, but I'm now wondering if since the two drugs are so similar - is there any point? The words "flogging" and "dead horse" come to mind. Can anyone who knows how these things work tell me if a citalopram poop out means that escitalopram won't work as well?
Thanks
Sprat
Posted by Phillipa on May 8, 2013, at 9:48:38
In reply to Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out?, posted by Sprat on May 8, 2013, at 5:21:01
I know them as the brand names and for me totally different. Celexa caused extreme tiredness. While lexapro years ago caused the opposite. Both I quit at the time. Now take low dose of lexapro. And I think it might help. Not for anxiety though panic is gone now more like Gad. Phillipa
Posted by jrbecker76 on May 17, 2013, at 22:33:28
In reply to Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out?, posted by Sprat on May 8, 2013, at 5:21:01
> Hi, it's been a looooong time since I last posted here. I've been taking an SSRI for 15 years for panic disorder. The only problem is the pesky things keep pooping out on me, and i have to switch. Citalopram was working great, but again the poop out. My pdoc switched me to escitalopram, but it's been 4 weeks and I'm still getting break through panic attacks. He's suggested increasing the dose, but I'm now wondering if since the two drugs are so similar - is there any point? The words "flogging" and "dead horse" come to mind. Can anyone who knows how these things work tell me if a citalopram poop out means that escitalopram won't work as well?
>
> Thanks
> SpratI still take Citalopram after all these years. I could never take Lexapro due to adverse events like increased anxiety and irritability. There is a definitely a subset of patients who feel Citalopram is superior to Lexapro.
Posted by Phillipa on May 18, 2013, at 20:22:55
In reply to Re: Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out? » Sprat, posted by jrbecker76 on May 17, 2013, at 22:33:28
JR hi when I took celexa was newly released and caused severe tiredness. Now taking just 5mg of Lexapro and 25-50mg of luvox. Add in .25mg Xanax & 7.5mg of valium. But I can't relax at all. Any idea why? Thanks Phillipa
Posted by ed_uk2010 on May 26, 2013, at 9:03:44
In reply to Re: Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out? » Sprat, posted by jrbecker76 on May 17, 2013, at 22:33:28
>There is a definitely a subset of patients who feel Citalopram is superior to Lexapro.
Hi Jr,
Do you have any idea why citalopram might be superior to escitalopram for you?
Thanks.
Posted by maiseycat on June 6, 2013, at 15:43:42
In reply to Re: Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out? » Sprat, posted by jrbecker76 on May 17, 2013, at 22:33:28
I started out on Lexapro 7 years ago. It got to be too $ so I switched to citalopram. I had a hard time going on cit because it left me very groggy, but that wore off in about a week. I have done well on it, but I started seeing a new doctor a few mons ago who didn't think it was doing enough for me. She suggested going back to escitalopram since there are now generics. I tried it and it was hor-ib-ble. I have a suspicion that it is because it is a generic. For the first week, it was fine, but then I started to go through spells of major agitation. I went back to citalopram after a week of this.
I know that generics have to be within a certain degree of equivalency to the brand name, and that this can vary country to country, but I have no idea what the U.S.' is or if the variance can make a difference. I just know that I searched on the web for "generic Lexapro," and found many others echoing my issues with it. Just a heads-up to anyone thinking about it.
Posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2013, at 20:22:00
In reply to Re: Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out?, posted by maiseycat on June 6, 2013, at 15:43:42
Thanks as continuing to pay for namebrand for exactly this reason. Seems the generics just aren't as good. Phillipa
Posted by maiseycat on June 7, 2013, at 14:21:19
In reply to Re: Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out? » maiseycat, posted by Phillipa on June 6, 2013, at 20:22:00
> Thanks as continuing to pay for namebrand for exactly this reason. Seems the generics just aren't as good. Phillipa
Does your ins cover prescriptions? Mine does not at all, only gives a small discount. It was $88 when I last took it, and that was over 2 years ago. I know it is over $100 now because my receipt (when I bought the generic Lexapro) said something like I saved $112 by buying generics. I like Lexapro, but not THAT much, plus I think I'm doing just as well if not better on citalopram. I get the generic; have never tried Celexa.
I buy private ins which is an arm and a leg AND covers very little because I've had trouble holding a job with my mental health issues. If I thought Lexapro would help me more, I would buy it even with the astounding cost, but I would be concerned it would raise my ins costs because ins companies like generics. It's wonderful how they operate; they don't pay for things, then when you buy them on your own, you still have to worry about it raising premiums. I'm fortunate I at least have this and don't have to play Russian roulette with Obamacare. Things like the sterilization "freebie" it's pimping concerns me just a bit (as it is politicians on both sides of the aisle)! I hope the ACA never comes to pass.
Posted by Phillipa on June 7, 2013, at 20:40:44
In reply to Re: Escitalopram after Citalopram poops out?, posted by maiseycat on June 7, 2013, at 14:21:19
Had my doc write that the generics don't work so medicaire & united healthcare discounted it. I think I pay $95? Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.