Switching from Lexapro to Celexa

[michelle]

Was on Lexapro for 5 years. Worked great for me. Doctor just switched me to Celexa - not sure why and she couldn't give me a good reason either. Maybe is was the cost, or maybe she got some kickback from the drug company. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!! After 3 weeks on celexa - moody, upset stomach, and HUGE amounts of hair loss (this is the worst). If you're thinking about it - do the research.

[Paul]

10 mg lexapro is equivalent to 20 mg celexa, not 40...

Mrod1 wrote:

Hi..Im new here, I have been taking 10mg lexapro for about 2 months now..My doctor just switched my prescription to Celexa 40mg and I am nervous to start taking it. He told me to just stop taking lexapro and just start taking the celexa since it is almost the same. I am worried about going through side effects again since I have stabilized on the lexapro and the lexapro has been working for me fine and I am worried that Celexa won't be the same. Has anyone had to switch from lexapro to celexa and what was your experience..I haven't started the new prescription yet.

[Joel]

Needs Advice wrote:

My insurance company called my doctor and asked if they can switch me to Celexa. My doctor says its OK, but I'm not sure. I seem to be doing fine on the Lexapro, and my greatest concern isn't the cost, its my mental health. I don't know if my copays will change or what, but from what I've read, I should stay on the Lexapro?

Your insurance company should NOT be calling your doctor and suggesting medication changes - unless you've asked them to. That's very scary

[Claire]

I was on Lexapro for approx. 3 years before my doctor switched me to generic Celexa for insurance reasons. I was stable on Lexapro and was told there wouldn't be a big difference after the switch. However, during the past month I have become a lot more quiet b/c I'm always spacing out. I have no energy or excitement anymore. I feel like I am "just here," not to mention the dry mouth. I fully intend to switch back to Lexapro ASAP, no matter what the cost.

[rhonda renee]

I am so glad that I researched the celexa topic! I have had the same weird effects as all of you have posted.. that out of body experience and NO energy and also feeling like I cant move, like I could sit there all day and just stare out into space...like nothing matters! And I am wondering as you all are is it worth this feeling? I do not think its helping me with depression. I do feel more sedated, and it may be helping more with anxiety issues, but then iy seems like I have no emotion...

[Beta]

Carrie wrote:

<quoted text>
Hi -- I'm on day 5 of switching from 20mg of Celexa to 10mg of Lexapro. Major depression. Overly emotional. Lots of crying. My doctor totally didn't prepare me for this. She said it shouldn't make any difference at all. I'm thinking I should take 10mg of Celexa with the Lexapro for a few day so I can calm down a bit. Any thoughts?

After 5 weeks on Lexapro my Dr gave me a scrip for generic Celexa since my insurance wasn't paying for the Lexapro. I stumbled onto this forum which raised my concerns even though my Dr told me that there is little difference. I've only been on the Celexa for a week and I have to say, my Dr was right. If anything I feel a little more "with it" on the Celexa but basically no difference.

I know it's early, but I felt the need to post so that people researching know that not everyone notices a difference. According to my Dr., my experience is the rule, not the exception. Just wanted to share a positive experience for anyone considering the swithc.

[amy]

Mrod1 wrote:

Hi..Im new here, I have been taking 10mg lexapro for about 2 months now..My doctor just switched my prescription to Celexa 40mg and I am nervous to start taking it. He told me to just stop taking lexapro and just start taking the celexa since it is almost the same. I am worried about going through side effects again since I have stabilized on the lexapro and the lexapro has been working for me fine and I am worried that Celexa won't be the same. Has anyone had to switch from lexapro to celexa and what was your experience..I haven't started the new prescription yet.

I was also taking lexapro 10mg and had to switch to celexa I feel that the 2 meds work the same for me.

[Sara]

Hey there I am new here too. From what I have read here it seems as though lexapro is much better than Celexa. I am on celexa 20mg for four months and it helped a little enough to give me some relief but now I feel just as bad as I did before the celexa. I will be talking to doc this week and see what he says but when I was on Lexapro it worked great. Two major side affects were low libido and suppressed ambition but I would rather feel a lot better and deal with the side affects. Am I right about lexapro being a better than Celexa.

[Marge]

I'm new here also. I previously was taking 10mg Lexapro for several years and worked well for me. I heard about the generic Citalopram (Celexa) and decided to make the switch for money reasons. I have been on 10mg of Citalopram for about 7 weeks. I've been noticing feeling very tired, fatigue, no energy and headaches. I called my Dr. yesterday and am going to increase my dose of Citolpram to 20mg, to see if that helps. If it doesn't, I'm going back to Lexapro.

[Chris]

I switched from Lexapro to Celexa for cost reasons. I am going back to Lexapro. On Celexa, I am feeling irritable and angry and having bad dreams since I switched. I thought the cost savings was worth the try, but it isn't in my case. At least I know it now.

[Not Alone]

I've been on 20mg of Lexapro for about 5 years. Started on 10mg and felt nothing so was increased to 20. Lately, I've felt derepressed, old, tired, angry about little things that I used to see other people get upset about. Things that I just let go. Dr. told my wife to ask me about changing to Celexa. I'd rather increase my Lexapro or add something after reading all these posts. I just don't think I could deal with side affects. My wife is taking an anti-depressant and is also bi-polar. We make a great couple when we are both hitting a low.

[mike]

Has anyone tried welbrutin?If you have what was it like?
I tried celexa once and I got a burning feeling in my eyes and on my skin.
I had incredible anxiety on it as well.
Back to welbrutin.What were the side efects like,was it effective,and what was the withdrawl like going off of it?
I have major depressive disorder,ocd,a.d.d.,disthymia and social anxiety disorder.my doctor thinks it might but I thought
I'd see if anyone had firsthand experience with it.
I never tried lexapro but I thought it was just another name for celexa.
Anyhow,good luck to all.I know and appreciate that we have a unique problem to deal with.
Mike.

[Heather]

back and forth wrote:

I was on Celexa and felt wonderful. Lost tons of weight, had energy, started to feel alive. Changed to Lexapro because of less side effects, but I'm withdrawing from people, I'm annoyed with everything and everybody, very tired, angry, angry, angry, and hungry, hungry, hungry. I'm going to go back to Celexa. Anyone taken both at the same time to transition?

Hey I'm on Lexapro now and I am always hungry and have gained a ton of weight it's driving me up the wall but my mental health has been good but now because of money I was thinking about switching to Celexa and your post caught my attention (weight loss!!!) It's a perk at this point I Just hope it works, everyone has different experiences I believe so I'll try it.

[kiki]

I too was on lexapro for 9 years and switched to celexa, what a mistake, I felt so tired and weird out of body for about a week, then just slow, tired, sleepy, couldnt wake up, no energy, i hate it, so now listening to all of you i am talking to doc and goin back on lexapro. thanks for the comments!!!!

[RxGuy]

Wendy wrote:

I was on Lexapro for anxiety & depression & had to switch to Celexa for insurance reasons-Lexapro was too expensive, but I've paid the price in other ways & would never recommend the switch. My two most upsetting symptoms have been weight gain & hair loss, neither of which I experienced on Lexapro. As a woman, I found these to be devastating. I have stooped the Celexa for these reasons & now am having horrible withdrawal symptoms. I have been on it for the last 8 months.I would much rather pay the extra $ to go back to Lexapro, which caused no horrendous symptoms whatsoever!

Perhaps you should look into other possible causes for the weight gain and hair loss. For example, has your doctor checked your thyroid function? Are you taking other medications, vitamins or herbals? Has there been changes in your diet and excersize? Remember the active half of Celexa IS Lexapro and the other half is pharmacologically inactive. Celexa will not do anything Lexapro wont and vice versa.

Withdraw symptoms, even "horrendous symptoms" may result anytime you abruptly discontinue any SSRI.

Also check to make sure the prescriber has made the correct dose adjustments. 10 mg of Lexapro = 20 mg of Celexa. If you dont make an even switch, then you really can't compare the effects of the two drugs.

The Lexapro drug reps (formerly Celexa drug reps) will make boastful claims about differences between the two drugs, but the evidence is weak and not well substantiated.

If your doctor tells you Lexapro is better, ask him to show you the head to head studies that prove it. Or better yet, ask your pharmacist, who has a doctorate in pharmacy and has a much broader education on the drugs themselves learned in college, not from drug reps.

[JNP]

I had same experience with Celexa. I initially was given Lexapro but since im such a wimp when it comes to medication ( ive never done drugs of any kind and taking something for the brain scares me) and seeing some of the initial side affect scared me. I get really acute anxiety, started in my early 20's had it for a couple of years and i finally got tired of it and my symptoms subsided. I had little stuff throughout the years but nothing major. The last couple months ive been through hell and back with family and my injuries and of course what is going on in the economy.
THe doctor prescribed me Celexa for my "anxiety". They told me to bare with it for a couple of weeks and get through the initial side affects but i couldnt. Lathargic, zoning out, felt like a mummy, didnt talk much, felt really insecure, i was in a different world. I did only do it for a couple of days but it really hacked me for doing "anything". Friend was like, you ok? You want to talk and i would just zonnne out. Felt dizzy and sluggish. Are Celexa and Lexapro the only to Med's for anxiety and depression? Isnt there anything else out there that is good and works? Xanax helped me the most and i rarely need to take it but as of late i take .5 a day.
I was upset with " my new doctor" considering my medical history is impeccable with no major prescriptions or history of abuse. Well, i needed a refill of xanax that i had since november of last year. It was a 30 day script i barely used and finally, with what has happened lately i used it so i needed a refill. There was more stress and anxiety in getting a refill and making me feel like i was an addict. Crappy beside matter. So, i went to the board director in the facility and asked him for his assessment. He totally agreed with me. Now if i can get a medication that can treat my anxiety for the short term until i can get over it that would be great.
Anyone take any other anti-anxiety medication you recommend besides lexapro and celexa?
JP

[Ryan]

JNP wrote:

I had same experience with Celexa. I initially was given Lexapro but since im such a wimp when it comes to medication ( ive never done drugs of any kind and taking something for the brain scares me) and seeing some of the initial side affect scared me. I get really acute anxiety, started in my early 20's had it for a couple of years and i finally got tired of it and my symptoms subsided. I had little stuff throughout the years but nothing major. The last couple months ive been through hell and back with family and my injuries and of course what is going on in the economy.
THe doctor prescribed me Celexa for my "anxiety". They told me to bare with it for a couple of weeks and get through the initial side affects but i couldnt. Lathargic, zoning out, felt like a mummy, didnt talk much, felt really insecure, i was in a different world. I did only do it for a couple of days but it really hacked me for doing "anything". Friend was like, you ok? You want to talk and i would just zonnne out. Felt dizzy and sluggish. Are Celexa and Lexapro the only to Med's for anxiety and depression? Isnt there anything else out there that is good and works? Xanax helped me the most and i rarely need to take it but as of late i take .5 a day.
I was upset with " my new doctor" considering my medical history is impeccable with no major prescriptions or history of abuse. Well, i needed a refill of xanax that i had since november of last year. It was a 30 day script i barely used and finally, with what has happened lately i used it so i needed a refill. There was more stress and anxiety in getting a refill and making me feel like i was an addict. Crappy beside matter. So, i went to the board director in the facility and asked him for his assessment. He totally agreed with me. Now if i can get a medication that can treat my anxiety for the short term until i can get over it that would be great.
Anyone take any other anti-anxiety medication you recommend besides lexapro and celexa?
JP

Any ssri you take will make you feel like a "mummy" for awhile. Could be up to a week or so, it depends. You have to give your body time to get used to it, or else you will never know the extent that the drug will help or not help you.

[Mjd]

i did the lexapro thing about 3 years ago and have been off for a year. I have been advised by my psyc to go back on for my anxiety. I was prescribed celexa because i do not have insurance but concerned about the side effects. maybe some could share some experiences?
on another note i just wanted to add that i have been really battling anxiety for 4 years and its hard and im drained but i am so hopeful!I read some of these posts and feel for all of you. DO NOT GIVE UP! this life is beautiful and so worth the fight! things are going to happen and life is going to suck but there are so many wonderful things if you just look. oh, and stay or get on "the couch" that was something i learned i didnt do the therapy w/ the pills the first time and that was a mistake. Good luck!

[Light S]

LsLa wrote:

I was wondering if anyone felt more depression feelings by switching from Celexa to Lexapro. I made the switch recently and feel horrible. Any thoughts from others. I was on 20mg of Celexa and switched to 10mg of Lexapro. I didn't feel the efect from the 10 so now I'm at 20mg of Lexapro and I really feel like there is no medication at all. Just fatigue and helplessness.

I have been in both medications (Celexa and then Lexapro) for a looooong time (maybe too long to tell). My doctor explained that the dossage is not equivalent, actually Celexa is stronger, i.e. 10mg of Celexa = 20mg of Lexapro. Has anyone else heard this? If so, that could explain that you felt worse changing to Lexapro... you needed a stronger dossage.

[RxGuy]

Light S wrote:

<quoted text>
I have been in both medications (Celexa and then Lexapro) for a looooong time (maybe too long to tell). My doctor explained that the dossage is not equivalent, actually Celexa is stronger, i.e. 10mg of Celexa = 20mg of Lexapro. Has anyone else heard this? If so, that could explain that you felt worse changing to Lexapro... you needed a stronger dossage.

You should ask your prescriber to double check that dose conversion. If he/she is converting the dose as posted it is incorrect.