celexa vs lexapro

[dkdk]

I was on Zoloft for 6 months with one doseage increase in the middle. It's petered out again, so doc wrote me a script for Lexapro 20mg SID. The pharmacist gives me Celexa 40mg SID. Insurance declined the Lex, no generic.

Is it usual to start a patient on 40mg of Celexa???

-d

[Meerkat]

Hi, Your insurance should be hanged, drawn, drowned and quartered Escitalopram is NOT citalopram. It is closely related, but Lexapro (escitalopram) does not have the dextro-side of the chemical. Therefore it can potentially work very different in a person. Simply replacing the prescribed medication by doubling the dose of a similar medication, is something that is and should remain in the hands of your physician and specifically NOT in the greedy grapplers of the Insurance bean-counters.

[crazy girl]

Lexapro is much stronger than Celexa.(10 mg lex = 40 mg Celexa. I was on Lex and my insurance company also dropped me so I went on Celexa. Needless to say, they are not the same, I am back to my old anxious self again on the Celexa. I am in the process of having my MD write my insurance company to get me back on. I will pay the extra $$ to make me feel good again!

[billroth]

There is no difference between Celexa and Lexapro. When Celexa's patent protection ran out and generics were allowed, Forest Laboratories created Lexapro in an attempt to keep the profits coming in, but the meds are virtually identical. They tweaked a few enantiomers, so the Lexapro is more potent per mg. If you are feeling a difference between the two, it is likely a placebo effect, so if that's worth the money and battle with your insurance company......