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Mental Health (Expert Forum)
Celexa and Lexapro
Answered by
Roger Gould, M.D. - Mental Health, Wellness
Questions posted in the Mental Health forum are being answered by Dr. Roger L. Gould, author of the Mastering Stress and Depression program and affiliated with the UCLA. Department of Psychiatry. Topics covered include anger, attention deficit disorder (ADD), bipolar disorder, dementia, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), learning disabilities, memory, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic, personality disorders, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), schizophrenia, stress, transitions, and work problems.
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Celexa and Lexapro
by npog99, Dec 22, 2002 12:00AM
Hello. I started taking Celexa after trying other depression medication during the past three years. Most of the other medication (effexor, Prozac, Zoloft) produce side effects which I did not care for. My doctor and I finally gave Celexa a try. I was taking low dosages (10mg daily) of Celexa and I was doing fine. A few months back my doctor suggested I try Lexapro. I have found that most of the bad side effects of Celexa have been eliminated with this new and so far wonderful medication, I am currently taking 10mg Lexapro daily. My question is: What can I expect to feel when leaving the medication (long term use). Also, is there any danger to this medication that we know of, how does it differentiate from Celexa. It has been prescribed for my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after 9/11 and a car accident we suffered a year ago.
Thank you.
Nick
Thank you.
Nick
Doctor's Answer
by Roger Gould, M.D., Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
, Dec 23, 2002 12:00AM
Lexapro is derived from Celexa and has the same positive effect at a lower dose without side effects. It is suppose to help even more with Anxiety. There should be no delay in its effect and no withdrawal effects from Celexa.
Lexapro™ (escitalopram oxalate)
(Forest Laboratories)
FDA Approval Code:
FDA Approval Date: 08-30-02
"Lexapro™ - escitalopram oxalate
Clinical Application
Indicated for the treatment of major depression
Concominant use with monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) is contraindicated
********Lexapro™ 10 mg efficacy and adverse effects are similar to Celexa™ 40 mg with an onset of action 1-2 weeks earlier in two trials********* ......"
Just left you all the links, copied and pasted, but the message didn't take (error message) so here's how to find out about the drugs for yourself.
Go to
http://www.rxlist.com/
(This site is neither for or against the drugs, it is merely the listed documentation on the drugs)
Once there, do a search on
1) Lexapro (which is also known as Celexa, and is an SSRI)
2) Lamictal ( which is also known as Lamotrigine and is an anti-convulsant)
3) Wellbutrin (also known as BUPROPION and ZYBAN and is in the aminoketone class of antidepressants).
DON'T STOP TAKING ANY/ALL OF THE ABOVE COLD TURKEY. All have a warning to wean off gradually.
And here's a Bipolar support site:
http://www.ivillagehealth.com/experts/emotional/qas/0,11816,166187_174626-2,00.html
If you are still on Lexapro (Celexa) or suspect you have withdrawal from it, then you might want to go to this site where there's information on it:
http://www.prozactruth.com/celexa.htm
And from that site you will see links to how to quit from medications, definition of mental disorder, through to looking for a new physician, etc.
I hope the above helps :)
"http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lexapro_ad.htm#AR
"Following is a list of WHO terms that reflect treatment-emergent adverse events, as defined in the introduction to the ADVERSE REACTIONS section, reported by the 999 patients treated with Lexapro™ for periods of up to one year in double-blind or open-label clinical trials during its premarketing evaluation. All reported events are included except those already listed in Table 1, those occurring in only one patient, event terms that are so general as to be uninformative, and those that are unlikely to be drug related. It is important to emphasize that, although the events reported occurred during treatment with Lexapro™, they were not necessarily caused by it.
Events are further categorized by body system and listed in order of decreasing frequency according to the following definitions: frequent adverse events are those occurring on one or more occasions in at least 1/100 patients; infrequent adverse events are those occurring in less than 1/100 patients but at least 1/1000 patients. Cardiovascular - Frequent: palpitation, hypertension. Infrequent: bradycardia, tachycardia, ECG abnormal, flushing, varicose vein.
Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders - Frequent: paresthesia, light-headed feeling, migraine, tremor, vertigo. Infrequent: shaking, dysequilibrium, tics, restless legs, carpal tunnel syndrome, twitching, faintness, hyperreflexia, muscle contractions involuntary, muscular tone increased.
Gastrointestinal Disorders - Frequent: vomiting, flatulence, heartburn, tooth ache, gastroenteritis, abdominal cramp, gastroesophageal reflux. Infrequent: bloating, increased stool frequency, abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, belching, gagging, gastritis, hemorrhoids. General - Frequent: allergy, pain in limb, hot flushes, fever, chest pain. Infrequent: edema of extremities, chills, malaise, syncope, tightness of chest, leg pain, edema, asthenia, anaphylaxis.
Hemic and Lymphatic Disorders - Infrequent: bruise, anemia, nosebleed, hematoma.
Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders - Frequent: increased weight, decreased weight. Infrequent: bilirubin increased, gout, hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia.
Musculoskeletal System Disorders - Frequent: arthralgia, neck/shoulder pain, muscle cramp, myalgia. Infrequent: jaw stiffness, muscle stiffness, arthritis, muscle weakness, arthropathy, back discomfort, joint stiffness, jaw pain.
Psychiatric Disorders - Frequent: dreaming abnormal, yawning, appetite increased, lethargy, irritability, concentration impaired. Infrequent: agitation, jitteriness, apathy, panic reaction, restlessness aggravated, nervousness, forgetfulness, suicide attempt, depression aggravated, feeling unreal, excitability, emotional lability, crying abnormal, depression