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Escitalopram vs. Lexapro

I have been on 20 mg of Lexapro for seven years. Three months ago, my pharmacy switched me to Escitalopram without my knowledge. I am more depresssed, my sleeping is worse and I am subject to more panic attackes than ever.  Is it my body reacting to the change in drugs?
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480448 tn?1426948538
Actually, it isn't horribly uncommon for someone to notice that a generic version of a medication isn't as effective as the brand name.  While it is required for the active ingredient to be present in the same quantities, there are other things (fillers, binders) that can affect the efficacy of a med for some people.  Everyone is different.

The most obvious solution here is to demand you be put back on the brand name Lexapro.  It should be as easy as telling your doc to check the box on the Rx that states "brand name only'.  I think you should give it a try for sure.

Let us know how it works!
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Avatar universal
I tried Zoloft and now I'm back on Lexapro.  Nothing seems to be working.
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Avatar universal
So what did you do? What medication are you on now.
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Avatar universal
I doubt it.  Escitalopram is the generic of Lexapro.  I asked my psychiatrist if the generic works any differently, as every now and then you hear of generics not working quite as well.  She said there is virtually no difference in the drugs, except for the fact that one is a brand name and one is a generic.  However, I recently went through the same thing as you.  I'd been on Lexapro for eight years and did so well on it, and out of the blue it stopped working.
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