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Avatar universal

Lexapro or Zoloft?

Hi.  I have panic disorder.  Took Celexa for 7 years and it pooped out.  Pdoc prescribed Luvox.  Have taken that for five months and it's just not doing the trick.  Still have anxiety and breakthrough panic attacks.  He has given me the choice of lexapro or Zoloft.  Since Celexa and lexapro are so similar, I'm concerned that the lexapro won't work given that the Celexa stopped working.  On the other hand, he has warned me that Zoloft is more activating, which is not good for anxiety and panic.  Thoughts? Advice? Similar experiences?
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Avatar universal
I'm in therapy too but still having trouble.  Just can't seem to get back to where I was on the Lexapro.  Hopefully we both get better soon!
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Avatar universal
Luvox is not stimulating.  It's too sedating...and that's coming from someone who needs to be sedated. I'm tired all the time but still anxious and have panic attacks.  So, basically, Luvox just doesn't work for me. Yes on the therapy.
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Avatar universal
If I have to stay on ADs and need to switch, Celexa would be my preference.  My doc said I could try Prozac but that is supposed to be very activating.  No thanks.  I need something more neutral.  If Celexa worked well for you I don't think it would hurt to try Lexapro.  You just never know with these drugs until you try them for yourself.  Is Luvox too stimulating or does it just not work for you?  Are you in therapy?  That might help too.
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Avatar universal
My doc originally said the same thing as yours...he wouldn't switch me to lexapro right after the celexa because they are too similar.  Now that I've been on the Luvox for about five months, he's changed his tune.  Celexa worked wonders for me.  I didn't have a panic attack for 7 years.  
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Avatar universal
Hi there.  I'm in the same boat you are.  I have anxiety/panic disorder and was on Lexapro for about 10 years before it pooped out.  I felt it worked very well with little side effects.  Since then I've been having trouble getting the anxiety back under control.  I tried Effexor for 6 weeks.  Too stimulating, gave me tremors.  I have now been on Zoloft for 7 weeks.  I find this one to be stimulating as well.  I still have tremors and now have acne which I have never had in my life.  I find my panic attacks have been more frequent since starting Zoloft.  But this is just my experience, some people swear by it.  My doc won't prescribe me Celexa because she feels it is too similar to Lexapro to work.  How did you like Celexa?  Did it work for you?  Good luck with whatever you decide.
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Avatar universal
I was switched from Lexapro when it didn't work well enough to Celexa, and it also hasn't done much.  My case is unique as it's more based now on damage from a prior med, but still, that's my experience.  Might not be yours.  What I can say from the small sample on this forum is that Zoloft seems to be the best working drug for anxiety, but again, a small sample.
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