lexapro

[donnashamshar]

can anyone explain the difference between the brand name Lexapro and the generic brand?  i was reading your posts.  my boyfriend was on the brand name lexapro and switched to the chemical brand in June.  since then he has been spriraling downhill, out of control  is there that much of a difference in brand name and off brand?

[duffsmom2003]

Lexapro changed my husband's life in a good way.  However, in spite of the fact that the generic, escitalopram, is supposed to be the same as Lexapro--he tends to spiral downhill as you mentioned a few weeks after switching to the generic. We have tried switching several times as the name brand is so expensive, but each time his mood deteriorates after a couple of weeks--and we go back to Lexapro.

[specialmom]

They are the same component for the most part but every manufacturer  is a big different.  And every time you get a generic, you may get this manufacturer or that one.  I think it shifts side effects can happen but usually efficacy stays the same.  You can always request the brand name and pay for it.  Which stinks that you'd have to do that. I take generics for most things without issue but have heard with SSRI's that the minute changes that happen with manufacturers of generics verses the original manufacturer will alter the medication ever so slightly  good luck

[Paxiled]

This is a common thing on this forum.  It's more common with benzos, at least on this forum, but the fact is that generics are not the same thing as the brand name, they are similar enough to be believed to perform similarly.  None of us will usually know if the brand name works better if we take older drugs because the docs usually just put us on the cheaper ones and insurance companies make it a lot more expensive to use brand names, but consensus on this site over the years has been that brand name drugs work better.  Another problem is that generics manufacturers are not consistent, while brand name manufacturers usually are -- but only usually, as any observer of the Tylenol saga can attest to.  Generics manufacturers, especially Teva, get fined a lot -- a lot -- for not meeting FDA standards, and I'm sure they get fined in other countries as well.  They cut corners constantly because the profit margins are tiny, as opposed to brand name drugs in the US which charge as much as the market will bear because the US is the only country in the world, or at least the only wealthy country, that doesn't regulate health care prices.  So first, the generic is never exactly the same -- it can't be, as the brand name manufacturer has a patent that allows it to keep exactly how it manufactures its product a secret.  Generic companies have to reverse engineer the drug and come as close as they can.  It is a different drug, but usually most of us don't notice.  But many do.  And different generic manufacturers have better reputations for consistent product quality.

[Hensley258]

This is kind of a recient thing. Lexapro indeed is now avalible in a generic form, Escitalopram, or sometimes called Cipralex.

I used to take Lexapro for about a year, but never tried the generic counter part as they were not avalible at that time.

Your question: "Is there that much of a difference in brand name and generic brand?"
Well, there isn't supposed to be. In fact by FDA law all Generic medications must have the exact amount and kind of active ingreduant. BUT, there is some evedence that in some (not all) cases that Generic equivilent medication can (sometimes) be less effective.

My Psychiatrist told me that with Generics he has noticed approximatly a 20% less effective result verses name brand SSRI medications.

Now, is this fact. NO. But I would also have to ask you how long your boyfriend has been taking Lexapro.

This factor is key, because if he has been taking it for a very long time there is a 20% chance that the active ingrediant in Lexapro which is "Escitalopram," has lost it's effectiveness for him.

I pooped out on Lexapro in 2 years. That's why some people like us make med changes. Because we "poop out" after long periods on the same AD medication.

I'm not saying that's your boyfriends problem, just saying it is a real possability.

Your on the right track as to finding a solution to his problem. Keep doing research and asking questions. You can solve this medication riddle if you try.