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Citalopram/Escitalopram

Posted , 2 users are following.

Luke7580
Luke7580

Hello everyone, simple question, are Citalopram and Escitalopram EXACTLY the same, by that I mean if I was to change from Cit to Escit would I feel the same, I have tried Cit for several years and would like to try Escit, a friend of mine said she's on Escit and it's fantastic and totally different to Cit, but then I've read on the net several pages where they say Cit and Escit are the same, many thanks, any replies would be appreciated..... Luke

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • lee1111
    lee1111 Luke7580

    Posted

    Hi Luke, they are not exactly the same. Originally made by the same company Lunbeck. citalopram is Cipramil/Celexa the original. Later the made Cipralex esctalopram / Lexapro/ lexamil. The claim is that the second version is a cleaner version of the med and is apparently missing the isomer that contributes towards side effects. This may just be drug company talk to boost sales of a new drug. I have only ever taken the Citalopram, and with all it's side effects, I am not sure it would have been any better on the ecitalopram. No harm in trying, but remember that the dosages are different, and if i recall correctly 10mg of ecitalopram is almost the equivalent of 20 mg of Citalopram, or slightly more. I hope this makes sense and the other names I have mentioned are generic versions of the originals. Good luck with whatever you choose and I hope you feel well soon. Lee.
    • Luke7580
      Luke7580 lee1111

      Posted

      Hi Lee, Thanks for your reply, and sorry it's taken so long. I was on Cit from sep14 to July15, had some decent times with it but by July I was feeling rotten so dr changed me onto sertraline, still on that and have been for 8 months, it's been useless, psych I saw a month ago got me to take pregabalin with him, still feel awful, I'm desperate t o try Escitalopram but but my stupid psych says Es and Cit are the same, even tho I showed him a dozen reviews fro people who left Cit for Es and are feeling fantastic.... I'm so angry.

    • lee1111
      lee1111 Luke7580

      Posted

      Oh dear, I wonder why your Dr is so reluctant to try the Escitalopram. Maybe time to see a new Dr who listens to you. Why did you stop the Cialopram and what dose were you on? Good luck, Lee. 
    • Luke7580
      Luke7580 lee1111

      Posted

      Hi Lee, on sept 2014 I started on 20mg, went up to 30mg in November, then 40mg in February, it wasn't improving my life by July 2015 so the dr put me on sertraline, and I've gradually got worse on sert. Citalopram gave me some decent times, in March 2015 I had a couple of weeks where I felt fantastic, but it soon disappeared, and that is why I'm desperate to try Escitalopram, it's similar but not the same so it's possible it could be the right med for me.
    • lee1111
      lee1111 Luke7580

      Posted

      Luke, keep talking to your dr about it. Yes, some peple respond differently to Escitalopram. I really hope he hears you out and you feel better soon. 
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