I posted before...I have been on almost every SSRI except paxil...been on wellbutrin and effexor with no success...
only success i found was zoloft which killed my sex life. I am a 21 year old male who has batteling anxiety for about 4 years or so...My first drug was celexa which I was on for quite some time. It helped but I was seeking something that would help me even more. I had no side effects what so ever, but i persisted with it for a year or so with the help of klonopin. Until I came to my 3rd college, I saw another psych and I started experiementing with different drugs...

So let me get down the the real question...
I finally went back on celexa since I thought I found some success with it w/ little side effects...then I thought hey I might as well try lexapro...it is from the same isomer with better reviews...so might as well try it... I was on Celexa for week or so before transitioning...from 15 mg celexa to 5 mg of lex...anyway, I noticed as I started taking the lexapro, my anxiety increased, and for the first I was really anxious around my gf and my brother, which never happend before in my life! I was also more agitated and tired, and very lethargic throughout the day. I took 5 mg for about 4 days until I talked to my psych and he said go back to celexa with 20...

SO the question is...are the side effect for lexapro expected...I have heard these, but I am worried since I have read many cases in which lexapro either works or doesn't. I have heard alot of good things about this drug, but being that my experience with celexa wasn't the brightest, would it make sense to continue with the lex and hope for the best??? I was hoping some one could provide some insight on this confused matter...if any. I am just seeking for some answers. My psych is little to no help.

This post has been edited by chaseryder: May 4 2007, 11:51 AM

anyone??

I too am curious. i am currently on 40mg celexa. i may switch to lexapro, but am confused.

Hey chase, I've been on lexapro 10mg for about 2 months. I've been taking it for depression instead of anxiety. It has helped me tremendously. I feel like my old self again on most days. As for side effects, I did notice some increased anxiety for about two weeks when I first started it. I was also tired for a few weeks. Those are now gone.

This post has been edited by maintainin: May 5 2007, 03:13 PM

hmm thats quite interesting...i am considering going back on lexapro after i get home for the summer...so of now im on 20 mg of celexa...i still feel anxious, but at times feel alot better than I did on lexapro...plus I stopped experiences SD...so im considering giving it another try since they are basically the same...I just dont get how I'd feel better on celexa, than lexapro...THEY ARE BASICALLY THE SAME!!!

They are very similiar, I think. My doctor told me that Celexa has an additional component which is supposed to help you sleep through the night. I tried that first (10 mg) but was so groggy and out of it, he switched me to Lexapro -- same dosage. Much better. Good luck!

Hi, all. You might want to check out the forum room specifically about these two meds. They two are similar, but do have differences. I've read that Celexa is supposed to have fewer sexual side effects than Lexapro, for one thing. I'm on Lexapro and have had very good luck with it--have never tried Celexa so I can't compare the two for you. See if you find anything here that helps:

Celexa/Lexapro Room

My Dr. has me on Lexapro, augmented with Lamictal. That really does the trick, although I'm still in the negative thought part, that's where therapy comes in. Lexapro 7.5 mg Lamictal 300 mg.

to DF vickielp

Sorry to hear that you are having negative thoughts.

What therapy are you doing?

Girly

well I called the doc to get back on AD's. Life sucks right now. Anyway I asked for a generic (I thought generic lexapro was available) she called in citalopram (cipralex) I don't know what to do. Lexapro worked before and others I tried were a nightmare. I am afraid to try the cipralex. I am sitting here looking at the bottle and wondering what to do. Is there a likelihood that since the lexapro worked that the cipralex will also????

I hate medicines, but I need to get back in control.

Lexapro isn't available in generic form yet, but its predecessor Celexa is. The generic name for Celexa is citalopram, Lexapro and Cipralex are escitalopram. I've taken both citalopram and escitalopram, and gotten the same results from it. The only difference is that you need to take twice the milligrams of citalopram to equal the escitalopram. For example, 20mgs of Celexa/citalopram would equal 10mgs of Lexapro/Cipralex/escitalopram.

I have been on many AD's except Paxil because of it's side effects involving potential weight gain and withdrawals. I have been taking Lexapro - 10mg and find that it works well for my anxiety but doesn't do much for my depression. As a matter of fact, when I went up to 20mg, my depression worsened. The only problem side effect I find is loss of libido. Wellbutrin was best in that area but couldn't stand the jitters that came with it. Unfortunately, most of the AD's have some stimulating side effects that make my anxiety worse. I take Klonapin to offset them, but with lexapro there are no jitters. Another problem with Lexapro is that there is no generic brand available and it can be quite expensive. Now I am thinking of going back on Celexa in order to save money since it is available in generic but will have to rely on Klonapin to offset those caffeine like jitters. Ugh...

Good luck and keep us posted.

Hey guys... For the men only... I can testify to this.. I was on Zoloft.... Hated it. Made me sleep all the time.. Couldn't do anything, had a bad chemical taste on my tongue.... Went to Celexa... It was o.k...didn't help so much... Then i started taking 5-HTP 3 times a day...and sometimes just twice a day.

God, the difference.. My libido even shot up. Not only did i feel at ease, but my sexual prowess was extraordinary. I was walking around ready to have sex at any minute, plus mentally i felt great........ Got to try this stuff. That's why i said for the men.. I can def. testify that this is some good stuff.
Get alot of sleep..... Adjust the dosage as you see fit..... but i was happy, horny, and alltogether relaxed.....


Peace.

Did you take the 5HTP while you were on Celexa? What dosage of 5HTP did you take and how long before you feel it helped?