Posted by Bill L on April 7, 2003, at 10:57:34
In reply to Please,Only Ex-Celexa Users now on Lexapro, posted by 88ivories on April 6, 2003, at 19:48:00
Susan, I was on Celexa for about 3 years, then switched to Lexapro when it first came out. I take 20 mg of Lxapro with very good results. I have almost no depression.
When I started Celexa a few years a go, I took 20 mg. I did better on Celexa than when I previously took Prozac. I felt less tired and had less jitteriness than I did on Prozac. To maintain the very good results from Celexa, I had to increase the dose to 40 mg. This worked well for about a year, then I increased to 60 mg. I was doing very well on 60 mg.
Then when Lexapro came out (about 7 or 8 months a go?), I switched and started with 20 mg which is the dose I am still on. Personally, I prefer Lexapro. I feel a bit mentally sharper than I did on Celexa. Both Celexa and Lexapro got rid of almost all (close to 100%) of my depression. I find that with Lexapro, I still had some daytime tiredness and sexual decrease, but not quite as much as with Celexa (neither Celexa or Lexapro caused me as much sexual decrease as Prozac).
So basically, it's hard for me to tell you whether you should switch or not. I'm glad that I switched, but everyone is different. I have found ways to handle side effects. For daytime tiredness, I eat about 1 once of dark chocolate each day before noon. It gives me energy for the entire day. I have not gained weight and have even lost a couple of pounds because the chocolate makes me feel full. It should be dark chocolate. According to a recent Newsweek article, milk chocolate and powdered cocoa do not have a high level of flavinoids.
For sexual decrease, I have found some benefit taking Rhodiola Rosea (an herb also called artic root). This was also in a recent issue of Newsweek. The article quoted a Columbia University (New York) psychiatrist, Richard Brown, saying that he gives it to many of his patients to deal with SSRI side effects. The article says that not all brands are helpful. One of the suggested brands is Rhodax and thats the one that I have been taking. I sometimes have sleep problems and have found it very helpful to take melatonin about an hour before going to bed. I may take melatonin 2 or 3 nights a week. Good luck.
> I am currently on 30mgs of Celexa and am considering switching to Lexapro. I have 7 yrs history with SSRIs/Benzos and am very familiar w/anxiety/depression. I have spent several hours reading through another thread on this website that was related to the subject of switching from Celexa to Lexapro.
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> Unfortunately (only for time reasons) it contained inputs from people on SSRIs other than Celexa considering switching or already switched to Lexapro. That isn't helpful to Celexa users trying to make the switch or thinking of doing so.
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> Would welcome all input from users of Celexa or users of Celexa now on Lexapro. Do you consider Lexapro better, if so, how did your doc translate your dosage. Would also be interested in the side effects of tapering off either drug. I had a very bad experience trying to get off Luvox.
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> Celexa has worked much, much better for me than Luvox and Paxil. I have gained 10-15lbs in almost a year, have a lot of fatique and sweating, some hair loss, and lack of libido. Overall, Celexa has had less side effects than the other 2 I have tried. I'm a 39yr/female and I do believe all the SSRIs have caused some hormonal issues.
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> Thanks for all who respond and share.....Susan.
poster:Bill L
thread:216809
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030407/msgs/216971.html