Anyone on lexapro -- or vs Prozac?

[lillygator]

Anyone have any thoughts?

 

[themarquis]

yes, I have been taking lexapro for several years.

It has a lower side effect profile than many other antidepressants, including prozac.

It has worked very well for me and I have not had any significant side effects.

 

[lillygator]

does it work better than prozac?

 

[stinkerbelle's mom]

I used to be on it for anxiety and loved it. I was on the lowest dose like 10 mgs or something. Made me feel better and relaxed.

 

[themarquis]

does it work better than prozac?

I think that most of the newer antidepressants pretty much work the same. I think when Lexapro came out, it was supposed to work a teeny bit better, but to be honest, it probably is not going to make a difference which one you take. Everyone reacts differently -- one may work for you and not for others and vice versa. The important thing is to keep with it (you have to take them for like 2 weeks - 1 month before you really start seeing any effects) and work closely with a doctor that you trust. Which one you start with doesn't matter that much.

It is true, though, that Lexapro is supposed to be better at helping with anxiety symptoms than some of the others (I think it is better than Prozac for this).

 

[alizesmom]

I was having to increase my dose of prozac to keep it effective. I was switched to lexapro several years ago and have maintained the same dose since (30mg). It works for me.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

Anyone have any thoughts?

With most antidepressants- you really can't ask- which worked better of someone else- one may work great on one person and not at all on another.

There are supposed to be a few less side effects with Lexapro- but the cost is greater since it is newer.

They both have merit- and can both work well- you may have to try one and then another. If you are already on one and thinking of asking to switch- are you not getting a desired effect? or are you having a side effect you'd rather do without?

 

[Par8hed]

My concern with all of these is that I have heard absolute horror stories from people about when they try to get off of them.
I know they have done a lot of good for a lot of people but I'm scared of them to be honest.

 

[VirtuallyMe]

My concern with all of these is that I have heard absolute horror stories from people about when they try to get off of them.
I know they have done a lot of good for a lot of people but I'm scared of them to be honest.

With almost any drug- you can't just stop them cold turkey... you have to ween off them to change drugs or to stop them... especially psych medications.

And if you ween yourself off or even stop cold turkey and want to take the same medication again in the future- chances are it won't be quite as effective as it was.

 

[dcentity2000]

Details taken from seratis.net:

Lexapro, generic name Escitalopram

Escitalopram is a derivative of the drug citalopram, an antidepressant of the same family, whose main advantage over the parent drug is in tolerability. The drug entered patent as citalopram left its own, prompting cynicism and speculation that the drug company was in fact marketing a near identical drug at a higher price.

This drug is the most selective SSRI antidepressant available and has proven its worth in clinical trials; it still sports the typical side effects that SSRIs tend to have, including those in withdrawal.

Prozac, generic name Fluoxetine

Fluoxetine is also known and classified as a bicyclic antidepressant, meaning that the chemical structure of the drug consists of two rings.

This drug started out life as an antihistamine, diphenhydramine, which was found to inhibit the reuptake of the monoamine neurotransmitter serotonin. Fluoxetine is fairly stimulating, yet is an approved treatment for anxiety related conditions; even more converse is the fact that anxiety is one of the most (if not the most) frequent side effect of fluoxetine therapy. The drug also possesses a remarkably long half life which has proven useful in the treatment of more reluctant patients; should they suddenly stop taking the drug, the antidepressant effect will remain for a fair amount of time, hopefully long enough for the cessation to be noticed and rectified. Currently fluoxetine is available for use in children as young as eight, should psychotherapies fail.

Fluoxetine fast became an infamous drug under the brand name of Prozac; millions were prescribed the drug, largely due to an extremely effective and extensive advertising campaign. Unfortunately, the medication became controversial towards the end of the century due to an increased risk of suicidal behaviour amongst patients treated with the drug.

The most common side effects are anxiety, headaches, nervousness, insomnia, fatigue, tremor, dizziness, dry mouth, weight loss (possibly leading to anorexia), excessive sweating, nausea and diarrhea; fluoxetine also causes mania in approximately 6% of patients. Maximum therapeutic effect usually manifests after a period of a month to a month and a half.

Both drugs are SSRIs. This means that they inhibit the re-uptake of the neurotransmitter Serotonin, a chemical often dubbed "the happy chemical".

Typical antidepressants (including SSRIs) often take weeks to take hold and even longer to wean off. There are an array of possible side effects which you just have to get used to.

There are a myriad of other antidepressant families, including NARIs, RIMAs, MAOIs and SSREs.

For more details, go to http://www.seratis.net and if you need a more detailed answer, leave a message on the forums and I'll get back to you asap



Rich::

 

[Pigeon]

I was on lexapro for situational depression while going through treatment for breast cancer. It worked very well for me. I used to joke with my husband that it should be added to the water supply because it made life so much easier, and why shouldn't everyone be happy?

I had no problem at all discontinuing it after my treatment was over. I just took half the usual dose for a week and then stopped. I kinda miss it some days.

 

[Stacerita]

I have been on Lexapro for 6 months and it has been great. Don't I feel happy all the time and all "up"....no. But it has taken the edge off and I am able to do what I need. I haven't had any side effects to speak of. I guess I am lucky. After initially being on it, my physician and I agreed to up my dose, and its been all good. Along with Lexapro, I take a few other meds, to even my week out.

 

[MoniqueU]

I was on both at one time or another. No withdrawals from coming off. Then I was put on effexor cr for awhile. Coming off that was like physically worse then quitting smoing. My legs ached so bad I had to take tylenol 3 and when I walked every part of my body got electrical shock feeling. Not fun. I am now on prestiq which seems to be doing alot better. I suffer from severe anxiety, not the ind you can breathe yourself out of and it seems to be helping better then lexapro or prozac ever did.