Pillwatch.com : Celexa vs. Lexapro

Celexa vs. Lexapro

Good evening, ladies and gentlemen! Today we all will be witnesses of the extraordinary duel, which is really unique for the whole history of boxing. Today we see Celexa in the red corner and Lexapro in the blue corner… Oh, do not try to find the names of these boxers in the lists of the most popular fighters. In fact, these names can be easier found in any pill book or pharmaceutical annals. That is why our today evening is unique – yes, for the first time we have medications on the ring, and not real boxers. The goal of our today fighters is not to beat the opponent and get the champion belt, but to demonstrate as much effectiveness and safety as possible in treating depression and anxiety disorders.

Well, in accordance with the laws of the genre, first of all, we have to present the general profile of both participants of the duel. So, both Celexa and Lexapro are the representatives of the most up-to-date group of medications, known as SSRI or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. They are both promoted by one and the same company – Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc. And though Lexapro represents the younger generation of SSRIs, being, in fact, the successor of Celexa – both medications are indicated for treating depression and general anxiety disorders in humans.

Traditionally, before coming out to the ring, all the boxers undergo weighing procedure. So, following are the results of weighing our participants: the most amazing result is that both Celexa and Lexapro can have several different weights or doses (this fact is, definitely, extraordinary for traditional boxing). Celexa can be either 10 mg, 20mg or 40mg, while Lexapro can be either 5 mg, 10 mg or 20 mg.

Finally, it is show time for boxing…

Round 1. Key Ingredients

As we have already mentioned, Lexapro is the successor of Celexa. It is because it contains the “improved” version of the key working ingredient, used in Celexa. While citalopram hydrobromide is the “heart” of Celexa, escitalopram oxalate is what makes Lexapro work. In fact, Lexapro was designed using the most up-to-date technology, known as single isomer isolation, which allowed magnifying the effectiveness and safety of the working agent, used in Celexa for many years. Using its brand-new technology Lexapro seems to have more chances to win the first round of our virtual duel.

Round 2. Principle of Action

Being the representatives of the same group of medications, Celexa and Lexapro use similar methods to beat their mutual opponents: depression, anxiety or both. These medications work in human brains by preventing the reabsorption of serotonin, which is one of the neurotransmitters (chemicals, delivering signals from one brain cell to another). As the result, the amount of serotonin increases, and this is believed to have positive effect on relieving the symptoms of depression or anxiety. Taking into account the similar methods of fighting used by Celexa and Lexapro – the second round ended in a draw.

Round 3. Effectiveness

At the very beginning of this round it becomes obvious that Lexapro prevails over Celexa in its effectiveness. Mainly, it is because Lexapro may ensure the same antidepressant effect with the lower dose than Celexa. Looks like Lexapro strikes with less power but more precisely.

Well, there are only a few seconds left to the end of this round, but it is still unclear whether the victory should be awarded to Lexapro or to Celexa. While the majority of referees decided to give Lexapro higher rates, there are still many experts saying that different patients respond differently to the medications, and it is not rare for Celexa to show better results in comparison with Lexapro. Meanwhile, Lexapro demonstrates one more benefit, starting to work much quicker against depression, and… this final argument becomes crucial - Lexapro ends this round as the winner.

Round 4. Safety

Evaluating safety profiles of Celexa and Lexapro is not an easy task; however, it is far more difficult to define the safer medication among these two antidepressants. The most common side effects are nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation, drowsiness and fatigue. The same adverse reactions have been identified in association with both Celexa and Lexapro. However, some statistic data says that people on Lexapro have approximately the same chances to experience side effects as people, taking sugar pills. On the other hand, Celexa may sometimes cause tremor, dry mouth and diarrhea, - reactions, that are not typical for Lexapro. So, Lexapro seems to be more convincing during this round too.

Referee Verdict

The referee on the ring decided to end up the duel between Celexa and Lexapro. While both medications demonstrated high potency in fighting depression symptoms, the referee on the ring decided to award victory to Lexapro, which seemed to be quicker, safer and more precise during the duel.

After all, the final verdict remains after the professional doctor or health-care provider, who will assess all the advantages and disadvantages of both competitors and announce a final verdict. However, do not be surprised if the verdict varies in every particular case.

Nick

User Contributed Comments

Linda47715

Is it safe to switch from lexapro to celexa?

deborah

Is it safe to switch from lexapro to celexa?

mike

Yes is perfectly fine i did it felt no change at all

Carrie

If you switched and felt no change at all then why would you switch if there was no change??? Especially since Celexa has a cheaper generic option.

shaking

They are not the same. Lexapro no problems. Celexa can't sleep, but drowsy, shaking and very anxious. I'll pay for the lexapro. Don't let your insurance company dictate on this.

Bryce

Well this really depends on the patient like stated above. For my anxiety, celexa worked a lot better because of its seditive effect, whilst lexapro had a jolt to it.

Kate

I switched from Lexapro to Celexa to save $50/month (brand vs. generic) on my insurance, and found the Celexa actually works better. Although I thought the Lexapro was working just fine, I feel more energy and less depressed on the Celexa. So if your doctor agrees, it may be worth a try.

Switched

I switched from Lexapro to Celexa to save $90.00 a month. Tried Celexa for a month and noticed no unusual side effects. Very easy transition. I switched back to lexapro because I could not stop eating; literally dreaming of food. I dont know if it was the Celexa but it was concerning enough for me to switch back to lexapro. My dosage is 10mg daily of lexapro. I had my Dr prescribe the 20mg which are the EXACT same price as the 10mg. I cut them in half and am now spending 45.00 a month for my lexapro rather than 90.00. If I no longer can afford the Lexapro than I absolutely will switch back to Celexa. The monopoly of Lexapor is very irritating. I wish I liked celexa better.

Nelson

I need someone oppion what works better lexapro or celexa .

Lauren

This is the way my doctor explained it to me...(remember I was never good at chemistry, so the lingo could be wrong) Celexa was made first. Suggested dose was 20mg. The patent ran out, and obviously they were not going to make a ton of money off of the medicine, so they took out a few things that really didn't do anything at all, think he called them the neutrons....and whabam...LEXAPRO 10mg.....it only contains the protons from the celexa....which like he said, the neutrons didn't do anything anyway. That way the company could continue the monopoly. He gave me a month supply of Lexapro and gave me a script for the Celexa and told me it was the exact same thing.

maralee

Lexapro is the active metabolite of celexa. Celexa came 1st, and is considered the genetic precursor to Lexapro. Your body 'should' break down the celexa to the same compound which is lexapro, in theory. However, as every individualis metabolism. Is personalized, different people have different experiences with this; somestill prefer the celexa while as mall majority experience faster, better improvement with lexapro.

howgru

My understanding is that Lexapro is a "patent extender" produced by the same manufacturer as Celexa with minimal differences between the two.

Marci

I was on Lexapro, after 10 days the side effects wore off and I felt great - felt in control of my emotions and happy. After 5 months, my co-pay was going to be increased substantially so I switched to citalopram (generic of celexa) At first, I felt a little sleepy and started drinking more coffee. Eventually, depression came back and the fatigue was overwhelming. I am now back on Lexapro - thank God for Lexapro.

Lauren

Apparently, lexapro was made from a brand new process that allowed them to isolate the most effective half of celexa's active ingredients, that's why the dosage is smaller. It makes it more precise and faster. I guess.
I'm ordering cheap meds from India. I was thinking about getting celexa, bc I've been off lexapro for almost two months. But everything I've read makes me want to stick with lexapro.

Anonymous

i felt more energetic on celexa 50 mlg.i am on 60 m of cymbalta and i feel good but not as much energy.

teddibear

I was on celexa for about a month, but my eyes got so dry and my mouth so dry it was crazy. My eyes would feel like they had shampoo in them sometimes. I\\\'m also on a diuretic for blood pressure, and, I had a lot of sinus tissue removed in sinus surgery so that may have something to do with it. My doctor switched me to lexapro because it supposedly has less of those drying effects because it is a cleaner med. It\\\'s been only 3 dayson lexapro and it seems to be quite a bit better but hard to tell yet.

pharmd [Registered User] [Posts:1]

Who wrote this? Forest Pharmaceuticals? The reasoning is highly misleading. In "Round 1. Key Ingredients" the author uses scientific jargon about the technology the manufacturer uses to select the active molecules from the 50:50 mix of active and inactive molecules comprising Celexa to argue that the active ingredient is superior (in the boxing analogy) with Lexapro. The key ingredient itself has not been proven to be any better since the key ingredient is really pharmacologically indistinguishable. In "Round 3. Effectiveness", the author argues the higher drug potency of Lexapro as an advantage for efficacy. This is not a vaild point since potency is not a determination of efficacy. The other argument for this round and for "Round 4. Safety" are based on comparing separate clinical trials. Note that the information presented is not the result of a multi-centered double-blind placebo controlled study, but of comparing studies from the different drugs individually compared to placebo. This logic is invalid as the company even points out in the following quote from the Prescribing Information, "Highly variable results have been seen in the clinical development of all antidepressant drugs. Furthermore, in those circumstances when the drugs have not been studied in the same controlled clinical trial(s), comparisons among the results of studies evaluating the effectiveness of different antidepressant drug products are inherently unreliable. Because conditions of testing (e.g., patient samples, investigators, doses of the treatments administered and compared, outcome measures, etc.) vary among trials, it is virtually impossible to distinguish a difference in drug effect from a difference due to one of the confounding factors just enumerated. Nowhere in this article does the author present any valid arguments that Lexapro is superior to Celexa or vice versa. Sorry Forest, but your patent-expired apple is still an apple.

justbarbagain

I was put on Lexapro 8 years ago and between that and my lamictal (I was finally diagnosed with bipolar disorder) I was totally stable. But then I lost my medical insurance. I applied for the Patient Assistance Program with Forest Pharm and that was a disaster because they said it shipped, but my docs office never got it. Then I had to start all over and it has been several months and i still don't have it. Meanwhile my doc was providing me with samples of the Lexapro, but then the company stopped giving out samples. Lexapro for me was going to be $150. Celexa for me is $6. I haven't felt any changes that I can actually note after a month or so. I had been given Celexa awhile before the Lexapro and it hadn't done anything for me, so I went off of it. The Lexapro was given to me for mood swings, but again, I hadn't been diagnosed with bipolar yet. I've heard that Lexapro will be available in a generic next spring and I will go back to it then. I do think it is better, but I'm ok for now on Celexa.

Pamella

How does the transition work? I am currently taking 20mg of Lexapro, what is the proper dose of Celexa that I should be taking the first day I start the Celexa? Is it safe to take 40mg right from the begining?

Georgieboy

Have good results with celexa re:anxiety & depression, but stay pretty sleepy & grainy eyed...thinking maybe lexapro may have less sedative effect, reducing the latter.

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