Switching from Lexapro to Celexa

Hi..Im new here, I have been taking 10mg lexapro for about 2 months now..My doctor just switched my prescription to Celexa 40mg and I am nervous to start taking it. He told me to just stop taking lexapro and just start taking the celexa since it is almost the same. I am worried about going through side effects again since I have stabilized on the lexapro and the lexapro has been working for me fine and I am worried that Celexa won't be the same. Has anyone had to switch from lexapro to celexa and what was your experience..I haven't started the new prescription yet.

I had to switch for insurance reasons

If you google on: switching antidepressants escitalopram citalopram

Followed by: switching antidepressants "lexapro to celexa"

You may find something helpful.

Celexa and Lexapro may be considered similar in some respects, in that that "escitalopram is the pharmacologically active S-enantiomer of the SSRI antidepressant citalopram." And they are made by the same company.

However in terms of possible patient reaction, and strength (mg) equivalencies... no, they aren't.

Mrod1,

How has the switch gone so far? I was on Lexapro for over 6 months, then switched to Celexa, and again am thinking of switching back over to Lexapro, because I'm told that I'll have better energy on Lexapro. But how was your switch?

I don't recommend switching from Lexapro to Celexa if you can at all avoid it. I swithced because it was cheaper, but have recently been feeling really tired. It is almost a "drugged" feeling of not being able to get up and move or do anything. I wwent to my doctor and they told me that Celexa has been reported as having that sedative effect. I've been feeling happierlately so Ithey decided to take me off of it altogether. Now that i'm coming off Celexa I am definitely realizing the effect it had on my energy! I am feeling a lot more awake lately and able to do my everyday activities better.
That's my advice!

Sally F wrote:

I don't recommend switching from Lexapro to Celexa if you can at all avoid it. I swithced because it was cheaper, but have recently been feeling really tired. It is almost a "drugged" feeling of not being able to get up and move or do anything. I wwent to my doctor and they told me that Celexa has been reported as having that sedative effect. I've been feeling happierlately so Ithey decided to take me off of it altogether. Now that i'm coming off Celexa I am definitely realizing the effect it had on my energy! I am feeling a lot more awake lately and able to do my everyday activities better.
That's my advice!

Sally F: Alright, help me out here. I'm at this point (30 mg Celexa) where I'm totally fine emotionally (happy, whatever), but I have that drugged out/slowness of mind/concentration poop out feeling. And I'm thinking....should I go down to a lower dosage OR are these depressive symptoms and should i GO UP. You went down, right? How did that go for you, and did your docs say anything that you could relay to me.(Note: My doc is a loser. I'm in the process of finding a new one. AND...big fan of Naperville! Lived in Wheaton/West Chicago most my life.

I was wondering if anyone felt more depression feelings by switching from Celexa to Lexapro. I made the switch recently and feel horrible. Any thoughts from others. I was on 20mg of Celexa and switched to 10mg of Lexapro. I didn't feel the efect from the 10 so now I'm at 20mg of Lexapro and I really feel like there is no medication at all. Just fatigue and helplessness.

LsLa wrote:

I was wondering if anyone felt more depression feelings by switching from Celexa to Lexapro. I made the switch recently and feel horrible. Any thoughts from others. I was on 20mg of Celexa and switched to 10mg of Lexapro. I didn't feel the efect from the 10 so now I'm at 20mg of Lexapro and I really feel like there is no medication at all. Just fatigue and helplessness.

Hi -- I'm on day 5 of switching from 20mg of Celexa to 10mg of Lexapro. Major depression. Overly emotional. Lots of crying. My doctor totally didn't prepare me for this. She said it shouldn't make any difference at all. I'm thinking I should take 10mg of Celexa with the Lexapro for a few day so I can calm down a bit. Any thoughts?

Sally F wrote:

I don't recommend switching from Lexapro to Celexa if you can at all avoid it. I swithced because it was cheaper, but have recently been feeling really tired. It is almost a "drugged" feeling of not being able to get up and move or do anything. I wwent to my doctor and they told me that Celexa has been reported as having that sedative effect. I've been feeling happierlately so Ithey decided to take me off of it altogether. Now that i'm coming off Celexa I am definitely realizing the effect it had on my energy! I am feeling a lot more awake lately and able to do my everyday activities better.
That's my advice!

Thank you!! I switched to celexa from lexapro because it was cheaper and wouldnot advise it!!!!!!! I feel exhauted all the time and HATE this feeling!! I have two small kids and it takes everything in me to function!! I am going back on Lexapro ASAP!!!!!!!

I too, switched due to the increasing cost of Lexapro. I can get Celexa for $4.00 amonth versus $80 or more. I started celexa about 2 weeks ago and am now feeling like crazy. Out of body experience, dizzy headaches just very weird. Lazy no energy and staring into space ALOT. Please let me know if anybody else has had this problem. I am pretty sure this is what it is from. Can anybody help me. Please email me at steinerimpressions@yahoo.com

Mrod1 wrote:

I had to switch for insurance reasons

I switched from 10mg Lexapro to 20mg Celexa. I feel more anxious than I did when I was on Lexapro. Has anybody else experienced this?

Concerned Person,
I am going through the same thing. I am 28 and I have been on lexapro for 4 years for a panic disorder while my wonderful docter was giving me 3 months worth of samples at a time because I could not afford it. Now I have moved out of state and will only see him every 6 months and he could not supply me with samples or 6 months at a time, so now im on celexa. I've been taking it for a little over a month now and I had no side effects differences, just now my anxiety is getting worse and I am having panic attacks again after not having any for long periods of time on lexapro. I also take xanax and I have had to take an extra one everyday lately just to stop the panic feelings. I think I will call my doc. tomorrow. Cost vs well being? I choose well being. I am sick and tired of feeling tired and sick! I am also having a hard time going to sleep at bed time sleeping and sleeping when I shouldnt be. I have 3 kids who are not even in school yet for crying out loud. They need me to be able to stay awake during the day.

Well, I have a question.
I am taking 10 mg Lexapro and I don't have a choice, I need to start taking the Celexa 20 mg. I have been so depressed for a long time, suicidal and all sorts of stuff--they are checking my thyroid, and hormones too-so I have to give this a shot. How do I do it? I am about to run out of the Lexapro--do I stop it? How many days do I wait before Celexa?

My insurance company called my doctor and asked if they can switch me to Celexa. My doctor says its OK, but I'm not sure. I seem to be doing fine on the Lexapro, and my greatest concern isn't the cost, its my mental health. I don't know if my copays will change or what, but from what I've read, I should stay on the Lexapro?

Mrod1 wrote:

Hi..Im new here, I have been taking 10mg lexapro for about 2 months now..My doctor just switched my prescription to Celexa 40mg and I am nervous to start taking it.

I was advised to switch from Lexapro to Celexa too (to save money) but I'm happy with Lexapro so I don't plan to switch. Especially after reading what people have posted here. My prescription is for 10mg a day and it costs $50 a month with insurance because it is a "Tier 3" drug. My insurance company sent me a flier that suggests I ask my doctor to double the dosage and then cut the pill in half. Of course, that saves $25 a month so that's what I'm going to do. You might consider that as an option if your doctor will agree to do that for you.

My insurance won't pay for the Lexapro either - they want me to switch to Celexa. The Lexapro 10mg at Wal-Mart costs $90 for a 30-day supply. I'm going to ask my dr to increase my dosage to the 20mg when I see her next week, since the 10mg does not seem to work as well as it used to. I have heard that sometimes the higher dosage of med is less expensive if that is the dose most people are on, since the drug company makes more of those.

Looks like I'm in the same boat as most posters here. I took Lexapro for over 2 years at 10mg and did very well as far as my depression. I still have decent sex drive and though my experience was more black and white vs. full color, I could deal because my mental health was under control.

I was switched to citalopram because my copay went from 20 dollars to 75 because of the insurance company rules (I guess the drugs which work are too expensive, so lets change meds to the cheap stuff that doesn't work).

Now I can barely stay awake, sleep alot, no energy, completely lost my sex drive, can not Orgasm or ejaculate at all. Quality of life sucks, but I will try to get my doctor to double my dose of Lexapro, so at least my copay will be 1/2 of what it was (I hope).

i was thinking of switching from lexapro to celexia to save money, but after reading all this stuff forget it, i have been on lexapro for 2 years and it is great for anxiety, i have mild anxiety, well at least use to until lexapro. Remember to execersise daily, it helps a lot, i only take 10mg, use to take 5, just got tired of cutting the pill in half. And dont use anything with aspertame, it will or can make you nervouse, or feel like u r having a panic attack, wath what u eat..remember eat to live, dont live to eat

I was on Celexa and felt wonderful. Lost tons of weight, had energy, started to feel alive. Changed to Lexapro because of less side effects, but I'm withdrawing from people, I'm annoyed with everything and everybody, very tired, angry, angry, angry, and hungry, hungry, hungry. I'm going to go back to Celexa. Anyone taken both at the same time to transition?

I was on Paxil for over 6 years and me and my dr decided that me and my body needed a change. He gave me a script for Lexapro 10mg, I brought the script to Walmart and paid $26 for 30 pills compared to $10 for 90pills of Paxil (generic). I can say I feel a lil bit better. Though just had a break up with my boyfriend, been collecting unemployment for 3 months and started school for a career change!> Thank god for Xanax tooooo!. dr gave me .5MG of Xanax i was like u need to up that, as im a BIG GIRL!>