[CMFox]

Hey folks.

I've been on fluox for a year now and to be frank, it's had little effect. I went in with a family member to discuss a host of problems with my GP, who has been with us since I was a youngster - a very well-informed and compassionate man.

Anyways, after the three of us talked for a bit he concluded I had been undertreated. I'm getting an assessment next Tuesday. This has been long overdue as I've been in a long state of denial and self-deception when it comes to my depressed state of being. That's all good.

My question is regarding citalopram. I've been moved on to that drug. He said it's stronger. I have no problems taking it given the ineffectiveness of the fluox. I have heard of the drug before so was wonder "how" much stronger, if it can be measured.

Cheers.

[tracylee]

Not to dampen your spirits any, I was on citalopram for ages but it didnt work for me, but I suppose anti depressants are like wine or art, each person is different. All the very best of luck and a big huggies from me......

[Genevieve]

Actually, I really hate the whole idea that one anti-depressant is "stronger" than another -- no, they're all different, they all work for some people and not others, and they all work a bit differently. But none of those are the same as their being "stronger."

Citalopram is different from fluoxetine. Period. They're both SSRIs, so they're both in the same class of drugs, they both inhibit the reuptake of serotonin through effects on the serotonin reuptake transportase, but they're different -- not weaker and stronger.

That said, because each SSRI is a bit different from the others, if one doesn't work, another might. It's well worth trying, but it's not nearly as simple as stronger and weaker drugs.

Good luck.

[wi_fighter]

I was on and off Celexa for about five years. I'd go off it when I felt fine, be OK for months or years, then start it again when I could tell things were going to get to a point where I needed it.

Turns out I was undertreated but also that it was the wrong drug for me since it has a calming effect and I already have a "let the house turn into a landfill, I don't care" attitude.

I think when my internist prescribed it, it was the hot new drug on the market, so that's what everyone was getting.


If it's any consolation, I didn't have any intolerable side effects on it.

[ShadowTigress]

I've been on Celexa for migraine prevention, but not for depression. It worked at first and then stopped, but it's fairly common for migraine sufferers to develop tolerances. I was on 30mg and only had one side effect - greatly reduced libido.