Lexapro or Celexa?

jedilost1 · Oct 26, 2014, 04:14 PM

I've been reading a lot of success stories of celexa but not many of lexapro.

I'm especially concerned of any GI side effects.

Any one have experience with both? I hear they are very similar

ChangingMyMind · Oct 26, 2014, 04:26 PM

Not sure if I responded to you on this topic in another thread (I think I did). For me Celexa was much better, especially during the first 7 years. The first 7 years I really didn't notice I was on an antidepressant even though I did live with mild side effects and some no so enjoyable ones like weight gain and sexual issues. But I felt good, I felt normal and not depressed at all. It also took care of my anxiety. For 11 years I forgot I even had a disorder. Through the 11 years I did fluctuate on the amount I took, from 20mg to 40mg to 60mg but probably maintained on 20mg a majority of the time. FYI I believe 40mg is the max now due to the possibility of heart issues on anything higher.

Now Lexapro on the other hand, no such luck. It made me have horrible GI issues, mainly constipation and pain throughout my GI tract. In addition I was extremely hungry all the time and my depression got worse, horrible in fact, not quite as bad as when I tried Viibryd but it was pretty bad. After about 3 weeks on it, doc pulled me off. I was on 5mg for 2 weeks, then 10mg for 1 week.

jedilost1 · Oct 26, 2014, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChangingMyMind

Not sure if I responded to you on this topic in another thread (I think I did). For me Celexa was much better, especially during the first 7 years. The first 7 years I really didn't notice I was on an antidepressant even though I did live with mild side effects and some no so enjoyable ones like weight gain and sexual issues. But I felt good, I felt normal and not depressed at all. It also took care of my anxiety. For 11 years I forgot I even had a disorder. Through the 11 years I did fluctuate on the amount I took, from 20mg to 40mg to 60mg but probably maintained on 20mg a majority of the time. FYI I believe 40mg is the max now due to the possibility of heart issues on anything higher.

Now Lexapro on the other hand, no such luck. It made me have horrible GI issues, mainly constipation and pain throughout my GI tract. In addition I was extremely hungry all the time and my depression got worse, horrible in fact, not quite as bad as when I tried Viibryd but it was pretty bad. After about 3 weeks on it, doc pulled me off. I was on 5mg for 2 weeks, then 10mg for 1 week.

There are possible heart issues with Celexa?

ChangingMyMind · Oct 26, 2014, 04:34 PM

Yes, not to scare you but they have tied both Celexa and Lexapro to heart arrhythmia. I didn't ever have a problem, even on 60mg of Celexa but if memory serves me right somebody on this board did have heart arrhythmia on Celexa. I can't remember the dose. That person ended up tapering off Celexa and I believe everything went back to normal. I can try to find the thread, as I don't remember the particulars. I believe this is a rare side effect.