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#1
Mar 15, 2017, 07:13 PM
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Hi ,
This is my first post, I'm looking for help, i took Lexapro (cipralex) for over 12 years, first 10mg then 20mg for anxiety and panic attacs. It worked perfectly but now has stopped working. I tried to resist for 6 months at new dosage 20mg but nothing . My doctor told me that we must change antidepressant, and I'm really anxious and scared now. It ' happened to someone, to change after years of usage? As it has been the switch? I read scary stories about antideprassant switch. It is possobile change the drug after 12 years and beyond? some experience ? My doctor propose me to switch to citalopram (celexa) I do not understand if escitalopram no longer work how may citalopram can work again as it is a mixture of escitalopram + the same molecule but different chirality. The doctor says, by is experice, that this can work. Excuse me for my basic English. |
 still_crazy
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#2
Mar 15, 2017, 07:45 PM
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Hi linus2000. Welcome to Psych Central. Your decision to discuss this situation with a psychiatrist is wise in my opinion. Whenever a med is not doing what it is prescribed for, it is prudent to call the psych doctor and tell them. I leave it to their professional opinion as to what steps to take. Sometimes they change the dose or change the med or add a med. It is really a very technical and skilled decision to diagnose and prescribe psych meds. You may get others opinions and that can be helpful to know but every person reacts to meds differently. Because of all this I would recommend trying what your psychiatrist prescribes and following their recommendations for the amount of time they say it will take to have an effect. Then if the condition still is troublesome, then give them another call. This is a slow subtle process and takes time for the body and mind to adjust to changes in meds.
__________________
Super Moderator Community Support Team "Things Take Time" |
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#3
Mar 15, 2017, 09:36 PM
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Hi linus2000, I have changed antidepressants after long-term use. I agree completely with your psychiatrist. When Lexapro stops working a switch to Celexa is a very good idea. I wish you well.
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 still_crazy
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| still_crazy
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#4
Mar 16, 2017, 05:24 AM
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Welcome to PC linus.
 It is not unheard of for medications to stop working. Our bodies change. Our lives change. Our bodies tolerance for a medication may change and therefore we may need to be proactive and adjust our meds accordingly. Like anything that is new we tend to hear a lot about the bad before the good. It sounds like your p'doc knows what the medications are acting on. They also sound supportive. If or when you do decide to change please let your p'doc know how you are tolerating the change. Have patience and be easy on yourself. 
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#5
Mar 16, 2017, 05:42 AM
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Quote:
thanks for your support, I ask why do you think celexa is a good idea? Know someone who went from laxapro to celexa after the first has stopped working? |
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#6
Mar 16, 2017, 09:28 AM
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hi. I think celexa doses can go pretty high, like 40mgs or something. I think its worth a shot. There are other strategies, too...like a switch to a different class (maybe an SNRI, like cymbalta), adding something to "boost" the under-performing antidepressant, adding buspirone, adding a low dose of a newer ("atypical") antipsychotic/tranquilizer...
There are plenty of "augmentation strategies" out there a doctor can try for you. Try not to give into doom-and-gloom this early in the game. :-) |
| *Laurie*, possum220
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#7
Mar 16, 2017, 11:35 AM
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Hi still_crazy,
a clarification, lexapro has lost its effectiveness after two failed attempts to suspension, last year, and relative increase of dosage (10mg ->15mg -> 20mg) Last month he made me add to lexapro 400mg of gabapentin, but for me they were sugar pills. no effect. The psychiatrist wants to try 40 mg of celexa. |
| still_crazy
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#8
Mar 16, 2017, 11:58 AM
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hi. gabapentin doesn't work for everyone. A lot of people take much, much more than 400mgs/gabapentin, too. There's also Lyrica. Its new-ish. Its like...super-strength gabapentin. I think its a controlled substance in most places, but its not as addictive as the benzodiazepines.
I'm sorry you're going through this. Some people do better on an SSRI with Remeron added, or a low dose tranquilizer/antipsychotic. On the more stimulating end of things, some people do well with added Wellbutrin, modafanil, or Ritalin. Other than that...I got nothing, sorry. Tricyclics or SNRIs will sometimes work when SSRI drugs give out. BuSpar sometimes helps, added to an under-performing drug. I hope the doctor finds something that helps you. |
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#9
Mar 16, 2017, 12:22 PM
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#10
Mar 16, 2017, 02:16 PM
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Hi Laurie, not withrawal symptoms during the switch or after? when I tried to leave lexapro after a month I was very badly, the new drug help in this? although I have taken lexapro for so long? I'm not addicted? |
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#11
Mar 16, 2017, 06:19 PM
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Quote:
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#12
Mar 19, 2017, 02:40 PM
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Hi,
I decided to make the switch, 15 days crosstapering from 20mg of escitalopram to 40mg citalopram.. Apparently no SSRI lasts forever. Thanks everyone |
| *Laurie*
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| still_crazy
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#13
Mar 20, 2017, 02:07 AM
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I have changed antidepressants after long-term use. I agree completely with your psychiatrist. When Lexapro stops working a switch to Celexa is a very good idea. I wish you well.
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#14
Mar 29, 2017, 07:39 PM
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Hello everyone.
This is a topic that I'm quite interested in. I've been taking fluoxetine since 1990 - that's more than 27 years! I didn't take a hiatus in the mid-90's to partake in double-blind study of Paxil in which it turned out I was taking the Paxil, which constipated me badly. So, I am at a point where I truly feel the fluoxetine has lost its "punch". I've been trying to take all the right vitamins & supplements to possibly give the fluoxetine a boost. I'm ready to visit my psychiatrist to discuss possible changes. Thanks for posting your experiences & personal knowledge! Sincerely, Rudy |
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#15
Apr 01, 2017, 01:33 PM
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I have just completed the switch from lexapro to celexa, no side effects, still no improvement for now. Emma, you have switch from lexapro to celexa and it worked? I hope it will work for me. I will keep you informed. Thanks again. |
| *Laurie*
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| Reply |
This is an old thread. You probably should not post your reply to it, as the original poster is unlikely to see it.|
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