Ecitalopram v citalopram

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AIBU to post here for traffic?

Anyone had the experience of moving from citalopram to Ecitalopram?

Going down from 40 to 10mg of citalopram then switching to e citalopram starting on 5mg and going up to 10mg.

What is the benefit of changing to ecitalopram?

Will 10mg of e citalopram be enough if 40mg of citalopram had not made a difference over last 6 months. 12 months before was on citalopram 20mg which didn't have much impact. No real change felt when going from 20mg to 40mg

This is all for my DH. He's been depressed now for 3 years. This is the first significant change to meds and I'm not sure what the benefits are, and how this change is supposed to help him.

He's struggling with tritating downwards right now and I want to give him some hope.

TIA

What does his GP say?

Hi OP, did the GP or psychiatrist not explain to him? It wouldn't surprise me (sadly) if they didn't. I'm sure a clinician will be on here soon, but in the meantime, MIND have lots of excellent webpages on medication, the side effects, strengths, etc. Good luck, I hope it works out.

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/drugs-and-treatments/medication/drug-names-a-z/#.W7jh1dDHg0M

Here's the link... HTH

Thanks for the responses. This change has been prompted by our GP.

Thing is, GP is the head GP of the practice. He has form for changing medication for cost purposes. Not just general gossip but with my own medication over the last 3 years. I have several conditions that are lifelong and require different medications.

He changed me from a gastro resistant type of med, to the non gastro resistant. NICE guidelines were at the time to try non-gastro first as they are cheaper. I was a new patient transfer from neighbouring town. Been through that route already, but insisted I prove it all again that it doesn't work for me. So I did.

He then cut my vit D supplement that had been prescribed by consultant. Claimed the tiny bit of Vit D in a calcium supplement will be fine. Offered a blood test after 3 months to review. So I had to become deficient in vit D and expose myself to all the risks just to prove to my GP that i need it.

He's cut one of my painkillers to a lower dose and different brand, without even speaking to me. He refused my regular Vit B12 injection until I was reviewed by another consultant to confirm I still need it.

And finally, he refused to refer me to my regular consultant when I felt all the signs of being anaemic again. I've struggled with anaemia for 10yrs. I know the signs. I was told to come back in 3 months if I still felt tired. Anyone who knows what anaemia is like, knows it's more than feeling fucking tired.

Anyway, if you got this far. Thanks. This is why I don't trust the GP.

Is this change for the benefit of my DH? Or not. What is the difference between them? I've read all the patient leaflets and can't seem to find a pros and cons type list. TIA

Personally for me if it’s working for him at the moment why change it? Unless it’s been suggested as it’s not working then don’t!

Changing is fine, escitalopram is the more active part of citalopram (put simply), and there’s some evidence that it’s more effective, but shouldn’t have any more side effects etc. But he doesn’t actually need to reduce citalopram first, he could switch straight to escitalopram and 10mg is a lower dose than the equivalent 40mg of citalopram.

@villamariavintrapp that's interesting thank you. GP has written out the downward tritation for him, he done 1 week of 30mg, then another week at 20mg, he's now on 1 week at 10mg, then next week he starts 5mg of ecitalopram.

It's really tough for him and he's finding himself feeling very low, unmotivated, moody etc all the classic depression signs, magnified by 100. If he could swap straight on to ecitalopram now I think that would really help him. Thanks