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Mental health

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Original poster

citalopram vs escitalopram

20 replies

bouncybabe · 07/08/2006 13:10

Anyone know which of these is better for treating generalised anxiety? Or is there another SSRI which is good for this? Please don't suggest seroxat tho, took that a few years ago and coming off it was horrendous

OP posts:

MrsRichardHammond · 07/08/2006 13:21

they're both the same drug but escitalopram is stronger so is given in smaller doses. So if you were on 20mg of citalopram you'd be on 10mg of Escitalopram. Have been through a fair few anti-depressants for PND and it's a very personal thing as to which one suits that specific individual. Go back to your GP and discuss all your options.

WigWamBam · 07/08/2006 13:27

Citalopram is good for anxiety. Just try it and see how you get on - if it doesn't work for you then the GP can try you on either a different dose or a different ad. You won't know how you react to it until you try.

I think I mentioned on your other thread that Citalopram is favoured by lots of GPs because it's easily tolerated and there's less chance of long-term side effects than with some of the other SSRIs. It's also completely non-addictive, and very easy to come off.

Be aware that you will need to take it for at least a couple of weeks before you start to feel any improvement, and even then you may need to have the dose adjusted before you feel better.

alexh · 07/08/2006 13:43

I took citalopram for PND and it really worked for me. Very few side effects (actually none) and I found coming off it very easy.

Original poster

bouncybabe · 07/08/2006 13:49

That's encouraging. AlexH . do you mind me asking how long you took it for before you noticed a change in how you felt? Did you take it for long and was there any sign of things getting worse after you came off it?

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WigWamBam · 07/08/2006 14:09

I was on Citalopram for about 9 months. For the first couple of weeks I had a few side effects (nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, wooly-headedness etc) but then settled down well. The only long-term side-effect I had was a feeling of having an electric shock in my head every time I turned it. That's apparently an unusual side-effect with Citalopram though - and I didn't find it too difficult to cope with.

I started on 20mg but when I wasn't seeing much improvement after a month it was increased to 40mg. When I upped the dose I had a couple of days where I felt a bit nauseous but nothing more than that.

I stopped taking them pretty easily, I was meant to be changing to a different ad because Citalopram didn't really help me much, and I just reduced the dose slowly and came off them completely over a couple of weeks. No problems with withdrawal, just a bit of nausea for a couple of days when I first dropped the dose.

Everyone's experience of a particular ad is different though, and there's no telling how you will get on with it until you start taking it. And you need to take it religiously every day, otherwise the side-effects start up again.

Original poster

bouncybabe · 07/08/2006 14:48

i can understand how ad's work - but surely if you stop taking them, things just go back to how they were. they don't "cure" any chemical imbalnce in the brain do they? i just thought they have an effect while you're taking them?

OP posts:

Quootiepie · 07/08/2006 14:55

Your GP is best really for doing this. Theres loads of ADs out there... ive been on about 5 or 6 types. Ive heard about citalopram alot, so it looks a popular type, so it must be good

Quootiepie · 07/08/2006 14:57

bouncy, i think some chemical imbalances are temp.so taking ADs for a period of time will allow time for it to be straightened out.

WigWamBam · 07/08/2006 14:59

No, you're wrong; if you take them for long enough and they work for you, you will be fine when you come off them. They sort out the chemical imbalance in your brain, get it back to normal, once you feel well you will still have to keep taking them for a few more months to allow your brain to continue working as normal, and then when you come off them the chemical balance will stay normal. It allows your brain a bit of breathing space, time to see the wood for the trees.

Original poster

bouncybabe · 07/08/2006 15:04

thanks wigwam, that's really helpful. don't feel so bad about taking them now.

OP posts:

trinityrhino · 07/08/2006 15:07

I am currently taking citalopram, have been for a few months now, didn't notice any side effects really and I felt better in about 3 weeks

I have also taken Fluoxetine, anothwer SSRI, which was also very good for anxiety and depression

alexh · 07/08/2006 15:11

I noticed the effects in about 2 weeks - and no there wasn't any deterioration when I came off - I actually came off almost by accident as I kept forgetting to take them and then realised I had been gradually reducing the dose without even trying.

Original poster

bouncybabe · 07/08/2006 15:29

trinityrhino - was fluoxetine or citalopram better for anxiety? which one had worse side effects?

OP posts:

Original poster

bouncybabe · 08/08/2006 10:31

third day on AD's now - feeling a bit sick which i know is normal and a bit "spaced out and detached" is that normal?

OP posts:

WigWamBam · 08/08/2006 13:14

Yes. It will probably last for a week or two, but won't be as bad after the first couple of days.

madmarchhare · 08/08/2006 19:23

Has anyone taken citalopram more than once iyswim. I had pretty crap side effects when I took them the first time but they did work well in the end, and no trouble coming off them.

Ive just had to stop taking fluoxetine because of side effects and worried about having to go through the same thing again with the citalopram. I dont know if I can manage with the increased anxiety/nausea with having DS now. Is it necessarily going to be the same?

Original poster

bouncybabe · 08/08/2006 21:37

i guess side effects would be the same again to start with but must be worth it if they made you feel better before. I'm trying to work out from reading alot which is better for anxiety out of prozac and citalopram. Also which is easier to come off and safest in pregnancy - any ideas?

OP posts:

madmarchhare · 09/08/2006 10:29

I took citalopram when pg with DS, however was told that I couldnt bf (not until DS was born ), which I later discovered was not necessarily so. I would make sure that you discuss it with your m/w to save any upset when you may feel a bit hormonal after the birth.

Original poster

bouncybabe · 09/08/2006 12:54

madmarchare - not good they didn't tell you about bf until you'd had baby. Were you taking citalopram for depression or anxiety? Which workd better out of citalopram and prozac

OP posts:

madmarchingforfreedomhare · 09/08/2006 15:58

It was more panicky/anxious moments but tbh there was a touch of depression when I think back.

I have taken fluoxetine and citalopram at different periods in my life, yes for the above reasons, but in different circumstances, so it would be difficult to say that one was better than the other. I suppose they both worked well because there came a time when I felt I didnt need to take them again.

I only chose fluoxetine over citalopram recently because I thought there were less side effects but that hasnt proved to be the case (for me).

I did ask gp if there was an alternative to ads and he has suggested betablockers.

You may find this site useful.

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