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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
[email protected]Shown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 4:55:46
Moving from one country to another is always a hassle, but it¨'s even more a hassle when the country I'm moving to is NOT leading my brand of antidepressives! I use 10mg escitalopram a day, and my store is running out, so I went to the doc here to get a new prescription. Turns out, in this country they don't have escitalopram... so the choice I get now is instead 40mg a day with citalopram.
For me this is going over to something less good, since it means I have to take higher doses to get the same effect.. in addition I am afraid that cipramil won't have the same effect as escitalopram, or more side effects. Escitalopram works fairly good for me, it makes life livable without curing my depression totally.
Does anyone have experiences with both these drugs and can tell me about it? Pros, cons, any advice?
Thanx!!
-C-
Posted by Bill LL on November 2, 2004, at 9:28:29
In reply to Citalopram vs escitalopram, posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 4:55:46
I was on citalopram for a long time before I switched to escitalopram which I currently take (30 mg per day).
I think that there isn't too much of a difference except that as you noted, you will need a higher dose of citalopram. I doubt that you will get more side effects on the citalopram eventhough the dose is higher.
> Moving from one country to another is always a hassle, but it¨'s even more a hassle when the country I'm moving to is NOT leading my brand of antidepressives! I use 10mg escitalopram a day, and my store is running out, so I went to the doc here to get a new prescription. Turns out, in this country they don't have escitalopram... so the choice I get now is instead 40mg a day with citalopram.
>
> For me this is going over to something less good, since it means I have to take higher doses to get the same effect.. in addition I am afraid that cipramil won't have the same effect as escitalopram, or more side effects. Escitalopram works fairly good for me, it makes life livable without curing my depression totally.
>
> Does anyone have experiences with both these drugs and can tell me about it? Pros, cons, any advice?
>
> Thanx!!
>
> -C-
Posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 9:45:25
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs escitalopram, posted by Bill LL on November 2, 2004, at 9:28:29
ok, thanx Bill!
Posted by MGOLDW on November 2, 2004, at 12:38:26
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs escitalopram, posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 9:45:25
Hi, I also use to take 40mg of Celexa (citalopram.After 2 years, I switched to 10mg Lexapro (escitalopram). To be honest I did not notice any difference, except for the side effects at the begining of the treatment.
Do not worry to much the change of medication.By the way, where did you move, I live in Mexico and can buy both meds without any presc.
Good luck
Posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 12:51:27
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs escitalopram, posted by MGOLDW on November 2, 2004, at 12:38:26
I moved from Norway to the Netherlands, both countries are quite strict when it comes to medications..
Posted by jboud24 on November 2, 2004, at 16:01:41
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs escitalopram, posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 12:51:27
I found citalopram more tolerable in terms of side-effects. Escitalopram also made me feel like I was tripping about 3 hrs after dosing. I was on it for 1 year before switching to Zoloft which for me is 100x better than citalopram/escitalopram. I believe escitalopram produces more pronounced side-effects in people because it lacks that inactive isomer. That inactive isomer, R-citalopram, may compete with the s-citalopram for absorbtion and/or entry into the brain. I haven't read any literature suggestive of this phenomena, but its a theory of mine until someone else says otherwise. Other than that rapid onset of action difference though, there was little difference in the anti-depressant effect between the two drugs.
Oh yeah, and my dx are: social anxiety, generalized anxiety, depression(not severe), and ADHD. As an aside, but worth mentioning is that both celexa and escitalopram cause an INCREASE in the number of socially induced panic attacks which I would experience.
I hope this helps to inform you some, and I hope you find the right AD.
Best wishes,
Justin
Posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 16:18:24
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs escitalopram, posted by jboud24 on November 2, 2004, at 16:01:41
Thanx a lot for very informative answers! I have all in all been thinking about trying something else, since these aren't really curing me as well as I hoped, and not as well as they did in the beginning. But then I am afraid to switch to something that doesn't work at all, and escitalopram has had an effect on me. being a clinical psychologist I don't like experimenting with too many different drugs, but I need something since therapy haven't been enough so far.
I'll just try the Cipramil and see what it does.
Posted by jboud24 on November 2, 2004, at 19:50:24
In reply to Re: Citalopram vs escitalopram, posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 2, 2004, at 16:18:24
Posted by Crazy_Charlie on November 3, 2004, at 1:34:01
In reply to Good luck w/ the Cipramil! (nm) » Crazy_Charlie, posted by jboud24 on November 2, 2004, at 19:50:24
Posted by paulbwell on November 3, 2004, at 18:14:31
In reply to Good luck w/ the Cipramil! (nm) » Crazy_Charlie, posted by jboud24 on November 2, 2004, at 19:50:24
So you live in Mexico?
can someone purchase other medications there? like Ritalin and other ADD meds? or Pain meds, like hydrocodone? oxy?. Just interested in that countries codes and rules.Cheers
Posted by MGOLDW on November 4, 2004, at 9:14:25
In reply to MgoldW!, posted by paulbwell on November 3, 2004, at 18:14:31
I do not know about other psych. meds. I do know however, that narcotics and benzos such as Xanax, Oxy ect.... do require a prescription. These are controlled substances here in Mexico.
Posted by paulbwell on November 4, 2004, at 17:32:01
In reply to Re: MgoldW!, posted by MGOLDW on November 4, 2004, at 9:14:25
> I do not know about other psych. meds. I do know however, that narcotics and benzos such as Xanax, Oxy ect.... do require a prescription. These are controlled substances here in Mexico.
So how does it work there?
-Can someone purchase anything only with the pharmists permission?-can you buy AD's only?
-I thought you could buy benzos at least?
Posted by MGOLDW on November 5, 2004, at 10:31:44
In reply to Re: MgoldW!, posted by paulbwell on November 4, 2004, at 17:32:01
This is how it works:
You just go to any pharmacy and ask for your medication by name and dose; ex. Lexapro 10mg.
As long as the med is not in the list of controled substances, you get your med.
This works for all medications, from antibiotics to AD´s.
Posted by paulbwell on November 5, 2004, at 16:59:33
In reply to Re: MgoldW!, posted by MGOLDW on November 5, 2004, at 10:31:44
> This is how it works:
> You just go to any pharmacy and ask for your medication by name and dose; ex. Lexapro 10mg.
> As long as the med is not in the list of controled substances, you get your med.
> This works for all medications, from antibiotics to AD´s.Thanks for your reply,
This goes against what I have heard about buying meds in mex,
I have read on other sites of people legally purchasing a 30-60 day supply of Valium and Xanax,
even hydrocodone-based and Oxycontin meds, for the "right price" (more so if you go out of the main tourist areas) Pharmacia's, at the 'discretion' of the Pharmacist'.Or you are asked to go 'upstairs' and pay for a script, for what it is you require ?
Or find a 'Gringo' hanging round, pay him, and have him buy for you? at a price?
you used to be able to? fact? fiction?
Cheers!
Posted by MGOLDW on November 8, 2004, at 9:18:25
In reply to Re: MgoldW!, posted by paulbwell on November 5, 2004, at 16:59:33
What you heard is right, you can buy ANYTHING in Mexico for the right price. The key word here is "legally". Some pharmacies do stretch the law, specially in border towns and tourist destinations. They know that the "Gringos" come to buy the drugs and go back home, so there is little chance of getting in trouble with the law.
Regards
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