Escitlopram vs. citalopram?

deana · Newbie Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 5

Hi, during the last year I have been taking Citalopram for my depression. This drug has helped me a lot. My depression is under control and I am able to function normally. But now my doctor wants me to try Escitlopram. He says it is better than Citalopram. I worry that my depression will return if I change my therapy. Can you tell me why is Escitlopram better than Citalopram?

heinrick · Newbie Joined: 20 Apr 2007 Posts: 4

Hi, both Citalopram and Escitalopram are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. The difference between the two drugs is on the chemical level. I will not bother you with the explanation of this difference but basically, Escitalopram is an active form contained in Citalopram. Because of this the mechanism of action is the same. But, since Escitalopram does not contain the inactive component found in Citalopram, it is a more selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. This means that Escitalopram works more effectively in treatment of depression. However, these advantages are not that significant in patients that are responding well to Citalopram therapy. This would mean that in your case there is no need for the change in the therapy. And if you are paying for your medication, you should definitely stick with Citalopram because it is cheaper than Escitalopram. You should try to make your doctor explain why he is so keen on changing your therapy since there is no obvious need to do so.

KevDS · Posted: 08/14/07 - 17:26 Post subject:

Fully agree with deana. While a person may notice a decrease in side-effects with the ascitalopram, those effects are more noticable in the first few weeks of taking the medication. If the citalopram is working for you, why change?

Escitlopram vs. citalopram?

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