Posted by SLS on January 2, 2004, at 22:08:32
In reply to Isn't Lexapro a better form of 'celexa'??, posted by AntiTrust on January 2, 2004, at 16:12:54
> Isn't Lexapro just a newer and better verion of Celexa??
>That is an excellent question. On paper, theoretically, it should be. In fact, however, some people here who have taken both drugs report doing better on Celexa while others do better on Lexapro. I have only taken Lexapro, so I can't offer a personal account. One thing that I have learned about psychotropics - different is different. Trial and error is, for the most part, still a necessary evil in psychiatric medicine.
The citalopram molecule comes in two varieties: a right-handed version and a left-handed version. Celexa contains both versions. Lexapro contains only one of these; what is known as the s-citalopram molecule (r-citalopram being the other). Supposedly, the s-citalopram does most of the good work, leaving the r-citalopram to render only unwanted side-effects. However, scientists are not sure how any of these drugs work with certainty, so no one can exclude the possibility that r-citalopram is necessary for some people to respond.
- Scott
poster:SLS
thread:295819
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031231/msgs/295911.html