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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by vincent on April 21, 2002, at 18:13:50
Hi to all,
Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro) on the market?
I'm waiting to have a trial on it!
Thanks for your share!
Posted by Bekka H. on April 21, 2002, at 22:55:38
In reply to Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro) on the market?, posted by vincent on April 21, 2002, at 18:13:50
> Hi to all,
> Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro) on the market?
> I'm waiting to have a trial on it!
> Thanks for your share!*************************************************
Hi Vincent,
Escitalopram is currently available in Europe under the name Cipralex. It will probably be available in this country under the name Lexapro in June. My pdoc wrote me an rx for Cipralex and I ordered it from a pharmacy in Switzerland, Victoria Pharmacy, one of the only reputable online pharmacies in the world (you must have an rx and they do not ship illegal drugs). Victoria Pharmacy's website is www.pharmaworld.com.
I tried Cipralex, but I am probably not the best person to talk to about it because ssri's have never been very helpful for me. You might do very well on it, however. It does seem to be somewhat less sedating than Citalopram/Celexa, but other than that, I couldn't see much difference. You have to take about half the number of milligrams that you would take if you were taking Celexa because escitalopram is supposed to be twice as potent.
Bekka
Posted by Roo on April 24, 2002, at 10:20:29
In reply to Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro) on the market?-vincent, posted by Bekka H. on April 21, 2002, at 22:55:38
It does seem to be somewhat less sedating
than Citalopram/Celexa, but other than that,
I couldn't see much difference. Y
ou have to take about half the number
of milligrams that you would take if
you were taking Celexa because
escitalopram is supposed to be twice as potent.
Bekka--Did you have sexual side effects on it?Everyone keeps saying it's coming out in June, but I
can never find that date when I do a search on the internet.
What makes everyone think it's going to be in June? Does
that mean come June I'll be able to go to the pharmacy and
buy some? (With a prescription, of course :-) )I'm curious about sexual side effects. I had them when
I took 20 mg's of celexa, but not at 10 mg's (but lost
AD effect). So I was wondering since it's more potent at
10 mg's if that meant I wouldn't get sexual side effects at
that dose or if 10 mg's of lexapro equals 20 of celexa....
Posted by Bekka H. on April 24, 2002, at 20:51:43
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by Roo on April 24, 2002, at 10:20:29
> Bekka--Did you have sexual side effects on it?
Unfortunately, yes, but that doesn't mean that you will. I've come across a few people who don't experience sexual side effects on ssri's, so I think you just have to try it and see. The fact that you didn't have sexual side effects on 10 mg of Celexa seems like a positive sign. I had adverse sexual effects on 5 mg of Celexa (!)
> Everyone keeps saying it's coming out in June, but I> can never find that date when I do a search on the internet.> What makes everyone think it's going to be in June?
I think that my pdoc told me it would be marketed then.
Posted by Bekka H. on April 24, 2002, at 20:55:31
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by Roo on April 24, 2002, at 10:20:29
As I mentioned, I ordered it from that Swiss pharmacy; however, I think it might be worth waiting 'til June because when you add the cost of shipping to the cost of the medicine, it gets to be pretty expensive to order from overseas. Also, even if you order via express mail, the turn-around time (from the time you send in your order until the time you receive it) can take 10-14 days.
Posted by Cmatt on April 25, 2002, at 5:14:30
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by Roo on April 24, 2002, at 10:20:29
You can follow the press releses from Forest Laboratories from their web site, and there is no mention of having received full FDA approval for Lexapro. A press release from January 24,2002 only mentions that the company anticipated launching the product by mid 2002 if Lexapro received full FDA approval in time. As far as I can tell, full FDA approval has not been granted.
Link To Forest Laboratories Site Map.
http://www.frx.com/sitemap.html
Cmatt
Posted by Phil on April 25, 2002, at 7:19:18
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by Cmatt on April 25, 2002, at 5:14:30
If it had no sexual side effects, Forest Labs would be SCREAMING THAT FACT TO THE WORLD.
I hope it's better but I remember the hopes on this board when Celexa came out.
Anticipation, excitement, more people everyday signing on. A month later: I'm dizzy, I'm numb, etc.
But even if it helps a few, it's progress.
I'm still excited about it; Celexa in my combo has been alright..you know, occasional orgasms using Viagra and a few hours of work! I'd like to sub the job out but often have to uh, build it myself, so to speak. But it's possible with me up to 80 mg.
Posted by Bill L on April 25, 2002, at 8:41:19
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by Roo on April 24, 2002, at 10:20:29
I have been on Celexa for a couple years. I take 40mg. After adding Ginkgo Biloba last year, most of the sexual side effects went away.
I take the amount recommended by some doctors for people on SSRI's which is 120 mg twice a day (240 total).
Recent tests show that many brands of Ginkgo do not have the listed ingredients so you must pick a reputable brand. I use a generic Giant Pharmacy brand but it works pretty good.
If you have or develop bleeding problems you may not be able to take Ginkgo since it can act as an anticoagulant.
Posted by yeltom on September 24, 2002, at 14:21:53
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by Bill L on April 25, 2002, at 8:41:19
So does anyone else have any information on when this drug is going to be released and how it is superior to Celexa, in terms of both efficacy and side effects?
Posted by sparkinark on September 25, 2002, at 16:55:34
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by yeltom on September 24, 2002, at 14:21:53
> So does anyone else have any information on when this drug is going to be released and how it is superior to Celexa, in terms of both efficacy and side effects?
It's available now. I'm on some samples but my Mom got a prescription filled for Lexapro yesterday. So far I'm finding that at 15mg I have less of the jitters and activation that I had on 40mg of Celexa.
However... and this is a big however, my sex drive and ability to ejaculate are severely stunted at 15mg of Lexapro, which is about the same as I felt on 40mg of Celexa.
If anyone has any ideas about how to ameliorate the sexual side-effects, please let me know. It's not a very fun thing to go through.
Shawn
Posted by yeltom on September 25, 2002, at 17:22:12
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by sparkinark on September 25, 2002, at 16:55:34
In terms of effectiveness, do you do you feel 15 mg of Lexapro is equivalent to 40 mg of Celexa? I've heard that 10 mg. is equivalent to 40 mg, but I've also heard that 10 mg. is equivalent to 20. (Does anyone know which is right?) If the former, perhaps you should try 10 mg and see if the sexual side effects are better. Have you tried heavy doses of Gingko
Posted by sparkinark on September 26, 2002, at 12:05:20
In reply to Lexapro dosage and sexual side effects » sparkinark, posted by yeltom on September 25, 2002, at 17:22:12
15mg of Lexapro feels closer to 40mg of Celexa than 10mg of Lexapro. The sexual side-effects were present in force at 10mg and are only slightly worse at 15mg. I've tried moderate amounts of Ginko to no effect.
> In terms of effectiveness, do you do you feel 15 mg of Lexapro is equivalent to 40 mg of Celexa? I've heard that 10 mg. is equivalent to 40 mg, but I've also heard that 10 mg. is equivalent to 20. (Does anyone know which is right?) If the former, perhaps you should try 10 mg and see if the sexual side effects are better. Have you tried heavy doses of Gingko
Posted by Ritch on September 26, 2002, at 21:34:47
In reply to Re: Lexapro dosage and sexual side effects, posted by sparkinark on September 26, 2002, at 12:05:20
Have you tried any pergolide (a DA agonist), or Buspar? I found those modestly helpful with Celexa.
> 15mg of Lexapro feels closer to 40mg of Celexa than 10mg of Lexapro. The sexual side-effects were present in force at 10mg and are only slightly worse at 15mg. I've tried moderate amounts of Ginko to no effect.
>
> > In terms of effectiveness, do you do you feel 15 mg of Lexapro is equivalent to 40 mg of Celexa? I've heard that 10 mg. is equivalent to 40 mg, but I've also heard that 10 mg. is equivalent to 20. (Does anyone know which is right?) If the former, perhaps you should try 10 mg and see if the sexual side effects are better. Have you tried heavy doses of Gingko
>
>
Posted by moxy1000 on September 27, 2002, at 16:56:58
In reply to Re: Lexapro dosage and sexual side effects » sparkinark, posted by Ritch on September 26, 2002, at 21:34:47
I think the clinical data that's available on the internet clearly shows 10mg Lexapro equivalent to 40mg Celexa.
For the sexual dysfunction, try augmenting with Wellbutrin. 150mg once a day may help, if not, take 150mg B.I.D.
Good luck and glad you're feeling less jittery.
Posted by teri on September 28, 2002, at 23:46:37
In reply to Re: Lexapro dosage and sexual side effects, posted by moxy1000 on September 27, 2002, at 16:56:58
Hi. I'm currently on 30mg of Celexa and my doctor has put me on Pindolol for sexual side effects. He said that the Celexa affects a portion of the brain that control sexual response and the Pindolol offsets that. It really works. He said that it wouldn't help with the desire problem but would help with the response and it has. He said that going on Lexapro may increase the sexual side effects and wants to wait to see since it's so new on the market. Sounds like from this board that it doesn't make it better. Teri
Posted by Roo on September 29, 2002, at 17:11:08
In reply to Re: Lexapro dosage and sexual side effects, posted by teri on September 28, 2002, at 23:46:37
Teri--tell me more...how much pinodol? How exactly
does it help?
Posted by teri on September 29, 2002, at 21:45:13
In reply to Re: Lexapro dosage and sexual side effects--Teri, posted by Roo on September 29, 2002, at 17:11:08
Well, I'm not on Lexapro, still on Celexa. I had sexual problems when I started Celexa and he told me that pindolol offsets the sexual side effects of celexa by reversing those effects in that part of the brain that celexa affects. Like I said before, he said it doesn't help desire, (maybe that's just another issue, not the meds, ha ha!) but it will with response and it really does. He gave me a script and told me to take 1 to 5 pills a day to see what amount works for me. They're cheap, I get the generic, and they are 5mg. I'm taking 2 a day and haven't noticed any side effects from them. 2 seems to work but sometimes I still have problems but it may be psychological. He wrote my new script out for 3 a day if I want to try to go up but I think I'll stay at 2 for now. I've never seen this option as a solution on this board but it's been a great help. I'm assuming it would work with Lexapro, also. Good Luck! Teri
Posted by LetsTalk on July 28, 2003, at 2:14:44
In reply to Re: Is ESCITALOPRAM (Laxapro)/June2002/sexual s.e., posted by Cmatt on April 25, 2002, at 5:14:30
so are you telling me these side effects won't go away????arrggghhhh...my docs keep wanting to add lithium to the combo and i talked them into this cuz i can't take litium and go to college full time...i hear you are zombified till they level you off right...i got school startins aug.1 ..i can't do it...
This is the end of the thread.
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