Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 332598

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Celexa to Lexapro over night??!

Posted by AntiTrust on April 4, 2004, at 18:17:42

I was wondering if most doctors switch meds this way-or if you are suppose to be weaned off the first antidepressant before starting a new?
I know a very close person that was recently hospitalize for depression and the doctor in the hospital took that person off celexa 60 mg for 3 yrs to lexapro 10mg. without weaning first-just today you will be taking this.....mmmmm?
anyone have insight on this???!!!

 

Re: Celexa to Lexapro over night??!

Posted by snapper on April 4, 2004, at 19:23:16

In reply to Celexa to Lexapro over night??!, posted by AntiTrust on April 4, 2004, at 18:17:42

Yes, one of pdocs did this to me 2 years ago-- Celexa then Lex. I think I understand why but can't really explain! sorry
snapper

 

Re: Celexa to Lexapro over night??!

Posted by Bill LL on April 5, 2004, at 10:53:39

In reply to Celexa to Lexapro over night??!, posted by AntiTrust on April 4, 2004, at 18:17:42

I would do it gradually over a period of 7 to 10 days. Also, going from 60 mg Celexa to 10 mg Lexapro doesn't make sense at all. I think that you should be going from 60 mg Celexa to either 15 mg or 20 mg Lexapro.

 

Re: Celexa to Lexapro over night??! » Bill LL

Posted by AntiTrust on April 5, 2004, at 11:08:58

In reply to Re: Celexa to Lexapro over night??!, posted by Bill LL on April 5, 2004, at 10:53:39

That is what I was accually questioning>>the doses from celexa 60mg down to lexapro 10mg.
From my little understanding of lexapro it equal 1/2 the strengh of celexa.
10mg lexapro=20mg celexa
20mg lexapro=40mg celexa
30mg lexapro=60mg celexa
and so on.....
It just didnt make sense when I was told about the aburpt switch and then the dose difference!!!!

 

Re: Celexa to Lexapro over night??!

Posted by Bill LL on April 5, 2004, at 14:24:43

In reply to Re: Celexa to Lexapro over night??! » Bill LL, posted by AntiTrust on April 5, 2004, at 11:08:58

It's hard to say exactly what the conversion rate is. But a general rule of thumb seems to be around 3 to 1. Therefore, 60 mg Celexa would be roughly 20 mg Lexapro.

I can see why you had in mind a 2 to 1 conversion. That active ingredient in Celexa is thought to be s-citalopram which makes up 50% of Celexa. Lexapro is 100% s-citalopram. But in practice, the conversion seems to be more like 3 to 1. People think that this may be due to competition between the s and the r isomers on nerve receptors.

> That is what I was accually questioning>>the doses from celexa 60mg down to lexapro 10mg.
> From my little understanding of lexapro it equal 1/2 the strengh of celexa.
> 10mg lexapro=20mg celexa
> 20mg lexapro=40mg celexa
> 30mg lexapro=60mg celexa
> and so on.....
> It just didnt make sense when I was told about the aburpt switch and then the dose difference!!!!


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