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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jessers11581 on March 20, 2005, at 19:04:32
I just switched to 15 mg. Lexapro from 40 mg. Celexa. First, does anyone know whether this is a comparable dose? Is there anyone in here on a higher dose of Lex (i.e. 20 mg.)? Also, I've been getting REALLY noticable "zaps" in my head, especially when I move quickly or stand up after having been sitting down for a while. It feels a lot like the sensation one gets from a fever. Is this from the medicine? I've gotten a similar thing in the past when trying to wean off. And one more thing--I've been feeling extremely irritable, emotional, and compusulsive (especially when it comes to eating). But this has been going on for a while, and was just as bad on Celexa. What does this indicate? I'm REALLY hoping that eventually the Lexapro will be more effective and have fewer side effects than Celexa. Has anyone found this to be the case? Please give me any information or input that you have. Thank you everyone! :)
Posted by jessers11581 on March 20, 2005, at 19:58:42
In reply to Lexapro/Celexa, posted by jessers11581 on March 20, 2005, at 19:04:32
I've also been getting a tingling sensation in my fingertips and lips (it always happens around the same time as the "zaps"). Is this normal?
Posted by ed_uk on March 20, 2005, at 20:31:16
In reply to Lexapro/Celexa, posted by jessers11581 on March 20, 2005, at 19:04:32
Hi!
>I just switched to 15 mg. Lexapro from 40 mg. Celexa. First, does anyone know whether this is a comparable dose?
You'll probably need 20mg Lexapro.
>Also, I've been getting REALLY noticable "zaps" in my head, especially when I move quickly or stand up after having been sitting down for a while.
This is a withdrawal symptom, it will resolve when you increase the Lexapro to 20mg.
Best regards,
Ed.In general, 40mg Celexa is similar to 20mg Lexapro. A popular myth is that 40mg Celexa 'equals' 10mg Lexapro, don't take any notice of this!
Posted by Bill LL on March 21, 2005, at 9:13:12
In reply to Re: Lexapro/Celexa » jessers11581, posted by ed_uk on March 20, 2005, at 20:31:16
I agree with Ed.
> Hi!
>
> >I just switched to 15 mg. Lexapro from 40 mg. Celexa. First, does anyone know whether this is a comparable dose?
>
> You'll probably need 20mg Lexapro.
>
> >Also, I've been getting REALLY noticable "zaps" in my head, especially when I move quickly or stand up after having been sitting down for a while.
>
> This is a withdrawal symptom, it will resolve when you increase the Lexapro to 20mg.
>
> Best regards,
> Ed.
>
> In general, 40mg Celexa is similar to 20mg Lexapro. A popular myth is that 40mg Celexa 'equals' 10mg Lexapro, don't take any notice of this!
>
Posted by Chris O on March 22, 2005, at 14:49:59
In reply to Lexapro/Celexa, posted by jessers11581 on March 20, 2005, at 19:04:32
Jessers:
I think I wrote to you before regarding this issue, but can't remember. I was just on 30-40mg/day dose of Lexapro for 8 months. My psych told me efficacious dose of Lex for most people is 20-40mg. Even at the highest 40mg dose, I still found the Lex to be quite weak. It just did not knock out my anxiety and worrying. However, five years ago, I took a Celexa (20mg)/Wellbutrin (150mg) combo, and, if memory serves, that combo was much stronger than the Lexapro, or felt that way. Even the Celexa alone felt stronger, in my mind, than the Lexapro. I could be remembering wrongly though. Oh, and I did get the "head zaps" for a week or two after going off the Lexapro. It went away, did not stay with me. Some kind of withdrawal effect. And...I definitely felt like Lexapro had fewer side effects than Celexa (no sexual side effects on Lexapro). But I did feel very fatigued on the Lex.
Good luck,
Chris> I just switched to 15 mg. Lexapro from 40 mg. Celexa. First, does anyone know whether this is a comparable dose? Is there anyone in here on a higher dose of Lex (i.e. 20 mg.)? Also, I've been getting REALLY noticable "zaps" in my head, especially when I move quickly or stand up after having been sitting down for a while. It feels a lot like the sensation one gets from a fever. Is this from the medicine? I've gotten a similar thing in the past when trying to wean off. And one more thing--I've been feeling extremely irritable, emotional, and compusulsive (especially when it comes to eating). But this has been going on for a while, and was just as bad on Celexa. What does this indicate? I'm REALLY hoping that eventually the Lexapro will be more effective and have fewer side effects than Celexa. Has anyone found this to be the case? Please give me any information or input that you have. Thank you everyone! :)
Posted by jessers11581 on March 22, 2005, at 16:51:09
In reply to Re: Lexapro/Celexa » jessers11581, posted by Chris O on March 22, 2005, at 14:49:59
(I posted this at the bottom of the forum page, but I thought I'd put it here too in case you guys were interested...)
So get this. My doctor had one of his nurses leave an urgent message on my cell phone requesting that I call the clinic. When I did, she said that he would like to urge me NOT to make the icrease to 20 mg. of Lexapro and to remain at 10 mg. (I was actually taking 15, but he didn't know that). He seems to be spooked by something. Why would he reccommend that I do this? During my last appointment, I was complaining a great deal about extreme apathy, low sex drive, and various other SSRI side effects that I CAN'T FREAKING STAND. So maybe he thinks that this will help? Anyway, I took 10 mg. last night just to see. This is what I'm experiencing today: mild "zappiness", difficulty concentrating, spinning thoughts, minor forgetfulness (which is fairly normal for me), obsessive picking and chewing, and tension (in head and jaws). HOWEVER, I also feel like I have more motivation, more impulse control (particularly over eating sugar), more energy, and a slight increase in libido. Of course, it's also a sunny day, and I always do better on sunny days. But anyway, what do you guys think? I have an appointment to see an actual psychiatrist on the 28th (I haven't been to one in over 2 years). So I'll be really interested to see what she thinks about Lexapro. Is it possible that the more negative effects that I'm experiencing right now will subside as my body adjusts to the lower dose? Because I'd really LIKE to be on a lower dose and would love to be able to function at 10 mg. I don't know. I feel very confused right now. I'm sure this message is very disjointed, much like my mind is at the current moment. Oh well! Any input?
Posted by Chris O on March 22, 2005, at 17:23:49
In reply to Re: Lexapro/Celexa, posted by jessers11581 on March 22, 2005, at 16:51:09
An urgent call for increasing Lexapro 5mg? Sounds bizarre to me. For me (and I don't know all of your symptoms, so take this with a grain of salt), I found Lexapro to be very, very weak. An increase of 5mg would do little, if anything, for my anxiety and panic. It was only at the highest dose--40mg, that I experienced some benefit. At 10mg, it was just, like, barely working. I didn't have any sexual side effects from Lexapro, even at 40mg, while I did with Celexa at 20mg (anorgasmia, deadening of sexual interest). I would think a higher dose of Lexapro would make the withdrawal zappiness go away, but..that's just me. My sense is that...your doctor doesn't have enough experience with these meds...a psychiatrist would definitely be a better bet. Regular doctors, in my experience with anti-depressants, many times, they are prescribing from limited working knowledge.
Anyway, hope that helps.
Chris
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