![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 15 of 15. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by ed_uk on February 16, 2006, at 16:00:42
Currently, in the UK, escitalopram (Cipralex, Lexapro) is 5 to 6 times more expensive than generic citalopram (Cipramil, Celexa).
It's all very silly ;-)
Ed
Posted by blueberry on February 16, 2006, at 16:25:11
In reply to Lexapro is overpriced, posted by ed_uk on February 16, 2006, at 16:00:42
I tried lexapro for 3 months. After getting off it, I tried 5htp for about 2 months. They both felt exactly the same, very serotonergic. For my type of depression, both were useless.
Since lexapro is such a clean serotonin med, I think 5htp is a whole lot cheaper and feels about the same. Just my experience though.
Posted by yxibow on February 17, 2006, at 2:51:41
In reply to Lexapro is overpriced, posted by ed_uk on February 16, 2006, at 16:00:42
> Currently, in the UK, escitalopram (Cipralex, Lexapro) is 5 to 6 times more expensive than generic citalopram (Cipramil, Celexa).
>
> It's all very silly ;-)
>
> Ed
And here it would be 10 times as expensive... it does take hundreds of millions of dollars to get a drug approved to the market although if all the advertising was forgone of course, some of that could be cut... but I speaketh not for the industry. Its basically a patent extender of Celexa, yes, slightly cleaner because its a metabolite but none much more necessary as a drug.
Posted by ed_uk on February 17, 2006, at 15:15:44
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced » ed_uk, posted by yxibow on February 17, 2006, at 2:51:41
Hi J
>slightly cleaner because its a metabolite
It's not a metabolite Yxi, escitalopram is one the the two stereoisomers of citalopram. I wouldn't say it's 'cleaner' either, it doesn't have any known advantages over citalopram.
Regards
Ed
Posted by Greif on February 17, 2006, at 21:56:21
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced » yxibow, posted by ed_uk on February 17, 2006, at 15:15:44
Forest Labs developed Celexa and it was the only SSRI that ever worked for me. I dont mind paying the extra co-pay for Lexapro...cant feel any difference between the two except for strength. Maybe through more R&D they will develop the next breakthrough.
Posted by trialx on February 18, 2006, at 4:18:48
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced, posted by Greif on February 17, 2006, at 21:56:21
Lexapro/Escitalopram is the distillation of the active s-enantiomer SSRI found in Celexa/Citalopram. Lexapro worked better than Celexa for my depression. Celexa had less sexual side effects for me than Lexapro, but not by much. Neither did a whole lot for anxiety.
Posted by ed_uk on February 18, 2006, at 14:20:22
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced, posted by trialx on February 18, 2006, at 4:18:48
Hi
>Lexapro worked better than Celexa for my depression. Celexa had less sexual side effects for me than Lexapro, but not by much.
It sounds like your Celexa dose was too low.
Ed
Posted by sdb on February 20, 2006, at 8:07:10
In reply to Lexapro is overpriced, posted by ed_uk on February 16, 2006, at 16:00:42
citalopram is more expensive than escitalopram here. citalopram is a standard ssri very often used. All drugs are extremely overpriced in our country.
~sdb
Posted by ed_uk on February 20, 2006, at 12:30:43
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced, posted by sdb on February 20, 2006, at 8:07:10
Hi S
When escitalopram was first introduced in the UK, it was less expensive than citalopram - this was to encourage docs to prescribe it. Now that citalopram is available as a variety of inexpensive generics, escitalopram is MUCH more expensive!
ed
Posted by sdb on February 20, 2006, at 15:07:11
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced » sdb, posted by ed_uk on February 20, 2006, at 12:30:43
Ed,
Thanks for your info. I just checked drug prices here. Citalopram (20mg) is more expensive inspite of ten available generics. Maybe generics are not enough prescribed inspite of available single dosages of (40mg). I suppose that Lundbeck wanted to do exactly the same as in the UK but they were not successfully enough to change doctors prescribing behaviour to the "new" escitalopram.
I rarely go to the pharmacy but recently I bought a diphenhydramin and a metamizol. The last one not for me. After asking the young woman a question she called the pharmacologist. Because of one single question I had to pay approx. 4£ more. I was a little suprised. It was a good experience to learn not to ask too much. After I saw many young people working there (interestingly no virility in this little pharmacy) I thought it's ok giving some extra money because of numerous personnel. Hopefully you don't have to pay 4£ more in the UK because of some, maybe useful answers by the pharmacologist (?).
~sdb
Posted by ed_uk on February 20, 2006, at 15:30:32
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced, posted by sdb on February 20, 2006, at 15:07:11
Hi S
>I just checked drug prices here. Citalopram (20mg) is more expensive inspite of ten available generics.
More expensive than escitalopram 10mg? 20mg citalopram is 'equivalent' to 10mg escitalopram.
>Hopefully you don't have to pay 4£ more in the UK because of some, maybe useful answers by the pharmacologist (?).
No S, you don't have to pay anything :)
Kind regards
Ed
Posted by sdb on February 20, 2006, at 15:50:53
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced » sdb, posted by ed_uk on February 20, 2006, at 15:30:32
Eddy,
Exact prices are:
citalopram tablets 20 mg 98 240.20
escitalopram tablets 10 mg 98 208.95>>No S, you don't have to pay anything :)
It's better shopping in the UK than here :-(
~sdb
Posted by yxibow on February 20, 2006, at 23:44:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced » sdb, posted by ed_uk on February 20, 2006, at 15:30:32
Of course one forgets in this entire discussion that across the pond, NHS is payed for by what we Americans would call massive taxes (and to an extent Canada's system). Typical here is in the 30% range, the rest of the European world pays like 50%+.
Food for thought.
-- Jay
Posted by ed_uk on February 21, 2006, at 14:14:36
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced to ed, posted by sdb on February 20, 2006, at 15:50:53
Hi S
>citalopram tablets 20 mg 98 240.20
escitalopram tablets 10 mg 98 208.95Since citalopram is available as a generic, many different generics are available (at least they are in the UK). Each generic is sold at a different price. The cheapest citalopram generic is probably cheaper than escitalopram. I can't be sure whether this is the case in your country though.
Regards
Eddy
Posted by ed_uk on February 21, 2006, at 14:15:57
In reply to Re: Lexapro is overpriced, posted by yxibow on February 20, 2006, at 23:44:51
Hi Yxi
Lots of things are very expensive in the UK, we have a lot to complain about :(
Ed
This is the end of the thread.
Psycho-Babble Medication | Extras | FAQ
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.org
Script revised: February 4, 2008
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/cgi-bin/pb/mget.pl
Copyright 2006-17 Robert Hsiung.
Owned and operated by Dr. Bob LLC and not the University of Chicago.