Is Lexapro harder to come off than cipramil/citalopram?

[kizzie]

The anti SSRI charity I have spoken to have told me not to take lexapro because they say it is as bad as paxil for withdrawal. When I asked why they couldnt really give a reason but Ive checked the half life and its similar to cipramil. (30-35 hours i think)
Obviously they are anti SSRI's so not keen for anyone to go on them but wondered if anyone else had heard this about lexapro (or if its just a bit of propoganda.) My dr is very keen for me to take it.
Im very suspicious of all AD's anyway (tricyclics inc.) and just want to make sure Im going in with my eyes open.
Kizziex

[emily]

Kizzie,

I'm at 5mg Lexapro now. All i can tell you is that going from 20mg to 15mg to 10mg to 5mg was a piece of cake--no increased anxiety & no withdrawal symptoms. Dunno what 5mg to Zero will be like, though; I think that ANY SSRI will have potential for withdrawl problems, except maybe Prozac. But to say they're all as bad as Paxil? No way!!

Scott's taking 2.5 mg, I think, but more as a way of dealing with paxil withdrawl than as a step in beginning to deal with agoraphobia.

If you start Lexapro, I'd begin at 5mg & stay there for a month, then evaluate how you're doing. If you're dealing with serious anxiety & depression, you've already dealt with the worst!

Be well,

Em

[PayPerView]

Originally Posted by emily

Kizzie,

I think that ANY SSRI will have potential for withdrawl problems, except maybe Prozac.

Em

Um,,,don;t know about that! Yikes...Prozac was not easy to get off of by any means....

Kizzie, I am at 5 milligrams of Lexapro and had a bit of trouble adapting to it. It took a bit over two weeks for the side effects to go away. At first it increased anxiety and made me a bit 'speedy'.

SOme of us are just really sensitive to these drugs. To be on the safe side, I would take 2.5 for a week, then go to 5...

Don't have a clue about withdrawal but don't expect it to be a 'non issue'.

If you are going to start Lexapro or any SSRI, you have to be prepared for withdrawal side effects. THey may or may not be bad, probably nothing like Paxil but ya never know...

Mark

Originally Posted by kizzie

The anti SSRI charity I have spoken to have told me not to take lexapro because they say it is as bad as paxil for withdrawal. When I asked why they couldnt really give a reason but Ive checked the half life and its similar to cipramil. (30-35 hours i think)
Obviously they are anti SSRI's so not keen for anyone to go on them but wondered if anyone else had heard this about lexapro (or if its just a bit of propoganda.) My dr is very keen for me to take it.
Im very suspicious of all AD's anyway (tricyclics inc.) and just want to make sure Im going in with my eyes open.
Kizziex

Your mileage may vary, however I had an easier time getting off Paxil.
Of course I was on 20mg of Paxil. On Lexapro it was also 20mg.
However remember that Lexapro is a more potent version of Celexa, and Celexa I believe correlates roughly 1:1 in potency with Paxil.
I think Lexapro to Celexa is about 2:1.
The tapering was not too bad and even for awhile after flat out quitting I was ok (the usual zaps, withdrawal flu and brief unexplained rage were fading). But about 9 weeks into being off totally I was told I was going to lose my job (which has since proven untrue), and I was hit with some serious anxiety that wouldn't quit.

[Scott]

kizzie, i think the entire reason you had trouble is because you're used to the ssri's.. that's why lexapro would be easier for you. But im not sure how this new drug will go.

[kizzie]

Thankyou for all the info everyone.
How are you getting on Emily?
Mark - are you finding the lexapro a help now that youve got used to it?
Kizziex