lexapro in canada

[genevieve]

is lexapro available in canada?

[elisa]

Originally Posted by genevieve

is lexapro available in canada?

I believe it is for some months now but under another name.... forgot what it was.

[rdjanis]

I am not sure, I read something about this, I think the Canadian drug is similar to lexapro, but not the same med.... I could be wrong!

[Charlie]

I have read that Lexapro and Celexa are the same drug with the exception being One is twice as strong as the other.

[scotty]

10mg Lexapro = 40mg Celexa.. this is directly from Forrest Labs who make both.

[genevieve]

Originally Posted by scotty

10mg Lexapro = 40mg Celexa.. this is directly from Forrest Labs who make both.

really? I thought it was really 2 different drugs. I have a friend who has been prescribed celexa and I told her : if you want to go on a SSRI absolutly (this seems to be the case... ) take lexapro, I believe it is the "least worst" of the SSRIs... I guess I am not an expert yet... Since paxil is a nightmare, zoloft and prozac make you agitated and celexa is bad for insomnia, I thought lexapro would be the best choice... well, I dont know... so many people take those drugs around me it is sad. (well, I go to support groups for anxious people so it is not THAT surprising!). I try to tell the truth to everybody but when they have really difficult life situations sometimes they just want a fast and easy solution and dont even listen.

[scotty]

Lexapro®
(escitalopram oxalate)

Celexa
(citalopram hydrobromide)

Not exactly the same but in the same family. Note the citalopram in both. The lexapro adds the "es" for extra strength.

[elisa]

I was on Celexa.... Oh man..... HELL!! and suicidal.

[eebo]

Lexapro in Canada is called Cipralex (Escitalopram Oxalate) http://www.cipralex.com for more information. I was on Paxil twice, once for about 1-2 months, and at first Paxil made me feel great. Quit C/T first time, withdrawals lasted about 1-2 weeks. Went on Paxil about a year and a half later but for 4-5 months. Withdrawals were getting pretty bad, so I went to my doctor and asked for a benzo and if I could try Lexapro or (Cipralex) here in Canada. Well I've been on 10mg for about three months now, and I can tell you that it has a lot less side effects than Paxil does, but I also don't think it works as well as Paxil for Panic/Anxiety wise, and that is my main problem and why I was put on Paxil in the first place. I also have Xanax, and have been taking them a lot lately, and fear of becoming addicting to them. I don't know really wha to do, I'm only 19 years old and my other option is I could try Remeron I suppose, but for right now I just refilled my Cipralex prescription. I haven't tryed withdrawing from Cipralex yet, but I can tell the withdrawals will probably be similar to that of Paxil.

So it all comes down to, is Lexapro/Cipralex any good? Well, that depends on the individuals reaction. For me, I think it doesn't do anything at all for depression thats for sure, and secondly I think it only brings the Anxiety down a little bit, but was not as effective as Paxil, but it for sure does have less side effects when starting up on the medication. I didn't feel all weird in foggyheaded when I started on Cipralex like I did on Paxil.

I don't want to go back on Paxil really, because the withdrawals are complete hell from it, and if I go back on Paxil I'm afraid I'll be stuck for life on it. Cipralex I'll probably stay on until Christmas or so, and I'll see from there. But right now, to tell you the truth, it doesn't do a whole lot for me as far as I can tell, maybe I should ask my doctor to up the dosage to 20mg. Its all very expensive, my doctor was nice and gave me a months free of samples of Cipralex, and I was the one to ask if it was approved in Canada yet. I just got my prescription filled today because I ran out of samples and it cost me $61.95 for 30 tablets.

Anyways, cheers and godbless everyone!

Glad to be apart of this community.

[genevieve]

thanks for the information

[Scott]

i still can't figure out why the drug has a different name for each country

[rdjanis]

Welcome eebo, have you tried any therapy to work through the anxiety?

[elisa]

Originally Posted by Scott

i still can't figure out why the drug has a different name for each country

I guess it depends on who the manufacturers are:

Celexa: 2 of them: Forrest and Lundbeck.

Cipralex: Lundbeck.

Additionally it may be more profitable to Big Pharma to launch the exact same products under a different name in other countries?

[babs]

Originally Posted by elisa

Additionally it may be more profitable to Big Pharma to launch the exact same products under a different name in other countries?

Big pharma interested in profits? Say it isn't so!!!

[elisa]

Originally Posted by babs806

Big pharma interested in profits? Say it isn't so!!!

If you would have been reading some of my posts, you would know what my feelings and thoughts are on Big Pharma and their profits.

What I was saying is that I believe that creating different brand names in different countries may be making profits: additional profit if you will..

[MicheleT]

Originally Posted by elisa

Additionally it may be more profitable to Big Pharma to launch the exact same products under a different name in other countries?

It probably is because they've done the research but why?

[Charlie]

I don't know for sure but two potential benefits would be some sort of patent benefit and more importantly in my mind. When someone does a search for Paxil side effects (for example) they may not find out about side effects reported or warned against in England or Australia where the name is different.

Just speculation

[elisa]

Originally Posted by Charlie

I don't know for sure but two potential benefits would be some sort of patent benefit and more importantly in my mind. When someone does a search for Paxil side effects (for example) they may not find out about side effects reported or warned against in England or Australia where the name is different.

Just speculation

I also believe that it is partly a patent issue and also a "tax" issue??? I read something about that decades ago about other co's but don't know it that also would apply to pharmaceutical co's. It could also depend if these meds would have to be registered in other countries and that therefore, another name would be chosen?