paxil to cipralex

[hammer]

Hi,

I am considering switching from paxil 12.5 cr to cipralex. what would be an
equivalent switch? I think that 10 mg of cipralex may be stronger than what I need.

Also, does anyone have advice as to whether I can do a straight switch from one to the other. That is what my dr. recommends. I am concerned cause the 3 times I went off Paxil-withdrawal was a nightmare.

I'm switching due to low libido and difficulty getting up in the mornings.

thx,

Jeremiah

[rob.pow]

Hey... I'm not a fan of switching meds or what dr recommends... I'd stick with the paxil.. wean off, and then if you really have to.. try something else . I got switched to prozac-fail and effexor -fail, put me in the worst cold turkey paxil w/d ever. That's not just me either, there's people coming here on a weekly basis in the middle of cross tapers in a bad state. You seem to be well versed in the w/d situation, so if you do try the switch just know when to can it, cause it's not worth the trauma. I'm not sure on tapering off the cr paxil but i'm sure someone here will know...Good luck.. Rob

[Black Cat]

Hi,

I switched from Paxil to citalopram 8 weeks ago and it has been relatively painless. I did a straight switch from 30mg Paxil to 30mg Citalopram. Had some dizziness and the odd day of brain fog but it has been easier than i thought it would be. I would also say I have less sexual dysfunction on Citalopram. Am hoping it will be easier withdrawing from Citalopram but I know it is not easy withdrawing from any SSRI. I just think Paxil is the worst of the lot to get off and I was sick of the side effects. I know lots of people think it is a bad idea switching between meds but for me I think it was the correct decision.

Black Cat

[Lucy]

I believe that cipralex is escitalopram, which is similar but has stronger effects than citalopram.

Having taken paxil and escitalopram, it's difficult for me to imagine that escitaloprom would give you fewer side effects than paxil. But different people respond differently.

I can't really answer your question about dosage, but it seems (from my experience and from all I have read) that a low dose of escitalopram may have a very big effect on people, and 10 mg is not a small dose.

[scotty]

Cipralex is Lexapro. Most find that switching is a big problem. Just because drugs are in the same category, doesn't mean they act in the same way, so withdrawal from paxil is probably still going to be a problem, at least in our experience it is.

Black cat, 30mg of Lexapro is three times the recommended dose.

The better route is to wean slowly off of paxil. How did you wean in the past?

[Lucy]

Black cat is on citalopram, not escitalopram. So 30 mg may be OK.

[Black Cat]

Scotty,

Was not sure if you were asking me or hammer about taper schedule from Paxil in the past. From Paxil I used liquid and went down 1mg every 4 weeks starting from 27mg so this was less than 10%.I only got down to 24mg and the anxiety was unbearable. Am now on 30mg citalopram which is not as potent as ecitalopram. Will follow the 10% over 3-6 weeks when taper from citalopram.

Black Cat

[hammer]

Thank you all for your feedback,

Previously (3 times over last 5 years) I reduce paxil about 25% per week ---it was miserable. I pushed myself to get it over with. within 6 months i tended to feel slightly depressed and went bacl on 12.5 cr paxil. I just switched to 5 mg cipralex last night as i feel that 10 mg cipralex would be increasing the amount of ssri in my body.

I will know in the next few days how I will react...if it really bad I will discuss with this forum some other ideas on the transition. I am in a great place in my life now; only thing is no sex drive!! I am also trying a natural supplement
called zenerx that seems to be popular. Anyone have any feedback on zenerx or other natural well known supplements for libido???

this forum is amazing. Thank you all for creating/maintaining it!

[scotty]

Originally Posted by hammer

Thank you all for your feedback,

Previously (3 times over last 5 years) I reduce paxil about 25% per week ---it was miserable.

This is the problem. You weaned WAY to fast! There is no need to switch, you just need to wean MUCH slower. It's no wonder you were miserable.

[texgirl]

Originally Posted by hammer

I am considering switching from paxil 12.5 cr to cipralex. what would be an equivalent switch?

There is no equivalent switch. These drugs are not interchangeable, and Cipralex will not prevent Paxil withdrawal.

[Songbird]

I found Cipramil (citalopram) much the same as paxil for side effects, I haven't tried Cipralex (escitalopram). Escitalopram is about twice as strong since it contains only the 'active' enantiomer (S-citalopram) instead of a mix (S-citalopram and R-citalopram). So I think the 'equivalent' dose of 12.5mg Paxil CR would be about 5mg Cipralex. However, the switch may or may not work, for many people the second drug does not cover the withdrawal of the first drug.

[paxilgirl]

Switching meds isn't the answer. To switch meds in the middle of Paxil WD will not stop the WD.

You will still experience symptoms associated to the discontinuation of Paxil.

Wean slowly and there will be no need for switching.

[Goodwill]

I had the experience of shifting from Paxil 12.5mg to Cipralex 10 mg.
That was a time when I didnt know the seriousness of these drugs neither did I have any idea about the withdrawal effects. Truly speaking I blindly followed what my doctor said. I didnt feel a thing after the transition to Cipralex. It went on for about 5 months after which the doctor weaned me to 5 mg (because I actually wanted to plan my second baby). At 5 mg I was little hazy and anxious but could still manage.And then within 3 weeks he asked me to stop. That is when things went haywire - terrible body pain, anxiety and Tinnitus. And yes I gave up the baby project and went back to paxil in no time. Tinnitus was there to stay even now after over a year of the episode.

But I should say I never had any problem with switching over meds. Probably different people react differently.

I just read the post from Songbird that equivalent dosage for Paxil 12.5 mg is 5 mg Cipralex. This surprised me. Maybe I was taking a higher dosage when I transitioned from 12.5 mg to Cipralex 10 mg....

[scotia21]

Originally Posted by scotty

This is the problem. You weaned WAY to fast! There is no need to switch, you just need to wean MUCH slower. It's no wonder you were miserable.

I agree. I have heard of so many people who switched from one med to another and it just gave them start up side effects from the new med along with withdrawal effects from the first one. It really isn't worth the risk, in my opinion.