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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by thibaud1995 on September 17, 2002, at 15:58:39
I was taking 45 mg/day Buspar (15 am, 30 pm), 10 mg/day Celexa (at night), and Provigil (200 mg am to counteract hypersomnia from Celexa). Replaced Celexa with 5 mg Lexapro last Friday night. Switched to am dose after three days because I noticed some insomnia. Have been wide awake during the day and able to discontinue the Provigil in the morning. No appetite changes (if anything I've noticed a slight decrease. No sexual side effects either. Yet.
Posted by Bill L on September 18, 2002, at 8:39:37
In reply to Lexapro switch -- positive so far, posted by thibaud1995 on September 17, 2002, at 15:58:39
I'm really glad to hear that you have had success so far. I have also.
I took Celexa 60 mg for 3 years with very good results. I switched to 20 mg Lexapro last week and am having even better results so far. The most obvious difference is that I have less day time tiredness and fell more mentally alert than I did on Celexa. I also feel a bit more relaxed.
I'm thinking that after a couple more weeks, if things continue to go well, that I might try reducing the dose to 15 mg to see if it works just as well. If it does not work as well, I will immediately raise it back to 20. I'm terrified at the possibility of returning even temporarily to anxiety and depression since I suffered so much before taking drugs.
With Celexa, I had mild to moderate sexual effects and occasionally took yohimbine an hour before sex. The yohimbine works for me but it makes me feel sort of jittery for a few hours. So far, with the Lexapro switch, the sexual effects are only mild and I have a feeling that I will not need to take yohimbine. But I won't know for sure until more time passes.
Posted by Roo on September 18, 2002, at 10:06:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro switch -- positive so far, posted by Bill L on September 18, 2002, at 8:39:37
Did you have sexual side effects with the 10 mg of
celexa?
Posted by etoc on September 18, 2002, at 10:21:51
In reply to Lexapro switch -- positive so far, posted by thibaud1995 on September 17, 2002, at 15:58:39
Just started Lexapro 10mg a few days ago along with my much needed Klonopin and Seroquel (small amount at night) for sleep. I am usually very sensitive to meds but so far the side effects are very tolerable, save a reduced sex drive.
My Chief complaint is that the insomnia on it is bad, even though I take a few sleep medications.
In the past I was unable to tolerate Celexa but this new escitalopram (Lexapro) for me seems to be OK thus far.I'm just not sure what time of day to take it. It seems to work better earlier, say by afternoon time. As far a prices go it's real cheap. If you take 10 mgs, all you have to do is take 1/2 of the 20mg tablet and it cuts costs. so it would be about 37.00 (I checked Walgreens) per month.
Oh and BTW, why is there a pharmacy rep on here? Isn't that kinda like Spam or having a talking ad for Forrest Labs in a consumer/patient chat room?
It seems to cause many reactions from otherwise well meaning people. Can't we cut the ads and talk to real patients and doctors?
Posted by johnj on September 18, 2002, at 10:51:03
In reply to Re: Lexapro switch here's how I am dealing!, posted by etoc on September 18, 2002, at 10:21:51
Actually, I do not mind and it is nice to have a rep that is not so pushy. He has provided lots of info that will be nice to compare to people actually taking the med. If people feel the need to attack him that is there problem. I wish more reps had the guts to come and face what can be a hostile crowd at times. From what I see so far his info is not too bad.
Posted by Bill L on September 18, 2002, at 11:14:57
In reply to Re: Lexapro switch -Thibaud1995, posted by Roo on September 18, 2002, at 10:06:40
I never took 10. I started 3 years a go with 20 mg. I did have sexual side effects with 20, especially during the first few months. But when I eventually increased it to 40 and then 60, I didn't really notice any worstening of that side effect.
For me, the sexual side effect has 3 components: 1) lower libido; 2) more difficulty achieving and maintaining erection; and 3) delayed ejaculation.
When I used to take Prozac, these 3 side effects were worse for me than on Celexa. The lower libido effect does not bother me at all. I actually like that effect because it allows me to be more comfortable. I think my drive used to be TOO high.
The 2nd effect is the killer. That's the one for which I would sometimes need to take yohimbine to help with. The 3rd effect is annoying, but not as bad as the 2nd.
So far, with one week of Lexapro, I have not noticed any increase in libido compared to Celexa. But once again, I don't want too much libido. I have however noticed some improvement with erection and ejaculation so I'm hopeful about that.
> Did you have sexual side effects with the 10 mg of
> celexa?
Posted by Bill L on September 18, 2002, at 11:19:37
In reply to Re: Lexapro switch here's how I am dealing!, posted by etoc on September 18, 2002, at 10:21:51
I see your point about a pharmacy rep having an incentive to glorify his product. But I sort of agree with John's response. I think that pharmrep has been helpful.
On the one hand I realize that drug companies care about their bottom line first. But on the other hand, it's the profit motive which has been responsible for motivating people over the years to come up with these and other great life saving drugs.
Posted by thibaud1995 on September 18, 2002, at 11:52:28
In reply to Re: Lexapro switch -Thibaud1995, posted by Roo on September 18, 2002, at 10:06:40
Arousal was not a problem but orgasms were a bit hard to come by on 10 mg Celexa.
Posted by etoc on September 18, 2002, at 14:31:43
In reply to Re: Lexapro switch here's how I am dealing!, posted by Bill L on September 18, 2002, at 11:19:37
Of Course. I doubt any salesman is here out of the goodness of thier heart, right? I'm not speaking ill of his posts or attempts but think of it as no different than going to Sears and having that person behind the counter tell you how great a product is knowing full well they work on commission. I could be wrong;I may be wrong;I doubt it.
I am intern at Yale who has battled servere depression for years like most posters on here. I am very aware of many of the drugs side-effects, having experienced them first hand and seen them in others. Now that's the type of support that others MAY need. Most of pharm reps posts are correct, though jaded by statistics. And lack of actual medical knowledge and personal use. Is this an attack on him/her. No, however it is the truth.
I do have to say, so far as Lexapro is concerned, I have experienced almost no side-effects, and I would be considered "overly sensitive" to medications by most doctors. This sometimes happens when people have been on numerous medications over long periods of time.
The only problem I am having is the typical SSRI sleep problems (falling and staying asleep) and reduced sex drive. Ginko Biloba is supposed to be good for this and I plan on trying it. Safe, cheap addition to the cocktail.
Posted by Dr. Bob on September 18, 2002, at 19:42:14
In reply to Re: Lexapro switch here's how I am dealing!, posted by etoc on September 18, 2002, at 14:31:43
> I'm not speaking ill of his posts or attempts but think of it as no different than going to Sears and having that person behind the counter tell you how great a product is knowing full well they work on commission...
What, if anything, to do regarding drug reps is an administrative issue, so I'd like it to be redirected to Psycho-Babble Administration. Where, in fact, it's already come up:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020725/msgs/6938.html
Bob
This is the end of the thread.
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