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Answered in 3 minutes by:
4/20/2012
VerifiedDr_Anderson : Greetings and thank you for your question! I'm sorry to hear your anxiety is still causing you problems! First off, Celexa (generic is citalopram) and Paxil (generic is paroxetine) are definitely not the same thing! They are in the same class of medicines (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRI's), but they are two different medications within that class.
Dr_Anderson : All things being equal, Celexa and Paxil have the same potential effectiveness for treating anxiety and/or depression. However, in reality they often differ. What is good for one person may not be good for another.
Dr_Anderson : There is evidence which shows that a specific medicine, if effective, can also be effective for other members of the same family. It has to do with how the medicine is processed and used in the brain. Since you have direct family members who use Celexa with good results, it seems very reasonable to try it for your symptoms.
Dr_Anderson : Celexa and Paxil are both older medications - Lexapro (escitalopram) is newer than them and also is a derivative of Celexa. The newest SSRI is Viibryd. Unlike all of the other SSRI's, it is not yet generic so cost can be a factor.
Dr_Anderson : Hope this information helps! If you have other questions please do not hesitate to contact me.
Dr_Anderson : Regards, ***** *****
Dr_Anderson : (and please click on the accept button if this was useful!)
Customer:
My brother takes Lexapro! What a bunch we are! I tried Viibryd and it made me so dizzy that I fell! So my psychiatrist told me to stop it. I was only on it for about 4 days, but obviously it's not for me. I am very sensitive to medications, it appears, which is why I thought Celexa might work for me as other family members take it. Does Celexa have a better track record than Paxil for anxiety?
Dr_Anderson : Well, yes and no. For your family it seems to, so I'd consider it as a good option. Paxil is as great medication, especially for panic, but some folks find it does nothing for them (or makes them feel worse!). If you do opt to go with Celexa (or Lexapro), cross-tapering from Paxil to Celexa is a good idea (instead of just stopping the Paxil before going to Celexa). I'd also start at 10 mg of Celexa (or 5 mg of Lexapro) and work your way up.
Dr_Anderson : Hope this helps! :)
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