crazy_cat_lady Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 My GP recommended Zoloft for my bipolar depression, and when I met with my pdoc today she said she wanted to try Cipralex/Lexapro once my Lamictal is at a high enough dose. I have heard of generally fairly good experiences with Zoloft (and frankly I really trust my GP just because I've been seeing her for 7 years or so, plus the Zoloft egg is cute -lol), so I asked if I could try that first and see how it works. ADs have generally been fairly unsuccessful for me, even with an AC or AAP, but I'll try almost anything to see if it works. How have your experiences been on escitalopram and sertraline? I know that's a highly individual experience, but I'm curious about how effective each drug was for people, as well as experiences with side effects, weight gain, triggers for mania/hypomania, etc. I've done some internet reading on both and it seems like a bit of a toss-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Vapourware Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 Lexapro was the first AD I ever tried. Actually, it was my first psych med. I didn't particularly like it - apparently Lexapro is good for anxiety, but it made me feel rather zombified and I felt like I was in an unpleasant mental fog. I also learned not to wash Lexapro down with coffee. When I did, my hands shook uncontrollably for several hours I'm currently on Zoloft and it's been a great drug for me. It's removed the depression [before I started Zoloft, I was suicidally depressed] and it has given me more energy. However, I have found that my sleep has been disrupted since being on Zoloft. I've been sleeping less hours than normal. Apparently Zoloft can be quite activating, which is probably what is happening with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ravenette Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I've never been on Lexapro, but I've been on zoloft and didn't like it. It didn't help me at all. Everytime I went to the pdoc the dosage had to be increased. That was back when they thought I was just depressed ( I had other things going on though). I think a lot of the times they put you on something like Lexapro and add zoloft or effexor to help nudge the lexapro in the right direction. At least thats what its been for me. I hope this combo works for you and you feel better soon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I have been on both Zoloft and Celexa (which is quite similar to Lexapro). I found both equally effective for depression - both gave me about 6 months of decent remission before crapping out. Both really increased my anxiety, though only Zoloft had the dubious honour of actually making me manic. Celexa was worse in terms of other side effects - worse sexual dysfunction and really bad nausea. With SSRIs the response tends to be pretty individual, and either is worth a shot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I will just give my personal experience. Lexapro helped me more than Zoloft. But then I find that Celexa helps me more than Lexapro. I'm not bipolar (at least not officially dx'd), so I can't answer which is better for that. Theoretically, Lexapro should be better because its action is almost exclusively seratonergic whereas Zoloft involves some other receptors as well. But that is theory and real life is something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I have taken Lexapro 10-20mg and it worked well for my depression for a long time, but then fir some reason just stopped working. I had no side effects. I have never taken zoloft Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
confused Posted March 3, 2012 Share Posted March 3, 2012 I take lexapro now and it helps with anxiety and depression. I was put on zoloft once and I had some manic symptoms so I was taken off of it, but it may have been co-incidence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcjimjam Posted March 5, 2012 Share Posted March 5, 2012 Neither really helped my depression. Zoloft did obliterate my panic attacks. In terms of side effects, Zoloft caused pretty bad stomach upset. Lexapro was gentler. I think that's why it's generally tried first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GonnaLaugh Posted March 8, 2012 Share Posted March 8, 2012 i took Lexapro and then Celexa when I was in a very anxious mode. It helped with that but I got really too flat of a mood and tired. Also the dose was probably too high. I am on Zoloft now. It was prescribed by my family doctor. She doesn't know all the weirdy details of what was going on. The suicidal ideations and anger and fear and stuff. Anyway, it helps a lot, though I have had some problems with getting to sleep and staying asleep. Not sure if any of this would apply to you. Good luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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