brooke Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 I'm a mess. I just got out of rehab for benzodiazepines and my anxiety is high and I'm extremely disconnected and detached from reality. It's terrifying. I just started 10 mgs of Escitalopram one week ago but now I'm wondering if I should be taking Lexapro. I took it in 2002 while i was in the hospital and it saved my life. I felt "normal" after about a month. Does anyone have any opinions on whether the generic is as good as Lexapro? Thank you so much. brooke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwinter Posted October 6, 2014 Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) same active ingredient. they both work the same for me. Good luck. You will get there. keep fighting Edited October 6, 2014 by lwinter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted October 6, 2014 Author Share Posted October 6, 2014 (edited) How long did it take? My anxiety is completely out of control. It's never been this bad. Ever Edited October 7, 2014 by brooke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessamine Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 Some people claim they get more side effects from generics. They do use different fillers, however the active ingredient is the same and the same dose so it should work just as well. It's generally the fillers that people react to. When I took Lexapro it started to kick in around the 2 week mark (pretty mildly) but steadily improved over the next 2 weeks and I was feeling a whole lot better after that month. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 I found that SSRIs cause anxiety for the first couple of weeks. After a while it dies down, and after about 4-6 weeks the med should fully kick in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dead Guy Posted October 7, 2014 Share Posted October 7, 2014 (edited) I just came here to say this: Some people claim they get more side effects from generics. They do use different fillers, however the active ingredient is the same and the same dose so it should work just as well. It's generally the fillers that people react to. I was on the generic the entire time I took it. It didn't help me very much, but I haven't gotten much good from any of the antidepressants I've tried yet. I hope it does some good for ya. I seem to remember that it can take a couple weeks to start kicking in. It's been awhile since I was on it, though. Edited October 7, 2014 by The Dead Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted October 7, 2014 Author Share Posted October 7, 2014 I'm trying to hold it together. Not easy when your body feels like it's vibrating and you feel like you're going insane. Hate this!! Thanks guys... I'll try to be patient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessamine Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 Yeah, it sucks so much! Mine has been pretty bad for the last 3 months while I wait to get in to see a new pdoc. My whole life is on hold waiting for this appointment so I understand! Good luck! I hope you start to feel better soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 Thanks. Neurontin is helping a lot by calming me down. Just wish I could get rid of this detatched feeling. I feel like I'm floating around the house and like everything is a dream. It's awful. Hope you get some relief soon!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 (edited) I've been on Escitalopram for about a month. First 5 mgs, then 10, 15, and finally 20 a few days ago. I was wondering if blurred vision is a common side effect. My eyes feel strange. I can see...it just feels different. I had a migraine for two days straight so maybe it's the after effects of that? Not sure. This is the first time I've noticed any side effects since starting this drug. How long do side effects last anyway?? And I'm still waiting for it to work... Thank you! Edited October 31, 2014 by brooke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted October 31, 2014 Share Posted October 31, 2014 Blurred vision can be a side effect of escitalopram (or any SSRI), but that almost always goes away after a while once you adjust to the new med or new dose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted October 31, 2014 Author Share Posted October 31, 2014 Oh good. I am not giving up on this drug. It saved my life back in 2002 and I need it to save me now. It's my last hope! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessamine Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I'm pretty sure 20mg is the therapeutic dose (the minimum one) so given that you're only a few days in it might still take a little while to kick in. I wish you luck though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 I hope so! I'm still very anxious and feel like everything is a dream. It's horrible. Derealization is the worst! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) I don't know where you are in the world but in some countries you can get a drug card that pays the difference between brand and generic. If you did well on brand before it's worth a try. I always get the brand of antidepressants and mood stabilizers. The dose can be off by up to 20% and the generic version can still be approved (although the FDA states that this has no effect in terms of blood levels - who knows). Sometimes they can also release differently. There are a couple of studies in which generic has not been equivalent to brand, plus almost all initial drug trials are done with brand drugs because it's the original manufacturer doing the trials. Edited November 1, 2014 by tryp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt07 Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 I'm pretty sure 20mg is the therapeutic dose (the minimum one) so given that you're only a few days in it might still take a little while to kick in. I wish you luck though! This is true for citalopram, but the minimum therapeutic dose for escitalopram is 10 mg, that is, at least in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted November 1, 2014 Author Share Posted November 1, 2014 I'm in the US. I think it would cost over $200 for the brand. Unless my doctor calls my insurance and tries to get it down. I'll give it another week but if i still have this weird vision thing going on, I'm switching. Thanks for the replies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tryp Posted November 1, 2014 Share Posted November 1, 2014 (edited) Ask your pharmacist or doctor if there is a brand discount card. In Canada, I have an Innovicares card and it pays the entire difference between the cost of generic Lamictal and the cost of brand Lamictal, so I get brand at the generic price. Even brand meds are cheaper here, but I feel like there might be something similar in the states. https://www.innovicares.ca/ It won't work in the US, but there might be something similar. Here doctor's offices and pharmacies often have drug cards that they get from the companies. Edited November 1, 2014 by tryp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brooke Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jessamine Posted November 2, 2014 Share Posted November 2, 2014 I'm pretty sure 20mg is the therapeutic dose (the minimum one) so given that you're only a few days in it might still take a little while to kick in. I wish you luck though! This is true for citalopram, but the minimum therapeutic dose for escitalopram is 10 mg, that is, at least in the US. Yep, same here. Sorry, my bad. Read the name wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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