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Is Citalopram Better Than Lexapro For Treatment Of OCD?

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Posted on Tue, 9 Dec 2014
Question: I am on Lexapro 40 mg for more or least five weeks now, because of some OCD symptoms caused by Solian. I take Solian 100 mg, Klonopin 2 mg and Keppra 1500 mg as mood stabilizer. I still have some OCD symptoms, i am poor cyp2c19 metabolizer and my psychiatrist said that if Lexapro is not going to work at 100 per cent, he will try citalopram because it s better against anxiety. I would like to know if citalopram can be better than Lexapro /escitalopram for my OCD symptoms.
Thanks beforehand
doctor
Answered by Dr. Shubham Mehta (37 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
There may be inter-individual variation in response to these drugs.

Detailed Answer:
Hello
Welcome to HCM.

Escitalopram is just the S-enantiomer (similar molecule) of citalopram. In simple terms, Escitalopram is a 'purer' form of citalopram.
Regarding their clinical effects, both the drugs have almost similar response profile. There are no scientific researches/studies comparing therapeutic effects of escitalopram and citalopram. Some individuals feel better with escitalopram and others with citalopram.

It would just be a matter of chance that you might feel better with citalopram. There would be no medical explanation for this.

Hope this answers your query.

I wish you good health.
Take care.
Thanks.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Shubham Mehta

Psychiatrist

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 2145 Questions

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Is Citalopram Better Than Lexapro For Treatment Of OCD?

Brief Answer: There may be inter-individual variation in response to these drugs. Detailed Answer: Hello Welcome to HCM. Escitalopram is just the S-enantiomer (similar molecule) of citalopram. In simple terms, Escitalopram is a 'purer' form of citalopram. Regarding their clinical effects, both the drugs have almost similar response profile. There are no scientific researches/studies comparing therapeutic effects of escitalopram and citalopram. Some individuals feel better with escitalopram and others with citalopram. It would just be a matter of chance that you might feel better with citalopram. There would be no medical explanation for this. Hope this answers your query. I wish you good health. Take care. Thanks.