Lexapro Brand Versus Generic Escitalopram (Page 7) (Top voted first)

I have taken 30mg of Lexapro for past 4 years. After the deaths of my son and his wife in a plane crash the depression and anxiety were more than I could bear. This past May I was changed to the generic escitalopram. God Forbid!!!! What a nightmare. Within three weeks I was suicidal, I was going through SSRI withdrawals which are vicious. I am now paying over $225.00 per month for Brand Lexapro as my insurance will NOT cover it even with prior auth or any other reason. My Medicare Advantage plan leaves a lot to be desired even though I pay a $152.00 per month premium. Has anyone else had problems with the generic Lexapro? My pharmacist said I am not the first.

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Sorry Susan I meant to say I'm NOW back on it. I've realised I've been on the generic stuff for more like four months. I feel like I'm getting side effects all over again - loss of appetite, feeling spaced out etc. but on the plus side I'm on day 5 of restarting Cipralex and I'm starting to feel a bit better. Fingers crossed it continues, this is absolutely terrible. There is undoubtedly a huge difference between brand and generic escitalopram, they should never be allowed to just change it without telling you.

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Jackie as a pharmacist would you agree that there's a chemical difference between generic and brand escitalopram? I was just wondering how if they are both meant to contain the same active ingredient that the generic quite clearly doesn't have the same therapeutic benefit as the brand. I'm a mental health nurse btw.

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Reporting it to the FDA who then forwards the complaint or concern to the manufacturer who then will try to contact you by phone. They will ask questions like: What was the Batch#? What are the Side effects? How long were you taking it? & then you might get a letter like I did in reply #72

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I was on lexapro and it madee feel great. The second time I took it generics had come out and generic escitalopram was definitely a different experience. I haven't been on anything in 4 years but just entered a place where I need antidepressants again. My new dr recommended Effexor so I just started it. I had to wait an extra day to fill it as the pharmacy only had generic. So we'll see how this one goes.

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Please let us know how that works for you--hopefully well :).

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Hi Lin, I am so sorry you are experiencing this. I, too, was suicidal (in addition to extreme anxiety and weird impulses -- like I needed to get divorced, quit my job and move far away). Weird. Anyway, it wasn't until about a year and a half later that I realized that what I was experiencing was maybe Lexapro withdrawal. I wonder if it is possible that the generic is different enough that our brains are not recognizing it as Lexapro at all, so it's as though we are stopping the Lexapro cold turkey.
You may read more about my experience below in post #68, if you wish. Good Luck.

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Pitbull, good for you!!! I just remarried and am facing the same fight with the insurance company--BCBS. I have always felt we could possibly bound together and pursue some type of legal suit. I'd be happy to participate. Please keep us all informed and let us know if we can help in any way.

Susan

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I had the same experience - Escitalopram generics did not work well for me, or did not work at all. Brands that DID NOT WORK AT ALL: Lupin, Aurobindo (both Indian manufacturers). So I thought I'd try Teva - well known, Israeli company. Teva was hit or miss for me, and it turns out even they have this med manufactured in India. I don't trust their manufacturing practices over there after many, many Indian drug companies have run afoul of the FDA.

So I'm back on Brand, at a cost of $285 for 3 months' supply - and that is with special auth/dispense as written from my doctor. I could swear it's stronger than the generics, and I think I may actually have to reduce my dose - but that would be just fine.

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I posted a minute ago, but forgot to ask, how long before you guys/gals started feeling better after switching back to the brand name. I am counting the damn minutes. lol

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Please do not take Generics! They are toxic. Pharm mftrs. use cheap and dangerous fillers etc. Go to CANADIAN PHARMACIES to get the Brand name at a significant lower price! Medicare RX does not give a damm about us or our health. Good luck!

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Him, I feel your pain. Just know it could be even worse--I've been paying $350 now PER MONTH because I take 30mg/daily. My shrink says he has had many many complaints about this issue from other patients. Maybe the Psychiatric Association could help us?

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Maria, hang in there. You should be feeling better in a few days. Do lots of deep breathing and make sure you exhale slowly through your mouth like you are blowing through a straw. Keep us posted :).

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In 2015, who is the manufacturer of the brand Lexapro? Thanks.

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I have been on Camber generic for Lexapro for less than a month at 20 mg/day and was previously taking a combo of generic zoloft by Greenstone and a very ineffective generic buspar combo. Since weaning down and completely off generic Zoloft after 13 years and weaning ONTO lexapro generic for the 1 st time, I've had these annoying come and go headaches behind my left eye or brow. This does seem to be a common side effect of the generic lexapro but my god! Who can afford the brand name? Its a real scam

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I too have been feeling the side effects of taking the cheaper brand of Lexapro - Escitalopram. NEVER AGAIN!! I have just started back up on my Lexapro and have to wait for that to kick back in. On Escitalopram I have had a huge increase in my anxiety, irritability, insomnia and palpitations! The thing is when I ask pharmacists they tell me it is exactly the same as Lexapro. And that I will have no problems. So you trust them and you get the cheaper brand. And then you get all of these side effects afterwards and your life is turned upside down!!! Not Happy!! You put your trust in people with your health... and it is so disheartening when you find out that Lexapro and Escitalopram are really not the same.... I got my doctor to confirm this with me and he told me to just stick to taking the Lexapro. My heart really goes out to all that suffer from this experience.

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Hi, I have been on generic escitalopram brands for more than a year and I havent got any problem. Here in my country, Venezuela, we have a severe shortage of medicines, and Lexapro is also very expensive. As you, my insurance does not cover it, so I have tried not one, but several generic brands ( the available) .Try another brand. I hope it works. Good luck!

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I have the exact same story. After going to the ER for a sever panic attack, it occurred to me that my recent refill had a note on it that said that the pills may look different cause it's a different brand. This also was at Walgreens in May. I have not had a panic attack in 3 solid years. What is going on? I also have had disturbing nightmares, tremmors in my right leg, and mild persistent headaches. Thank you for sharing. I don't feel as crazy.

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So sorry to hear that happened to you! Hopefully, you will be able to get back onto the brand. :(

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I too suffered greatly after switching to the generic Cipralex. My pharmacist - who's awesome!!! - told me about 'innovicares'. Thanks to this program they help subsidize the difference between the covered cost of the generic and the top-up to pay for brand. Also, won't your insurance reimburse you for at least a portion of the Rx and you can pay the balance to purchase the brand? I'm lucky that I have this option. Between that and InnoviCares - I pay $0.65... yes 65 cents - I literally broke down in tears... well I was crying all the time at that point... but this time it was from relief.

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Yes, I was on Lexapro for a couple of years, then due to the price, I switched to the generic. There was no quick reaction, but I was becoming very anxious and nervous about making decisions. It felt like I was walking through cobwebs and couldn't get away from them. I mentioned this to the pharmacist and he said he had seen a number of people with bad reactions and suggested I go back. After about
10 days I felt completely normal, but I'm still trying to see if another company has
a better generic. I just paid $248. for 30 pills 20mg. Good luck Post if you find one

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