What’s the Difference Between Lexapro and Cymbalta?
- Lexapro (escitalopram) along with Cymbalta (duloxetine) can be prescribed to combat anxiety and depression. disorder.
- Cymbalta can also be used to help treat pain caused by the diabetic neuropathy and Fibromyalgia as well as chronic muscle and joint pain..
- Lexapro and Cymbalta are part of distinct drug classes. Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibition (SSRI) along with Cymbalta (duloxetine) can be described as an selective serotonin and NOREPINHrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI).
- Some of the side consequences of Lexapro and Cymbalta which are similar are vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea sleeplessness, insomnia and sexual issues (decreased sexual capacity or desire or desire, delay in ejaculation),
- Some of the side adverse effects from Lexapro that are distinct from Cymbalta include restlessness or agitation blurred vision and drowsiness frequently urinating headache, nausea as well as changes in appetite. more sweating, changes in taste as well as shaking (shaking) and weight fluctuations.
- Cymbalta’s side effects which are distinct from Lexapro include constipation dizziness, fatigue, high blood pressure, and seizures.
- The withdrawal symptoms can occur when you abruptly stop using Lexapro as well as Cymbalta. The signs that indicate withdrawal Lexapro can include dizziness or tingling fatigue bright dreams, anger or a low mood. The signs that indicate withdrawal Cymbalta are anxiety, dizziness nausea, vomiting anxiety, diarrhea, irritability and insomnia.
What Are Lexapro and Cymbalta?
Lexapro (escitalopram) is an inhibitor of serotonin reuptake selectively (SSRI) which is prescribed to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorders. Additional SSRIs comprise citalopram (Celexa) as well as the fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paroxetine (Paxil) along with sertraline (Zoloft). SSRIs are able to affect neurotransmitters in the brain. These are the chemical messengers neurons use to communicate with each other. Numerous researchers believe that an imbalance in neurotransmitters can be the root of depression. Lexapro blocks the reuptake of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) and leads to more serotonin being absorbed by the brain that binds to receptors.
Cymbalta (duloxetine) is an selective serotonin and norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) utilized to treat depression, anxiety disorder and the pain. The other SNRIs are milnacipran (Savella) as well as the venlafaxine (Effexor) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). Cymbalta impacts the neurotransmitters epinephrine and serotonin by inhibiting their reuptake leading to an increase in the impact of serotonin as well as norepinephrine within the brain. The mechanism behind Cymbalta’s use to treat pain is unclear however it is believed to have an effect on serotonin and norepinephrine.
What Are the Side Effects of Lexapro and Cymbalta?
Lexapro
Common side effects that are associated with Lexapro are:
- Arousal or restlessness
- blurred vision
- diarrhea,
- trouble sleep,
- drowsiness,
- Dry mouth,
- fever,
- frequent urination,
- headache,
- indigestion,
- nausea,
- Increased or diminished appetite,
- more sweating,
- sexual problems (decreased sexual desire or ability or desire to sexually engage, ejaculatory delay),
- Taste changes, tremor (shaking) and
- Weight changes.
Antidepressants increase risks of suicidal behavior and thinking (suicidality) in studies conducted over a short period of time for adolescents and children with depression or other mental disorders. Anyone who considers using Lexapro and any antidepressant for a child or teenager should weigh this risk against the need for clinical treatment. Studies conducted in the short-term did not reveal an increase in suicidal risk with antidepressants as compared to placebo for adults over 24 years old. There was a decrease in suicidal risk in the presence of antidepressants, compared to placebo for adults who are who are 65 or older. Depression and other disorders of the psyche are connected to increased likelihood for taking suicide. Patients who begin treatment with antidepressants ought to be monitored closely for signs of signs of suicidality or other unusual changes in behavior.
Other possible side consequences are the flu-like symptoms as well as pain in the shoulders or neck.
However, changes in sexual desires or sexual performance and sexual satisfaction are often in the context of depression itself, they might be due to the medications prescribed in treating depression. Particularly, 1 in 11 men who are prescribed Lexapro experience difficulties in having trouble ejaculating.
Potentially serious side effects from Lexapro are:
- Serotonin syndrome
- Self-harming mental state and behaviour
- Abnormal bleeding
- Seizures
- Manic episode
- Confusion
- High fever
- Speech slurred
- Muscle rigidity
- Low sodium
- Angle closure glaucoma.
WARNING: Side Effects Warning
Certain patients suffer withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing SSRI treatment. Some of the symptoms include
- dizziness,
- tingling,
- tiredness,
- vivid dreams,
- irritability, or
- poor mood.
To avoid these side effects, the dosage of SSRI is gradually decreased instead of abruptly stopping.
Paxil
The most frequent adverse effects of duloxetine include vomiting, dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, sleepiness, and dizziness. The increase in blood pressure may occur and is a reason to monitor it. There have been reports of seizures. A sexually disorder ( decreased sex drive and delayed orgasm and Ejaculation) is associated with duloxetine.
Certain patients might have withdrawal symptoms after the discontinuation of duloxetine. Signs of withdrawal are:
- dizziness,
- anxiety,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- nervousness,
- diarrhea,
- irritation and
- insomnia.
The dosage of duloxetine must be gradually decreased as the treatment ceases to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
Antidepressants increased the likelihood of suicidal behavior and thinking (suicidality) in short-term research in adolescents and children suffering from depression as well as other mental disorders. Anyone who is considering using duloxetine, or any other antidepressant for a child or an teenager must weigh the risk against the clinical necessity. Patients who begin treatment should be monitored closely for any signs of clinical improvement, suicidality or any abnormal changes in behavior.
What is the dosage of Lexapro in comparison to. Cymbalta?
Lexapro
- The recommended starting dose for Lexapro to treat depression in adolescents or adults is 10 mg each day in the morning and in the evening. The dosage may be increased to 20 mg daily after three weeks.
- Benefits may not be apparent until the treatment has been completed for up to four weeks. A daily dose of 20 mg could not be as effective as 10 mg per day for treatment of depression.
- The dosage for treating the disorder of generalized anxiety is 10 mg every day.
- Lexapro can be consumed in combination with or without meals.
Cymbalta
- The dose recommended in treating depression would be between 20 and 30 mg once daily or 60 mg every day. Patients can begin by taking 30 mg a day for a week prior to the dose is increased to 60 mg a day.
- The dosage recommended for anxiety disorders, pain that is due to diabetes neuropathy, fibromyalgia or chronic muscle and joint painfulness is 60 mg per day. Begin with 30 mg per day for a week prior to increasing to 60 mg a day can help patients to adjust to the medication.
- It is not proven to suggest dosages higher than 60 mg per day offer additional benefits. However, the recommended dose for anxiety or depression is 120 mg per day.
- What Drugs interact With Lexapro as well as Cymbalta?
Lexapro
- All SSRIs such as Lexapro should not be mixed with other drugs belonging to the monoamine oxide (MAO) inhibitor category of antidepressants, such as isocarboxazid (Marplan) or the phenelzine (Nardil) and Tranylcypromine (Parnate) and selegiline (Eldepryl) and procarbazine (Matulane) or other medicines that block monoamine oxidase like lineszolid (Zyvox) or intravenous Methylene Blue. Combinations like these can result in anxiety, high blood pressure as well as excessive fevers the tremor or muscle rigidityand increase activity. A minimum of 14 days should expire after stopping Lexapro prior to beginning the treatment with an MAO inhibitor. At least 14 days should pass following the discontinuation of an MAO inhibitor prior to starting Lexapro.
- Similar reactions can occur similar reactions occur when SSRIs are mixed with other medications which increase serotonin production inside the brain. like the amino acid tryptophan St. John’s wort meperidine (Demerol) lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith), triptans (for instance, sumatriptan [Imitrex, Alsumaand sumatriptan [Imitrex, Asuma]) as well as tramadol (Ultram)
- The use of selective serotonin inhibitors can raise the chance of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract when patients are who take warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin), aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) as well as other drugs that cause bleeding.
Cymbalta
- Duloxetine is not recommended when combined with an inhibitor of monoamine oxidase ( MAOI) like phenelzine (Nardil) or Tranylcypromine (Parnate) or isocarboxazid (Marplan) or selegiline (Eldepryl) and within 14 days of stopping the MAOI. A minimum of 5 days must be allowed following the cessation of duloxetine prior beginning an MAOI. Mixing SNRIs as well as MAOIs could cause severe reactions, which can be fatal, such as extremely high body temperature muscles rigidity, quick changes in blood pressure and heart rate extreme agitation that can lead into delirium and an involuntary coma. Similar reactions could occur if duloxetine is used in conjunction in combination with other antipsychotics tricyclic antidepressants and other drugs that affect serotonin inside the brain. Examples include sumatriptan, tryptophan (Imitrex) as well as lithium linezolid (Zyvox) and tramadol (Ultram) and St. John’s Wort.
- Fluoxetine (Prozac, Serafem), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva) as well as fluvoxamine (Luvox) and quinidine raise the levels of duloxetine in blood through reducing its metabolism in the liver. The combination of these drugs can cause an increase in adverse side effects caused by duloxetine.
- Combining duloxetine with aspirin nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs) warfarin (Coumadin) or other medications which are linked to bleeding can increase the chance of bleeding because duloxetine itself can cause bleeding.
- Duloxetine is coated with an enteric layer that hinders its dissolution until it is in a region of the gastrointestinal system that is pH greater than 5.5. In theory, substances which raise the pH in the digestive system (for instance, Prilosec) could cause duloxetine to be released prematurely, when conditions that delay gastric emptying (for instance, diabetes) can lead to the breakdown of duloxetine to be premature. However, administration of duloxetine using an anti-inflammatory drug and/or Famotidine ( Axid) didn’t significantly alter its absorption.
- Duloxetine could slow degrading desipramine (Norpramine) which can lead to higher blood concentrations of desipramine as well as possible negative side consequences.
Are Lexapro and Cymbalta Safe to Take While Pregnant and Breastfeeding?
Lexapro
- The security for Lexapro in the pregnancy or breastfeeding has not been proven. So, Lexapro should not be utilized during pregnancy unless, according to the doctor, the anticipated advantages to the patient outweigh unknown risks for the foetus.
- Lexapro is excreted into the human milk. Lexapro is not recommended to nursing mothers unless, according to the opinion of a physician that the anticipated benefits for the patient are greater than the potential risks for the child.
Cymbalta
- Duloxetine is excreted into milk of lactating mothers. Due to the fact that Duloxetine’s safety for infants is unknown breastfeeding while taking duloxetine isn’t recommended.
Summary Lexapro (escitalopram) as well as Cymbalta (duloxetine) both are both used to combat depression and generalized anxiety disorder. Cymbalta also helps combat pain caused by the fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal discomfort. Lexapro and Cymbalta belong to two distinct class of drugs which include selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and an selective serotonin and NOREPHYRIN RECUPTURING INHIBITORS (SNRI) in addition to.
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