What’s the Difference Between Lexapro and Cymbalta?

• Lexapro (escitalopram) along with Cymbalta (duloxetine) can be both used to treat anxiety and depression. disorder.
• Cymbalta can also be used to alleviate pain due to diabetes-related neuropathy and the fibromyalgia and chronic muscular 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 a selective serotonin as well as NOREPINHrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI).
• The side consequences of Lexapro and Cymbalta which are similar are vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea trouble sleeping and sexual problems (decreased sexual capacity or desire or desire, delay in ejaculation),
• The side consequences of Lexapro that are distinct from Cymbalta are restlessness or agitation blurred vision, sleepiness frequent urination headache, nausea and changes in appetite. more sweating, changes in taste as well as shaking (shaking) and weight fluctuations.
• Cymbalta’s side effects that differ from Lexapro are constipation, dizziness, fatigue, elevated blood pressure, as well as seizures.
• In the event of withdrawal, symptoms could occur if you abruptly stop the use of Lexapro and Cymbalta. Signs that indicate withdrawal Lexapro are dizziness or tingling fatigue bright dreams, anger or moodiness. Signs associated with withdrawal Cymbalta include anxiety, dizziness nausea, vomiting irritation, nervousness, diarrhea and insomnia.

What Are Lexapro and Cymbalta?

Lexapro (escitalopram) is an selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is used to treat depression and generalized anxiety disorders. Additional SSRIs are citalopram (Celexa) and the fluoxetine (Prozac) as well as paroxetine (Paxil) as well as sertraline (Zoloft). SSRIs are able to affect neurotransmitters in the brain. These are the chemical messengers nerves utilize to communicate with each other. Numerous specialists believe an imbalance in neurotransmitters can be the root of depression. Lexapro hinders the reuptake process of serotonin (a neurotransmitter) that leads to more serotonin being absorbed by the brain, which binds to receptors.

Cymbalta (duloxetine) is a selective serotonin-norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor (SNRI) that is used to treat depression, anxiety disorder as well as the pain. Additional SNRIs are milnacipran (Savella) as well as the venlafaxine (Effexor) as well as desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). Cymbalta alters the neurotransmitters serotonin as well as epinephrine by inhibiting their reuptake leading to an increase in the effects of serotonin and norepinephrine within the brain. The mechanism that Cymbalta uses to treat pain is unclear however it is believed to be related to its effects on norepinephrine and serotonin.

What Are the Side Effects of Lexapro and Cymbalta?

Lexapro

Common side effects that are associated with Lexapro are:

• Restlessness or agitation,
• blurred vision
• diarrhea,
• difficulties 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),
• changes in taste, tremor (shaking) and
• Changes in weight.

Antidepressants increase their risk for suicidal behavior and thinking (suicidality) in short-term research for adolescents and children with depression as well as other psychiatric disorders. Anyone who is considering using Lexapro as well as any antidepressant for the adolescent or child should weigh this risk against the need for clinical treatment. Short-term studies have not shown an increase in suicidal risks when using antidepressants in comparison to placebo in adults who are older than 24 years old. There was a decrease in suicidal risk in the presence of antidepressants, compared to placebo for adults who are over 65 years old or older. Depression and other disorders of the psyche are linked to an increase in the possibility to taking suicide. Patients who are starting treatment with antidepressants must be observed closely for any signs of signs of suicidality or other unusual changes in behavior.

Other adverse side adverse effects may include the flu-like symptoms as well as pain in the shoulder or neck.

However, changes in sexual desires or sexual performance and sexual pleasure are typically in the context of depression, 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.

The potential serious side effects that could be a result of Lexapro are:

• Serotonin syndrome
• suicidal thoughts and behaviors
• Abnormal bleeding
• Seizures
• Manic episode
• Confusion
• High fever
• Speech that is slurred
• Muscle rigidity
• Low sodium
• Angle closure glaucoma.

WARNING: Side Effects Warning

Patients may have withdrawal reactions after discontinuing SSRI treatment. Some of the symptoms include

• dizziness,
• tingling,
• tiredness,
• vivid dreams,
• irritability, or
• poor mood.

To prevent these signs, the dose of SSRI can be gradually reduced instead of being abruptly cut off.

Paxil

The most frequent adverse effects of duloxetine include the following: nausea dry mouth, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, trouble sleeping and dizziness. The increase in blood pressure may occur and needs to be checked. Seizures have been observed. A sexually disorder ( decreased sex drive and delayed orgasm and Ejaculation) is associated with duloxetine.

A few patients may be prone to withdrawal reactions after discontinuing duloxetine. Signs of withdrawal are:

• dizziness,
• anxiety,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• nervousness,
• diarrhea,
• irritation and
• insomnia.

Duloxetine dosage should be reduced gradually as the treatment ceases to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Antidepressants increase the risk of suicidal behavior and thinking (suicidality) in studies conducted over a short period of time for adolescents and children with depression as well as other mental disorders. Anyone who is considering using duloxetine or other antidepressants in a young or teenager must weigh the risk against the clinical necessity. Patients who begin therapy must be observed closely for signs of clinical deterioration, suicidal behavior or any abnormal changes in behavior.

What is the dose of Lexapro in comparison to. Cymbalta?

Lexapro

• The standard dose of Lexapro to treat depression in adolescents and adults is 10 mg twice each day in the morning and in the evening. The dosage may be upped to 20 mg daily after three weeks.
• Benefits may not be apparent after treatment has been administered for up to four weeks. A daily dose of 20 mg could not be as effective as 10 mg daily to treat of depression.
• The dosage to treat the disorder of generalized anxiety is 10 mg per day.
• Lexapro can be consumed either with food or not.

Cymbalta

• The dose recommended in treating depression would be between 20 and 30 mg two times daily or 60 mg every day. Patients can begin with 30 mg daily for a week prior to the dose is increased to 60 mg per day.
• The dose recommended for patients suffering from anxiety disorders, pain that is caused by the diabetic neuropathy, fibromyalgia or chronic muscular painfulness is 60 mg per day. Begin with 30 mg per day for a week prior to expanding to 60 mg per day can help patients to adjust to the medication.
• It is not proven to suggest doses of more than 60 mg/day can provide benefits in addition to the 60 mg daily dose. However, the recommended dose for anxiety or depression is 120 mg/day.
• What Drugs interact in conjunction with Lexapro as well as Cymbalta?

Lexapro

• All SSRIs include Lexapro are not to be mixed with other drugs belonging to the monoamine oxide (MAO) inhibitor category of antidepressants like isocarboxazid (Marplan) and Phenelzine (Nardil) and Tranylcypromine (Parnate) and selegiline (Eldepryl) and procarbazine (Matulane) or other medicines that block monoamine oxidase like lineszolid (Zyvox) as well as intravenous Methylene Blue. Combinations like these can result in confusedness, high blood pressure and hyperfever, shaking or muscle rigidityand increase activity. At least 14 days must be allowed to pass 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 happen similar reactions occur when SSRIs are coupled with other drugs which increase serotonin production within the brain. like Tryptophan St. John’s wort meperidine (Demerol) and 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 from the stomach when patients are who take warfarin (Jantoven, Coumadin), aspirin, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) and other medications that can 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 after discontinuing the MAOI. A minimum of five days should be allowed to pass after stopping duloxetine prior to beginning an MAOI. The combination of SNRIs or MAOIs could cause severe reactions that can be fatal such as extremely high body temperature muscles rigidity, quick variations in blood pressure and heart rate and extreme agitation, which can progress into delirium or the onset of coma. Similar reactions can occur when duloxetine is used in conjunction in combination with other antipsychotics tricyclic antidepressants and other drugs that affect serotonin within the brain. Examples include sumatriptan, tryptophan (Imitrex) and lithium linezolid (Zyvox) tramadol (Ultram) and St. John’s Wort.
• Fluoxetine (Prozac, Serafem), paroxetine (Paxil, Paxil CR, Pexeva) as well as fluvoxamine (Luvox) as well as quinidine can increase the level of duloxetine in the bloodstream through reducing its metabolism in the liver. These combinations can increase the negative side effects caused by duloxetine.
• Combining duloxetine and aspirin with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications (NSAIDs) warfarin (Coumadin) or other medications which are linked to bleeding could increase the risk of bleeding because duloxetine itself can cause bleeding.
• Duloxetine is coated with an enteric layer that hinders its dissolution until it reaches a part of the gastrointestinal tract that is pH greater than 5.5. Theoretically, medications which raise the pH in the digestive system (for instance, Prilosec) could cause duloxetine to be released prematurely, when conditions that delay the process of gastric empyting (for instance, diabetes) could lead to the breakdown of duloxetine to be premature. However, administration of duloxetine by an anti-inflammatory drug and/or Famotidine ( Axid) didn’t significantly alter its absorption.
• Duloxetine could slow degradation of desipramine (Norpramine) which can lead to higher blood levels of desipramine as well as possible adverse negative effects.

Are Lexapro and Cymbalta Safe to Take While Pregnant and Breastfeeding?

Lexapro

• The security for Lexapro when used during pregnancies or breastfeeding has not been proven. Thus, Lexapro should not be taken during pregnancy unless according to the physician, the benefits for a patient exceed any unknown risks for the embryo.
• Lexapro is excreted into the human milk. Lexapro is not recommended to nursing mothers unless, in the view of the doctor the expected benefits to the patient are greater than the potential risks for the child.

Cymbalta

• Duloxetine is excreted in the milk of lactating mothers. Since Duloxetine’s safety for infants isn’t known breastfeeding while taking duloxetine is not advised.

Summary

Lexapro (escitalopram) as well as Cymbalta (duloxetine) can be both used to treat anxiety and depression as well as generalized disorder. Cymbalta can also be used to combat pain caused by the fibromyalgia and diabetic neuropathy, and chronic musculoskeletal discomfort. Lexapro and Cymbalta belong to two distinct classes of drugs that include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) and an selective serotonin and NOREPHYRINE RESUPTPTORS (SNRI) and a selective serotonin and norepinephrine reup.