Question 1

what is the closest ssri to luvox ..would it be lexapro (escitalopram)?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but no: There are the latest ssris which came to the market right about same time.  In terms of their effectiveness, it really counts on how patient, as an individual, responds to either one of them.  A metaphor is some like apple but others like orange.   One might react to Luvox but not Lexapro (escitalopram) and vice versa.

Question 2

what usually has worse sexual side effects luvox or lexapro (escitalopram)?

Accepted Answer

Luvox/fluvoxamine: Luvox (fluvoxamine) tends to have a higher risk of sexual side effects than lexapro/escitalopram, which has one of the lower risks among the antidepressants for sexual side effects.

Question 3

how is luvox different from zoloft or lexapro (escitalopram)?

Accepted Answer

Luvox, Zoloft, (sertraline) and : Lexapro (escitalopram) are all SSRIs. They're all 1st line agents in tx of anxiety and depression. They all work via the same mechanism -- inhibiting re-uptake of serotonin, thus increasing serotonin concentrations.  the differences between the meds have to do with subtle differences in half life, serotonin receptors targeted, and slight differences in side effect profiles. Talk with ur doc abt the right med 4u!

Question 4

my son is weaning off luvox and moving to lexapro (escitalopram) for ocd, depression.  he is on 100mg luvox and 10mg lexapro (escitalopram). does he need to go to 50mg and then off?

Accepted Answer

Lowering medication: It seems you, your son ; his doctor have decided he has not responded well enough to Luvox ; Lexapro (escitalopram) might be a better medication. Both are ssri's used for depression and anxiety. When switching from one to another, slower is better to avoid side effects. Discuss with your doctor if your son should lower Luvox more slowly - such as 75 mg for 1 week, then 50 mg ; then 25 mg before stopping luvox.

Question 5

lexapro (escitalopram) at 10 mg seems to help ocd very much where as  luvox at 300 did not...yet lexapro (escitalopram) is not indicated for ocd as luvox...can someone explain.. ?

Accepted Answer

Probably not: From what I've seen - the variable effectiveness of all the psych medications in different folk for different conditions is unexplicable. Just be glad you found something that helps very much. Not everyone does. Also the doses are not comparable. It's a bit like foreign currencies when a dollar was equal to a thousand lira. Don't expect it to make sense. That's hard for an OCD, but it's true.

Question 6

why taking luvox with ritalin i get stimulating but i get depressing, but lexapro with ritalin dont cause stimulation without depression, if i take lexapro for long time with ritalin i will get stimulation? 
thanks

Accepted Answer

Can't say.: There is moderate potential for drug-drug interaction between Ritalin &amp; Lexapro. Per Drugs.Com drug interaction checker- methylphenidate may increase  blood levels &amp; effects of escitalopram. There is risk for serotonin syndrome. I invite you to use a drug interaction checker to see all possible drug interaction effects.

Question 7

which works better for negative intrusive thoughts caused by ocd lexapro (escitalopram) or luvox but also causes less weight gain?

Accepted Answer

Both: All ssri are relatively equivalent in effectiveness and have similar side effect profiles. In my experience its hard to predict ahead of time and its hard to really do side by side comparison because of timeframes. Use a measure like the yboc and compare. Side effects may make your decision easier but work with your loved ones and treatment provider.

Question 8

i am on luvox250mg for gad/pd since 01, tried paxil, and effexor (venlafaxine) before finding luvox, since march anx is really up, pdoc ref takes 3 months, lexapro?

Accepted Answer

Gabapentin: You could talk to your doctor about augmentation with Gabapentin to see if it will help reduce anxiety. Another option would be augmentation with very low-dose Abilify (aripiprazole) or seroquel. Augmentation with Buspar could also be helpful as could bemzodiazepines. Luvox interacts with a lot of meds, so your doctor should check drug drug interactions on any medication that is used with luvox. Hope this helps.

Question 9

can lexapro (escitalopram) be used off label for ocd as it works strongly on serotonin and how does it differ from luvox?

Accepted Answer

Lexapro (escitalopram): Yes it can, similar for anxiety but better tolerated than Luvox (fluvoxamine).

Question 10

taking lexapro (escitalopram) 10mg (gad) and luvox 50mg (ocd). would you agree that the dose of each is low enough to not be concerned with serotonin syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Impossible to say: Since serotonin syndrome does not appear to be a dose related phenomenon with various psychotropics that act on serotonin receptors, i don't know that i can safely say that. I can only say that some risks still exists but the risk is in general quite low. Whenever serotonin agents are mixed together, the risk allegedly goes up. I have seen serotonin syndrome however when someone has only been on one serotonergic agent. I think there is simply a lot more research to be done about this and it's very difficult to do because of the relative rarity of the condition.

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Doctor answers about:

Going from Luvox to Lexapro how to

A member asked:

What is the closest ssri to luvox ..would it be lexapro (escitalopram)?

A member asked:

What usually has worse sexual side effects luvox or lexapro (escitalopram)?

A member asked:

How is luvox different from zoloft or lexapro (escitalopram)?

A member asked:

My son is weaning off luvox and moving to lexapro (escitalopram) for ocd, depression. he is on 100mg luvox and 10mg lexapro (escitalopram). does he need to go to 50mg and then off?

A member asked:

Lexapro (escitalopram) at 10 mg seems to help ocd very much where as luvox at 300 did not...yet lexapro (escitalopram) is not indicated for ocd as luvox...can someone explain.. ?

A member asked:

Why taking luvox with ritalin i get stimulating but i get depressing, but lexapro with ritalin dont cause stimulation without depression, if i take lexapro for long time with ritalin i will get stimulation? thanks

A member asked:

Which works better for negative intrusive thoughts caused by ocd lexapro (escitalopram) or luvox but also causes less weight gain?

A member asked:

I am on luvox250mg for gad/pd since 01, tried paxil, and effexor (venlafaxine) before finding luvox, since march anx is really up, pdoc ref takes 3 months, lexapro?

A member asked:

Can lexapro (escitalopram) be used off label for ocd as it works strongly on serotonin and how does it differ from luvox?

A member asked:

Taking lexapro (escitalopram) 10mg (gad) and luvox 50mg (ocd). would you agree that the dose of each is low enough to not be concerned with serotonin syndrome?

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