I started taking the generic manufactured by Mylan and had severe headaches. Had to stop. Has anyone else experienced this?
Has anyone tried the generic escitalopram (Lexapro) now available?
Question posted by nvchris on 12 April 2012
Last updated on 17 April 2023 by samlaly
64 Answers Page 2
I started the generic for Lexapro, 5mg just a few weeks ago, November 14, I've never taken the name brand one before, this is my second experience with anti-depressants. I know its a very small dose but I'm very sensitive to meds, I found out with that first try of the generic for Wellbutrin, so I told my doctor baby steps. I had the pills for a while but was scared to take them from my first experience with Wellbutrin that ended me up in the ER. But then my anxiety and depression, mainly anxiety, started kicking into high gear so I started taking the generic Lexapro. It made me very nauseous. After a couple weeks, I called my pharmacist, and she suggested that I take them at night, so I started doing that and that has helped tremendously with the nausea, however, my anxiety is still in high gear. I have to take an alprazolam, one about every 3 hours, sometimes more.
Some days I feel like I don' t need many anxiety pills, so I'm like okay, the generic Lexapro is working, but today is a different story. My depression and anxiety is kicking in in high gear today. I don't sleep through out the whole night unless I take my does of generic Lexapro and alprazolam together, which I don't like to do, but will do just to get some sleep. I've had some funky tummy issues but not sure if its from the meds or not. I was told by my pharmacist that the 5mg of generic Lexapro probably won't do much because its such a small dose but as it builds up in my system, I shouldn't have to take as many alprozolams... This has not happened that I can see and I am almost on my third week. Do I just give it more time? Up my dose? Change to the name brand? I don't know...
I took the brand name years ago and it worked fine for me but was just recently prescribed the generic for mood related menopausal/depression issues. I take 10 mg daily and I have had no problems with it and I actually feel much better overall especially being able to sleep through the night without waking up every 2 to 3 hours. I can't speak to the sexual related issues that others have because I am not in a relationship so this is not an issue for me.
My NP told me if you can get the original get the original... I was doing fine on one of the generics I tried 4 of them... AND THEN... they switched me to some c r a p made in China so now I'm back on Lexapro the original again. They should have to tell you when you're switching them... I'm very sensitive to meds and notice the changes right away.
Yes I am having them severely have been on it about 2 weeks the headaches are debilitating scared to stop it after reading what's happening to other people
Also let the FDA know of the side effects of the generic vs the brand name I had an experience with the brand lexapro and the generic worked better for me until recently... Hasn't been helping my major depression at all for several months. I now have to start the whole process of medication adjustments to see what works.
There is a marked difference between brand and generic. Like many of you, I have also been told they are the same. That said, after taking brand Zoloft followed by brand Lexapro, I began taking generic lex. I can only describe the effect of the generic as feeling as if my frontal lobes were shutting down. Terrible headaches! Pure garbage. Switched back to brand and have not had any problems at all.
I have tried the generic Lexapro ( escitalopram) at 10 mg no headaches and now at 20 mg still no headaches I have noticed some sexual side effects I'm a man btw and have been given Welbutrin to help offset the sexual side effects. I have responded very well to it for depression after trying many others.
I've tried the generic ecitalopram by Sandoz for three weeks. Couldn't see and benefit so I've moved to Lexapro. I get headaches and dizziness in the morning. Still feeling foggy, absent minded and lack concentration. Hoping this will subside.
I've just been prescribed escitalopram for the first time in my life. The doctor prescribed the brand name, but the pharmacist only had the generic, and she said it was the same thing. I knew that the first week I might feel weird, but I took the first pill yesterday and spent the entire day in bed in the most excructiating pain. My headache was the worst I've ever had! I don't normally ever get headaches. I also felt completely drugged, unable to think, unable to do anything but lie there in pain. I started researching the drug online and got pretty scared at all the possible side effects. I finally took paracetamol with codeine and eventually the headache went away and I fell asleep, although I woke several times in the night with a buzzing head and racing heart rate. Now it's the next morning, and I really don't want to take another pill! I'm pretty scared of messing with my head like this! Help!
Hi, I just wanted to come back and say that finding this page was a wonderful thing! Seeing that so many other people had severe headaches on the generic version gave me the confidence to try again with the brand name. I just took my first tablet last night and I feel absolutely fine! So yes, there's a definite problem with the generic, even though the pharmacist doesn't believe me. By the way, the generic version I used was by "Apotex", just as a warning to others! There's gotta be someone policing this!
I take the generic escitalopram manufactured by Mylan and I don't have any problems nor side effects.
For me, the Mylan generic works the same as the name brand Lexapro that I'd been taking before switching to generic.
You can see on this post that many have had problems with the generic. But I wonder if other people who take the generic successfully just don't have a need to come here looking for help?
So, if you try generic and there are problem or doesn't work then go back to the name brand.
However, if you've never tried generic and/or never tried name brand, don't be afraid to try or start with the generic. Many people here have described problems with generic, but some of us use the generics successfully.
Good luck to everyone!
I take Lexapro for MIV (migraine induced vertigo). Pharmacy switched me to generic due to cost and I accepted it. Horrid decision. Vertigo returned with a vengeance as well as depression and anxiety. Went to Pharmacy last night and demanded to be switched back. FDA is nuts. Whatever this "generic" is, it is not Lexapro!
I totally agree! The generics should be taken off the market until they are the same active ingredients or whatever is missing or added that make them not work the same!
I take the generic no problems at all
I was on Lexapro for a couple years and did very well with it. When the generic came out my insurance company would only take the generic. It was horrible. I ended up in the hospital multiple times for extreme nausea and vomiting. My anxiety and depression spiraled out of control too. We couldn't figure out what was wrong until I stopped the generic Lexapro. It is a horrible alternative! Stick to the name brand.
I was on the brand Lexapro for about 3 years and it was great. I really had no side effects. I could just quit crying and thinking every thing that happened to me was the end of the world.
I was happy to hear there was a generic and switched right to it not expecting anything different. Within several weeks I realized I was crying all the time again and realized it was not working the same way at all.
I do not understand the difference. This was the Teva generic. I won't go into all the details and hoops I tried to jump through to get my insurance to cover the Brand Lexapro but they tacked on a penalty charge where my 90 day supply was $390.00 the generic $17. I told them it was criminal. They don't care.
I have now ordered from Canada. It is now legal I am told. Checking online the govt changed the law where we can do this online. Just check for legitimate companies and NOT the ones who send you spam. I will let you know if it is the same. It is supposed to be from the same makers of our original Lexapro.
What is wrong with our system if the FDA and our insurance companies aren't protecting us? The generic is NOT the same as the Brand.
I also tried the Mylan generic after the Teva when the charge for brand was told to me. I didn't take it long enough to see if my depression came back but I felt awful. I had the headaches many of you wrote about. I didn't get headaches on the Brand or Teva. How can there be such a difference if the chemistry is supposed to be the same except for the fillers?
I have been on the Canadian lexapro for a few weeks now without any problems at all. I purchased 3 months worth of 10 mil pills for $115. It is the same exact lexapro from the US.
I was hoping for that. Thanks.
Can anyone tell me which Canadian website/pharmacy you use to purchase the Lexapro? I have also had very bad side effects using the generic form. :(
I used Prescription Point. It arrived in two weeks and I have been on it for two days. Nothing feels any different. It is called Cipralex in Canada. So far so good! That online Canadian pharmacy is legitimate and 1/4 of the cost of my prescription through my insurance company.
I went through canadadrugs.com. they sent me lexapro instead of cipralex but they said I might get cipralex next time as they are identical. I have been on them for over a month now and doing better than ever.
Good luck!
I called my insurance today and was told they will only pay for the generic so I should ask my doctor to change my medication. Doesn't seem right that a person should have to do this. They also told me that if there are enough complaints to the FDA they sometimes pull the drug until the kinks are ironed out. I am going to do some research to see about filing a concern
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lexapro, headache, escitalopram, generic
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