My doctor wants me to try Lexapro. I have read a lot of mixed reviews. Took sertraline before only up to 50 mg. Thinking of retrying as it started stopping the anxiety attacks and side effects weren’t too overwhelming. The problem was insomnia. My doctor says he is only here to advise me. I am sensitive to meds and scared to start escitalopram. It seems so much more potent than sertraline?
Escitalopram vs sertraline week?
Question posted by Mtnsgirl on 17 hours ago
Last updated on 17 July 2025 (7 hours ago) by WildcatVet
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Answers
WildcatVet
7 hours ago
Hi ,Mtnsgirl!
Neither drug is really any more potent than the other... they work in different ways and everybody is going to react somewhat differently. There will be good and not so good medications for each
individual.
For example, sertraline (Zoloft) may cause insomnia in about 21% of users whereas escitalopram (Lexapro) affects about 14%.
These links may help:
https://www.drugs.com/compare/sertraline-vs-escitalopram
https://www.drugs.com/comments/escitalopram/
https://www.drugs.com/comments/sertraline/
I had been on almost every antidepressant/anxiolytic until we started escitalopram (Lexapro). I took it for over 10 years and it certainly was my drug of choice for effectiveness and no appreciable side effects.
Regards and good luck in your decision.
Related topics
lexapro, anxiety, escitalopram, sertraline, side effect
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