Hi there. My doctor prescribed me generic Lexapro (escitalopram) for mild situational depression and generalized anxiety. I have read many negative reviews about the generic versus the name brand, but most of those reviews seem to come from people who switched from the name brand to generic mid-treatment and had negative side effects (possibly because the generic and name brand are not EXACTLY the same and their bodies had to readjust to the new medical formulation). Has anyone had positive results beginning their treatment on the generic (as opposed to just switching from name brand to generic)? The generic is only $7 through my insurance, and the name brand is $166! But, I am scared to take the generic if even newbies have terrible reactions. Any info is greatly appreciated!!
Escitalopram - Generic Lexapro or name brand?
Question posted by Lorz on 7 Oct 2013
Last updated on 22 September 2020
20 Answers
I have taken Lexapro or its generic for many years with great results. However, not all generics are alike. I have successfully taken generics manufactured by Lupin, by Teva and others. However, Walgreens changes its generics frequently in order to save a couple of pennies. Since early last year, they have been dispensing the generic manufactured by Cipla. I note that another response to this question states that Cipla was great for him/her. For me, it was terrible. After about two weeks on it, I felt horrible... so depressed that I was almost suicidal. It scared me. I had to get approved for name brand and after only a few days back on that, I was fine. Now my approval for name brand has expired and Walgreens and CVS are both dispensing Cipla's version. I read on-line that Cipla was getting out of the Lexapro generic line and had sold it to Teva... so I am not too sure why they are making it again. Perhaps they are just dumping old inventory at really low prices.
Lucky's pharmacy has one made by Solco so I guess that I will try that. My insurance wants me to try drugs other than Lexapro, but I think this is very risky. My doctor does not seem to care. Has anyone used the Solco generic?
Hello! My insurance insisted on me trying generics before they would consider paying the name brand.
I took only generics for almost seven years and had absolutely no problems at all with any of them. The difference between the name brand and the different generics is that they may contain different fillers and binders that may alter absorption of the active ingredient (escitalopram).
I wouldn't hesitate to try the generics first. If you use the same pharmacy you'll probably usually get the same generic and if it works for you... which it likely will... then fine. If they change manufacturers and you don't do well on it you can always request that they special order for you.
Anyway, just my personal experience was that the generics were just as good as the name brand samples my doctor started me on in the first place.
Best regards and let us know how you do, okay? If you have any questions or concerns along the way always feel free to post again. Wild Cat
I don't care what doctors or the FDA claim, there most certainly ARE differences between brand name and generics, and even differences between different manufacturers of generics.
I have been on 20mgs of escitalopram for 5 months. My doctor started me on 5mgs for 2 weeks, then 10mgs. Then upped it to 20mgs when I had a depressive episode. The 20mgs was working wonderfully for many months now until the generic manufacturer was changed on my last refill. Through the dosage changes all the way up to and including the 20mgs I was taking Escitalopram by Jubilant Cadista, and other than needing to up the dose from 10mg to 20mg it was working fantastically. My most recent refill was for 20mg Escitalopram Oxalate made by Teva. After only a few days on the new Teva pills the suicidal thoughts were creeping back into my mind, depression was back in full effect, and I was experiencing moments of intense anger.
I complained and they insisted that all escitalopram is the same. So now they want to switch me to a completely different SSRI despite my success on the Jubilant Cadista escitalopram. It is very frustrating. I wish doctors believed us and didn't always just chalk it up to a placebo effect or the medication just no longer working. Seems like more than a coincidence that this medication would suddenly stop working for me right when the manufacturer was changed.
I had been on brand name Lexapro 5 mg. for 10 years. I was willing to pay the extra cost as I thought the cost must mean a better "product".
Then, it just so happened when I went to pick up my prescription, I was given the generic.
I have been on the generic for two weeks, and I have felt so much better than I ever had on the Lexapro brand name.
Do you happen to know the name of the company that makes the form of generic you use?
The FDA says in regards to generic that in testing that the active ingredient must reach peak blood serum levels within 80% to 120% of the name brand .. So does that mean there are 20% less or more active ingredient in the generic? No.. it simply means that the generics active ingredient may absorb more or less than the name brand . This can occur due to different binding agents that are used in the generic instead of the name brand . Dr's usually recommend sticking to name brand of drugs that have a LTI or low therapeutic index .. meaning drugs that a tiny increase or decrease in dosage can cause problems ... I.E. heart medication or drugs that can affect the liver or kidneys if you have problems with those . I myself would not consider lexapro to be a LTI drug but we all react differently . I can tell you if your pharmacy just price shops and you switch from one manufacturer to another and another ...
then yes you could very well have to adjust to different blood levels constantly which can cause issues .. time release drugs are also a bit tricky with generics as the patent for the drug has expired but not the patent on the time release chemistry used . That was a big issue with toprol XL generics a while back
Many things can affect blood absorption other than just generic binding agents . Milk can increase and decrease a lot of absorption .. empty stomach . Alcohol . vitamins
I have been for years an 20 mg. Paxil ( brand name) generic for Paxil did not work for me at all .
I thought that I might have gotten too used to the Paxil and asked my doctor to switch me to another
SSRI and he gave me Escitalopram generic for Lexapro 10mg. . For the first 3 weeks or so I felt okay but
more energetic . Now after the past 5 weeks I am feeling sad and very depressed again and I wonder
should I ask for the Lexapro brand or try going back on Paxil brand ?
Maybe someone has an answer for me.
I would say since you are already "up in the air" and well into the process of trying something other than Paxil, then if you can stand risking another week or so of not feeling good, now might be the time to try name brand Lexapro so you can find out if it works, rather than switching back to Paxil and then never knowing (or having to go through switching all over again to find out). If on the other hand, you are at a point where you can't take it any longer and need to switch back to Paxil to feel decent again, get your footing back, and then try again later, maybe that's the better way to go (been there for sure). Hang in there and good luck =)
I was having success with the brand name one... back in December the pharmacy gave me the Escitalopram Oxalate... when I told the pharmacist that is was the wrong ones she settle my confusion by letting me know that they are all the same... within a week I swore I had started menopause... then started to feel so sad, depressed and lonely... I was having conversations with God to end this feeling and to give me a reason to live... not like me at all... so I reduced to eventually quit the medicine... went to the doctor this week's and he says of it happens... let me refill your meds just for the brand name... fingers crosed...
Good luck! If the collective experience on this board indicates anything, it's that you aren't alone, and chances are the brand will start working for you again. It's a simple fact that the generic Lexapro, at least from some manufacturers and for some people, just flat doesn't work the same (or at all). Glad your doctor is helping. Best wishes.
Hello there! I began my treatment with the generic Lexapro, escitolopram. Mind you, I am not one who takes medication for anything. Not even if I have a headache. So being prescribed something for GAD and depression I had my concerns. I did begin with 10 mg and I had some side effects that scared me to the point where I wanted to stop taking the medication. However, I read all over the place that I needed to allow a couple of weeks at most for side effects to subside and effects to kick in. Well I'm glad I did. Let me also add that 10 mg was too much for me so I halved my dose to .5 and did so for two weeks straight. Then went back up to 10 mg. My tolerance had to build up, I guess. So since I've been taking it, I've had zero depression, zero anxiety, zero worries, I don't obsess over the little things, and my focus is amazing! I tell people that I feel different but I don't. It's hard to explain. I feel like my old self pre-nursing school.
I would like to mention, that I recently had my prescription transferred to another pharmacy for the sake of convenience, little did I know I'd be kicking myself in the rear for doing so. The different pharmacy filled my prescription but with a different manufacturer. Boy did my body not like that! I had a headache all day and the next day (2nd dose), I had no affect. Like zero affect. Doesn't feel so good. So now I'm screwed at least for the month. And I'll be sure to switch back to my original pharmacy. Just thought I'd add my two bit. Hope this helps!
Hi Ldallo, I'm curious, which manufacturer is the one that worked, and which one didn't? I have been taking between 5-10MG Lexapro for about 15 years, and over the last 6 years tried THREE different times to switch to generic (since I would save over $150 per month). Each time I gave it at least a month to be sure, but each time it was like I was taking **nothing at all**, and I ended up in a terrible pit of anxiety and despair. I pretty much resigned that I would have to pay full price forever, but read on here that the manufacturer can make a difference, so this year I decided to try again... I tried Cipla, and IT WORKS! There were a few days of mild adjustment, but finally, I can save the money! I am not sure which manufacturer I was using before that didn't work, but I feel like they were smoother pills. The Ciplas are a little "rough" looking around the edges... honestly they look "cheaper", but they are the real deal - at least for me! Anyway, I was wondering which manufacturer was the good/bad for you.
What brand name generic did you have success with. I have not had success on any generics
@dapperdog I had good results with Cipla. After a few months on it, I can say it is not 100% as good as the name brand, but 95% - and for me that is good enough to save hundreds / month. Other generics I've tried are like taking **nothing**. YMMV as it seems different people have different results, but Cipla is the one that has finally worked for me.
I've never had any issue with generic medications, antidepressant or otherwise... took generic wellbutrin for years... worked as well as the brand ever did. BUT... generic lexapro just plain doesn't work for me. Over the past 6 years I've tried switching twice. No bad side effects... its just plain like I'm not taking anything at all... or at least not taking much of anything. I'm about to try for a third time, the cost of being on brand name is just too high to not try again, I guess. It just doesn't make any sense to me that the generic is any different!! Keep thinking maybe it is in my head, but like I said, over the years I've switched to other generics with no issues... either generic lexapro is different, or I'm really very, very out of touch and suffering a placebo effect; but I truly doubt that... the difference between brand and generic is just so incredibly stark for me.
But sheesh, I start to feel gaslighted with all the "professionals" on here and elsewhere who value whitepapers and what it says on the tin over the experiences of actual people taking the meds. There is something VERY different for me between the two. Wish there wasn't, to the tune of $180 per month that I'd rather spend on groceries!
Hi everyone,
I have been on Lexapro Brand name for the past 14 years to treat disabling autonomic dysfunction. Somewhere in the middle of that time span the generic came out so I tried it so I could save money. I did not do well. My hand numbness increased and so did my headaches and heat intolerance. Switched back and poof after about 10 days or so I was back to normal. Managed symptoms and no side effects. Been doing better ever since.
Hey, I think I can help! I STARTED on the Generic. Did it work for my depression? YES! But I should have stayed on the 10mg, instead of going to 20mg. Try the 10 mg for a whlie to see if it works. It gives you a place to go in dose if you need to go higher in dose later. Now the generics have one difference that was HUGE to me- they have a lactose coating (which again, IS ONLY PRESENT ON THE GENERIC VERSIONS- ALL BRANDS- I tried 2 brands, one that started with a C, like Cambress or Cam-something, and the 2nd one, Brand: Aurobindo when I had a pharmacy change, & each only carried one brand. The first brand "C" brand made me sick for the first 6 months. I figured out if was lactose intolerance, so I had to figure out what was making me sick, and the literature says that people who are close to being lactose intolerant, may find that his medicine makes them lactose intolerant.
one week after my body let me stop taking the generic version of Lactase (the real stuff did not work as well, either in chewable or pill), Target generic helped me the most. Okay so then I got the Aurobindo brand, and that one was even WORSE, I was so sick from just taking it I could not even get out of bed, and I cold not eat anything! I finally went to the "real" version of Lexapro. It took me almost 2 months to stop being affected by dairy. I never before this showed any problems with dairy, so I do not buy that I was "almost" lactose intolerant in the first place! I always had a lot of dairy in my diet, never had an issue, EVER, and as of the last week, well, 6 days ago, I am back to normal once again. Drinking glasses of milk, any cheeses I want. It could be very well because I am ABLE to eat more, but I did gain weight the last month, but also not exercising much because I was sick until a week ago... The regular Lexapro seems to help mu depression better, as I felt like I had no emotions while on the generic, and now I do not feel so "disconnected" while on the brand name Lexapro, Would I go back to the generic, no matter the cost? NO!!! The real works BETTER. But if you start on the generic, your body won't know that it is not working better. If you feel "disconnected" from your feelings, I say try the brand name after a couple of months on the generic escitalopram. I hope this helps!!! I felt no happiness on the generic, not the same with brand name. Not 100% myself, ut much closer than when on the generic. If you can afford the real stuff, do it, if it will be very hard on you, get the generic, IMHO.
I know this is an old question but I wanted to answer with my experience in case anyone else does a google search looking for multiple opinions.
There is a huge difference between the generic and non-generic. There is also a huge difference between the generics that are manufactured by different companies.
I have been on the generic form of Lexapro for 2 years now. I love it.
It really has changed my life for the better and I wish I started taking it much sooner!
But, I will say, that the only times it has ever given me problems is when I pick up my prescription from a different pharmacy. I didn't know that there were different manufacturers of the generic form. All I knew is I felt different. And it wasn't good. Very scary.
I then started to pay attention to what size of my pills, even the way the F looked engraved in the pill.
Once you start taking it and like it, find the manufacturer for the one you prefer and stick with it!
The side effects are horrible.
Okay kids, here is my take on generic vs Brand name, AND one generic vs another!
First, the FDA allows us lovely folks without enough money to purchase the brand name up to 20% less of the active ingredient for your money. Doesn't that give you the warm and fuzzies?
SO I tried generic #1, made my Camber. I had lactose intolerance that started out bad, but was taken care of easily by enzyme pills once I figured out what the issue was, which took a while. 6 months into taking, I was free of the enzymes. No more lactose intolerance! Lactose intolerance happens to a small percentage of us according to the information I found/
ONE WEEK LATER, after being enzyme free, I had to change pharmacies.
SO, then I started the Aurobindo brand. Now I have lactose intolerance that is NOT controllable with enzymes. I feel sick 24/7, have headaches (unusual for me), and I feel extra sick for 4-6 hours after eating a meal. I have nausea most of the time, at varying levels of severity. I eat as few meals or snacks as possible right now. I am 3 weeks in and feel like I am in hell. My depression has not changed, but I am miserable and unable to really go anywhere or do anything. I am contacting the pharmacy to try for my old brand! If that does not work, I may try the brand name.
Hope this helps!!
Lorz' Please don't listen to or read as much on generic and brand name medications. I have taken both and switched when the brand became generic and have never had a problem. The mind is very powerful and we can convince ourselves that one is better than the other. Go with the Generic unless you have money to waise. I just posted the other day some facts on generic and brand name drugs here I think its in the generic thread. But even what is dispensed the generic far exceeds the brand name medications.And when there is a problem which is rare it would be in the binder of the medications but the active ingredients of the medications are the same thing.And both brand and generic are allowed the same amount of difference from batch to batch. You well have no problems taking the generic that you would have taking the brand. Chuck1957 Save your money the fda is watching all companies very close these days.
Really, Chuck? You sound like one of the experts, which you obviously are not. Yep, generics are great when they work and for me, they usually work... But you are not Lorz & you have no idea what you are talking about. But hey, you obviously have no reservations about trying to sound like you know more than you do.
Your experiences are yours. That's it, not a blueprint for anyone else. Try to remember that.
Luck; this was 3 years ago what in the hell are you back here trolling around for find another person or place. Chuck1957 And no I do not claim to know it all. I'm way down the list from you.
To luckett88: Unfortunately. you are wrong. I have spent many years prescribing antidepressants and when a patient tells me the generic didn't work; I know it's time to try a new drug. The FDA just recently concluded an extensive study which shows no significant difference in the bioavailability of the active ingredients between generic and name brand. Most likely these differences are psychosomatic and you should speak with your prescriber. Perhaps it's time you consider a neuroleptic. I highly suspect by your unnecessary rant over a two year old post, that your problem is deeper than depression.
Thanks;Bjd105 You sound like a great and understanding Dr. And all of us that deal with these problems need more like you. Just like when I was still able to work I would not dispute the patient I would either change brands Or have them check with their Doctor. the rumors that are out on generic drugs and the difference well always be up to debate. But if more doctors and patients would read the truth about them, And keeping on open mind everyone would benefit. Sadly as long as the big pharmaceutical companies keep stabbing them to the medical professionals it won't do much good. I hope that some day the generic companies well be able to know and use the same binders. But they can say what they want I feel the F.D.A. is doing the best they can with the funds they have. Chuck1957 Thanks again. Sorry for typo errors im recovering from chemo, and have a bit of chem-brain and eye site problems yet.
True as to most generics but completely untrue when it comes to Lexapro. I was completely confident when I switched to generic Lexapro and was shocked when it was if I stopped taking the drug completely. It was not in my mind, as again, I had complete confidence in generics and still do for most generics as this is the ONLY generic I've ever had a problem with. I always use generics on any other drug. This is extremely widespread knowledge regarding Lexapro generics and it's a shame people refuse to take such a huge amount of clear evidence and ignore it because it doesn't fit their world view regarding generics.
I am on lexapro for a week now 5mg every night. I don't see any difference so far
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lexapro, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, escitalopram, generic
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