citalopram and fluoxetine

[lozzylou]

Can anyone tell me the difference between citalopram (unsure on spelling) and fluoxetine?
A friend of mine has recently given into pnd and been to docs and was given the citalopram. I am and always have been given fluoxetine.
We were just wondering if and what the difference was!
Thanks if u can help x

[Buttercup]

There both SSRIs and I think pretty much the same. The main difference is that Fluoxetine has a longer half life so it stays in your system longer.

[Zaf]

I was on fluoexetine for several years but it eventually started losing its effectiveness so my GP prescribed citralopram which seems to work reasonably well at the moment

[lozzylou]

Would there be a specific reason for using one or the other? I mean, is one of us 'worse' than the other for example?

[Sweetpea]

I wouldn't say so, just maybe different dr's prefer to prescribe different anti-depressants.  Citalopram was the first one my dr put me on then it stopped working, tried several others and they didn't work for me.  Now on Duloxetine (Cymbalta).  Which thankfully works for me.  We are all different.

Hope this helps.

S x

[Simon123]

In my experience Citalopram is a lot harder to come off.  The withdrawl (headzaps, nausea etc) can last up to a month.  Prozac i came off within a week, I just stopped it and didnt get any side effects.

My Dr said they basically aim to do the same thing: give you a boost.  When I need Meds I have motivational difficulties and these both helped to motivate me by raising my mood.  Prozac went a bit too far and made me a little too active.

[Got]

Their use is interchangable. Different people react differently.

If you are unhappy with your current medication, there are many others to try.