Which generic versions of Lexapro (escitalopram) are closest to the real thing?
Question posted by englishsummerrain on 6 Aug 2017
Last updated on 21 August 2023 by jollerance
Hello everyone, I recently took generic Lexapro (escitalopram) for 3 1/2 weeks in an effort to deal with panic attacks and overall anxiety.
Even though I started off at a very small dose (5 mg moving up to 10 after the first week) I still had increased anxiety to the point where I was visibly shaky and didn't want to leave the house.
My generic is manufactured by Torrent. Does anyone have any experience with this or any other generic manufacturers for Lexapro? I'd love to know if they worked for you or not.
I'd also be interested in hearing from anybody who has taken the name brand and if you think there is any difference.
Basically what I'm trying to find out is if Lexapro simply isn't a good drug for me or maybe I got a bad generic version. Thanks so much for any input!
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6 Answers
JO
jollerance
21 Aug 2023
I'm currently taking Torrent brand of escitalopram as it was prescribed for irritability from menopause. I was taking 10mg generic escitalopram over seven months ago for similar reasons, plus depression and anxiety, with very few side effects. It was a different manufacturer, a white tablet.
I went cold turkey on it at that time to see if it would help reduce eye pressure due to narrow-angle glaucoma, as most, if not all, antidepressants have some level of anti-cholinergic activity, though maybe small compared to certain antihistamines. It didn't help in that matter.
This time, the manufacturer is Torrent, and I started on 10mg daily, and within three days, I noticed improvement with irritability, but I had insomnia, a pounding heart while trying to sleep, easily startled at every sound in the night, and I began to feel depressed and anxious.
By the 16th day, I was only getting 3 hours of sleep unless I took some Nyquil, so I decided to stop taking it. I got a good nights sleep, and then three days later I started taking it again, but this time I took two tablets, or 20mg. By the end of the day, I felt much more normal, with no noticeable side effects, and I was even able to have a normal bowel movement again. So for me, going up in dosage to what is the usual maintenance dosage worked for me, otherwise, I was about to have my local pharmacist switch me to another generic but was told that it would have to be ordered a week in advance. I'm glad it worked out for me because this generic is very affordable.
Votes: +0
ON
Oneday_atatime
12 Nov 2021
My 16 yr son was put on escitalopram 5 mg. He is now on 15mg. We get scripts from walgreens. He was first on the manufacture Teva, he was doing really well on. Then noticed a little change in his behavior, then looked at the only thing that was different or changed, his meds and the mfg was by Cipla. He is a totally different now, not in a good way. It's mfg Aurobindo. He has returned to his first state before meds. Major depressed, anxious, no motivation. This is really frustrating when this is my child I am talking about and I don't recognize this until I look at the label and pills, because these are oval unlike the other ones that were round. I wouldn't have even known that they were different manufacturers. I called walgreens. They told me about the 80/100 rule... but I could come in and get the manufacturer I would like since they were out at the time and that was all they had.
As far as the FDA is concerned, I don't really trust them when it comes to pharmaceutical companies. If that rule was true, there wouldn't be such a drastic change in my child's behavior. I hope that everyone that is having these reacting are also posting to the FDA, how else will they find out?
Votes: +0
GF
Gfl
30 Oct 2019
When lexapro went generic i had issues with side effects from all generics, mainly feeling weird. I want to try again and the brand u tried is something i never did so thnks for posting that. My doctor says that it can take months to build up for depression. It really never helped me with anxiety at all and at times made it worse. Have u tried Ativan which is a benzodiazepine?
Votes: +0
WI
WildcatVet
30 Oct 2019
Side effects generally last don't last more than 2 weeks or so (and increased anxiety is a very common side effect). It usually takes at least 6-8 weeks to feel the full benefits of the medication. Benzodiazepines are meant only for ultra short term use until the prescribed medication kicks in. Prolonged use can result in increased anxiety, new or increased depression, memory loss... and addiction.
WI
WildcatVet
26 May 2020
"A generic medicine works in the same way and provides the same clinical benefit as its brand-name version. This standard applies to all FDA-approved generic medicines. A generic medicine is the same as a brand-name medicine in dosage, safety, effectiveness, strength, stability, and quality, as well as in the way it is taken and should be used."
"FDA requires drug companies to demonstrate that the generic medicine can be effectively substituted and provide the same clinical benefit as the brand-name medicine that it copies. The abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) submitted by drug companies must show the generic medicine is the same as the brand-name version in the following ways:
The active ingredient in the generic medicine is the same as in the brand-name drug/innovator drug. The generic medicine has the same strength, use indications, form (such as a tablet or an injectable), and route of administration (such as oral or topical). The inactive ingredients of the generic medicine are acceptable. The generic medicine is manufactured under the same strict standards as the brand-name medicine. The container in which the medicine will be shipped and sold is appropriate, and the label is the same as the brand-name medicine's label."
"FDA requires drug companies to demonstrate that the generic medicine can be effectively substituted and provide the same clinical benefit as the brand-name medicine that it copies. The abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) submitted by drug companies must show the generic medicine is the same as the brand-name version in the following ways:
The active ingredient in the generic medicine is the same as in the brand-name drug/innovator drug. The generic medicine has the same strength, use indications, form (such as a tablet or an injectable), and route of administration (such as oral or topical). The inactive ingredients of the generic medicine are acceptable. The generic medicine is manufactured under the same strict standards as the brand-name medicine. The container in which the medicine will be shipped and sold is appropriate, and the label is the same as the brand-name medicine's label."
"A generic drug is a medication created to be the same as an existing, approved brand-name drug in dosage form, safety, strength, route of administration, quality, and performance characteristics. Generic drugs are copies of brand medication that must meet the same FDA requirements as the brand."
"A generic equivalent contains the same active ingredients, in the very same strength, as a specific brand-name drug. Many brands now have generic equivalents, which are just as safe and effective as brand drugs."
"The generic has to have the same active ingredients and in the same amount as the original. But the other ingredients in the pill, such as fillers, can be different. And that can affect how quickly the medication gets absorbed by your body."
These are excerpts from the FDA website, Harvard Health, the Mayo Clinic, Psychiatry Today, etc.
IN
Inactive
7 Aug 2017
Hi englishsummerrain: These are very good answers and good food for thought from both WildcatVet and from Janie.. WildcatVet has stated all the documented information that is given to us about these medications. The authors of this information state that the generics are the "equivalent" of the brand names, even to the point that many of the generics are made by the same manufacturers of the brand names. On the other hand, as Janie has stated, the brand name manufacturers have a life-long patent on the time-release mechanisms of the time-released meds. Therein likes the problem for most of us, unfortunately.
Personally, I have taken multiple generics of many of the antidepressants (one, in particular), until I found the one that would work the best for me. My problem has mainly been the time-release mechanism being inferior to the brand meds. If it dumps too much at one time into your system, or not enough at other times, being inconsistent in releasing it into your blood stream, it can wreak havoc on a person's anxiety level, as well as periodic drowsiness, agitation, irritability, insomnia, etc, to name a few. At least that has been my experience. Not to be discouraging to the person who asked this question, but it is oftentimes a Hit-or-miss situation, to find the generic that can work best for your individual body chemistry. For an example, I took several generics of Wellbutrin XL and also of Wellbutrin SR. I had really bad reactions to some of them: carb cravings, increased appetite, insomnia, dizziness, drowsiness, agitation, irritability, extreme increased anxiety, stomach distress, constipation, etc etc etc. It was a lengthy process to find the one that worked the best for me. I guess part of the problem is when someone has taken brand name in the past, and because of insurance changes, have to go to a generic after many years, as was my case. Then it becomes really difficult to try to duplicate the relief that I was getting from my brand name antidepressant. With so many generics on the market, it is sometimes necessary to try a few before finding the right fit for you. But it's possible the first one will work for you. It takes at least 4 weeks to find out if one is going to be effective. So it takes time and patience.
Votes: +1
JA
janiebme
6 Aug 2017
Hi englishsummerrain- I can not tell you that all generics have the same amount of active ingredients and or are the same in general. I am not a chemist. Many if not most all antidepressant meds can be traced to a foreign manufacturer and third world countries. In the US the FDA does not have the resources to test most of these meds. They are shipped to the US and dispensed to the pharmacies via the manufacturer on the label of the prescription med. One can only guess (or hope) that they have the same amount of the active ingredients and or what the inert fillers are. If they are time released their patent can never be exactly duplicated it is a life long patent. You can try a different manufacturer. Either way you will not know if it will work for you unless you stay with it for another 4 weeks. If it seems intolerable, talk to your doctor about your options. Hope you find something that will work for you.
Votes: +0
EN
englishsummerrain
7 Aug 2017
Thanks very much for the responses.
WI
WildcatVet
6 Aug 2017
ALL generic versions contain the same active ingredient as the brand ~ with the exception of the stuff you buy online and then you never know what you're really getting. The only difference in bonafide generics is the fillers that may be used (lactose, methylcellulose, etc.) and very sensitive people may have reactions to them. Be aware that the first few weeks after starting an antidepressant you may experience side effects and an actual increase in anxiety/panic. It takes at least 4 ~ 6 weeks to feel the full benefits of the drug and at least 6 ~ 8 weeks to reach therapeutic blood levels. Let your doctor know about your concerns, but chances are you just need to give it a little more time.
Votes: +0
WI
WildcatVet
6 Aug 2017
*Generic drugs are required to have the same active ingredient, strength, dosage form, and route of administration as the brand name product. Generic drugs do not need to contain the same inactive ingredients as the brand name product. The generic drug manufacturer must prove its drug is the same as (bioequivalent) the brand name drug. For example, after the patient takes the generic drug, the amount of drug in the bloodstream is measured. If the levels of the drug in the bloodstream are the same as the levels found when the brand name product is used, the generic drug will work the same. Through review of bioequivalence data, FDA ensures that the generic product performs the same as its respective brand name product. This standard applies to all generic drugs, whether immediate or controlled release.
All generic manufacturing, packaging, and testing sites must pass the same quality standards as those of brand name drugs, and the generic products must meet the same exacting specifications as any brand name product. In fact, many generic drugs are made in the same manufacturing plants as brand name drug products.*
AN
angelapp
26 May 2020
You're not exactly correct regarding all generics having the same amount of active ingredients. To be passed by the FDA any generic can have between 80-125% of the active ingredient... that's a wide range, especially when you consider that they use cheaper forms of fillers. I have read through many of these blogs after having my bupropion suddenly stop working. I found that Walgreens had bought a cheaper generic which their distributor carried. The pharmacies are pretty much limited by what generics their distributors carry. I found a privately owned pharmacy who had a different distributor an they were able to order an "authorized generic" which is made by the same manufacturer of the brand name, and only those are truly the same as the brand name. All other generic manufacturers can have huge changes and most of them are cheap and inferior.
However, you're insurance may not cover a non-chain related or privately owned pharmacy, as the chains all use distributors who carry the cheaply made stuff and they can change the manufacturer's almost monthly, whatever is cheapest at that time. It's criminal and so many people are being affected by it.
