citalopram vs escitalopram

[cassieindubai]

I been taking Citalopram for several years and intend to keep on taking it however I have recently come across Escitalopram and it is almost half the price here where I live.  When googling it, it seems to be part of the same family.  Do you think I would be able to easily change from one to the other?

[cassieindubai]

Thank you :0)

[M4Y0U]

Escitalopram is the S-stereoisomer (enantiomer) of citalopram.

''Citalopram is a racemate [1:1 mixture of (S)-Citalopram and (R)-Citalopram]; Escitalopram [(S)-Citalopram) is a pure enantiomer. The dosages for Escitalopram are typically 1/2 of those for Citalopram, and there are fewer side effects, suggesting that most side effects come from the (R)-enantiomer.''

Basically escitalopram is the new citalopram with less side-effects and requires only half the dosage and I think it is the reason for it's cheaper price.

-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enantiomer

M4