TWO anti-depressant drugs, Lexapro (Escitalopram) and Celexa (Citalopram), are close ‘relatives’ in terms of their chemistry and a comparison between their respective efficacies would therefore be interesting. Lexapro is the newest member of the SSRI family of drugs and Celexa could be considered its precursor. The difference between Lexapro and Celexa is essentially a difference in their chemical composition. Celexa is a combination of two equal parts known as S- and R-enantiomer. However, R-enantiomer was found to be of no use in the anti-depressant role of Celexa, it was removed from the combination, leaving only the S-enantiomer/S-isomer. This split led to the formulation of Lexapro, the newest member of the SSRI family of drugs. |