Anafranil vs. Lexapro
- Are Anafranil and Lexapro the Same Thing?
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Anafranil?
- What Are Possible Side Effects of Lexapro?
- What Is Anafranil?
- What Is Lexapro?
- What Drugs Interact with Anafranil?
- What Drugs Interact with Lexapro?
- How Should Anafranil Be Taken?
- How Should Lexapro Be Taken?
Are Anafranil and Lexapro the Same Thing?
Anafranil (clomipramine hydrochloride) and Lexapro (escitalopram) are types of antidepressants with different uses.
Anafranil is used to treat symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) such as recurrent thoughts or feelings and repetitive actions.
Lexapro is used to treat anxiety in adults and major depressive disorder in adults and adolescents who are at least 12 years old.
Anafranil and Lexapro are different types of antidepressants. Anafranil is a tricyclic and Lexapro is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
What Are Possible Side Effects of Anafranil?
Common side effects of Anafranil include:
- dizziness,
- drowsiness,
- dry mouth,
- constipation,
- stomach upset,
- nausea,
- vomiting,
- changes in appetite or weight,
- flushing,
- increased sweating,
- tiredness,
- blurred vision or vision changes,
- anxiety,
- restlessness,
- sleep problems (insomnia),
- memory problems,
- trouble concentrating,
- numbness or tingling,
- decreased sex drive,
- impotence, or
- difficulty having an orgasm.
Tell your doctor if you have unlikely but serious side effects of Anafranil including:
- mental/mood changes (e.g., confusion, depression),
- enlarged or painful breasts,
- unwanted breast milk production,
- irregular or painful menstrual periods,
- muscle stiffness,
- ringing in the ears,
- shakiness (tremors), or
- trouble urinating.
What Are Possible Side Effects of Lexapro?
Common side effects of Lexapro include:
- drowsiness,
- dizziness,
- sleep problems (insomnia),
- nausea,
- upset stomach,
- gas,
- heartburn,
- constipation,
- weight changes,
- dry mouth,
- yawning,
- ringing in the ears,
- decreased sex drive,
- impotence, or
- difficulty having an orgasm.
What Is Anafranil?
Anafranil (clomipramine hydrochloride) is a tricyclic antidepressant used to treat symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) such as recurrent thoughts or feelings and repetitive actions.
What Is Lexapro?
Lexapro is a prescription medicine used to treat depression. It is important to talk with your healthcare provider about the risks of treating depression and also the risks of not treating it. You should discuss all treatment choices with your healthcare provider. Lexapro is also used to treat:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
Talk to your healthcare provider if you do not think that your condition is getting better with Lexapro treatment.
What Drugs Interact With Anafranil?
Anafranil may interact with SSRI antidepressants, cimetidine, guanethidine, methylphenidate, phenytoin, warfarin, heart or blood pressure medications, heart rhythm medications, or anti-psychotic medications. Many other drugs can interact with Anafranil.
What Drugs Interact With Lexapro?
Do not take Lexapro if you:
- are allergic to escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide or any of the ingredients in Lexapro. See the end of this Medication Guide for a complete list of ingredients in Lexapro.
- take a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI). Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are not sure if you take an MAOI, including the antibiotic linezolid.
- take the antipsychotic medicine pimozide (Orap®) because taking this drug with Lexapro can cause serious heart problems.
Do not take an MAOI within 2 weeks of stopping Lexapro unless directed to do so by your physician.
Do not start Lexapro if you stopped taking an MAOI in the last 2 weeks unless directed to do so by your physician.
People who take Lexapro close in time to an MAOI may have serious or even life-threatening side effects. Get medical help right away if you have any of these symptoms:
- high fever
- uncontrolled muscle spasms
- stiff muscles
- rapid changes in heart rate or blood pressure
- confusion
- loss of consciousness (pass out)
Before starting Lexapro, tell your healthcare provider if you:
- Are taking certain drugs such as:
- Triptans used to treat migraine headache
- Medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, SSRIs, SNRIs, amphetamines, or antipsychotics
- Tramadol
- Over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort
- have liver problems
- have kidney problems
- have heart problems
- have or had seizures or convulsions
- have bipolar disorder or mania
- have low sodium levels in your blood
- have a history of a stroke
- have high blood pressure
- have or had bleeding problems
- are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It is not known if Lexapro will harm your unborn baby. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of treating depression during pregnancy are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. Some Lexapro may pass into your breast milk. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby while taking Lexapro. Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines that you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Lexapro and some medicines may interact with each other, may not work as well, or may cause serious side effects.
Your healthcare provider or pharmacist can tell you if it is safe to take Lexapro with your other medicines. Do not start or stop any medicine while taking Lexapro without talking to your healthcare provider first.
If you take Lexapro, you should not take any other medicines that contain escitalopram oxalate or citalopram hydrobromide including: Effexor.
Especially tell your healthcare provider if you take:
- triptans used to treat migraine headache
- medicines used to treat mood, anxiety, psychotic or thought disorders, including tricyclics, lithium, buspirone, SSRIs, SNRIs or MAOIs
- tramadol and fentanyl
- amphetamines
- cimetidine
- the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, enoxacin
- medicine to treat irregular heart rate (like propafenone, flecainide, quinidine)
- theophylline
- the blood thinner warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven)
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (like ibuprofen, naproxen or aspirin).
- over-the-counter supplements such as tryptophan or St. John's Wort
- thioridazine (Mellaril). Mellaril together with Lexapro can cause serious heart rhythm problems or sudden death.
Ask your healthcare provider for a list of these medicines if you are not sure.
Do not take Lexapro with any other medicine that contain duloxetine.
How Should Anafranil Be Taken?
The adult starting dose of Anafranil is 25 mg daily and gradually increased, as tolerated, to approximately 100 mg during the first 2 weeks. Maximum dose is 250 mg daily. Consult your doctor for pediatric or adolescent dosing.
How Should Lexapro Be Taken?
Take Lexapro exactly as prescribed. Your healthcare provider may need to change the dose of Lexapro until it is the right dose for you.
Lexapro may be taken with or without food.
If you miss a dose of Lexapro, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses of Lexapro at the same time.
If you take too much Lexapro, call your healthcare provider or poison control center right away, or get emergency treatment.