Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CELEXA versus LEXAPRO.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: CELEXA versus LEXAPRO.
CELEXA vs LEXAPRO
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); potentiates serotonergic activity in the CNS by blocking reuptake of serotonin into presynaptic neurons.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI); inhibits serotonin reuptake at the presynaptic neuron, potentiating serotonergic activity.
20 mg orally once daily initially, may increase to 40 mg once daily after at least 1 week; maximum 40 mg/day.
10 mg orally once daily; may increase to 20 mg once daily after at least 1 week.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life is approximately 35 hours (range 23–45 h) in healthy adults. This long half-life allows once-daily dosing; steady state is reached in about 1 week. In elderly patients, half-life may extend to 45–90 hours.
27-32 hours (mean ~30 h); steady state reached in ~1 week; linear kinetics at therapeutic doses.
Primarily renal: 75% as metabolites (10% as parent citalopram, 65% as desmethylcitalopram, didesmethylcitalopram, and citalopram-N-oxide). Fecal excretion accounts for approximately 20% of the dose. Biliary excretion minimal.
Primarily renal (approx. 80% as metabolites, 8% as unchanged drug); biliary/fecal elimination accounts for ~15%.
Category C
Category C
SSRI Antidepressant
SSRI Antidepressant