[morninglory]

I've just stumbled across this particular forum and I need some info on Lexapro. (I have visited the Lexapro website but it didn't tell me all I need to know). I was on Paxil CR before, about 3 mos. ago, and now it is off the market so my Dr. put me on Lexapro (10 mg.). To get to the point, I need to know if anyone who is (or has) taking it experienced side effects such as: fatigue (not normal for me), sleepiness (same, not me), nausea, headaches, thirsty, etc. I can only hope these are side effects and not the beginning of diabetes, which my mother had. My Dr. is out of town and the nurses won't tell me anything. If anyone has had these side effects from the Lexapro I would be grateful if they would reply or e-mail me. Thanks to all!

Betsy

[kuplo]

Heres what I found out about either Diovan, Xanax, Lexapro, or Vitoryn.

One of them does make you gain wait, but only if you let it.

For example, if I eat sensibly (say 2 chicken breasts *minus the skin( and soem vegetables) then I lose weight, on the other hand I was as a friends out last night and ordered up 2 pizzas, and dang if I didnt let myself eat a whole pizza to myself. I let myself do it because I never got that stuffed feeling from one of these drugs that Im taking. (Normallly before I was prescribed all these drugs, 3 pieces of pizza and I was stuffed to the gills and couldnt take another bite) So, you must show self control when eating if it's lexapro that your gaining weight on because if it is the Lexapro it's like blocking your "fullness" body meter and allowing you to gorge yourself.

Thats my two cents on it.

[kristiakers]

Hello,
I have been reading trying to find a clear answer for coming off lexapro. I tried coming of slowly then my prescription ran out so I just stopped. Been doing ok getting stuff done, have more energy but can not get rid of the dizziness. I have been taking BC Powder and Goodies, they seem to help some but my question is how long does this last. For me it has been a week of no meds. Please someone give me an answer!!!


Thanks for reading and repling!

[Eric L]

quote:Originally posted by kristiakers

Hello,
I have been reading trying to find a clear answer for coming off lexapro. I tried coming of slowly then my prescription ran out so I just stopped. Been doing ok getting stuff done, have more energy but can not get rid of the dizziness. I have been taking BC Powder and Goodies, they seem to help some but my question is how long does this last. For me it has been a week of no meds. Please someone give me an answer!!!


Thanks for reading and repling!

Kristiackers I will tell you my story. I was on lexapro for a little over a year for GAD (generalized anxiety disorder)until recently. While I was taking it Lexapro worked great.

A month ago I decided I wanted to get off of it, and just try something natural like st. johns wort. This is where my anger begins. I read the directions on the lexapro, and it says do not immediately stop taking medicine. I go on line, and find that you are supposed to taper off of it. So over a period of about 2 1/2 weeks I taper my dose, and on April 26th of this year I completely quit taking it.

Everything seemed fine until about a week later I start to develop this twitch on my lower left lip that will not go away. I think nothing of it, but a month or so later the twitch is still there. When I eat, or move my bottom lip back towards my mouth as if to bite it the twitch is triggered. I dont mean just a little twitch either. Its like a 4-5 second spasam that I can clearly see in the mirror.

I want to also mention real quick that the past two weeks I have had tingling sensations in my hands and feet off and on.


I did a bunch of reasearch on what could be causing this twitching. I was immediately suspicios of going off the lexapro having something to do with it. After a bit of searching I have concluded that I have Tardive dyskinesia (orofacial dyskinesia in particular) due to using the lexapro. Do a google on ssri and tardive dyskinesia and you will see.

I went to see my general practitioner who originally prescribed it to me, and he punches up the withdrawal symptoms on his pda, and says "I dont see this listed in the top 15 side effects of withdrawal" I also had symptoms of tingling feet and hands that comes and goes. He told me to come back in 3-4 weeks if the twitch and tingling have not stopped, and he will refer me to a nuorologist. He thinks my symptoms resemble MS more than Lexapro withdrawal. So great now I am freaking out do I have MS?

I guess I will have to wait to see if these symptoms go away. Can anyone who has gone off lexapro relate to any of these symptoms? The muscle twitching, mainly the lip one, is very disturbing. I have eye twitching and everywhere else every now and then.

To anyone taking this I would say be careful. Just because something works good while you are on it doesn't mean its not messing up your brain. Who wants to be on something that in order to get off you get brain damage. Sorry if this seems like a huge rant. I am just very frustraed and a bit scared right now. i want to know why my body is doing this. It has been a little over a month, and I just want these symptoms to go away.

[Casey55]

Eric,

I understand you are upset and concerned about the cause of your twitching, but you are way off base on just about everything you said and you are scaring yourself and others needlessly. You are very confused and ill informed and I will explain. If your twitching is from MS, that has nothing to do with taking or coming off Lexapro.

First, you should never stop any medication without first consulting with your doctor and getting proper instructions for getting off of it. All SSRI's as many many medications, require a slow withdrawal with a slow tapering of the medication over a period of months. 2 1/2 weeks is too fast.

Second, I have no clue why your doctor prescribed Lexapro for GAD. It is not and antianxiety medication, it is an antidepressant and OCD medication. Did you have depression due to GAD?

NOTE: St Johns Wart is used by some for mild depression symtoms, but not clinical or major depression. Again, the property of this herb is an antidepressant, not an antianxiety remidy, so why would you take it if you don't have depression?

Third, Tardive dyskinesia is not a side effect of Lexapro or any of the SSRI's. There are other medicines where high dose, long term use of that drug can cause tardive dyskinesia, which is not reversible, but Lexapro is not one of them.

Fourth, I know hundreds of people on lexapro, I took it myself, and I know of no such twitching side effects as you suggest. The only thing you mention that can be a rare side effect of Lexapro is tingling and that would occur while you were on the medication, not a side effect of stopping it.

Fifth, while a GP can prescribe any medication, heck, a dentist, a surgeon, an ENT, etc., can prescribe medications, but it is not wise to use them or your GP for psychiatric medications when you are going to be taking them for more than a few weeks or months. GPs are not fully trained in psychiatric medications and they need to be prescribed by a psychiatrist who is fully trained in the medicine and the side effects and the proper ways to come off the medications, etc.

Sixth, SSRI's do NOT cause brain damage, you are really getting carried away with your fears. You need to work with the proper doctor and do the research on any medication before you take it.

[Casey55]

kuplo,

Are you bringing up these meds because they are meds you are on?

>>>One of them does make you gain wait, but only if you let it.>>>

This is not true.

>>>I eat sensibly. So, you must show self control when eating if it's lexapro that your gaining weight on because if it is the Lexapro it's like blocking your "fullness" body meter and allowing you to gorge yourself.>>>

While we should all eat sensibly to control our weight, whether or not we are on any meds, unfortunately self control, and watching what you eat, while helpful, is not the only reason people gain weight on SSRI's and other meds like Zeprexa and Risperdal, and many others.

You can eat the same amount you have always eaten, or your can even eat less, and still gain weight on the meds. These meds affect metabolism and slow it down and that is why people can gain weight on them.

Unfortunately, the SSRI's are notorious for causing weight gain and sexual side effects and the two reasons many go off of them, even when they are working. Of the 6 SSRI's, Paxil seems to be the most problematic when it comes to weight gain and Lexapro, the newest of the 6, is supposed to have less side effects. But, they work different for everyone and there are no hard and fast rules about what they will do or not do.

I was on Paxil and Luvox (both SSRI's) for 5 years and I lost over 30 lbs. So you never know. If you read the side effects of all the drugs out there, you may be surprised how many list weight gain or weight loss as a side effect, just like many list constipation or diarreha as side effects.

For those considering taking a med that may cause weight gain, you need to monitor your weight closely and if you start gaining weight, you can try one another medicine. But, you may not gain any weight at all, you won't know until you try, everyone is different.

Also, weight gain from meds, doesn't just come off when you stop taking them, you have to diet and exercise etc just as you would to loose any weight.

>>>One of them does make you gain wait>>>
Also, Xanax lists weight gain/loss as a side effect as well.

The correct spelling for Vitoryn is Vytorin.

Casey

[superstring]

Hi--I have a brief report on my experience with Lexapro. In December of 2003 I was diagnosed with severe depression. Lexapro was prescribed because it was considered to act most quickly and have least side effects than some of the older drugs, e.g. Zoloft. I took 10 mg for 11 days. My dr took me off it because I had horrendous anxiety in the mornings (even worse than the anxiety I'd been having along with the depression) and she thought that although anxiety was a common side effect it should have gone away or at least diminished by then. I took a day off and started on Zoloft, at 25 mg. I had pretty severe anxiety with this too, but only in the mornings (I was taking the pill in the evening), and it passed within a few days. I increased to 50 mg, had horrible am anxiety, but it passed within a few days. Then 75 mg, again am anxiety, passed within a few days, and suddenly I had the first positive thought I'd had in months. Now on 100 mg. and not depressed, without any side effects as far as I know. Maybe it would have passed on the Lexapro too, but I never got that far. Not much of a data point, but...there you are! Thank you everyone else for your posts.

[lucy624]

Hi to all,
My dr is suggesting that i start lexapro & after reading everyone's posts i am having doubts. i just weaned myself off 4,800mg of neurontin after 3 yrs for spinal pain as it just stopped working. i am wondering if lexapro is the kind of med that requires a higher dose as one takes it. it would be for depression not as a pain med. the depression is partly because of chronic pain & the limitations. i am also very concerned about weight gainas a side effect, as with neurontin i gained 30 lbs and losing it is a slow process. btw diet has nothing to do with it.
any advice would be helpful
thank everyone in advance,
Lucy624

[lp1078]

I'm taking both. I've been on Wellbutrin 300mg for three years. The Lexipro is for genealized anxiety (I'm a grad student starting an internship) and my Wellbutrin has been upped to 450/day. I've been on it for a month and because of the Wellbutrin (according to my Dr.) I saw relief within three-four days. I have lost a few pounds but nothing to brag about. When I first went on Wellbutrin, I lost 50+ pounds that have quietly returned! I have more energy and notice my anxiety is at a normal level and no longer crippling me. Good luck to you!

quote:Originally posted by Jen7

I've been on lexapro for about 9 months now and have gained 25-30 pounds. I've been doing some research and have found that all SSRI anti depressents cause your metabolism to slow, can increase your appatite and can increase your carb cravings. Yesterdy my theripist suggested trying to take the lexapro in conjunction w/ wellbutrin to counter act the weight gain. I tried wellbutrin first but my anxiety was increased and that was why I stopped so she thinks that taking the two together might help. Has anyone else tried taking both?

[narnoo]

Hello all,
I've now been on Lexapro for 2 1/2 weeks. Over the years I have tried many types of antidepressants but lexapro is the only one I've been able to tolerate for this long. The only real side effect I have now is that I still feel tired most of the time. I have a question - did anyone have any problems driving their cars at all? I ride a motorbike and would like to start riding again next week, though I am a bit reluctant because I feel tired a lot of the time. Is there anyone currently taking lexapro who rides a motorbike?? Any suggestions/recommendations??
Cheers,
: )

[Slim_Teut92]

quote:Originally posted by Eric L

Kristiackers I will tell you my story. I was on lexapro for a little over a year for GAD (generalized anxiety disorder)until recently. While I was taking it Lexapro worked great.

A month ago I decided I wanted to get off of it, and just try something natural like st. johns wort. This is where my anger begins. I read the directions on the lexapro, and it says do not immediately stop taking medicine. I go on line, and find that you are supposed to taper off of it. So over a period of about 2 1/2 weeks I taper my dose, and on April 26th of this year I completely quit taking it.

Everything seemed fine until about a week later I start to develop this twitch on my lower left lip that will not go away. I think nothing of it, but a month or so later the twitch is still there. When I eat, or move my bottom lip back towards my mouth as if to bite it the twitch is triggered. I dont mean just a little twitch either. Its like a 4-5 second spasam that I can clearly see in the mirror.

I want to also mention real quick that the past two weeks I have had tingling sensations in my hands and feet off and on.


I did a bunch of reasearch on what could be causing this twitching. I was immediately suspicios of going off the lexapro having something to do with it. After a bit of searching I have concluded that I have Tardive dyskinesia (orofacial dyskinesia in particular) due to using the lexapro. Do a google on ssri and tardive dyskinesia and you will see.

I went to see my general practitioner who originally prescribed it to me, and he punches up the withdrawal symptoms on his pda, and says "I dont see this listed in the top 15 side effects of withdrawal" I also had symptoms of tingling feet and hands that comes and goes. He told me to come back in 3-4 weeks if the twitch and tingling have not stopped, and he will refer me to a nuorologist. He thinks my symptoms resemble MS more than Lexapro withdrawal. So great now I am freaking out do I have MS?

I guess I will have to wait to see if these symptoms go away. Can anyone who has gone off lexapro relate to any of these symptoms? The muscle twitching, mainly the lip one, is very disturbing. I have eye twitching and everywhere else every now and then.

To anyone taking this I would say be careful. Just because something works good while you are on it doesn't mean its not messing up your brain. Who wants to be on something that in order to get off you get brain damage. Sorry if this seems like a huge rant. I am just very frustraed and a bit scared right now. i want to know why my body is doing this. It has been a little over a month, and I just want these symptoms to go away.

[Bard Out]

i experieneced brain quivers, and voices in my head....

i stopped taking it.

I been intertwind, on tha grind since '99!

[Transaction7]

My doctors had tried a number of antidepressants earlier with varying results. Trazadone had worked for some time but, for some reason, new doctor replaced it with Xanax and Zyprexa, neither of which is approved by FDA or marketed by manufacturer for depression and Xanax carries specific warning that, while it is sometimes used for anxiety associated with depression, it is not recommended for treatment of depression, and lists depression itself as a common side effect. This made me deeply depressed and sick as a pup. Every actual or alleged condition or symptom identified by those seeking my commitment and suspension turned out to be listed as a known, common effect of one or both of these two drugs. There does not appear to be any data on the combination of the two, but my expert and several sites indicate that there would be no legitimate purpose for any such combination, given that the two drugs are approved and marketed for entirely different things, none of which except anxiety associated with depression anyone on either sides of these cases even alleged that I had ever had.

The doctor at the hospital testified, at my commitment trial, that I was improving after they had switched me from Xanax and Zyprexa to Celexa, in the course of recommending long hospitalization for something I never had and concerning which they never identified any of the criteria my expert [and About.com], etc., listed for that, even when asked directly. When I was released three months later, my epxert and I learned that the change he and the court had been told had been made had, in fct, enver been made, and we have the bottles to corroborate this. When my expert realized this and finally made this correction, replacing those with Celexa, after my release months later, the uncontrollable crying jags that harmful regimen had caused ceased, within days, like someone had turned off a faucet, and I quicly began to recover, and am in better shape now than during most of my life and the 35 years I had practiced law creditably until that point.

After getting considerably better relief from chronnic clinical depression on Celexa than anything else tried, I have recently switched to the newer Lexapro, but don't have enough time on it yet to compare.

I had gone to this site to check out what diffrences to expect on Lexapro. I was very surprised to see depression itslef listed as a possible side effect of Lexapro. I have not experienced this in hte very short time I have been on this.

Learned much of the history of Celexa and now Lexapro, which another poster noted, from an article on Forest Labs in Business Week, including his and his son's accounts. Incidentally, isn't it a fact that Forest Labs brought out Lexapro after Celexa's patent ran out and it went generic?

I note that Lexapro is supposed to avoid the sexual side effects of Celexa and other antidepressants, but that it sometimes does produce these and some writers here note that. Like a lot of other medications, the instructions and warnings on this and a lot of other psych drugs seem or ought to say something like: "We're not quite sure how or wny this works, but it works for some people and makes others who are supposed to ahve the same thing sick as pups. Don't drive, operate machinery, or do anything else at all on this medication until after you have tried driving and not had a wreck or got arrested" although it is technically illegal to drive on anything designed or known to affect you, as the warnings on everything seem to say. They make sure you don't read this stuff by publishing it all in absurdly small type, in magazines like "Curling to the Classics" that nobody reads or could find, and in verbiage that nobody could possibly make sense of even if it were not guaranteed to put you to sleep more quickly and effectively than any sleeping pills. When I looked up one drug I was on, at the manufacturer's www.drugname.com site for it, I had to blow the PDF file of prescribing and side effects information, which they posted the size of a postage stamp on full size sheets of paper, up 1,000 times just to make it legible. While I had been on another drug, a fill-in psychiatirst had said I was "paranoid" for the stated reason that I had revealed that I had looked it up in the PDR. Of course, mental health professionals run the gamut from the good, to the bad, to the downright dangerous.

I will be watching this forum for further info on Lexapro, but if I sign up for alerts on any more forums my inbox will overflow again and my computer will crash.

Transaction7

[speechy]

Actually, lexapro is also commonly prescribed for anxiety as well. I was on it for that very reason. i have never been depressed.

quote:Originally posted by Casey55

Eric,

I understand you are upset and concerned about the cause of your twitching, but you are way off base on just about everything you said and you are scaring yourself and others needlessly. You are very confused and ill informed and I will explain. If your twitching is from MS, that has nothing to do with taking or coming off Lexapro.

First, you should never stop any medication without first consulting with your doctor and getting proper instructions for getting off of it. All SSRI's as many many medications, require a slow withdrawal with a slow tapering of the medication over a period of months. 2 1/2 weeks is too fast.

Second, I have no clue why your doctor prescribed Lexapro for GAD. It is not and antianxiety medication, it is an antidepressant and OCD medication. Did you have depression due to GAD?

NOTE: St Johns Wart is used by some for mild depression symtoms, but not clinical or major depression. Again, the property of this herb is an antidepressant, not an antianxiety remidy, so why would you take it if you don't have depression?

Third, Tardive dyskinesia is not a side effect of Lexapro or any of the SSRI's. There are other medicines where high dose, long term use of that drug can cause tardive dyskinesia, which is not reversible, but Lexapro is not one of them.

Fourth, I know hundreds of people on lexapro, I took it myself, and I know of no such twitching side effects as you suggest. The only thing you mention that can be a rare side effect of Lexapro is tingling and that would occur while you were on the medication, not a side effect of stopping it.

Fifth, while a GP can prescribe any medication, heck, a dentist, a surgeon, an ENT, etc., can prescribe medications, but it is not wise to use them or your GP for psychiatric medications when you are going to be taking them for more than a few weeks or months. GPs are not fully trained in psychiatric medications and they need to be prescribed by a psychiatrist who is fully trained in the medicine and the side effects and the proper ways to come off the medications, etc.

Sixth, SSRI's do NOT cause brain damage, you are really getting carried away with your fears. You need to work with the proper doctor and do the research on any medication before you take it.

[abyss]

I started Lexapro a little over 2 weeks ago. My GP wanted to start me on Effexor XR, but that was way too strong for me. Decided to see a psychiatrist because they are more specialized in diagnosing and treating. He decided to put me on Lexapro, 5mg for the first week and 10mg after that. First night I was on 5mg it felt like Effexor but not as bad. Took it before bed...big mistake. Felt like someone turned on all the lights in my brain. Couldn't sleep, heart rate was up, sweating, dry mouth etc. Decided to start with 2.5mg which was much better. Was able to jump up to 5mg a week later with almost no side effects. Still on 5mg and not sure whether I want to step up to 10mg. Already feeling the benefits of this drug. The peaks and valleys are more controlled. Im able to catch myself much quicker without sliding off the deep end. I don't dwell on bad thoughts or what is missing in my life like i was before. My apetite has returned. When my depression would spin into anxiety i'd experience stomach pains and would stop eating. Glad that is gone.

My best advice would be to go into steps of 2.5mg going on or coming off this drug. Each step lasting a week if not two. The side effects will not be as bad for you. They only last the first week or so anyway and then you start to feel the benefits of this drug. I was also prescribed Trazodone to help with sleep during the first few weeks as I was also suffering from insomnia for the past few months. It really has helped with insomnia and the side effects of Lexapro. Xanax is also good for combating the side effects.

[canoe]

I have been on Lexapro for a little over a year. The last 4 mos. I have been having problems emptying my bladder completely. I have been seeing a urologist and he knows I'm on Lexapro. I wonder if possibly the Lexapro is causing the retention problems. Has anyone else experienced the same?

[cawatson]

hello , i took lexapro for 4 mnths and gained about 15 lbs, also had swelling in my legs and feet, walking seems almost impossible get sharp pain all around my hamstrings and seem to have retained water, i stopped taking right away. have stopped for 6 days but feel like im in a daze, dizzy , of balance. i feel like my blood pressure dropped ?? i took blood pressure but all ok, can this feeling of dizziness be related to stopage of lexsapro, can someone please give me advise i feel like im on some kind of drug now that i stopped taking it. i wish i had never taken it ever. very upset on gain weight and especially on dizzy spells all day long

sandra

[abyss]

I imagine if you stopped abruptly instead of tapering down, you would have a bad experience.

[tina_b]

I have been on erythromycin for some time. Can I take Lexapro? Someone told me that these two drugs should not be taken together.
Is it true?

[pimp4uho]

I have been on Lexapro 20mg for about 8 months now for anxiety and depression. Having taken xanax, klonopin, and other benzos for about 15 years, I find that lexapro works good to a certain degree. It does somewhat "even you out", keeping the ups and downs more in the middle.

The side effects I have experienced are as follows: weight gain(about 25lbs),although I havnt been getting any exercise. I have noticed a craving for carbs more than before. I also have a problem waking up in the morning. My eyes dont seem to focus and I feel very "dazed" for about an hour. The pharmicist advised to skip a day or only take 10mg for a day or two if this happens, which I have done to some success.

Lexapro comes no where close to reducing my social anxiety like benzos do(xanax, valium, klonopin, ect...), but not having a benzo addiction makes up for that.

just my 2cents

[4everISOinfo]

I want to preface this by making sure that everyone understands that this is pure hearsay and that I myself have never taken Lexapro, nor am I qualified in any way to make any recommendations in regards to it. Okay? Good!
What I wanted to share with everyone is a very exciting and encouraging thing that has happened to one of my very best friends after taking Lexapro for just a couple of weeks. Prior to being prescribed this drug, he was always depressed and discontent and reported that the only time he ever felt happy and content was when he was using crystal meth (snorting "ice"). He had begun seeking it out as often as possible and it was having an increasingly detrimental effect on his life. His work performance was suffering and his 28 year marriage was falling apart, as well. Within the first 2 weeks of being on Lexapro, he completely lost his desire for crystal meth!!! It has been over 3 months now and, not only does he no longer seek out "ice", he has no problem whatsoever in passing it up whenever it is offered to him! I am simply thrilled for him---and floored, to say the least!!!
Anyway, once again, I must remind you that I am not trying to say that this is a benefit that can be expected from this new drug, Lexapro. I am only reporting one single instance of what my close friend believes it has done for him so that it might give some hope to others suffering as he was and perhaps motivate them to investigate the possibilities further.

[dutchman]

No tina,
you should not take Lexapro if you are presently on erythromycin. Lexapro is known to react with certain drugs including antidepressants like erythromycin.
If you want more information on Lexapro, you may check this http://www.drugdelivery.ca/s3258-s-LEXAPRO.aspx . You will also find here informations on drugs that might react with Lexapro.

[rukynd]

Hello all,
I'd just like to return to the topic of Tardive Dyskinesia as posted by Eric L on 5/10. After some unusual twitching, then some research, he felt he had developed TD as a result of stopping Lexapro.
While I certainly can't say if your self-diagnosis or your identification of the cause is correct, I can tell you about my own experience, and refute a response or two along the way.
After taking Celexa for many years, at high doses for OCD, I developed a clenching and grinding of my jaw (bruxism). A few months later, last fall, my fingers on my right hand began to move uncontrollably, sometimes clenching, sometimes jerking, even throwing things (not good, esp. for a smoker!). Then my toes started to clench, hard. I grew very sore in these areas from the muscle spasms.
Many, many hours of research later, I too have concluded I have TD. When I spoke to a good friend, a surgical nurse, she confirmed my guess (I hadn't named it yet, just the symptoms), said she'd met many others with TD from SSRI's, and told me to see an internist, who would likely put me on a prescription to treat it.
Two internists later, neither seems to believe that SSRI's can cause TD, despite the many studies showing they do. One did blood tests to rule out other movement disorders or thyroid problems, ruled them out, and said goodbye. The next wanted an immediate CT of my brain, which I can't afford.
My research directed me first to the supplement lecithin. I worked up to 7,000 mg/day over a month, and within 6 weeks, my symptoms had diminished in severity by at least 50%. I'm currently researching and trying some other supplements; if anyone's interested, I'll elaborate.
My concern, though, is seeing statements that unlike Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft, Celexa and Lexapro will not cause TD. This simply isn't true. Look at www.celexa.com, at the Acrobat drug info in teeny tiny print--use that zoom tool. There are many terms for movement disorders that can be caused by drugs, and at least five of them are there, including dyskinesia.
I can't seem to find the prescribing info. on Lexapro's site...

For anyone who is taking an SSRI, including Lexapro, I'd like to suggest a book: Joseph Glenmullen, M.D., _Prozac Backlash: Overcoming the Dangers of Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and Other Antidepressants with Safe, Effective Alternatives_. You can read the first few pages on Amazon.com, and read/print the whole first chapter on _The New York Times_ web book section.
I realize the topic here is Lexapro, and I'm not saying that it will cause TD. I am saying that five years ago, almost no one knew that the other SSRI's could cause it, and now, even after many articles in the most mainstream medical and psychiatric journals, most doctors and thus their patients still don't know.
I'm also not saying not to take it. There have been times when I'd have risked far worse side effects for relief from my depression, anxiety, and OCD. Just be sure you need it (SSRI's are notoriously overprescribed), and be sure you gather all the information you can.
And Eric, I hope your symptoms are gone and you've found a successful alternative treatment.
Best to all.

[Transaction7]

My wife, who is better at observing me than I am, and who also follows drug data more though I read anythingavailable on anything prescribed or recommended for me, and I, are not sure whetther I am better or worse off on Lexapro than I had been over longer time on Celxa from same manufacturer and for which Lexapro is supposed to be the replacement. Either is better than other antidepressants I had used.

I am finding myself waking up and getting up at night on Lexapro, and sometimes sleeping way too much, like knocked out, on it, but generally, if I can make myself sleep through hte night instead of staying up, may be better or worse on this which is hard for me to log when I have tired. I should note that I have always been somewhat of a night owl (and always did have depression) long before I finally got help after law school.

I am noticing one somewhat annoying thing on Lexapro. After not having dreamed much at all for quite some time before first going on antidepressants eyrs ago, I have had a lot more dreams since being on antiderpessants, but this is unusual. Usually, when starting anything new, i get some very vivid dreams for awhile and tehn this effect goes away and I settle back to a normal number and kind of dreams. I did have nightmares for a year, closely related to traumatic events in my real, waking life, which coincided with correction of a prior harmful regimen of Xanax and Zy;rexa (nobody has ever responded to my prior post still on this forum asking if anyone on earht had ever been rpscribed that terrible combination for what was diagnesed as depression with or without alleged "psychotic features" which were never defined and which I never had) even on the corrected med, Celexa, but this is different.

On Lexapro, though nothing particular is going on in my real life to explain htis and I feel pretty good, I continue to have a lot of long, involved, vivid dreams and nightmares, sort of like long fictional stories with me in them from different ages, which don't go away over a short time as this effect had when I had experienced it on a lot of the other antidepressants I had ever used that idd anythng at all (not on osme we had tried earlier which had no more effect on my depression than water).

I can live with this, though it sometimes causes me to wake up tired, but I am about to have to prove to a skeptical court system that I am not, and will never become, disabled, which is, to say the least, a legal challenge though I have affidavits form experts saying that my problem was from the harmful regimen and should not recur.

I have ANOTHER question or problem. Starting on Celexa, after quite some time using it, and now on related Lexapro, I am starting to get substantial edema (swelling) particularly in ankles. Any conenction.

Am ALSO gaining weight more rapidly on Lexapro than on Celexa, which is a problem. I know these can cause weight gain, but would there be anything about Lexapro that would be significantly different from Celexa in this respect.

I don't suppose there is an open Email address at Forest Labs which makes these, or at some other drug companies, whereby I could get anyone qualified there anyone there to provide some definitive answers regarding certian drugs (no lawsuit contemplated), is there?

I still wish some of the posters on this forum who appear to be medical students etc. and to know what they are talking about in such matters would respond to my earlier psot asking about having been put on Xanax and Zyprexa by doctors who didn't diagnose anything but clinical depression, some with and some without alelged but unidentified "psychotic features" which my experts, who had known me for years and whose advice worked when finally allowed to be tried, say I never had, would respond to my earlier post about this.

Transaction7

[lisaf06]

hello. i was prescribed lexapro for social anxiety. started on 10 mg for a few months, then was on 15mg for 6 days and am now on 20 mg for the past week. now, on 20, i feel extremely tired and still very very anxious. i also feel really emotional and just letharigic. is anyone else having these feelings? and to make matters worse, i've been reading about the terrible symptoms associated with weaning off this drug and thats upsetting me too. should i stay on 20 and see if this sadness/tiredness passes or start weaning off? any feedback is really appreciated. thanks.

[Eric L]

[quote]Originally posted by rukynd

Hello all,
I'd just like to return to the topic of Tardive Dyskinesia as posted by Eric L on 5/10. After some unusual twitching, then some research, he felt he had developed TD as a result of stopping Lexapro.
While I certainly can't say if your self-diagnosis or your identification of the cause is correct, I can tell you about my own experience, and refute a response or two along the way.

[quote]

Rukynd,

Thanks for the support. I last posted on 5/10 because of frustration of getting a lip twitch after quitting lexapro. I am sorry if it upset anyone, I was just very upset and confused. I did start taking lecithin and vitamin B12 shortly after that post, after doing some more online research. Over a period of about 2 1/2 weeks my lip twitch went away, which leads me even further to believe that it was coming off the lexapro that caused the dyskensia. I must state that I am no doctor and I could be completley wrong, but then again over the time of history many doctors have been wrong. Anyway I felt much better after the lip twitch went away, and quit taking the lecithin and B12.

Just a couple of weeks after that though I have been getting muscle fasciculations (twitches)in my calves and feet that will not stop. Every now and then I will get one in my abdomen, back, or buttock muscle. Sometimes even a twitch in my forehead or behind my ear. This has been going on now for about 2 weeks. I have started back up on the lecithin and B12 to see if this fixes it. I also added magnesium tablets to the mix after some research.

I thought I was fine after the lip twitching went away. Its been 4 months or so since I went off the lexapro. Is it possible I could still be having symptoms from stopping this medication? Anyone else have or heard of withdrawal or effects lasting this long?

This medication clearly has different effects on different individuals. It seems like a lot of the possible negative effects get burried by the drug company. Just wish my doctor would have made me aware of the taper period. Three week taper was apparently not enough for me. It seems like there needs to be a bit more responsibility on behalf of the medical community in dishing out these drugs, and the info they give their patients.

[Lemonade]

Hi,
I've just come off lexapro. I've been taking 10mg a day, and was petrified about coming off the drug after reading all the bad experiences people had. I understand people tolerate drugs differently, but just wanted to let people know that not everyone has horrible experiences coming off. This is what I did to taper off (after taking 10mg daily). Day 1: 5mg Day2: 5mg Day 3: 5mg Day 4: 5mg Day 5: 5mg Day 6: Nil Day 7: 5mg Day 8 and after: Nil. Now, on Days 6-8 I had headaches similar to hangover headaches (not overly pleasant but was still able to to work) otherwise just a feeling of dizziness that took about 10 days to go away. So while you can never tell just how bad tapering will be for you, not everyone has had horrible experiences coming off.
: )

[lemonade2]

Hello, Lemonade here again. Unfortunately I forgot my details so have had to re-register with a new name (Doh). I didn't think I'd need to come back and add info so never kept the details. I just wanted to add that I am still having dizzy spells more than 3 weeks on. Everything else is fine, except I have to catch the bloody bus to work as I refuse to drive until the dizzy spells go away. I rung up and spoke to the drug company - they said it should go away in around 3 weeks but unfortunately it is still affecting me (only in the afternoon/ evenings. Will put a post up when they finally go away to give other people an idea of how long it took me to finally get back to normal : /
: )

[prissypolly]

I have been on Lexapro for about 2 weeks. I can already feel a positive improvement but there is one side effect driving me crazy. I can't stop yawning! My doc told me to take it in the mornings since it can cause insomnia. I have never yawned so much in my life. I spent a whole week in a sleepy daze. Then I switched to nights. I was still worthless and "yawny" in the mornings. I tried late afternoon but the nausea is overwhelming around dinnertime. What gives? Any ideas?

[hmariewv]

I just read about the tapering off when stopping lexapro. My dr told me to stop the lexapro [cold turkey] today and start on effexor XR 75 mg. She never said anything about tapering off. Would I still need to taper off if starting another drug? She also changed the xanax .05[which I have been on about 6 years] to Ativan 1mg. Does anyone know anything about changing between these two drugs?
Also when taking the lexapro [30 mg] I was suddenly having "anger" outbrusts which was not like me at all. When I cut down to 10 mg the problem stopped. I felt sleepy when I took the lexapro but other than that it worked good.