[razzle51]

Lexapro has worked well for me with no side effects and no weight gain. Some I guess it doesnt work. Good luck . Stay away from that Zoloft.

[jessi_lynn]

Lexapro has helped me with my generalized anxiety disorder. I have been on other meds before Lexapro. I have had bad anxiety in the past. I have been on Lexapro for over a year and the results have been nothing but positive! There was no weight gain. My only complaint is that if I miss a dose at night, I go through withdrawals the next day. I do not know if it comes from the lexapro or the other meds I am on. Once I take the med again, I feel fine.

[koko]

hey.. SOMEONE HELP ME PLEASE EMAIL ME IF YOU CAN HELP
my girlfriend of 2 years has been suffering from terrible depression and anxiety. She is currently on Lexapro, but has tried many different medications since she was 15.
After dropping out of school due to medicine withdrawel, she often cannot leave her bed and is so dizzy she cant do anything. Her confidence is ultra low, she keeps telling me about horrible dreams, has no sex drive, and is still very depressed and anxious.
She doesn't know why nothing has helped with these problems. Even doctors dont know what to do, they just through different prescriptions at her.
Lexapro does not seem to be the right thing for her. Currently she just wants to feel less dizzy and be able to get out of bed.
Does anyone on this forum know how to help me? Please email me, i need help in saving the girl i love. She just wants to know how to manage the dizziness and be able to get out of bed. Also, any suggested medications for these symptoms or a good psychiatrist in the Vermont area would be helpful. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP ME!

koko

[bandal]

my husband took 20mg lexapro for depression and anxiety for about 9 months when it started to "wear off." the doctor added 2.5mg zyprexa (olanzapine-antipsychotic). 2 combo of both drugs has worked pretty well, but after about 6 months my hubby is still so tired all the time. he takes them at night and crashes. when he is home on the weekends, he takes long naps, goes to bed early, and sleeps in late. he also has night sweats and gained about 30 pounds. i'm concerned about the long term effects of these potent drugs, withdrawl, remission, and they are expensive! does anyone know of a safer and/or cheaper effective alternative? i wonder how long he will need to stay on the drugs before he can try quitting. it's been over a year now... any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Dont Panic]

This is for bandal. My 23 yr. old son has been taking Cymbalta (4mo) for depression and is pleased with it. His Doc. said its a very new drug that men respond to very well. It deals with seritonin plus some other hormone. Have your hubby ask his Doc. about it. My son was given 1 mo free samples to see if he could handle the side affects if any. He does get heart burn but says the bennifits outway the discomfort. He and his wife have gained pounds but they eat out all the time. So they can't say its Cymbalta's fault. They are going to eat more healthy now. My son felt so much better he told his 19 yr. old sister. She's been pretty low and has a compulsive disorder. I did research and found 5HTP its at health food stores. It helps your body produce more seritonin. It has been WONDERFUL for her she is a pleasure to be with again.

[bootthepenguin]

Edema help?

So this is just a shot in the dark, but for years and years I have had issues with intense water retension. I think it may be due to the fact that I was bulimic for about seven years, and now that built-in anxiety about food causes that reaction. Therefore, when I was on Lexapro, my weight was actually stable for the one year I took it; however, the side effects were ridiculous and I had to get off it. I gained 25 pounds, then lost most of it, but still deal with constant edema. Is this just food allergies? If so, why did my Lexapro fix that?

Not wanting to go back on it, just some feedback would be wonderful.

Thank You!

[mgl]

Koko,

If antidepressants are not effective maybe you should try herbs, psychotherapy, or any other alternative treatments? At least, non-drug treatments will not produce withdrawal symptoms and severe side effects. Do some research about alternative treatments for depression and anxiety. Maybe she should try to find another doctor and hear another opinion.

[sick_of_sick]

Hi...I am new to this forum but had to find somewhere to get info on what is happening to me. Was put on Lexpro about 5 months ago..just after Christmas I injured my neck badly and was put on a series of painkiller of which I was allergic to all - doctor told me to go off all my medications to clear my system out. Think she forgot about the LExapro. I have been feeling like I am losing my mind for about 7 days now (went off medication 12 days ago). I keep getting bad electrical jolts that send me staggering, blacked out for a few seconds driving, feel nauseaus all the time, want to cry all the time, want to just go to bed and not get up....can anyone help me? Is there any way to stop this besides going back on a medication I don't think I needed in the first place?

Sick of being sick

[Dont Panic]

Hi sick of sick I was prescribed 10 mg. Lexapro 2 mo ag. A few days ago I started taking 1/2 pill I had just found out that a relative is also taking Lexapro but she's taking 5 mg with no side effects. So I changed to 5 mg. also, and feel fine. Anyway what I wanted to tell you is my doc said if or when I wanted to stop taking it I was to wean off very very slowly. You might go back on them and ask your Doc to come up with a weaning off schedual for you.

[frustratedone]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and really need some advice. My husband is taking Lexapro for mild bi-polar and has been for around 6 months now. His decreased libido was really noticable when he was first diagnosed and put on lexapro but now his libido is basically dead. I am scared about it not coming back and I need some ideas if anyone else has experienced this what did they do to help it. I have tried everything. We have been married for a whole 3 months and managed to consumate our vows and hey that's it. Not even a hope of getting any more! I have tried talking to him about it but he is a true male male and so not comfortable talking about it. I don't know how to handle it and it is doing some real damage to our relationship and my self esteem. Help??? Anyone???

[gypsy girl]

To frustrated one- I have been taking lexapro for about 1 1/2 years and it killed my libido. My psychiatrist has prescribed me Requip to take with the Lexapro. Requip is usually for restless leg syndrome or parkinsons but in lower doses, it brings back the libido. He also said that if that didn't work I could take Wellbutrin in conjunction with the lexapro but that it might negatively affect my anxiety. I realize that sometimes men can be stubborn but your husband needs to talk to a doctor. The decreased libido will not go away with hoping. While losing my libido for a few months wasn't fun, my mental health was more important and now that I'm on steadier ground, I can finally address the negative side effects of lexapro. Hope that helps a little. Hang in there.

[Tiff28428]

I know of someone that went thru the same thing and come to find out she needed something like zyprexia that to me is truly the best med for depression on the earth!!!!! she should mention it to her Dr. others are Remeron, Seriquil, but zyprexia is the BOMB!!!!!!!!!
one dose and you allready feel better.

[frustratedone]

I'll have a chat with our GP and see what if she can get him to talk and maybe suggest the Requip or something similar.

Originally Posted by gypsy girl

To frustrated one- I have been taking lexapro for about 1 1/2 years and it killed my libido. My psychiatrist has prescribed me Requip to take with the Lexapro. Requip is usually for restless leg syndrome or parkinsons but in lower doses, it brings back the libido. He also said that if that didn't work I could take Wellbutrin in conjunction with the lexapro but that it might negatively affect my anxiety. I realize that sometimes men can be stubborn but your husband needs to talk to a doctor. The decreased libido will not go away with hoping. While losing my libido for a few months wasn't fun, my mental health was more important and now that I'm on steadier ground, I can finally address the negative side effects of lexapro. Hope that helps a little. Hang in there.

[Hopeful 285]

http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-...24681-224.html

[gloveman]

I was prescribed Lexapro a little over two months ago by my interninst to prevent me from getting inflammatory bowel disease caused by all the stress in my life, mainly my wife's serious health problems. It has stopped the pain in my stomach.
So I agree with Wendell, Lexapro won't cause gastrointestinal problems, to the contrary, it will help prevent them.

[Peggy82]

hi just had one 10mg dose of lexapro tuesday night at about 1030. by 130 i had nausea and diarrhoea so bad i felt like i could pass out then i began to have tremors and felt like i was outside my body. couldn't function properly. ended up curling up in the foetal position and finally fell asleep as the sun came up. i couldn't even ring the hospital or wake my mum as my body just wouldn't seem to function. i slept most of wednesday, tried to increase the H2O but had no appetite - still don't and it's now friday. rang my doc and he said to stop taking it for a couple of days and then try lower dose and if i still felt funny we could try something else. All day yesterday i felt dizzy and had a monster of a headache. i'm now just feeling blah. i've never been on antidepressants of any kind. i've been sick for 9 months and dr can't find anything wrong with me so thought he would try this. i have tried a lot of alternative stuff with not much result. just wonderin if anyone else has gone from 10mg to a lower dose and felt ok. i really want this to work as i really want to go back to work. Best wishes to anyone reading this. Thanks

[nobzy]

hi just thought I would post my experience. I was taking zoloft for around 12 years or so and I did experience weight loss, loss of appetite, agitation and lack of libido. Took the hormone contraceptive injections for a year and I noticed I would get into rages and get out of control and angry with my partner who I am now separated from. I stopped with the injections and stopped with the zoloft which was fine and I stopped having violent dreams.

My psychiatrist has put me on lexapro to help with my obsessive thought patterns (probably caused to an extent by the depression I am in from the separation). I have only been on it for 12 days but I have noticed that I am having trouble waking in the morning (but that could be the horrid cold weather we are having) and also.. I just don't like people being around me. I feel even more anti social than i was before. Really anti-social.

I have another psych appointment in 2 days and I will discuss with her. i know 12 days is not really long enough to tell - and it definitely hasn't stopped my ridiculously obsessive thoughts. but probably too soon to tell. I am just happy that I am not so angry. One thing tho - I did get drunk on the weekend for the first time in ages and I felt REALLY out of control and helpless and I feel really stupid firstly for drinking while taking medication and secondly for drinking while taking newly prescribed medication. God knows what may have happened. No more alcohol for me. That was dumb.

Anyways.. Ill post here again if I notice any bad side-effects - so far there is nothing worth really complaining about. The zoloft definitely has side-effects worth mentioning but lexapro.. nothing yet.

good luck everyone. x

edit - just thought i would mention my dosage - started taking 5mg for the first 4 days now I am on 10mg daily.

[scared to try new med]

Hi everyone ,
Hopefully someone can help , I am upset and confused .My doc wants to switch me from Wellbutrin , CLonazapam & Lorazapam to Lexapro & Buspar because the Wellbutrin is making me manic & causing anxiety attacks , the lorazapam doesn't work as well , my doc thinks i am dependent on the benzo's since I have been on them for a long time .
I am nervous about taking the Lexapro from everything I have been reading , Does anyone know that if i have gained weight from another med & have experienced sexual side effects from Prozac if that means i am likely to have those side effects on Lexapro ? Has anyone found that they are unable to drive on this med ? Does everyone coming off Lexapro experience those horrible withdrawal symptoms I have been reading about & Can you work while experiencing those withdrawal symptoms ? I cannot afford to be not working for any period of time . Does a psychyatrist have the power to make you change your meds ?
Does everyone black out if they drink on this med ? If you have the black out problem , can you at least have one drink without a problem with Lexapro : I don't want to give up the taste of guiness.
From everyone I have talked to who has tried Busapar , it hasn't worked for them .Does anyone know of other choices I can talk to my doc about for anxiey & depresion ? I would like a non-benzo prn , so i have something to take when I have anxiety attacks , i can't imagine never having them . I need to be able to work & if i have a bad anxiety attack , I can't concentrate at work .

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by scared to try new med

Hi everyone ,
Hopefully someone can help , I am upset and confused .My doc wants to switch me from Wellbutrin , CLonazapam & Lorazapam to Lexapro & Buspar because the Wellbutrin is making me manic & causing anxiety attacks , the lorazapam doesn't work as well , my doc thinks i am dependent on the benzo's since I have been on them for a long time .
I am nervous about taking the Lexapro from everything I have been reading , Does anyone know that if i have gained weight from another med & have experienced sexual side effects from Prozac if that means i am likely to have those side effects on Lexapro ? Has anyone found that they are unable to drive on this med ? Does everyone coming off Lexapro experience those horrible withdrawal symptoms I have been reading about & Can you work while experiencing those withdrawal symptoms ? I cannot afford to be not working for any period of time . Does a psychyatrist have the power to make you change your meds ?
Does everyone black out if they drink on this med ? If you have the black out problem , can you at least have one drink without a problem with Lexapro : I don't want to give up the taste of guiness.
From everyone I have talked to who has tried Busapar , it hasn't worked for them .Does anyone know of other choices I can talk to my doc about for anxiey & depresion ? I would like a non-benzo prn , so i have something to take when I have anxiety attacks , i can't imagine never having them . I need to be able to work & if i have a bad anxiety attack , I can't concentrate at work .

Hello, First I must stress that I am not a physician and can only share what I know from personal experience. From your post I am going on the assumption that you are being treated for anxiety with depression, is that correct? First off, No one can FORCE you to switch your medications. The worst your Dr could do is refuse to refill or prescribe the med. If you are comfortable with your current treatment and are responding to it well, there is no need to change it. Do I understand correctly that you are using 2 different benzo's and an antidepressant? If that is the case you will have difficulty weaning from the benzo's. The benzo's you mentioned are longer acting and have a slower onset. Everyone reacts to meds differently. My husband has adverse reaction to Lorazepam in that it makes him VERY ANXIOUS. Personaly I would recomend xanax, it has a shorter life and quicker onset. This means you can take it more frequently should you need to. For myself, when I feel a panic attack comming on and I take a xanax; I feel its effect within 15 to 20 minutes and relief lasts 4-6 hours. There are many who will caution about benzo addiction however, In my experience when a person uses this drug for panic attack relief and only as needed (vs. daily use when not having symptoms ie:schedualed doses) addiction is generaly not an issue. If you have panic/anxiety there are certain members of the SSRI family that have more of a tendency toward anxious side effects. Prozac, zoloft, wellbutrin and cymbalta are more successfull at treating depression than anxiety as they appear to have a bit of a stimulating affect on panic. ( Again this is my experience/ research) Effexor at lower doses is an SSRI at higher doses it works more like an SNRI. SNRI's have slightly more tendency to adversly affect people with panic disorder symptoms. A word of caution: ALL antidepressants have potential for discontinuation/withdrawl symptoms, especially the longer you are on them. Lexepro is one in this class of drugs which has some potentialy nasty side effects/withdrawl. Again, not all people react the same. (It was a tough one for me) I have personaly run the gamut of these meds for panic/anxiety and had success with Paxil and Celexa. I was on Paxil for 6 years with no problems and one day it just stopped working for me. After many trials I had success with Celexa. As for drinking: No one that I know has ever "blacked out" from having one or two drinks while on this class of med. I would be more concerned about mixing alcohol with benzos as there is great potential for respiritory depression when combining the two. Only you know your level of tollerance and sensativity. SSRI's are famous for their potential sexual side effects so, you realy wont know if that will be an issue for you with a certain drug until you try it. Wish I could help you more on that one.. Lastly I will tell you that the longer you are on antidepressants the more difficult it is to discontinue them. Most doctors will down play this problem or tell you that it is rare. It is not. It is fact. When an SSRI is discontinued, especially cold turkey or tapering to quickly you will likely experience symptoms of the problem you were originaly treated for.(as well as symptoms you may have never had) If upon reinstating the med, the symptoms go away then, it is a withdrawl/ discontinuation syndrom. If the condition you were diagnosed with still exists you would not likely relapse to it for a few months after the meds are stopped. ( not trying to scare you, just want you to be informed) I have been on these meds for 11 years and trying like h*ll to get off of them. No Doctor can say with absolute certainty that I still have or ever realy did have Panic disorder if I have never been off of the meds! Best of luck to you and I hope this has been helpful. Erin...

[kariMM]

Okay... I have been reading up on this board... I have noticed that some of you "aunty" have been on here since 2005 Feb... which makes me really comfortable... So here goes...

Hi... I am Kari, 30+ wife and mother of 3 beautiful children (9,6&3)and hubby too LOL... I have been seeing a Psychologist for a few months... who has decided that I would benefit from drug therapy as well. She has since sent me back to my MD. I can actually say that I may need something... my family needs me back... and I can honestly tell all of you... I am tired of being this me... I need to not cry all of the time and feel like I can breath again, and feel like those cute commercials that should be sweet... make me smile instead of make cry!

A little backround... I had been taking care of my father for the past 6 yrs, I was his Power of Attorney... and his health care director... I was in charge of the live or die part... He has since died... on the day of his death my grandmother had a heart attack (his mom) missed the funeral etc, and was in the hosp for a month... my grandfather has terminal cancer (his dad) Why me you ask... (parents are divorced and not talking) I am also a Hospice Nurse! My close cousin has since tried to commit suicide and is now in a Coma, and my hubby is having heart issues. (all since feb 27th) To make a long story short... LOL I am having trouble NOW due to repressed issues that have resurfaced in the last couple of months... oh yeah and had a hysterectomy in JUNE myself... UGH!!!! I cry all of the time, I get panic attacks all of the time, and when I have a day off of work... I don't get moving... ever!

I cry as I write this... and am even more worried as my doctor has just put me on LEX... 10mg every day.... I have read about all of the trouble the withdrawing has caused most of you... BUT was any of it worth it... did it help you at all? I need help and I have tried everything in the last year... Is coming down worth what it gave you? I need me, My family needs me... I just can't seem to get out of this FUNK!

Worried(as usual) & Upset(as Usual)
Kari

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by kariMM

Okay... I have been reading up on this board... I have noticed that some of you "aunty" have been on here since 2005 Feb... which makes me really comfortable... So here goes...

Hi... I am Kari, 30+ wife and mother of 3 beautiful children (9,6&3)and hubby too LOL... I have been seeing a Psychologist for a few months... who has decided that I would benefit from drug therapy as well. She has since sent me back to my MD. I can actually say that I may need something... my family needs me back... and I can honestly tell all of you... I am tired of being this me... I need to not cry all of the time and feel like I can breath again, and feel like those cute commercials that should be sweet... make me smile instead of make cry!

A little backround... I had been taking care of my father for the past 6 yrs, I was his Power of Attorney... and his health care director... I was in charge of the live or die part... He has since died... on the day of his death my grandmother had a heart attack (his mom) missed the funeral etc, and was in the hosp for a month... my grandfather has terminal cancer (his dad) Why me you ask... (parents are divorced and not talking) I am also a Hospice Nurse! My close cousin has since tried to commit suicide and is now in a Coma, and my hubby is having heart issues. (all since feb 27th) To make a long story short... LOL I am having trouble NOW due to repressed issues that have resurfaced in the last couple of months... oh yeah and had a hysterectomy in JUNE myself... UGH!!!! I cry all of the time, I get panic attacks all of the time, and when I have a day off of work... I don't get moving... ever!

I cry as I write this... and am even more worried as my doctor has just put me on LEX... 10mg every day.... I have read about all of the trouble the withdrawing has caused most of you... BUT was any of it worth it... did it help you at all? I need help and I have tried everything in the last year... Is coming down worth what it gave you? I need me, My family needs me... I just can't seem to get out of this FUNK!

Worried(as usual) & Upset(as Usual)
Kari

I will try and help however I can. This will be a short reply as it is late and I must try to sleep. One thing you said in particular raised a red flag to me. You said you have recently had a hysterectomy. Are you currently on any type of hormone replacement therapy or supplementation? Having a hysterectomy puts your body into a forced menopause. I would have to know more about your symptoms to give the best oppinion that I can however, symptoms of depression(ie: crying and sadness) are also menopausal complications. I see that your stress levels have been very elevated, understandably so. However, I think that the hormonal factor should not be ruled out as a cause. If you have not yet looked into the menopause aspect, I highly reccomend that you do before commiting to an antidepresant. ( dont stop taking it without your doctors o.k. though) If your symptoms are menopause related there are much better treatment options available to you that would not require an antidepresant. Xanax is very effective for panic attacks so long as it is only used as needed. I am not a physician so, this is just my opinion. Feel free to ask any questions should you have them. Goodluck...Erin

[kariMM]

Hey Erin, Thanks for your reply... Yes we went down that avenue first... I saw my OBGYN before my Md and Psycologist, I didn't have a total hysterectomy... they left my left ovary... and my hormone levels are exactly where they should be... he said they are not off at all and he said I needed a therapist not HRT. I went down that avenue prior... because that is what I thought it was also... (except I wasn't having the hot flashes and the night sweats, and anything but insomnia, tears, and Severe anxiety... like I couldn't breathe! Thought I was going crazy) I am having my hormones checked every three months for the 1st year! I am also due to go in again this month... to do it again. I am nervous about taking this. I just started it this morning (10mg) and have to work today... in this Blasted SNOW storm... So my anxiety by the time I get to the Hospital aught to be thru the roof... I hate to drive in this stuff.... I would rather go crawl into bed and stay there!

Kari

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by kariMM

Hey Erin, Thanks for your reply... Yes we went down that avenue first... I saw my OBGYN before my Md and Psycologist, I didn't have a total hysterectomy... they left my left ovary... and my hormone levels are exactly where they should be... he said they are not off at all and he said I needed a therapist not HRT. I went down that avenue prior... because that is what I thought it was also... (except I wasn't having the hot flashes and the night sweats, and anything but insomnia, tears, and Severe anxiety... like I couldn't breathe! Thought I was going crazy) I am having my hormones checked every three months for the 1st year! I am also due to go in again this month... to do it again. I am nervous about taking this. I just started it this morning (10mg) and have to work today... in this Blasted SNOW storm... So my anxiety by the time I get to the Hospital aught to be thru the roof... I hate to drive in this stuff.... I would rather go crawl into bed and stay there!

Kari

Even though your hormone levels have been in the normal range your body is still adjusting to the changes. The endocrine system is so complicated. You are lucky to have a Dr who is monitering this. Did they test your hormone levels prior to surgery? If they did not then they are basing your results on what they consider an "Average" compared to other women of similar age and background as you. It is possible for your normal hormone range to be higher than that of others. Been doing the hormone roller coaster with my husbands health probs all year. His levels are naturaly higher than the average range so, trying to moniter his progress has been tricky. I am in no way trying to tell you that you do not have an anxiety or panic type problem, only trying to let you know that there are a multitude of other problems that manifest with these symptoms. Thyroid conditions also mimic panic/anxiety so do some vitamin/mineral defficiencies. As someone who has been on SSRI's for 11 years without ever having been tested for or even made aware of other conditions presenting these symptoms, I only wish to caution you. This class of drug is quite difficult to get off of once started.The longer you use them the more likely you are to have trouble quiting. These meds are very helpfull to people when needed though. My advice to you from personal experience would be to ask your Dr for a different med. Celexa is the parent drug of Lexepro and has been used and researched much more as it is older. Lexepro is much newer and more potent and selective. Celexa is available in generic (citalopram) I have had more success with it than Lexepro. Fewer side effects etc, and research seems to agree that it will be somewhat less complicated to discontinue than Lexepro. The absolute best advice that I can give anyone about antidepresants is this: Do not ever let a Dr tell you that you will need to take this forever. You should be re-evaluted within one year of successful treatment at which time I would slowly taper off. ( if all is well) and see how you do. You may or may not need what is called "ongoing maintanence treatment" I am not a Dr so, I can only advise in relation to personal experience. Absolutely explore other meds. Don't let any Dr tell you that withdrawl/discontinuation is rare, it is not; most dont know because they have never experienced it. Some meds have a lower instence of withdrawl though and Lexepro is not one of them. If you have questions on panic/anxiety or just want to talk,I would be happy to help however I can. Panic/ anxiety is the problem I was given these meds for and I know alot about this topic. I do know how you feel! Good Luck...Erin

[kariMM]

Erin,

Initially I did have my hormones checked by my OB as I had been having problems w/endometriosis and My MD checked my TSH/T4 levels...and they were within the normal ranges... so she didn't seem to think that that was at all related. I think I was looking for any way around having to take this type of medication.

We discussed the Celexa vs Lex when we discussed what to put me on... and her main reason for putting me on the Lex was that it treats not only the depression... which is where she thinks my anxiety is coming from... but also the anxiety tooo... and her claim was that Celexa hasn't been specifically studied as an anxiety drug... and she wanted to treat both effectively. As a nurse myself I already knew that part... I was still leary of going on anything... as I have never been on anything before...

First day on Lex report... I got a little bit of nausea this morning after I took it... I will for sure take it after I eat tomorrow! Other than that I have not noticed any other side effects. I only worked a short shift tonight... and got home at 10 as I am working a double tomorrow. So we will see how day two goes for me... still nervous! But hoping I will feel better soon... as I don't think I can take much more of this me!

Hey, Erin... Thanks for all of your advise and help! It helps to have someone to talk to that doesn't walk on egg shells around me...

Kari

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by kariMM

Erin,

Initially I did have my hormones checked by my OB as I had been having problems w/endometriosis and My MD checked my TSH/T4 levels...and they were within the normal ranges... so she didn't seem to think that that was at all related. I think I was looking for any way around having to take this type of medication.

We discussed the Celexa vs Lex when we discussed what to put me on... and her main reason for putting me on the Lex was that it treats not only the depression... which is where she thinks my anxiety is coming from... but also the anxiety tooo... and her claim was that Celexa hasn't been specifically studied as an anxiety drug... and she wanted to treat both effectively. As a nurse myself I already knew that part... I was still leary of going on anything... as I have never been on anything before...

First day on Lex report... I got a little bit of nausea this morning after I took it... I will for sure take it after I eat tomorrow! Other than that I have not noticed any other side effects. I only worked a short shift tonight... and got home at 10 as I am working a double tomorrow. So we will see how day two goes for me... still nervous! But hoping I will feel better soon... as I don't think I can take much more of this me!

Hey, Erin... Thanks for all of your advise and help! It helps to have someone to talk to that doesn't walk on egg shells around me...

Kari

It is great to hear that you have explored the possability of underlying conditions. It is unfortunate yet true that most people dont. Even though I am not a Dr I will disagree on the Celexa. There is more research to support it than Lexepro. The reason being that celexa is older than Lex by several years, around 10; I think. The majority of physicians have a tendency to prescribe the newer meds before trying an older one. Many think that the newer meds are better developed because of the advance in knowlege of neurochemistry. Sadly, this is not neccisarily true. The fact remains that science is still mystified by the human brain. Anxiety and depression tend to be comorbid, This is true for me. You may not have any problems with Lexepro, not everyone does as all of us are different. If you do experience unpleasant side effects you can always try a different med. I encourage you to track your progress though. Even if you only jot down a few words on a note pad here or there. I think that helps by providing a visual record to track progress and side effects. Maybee just make a note if you feel more or less anxious from day to day. SSRI's have the potential to worsen anxiety. When you start a med it can be difficult to tell if it is not working or if it is causing more anxiety. Just a thought. I have had some meds make me crawl out of my skin and others make me feel comatose. In the end all you can do is try a med and see. I hope Lex works for you though. Also, are you taking any benzos to relieve symptoms? Sometimes just talking to people who understand helps alot. For me, The more I learn about this problem and the treatment options, the more confident I become that I can beat this which helps me feel better. My advice: research,research and more research. Hang in there, it will take some time but you will get better . Erin

[erinkj]

How are you doing? Are you feeling any better? Let me know. Erin

[kariMM]

Hey... have been busy... last couple of days... thanks for checking back with me... Have had to work and the kids have activities at night... I am not nauseated anymore... still not sleeping well, and I haven't noticed a change yet... I am still me... I have however lost 4 Lbs... which is okay, as long as I don't gain it back! UGH! How long will it take before I feel better?

Kari

[8monthslater]

I posted this in a new thread but this seems to be the one that gets the most action. Thanks.


Hi, I am 39 and have a 4 year old and a 1 year old. In between the births of my children I was pregnant and lost a baby to Trisomy 13 when I was 5 months pregnant. I never had suffered from anxiety before so when a couple of months later when my heart started pounding out of my chest, I just knew I was having a heart attack. I had a full cardio workup and the docs told me that i was having panic attacks and prescribed me Lexapro and Klonopin. Stupid me, I took the pills as prescribed and began to feel better. 4 months later I got pregnant and stopped taking the drugs cold turkey. I had a few problems but nothing to the extreme. Fast forward. I had a healthy baby girl last Nov. I immediately went into a full blown post partum anxiety mode. I think I was so afraid that maybe she would not be healthy from my past experience. I ended up in the er 9 days after she was born. I started taking Lex again and took it for 4 months. I forgot to add that the first time I took Lex I got high pitched tinnitus in both ears that never went away. The 2nd time i took it i felt as if i was getting muscle twitches and a wierd low pitched humming sound only in my left ear. I quit the med cold turkey after 4 months. Here it is 8 months later and these are my symptoms:
Humming and pain in left ear
bouncy blurry vision with shimmering flashing lights
a burnt tongue sensation constantly
rebound anxiety
occasional feeling like i have a motor on inside my body (esp when resting)

I guess i am wondering if it is at all possible that these particular problems could still be withdrawals or something else.

I have had an MRI of brain, CT scan of brain, balance tests, visual evoked response test, .... and the list goes on. Every doc keeps telling me I am normal, BUT I am not. For 39 years i did not have these symptoms. They are not normal for me. Please help me. I am almost at the end of my rope. The humming in ear and visual stuff is driving me crazy. I just want to feel good again. Any advice suggestions and responses will be greatly appreciated!!Thank you for reading my book!

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by 8monthslater

I posted this in a new thread but this seems to be the one that gets the most action. Thanks.


Hi, I am 39 and have a 4 year old and a 1 year old. In between the births of my children I was pregnant and lost a baby to Trisomy 13 when I was 5 months pregnant. I never had suffered from anxiety before so when a couple of months later when my heart started pounding out of my chest, I just knew I was having a heart attack. I had a full cardio workup and the docs told me that i was having panic attacks and prescribed me Lexapro and Klonopin. Stupid me, I took the pills as prescribed and began to feel better. 4 months later I got pregnant and stopped taking the drugs cold turkey. I had a few problems but nothing to the extreme. Fast forward. I had a healthy baby girl last Nov. I immediately went into a full blown post partum anxiety mode. I think I was so afraid that maybe she would not be healthy from my past experience. I ended up in the er 9 days after she was born. I started taking Lex again and took it for 4 months. I forgot to add that the first time I took Lex I got high pitched tinnitus in both ears that never went away. The 2nd time i took it i felt as if i was getting muscle twitches and a wierd low pitched humming sound only in my left ear. I quit the med cold turkey after 4 months. Here it is 8 months later and these are my symptoms:
Humming and pain in left ear
bouncy blurry vision with shimmering flashing lights
a burnt tongue sensation constantly
rebound anxiety
occasional feeling like i have a motor on inside my body (esp when resting)

I guess i am wondering if it is at all possible that these particular problems could still be withdrawals or something else.

I have had an MRI of brain, CT scan of brain, balance tests, visual evoked response test, .... and the list goes on. Every doc keeps telling me I am normal, BUT I am not. For 39 years i did not have these symptoms. They are not normal for me. Please help me. I am almost at the end of my rope. The humming in ear and visual stuff is driving me crazy. I just want to feel good again. Any advice suggestions and responses will be greatly appreciated!!Thank you for reading my book!

There is ALOT I can tell you about these problems and ALOT of help that you will get from these boards. For now though, I need to go to bed so, I will reply to again Fri afternoon. There is another thread on this site about Lexapro withdrawl that is wonderful and filled with alot of detailed information. It is the one started by Auntybiotic. Read those posts.....You are one of many going through these same problems. It is not technichly a withdrawl but rather a discontinuation syndrom. Google search Lexapro discontinuation syndrom or SSRI disccontinuation syndrom and you will be amazed at the info that pops up. There are things you can do to get better. You are not alone. The ear ringing is very common post Lex! Your brain has not yet healed from the changes caused by taking this med so, nuerotransmitters are misfiring which cause the symptoms. more on that later. I will catch ya tomorro. Hang in there. Erin...

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by kariMM

Hey... have been busy... last couple of days... thanks for checking back with me... Have had to work and the kids have activities at night... I am not nauseated anymore... still not sleeping well, and I haven't noticed a change yet... I am still me... I have however lost 4 Lbs... which is okay, as long as I don't gain it back! UGH! How long will it take before I feel better?

Kari

I understand all about busy, I have 3 kids, hubby and college full time. Final exams were today. UGH. If you are still taking the Lexapro it can take up to a month to get the full effect although, it is usually about 2 weeks. If you are still having the attacks you may need to increase to 20mg. after the first month. If you are still on Lex and not having unpleasant side effects then you should begin to improve within 2 weeks. Fatigue is a common side effect of all drugs in the SSRI class. Some get that, some dont. For most people that usually subsides within a month or two of treatment. If you are using a benzodiazepine as well, you could be tired from that. SSRI's are a tough call. They can be very helpful when they are needed just not good for the longterm. (as I have found out) It seems the longer you are on SSRI's the more chance you have of problems quiting them. (it can be done though) The most important thing for you right now is to get to that point were you are feeling better and the panic/anxiety attacks subside and get under total control! Dont overwhelm yourself with worrying about getting off Lex. You will cross that bridge when you come to it. ( after you are on a more even keel) Lots of help available here to help with that when the time comes. Just breathe deep and try to chill, you will get there it just takes a little time. Take a good multi- vitamin and omega 3 if you dont already. Keep me posted. Hugs Erin...