Urgent Lexapro advice please

[Wassup]

Dear Everyone,

I have been on Lexapro for about 1 week now for my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and major depression. Things are really tough and I'm just hanging in by a thread. Previously I was on Celexa(Citalopram) but that just didn't work and now I'm in a real mess.I would so appreciate real peoples experiences and advice please. Can anyone please tell me:

1) How long this drug takes to work?
2) Does this drug help OCD symptoms? In what way and how long does this take. What dosage is necessary?
3)Does this treat depression and how long does it take to work.

Thanks so much for reading this. I hope someone can help me.

Kind regards,

Wassup

[EuroA4]

I was on Lex for just under 2 years, it can definatly help with depression (not sure about OCD), it takes up to 2 weeks to take hold and you should start to feel better. I started on 10 and eventually went to 30mg.

Problem is...now I am trying to stop, and the withdrawal symptoms are worse than any side effects while taking it. I have slowly reduced my dosage over the past 6 weeks, and I experience headaches, ZAPS, anxiety attacks, dizzy spells...mood swings,...etc. Just be careful...I am not at all sold on SSRIs. Sometimes thereapy and people to talk with are just as good. But I do understand that not everyone falls into that category.

Good luck.

[Wassup]

quote:Originally posted by EuroA4

I was on Lex for just under 2 years, it can definatly help with depression (not sure about OCD), it takes up to 2 weeks to take hold and you should start to feel better. I started on 10 and eventually went to 30mg.

Problem is...now I am trying to stop, and the withdrawal symptoms are worse than any side effects while taking it. I have slowly reduced my dosage over the past 6 weeks, and I experience headaches, ZAPS, anxiety attacks, dizzy spells...mood swings,...etc. Just be careful...I am not at all sold on SSRIs. Sometimes thereapy and people to talk with are just as good. But I do understand that not everyone falls into that category.

Good luck.

[Wassup]

[quote]Originally posted by EuroA4

I was on Lex for just under 2 years, it can definatly help with depression (not sure about OCD), it takes up to 2 weeks to take hold and you should start to feel better. I started on 10 and eventually went to 30mg.

Problem is...now I am trying to stop, and the withdrawal symptoms are worse than any side effects while taking it. I have slowly reduced my dosage over the past 6 weeks, and I experience headaches, ZAPS, anxiety attacks, dizzy spells...mood swings,...etc. Just be careful...I am not at all sold on SSRIs. Sometimes thereapy and people to talk with are just as good. But I do understand that not everyone falls into that category.

Good luck.


Dear EuroA4,

Thank you very much for your helpful advice about your Lexapro use. I'm glad that it worked for your depression although I'm sorry the tapering off experience has been a trying one for you. When I tapered off Aropax I did it really really slowly and I didn't get very many side effects at all. I think the key is the longer you've been on them, the slower you should taper off.

EuroA4, thanks for taking the time to help me with your advice

Kind regards,

Wassup

Ps. Did Lexapro cause you any anxiety?

Thanks

[Brunette20021]

I have been on this drug for about 6 months now. I have severe Depression, Anxiety and OCD. Your first question was how long this drug takes to work. For me, it took 2-3 weeks for the side effects to ease off, then you start to see the results. Your second question, if it helps OCD symptoms, for me I haven't noticed a significant difference. I have a form of OCD called Trichotillomania (an uncontrollable urge to pull out ones own hair) and there has not been an improvement in that area from taking this drug. I take 3 10mg. pills at 8:00pm each day. I don't know how well it has worked for my depression considering I ended up in the hosipital from a drug induced coma when I overdosed a couple weeks ago. This is my drug of choice for depression though since it has had little to no side effects for me. And of course results vary from person to person. Especially if they are on other drugs as well. I also take Ritalin, Serequel, Ativan, and Clonazipam. Hope this helps!

[twighlight]

I have taken 10mg Lexapro for 2-3 years now and have had no side-effects from it. I take it for clinical depression. It will take from 1-2 weeks maybe even 3 before you notice a difference. Good luck.