Hi all. Firstly I was on aropax (Paxil) for 15 years to help with anxiety and depression. The last nine months I have been having extremely bad anxiety again so bad I had to quit my job. Saw my DR and he suggested I did a straight swap from aropax to lexapro. He advised me of some side effects. I'm on 10mg and he wanted me to increase it to 15mg. I did this but I had server insomnia so went back down to 10mg. I want to up it, but the insomnia really messes with me. I'm still having very bad anxiety. Pretty much nothing has changed. Has anyone had a similar experience? Maybe I should see if I can half the extra half and do it slowly??
Day 12 on lexapro having really bad insomnia?!?
Question posted by Breeze2 on 10 Aug 2015
Last updated on 14 June 2016 by foci88
Answers
foci88
14 June 2016
Hi, I can assure you that you are experiencing withdrawals from the Paxil itself and not the swap to Lexapro. The Paxil withdrawals are overpowering the Lexapro at this point and most likely will continue to do so for weeks or even months. SSRI's are complex and many Dr's think they're interchangeable but they each have their own potential for withdrawal and side effects. I wish Dr's were more informed and would inform their patients to always taper off of one before starting another one. It would save patients so much distress.
I was on Paxil for 6 years for anxiety and switched overnight to Zoloft several years ago. Much like yourself, I had severe insomnia, felt over stimulated, restless, etc... I thought it was due to Zoloft so I quit after 5-6 weeks and concluded that it didn't work for me. My Dr. wasn't helpful about the symptoms I experienced nor did he ever mention it was due to Paxil withdrawal. I later found out myself through research that its quite common and that Paxil is the toughest SSRI to discontinue. My sleep pattern was messed up for nearly 2 years.
After taking nothing for my anxiety the past 8 yrs I recently caved and just started on 5 mg of Lexapro 3 days ago. In a week I will increase it to 10 mgs. Admittedly I was hesitant to ever go on another SSRI because of my bad experience with the Paxil withdrawals, but I've been assured that Lexapro being the newest SSRI has the least side effects of the SSRI's and that I should respond well to it. If it works, I've made the decision to stay on it forever.
Sure hope you have found Lexapro working for you.
cherrrub
10 Aug 2015
Hi there! I'm also on 10mg of Lexapro and have been now for 6 weeks. I have to say, it's amazing for anxiety!! I feel fabulous! But one of the down sides to it is insomnia which I suffered from until my psych put me on 100mg of Seroquel XR. I now sleep really well! I take the Seroquel 2 hours before bed time and it makes me quite drowsy and tired. It also enhances the effect of the Lexapro! :-)
Breeze2
10 Aug 2015
I'm so happy For you that you have found something to help with your anxiety.
How long would you say into Taking lexapro that you started to few the anxiety drift away? Have you felt the need to up from 10mg? I really hope it works, but so far no luck :(
cherrrub
10 Aug 2015
For me it was around 4 weeks where I really noticed the difference. I haven't felt the need to up the dose at all. But the Seroquel XR also enhances the effects of the Lexapro so that could also have something to do with it? Hang in there... In another couple of weeks I'm sure you will be feeling much better!!
Breeze2
12 Aug 2015
Hi Cherrub. So I saw my Psyc the other day and he actually gave me script for quetiapine which is the same as seroquel. I was an idiot and googled it straight away and it said to be wary of slowing down of the breathing? As having panic attacks this made me more anxious. Just wondering if u have any side effects you noticed with it?
cherrrub
12 Aug 2015
No! No side effects at all! Well, just a little tired/groggy in the morning that is worse for the first week, but after that it goes after about 2 hours from waking up. But no breathing issues etc.. I was getting around 3-4 hours of sleep a night! Now I'm getting 7.5-8.5 hours! It's amazing! Don't be afraid! You will be fine! :-)
Breeze2
14 Aug 2015
So I thought I would update you on my experience with the sleeping tablet. I'm only took 25mg and it hit me about an hour after I took it. I felt like I had consumed 29 bottles of wine! I didn't like it one bit at all. I didn't like how it took over and had contrnpf my body. I tried to just go to sleep, but because I'm so anxious it was hard coz I thought I would die in my sleep. So annoyed it cojslnt help me but I think I'm just too in an anxious place about everything that just amplified it! I'm increasing my lexapro even though the side effects get worse with each increase. My psyc wants me to get to at least 20mg. I wish it would just work now. So over it! :((((
cherrrub
14 Aug 2015
Ok, Seriquel doesn't make you feel like that. About 2 hours after taking it, I feel just tried and could fall asleep straight away (which I do). Maybe when your Lexapro kicks in you will feel a little less anxious about the sleeping tabs. Hope it all works out for you!!
Cubby blue 2016
9 Jan 2016
Breeze2,
Did you ever stabilize on Lexapro? You might have also been going through withdrawal at the same time? How long did it take you? Did the anxiety and insomnia go away. Dealing with similar challenges myself. Fill us in please.
Related topics
lexapro, paxil, depression, anxiety, insomnia, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, anxiety and stress
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