Considering starting Lexapro

Hot Rod · Post by **Hot Rod** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:47 am

Did the program (twice!) and have done great for a few years. Then got VERY sick which got the anxiety started again. The panic caused another serious replapse so, long story short, have been ill for almost a year. Which really trained my mind into some nasty, anxious thought patterns. Got to feeling like I was dying all the time, convinced I was dying of a heart attack, got obsessive about taking my pulse (sound familiar anyone? lol) and now find myself barely getting through a work day. Off to the doc I go, who has been trying to get me on an SSRI for years now, and finally give in. I have samples of 10mg Lexapro and a script for .5 Xanax. I've never taken xanax either. Managed to get phobic about it before I could manage to take it. (sheesh) Anyway, I've researched the absolute bejeezus out of this drug and am absolutely torn about whether or not to take it. My doc does not seem to understand that OUR minds just aren't like the average joe who can take drugs like this and tolerate "usual" side effects. What is a normal side effect for some is like a freaking beating to me. So... I would love to hear from others who have similar brain chemistry to myself.

What were your experiences?
What were and how long did your side effects last?
Did it help you enough to warrant the risk?

Thanks to any and all who repsond.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:18 pm

I too have suffered thru anxiety and I know where ur about the med thing.I started lex about 2 yrs ago best thing I ever done.Noticed a difference with in 2 wks and side effects were soooooooo mild.If I can be of any help please let me now ur not alone in this.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 10:22 am

Thank you so much for your reply. It always helps so much to know we are not alone in this. Regarding the Lexapro, would you mind telling me what dose you started with? I was planning on cutting the 10mg tabs into quarters and starting with that. These past two mornings I have taken my first xanax ever. I cut those in quarters (seemed like a silly little bit of pill) but, believe it or not, it STILL put me to sleep and made me feel rather out of it for the rest of the day. However, guess it beats panic, right? I'm just so sensitive to drugs that I really REALLY fear anything (like Lexapro) that will screw around with my already screwy brain chemistry.

Are you still on it?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 3:34 pm

I started with a fourth and felt better in 1 wk then went up to a half been on that for 2 yrs and it has worked great.I see no need to go up until I feel like I need too.I really had no bad side effects other than feeling more anxious the first couple of days ut I always do that when I start a new med.As for the xanax they gave me that too but I too felt like I was half out of it and no longer took it.I really hope it works for you in away I felt like it gave me my life back.Feel free to ask me anything u need I been there and I know how u feel.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:05 pm

I've been on Lexapro for a number of years now and have had no ill side effects. This is a big deal for me because I also am very sensitive to medication and tolerate very few of them. The only side effect I remember when I started is that I slept better at night, which I hardly minded!

As for dosage, I went up at 5 mg increments to my current dosage of 20 mg. I went as high as 40 mg with one of my doctors to see if I could get any more benefit from the drug, but I never noticed any more calming effects beyond 20 mg and so I returned to that dosage soon after.

I hope that you have good luck taking it. I certainly can sympathize with your fears. Sometimes I feel like the anxiety I get over taking new medications is worse than benefit I might get by taking it! I'm sure that while I often get many side effects when taking a new med that at least some of them are from my anxiety rather than real. How frustrating is that?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 6:33 am

It seems that the majority of people are having good benefits from this med. However, you know how our anxious minds will glom onto that ONE horrific experience and just KNOW that this will be us. So...I am still torn. I do not care for the way the xanax makes me feel yet I am glad to have my brain shut off for awhile, too. I would like to thank each of you for sharing and hope to garner even more info as this post ages a bit.

Btw, isn't it nice knowing that we aren't alone in this? I find this forum to be not only a great source of information but of comfort as well. Wow, real, live warm human beings out there who are going through the same thing...

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Oct 30, 2009 9:33 am

I also took Lexapro a year ago...it too gave me some weird side effects which of course made me nervous. I am debating going on it again but am not sure. Did anyone start taking this and need to take time off of work? That is one of my biggest fears! Any suggestions?