should i or shouldn't i?

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 11:58 am

hello all. i took 2.5 mg of the cipralex (lexapro) today. i THINK i feel okay. a bit of a headache. not sure if i am going to take 2.5 or 5 mg tomorrow............

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:29 pm

Hi, I'm proud of you. I know it's hard to try a new med. If you don't feel comfortable going straight up to 5 mg, just give it a few days at the 2.5 mgs. take care.
Hally

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 1:41 pm

naturejj81 ,

Medications are ALWAYS a personal CHOICE! Whether to take them or not is entirely up to you. Will they help? Perhaps. Can they make things harder? Perhaps.

If you ask me, there is no real "right" answer because it's only something YOU can answer for yourself.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 3:17 am

hi again...i am wondering if i could try 2.5 mg of lexapro and just leave it at that for awhile...i see that when people are weaning off they take the 2.5 mg for a while so it must have some effect? i have a sensitive system and it may be just enough to get me functioning again (go back to work, move back to my house from my parents, etc.) and get myself on track with my thinking. my plan would be to do this til summer. anyone out there on 2.5 mg of lexapro?????????????????

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Mar 03, 2009 1:32 pm

Hi, I was on a poopload of meds for two years and have now been off them for two years this month (March). At the time I went on them, I was in crisis, unable to work, drive, or even leave the house. Now that I am off of them and not in complete crisis mode it is easier to look back at the situation. Here is what I personally learned and would recommend:
1) if you are in crisis, psychiatric medication can help a great deal. You may not feel terrific immeidately -- it is not a cureall, but it can at least help you to get to the next step of getting better.
2) if you can get psychiatric medication from a psychiatrist, that would be best. They can much better assess the problem, explain the drugs, etc., than a regular doctor.
3) begin therapy if necessary, or perhaps this Stress program will be all that you need.
4) consider being on them for a limited time, say six months. If I could go back in time, I would have gone off after six months, but I had a neuro-psychiatrist who said that I would need to be on meds for the rest of my life in order to function normally, which scared the poop out of me. BULL! Yes I have anxiety, and ordered this program (just started this week). But I'm not in crisis, I'm driving to work, etc. without meds.
5) You may want to consider a mild tranquilizer - very low non-addictive dose -- instead of an SSRI.

I also hate taking pills, mediciations, etc., and for me personally, those two years I was on meds were two years I was very simply not myself. I would prefer to have my full range of emotion, with anxiety, than not. HOWEVER, this is me and my experience, and I am a petite person who was on THREE heavy duty medications at one time. Lastly, even though I'm a free-range organic, anti-chemical wacky food-eater, I again would agree completely that if you are in crisis, take a medication.

Malikye · Post by **Malikye** » Thu Mar 05, 2009 2:06 pm

i have also been on a few different meds for 11 years . They gave me my life back . I was panic and anxiety free for 11 years cause of the meds.I did take lexapro and loved it but it did poop out on me and everthing came back but that was not till after 3 years of taking it. I took 2 mg i wish I was still on it but are bodies change. Good luck to you