Lexapro not working

MCG3 · Post by **MCG3** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:16 am

I have been on Lexapro 20mg for 3wks after a transition from Paxil starting in January. I am still having crying episodes and feeling sad. Anxiety somewhat under control. Anyone have any experiences like this. I am calling my doc today, do I go back on Paxil or try something else? Ah, the endless questions...Does anyone feel bad/guilty for taking meds, like why can't I do this on my own without meds? I am conflicted about using this program which promotes the ability to be free of this without drugs and my feeling that I need the drugs to help me cope better. Any thoughts.....

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 12:30 am

It takes about 4 - 5 weeks for any new medication you're taking to reach therapeutic levels. Try it for another couple of weeks or even another month and see how you feel. If it's helping to control your anxiety, perhaps it's beginning to work?

I've tried a lot of medications and you're right, it's very difficult trying a new medication when you're unsure of how it will work for you...or even if it will work at all, but give it a chance because it just may work for you.

The program promotes freedom from meds and that there's nothing wrong with taking medications while you're overcoming A&D; once you have the 'tools' you can taper off of them. Have you discussed this aspect with your doctor?

Why were to switched from Paxil to Lexapro? Just curious.

I've had the same conflicts of interest with medications - I was apprehensive about taking Lyrica at first, wanting to just stay on the med I was previously taking, yet I've found in time that taking Lyrica has helped very much in getting a good night's sleep; something much needed that I wasn't getting.

Give the Lexapro a chance to work and you can always try something else if you decide that it's just not working out for you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 1:21 am

Thanks for your response. I was switched from Paxil in an attempt to be able to lose some weight. I was having a real difficult time on Paxil, although I was able to lose 10 pds on Weight watchers and w/some serious exercise. The Paxil was working for my anxiety/dep though. I have been on Paxil for 6 years since the birth of my first child and that is when my panic attacks started. Everytime I tried to wean off the Paxil my symptoms came back so I am discouraged about my ability to get off meds. I have three children now under 7 so I don't feel that I have the luxury right now to try to go it w/no meds. Anyway, I never had that response to Paxil, it always started working within 1-2 weeks w/therapeutic level maybe not reached until 4-6 wks, but I feel like my depression is worse with this drug and my main symptom was usually anxiety and not depression. I am just afraid I will be on meds forever.

Do you take antidepressants? You mentioned Lyrica. Is that for restless leg syndrome. You can't underestimate the restorative power of sleep. That doesn't seem to be my problem, thank goodness. Have you completed the program?
I am still working it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:10 am

I was taking Lexapro and went off because of weight gain and irritability so I am surprised you were put on it to lose weight. I know I am not alone with the weight gain issue either, although I think now, the reason I gained the weight was because I felt numb emotionally from the Lexapro and tried to find pleasure in food. I've had ups and down since going off. Sometimes, the symptoms come back, which is annoying and occasionally scary, but I'm learning to work through them. Also, I'm learning to accept the anxiety as an integral part of myself, so it loses it's control of me. Panic disorder is really the fear of the panic, and just acknowledging that fact for me, makes it less scary. You've been on SSRI's for a long time, and it will take time for your body to regulate those chemicals on it's own if you do go off, so you will have to expect a return of symptoms. I read that there is some discussion about an unintended consequence of being on SSRI's too long is that the body becomes impaired in it's ability to regulate serotonin on it's own. It seems reasonable since the same thing happens to guys taking steroids not being able to produce/use testosterone. Since the medication seems not to be working as well anymore, and is causing it's own distress, I would revisit going off with a doctors help. Knowing that your symptoms will return but you have the skills, knowledge, and support to get through them might help. I believe you can do it because I did it, and so have many others. I also know your fears, have lived them myself. FDR said "there is nothing to fear but fear itself" and he was so right. Good luck.

Mr. B · Post by **Mr. B** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 2:32 am

I was on Paxil and switched to Lexapro for 6 months, it never really worked for me like the Paxil did, that isn't to say it won't work for you. I don't think Lexapro has the same "punch" Paxil has for anxiety.
Stay on for a few more weeks and see if you level out.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 4:26 am

Please do not beat yourself up for not wanting to try it without medication right now! The ups and downs of switching medications with three young children is enough for you right now. I too have struggled with feeling like I am inferior somehow if I need medication, and as wonderful as I think the the program program is, I agree it does make it seem like the ultimate goal is to be off medication, and that may not be realistic for everyone. I take 10mg of Paxil and did so well in 2007 with this program. My psychiatrist said he had never seen anyone do so well with cognitive behavioral therapy. I slowly weaned off (decreasing 2 mg every 6 weeks), but by the time I got down to 2mg I stopped sleeping and the panic and anxiety came back full force. I have two kids 4 and 8 and it is not worth it to me to suffer so much just to see if I can do it med-free. I need to be a good mom, and I continue to go through the program another time because I know there is more I can learn and apply. Embrace the program while you have the medications on board, and practice the skills. If the day comes that you want to go off medication, you will be that much further ahead. It is a contributing factor to our anxiety and depression that we beat ourselves up about not doing everything the "right" way. As I was tapering off Paxil so slowly, I even noticed that 3 weeks after the small 2 mg change I would have a "bump" and notice and increase in anxiety. So what you are feeling may also be due to the change itself. Hang in there,
formerly SleeplessMom

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:18 am

Hello,

I have been on both Lexapro and Paxil before.

My most recent experience with Lexapro wasn't a good one. It made me worse, so my doctor discontinued use of it. I also took Paxil, and it didn't really seem to do anything for my symptoms. I still got pretty anxious and depressed after being on it for a month, so my doctor and I decided to try something new.

I am now on Effexor XR, which is a little different than drugs like Lexapro. It's under the classification of SNRI, whereas Lexapro is an SSRI. SSRI's only effect serotonin levels in your body, whereas SNRI's effect serotonin and norepinephrine. It's believed that SNRI's maybe a little more effective than SSRI's because of the compound effect they have -- effecting two things rather than one.

Since you said your anxiety is alright, but you are still crying and feeling sad, maybe you could discuss switching to an SNRI with your doctor? It would treat your anxiety like the lexapro and paxil would, and would also treat your sadness/depression with the extra help of effecting norepinephrine levels. Effexor and Cymbalta are two of the most popular SNRI's, so perhaps you could look them up and see how many people have had success with them beforehand. It's just a suggestion.

And don't feel bad about being on medications. Sometimes your body needs the extra push if it's not doing things on it's own, ya know? And sometimes it takes a couple tries before you find the right medication for you. I went through 6 before I got to the Effexor, and I think it's working a lot better than all the other meds I have tried. So don't be discouraged and keep high hopes.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Apr 07, 2008 6:35 am

Thanks for everyone's great response. It is so amazing how everybody's body reacts so differently to all these medications. My goal is to all the things that work including medications, although I hate to have the weight gain, I have to be able to function and take good care of my 3 children. So thanks for all the good words about my med guilt; it's so true but sometimes we need to hear it again and again for it to sink in. I talked to my psych dr. today and she said we can switch now or wait until our appt in 10 days and reevaluate if Lexapro is working, so not wanting to quit too early, I will give it my best effort and try,try, try to get some exercise in b/c I know it is so good for A&D, although when you are feeling so bad the thought of the elliptical just seems overwhelming, but baby steps right...