QUESTION FOR THOSE TAKING LEXAPRO!!!!

Questions and experiences with prescription medications
suzyblue
Posts: 7
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 1:23 pm

Post by suzyblue » Thu Sep 02, 2010 1:13 pm

Hi, Lily.

I'd been taking Lexapro or the precursor, Celexa for almost 7 years. I started on Celexa but then switched to Lexapro for some reason I don't really remember. I think I might have been feeling empty or tired all the time. For the majority of that time, I was taking Lexapro. Recently, however, I weaned off of it all together. Anyway, I'd been taking anywhere from 10 to 20 mg. Best of luck to you!

madburtonfan
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Sep 03, 2010 5:23 pm

Post by madburtonfan » Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:33 am

I have suffered from depression for almost 30 years now and believe me I have been on almost every medication available. I took Lexapro (40mg) for quite some time and unfortunately had to switch to something else because insurance would not pay for it and it is rather expensive. It has been the ONLY medication that I can say had kept my depression and related symptoms at a minimum. It was a Godsend for me. I would try the higher dose and if you don't like how it makes you feel or you have increased uncomfortable side effects, ask your doctor to lower the dosage.
I am currently doing the self help course through StressCenter and am hoping that I will be able to stop medication all together. I read Lucinda's book from Panic to Power and I truly believe that it was the beginning of my recovery.

MedicineWoman30
Posts: 3
Joined: Fri Aug 13, 2010 10:28 pm

Post by MedicineWoman30 » Tue Sep 07, 2010 9:54 pm

Hello all ~
I am new also. I am experiencing a lot of anxiety mixed with a depression I have never known before this summer. We found we had to adjust my thyroid up, but my lexapro is still at 20 mg after over 10 years. Because I believe one can combine herbs, vitamins and homeopathy together with some AMA medicines(under strict supervision of the professionals in the field) I am doing a lot of natural things to help the depression and the anxiety--a lot of cold water fish (at least 4 times a week) and fish oil; vitamin B (to include B-6 and B-12); folic acid; and DHEA because I am post menopausal. I have also added in daily estrogen replacement which has almost stopped the anxiety. I have never had any side effects from the lexapro and for that I am grateful. Because I am a in the field of natural medicine, I know enough about my body to include natural products. If you are considering a more natural approach please see a Naturopath or a Homeopath as either discipline works well with combining vitamins and herbs to the daily regime.

To find a Naturopath the website is:
www.naturopathic.org.

To find a Homeopath the website is:
www.homeopathic.org

Warmly ~
Mary

Terri54
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Sep 10, 2010 9:02 pm

Post by Terri54 » Fri Sep 10, 2010 2:45 pm

I have been on Lexapro for about 7 months. I take 5 mgs. This has helped with my mood. I was having mood swings with severe anxiety. The Lexapro stopped the mood swings. I have been taking Klonipin and Zanax for the last 23 years. I do not want to take anymore medicene. I am hoping this program will help.

miche
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:25 pm

Post by miche » Wed Sep 29, 2010 1:04 pm

I'm with MedicineWoman. I have been on 10mg for 3-4 years and started having anxiety again, so I decided to try a more holistic approach..found out that my estrogen levels are all out of whack half way thru my cycle. Started taking natural supplements to boost my estrogen, also came down with a really bad virus which interfered with the Lexapro. Since balancing my system I have been able to handle the anxiety and depression without upping Lexapro.

ashleypashley
Posts: 12
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 11:42 am

Post by ashleypashley » Sat Nov 06, 2010 3:54 pm

Hi i'm Ashley! I'm a newbie too. I have taken Lexapro for about a year now (20 mg). It has helped me in the matters of my panic attacks and bawling all the time over nothing. But I still feel very "blah" all the time. No energy and I sleep a lot. Is there something that would help with that...anyone know or relate?

lollipop28
Posts: 1
Joined: Fri Nov 12, 2010 11:31 pm

Post by lollipop28 » Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:43 pm

found out that my estrogen levels are all out of whack half way thru my cycle.
Miche~How did you find out that your estrogen level was whacked out half way through your cycle? What were your symptoms?

I am curious becuz I do pretty good through the month, I have anxiety and depression, but it is much worse towards the middle of my cycle, anything makes me feel anxious and cry.

lucky82
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Nov 13, 2010 3:38 pm

Post by lucky82 » Sat Nov 13, 2010 8:55 am

Hi I am fairly new to the program. I have been taking Lexapro for almost a year now -10mg a day-and it has helped tremendously. Ideally I would like to be off of the medicine altogether and rely on nutrition and exercise and vitamins for keeping myself stable. Medical doctors don't seem to know anything about it when I try to talk about this. When I mentioned to one doctor that I took fish oil she said it is only for people with high cholesterol and so are high doses of B vitamins. I had been taking a super-B complex and was getting occasional flushing episodes (feeling hot and prickly suddenly-scary if you don't know what it is) which I think was from getting so much niacin in my blood. Anyway, I have trouble finding doctors who just LISTEN and consider that I might know what I am talking about. I have heard good things about SAMe but I know you can't take it with an antidepressant. Anyone have opinions or experiences on SAMe? One doctor I asked said it was only for joint pain and just sort of shook her head. It is very frustrating.

Also Lexapro has nearly killed my sex drive which has not been the best thing for my relationship. Does anyone have advice on what to do about low sex drive while on antidepressants? I am not ready to get off the Lexapro yet, so any advice would be really helpful.

CLINTW
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Dec 16, 2010 12:53 pm

Post by CLINTW » Thu Dec 16, 2010 6:07 am

I AM NEW TO PROGRAM AND HAVE BEEN TAKING LEXAPRO FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND IT HAS BEEN GREAT AS FAR AS THE DEPRESSION. I STILL HAD MANIC EPISODES AND MY MIND WOULD NEVER STOP RACING AND WAS IN A SENSE VERY LOUD ALL THE TIME, SO TO SPEAK AND MOSTLY AT NIGHT. MY DOCTOR PUT ME ON A MOOD STABLEIZER-SEROQUEL XR-50MG WHICH HAS BEEN WORKING VERY WELL. I HAVE TO EXERCISE MORE TO FIGHT OFF THE WEIGHT GAIN. I WOULDNT TRADE THE SIDE EFFECTS AT THIS POINT IF IT MEANT GOING BACK TO BEFORE, THE TRADE OFF IS GOOD FOR THE TIME BEING

maria k
Posts: 38
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2006 3:25 pm

Post by maria k » Tue Jan 11, 2011 12:16 am

quote:
found out that my estrogen levels are all out of whack half way thru my cycle.


Miche~How did you find out that your estrogen level was whacked out half way through your cycle? What were your symptoms?

I am curious becuz I do pretty good through the month, I have anxiety and depression, but it is much worse towards the middle of my cycle, anything makes me feel anxious and cry.
Miche and Lollipop,

I also believe my problems are hormone related, although all of the standard hormone tests come back normal. I have taken years of fertility drugs and thats when all of my anxiety problems started. Also, I noticed when I start my cycle and exactly mid way through, I always feel extra anxiety. I wish there were somone who could tell us and specialized in this. I know there is a peri-menopause and menopause site where alot of the woman are on ADs due to their hormones. I think its called power surge or something.

Maria

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