lexapro and side effects

christa50 · Post by **christa50** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 7:52 pm

I was wondering if anyone else had trouble with lexapro. I have been on it for 2 months and was at 10 mg now i am back to 5mg so i can get off it. I have alot more panic and anxiety and my worse symptom is shortness of breath. I went to the doctor and he said my lungs are fine, it reminds me of when i have a panic attack except its all the time.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 3:01 am

If you'll read the "Lexapro" post, that is a common effect. I could not take it....and even when I went back down to 5mgs for a week, it still made me worse....and I was taking Klonopin for a few weeks before I started it. I gave it 2 weeks and it honestly took me backwards and I had to stop. Many say the SE's go away after a time, but after 2 months, I'd say talk to your doc again, it may not be the SSRI for you, or like me, I cant tolerate SSRI's, and guess maybe my seratonin levels were okay to begin with.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Jul 30, 2008 1:29 pm

I take Lex 10mg for 3 moths now. After 2 months if you still have SE I would say it isnt working for you. Talk to your doc and see if there is another med you can try. I find it works well for me, but everyone is different.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:42 am

Crista,
Cutting your dose down by 50% (10 to 5) is too big a jump at one time. Take smaller steps, like 10mg to 7.5mg and stay there for a month and see how you are doing. Then you can slowly move down another 'small' step.

Also, if you have caffeine and sugar in your diet, it's going to make it much harder to deal with anxiety.
BTW, what you are describing, about feeling anxious all the time, that is Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Please get some regular (every day) exercise right away. It will help greatly.
God Bless and Peace be with you.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 31, 2008 8:57 pm

since i quit taking the lexapro the shortness of breath and the chest tightness is gone. I dont really want to taper it because of the problems i have with it.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Aug 22, 2008 4:13 am

i found out the lexapro was making me worse...i went off it and my panic attacks seem to be not so bad but still there also the hurting in my chest area...i feel like the lexapro would make my aniexty worse..i've gotta talk to my dr. about something ele's<IMG ALIGN="left" SRC="http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c231/ ... na2008.jpg">