could it have been the lexapro the whole time

kriskam01 · Post by **kriskam01** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 1:07 pm

ok my friend was put on lexapro today and i had some flash backs of my past experience with lexapro. i took it for a year with no problems then got off when i quit my stressful job and was fine. i had surgery then started having small panic attacks so after a 2wks after my gallbladder surgery i thought i would try the lexapro again to help out. well the first night i woke up with horrible nausea and sweats didn't have a clue what was going on. this went on for 2 days called the doc they told me to keep taking it. ok it only got worse i started crying sooo bad then a friend one of my friends told me it made her feel the "s" word so i got really panicky scared and that afternoon i was terrifed by a knife sitting in the sink. i know now this was anxiety playing a part but it has taken 9 months for me to figure this out. this all happened in 6 days then i got off. i have been battleing with unwanted scary thoughts because of the knife image like hurting a loved one or myself becuase i didn't know what was going on with me for 9 long months. i decided to google weired lexapro side effects today and this very thing happened to someone else so i know it was now all along the lexapro causeing the anxiety to be sooo severe i started to really panic. has anyone else had this happen to them and now to get rid of the unwanted thought and scary feelings completly. i was not like this at all before this experience. can something like this cause the pure O to make you think like this for a while.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:35 pm

Dear Kriskam01, I have taken Lexapro in the past and it to me was a godsend. It helped me greatly after I had my first child. I tried to go on the generic version of it in July and had horrible symptoms. I don't know if that happened because I was anxiety ridden. I don't know if I caused the bad reaction myself. If that makes any sense. I think I was just expecting bad side effects? Have you gone back to the doc?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Dec 08, 2008 2:48 pm

no this was months ago and when i got off after only 6 days my doc said there is no way he would have put me back on anything like this so soon after my surgery being my body wasn't used to processing with out the gallbladder. sorry i did leave that out above. i had an extra refill and decided to call it in on my own without letting my doc know but i had just been off of it for like 8 months to a yr at that time. yes i was on the generic brand. so i think it was very possible it was both my body not used to not having a gallbladder and the side effects from the generic lexapro.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Dec 10, 2008 1:59 am

I think it was more likely the increase in anxiety than the meds. But the meds could have brought on the increase of anxiety, which started the thoughts. I take Lexapro and have none of those thoughts now, but I will say in the start up phase I had them and my anxiety was high, it took about 2-4 weeks for it all to calm down.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Dec 19, 2008 8:22 am

Wow, PLEASE know that starting or stopping Lexapro abruptly may (not always) cause problems. You are far better off to deal with life head on and use exercise, diet and positive (CBT) thought training.
BUT, if you have to use an SSRI like Lexapro, start very s-l-o-w-l-y. Stair step your dose up a little at a time over several weeks. That way your body has a chance to get used to it. Same thing coming off it - go slowly.
As far as your fear of hurting yourself or someone with the knife, you really need to seek professional help with that. Lexapro may not be the right med for that issue.
I'm sure it will all work out ok for you.
God Bless and Peace be with you.