Lexapro

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 8:15 pm

ive been on lexapro for 2 months now and let me tell you the first few weeks are rough because my anxiety got more worse i felt a burning sensation on my chest my neck and my thighs it was horrible i called my psychiatrist and of course he said it was me not the pill so i tried to stick with it. i dont go more than 5 mlg i also take b-complex to calm me down and calcium and magnicium it helps but now going on for 2 months im doing pretty good no more horrible side effects !

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:53 am

Increased anxiety, burning sensations, and stomach problems are normal start up SE, they WILL go away, all of mine did. I have no side effect now and I have been on it for 3 months, I feel much better on it. Starting meds, increasing and decreasing the dosage can all cause these type of symptoms.

Give it time, they will go away.

Yellow Rose Of Tx · Post by **Yellow Rose Of Tx** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 7:41 am

Hi, I tried some of the newer antidepressant drugs and found that most had that effect on my stomach. My docter put me on one of the older ones because the effect isn't as harsh. He told me that while we are trying to build up the sertonin in the brain to feel good, it also builds in the stomach. which makes us feel sick so if you can stand it until it evens out you'll be o.k. I couldn't stand that feeling so I tried Zoloft and now prozac. Hope that helps let us know how it goes or if there is some better advice I'm all for it. Rachel

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:11 am

I was prescribed Lexapro a couple of years ago, aafter being prescribed Xanax at age 28 - I'm now 48) and when I heard that you can feel anxious/anxiety (not to mention, the possible side effects) when first starting it, I wouldn't take it. As with everything in my obsessive-mind thoughts, I was far more afraid of feeling anxious than I was about the potential long-term helpful effect. I also refused Paxil and Celexa, much to the dismay of my doctor.

Thus started my journey of refusing to take any additional or different medication and see if I could conquer my anxiety/panic disorder/depression through an alternate route. Like cognitive-behavioral therapy (Lucinda Bassett's tapes!). It's SO NOT EASY. Mostly because the school of thought seems to be (especially from clinicians): If you had diabetes, you'd take insulin, so why won't you treat your disorder in the same manner? Don't even get me started on how difficult it is to stop taking Xanax, which has to be a weaning process. I hate the diabetic analogy, because diabetics HAVE to take insulin or they'll die.

As difficult as not taking additional medication is, I don't feel like I'll die without it. I just don't want to be dependent on more medication. I already dislike the Xanax dependency. I've self-reduced my dose for quite awhile now, but unfortunately, it's both physically and psychologically addicting (20 years later...), and I find it frustrating that so many doctors are so quick to prescribe pills.

Please know that I fully understand that there are definitely people who need to be on SSRI's and other medications for their anxiety/panic/depression and in no way am I judging at all. I'm just trying desperately to keep seeking alternate therapies.

So far, I've taken some online courses, tried acupuncture and also have tried to keep busy volunteering (very helpful for the "negative" mind chatter) and regularly exercising (walking/weights/swimming) and even taking dance lessons (another great distraction).

I wish for all of us to find that great inner peace and quieter thought process and to minimize or end the suffering of anxiety/panic and depression.

I'm so grateful that there is such a supportive community here to help.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 11:16 am

Dumped the Lexapro. After coming back down to 5mgs, I called my psychdoc and told him that I was almost as bad with the nausea and anxiety as I was the day I first walked in his office, AND I'm on 2mgs of Klonopin a day....he said stop. Going to squash this round, use the K for a couple more weeks and then figure out something else. He is all for CBT and this course, I already have the Linden Method. I guess SSRI's and my stomach just don't mesh, and since nausea is my primary symptom with anxiety, I can not take any MORE at this point. I want to include a link that a friend sent me, for what its worth, I'm having some tests done in 2 weeks because I was diabetic with both of my pregnancies, and this rang a loud bell :
<A HREF="http://www.authorviews.com/authors/bennett/obd.htm" TARGET=_blank>http://www.authorviews.com/authors/bennett/obd.htm</A>
If it doesn't work, PM me and I will send.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:27 pm

Originally posted by Want2FeelGoodAgain:
Does lexapro make you a bit "more" anxious in the beginning? On my second week, first week was on 5mg, went up to 10 for 4th day now and I just feel edgy and anxious ( a little nauseas too). Anyone else? I take it in the am, did fine with the 5mg, but also am finding that the 10 mg is making me more sleepy mid day too. Thanks for any help.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 1:30 pm

Originally posted by TThomas:
I am also on Lexapro. I was started out on 10mg a day and am now on 20mg. I felt really edgy after I was on 10mg for about 4 or 5 months, but now that I am now on 20mg I don't feel the edgy or anxiousness anymore. I have been on it for almost a year, well next month will be a year. Yes, I get real tired mid-day too. Hope this helps.

Hi I'm on 10 mg of lexapro now. At first it seemed to be working, but now at the end of the day im really tired and edgy. Do you suggest I ask the doctor for an upgrade, more dosage?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Tue Jul 29, 2008 5:15 am

I also take 10mg, I have been on it for 3 months. It has worked well so far and I dont seem to have any anxiety. But the past week I have noticed I feel weepy, like a need a really good cry and sometime I notcie I tear up for no reason. I have had a rough week, alot of sad thing have occured. But I too am wondering if I need an increase.

How common is it to need an increase in meds?