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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by missinglynxx on February 2, 2003, at 19:38:06
In reply to NO MORE PANIC ATTACKS =), posted by mikal on January 31, 2003, at 14:14:37
> I went on Lexapro 3 weeks ago 10mg... it has been an absolute savior. I haven't had a panic attack in about 18 days, this stuff started working fast. At first it seemed to disconect the full blown anxiety which would start with the racing heart from the horrible thinking that ended up, for lack of better words, making me feel crazy, sweaty and diconected from my self. I could still feel the impulse to go into panic but the restults were far less severe. Over the past couple of weeks, especially in the last 3-5 days I have noticed that my thinking has changed. I'm not focused on "what if's." Not thinking about the "what-ifs" has given me the ability to feel happiness. When you're so controlled by "what if this is the big one" it is impossible to embrace anything but horror. My panic has not only subsided; I have realized that life can be happy and good.
> I was always a person who felt "blue," and I couldn't pick out why I would get into so many "funks." I've been mildly depressed for so long that I came to understand it as my reality, because it was. I was sceptical of drugs as therapy for this "kind of thing," but will never be again. My doctor has really been patient with me as my panic and anxiety increased over the past months, I made many trips for heart check-ups, aches and pains. I don't focus on a dry patch of skin anymore manking it into a new disease, it is a dry patch of skin and lotion seems to work well, and if it's not a dry patch of skin I have the freedom to not obsess about it, I can deal with it without falling to pieces.
>
> Panic, Anxiety, Depression are debilitating, no ifs ands or buts. There is no reason to stop searching if something isn't working or to stop if something is... I hope the best for everybody who stops by these boards, this has helped change my life in so many ways.
Thats the most uplifting message Ive read all week and well articulated. GOOD LUCK with the future!!!!!!!
Posted by pickychicky2001 on February 2, 2003, at 20:04:06
In reply to Re: NO MORE PANIC ATTACKS =), posted by missinglynxx on February 2, 2003, at 19:38:06
Hi everyone! It has been 10 days now on the Lexapro, and I think I am experiencing what alot of you have mentioned about the orgasims, darnit! I saw someone mentioned alot of sweating, and I thought it was just me. I am doing that alot lately, and headaches everyday. I don't know if that has to do with the Lexapro, but thought I'd mention it. So far, still no temper tantrums, YAYYYYYYYY!!!!!
Posted by jodie on February 2, 2003, at 21:38:19
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » jodie, posted by Charlotte Groce on February 2, 2003, at 18:59:57
You say that on Wednesday you decided to stop the Lexapro. Did you try and do this gradually? Did you taper of the Lexapro. I know some doctors say that you don't need to, but I have found it always seems to help when coming off an antidepressant.
Did you discuss this with your Dr., stopping the Lexapro?
I'm sure after a little while your "intellect" and "memory" will return to normal.
If you haven't called or seen your Dr. since Wednesday, maybe you need to. Possibly a benzo might help while having these "withdrawals". Just my thoughts.
I hope you get to feeling better, hang in there, even if it is by a "thread", things will get better. I was watching the movie "Blow" earlier with Johnny Depp (true story) and I love the saying his father uses in the movie: "When you're up, it's never as good as it seems, and when you're down, you never think you're going to be up again, but it always ends up working out". I love that movie, I had to go buy the DVD. Other favorites of mine are: Girl Interupted, and A Beautiful Mind. I just had to go out and buy those too.
Take care!!!!!Jodie
Posted by lcg4 on February 2, 2003, at 22:32:54
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » jodie, posted by Charlotte Groce on February 2, 2003, at 18:59:57
Charlotte,
Your memory loss and concentration loss sounds like my son's problem too on Paxil. His doctor wants him to change to Lexapro because it is supposed to have less side effects. He is 13. Sounds to me like no matter what ssri you are on they are all the same with memory loss and problems with concentration. This is so frustrating to have an honors student that can now barely manage a C. There has to be another way to deal with this anxiety and panic. It's so scary because without it he can't go to school and is in fear of everything. So do you stay panic free with no concentration or do you stay with panic and anxiety. It's so unfair, he's so young to have this problem. It's breaking my heart. I just want him to have a normal life and have fun and be happy. Guess we don't have a choice sometime, just have to decide which is more important and deal with the outcome. Linda
Posted by Donia on February 2, 2003, at 22:51:25
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » Charlotte Groce, posted by lcg4 on February 2, 2003, at 22:32:54
I just saw a special today on the discovery health channel about a product called EM power plus. It is vitamins and minerals that the company claims has helped people with bipolar and depression. The wife of the person who helped formulate it killed herself due to mental illness. He was afraid for his children because he thought they may inherit her disorder. Well his son did and was on litium. I guess after he put him on this he no longer needs the litium. I just caught the end of the special. I looked it up on the web as my sister is bipolar. I am going to let her know about it. I have no idea if it will help or not but I saw one of you mention an alternative to conventional meds.
Posted by Donia on February 2, 2003, at 22:54:01
In reply to Re: lexapro need help--Charlotte, posted by jodie on February 2, 2003, at 21:38:19
I weaned myself off of zoloft for a period of two months. When I tried to quit cold turkey, I had terrible confusion and "brain zaps". I was afraid to drive. I was on 100mg and took 3/4 of a tab for a few weeks then 1/2 for a few then 1/4 and finally none. It did help to wean but I didnt feel completely normal for a month or so after stopping.
Posted by lcg4 on February 3, 2003, at 8:19:15
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » Charlotte Groce, posted by lcg4 on February 2, 2003, at 22:32:54
I'm beginning to realize that maybe all the ssri's have the same side effects of memory loss and loss of concetration to some degree depending on the mg's taken. Does anyone have any comments on that and is there any out there that keep you from getting the anxiety and panic attacks without loss of memory or concentration. Any help would be appreciated. Linda
Posted by JaneB on February 3, 2003, at 8:32:19
In reply to same side effects all ssri's, posted by lcg4 on February 3, 2003, at 8:19:15
ssri's help my concentration and memory.
JaneB
Posted by mikal on February 3, 2003, at 8:38:17
In reply to Re: same side effects all ssri's » lcg4, posted by JaneB on February 3, 2003, at 8:32:19
I have to agree with the previous poster Jane B. on this thread. After adjusting to Lexapro (2 solid weeks;) I noticed a marked change in my ability to retain knowledge and concentrate. I had been so preoccupied with worry and doubt that it took precident in all areas of my life. I find now that I can "Focus" on a task at hand vs. pitting it against my Anxiety/Depression (we all know which one wins the battle there;) I can really delve into projects without hesistation now.
mike
Posted by nhg on February 3, 2003, at 11:08:15
In reply to lexapro need help,users, posted by male34 on February 2, 2003, at 15:46:34
> im on lexapro only 3 days now wow im so tired anxiuos and crummy feeeling,i did paxil a year ago gained 35 pounds come off it ,it was hell coming off, but now my mother died and my anxiety is bad, im also agoraphobic . im on lexapro for anxiety mainly but i sure dont like these first days any help ,is this normal im on 10 mgs and some small doses of xanax to calm me, but believe me im calm ill i want to do is sleep along with be very anxiuos and jiterry /please help
How are you feeling now? I've been on Lexapro for three days. It has helped the depression (which couldn't have gotten any worse) but isn't doing anthing for the anxiety. I have been taking xanax for a few weeks (ever since I was assaulted). I need it sometimes at night, but always in the morning. During the past weeks, I toss and turn in my sleep and wake up repeatedly in extreme panic attacks. I take some xanax and try to go back to sleep. But for some reason, mornings are the worse. I can hardly live with it.
So you are a few days ahead of me with the Lexapro and I'm just wondering if you've had any progress.
Posted by lcg4 on February 3, 2003, at 11:08:45
In reply to Re: same side effects all ssri's » JaneB, posted by mikal on February 3, 2003, at 8:38:17
well maybe because of my son's age,13. They affect him differently than an adult because he went from an A student to a C student on Paxil 10 mg. he was on 25mg and he was way overmedicated. He couldn't even keep his head up. I hesitate changing him to Lexapro because even though it is 10mg, I've been told it is equivalent to 40mg of Celexa and I don't know what to do. I don't want him all doped up again but the panic attacks and anxiety is bad without taking anything.
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 11:12:47
In reply to Re: same side effects all ssri's » lcg4, posted by JaneB on February 3, 2003, at 8:32:19
LEX-when stop sleepiness?,on lexapro 5 days dont want to move get outta bed ZZZZZzzzzz!
Posted by mikal on February 3, 2003, at 11:24:57
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » male34, posted by nhg on February 3, 2003, at 11:08:15
NHG- It took me 2 weeks to really feel the benefits of Lexapro. It sounds like you've had some very traumatic events in your life recently, for that I'll send you some positive thoughts.
I'm on 10mg of Lexapro, and like I said it took around 2 weeks to really kick in. The first couple of days(5) were really topsy-turvy. I had trouble sleeping, and was extremely tired at the same time. I woke abruptly and had trouble falling back asleep. I have found that over time my body has adjusted and I feel ALMOST no side affects and the benefits are incredible. But that is only my case. I concider myself lucky. I didn't suffer to horribly from Depression, but Anxiety and Panic had really taken hold in my life. This has really helped release me from the thinking that has perpetuated an awful cycle.
Much of what we go through is chemical, however, it is a combination of un-healthy thinking. We get caught in loops of traumatic/debilitating thinking and we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's like looking at a rock, but we are holding it right up to our eye, and it looks like a massive boulder - we can't see anything but the problem. We need to hold our arm out and see the rock at arms length and realize that it's not as bad as we are making it. Then if truly successful we can set the rock on the ground and it becomes merely a pebble and we can walk right past it with out noticing it anymore. But getting to that point takes a myriad of actions. Some of us need a drug for balance, some need a cocktail of drugs, whatever works. But we should also not underestimate the power of ourselves to see change and to accept change. The part I am struggling with the most with Lexapro is the realization that my Panic is gone, my anxiety is subsided, and now what? When you deal with a problem long enough it becomes incorporated into your dail survival mechanism, many of us do not like to admit it, but relief from this burden is often frightning in it's self. We need to see this as an opportunity, an opportunity to live better, and yes differently.
I'm a firm believer that drugs are a necessary part (for some) of getting back on track. But we have do some work too. We have to live differently and embrace change. Only then can we really seperate ourselves from our disease.
Posted by mikal on February 3, 2003, at 11:47:19
In reply to Re: same side effects all ssri's » mikal, posted by lcg4 on February 3, 2003, at 11:08:45
> well maybe because of my son's age,13. They affect him differently than an adult because he went from an A student to a C student on Paxil 10 mg. he was on 25mg and he was way overmedicated. He couldn't even keep his head up. I hesitate changing him to Lexapro because even though it is 10mg, I've been told it is equivalent to 40mg of Celexa and I don't know what to do. I don't want him all doped up again but the panic attacks and anxiety is bad without taking anything.
lcg4 -Your're completely right on the Adult vs. Teen reactions. I don't know enough to talk on that subject at all. But I'll tell you that 10mg of Lexapro doesn't "dope" me up at all; it gives me a level playing field with the rest of the world. I've been following the boards around here and Lexapro has really helped many people with Anxiety/Panic. I think you should do as much research on Lexapro and talk to Doctor about it. I'm 29, I'm currently working full time as a manager of a restaurant, and I'm studing to take the GRE, my ability to think clear and retain knowledge has never been better. My confidence has shot up due to the whole round about affect.
I feel for you and your son, it has to be difficult. I hope you find the answer you're looking for. Don't get discouraged, any and all eforts are worth it.
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 13:17:41
In reply to Re: same side effects all ssri's » mikal, posted by lcg4 on February 3, 2003, at 11:08:45
> well maybe because of my son's age,13. They affect him differently than an adult because he went from an A student to a C student on Paxil 10 mg. he was on 25mg and he was way overmedicated. He couldn't even keep his head up. I hesitate changing him to Lexapro because even though it is 10mg, I've been told it is equivalent to 40mg of Celexa and I don't know what to do. I don't want him all doped up again but the panic attacks and anxiety is bad without taking anything.
>im 34 male had anxiety since 4th grade, so its best you nip it in the bud now than latet like myself ,get the rough ride over with now ,god blees and show your son your love and support now it will be alright hes normal jsut needs to correct the sreatonin surge . send him my best.stay occupied with your son till adjustment.
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 13:29:05
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » male34, posted by nhg on February 3, 2003, at 11:08:15
> > im on lexapro only 3 days now wow im so tired anxiuos and crummy feeeling,i did paxil a year ago gained 35 pounds come off it ,it was hell coming off, but now my mother died and my anxiety is bad, im also agoraphobic . im on lexapro for anxiety mainly but i sure dont like these first days any help ,is this normal im on 10 mgs and some small doses of xanax to calm me, but believe me im calm ill i want to do is sleep along with be very anxiuos and jiterry /please help
>
> How are you feeling now? I've been on Lexapro for three days. It has helped the depression (which couldn't have gotten any worse) but isn't doing anthing for the anxiety. I have been taking xanax for a few weeks (ever since I was assaulted). I need it sometimes at night, but always in the morning. During the past weeks, I toss and turn in my sleep and wake up repeatedly in extreme panic attacks. I take some xanax and try to go back to sleep. But for some reason, mornings are the worse. I can hardly live with it.
> So you are a few days ahead of me with the Lexapro and I'm just wondering if you've had any progress.
>info you will get panic attacks at during night and morning due to your body being low on blood sugar level try some juice 1st thing in morningand as for waking up in anxiety it is common try the xanax but carefull xanax can be addictive if you realy over doit,but iwas told take xanax during begining days of an SSRI's they pump you up with fear etc.. then the body gets use to it and you level out your experiencing early stages of medicine causing anxiety its like the flu shot it is flu virius in you so body can fight ti ,just hang in there trust me and it will work soon, stay busy and stay in a happy enviroment for a while no scary movies or news etc.. keep you body in a happy mode and when it all is over you be glad you stuck it out ask you DR about xanex info theres different MG's to take so be carefull God Bless Ill pray for you ,it will get better every day stay strong!your friend ,me
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 13:35:59
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » nhg, posted by mikal on February 3, 2003, at 11:24:57
> NHG- It took me 2 weeks to really feel the benefits of Lexapro. It sounds like you've had some very traumatic events in your life recently, for that I'll send you some positive thoughts.
>
> I'm on 10mg of Lexapro, and like I said it took around 2 weeks to really kick in. The first couple of days(5) were really topsy-turvy. I had trouble sleeping, and was extremely tired at the same time. I woke abruptly and had trouble falling back asleep. I have found that over time my body has adjusted and I feel ALMOST no side affects and the benefits are incredible. But that is only my case. I concider myself lucky. I didn't suffer to horribly from Depression, but Anxiety and Panic had really taken hold in my life. This has really helped release me from the thinking that has perpetuated an awful cycle.
>
> Much of what we go through is chemical, however, it is a combination of un-healthy thinking. We get caught in loops of traumatic/debilitating thinking and we cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's like looking at a rock, but we are holding it right up to our eye, and it looks like a massive boulder - we can't see anything but the problem. We need to hold our arm out and see the rock at arms length and realize that it's not as bad as we are making it. Then if truly successful we can set the rock on the ground and it becomes merely a pebble and we can walk right past it with out noticing it anymore. But getting to that point takes a myriad of actions. Some of us need a drug for balance, some need a cocktail of drugs, whatever works. But we should also not underestimate the power of ourselves to see change and to accept change. The part I am struggling with the most with Lexapro is the realization that my Panic is gone, my anxiety is subsided, and now what? When you deal with a problem long enough it becomes incorporated into your dail survival mechanism, many of us do not like to admit it, but relief from this burden is often frightning in it's self. We need to see this as an opportunity, an opportunity to live better, and yes differently.
>
> I'm a firm believer that drugs are a necessary part (for some) of getting back on track. But we have do some work too. We have to live differently and embrace change. Only then can we really seperate ourselves from our disease.
>thanks well put,and i was on paxil and when it got better iwas abit scared of being better it may sound strange but my job of fearing fear was gone, i will take your advice to the max,thanks and i wont quit lex ,now im trusting you,thanks
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 13:46:22
In reply to Re: lexapro need help,users » jodie, posted by Charlotte Groce on February 2, 2003, at 18:59:57
> > > im on lexapro only 3 days now wow im so tired anxiuos and crummy feeeling,i did paxil a year ago gained 35 pounds come off it ,it was hell coming off, but now my mother died and my anxiety is bad, im also agoraphobic . im on lexapro for anxiety mainly but i sure dont like these first days any help ,is this normal im on 10 mgs and some small doses of xanax to calm me, but believe me im calm ill i want to do is sleep along with be very anxiuos and jiterry /please help
> >
> >
> >
> > ***********************************************************
> >
> > Hello,
> >
> > I have been on lexapro for a little while now. I was on celexa a while back too, which is basically the same thing. Just thought I would let you know what you are experiencing isn't uncommon. I had the same jittery, spacey feeling, had anxiety too. when I first started it. That feeling lasted about a week or so, it gets better over time. You haven't been on it that long, so make sure to give it a chance. It has worked wonders for me!! Some people says it makes them too emotionally numb, but honestly, I would rather feel that way than depressed, or having anxiety. I don't mind that side effect, usually.
> >
> > Sorry to hear about your mother. What a difficult time you must be going through.
> >
> > The xanax can really help too, especially with the anxiety you are feeling from the lexapro. A lot of people find it helpful to go on a benzo when they first start certain AD's. Have you thought of trying something a little longer acting like Klonopin (clonazepam) instead? I prefer that over xanax!! But thats just my personal opinion!!! Hope this helped a little.
> >
> > Hang in there!!!
> >
> > Jodie
> >
> >
> I was on Paxil for two years for OCD and anxiety attacks. I gained 30 pounds and I stopped experiencing organzisms. In November my Psychiatrist switched me to Lexpro. The withdrawal symptoms were almost unbearable: numbness, spacey, dizzy, and nightmares. I finally adjusted to the lexapro and life without paxil. Within in 4 days without paxil my sexual desire and ability to climax returned. However, my articulation, concentration, motivation, cognitive superiority, and energy have not returned. The lexpro and paxil both inhibit my thinking and reasoning skills.
>
> I decided on my on this past week (Wednesday, 1/29/03) to stop taking the lexpro. The withdrawal symptoms are brain numbness, dizziness, inability to remember names or events, and weakness. Does anyone know how long this will last? Will my detailed intellect and memory return to the way it was prior to paxil and lexapro?
>
> I am holding on by a thread. I just want my mind back.
>
> Good luck to everyone else.
>
> Charlotte
>
> ****************
person coming off lexapro and or paxil i did come off paxil it was a long sloww process i cut a smidgin little piece of the pill every day for along time but it worked i was not side effected at all, note i did it quick prior and it was hell , and yes youll go back to normal and normal may be back to suffering its your choice i have to go back on now due to my moms death made me bad,good luck to all
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 14:06:49
In reply to Re: Lexapro sex drive, weight gain, dreams, posted by LA on January 29, 2003, at 20:33:14
> > My two cents (more or less) worth:
> >
> > SEX DRIVE: It returns :-) I suspect it left me in the first place because my brain was getting stimuli from other sources again, besides just sex (no more anhedonia -- is that how you spell that?) and my brain was trying to pay attention to all different kinds of recently re-discovered stimuli. "Sexual" stimuli are now only one kind of stimuli of many different sources, so no longer getting all my brain's attention. Eventually, biology overrruled, and my sex drive returned. Orgasmic difficulties, I suspect, resulted from difference in the way I process norephinephrine while on the SSRI, oxytocin, DMT, etc. I'm not a biochemist, just someone looking for answers, so who knows if I'm on the right track, or full of it? :-)
> >
> > WEIGHT GAIN?: I've lost weight, I suspect for many reasons. I'm sleeping better, so I'm not so tired -- so I don't have to eat for energy so I can keep moving when exhausted. Don't have to eat to provide some, any, stimuli to my (no longer) anhedonic brain, since I'm getting other stimuli now. My metabolism has increased, since my brain -- the "orchestrator" of everything else -- is once again communicating with the rest of my body in a way the rest of me can understand and obey. My healing time is reduced 80% or more, my thinking is faster, sleep is sounder, nerves are not fried and raw, migraines are gone, humor has returned, desire to pursue hobbies, exercise, etc. have returned.
> >
> > DREAMS: Mine got more vivid, definitely. I think it's the same reason as above -- my brain was flat missing something that it needed to communicate with the rest of me. Dream deprivation is, to your mind, like sleep deprivation is to the body. When you're deprived of it, and you get a chance to make up for it, your body will take a LOT of it to try to compensate for what it's missed.
> >
> > All three of these seem to point to a similar factor -- that my neurotransmitters were drastically underfunctional in at least one area, and various parts of me were starving for what they were missing (many more physical areas I haven't listed here -- those who have read any of my other posts will have seen some of them.) My response to these three areas seems to me to follow a similar pattern that is specific to how my particular chemistry disorder manifested. It will affect other people differently, though!! I think that, if we had enough information and could see clearly enough, we would see that while it affects each of us a little differently (or a lot), it affects any one person *similarly* in many areas. Those who get sleepless on Lexapro, also tend to get more agitated, and the diarhhea/bowel disturbances, and the headaches, right? Or am I wrong? For some like these, it seems to be an OVER-stimulating effect -- for others a LEVEL-ing effect (can handle stress better, don't go to pieces, not afraid of confrontation, blood pressure normalizes, etc.) -- but I needed an UP-effect, but not in the "stimulant" sense, just in the sense of giving my body a kick in the pants in all the areas it was laying down on me. That could explain why so many of us respond to it so differently.
> >
> > I just hope it lasts because I haven't felt this good in many years. Having never taken SSRI's before Lexapro, I don't know what to expect -- many have experienced "poop-out" and I pray every night that I will become well enough to make it on my own, without the SSRI, before this can happen to me. Giving up myself, after having re-captured myself, would be worse than having never found myself again, I think.
> >
> > Anyway, I hope that makes sense. Think I put in two bits worth instead of two cents worth, sorry. =-D
>
> So glad that you are feeling good.
> Please tell me how long you have been on Lexapro and at what dose? I know it's different for everyone but .........
> LA
>
> ****************
you sound good ive been wondering when does this tired feeling o away im on it 5mgs for 4 days about,so tired and anxiuos
Posted by mikal on February 3, 2003, at 15:05:30
In reply to Re: Lexapro sex drive, weight gain, dreams, posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 14:06:49
> > > My two cents (more or less) worth:
> > >
> > > SEX DRIVE: It returns :-) I suspect it left me in the first place because my brain was getting stimuli from other sources again, besides just sex (no more anhedonia -- is that how you spell that?) and my brain was trying to pay attention to all different kinds of recently re-discovered stimuli. "Sexual" stimuli are now only one kind of stimuli of many different sources, so no longer getting all my brain's attention. Eventually, biology overrruled, and my sex drive returned. Orgasmic difficulties, I suspect, resulted from difference in the way I process norephinephrine while on the SSRI, oxytocin, DMT, etc. I'm not a biochemist, just someone looking for answers, so who knows if I'm on the right track, or full of it? :-)
> > >
> > > WEIGHT GAIN?: I've lost weight, I suspect for many reasons. I'm sleeping better, so I'm not so tired -- so I don't have to eat for energy so I can keep moving when exhausted. Don't have to eat to provide some, any, stimuli to my (no longer) anhedonic brain, since I'm getting other stimuli now. My metabolism has increased, since my brain -- the "orchestrator" of everything else -- is once again communicating with the rest of my body in a way the rest of me can understand and obey. My healing time is reduced 80% or more, my thinking is faster, sleep is sounder, nerves are not fried and raw, migraines are gone, humor has returned, desire to pursue hobbies, exercise, etc. have returned.
> > >
> > > DREAMS: Mine got more vivid, definitely. I think it's the same reason as above -- my brain was flat missing something that it needed to communicate with the rest of me. Dream deprivation is, to your mind, like sleep deprivation is to the body. When you're deprived of it, and you get a chance to make up for it, your body will take a LOT of it to try to compensate for what it's missed.
> > >
> > > All three of these seem to point to a similar factor -- that my neurotransmitters were drastically underfunctional in at least one area, and various parts of me were starving for what they were missing (many more physical areas I haven't listed here -- those who have read any of my other posts will have seen some of them.) My response to these three areas seems to me to follow a similar pattern that is specific to how my particular chemistry disorder manifested. It will affect other people differently, though!! I think that, if we had enough information and could see clearly enough, we would see that while it affects each of us a little differently (or a lot), it affects any one person *similarly* in many areas. Those who get sleepless on Lexapro, also tend to get more agitated, and the diarhhea/bowel disturbances, and the headaches, right? Or am I wrong? For some like these, it seems to be an OVER-stimulating effect -- for others a LEVEL-ing effect (can handle stress better, don't go to pieces, not afraid of confrontation, blood pressure normalizes, etc.) -- but I needed an UP-effect, but not in the "stimulant" sense, just in the sense of giving my body a kick in the pants in all the areas it was laying down on me. That could explain why so many of us respond to it so differently.
> > >
> > > I just hope it lasts because I haven't felt this good in many years. Having never taken SSRI's before Lexapro, I don't know what to expect -- many have experienced "poop-out" and I pray every night that I will become well enough to make it on my own, without the SSRI, before this can happen to me. Giving up myself, after having re-captured myself, would be worse than having never found myself again, I think.
> > >
> > > Anyway, I hope that makes sense. Think I put in two bits worth instead of two cents worth, sorry. =-D
> >
> > So glad that you are feeling good.
> > Please tell me how long you have been on Lexapro and at what dose? I know it's different for everyone but .........
> > LA
> >
> > ****************
> you sound good ive been wondering when does this tired feeling o away im on it 5mgs for 4 days about,so tired and anxiuos
>
>
***********************LA - I have been experiencing the same effects from Lexapro as you. I feel as though my brain has been reconnected with my body. I'm able to function and have increased daily activities to not just work/sleep. I have hobbies, I work out, I quit some very bad habits... this I believe is a side effect to being plugged in vs. disconnected. Any amount of discomfort I had in the begining of taking Lex is gone. I'm not sure I was ever connected before today. I hear many poeple fear being "doped" up. I'll tell you I'm anything but "doped" up. I was dopey before, my disconnection left so many holes in my life, I often was in a waking dream... unsure of what was really happening.
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 15:44:35
In reply to Re: Lexapro sex drive, weight gain, dreams, posted by mikal on February 3, 2003, at 15:05:30
> > > > My two cents (more or less) worth:
> > > >
> > > > SEX DRIVE: It returns :-) I suspect it left me in the first place because my brain was getting stimuli from other sources again, besides just sex (no more anhedonia -- is that how you spell that?) and my brain was trying to pay attention to all different kinds of recently re-discovered stimuli. "Sexual" stimuli are now only one kind of stimuli of many different sources, so no longer getting all my brain's attention. Eventually, biology overrruled, and my sex drive returned. Orgasmic difficulties, I suspect, resulted from difference in the way I process norephinephrine while on the SSRI, oxytocin, DMT, etc. I'm not a biochemist, just someone looking for answers, so who knows if I'm on the right track, or full of it? :-)
> > > >
> > > > WEIGHT GAIN?: I've lost weight, I suspect for many reasons. I'm sleeping better, so I'm not so tired -- so I don't have to eat for energy so I can keep moving when exhausted. Don't have to eat to provide some, any, stimuli to my (no longer) anhedonic brain, since I'm getting other stimuli now. My metabolism has increased, since my brain -- the "orchestrator" of everything else -- is once again communicating with the rest of my body in a way the rest of me can understand and obey. My healing time is reduced 80% or more, my thinking is faster, sleep is sounder, nerves are not fried and raw, migraines are gone, humor has returned, desire to pursue hobbies, exercise, etc. have returned.
> > > >
> > > > DREAMS: Mine got more vivid, definitely. I think it's the same reason as above -- my brain was flat missing something that it needed to communicate with the rest of me. Dream deprivation is, to your mind, like sleep deprivation is to the body. When you're deprived of it, and you get a chance to make up for it, your body will take a LOT of it to try to compensate for what it's missed.
> > > >
> > > > All three of these seem to point to a similar factor -- that my neurotransmitters were drastically underfunctional in at least one area, and various parts of me were starving for what they were missing (many more physical areas I haven't listed here -- those who have read any of my other posts will have seen some of them.) My response to these three areas seems to me to follow a similar pattern that is specific to how my particular chemistry disorder manifested. It will affect other people differently, though!! I think that, if we had enough information and could see clearly enough, we would see that while it affects each of us a little differently (or a lot), it affects any one person *similarly* in many areas. Those who get sleepless on Lexapro, also tend to get more agitated, and the diarhhea/bowel disturbances, and the headaches, right? Or am I wrong? For some like these, it seems to be an OVER-stimulating effect -- for others a LEVEL-ing effect (can handle stress better, don't go to pieces, not afraid of confrontation, blood pressure normalizes, etc.) -- but I needed an UP-effect, but not in the "stimulant" sense, just in the sense of giving my body a kick in the pants in all the areas it was laying down on me. That could explain why so many of us respond to it so differently.
> > > >
> > > > I just hope it lasts because I haven't felt this good in many years. Having never taken SSRI's before Lexapro, I don't know what to expect -- many have experienced "poop-out" and I pray every night that I will become well enough to make it on my own, without the SSRI, before this can happen to me. Giving up myself, after having re-captured myself, would be worse than having never found myself again, I think.
> > > >
> > > > Anyway, I hope that makes sense. Think I put in two bits worth instead of two cents worth, sorry. =-D
> > >
> > > So glad that you are feeling good.
> > > Please tell me how long you have been on Lexapro and at what dose? I know it's different for everyone but .........
> > > LA
> > >
> > > ****************
> > you sound good ive been wondering when does this tired feeling o away im on it 5mgs for 4 days about,so tired and anxiuos
> >
> >
> ***********************
>
> LA - I have been experiencing the same effects from Lexapro as you. I feel as though my brain has been reconnected with my body. I'm able to function and have increased daily activities to not just work/sleep. I have hobbies, I work out, I quit some very bad habits... this I believe is a side effect to being plugged in vs. disconnected. Any amount of discomfort I had in the begining of taking Lex is gone. I'm not sure I was ever connected before today. I hear many poeple fear being "doped" up. I'll tell you I'm anything but "doped" up. I was dopey before, my disconnection left so many holes in my life, I often was in a waking dream... unsure of what was really happening.
> **********************************if you didnt get my last note so you say no weight gain?
and you have been on it for how long?
when did the starting sideffects wear off about?
and did you start on 5mgs or 10 mgs?what time did you take it i take right befiore bed and i CANT get up outta bed ,do you know what im talking about?
thanks please write back
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 16:44:55
In reply to Re: coping with panic attacks » mlj 123, posted by mikal on January 31, 2003, at 23:32:56
mlj 123??? i read you like LEX ,how long on it how much and im anxiety panic attack person it works for you and your ok ?
Posted by Dysfunk on February 3, 2003, at 16:47:11
In reply to Re: Lump in throat, sweating- YES!, posted by donia on January 31, 2003, at 18:25:40
Rachel: I feel like the food is at the base of my neck. It doesn't happen til a few hours after I take the medicine. I find it hard to eat or drink. It makes me feel like I am nervous, choked up, even though I am not. I have taken lots of TUMS. I am swallowing lots of air, I can even hear it move in my neck. Thanks for the suggestion of deoderant. Never heard of it, but I will look around. Dysfunk
Posted by mills on February 3, 2003, at 17:06:34
In reply to Re: Lexapro sex drive, weight gain, dreams, posted by bozeman on January 27, 2003, at 23:09:39
hey male, how many mg's do you take?
> My two cents (more or less) worth:
>
> SEX DRIVE: It returns :-) I suspect it left me in the first place because my brain was getting stimuli from other sources again, besides just sex (no more anhedonia -- is that how you spell that?) and my brain was trying to pay attention to all different kinds of recently re-discovered stimuli. "Sexual" stimuli are now only one kind of stimuli of many different sources, so no longer getting all my brain's attention. Eventually, biology overrruled, and my sex drive returned. Orgasmic difficulties, I suspect, resulted from difference in the way I process norephinephrine while on the SSRI, oxytocin, DMT, etc. I'm not a biochemist, just someone looking for answers, so who knows if I'm on the right track, or full of it? :-)
>
> WEIGHT GAIN?: I've lost weight, I suspect for many reasons. I'm sleeping better, so I'm not so tired -- so I don't have to eat for energy so I can keep moving when exhausted. Don't have to eat to provide some, any, stimuli to my (no longer) anhedonic brain, since I'm getting other stimuli now. My metabolism has increased, since my brain -- the "orchestrator" of everything else -- is once again communicating with the rest of my body in a way the rest of me can understand and obey. My healing time is reduced 80% or more, my thinking is faster, sleep is sounder, nerves are not fried and raw, migraines are gone, humor has returned, desire to pursue hobbies, exercise, etc. have returned.
>
> DREAMS: Mine got more vivid, definitely. I think it's the same reason as above -- my brain was flat missing something that it needed to communicate with the rest of me. Dream deprivation is, to your mind, like sleep deprivation is to the body. When you're deprived of it, and you get a chance to make up for it, your body will take a LOT of it to try to compensate for what it's missed.
>
> All three of these seem to point to a similar factor -- that my neurotransmitters were drastically underfunctional in at least one area, and various parts of me were starving for what they were missing (many more physical areas I haven't listed here -- those who have read any of my other posts will have seen some of them.) My response to these three areas seems to me to follow a similar pattern that is specific to how my particular chemistry disorder manifested. It will affect other people differently, though!! I think that, if we had enough information and could see clearly enough, we would see that while it affects each of us a little differently (or a lot), it affects any one person *similarly* in many areas. Those who get sleepless on Lexapro, also tend to get more agitated, and the diarhhea/bowel disturbances, and the headaches, right? Or am I wrong? For some like these, it seems to be an OVER-stimulating effect -- for others a LEVEL-ing effect (can handle stress better, don't go to pieces, not afraid of confrontation, blood pressure normalizes, etc.) -- but I needed an UP-effect, but not in the "stimulant" sense, just in the sense of giving my body a kick in the pants in all the areas it was laying down on me. That could explain why so many of us respond to it so differently.
>
> I just hope it lasts because I haven't felt this good in many years. Having never taken SSRI's before Lexapro, I don't know what to expect -- many have experienced "poop-out" and I pray every night that I will become well enough to make it on my own, without the SSRI, before this can happen to me. Giving up myself, after having re-captured myself, would be worse than having never found myself again, I think.
>
> Anyway, I hope that makes sense. Think I put in two bits worth instead of two cents worth, sorry. =-D
Posted by male34 on February 3, 2003, at 20:01:15
In reply to Question for male34, posted by mills on February 3, 2003, at 17:06:34
im on lex 5 days now took 10mg first made me not feel well so now im on 5mgs and im just TIRED and cant get outa bed in a.m. and im not like that i got 3 kids runnin around i gotta wake up,but i also gotta up my mg's now to 10 soon i hope this sleepy side effect goes away and i get normal
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