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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by lil' jimi on July 15, 2003, at 2:00:43
In reply to re: lexapro question again, posted by McPac on July 14, 2003, at 22:16:20
hey Mc Pac, How you doing, man?
i had written:
> "it is an odd effect to experience both the lethargy and the agitation that lex can induce"
>
> >>>>>>>>>And I thought Lex was supposed to have such minimal side effects, lol, these meds are all the same, if it isn't one batch of lousy s/e's it's another, lol, never believe the marketing crap hype.....so are these two of lex's more common s/e's (lethargy and agitation)? As for the agitation, do you mean more like nervousness or more like an irritability/temper kind of thing? Thanks dudes & dudettes!!!!!!!!!!!!!~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
... yeah, well they like to call them "Side-Effects" when their anti-therapuetic detriments are really front and center ... my own reading of the posts to this thread suggests, IMHO, that perhaps lex has a higher incidence of new users having zero or nearly zero SEs ... which is very small consolation to any given specfic lex user ... ... my total disregard for promotional stuff about lex defies me caring about hype ... one's own experience should be our guide and the experiece of fellow users on this message board ... ...i'd say they are among the more common SEs, fatigue and anxiety
... ... we should start accepting nominations for the most common lex SEs ...when i wrote "lethargy" to refer to the fatigue-sleepiness which i experienced in my 1st two weeks ... ... sometimes this a kind of calm trance-like inertia ... kind of sedative-like
and when i wrote "agitation" it was to refer to ... ... well, really to respond to elise's son's symptom ... which i was relating to my own kind of stimulant sort of amphetamine-like buzz, which i used to get just after taking my lex dose in the early days ... ... i related to her son's experience with the strange sensation i had of both the fatigue/sedation and the speedy/stimulation happening at the same time ... my ironic lex SE.
... for me though they all went away after 2 weeks ... .. ... oh, i guess i had the sweats for another week or 2 maybe, then that gradually faded to nothing too ...
best luck to you McPac,
~ jim
Posted by Hoping on July 15, 2003, at 5:19:20
In reply to re: lexapro speed-buzz AND downer-trance » McPac, posted by lil' jimi on July 15, 2003, at 2:00:43
I gave the 2.5mg Lexapro a try, but only made it 3 days. I have no idea if it affected my sexual desire or ability to have an orgasm (which was my main concern), because i was so nauseous and felt zombied out and sick, plus i had a really weird/unpleasant taste in my mouth, and couldn't eat a thing.
I'm glad it's working well for so many of you, but it's obviously not the right med for me. I must be ultra-sensitive to the prescription AD's. Anyone ever tried that Serenity stuff advertised on the internet? What did you think?
Posted by Rich B on July 15, 2003, at 8:48:48
In reply to Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2002, at 7:52:48
Hi, I was wondering if anyone could tell me how long I can expect to be dizzy after stopping Lexapro. I was on Paxil a few years ago for anxiety and quit because of the side effects. I weaned myself off it over the course of a couple off weeks. During that time, I was dizzy and had the infamous zaps. When I did completely stop taking it, the withdrawal symptoms stopped almost completely. Well, I stopped Lexapro this past Friday because it was not helping much and was making me too tense. I stopped it all at once because I thought that I should have with the Paxil two years ago. Now, I am thinking I actually did the right thing by weaning off Paxil and should have done it this way with the Lexapro. By the end of the first day without it I started getting dizzy. The dizziness has increased since then. Yesterday (day 4) the dizziness was so bad I had to go home from work. So far today (8:30 AM) it is still pretty bad, but not quite as bad as yesterday. It might get worse as the day goes on, I don’t know. I tried Dramamine yesterday and all it did was make me tired.
Does anyone know how long I can expect this to go on, and is there anything I can do to alleviate the symptoms in the process?Rich
Posted by Micheke on July 15, 2003, at 11:30:21
In reply to Lexapro Withdrawal Dizziness, posted by Rich B on July 15, 2003, at 8:48:48
Rich, I'm so glad I found this site. I have been trying to stop the Lexapro but have been getting very dizzy. I went from 10mg to nothing and the dizziness was so bad I went back on. Now I cut to 5mg & am supposed to discontinue after two weeks but am still getting dizzy around the middle of the day and the motion sickness makes me nauseous. My dr. never mentioned any withdrawal effects to me and I thought I was crazy. I too need some advice on how long this will last and if there's anything that can be done to alleviate the symptoms. I do not want to increase dosage. I think I am getting confused and can't think straight. Also, things sound very weird sometimes echo or sound very loud. Is this all normal for withdrawal? I am having trouble getting info on what the withdrawal symptoms are. I would appreciate anyone's help.
-Michele
Posted by BLKVETTES on July 15, 2003, at 13:18:59
In reply to Re: Lexapro Withdrawal Dizziness, posted by Micheke on July 15, 2003, at 11:30:21
> Rich, I'm so glad I found this site. I have been trying to stop the Lexapro but have been getting very dizzy. I went from 10mg to nothing and the dizziness was so bad I went back on. Now I cut to 5mg & am supposed to discontinue after two weeks but am still getting dizzy around the middle of the day and the motion sickness makes me nauseous. My dr. never mentioned any withdrawal effects to me and I thought I was crazy. I too need some advice on how long this will last and if there's anything that can be done to alleviate the symptoms. I do not want to increase dosage. I think I am getting confused and can't think straight. Also, things sound very weird sometimes echo or sound very loud. Is this all normal for withdrawal? I am having trouble getting info on what the withdrawal symptoms are. I would appreciate anyone's help.
>
> -MicheleHere is a guide to come off paxil. Im sure the tools at this link could be used for any med. At the very least there is good info!!! GOOD LUCK!!!
WAYNE
http://paxil.bizland.com/jbuzzw.htm
Posted by theo on July 15, 2003, at 14:25:41
In reply to Lexapro Withdrawal Dizziness, posted by Rich B on July 15, 2003, at 8:48:48
Are you starting anything else? I stopped Lex 10mg and started Effexor XR 37.5mg the next day and had no problems. Just lucky I guess.
Posted by Rich B on July 15, 2003, at 16:39:47
In reply to Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2002, at 7:52:48
No, I am not starting anything else. I just went cold turkey. I was on 10 mg. After being totally off Lexapro for 5 days now (including today) I am reluctant to start taking it again, even if only 5 mg for a while. The reason why is because I don't want to undo any progress I've made on getting off it up to this point. If I know it will start getting much better within the next few days, then I will stay the course. However, if I can expect it to be this bad for the next week or so, then I think I might want to take it a little slower and go on 5 mg for a a week or so before stopping completley.
I have a question for Michelle. How long did you quite before you went back on?
Posted by wingdalean on July 15, 2003, at 21:02:27
In reply to Re: alcohol versus lexapro » oldhand, posted by lil' jimi on June 19, 2003, at 22:31:16
Synopsis: after 25 years of abstinence & 8 years of wellbutrin I switched to Lexapro for OCPD - I then proceed to begin drinking alcohol since April. Almost daily between 4 & 12 oz of whiskey or the equivalent. Paradox is I feel better emotionally then I have ever. Physically I used to be a highly obsessive athetic who was OCDed in every aspect of living. I am only concerned about the relationship of my wife & I. I am also a Christian. I don't really know what to say I just wanted to share this.
Posted by Doug in PA on July 16, 2003, at 4:26:00
In reply to Re: alcohol versus lexapro, posted by wingdalean on July 15, 2003, at 21:02:27
I am not sure I understand your last comment about being a Christian. What is your point? Are you ashamed or proud of it? Would it have been any different if you were a Jew or athiest? Your problems would still be the same. Look into your own heart for solutions or poisons. God helps those who help themselves.
========================================> Synopsis: after 25 years of abstinence & 8 years of wellbutrin I switched to Lexapro for OCPD - I then proceed to begin drinking alcohol since April. Almost daily between 4 & 12 oz of whiskey or the equivalent. Paradox is I feel better emotionally then I have ever. Physically I used to be a highly obsessive athetic who was OCDed in every aspect of living. I am only concerned about the relationship of my wife & I. I am also a Christian. I don't really know what to say I just wanted to share this.
Posted by stjames on July 16, 2003, at 10:41:10
In reply to Re: alcohol versus lexapro, posted by wingdalean on July 15, 2003, at 21:02:27
> Synopsis: after 25 years of abstinence & 8 years of wellbutrin I switched to Lexapro for OCPD - I then proceed to begin drinking alcohol since April. Almost daily between 4 & 12 oz of whiskey or the equivalent.
Side effects: Cirrhosis, alcoholism, & alcohol is a poison
Posted by lil' jimi on July 16, 2003, at 15:39:45
In reply to Re: alcohol versus lexapro, posted by Doug in PA on July 16, 2003, at 4:26:00
hi there, Doug in PA,
you wrote to wingdalean:
> I am not sure I understand your last comment about being a Christian. What is your point? Are you ashamed or proud of it? Would it have been any different if you were a Jew or athiest? Your problems would still be the same. Look into your own heart for solutions or poisons. God helps those who help themselves.
> ========================================replying to wingdalean's post:
> > Synopsis: after 25 years of abstinence & 8 years of wellbutrin I switched to Lexapro for OCPD - I then proceed to begin drinking alcohol since April. Almost daily between 4 & 12 oz of whiskey or the equivalent. Paradox is I feel better emotionally then I have ever. Physically I used to be a highly obsessive athetic who was OCDed in every aspect of living. I am only concerned about the relationship of my wife & I. I am also a Christian. I don't really know what to say I just wanted to share this.
>
>you know, Doug,
i don't know wingdalean from adam, BUT ... ...if i was writing here with his synopsis and i'm living the tale it tells
... ... (and i think that between the lines it reads very loudly, "I'M DESPARATE!!") ... ...(with my apologies and all due respect to wingdalean ... we'll go over your path to destruction below)
... and when folks get as desparate as a lot of us are when we come here ... for the kind of reasons we come here ... ... or as desperate as wingdalean should be ....
.. ... ... and come here looking for help and support and advise ...
.... then, imho, it makes a certain sense to me that they might invoke any means of control or restraint or discipline, including their faith ... i would even think it all the more likely that, under such circumstances, they would bring up their religion ...
(of course, in the good dr.dbob's wisdom, there's the Faith board for those specific discussions about religion ... but wing's was a comment not a subject)
i also sense that wingdalean is citing his motivations and priorites in his concern about alcohol: he is committed, and devout ... i can hardly imagine anything less trivial than those facts when one struggles, or is about to, with recovery ... ... i feel this is why wingdalean offered them to us as background ... ...
... and when folks come here and open themselves up to share their private and personal sufferings and experiences, i would think it would be better if we let them feel free to share their beliefs ... ...
Now, WingDaLean,
Sorry to talk around you like that, pardner ... ... just felt like i had to stick up for you a little bit ... for what it's worth, i'm a buddhist and i don't drink alcohol much at all ... ... well, nothing compared to what you're doing anyway ...you are telling us that after 25 years you have fallen off the water-wagon and this may have been part of switching from Wellbutrin to Lexapro ... ... and it is rather more like you Dived Off the wagon there, from these quantities you're talking ... ...
so:
(what is OCPD? ... OCD i know ... ocpd? ... hmmm)how much of your synopsis does you Doctor know?
you should, of course, be checking with your professional health care provider about this very serious Side-Effect ....what does your Wife think of this change in your habits? ... Does She know?
(inside yourself, what does your faith tell you?)
i think we may safely predict the response from everyone concerned for you .... can't we? ... ... and i'm going to give you the same response here, now ... ...
WingDaLean, ol' buddy, don't we all think it about time to mosey on over to our soonest AA meeting? ... hey, maybe?
.. ... .. at least, for your marriage?
seems to me that drinking (that much) alcohol while taking an AD, is going be about as effective as p*ss*ng into the wind ... ... alcohol, in case we all haven't heard, is a major depressant ... which is going to undo everything good your lexapro (anti-depressant) does for your neurotransmitters ...
TAKE CARE!!
~ jimp.s. of course, i may be all wrong ... ...
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 16, 2003, at 19:55:16
In reply to re: alcohol versus lexapro, posted by lil' jimi on July 16, 2003, at 15:39:45
> it makes a certain sense to me that they might invoke any means of control or restraint or discipline, including their faith ...
>
> (of course, in the good dr.dbob's wisdom, there's the Faith board for those specific discussions about religion ... but wing's was a comment not a subject)Yes, and I'd like any follow-ups regarding faith to be redirected there, thanks.
Bob
Posted by sandiegogal on July 16, 2003, at 20:17:30
In reply to re: second appointment » oldhand, posted by lil' jimi on July 14, 2003, at 21:50:19
I have read all the posts from the beginning and am very grateful to have found this site. I have had depression for many years and tried many anti depressants over the years but experienced such irritating side effects that i could never benefit from the therapeutic dose. For about 6 years now i have been "managing" my depression with therapy, exercise, 12 step meetings, and spiritual readings but i know in my heart i cannot manage the depression on my own. The problem i have is that based on previous experience with trying various meds i have developed a huge phobia of taking anything that will alter me physiologically. Thus, my question is does anyone have any experience with how to combat or overcome the fear of taking the medication in the first place so i can see if it will benefit me and treat my depression? Thanks for any input. Susan
Posted by BLKVETTES on July 16, 2003, at 21:03:34
In reply to re: second appointment, posted by sandiegogal on July 16, 2003, at 20:17:30
> I have read all the posts from the beginning and am very grateful to have found this site. I have had depression for many years and tried many anti depressants over the years but experienced such irritating side effects that i could never benefit from the therapeutic dose. For about 6 years now i have been "managing" my depression with therapy, exercise, 12 step meetings, and spiritual readings but i know in my heart i cannot manage the depression on my own. The problem i have is that based on previous experience with trying various meds i have developed a huge phobia of taking anything that will alter me physiologically. Thus, my question is does anyone have any experience with how to combat or overcome the fear of taking the medication in the first place so i can see if it will benefit me and treat my depression? Thanks for any input. Susan
Hi Susan, here is a link that may help you. GOOD LUCK!!!!
WAYNE
http://panicdisorder.about.com/features/blmed1.htm
Posted by McPac on July 16, 2003, at 21:36:56
In reply to re: lexapro speed-buzz AND downer-trance » McPac, posted by lil' jimi on July 15, 2003, at 2:00:43
"the strange sensation i had of both the fatigue/sedation and the speedy/stimulation happening at the same time"
>>>>>>>>>Yep, I know what you mean bro!
Take care and thanks for your response dude, much appreciated!!
Posted by BJB on July 17, 2003, at 10:07:41
In reply to Re: Lexapro Withdrawal Dizziness, posted by Rich B on July 15, 2003, at 16:39:47
I have just recently changed from 20 mg Paxil to 10 mg Lexapro. I feel sooooo much better and the clammy/sweating/chills have subsided and I can actually get up in the mornings without feeling hungover - which I never drink. I have more energy and feel 100 percent better since changing to Lexapro. Just wanted to let someone know the change differences for me!!! I am so happy now that I feel almost normal.
Posted by reichdon on July 17, 2003, at 10:51:31
In reply to Re: Changing to Lexapro from Paxil, posted by BJB on July 17, 2003, at 10:07:41
This is a questions for Rich B. How long has it been since your switch? I feel a bit of anxiety on LExapro and wondered if you had any of that at first? Thanks!
Posted by Micheke on July 17, 2003, at 11:46:08
In reply to Re: Lexapro Withdrawal Dizziness, posted by Rich B on July 15, 2003, at 16:39:47
Rich,
I stopped for just a few days. I didn't know if the dizziness was from the Lexapro or not. It stopped as soon as I started taking the Lexapro again. The dizziness usually kicks in on the 2nd to 3rd day of no meds. I have a bad cold now so I'm not sure what effects are from that or from the Lexapro withdrawal. I do find that my moods seem to be up and down, sometimes pretty quickly. I've been on 5mg for a week now. Tomorrow I will cut down to 0. Will update later. How are you feeling??Wayne, thanks for the site address. It was very interesting. I found a journal of a Paxil withdrawal survivor at http://prisoner-of-paxil.org. It made me thank god that I didn't go on Paxil when my doctor offered it to me.
-Michele
Posted by sandiegogal on July 17, 2003, at 15:55:39
In reply to re: second appointment, posted by BLKVETTES on July 16, 2003, at 21:03:34
Thank you Wayne for that link about panic disorders/anxiety. It has been very helpful. I was prescribed Lexepro but haven't taken it yet because i have anxiety about taking anti-anxiety/depression meds! It's always something! But thanks for the info. Susan
Posted by vandy on July 17, 2003, at 16:04:06
In reply to re: second appointment, posted by sandiegogal on July 16, 2003, at 20:17:30
I don't know if this will help but here goes. Part of my depression was my inability to see myself as a flawed human being. I have been told I'm very intelligent and the tests I've taken in my life seem to confirm that. If I'm so intelligent why couldn't I just snap out of it? Why do I need some chemical? How can I do something which might make me chemically dependent?
Here's how I finally dealt with that. First of all, I don't like myself when I'm depressed. That's not how I see myself. I am less productive, less opportunistic, less able to plan for the future, less capable of thinking of tomorrow, less pleasant company to other people and less pleasant company to myself. So what? How does that justify my consideration of some chemical introduced to my body. Then I learned about the serotonin effect. This is a chemical. But it's a chemical that is found naturally in my body. The SSRI I'm taking allows it to work its magic on me.
But chemically dependent? I think of my best friend Don. Don is diabetic. He takes chemicals. It helps his body process sugar. Without the chemicals he dies. Like me, his body needs help.
Maybe some day I can wean myself from this chemical. For me it's too soon. The light, my friend, just went on for me TODAY! I am a big guy. I stand 6' 4" and weigh over 280 pounds. It took lots of lex (20 mg) a long time to bring me back to me. Thanks and praise be to God and the folk who imported this formula.
Don't deprive yourself and cheat yourself out of a good life. Chemicals run rampant through your entire body. They are a necessity. In our case, sometimes we need just a little help.
Posted by BLKVETTES on July 17, 2003, at 16:17:52
In reply to re: second appointment, posted by vandy on July 17, 2003, at 16:04:06
> I don't know if this will help but here goes. Part of my depression was my inability to see myself as a flawed human being. I have been told I'm very intelligent and the tests I've taken in my life seem to confirm that. If I'm so intelligent why couldn't I just snap out of it? Why do I need some chemical? How can I do something which might make me chemically dependent?
>
> Here's how I finally dealt with that. First of all, I don't like myself when I'm depressed. That's not how I see myself. I am less productive, less opportunistic, less able to plan for the future, less capable of thinking of tomorrow, less pleasant company to other people and less pleasant company to myself. So what? How does that justify my consideration of some chemical introduced to my body. Then I learned about the serotonin effect. This is a chemical. But it's a chemical that is found naturally in my body. The SSRI I'm taking allows it to work its magic on me.
>
> But chemically dependent? I think of my best friend Don. Don is diabetic. He takes chemicals. It helps his body process sugar. Without the chemicals he dies. Like me, his body needs help.
>
> Maybe some day I can wean myself from this chemical. For me it's too soon. The light, my friend, just went on for me TODAY! I am a big guy. I stand 6' 4" and weigh over 280 pounds. It took lots of lex (20 mg) a long time to bring me back to me. Thanks and praise be to God and the folk who imported this formula.
>
> Don't deprive yourself and cheat yourself out of a good life. Chemicals run rampant through your entire body. They are a necessity. In our case, sometimes we need just a little help.
Hi there Vandy, that was a very good post!!!! Glad your feeling good!!!! TAKE CARE!!!
WAYNE
Posted by sandiegogal on July 17, 2003, at 17:35:11
In reply to re: second appointment, posted by BLKVETTES on July 17, 2003, at 16:17:52
Thanks so much for helping me with this stuff and sharing your experience. I hope to walk through this fear of not being able to control my depression/anxiety on my own.
Posted by liesl on July 17, 2003, at 19:44:27
In reply to Re: Rich or Mitch, posted by Donia on July 11, 2003, at 21:42:24
Hello,
I'm currently switching from Lexapro to effexor because I've gained about 20 punds in the last seven months since I started it. I am so tired all the time and I have no motivation to do anything, though the anxiety was almost zero. My doctor has me on 20 mg of Lexapro plus 37.5 mg of Effexor this week which will change to 10/75 next week. Anyone else switching from the Lexapro due to the sleepiness/laziness?Liesl
Posted by oldhand on July 17, 2003, at 23:25:35
In reply to old hand, Re: second appointment, posted by McPac on July 14, 2003, at 22:08:47
> "that I have been on 20mg of Lex for 5 weeks now and had the second appointment with the pdoc today. I have felt signifigantly better on that dosage"
>
> >>>>>>>>>>>> So the 20 mg dosage made you feel much better than your previous dose...what was your previous dose and how long did you give that dose a try? How long after you bumped your Lexapro up to 20 mg did the better feelings start? (I ask because I have been on Lexapro for 2 weeks (at 10 mg's) and was thinking about bumping the dose up). Thanks!!!!!!!Hi McPac,
I was on 10mg for around seven months. I moved in the interim and had difficulty finding a new doc. I guess I noticed feeling better around the fourth week of the new dosage.
If you dont't mind a comment: two weeks may not be long enough to feel any effects from the Lexapro. I believe most of us here waited four or more weeks and even longer before we noticed any therapeutic effect. I know there are others who have almost become discouraged at their original dose, only for it to kick in later on.
Good luck and keep us posted.
Peace for all our souls,
Posted by Kayla on July 18, 2003, at 13:12:50
In reply to Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2002, at 7:52:48
I have been on celexa, and i am currently on lexapro. I find that they both cause tiredness, but lexapro has no sexual side effects.
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