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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 19:03:32
In reply to lil Jimi, posted by kara lynne on August 26, 2003, at 18:44:36
Posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 19:19:13
In reply to re: Advice:Relax, Read the Thread, Hang in There! » koko, posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 17:16:26
hi Gal, hi Koko,
Gal reminded me that i took 10mg of Lexapro (i'll never forget this date) March 6th ... it was my first dose ....
... i freaked at my SEs so bad that i went down to 5mg the next dose and i stayed there for a _month_ before i went back up to 10mg ...
... 5mg is a pretty stiff dose of this medicine, when you consider how hard the SEs can hit you (and did hit me!)... i figure the pharma (forest labs) can only do so many trials ... so they tested it at 10mg and 20mg ... ... now they have to tell the MDs "start 'em at 10 and give 20 if that don't work" .... .... <<Grrrrrrrr!>>
.... .... i'd like to give them 10mg of lexapro!! ... ... what do you want to bet they have don't have to take lexapro?... i am just about ready to do my own trial ... on myself ... i'm thinking i want to try titrating up .... ... very slowly ...
definitelty consider lowering your dose ...
.... However, i also went through another set of SEs when i bumped up from 5mg to 10mg ... ... so, did i just stretch out the total amount of SE suffering over 2 steps, instead of one? ... ... No Such Thing As A Free Lunch, they say ....
all opinions welcomed ... ... please ...
AND
enter our 24/7 essay contest too!
in 12 words or less,
"How I spent a Hundred Years on Lexapro One Night!"
.. ... .. oh, well, better make up your own title ...Lexapro dose? ... cut back. ... cut down. ... cut up.
whatever you do, don't cut yourself !!! .... Ack!!
<<No SI allowed!!>>but i digress ....... (HA !! HA !!! HAAAA !!!)
<maybe i should really think about decreasing my lex ... ... i am having too good a time here!!!>TAKE CARE ! ! !!! !! !
~ jim> Hi :-) Everyone is different with these meds as I'm sure you'll get that consensus here:-) so I'm not sure anyone can tell you how long the nausea will last, unfortunately. I do know that a few here have had to decrease their dosages of Lexapro from 10mg down to 7.5mg and some down to even 5mg because of intolerable side effects. Is that an option for you?
>
>
> > Hi again, and thank you for your response. I realize now that my actual message before did not post, just my subject line.
> > But I guess what I am really trying to find out, is how long should this nausea last? I did not have any side effects from taking Celexa for (on and off) 3 years. Lexapro at 10 mg is making me feel very sick which in turn throws me into a panic attack (which is why I'm taking it to begin with). I read the thread's and thank everyone for their input. This is a great forum. I was just wondering, or seeking reassurance, that this will pass and is normal as I'm only on my 2nd day...
>
>
Posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 19:22:48
In reply to re: Advice:Relax, Read the Thread, Hang in There! » lil' jimi, posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 17:20:25
Posted by Mariposa on August 26, 2003, at 19:38:42
In reply to re: ~ jim! » BLKVETTES, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 16:03:40
On thursday 8/14 I increased from 10mg to 20mg after seeing my pdoc on 13th, and with his approval. I asked if I should go to 15mg first and he said no, go right to 20mg. So it's been 11 days and I only had a day or 2 of slight dizziness, very mild and bearable. I had a terrible time of it w/se starting out so I was worried it would be almost as bad this time. Glad to say I'm doing much better @ 20mg!! Just something to think about if increasing dose.
Good luck to us all!~~~8|8
Posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 20:16:19
In reply to Thanks, Gal ! (nm) » galkeepinon, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 19:22:48
This was such a positive statement>>>... and post here as often as possible ... it's good for you and it's good for us!
:-)
Take care!
Posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 20:22:52
In reply to lil Jimi, posted by kara lynne on August 26, 2003, at 18:44:36
Hi Kara!
what a pleasant surprise!> Boo! I knew I'd find you one way or another. Just so I can get away with this hello to you here, I'll include that I switched from Lexapro to Celexa. I'm hoping that will be a little easier on my frazzled nerves.
>
> But mostly---I just wanted to say hello. Hello. ;)... ... lex start up tension get to you, hhuh?
... ... celexa going to be better? we hope? ... i Hope!
... so sorry to hear you'r feeling frazzled ... ...
... you can always get me to come running by posting to any of the threads i've posted to ... .. . then my inbox gives me a shout, you know ...
... oh, and One More Thing:Don't Call Him!!!
how's fallsfall ? Yesac? oh, how i miss the old crowd!
you doing okay? ... ... we can go to social if you want to ... anytime ...
take care a kara,
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 20:59:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro - increased dose, posted by Mariposa on August 26, 2003, at 19:38:42
Hi Mariposa!
> On thursday 8/14 I increased from 10mg to 20mg after seeing my pdoc on 13th, and with his approval. I asked if I should go to 15mg first and he said no, go right to 20mg. So it's been 11 days and I only had a day or 2 of slight dizziness, very mild and bearable. I had a terrible time of it w/se starting out so I was worried it would be almost as bad this time. Glad to say I'm doing much better @ 20mg!! Just something to think about if increasing dose.
>
> Good luck to us all!~~~8|8... thanks!
... and That's the other side :
no messing around ... just "BAM!" ... Go For It!!
Way To Go, Mariposa! ... ... sure you're not from texas?
... certainly is something to think about!
... now how am i going to do my wimpy titrating up?
... ... ... HA! ... i don't care if i'm a "wimp" or not !
... .. ... i can still stretch it out, if just to see how bad it can be ... ... how bad can it be?... ... actually, Mariposa, what i'm _really_ wimping out about is the deciding to go up or not ... ... but you are an inspiration ...
Thanks!
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 21:36:09
In reply to Re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear » lil' jimi, posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 20:16:19
Gal Keepin On Keepin On!
> This was such a positive statement>>>... and post here as often as possible ... it's good for you and it's good for us!
>
> :-)
> Take care!... and thanks again ... you are so kind ... and it is very clear ...
... i just hope i didn't scare koko away!new contest, folks!
(no essays have been entered from last contest ... yet!)
"Who Can Post The Most?"
what do you say we try to make the lex thread the biggest thread yet !!
we can be bigger than that ol' effexor thread ... ... if we Just try!!!HA! HA! HA!
..."no more lexapro for this one here, doc ... ... he's is too happy already!" ...
AAAAA AAA A AAAAGGG!take care gal! and ... ...
KEEP ON KEEPIN ON!!!
~ jim
Posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 21:43:29
In reply to re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 21:36:09
LOL jimbo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah the lex thread is AWESOME and it's helping A LOT of people out there:-)
I will keep on keepin on if y'all out there do too;)
> Gal Keepin On Keepin On!
>
> > This was such a positive statement>>>... and post here as often as possible ... it's good for you and it's good for us!
> >
> > :-)
> > Take care!
>
> ... and thanks again ... you are so kind ... and it is very clear ...
> ... i just hope i didn't scare koko away!
>
> new contest, folks!
> (no essays have been entered from last contest ... yet!)
> "Who Can Post The Most?"
> what do you say we try to make the lex thread the biggest thread yet !!
> we can be bigger than that ol' effexor thread ... ... if we Just try!!!
>
> HA! HA! HA!
> ..."no more lexapro for this one here, doc ... ... he's is too happy already!" ...
> AAAAA AAA A AAAAGGG!
>
> take care gal! and ... ...
> KEEP ON KEEPIN ON!!!
> ~ jim
Posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 22:47:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro - increased dose, posted by Mariposa on August 26, 2003, at 19:38:42
Hi again Mariposa:-) This is GREAT to hear!!!! Only a day or 2? That's awesome.
Yep~~Good luck to us ALL:-)
Take Care> On thursday 8/14 I increased from 10mg to 20mg after seeing my pdoc on 13th, and with his approval. I asked if I should go to 15mg first and he said no, go right to 20mg. So it's been 11 days and I only had a day or 2 of slight dizziness, very mild and bearable. I had a terrible time of it w/se starting out so I was worried it would be almost as bad this time. Glad to say I'm doing much better @ 20mg!! Just something to think about if increasing dose.
>
> Good luck to us all!~~~8|8
Posted by galkeepinon on August 27, 2003, at 1:39:47
In reply to re: (((li' jimi)))) You okay? why the move up??? » galkeepinon, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 17:38:28
Good! just checkin my friend:-)
yeah trying to cut a pill in tenths???? arghhhhh is right! there is no pill cutter for that one!
Me? well, just waiting for a C-Pass to be approved for my Lexapro, my PCP gave me the samples to start on it for the last 4 weeks and now it came time to get a *real* RX filled and NO GO-they won't cover it soooooooooooo waiting game for gal
so I keep on keepinon:-)
have a good one!> hi You good Gal!
>
> i'm fine ... thanks for your concern ...
> AND
> "Why Move Up?" Indeed!!!
>
> well,
> ... ... ... i don't know ...
> ... ... ... sometimes i have noticed myself flash with anger ... for very little reason ... ... well, for NO reason ...
> ... just sometimes ...
>
> ... but not out of frustration
> ... from like
> TRYING To CUT a PILL Into TENTHS!!
> ....arrggghhhh!!!
>
> ("AH! HA HA HA!!!!", he laughs at himself some more!!)
> (can this guy be serious? where can ~jim get off wanting to do More? he must be crazy!!!!)
>
> so, Beautiful, How are you doing tonight?
> thanks again!
> ~ jim
Posted by Lex Poster Girl on August 27, 2003, at 10:19:05
In reply to re: ~ jim!, posted by BLKVETTES on August 26, 2003, at 16:53:16
Oh yes, still friends. I must have been all doped up from snorting my 6 multiplied by Pi dose of Lex yesterday. Perhaps I'll try cooking with it next. These types of threads are so useful to a chick who spends a lot of time thinking, "Great, I'm so unbalanced I can't stand up straight without this."
Anyway, you have been a great support and it's nice to have these lighter threads too.
Ciao,
Lex
Posted by BLKVETTES on August 27, 2003, at 12:13:35
In reply to re: ~ jim! Wayne, posted by Lex Poster Girl on August 27, 2003, at 10:19:05
> Oh yes, still friends. I must have been all doped up from snorting my 6 multiplied by Pi dose of Lex yesterday. Perhaps I'll try cooking with it next. These types of threads are so useful to a chick who spends a lot of time thinking, "Great, I'm so unbalanced I can't stand up straight without this."
>
> Anyway, you have been a great support and it's nice to have these lighter threads too.
>
> Ciao,
> LexYou gotta love a chick, who snorts her lexapro and has a sense of humor after what she has been through!!!!!!!!!
WAYNE
Posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:38:13
In reply to re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 21:36:09
Hey Jimbo...still here, you didn't scare me away. I'm just too nauseous to type anything. Just kiddin', it isn't that bad. (So I keep telling myself ;o)....) But here I am day 3 and counting.
BTW, did you suggest taking this with food or without?
Again, great forum. I've actually laughed out loud sitting at my desk. (As if my co-workers didn't think I was weird enough...)
Posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:53:22
In reply to koko !, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 19:19:13
OK, I think I'm getting the hang of this now...
I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should take another 10 mg and get the SE's done and over with or if I should go down to 5. And how would I carve out 7.5? Cut in half and then again in another half? My concern, which Lil Jim touched on, is what if I avoid the SE's now just to experince them in another month or 2...what to do, what to do...? Avoidence doesn't normally work well for me. Then I'll just fixate on the SE's that are waiting for me later on when I go back to 10mg, which will create anxiety for the future, which in turn will make me question if the SE's at 5 mg are any better or not, and then I'll doubt the whole cutting down to begin with, and maybe panic about that...Hum....
Posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 13:26:45
In reply to re: Advice:Relax, Read the Thread, Hang in There!, posted by koko on August 26, 2003, at 15:46:25
"I did not have any side effects from taking Celexa for (on and off) 3 years."
>>>>>>>>> Koko, why did you switch from Celexa to Lexapro if you had no side effects on Celexa?
ALSO, important question, Lex makes many anxious (like me---irritable, anxious)......did you feel differently on Celexa? How so? I'd like to try to switch TO Celexa. Thanks!
Posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 13:41:08
In reply to Koko, Read the Thread, Hang in There!, posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 13:26:45
Hi McPac,
I did take Celexa for 3 years on and off. I would typically stop taking it after about a year---just to see if I still needed it. And, of course, I did. So back on I would go. I took my last break from Celexa about 3 months ago. I recently started feeling anxious. That is anxious to the point that breathing exercises wouldn't work because I would convince myself that I couldn't catch my breath and was about to suffocate, or something else equally unreasonable. But Celexa would take about 30-45 days to get into my system and even start working. And it would be a good 4-5 months for full effect. So my Doctor suggested Lex as it is, as he put it, "quicker". Now, I'm 3 days into it and hate the SE's. But, I'm willing to give it a chance. Celexa caused me zero side effects. It was like taking asprin...I didn't feel anything. (Which could be why I'd figure I didn't need it anymore and try to quit.) But, I also didn't panic. If you do switch, I think you'll find it an easy transition...but one which will need time to take effect. Good luck!
Posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:30:21
In reply to Re: why move from Celexa, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 13:41:08
Koko,
so Celexa was much 'milder' to you huh?
Lex gives you anxiety but Celexa didn't right?
THAT's what I was looking for---someone who took BOTH and DID get the anxiety from Lex BUT NOT from Celexa.....thank you! I want the MILDER one (and it seems like Celexa is milder for most folks). Some doctors act like they are identical as to how they make you feel (like they are interchangable), only they'll say that Lex has less side effects...hah, seems like it has MORE side effects to me, esp. the anxiety....koko, is Lex more activating for you...does it give you more anxious energy? I don't want anxious energy myself. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by lil' jimi on August 27, 2003, at 14:44:43
In reply to re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:38:13
hey Koko!
(well, i _thought_ i had just posted this, but apparently i had some brain fade and something else happened ... ... ... ?)
anyway, this is what you posted (with my replies):
> Hey Jimbo...still here, you didn't scare me away. >Yeah!
> I'm just too nauseous to type anything. Just kiddin', it isn't that bad. (So I keep telling myself ;o)....) But here I am day 3 and counting. >
i remember that my 3rd through 6th days were really rough, though i didn't have nausea ...
> BTW, did you suggest taking this with food or without? >
this implies a better approach than what i suggested ... which was to separate meals from your lex as much as possible ... my _theory_ being that lex causes nausea and the further you take it from meals the better ....
... however! ... could your lexapro dose be provoking nausea _Because_ it upsets your digestion when taken on an empty stomach?
... got to weigh each of these considerations and try to get a feel for which applies in your case ...
... i believe that one of the side effects of lexapro (part of the neurological adaptation) is (can be) to aggravate the digestion, independent of the presence of food in the stomach ... ... so to minimize the trauma to the digestion of meals, i'd try to separate meals from lex ...
... but as my "However" comment above says, there are other considerations ... play it by ear and do what works best for you ...
... here in this land of lexapro users we learn one thing for sure .... we are all individuals ... !
> Again, great forum. I've actually laughed out loud sitting at my desk. (As if my co-workers didn't think I was weird enough...) >
now you have made me happy! <Smile Emoticon Here!!>
i Love it when our posters get to laugh!
co-workers! ... what are we going to do with them? ... ... HA!thanks for your post and for posting back!
TAKE CARE ! ! ! !!!
~ jim
Posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:56:13
In reply to koko, Re: why move from Celexa, posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:30:21
Anyone.
Lex sure seems to cause more anxiety, jitteriness than Celexa (from the posts I've read)...I haven't tried Celexa...Lex made me anxious, irritable....anybody here think Celexa is better for someone like me...I NEED the anti-dep effect BUT DON'T want the med that will cause anxiety....is Celexa better in THAT way (milder)? THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by galkeepinon on August 27, 2003, at 15:35:07
In reply to Less Anxiety w/ Celexa than Lex??? Re: why move , posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:56:13
Hey McPac:-) I took Celexa and as you know I'm on Lex now. For me, I haven't experienced any anxiety on EITHER one, but I'm on week 4 of Lex. Celexa worked well for me, but I was in such a dire need for something to work quick that my doc thought Lex would be the better choice right now.
As for you, I honestly think giving Celexa a fair shot would be great and you may be very, very surprised! Celexa didn't give me ANY anxiety whatsoever, and it helped my depression tremendously, but so did my boyfriend at the time;) LOL---but remember, this is just my experience with Lex and Celexa. If Lex turns out not to be the med for me-which I think it will for a while-back on Celexa I go. One more thing too, remember that Lexapro has all the inactive ingredients of Celexa taken out of it which makes Lexapro more potent-that's why you may had experienced such anxiety on the Lexapro.
Good luck, my friend:-)> Anyone.
>
> Lex sure seems to cause more anxiety, jitteriness than Celexa (from the posts I've read)...I haven't tried Celexa...Lex made me anxious, irritable....anybody here think Celexa is better for someone like me...I NEED the anti-dep effect BUT DON'T want the med that will cause anxiety....is Celexa better in THAT way (milder)? THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Mariposa on August 27, 2003, at 15:41:55
In reply to Re: koko !---catching up..I got lost in the thread, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:53:22
> OK, I think I'm getting the hang of this now...
> I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should take another 10 mg and get the SE's done and over with or if I should go down to 5. And how would I carve out 7.5? Cut in half and then again in another half? My concern, which Lil Jim touched on, is what if I avoid the SE's now just to experince them in another month or 2...what to do, what to do...? Avoidence doesn't normally work well for me. Then I'll just fixate on the SE's that are waiting for me later on when I go back to 10mg, which will create anxiety for the future, which in turn will make me question if the SE's at 5 mg are any better or not, and then I'll doubt the whole cutting down to begin with, and maybe panic about that...Hum....That may not neccessarily be the case.... I started at 5mg and had TERRIBLE se's, so bad I seriously considered quitting, went to 10mg around week 4, with very mild, in comparison, side effects. Went from 10mg to 20mg about 2 weeks ago (into month 6) with just the slightest bit of diziness for a couple of days.
Of course we are all different,and it seems that trial is the best way to find out.
Best of luck!~~~8|8
Posted by hog80ci on August 27, 2003, at 19:04:12
In reply to Re: Lexapro - increased dose » Mariposa, posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 22:47:51
Hi all
I go up to 20mg tomorrow. I've been pretty jittery on 10. I keep telling myself to be patient and not to flush it all down the toilet. Reading your posts always helps. thank you.
Jim
Posted by oldhand on August 27, 2003, at 21:32:38
In reply to Re: Lexapro is a NO for me!! » completelypsycho, posted by trucker on August 26, 2003, at 16:59:06
Take heart! I had the worst withdrawal from Effexor of any one of the meds I have taken. Only got up to 75mg as it raised my blood pressure. Tried to stop cold turkey and had some of the same symptoms you describe. Spent days in agony, muscle and brain zaps, anxiety, panic, etc, etc. My humble opinion is you are withdrawing from the Effexor rather than having SE's from Lexapro. Get ahold of your doc!. and good luck.
Posted by JCServant7 on August 27, 2003, at 22:16:24
In reply to Re: why move from Celexa, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 13:41:08
Well, isn't it best to wean off one drug before switching to another? I mean, my doctor is weaning me off Remeron and I am on 10 mg Lex and 30 mg Remeron.. in about two weeks, I go down to 15 mg Remeron. A slow wean, but he thinks it is best. I am feeling very tired during the day, and it's probably because of the two drugs at once. Can't wait to get off the Remeron. I've gained over 40 lbs and want it all off now! :-)
Steve
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