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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by sapphira on November 12, 2003, at 12:07:44
In reply to Re: lexapro side effects » Mark T, posted by COOP on November 12, 2003, at 11:41:01
hi mark, i'm just starting week two. i couldn't take a half a pill the first week (very bad nausea/diarrhea) and only took 1/4. i noticed a difference in my mood (positive) though within a few days. i no longer feel sad or think sad thoughts. i started taking a half pill today. i'm going to hang in as i know from reading this board that things only improve with time. i see my dr. again on the 15th of dec. hopefully i'll be up to the full dose by then.
sapphira
Posted by gumby22 on November 12, 2003, at 13:16:57
In reply to Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2002, at 7:52:48
I just want to say hello to everyone. I have had anxiety and panic attacks for years, and always used Valium or clonazepam. They always shortened my day because of tiredness. I asked my doctor for an anti-depressant because I was told that ADs help anxiety also. I started Lexapro - 1 week at 2.5 mg, 1 week at 5 mg, and this week at 7.5 mg (I am afraid of new medications). After the first sluggish week, I am now feeling a little more generally relaxed but not tired anymore. Is this stuff habit-forming like the tranquilizers?
Posted by LynneDa on November 12, 2003, at 13:50:34
In reply to New Guy, posted by gumby22 on November 12, 2003, at 13:16:57
Hi "New Guy" and welcome! I was told that it is not addictive. But, there are many very educated folks posting on this site who can tell you more. Glad it's going well for you!
~ Lynne
Posted by sapphira on November 12, 2003, at 13:53:45
In reply to Re: New Guy, posted by LynneDa on November 12, 2003, at 13:50:34
hi new guy and welcome!! i'm new to lexapro and to this forum too. everyone has been very nice and supportive. i've been told that lex is not addictive, though it's tough to withdraw from as you get the same s/es that you had when you started.
sapphira
Posted by mother on November 12, 2003, at 14:10:03
In reply to Up to 20mg Lex - Feel terrible, posted by sfmom on November 8, 2003, at 10:16:11
I started taking lexapro on Nov. 3--so on 8th day now---I am very sleepy much of the time--will this diminish with continuted use?? stay the same?? get worse???
Thanks for the info.
Posted by LynneDa on November 12, 2003, at 14:13:15
In reply to new user---very sleepy, posted by mother on November 12, 2003, at 14:10:03
Hi! I'm on week 3. The sleepiness dimished for me after about 10 days - it's still there a slight bit, not bad. At first, I was ready to go to bed at 8:30pm! It's different for everyone, of course, but that's my experience. Hang in there, from all the postings I've read, it gets better for the majority of people taking it!!
~ Lynne
Posted by hadit4now on November 12, 2003, at 14:15:49
In reply to Re: New Guy, posted by sapphira on November 12, 2003, at 13:53:45
Has anyone switched from Paxil to Lexapro? I find that Lexapro is less tiring, however paxil may be more effective. Is it just me ;-)
Posted by hadit4now on November 12, 2003, at 14:19:50
In reply to new user---very sleepy, posted by mother on November 12, 2003, at 14:10:03
Ive been on lexapro for about a month now, and after 10 days or so it gets much better. The first ten days it really felt like i was knocked off my feet, but hang in there.
Posted by gumby22 on November 12, 2003, at 14:49:51
In reply to new user---very sleepy, posted by mother on November 12, 2003, at 14:10:03
> I started taking lexapro on Nov. 3--so on 8th day now---I am very sleepy much of the time--will this diminish with continuted use?? stay the same?? get worse???
>
> Thanks for the info.
For me (and, I see, for some other people in this forum) the sleepiness and heaviness went away between 1 week and 2 weeks. I was so afraid of any unknown side effects that I occassionaly would pop a clonazepam. This may have contributed to the sluggish feeling.
Posted by gumby22 on November 12, 2003, at 15:28:32
In reply to Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2002, at 7:52:48
Has anyone taken Vicks Nyquil while on Lexapro? Is it OK to do it?
Posted by sapphira on November 12, 2003, at 16:12:59
In reply to Re: new user---very sleepy, posted by hadit4now on November 12, 2003, at 14:19:50
hi, i'm into my second week. i started at 2.5 mgs and today increased to 5 mg. i've noticed that while i do not feel sad or weepy, i really feel no emotions at all!! i just can't cry even when i try to think of something that would normally make the tears come. does this last or will i regain some balance with regard to emotions? also my i'm VERY forgetful and my head feels like i've been on a bender, just kind of big. i guess i just feel 'out of it'. does this improve too? anyone else go through this or am i losing it? i've also experienced a bit of insomnia. thanks all for your answers.
sapphira
Posted by Erin1679 on November 12, 2003, at 19:43:56
In reply to Lexapro and Nyquil, posted by gumby22 on November 12, 2003, at 15:28:32
Hi everyone. I'm new here, been reading for a while, but just figured out how to post.
I've been taking Lexapro for a little over a month. I havent really seen much of a difference, but I dont know if I even need the med in the first place.
I've always had negative thoughts, anxiety, stress, etc and a doctor I just met (he is my fiance's doc) prescribed me on it. I guess I'll wait a little longer.
By the way, I've taken NyQuil a few times while on it, didnt do anything much to me. ;)
Posted by PHV on November 12, 2003, at 21:31:11
In reply to Lexapro and Nyquil, posted by gumby22 on November 12, 2003, at 15:28:32
> Has anyone taken Vicks Nyquil while on Lexapro? Is it OK to do it?
I specifically asked my doc if it was okay to take Nyquil and/or Benadryl with Lexapro due to sinus issues I also have. She said both were fine. I also take Ambien to sleep because anxiety has been a S/E for me from the Lex and Benadryl and Nyquil are okay.
I also asked why I should be careful drinking alcohol - I'm a social drinker - holiday parties coming up - I know I'll be in many more social situations. She told me it's not as though it harms you in any way - it's just that alcohol is a depressant - and Lexapro is an anti-depressant. Therefore, while drinking alcohol, it may counteract the effects of Lexapro.
I have been on Lex for nearly five months now. Minor S/E's continue some days. I guess it's similar to life before Lex during depression . . . some days were better than others. I think that's just life.
Best of luck to all.
Patty
Posted by gumby22 on November 12, 2003, at 22:21:02
In reply to Re: Lexapro and Nyquil, posted by Erin1679 on November 12, 2003, at 19:43:56
> Hi everyone. I'm new here, been reading for a while, but just figured out how to post.
> I've been taking Lexapro for a little over a month. I havent really seen much of a difference, but I dont know if I even need the med in the first place.
> I've always had negative thoughts, anxiety, stress, etc and a doctor I just met (he is my fiance's doc) prescribed me on it. I guess I'll wait a little longer.
> By the way, I've taken NyQuil a few times while on it, didnt do anything much to me. ;)Erin, I still don't know how to post, only how to answer a posting. I don't know how my original posting got up there ... It usually disappears into space. How do you do it?
Posted by BLKVETTES on November 12, 2003, at 22:29:45
In reply to a few questions........., posted by sapphira on November 12, 2003, at 16:12:59
> hi, i'm into my second week. i started at 2.5 mgs and today increased to 5 mg. i've noticed that while i do not feel sad or weepy, i really feel no emotions at all!! i just can't cry even when i try to think of something that would normally make the tears come. does this last or will i regain some balance with regard to emotions? also my i'm VERY forgetful and my head feels like i've been on a bender, just kind of big. i guess i just feel 'out of it'. does this improve too? anyone else go through this or am i losing it? i've also experienced a bit of insomnia. thanks all for your answers.
>
> sapphiraI began taking lexapro for panic and depression. I had bad crying jags before lex. These stopped almost instantly. But for over a month I was caught between happy and sad. I was numb and felt nothing. The forgetting thing I would watch old tv shows and see if I could remember the casts real names. Chances are you are going through a phase where chemicals are changing in your brain. At about 6 weeks if everything works right you should feel so much better. Your not losing it or going crazy.
WAYNE
Posted by On_My_Way on November 13, 2003, at 9:06:29
In reply to Re: a few questions........., posted by BLKVETTES on November 12, 2003, at 22:29:45
> > hi, i'm into my second week. i started at 2.5 mgs and today increased to 5 mg. i've noticed that while i do not feel sad or weepy, i really feel no emotions at all!! i just can't cry even when i try to think of something that would normally make the tears come. does this last or will i regain some balance with regard to emotions? also my i'm VERY forgetful and my head feels like i've been on a bender, just kind of big. i guess i just feel 'out of it'. does this improve too? anyone else go through this or am i losing it? i've also experienced a bit of insomnia. thanks all for your answers.
> >
> > sapphira
>
> I began taking lexapro for panic and depression. I had bad crying jags before lex. These stopped almost instantly. But for over a month I was caught between happy and sad. I was numb and felt nothing. The forgetting thing I would watch old tv shows and see if I could remember the casts real names. Chances are you are going through a phase where chemicals are changing in your brain. At about 6 weeks if everything works right you should feel so much better. Your not losing it or going crazy.
> WAYNEEverything takes time, relax. I've been on lexpro for a couple of months and have no side effects at all, none. I've tried Celexa, no prob w/that, Zoloft, gained a ton of weight so I'm glad to be stable.
Posted by jane47 on November 13, 2003, at 12:14:43
In reply to Re: lexapro side effects, posted by Mark T on November 12, 2003, at 8:55:43
Hang in there Mark. I am just starting my 3rd week of 10mg lexapro. The side effects are just about gone. My anxiety has decreased considerably. My husband and kids get a sense of me being more centered and calm. The only side effect that I found to be horrible was hyperactivity. I know from these posts that most people had the opposite effect. Good luck to you and keep in touch.
jane
Posted by jane47 on November 13, 2003, at 12:19:15
In reply to Re: a few questions........., posted by On_My_Way on November 13, 2003, at 9:06:29
I am on 3rd week of lex (10mgs). My tears have just returned. I was able to cry at a sad tv show this past weekend.I was glad. I had wanted to FEEL better not numb. Hang in there. It does get better.
Jane
Posted by tiredman on November 13, 2003, at 16:09:11
In reply to Re: lexapro side effects, posted by jane47 on November 13, 2003, at 12:14:43
I too suffer from the anxiety/hyperactivity side-effect of Lexapro. It's
horrible! I worked my dose up to 10mg over a three week period. Once I hit 10 it
got really bad (today is only day two on 10 mgs). How long did it take before
that "hyper" feeling went away?
Posted by jane47 on November 13, 2003, at 16:38:58
In reply to jane47- When did the hyperactivity go away?, posted by tiredman on November 13, 2003, at 16:09:11
I started 5mg of lex on Oct. 24 (fri). went up to 10 mg on Wed. I have been on 10 mg for 2 weeks and the hyperactivity is subsiding. The anxiety is almost gone. Taking it in the AM instead of PM helps (at least i can sleep). Hang in there and good luck.
jane
Posted by sapphira on November 13, 2003, at 17:17:09
In reply to Re: jane47- When did the hyperactivity go away?, posted by jane47 on November 13, 2003, at 16:38:58
hi jane, i'm on my second day at 5 mg and i can feel the anxiety/hyperactivity. i am hesistant to go to 10 as i'm afraid i won't be able to function or sleep. i also have nausea. however, the bright spot is that after two weeks on the lex (first week at 2.5) i do feel better mentally/emotionally. maybe some of us are just more sensitive to meds than others.
sapphira
Posted by tiredman on November 13, 2003, at 18:58:02
In reply to Re: jane47- When did the hyperactivity go away?, posted by sapphira on November 13, 2003, at 17:17:09
My pdoc has prescribed meds that (according to her) never cause anxiety. They made me anxious. We are all wired differently. My wife is taking lex as well. She has no SE's.
Posted by maxamillion on November 13, 2003, at 20:35:58
In reply to Re: Lexapro clinical data, posted by carolee on November 7, 2003, at 8:12:44
what is a pcp?
Posted by vandy on November 13, 2003, at 21:40:46
In reply to Re: Lexapro clinical data, posted by maxamillion on November 13, 2003, at 20:35:58
One thing is a Primary Care Physician. It's also another thing to hippies but that's not important now.
> what is a pcp?
Posted by PHV on November 13, 2003, at 22:43:43
In reply to Re: jane47- When did the hyperactivity go away?, posted by jane47 on November 13, 2003, at 16:38:58
My hyperactivity didn't kick in until I was starting week ten of my Lex 10mg. I have had regular visits w/ my pcp - and have finally found that 30 mgs of Busbar twice daily keeps me stable on a regular basis. I still have a few bad days - and I take a low dosage of .5mg Xanax when that happens. Xanax brings me way down to normal if my anxiety is high - and lasts a good portion of the day.
I got a little freaked out when the anxiety started suddenly for me because I'd never experienced that before. I went to see my pdoc right away and it has taken us a few different tries - but we seem to have it where all my meds are working together okay.
Visit your doctor if these S/E's become extremely bothersome. Share your experiences with this board - but if it becomes intolerable - listen to your body and talk to your doctor. I'm extremely fortunate. I have a doctor that sits down and really listens and wants to make me feel better. She is truly a Godsend - as is this board.
Best of luck and please keep us posted.
Patty
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