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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by KathrynLex on March 10, 2004, at 18:33:48
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? » LynneDa, posted by susielalala on March 10, 2004, at 17:49:15
Hi Susie,
Unfortunately, Lexapro can cause panic attacks for the first few weeks that you take it. (Read the package insert, it says that it can increase anxiety.) The good news is that it's a side effect that goes away once your body adjusts to the new medication. In the meantime, I've found that Xanax, Lorazepam or Klonopin is very helpful in stopping/lessening an attack.
I had a panic attack a little while ago and took .25 mgs for it...worked like a charm. I was back in bed, sound asleep and VERY comfortable within half an hour. And yes, I felt a little drained the next day. Panic attacks are exhausting!
You're mood might fluctuate a little in the next couple of weeks...but as time passes, your mood will improve and your anxiety/depression will decrease considerably. I still get anxious or depressed once in a great while but it's much easier to cope with. I'm very grateful to have found Lexapro.
I hope all of this is helpful and encouraging. We've all gone through an adjustment period on Lexapro, and I can assure you you're not alone.
K.
Posted by mrs c on March 10, 2004, at 18:42:42
In reply to Re: another bad day... » mrs c, posted by want info on March 10, 2004, at 14:17:24
Well, that puts my theory to rest. Hope tonight is better for you. Mrs. C
Posted by wantinfo on March 10, 2004, at 18:54:41
In reply to Re: another bad day..., posted by mrs c on March 10, 2004, at 18:42:42
awww thank you :) today was a bit better for me...took an extra xanax before bed and slept much better. tonight will be the 3rd night of 15mg lex...
Posted by mystic on March 10, 2004, at 20:50:45
In reply to Re: HELP..WHEN WILL THE ANXIETY END!!!!, posted by magdalena on March 9, 2004, at 23:35:54
I was on Paxil for 7 years and it worked well for me it worked with the anxiety the only problem well there are a couple but in the beginning I was very very anxious and did take xanax on a daily basis until it evened out a lot like the Lexapro which I'm on 10mgs now...2nd I gained about 45lbs on the Paxil and that is the reason that I went off gradually i had been on 10mgs for the last 3 years...and now went right from the paxil to the lexapro and trying to get situated with the lex...I also was very detached and not very caring when on the paxil but didnt realize it until after I was off...So there are good and bad but that is with everything...good luck to you Mystic
Posted by jlynne on March 10, 2004, at 23:12:47
In reply to Re: HELP..WHEN WILL THE ANXIETY END!!!!, posted by magdalena on March 10, 2004, at 12:19:33
Magdalena, I hope you are feeling better. How did today go? Any more anxiety?
As for your question, I am taking Lexapro for depression and anxiety, and a little OCD. The most prominent side effect for me is the insomnia (especially since I tend to obsess after I go to bed), but I am taking 1mg of Lorazepam for that (.5mg about an hour before I go to bed, and another .5mg about 1/2 hr before). One other side effect for me is the "wired/tired" feeling that you might hear people talking about. My anxiety went away fairly soon after I started the Lexapro, but it has started to come back over the weekend and that is why I am upping my dose this week.
You are so young, and you have such better choices for treatment than I did when I was your age. I have all the hope in the world that you will find your way. Please, don't let what I said in my first message discourage you. The meds I took before didn't work because my doctor didn't understand the insomnia piece, and she refused to give me anything to help me sleep. My current doctor is much more in tune with my needs. (Do you have a good relationship with your doctor?)
I hope I am not rambling on. It has been very hard for me to write this; I am on the verge of tears at this moment because I have social anxiety and this is almost like getting up in front of a crowded room for me. I will keep writing to you, though, because I know that I will be okay with it after I do it a few more times, and I know how important it is to share our experiences with each other. I am glad you landed on this site:) jlynne
P.S. Was I right about this site? Have you been getting some good feedback?
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 11, 2004, at 0:07:29
In reply to Re: another bad day... » mrs c, posted by wantinfo on March 10, 2004, at 18:54:41
Posted by mrs c on March 10, 2004, at 20:54:23
Tonight will also be my third night of 15mg Lex. Good luck to both of us. Fortunately I have never had an anxiety attack but from what I've heard they are horrible. I feel for you my friend and hope that you have found the solution by taking a xanax before bed. Bye for now. Mrs. C
Posted by Simus on March 11, 2004, at 0:34:59
In reply to Re: HELP..WHEN WILL THE ANXIETY END!!!!, posted by jlynne on March 10, 2004, at 23:12:47
>I am on the verge of tears at this moment because I have social anxiety and this is almost like getting up in front of a crowded room for me.
Thank you for your courage to post. In an attempt to make you smile, I understand it helps if you try to picture us in our e-underwear. (Virtual reality is the ONLY place, at 42 with two children, I will ever look good in thong underwear.) :D God bless.
Posted by Magdalena on March 11, 2004, at 0:36:37
In reply to Re: HELP..WHEN WILL THE ANXIETY END!!!!, posted by jlynne on March 10, 2004, at 23:12:47
yes, this site has helped me a lot i dont feel alone in this as much:) thank you so much for sharing with me jlynne, i know how hard it is to open up to other people its something i am trying to learn how to do better myself. I hope that somehow threw this i can offer you as much help as you have done for me. I dont really have a relationship with my doctor yet because it was my sisters MD that refered me to my new doctor who i will meet next month.
right now i am feeling better but i dont know if that has anything to do with the fact that i drank 2 beers tonite. i wanted to know if it would make me sick because my birthday is coming up and i would like to possibly go out for a bit with my friends and not test it then. no one around me really understands what i have or what i have been going through but they have been pretty good anyway.
I hope you are feeling good tonite and i wish you along with everyone out there that is suffering with this, comfort and happiness.i hope to hear how you are doing soon,;)
(Big Hug)Magdalena
p.s Mystic you were a great help too, i am fighting discouragement because of my sudden raise in anxiety but i will keep the faith in that in a few weeks i will feel considerably better:)
thank you all.
Posted by jlynne on March 11, 2004, at 1:21:24
In reply to Re: HELP..WHEN WILL THE ANXIETY END!!!! » jlynne, posted by Simus on March 11, 2004, at 0:34:59
>Thank you for your courage to post. In an attempt to make you smile, I understand it helps if you try to picture us in our e-underwear. (Virtual reality is the ONLY place, at 42 with two children, I will ever look good in thong underwear.) :D God bless.
Simus. . . I did smile - BIG! . . . then I cried again. You touched me. Thank you. Hard to write.
I know about hard to look good in a thong - - lost 35lbs, kept the skin:) Now you get to picture that! . . . will give more when I can. Bless you. jlynne
Posted by jlynne on March 11, 2004, at 2:44:01
In reply to Re: HELP..WHEN WILL THE ANXIETY END!!!!, posted by Magdalena on March 11, 2004, at 0:36:37
Magdalena, thank you for the hug - I could feel it:) Am glad you have people around who care. No way for them to understand if they haven't experienced it - that's okay, it's not necessary. Comfort comes from the heart, not the mind.
Big day tomorrow - grandson's b.d. (#15) - going to visit after work (safe place for me:). Lives 45 mi away - don't know if will be posting tomorrow night. Will be thinking of you tho. Hope you have pleasant uneventful day. Sometimes when anxiety gets bad I workout or run(through the house) or talk to myself outloud. Remember "This, too shall pass". May God hold you in his hands . . . jlynne
P.S. tomorrow I start the 15mg dose.
Posted by susielalala on March 11, 2004, at 8:23:34
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro?, posted by KathrynLex on March 10, 2004, at 18:33:48
Thank you so much again. You have really been a God send to me. I am still experiencing anxiety today. I have to go to work in a few minutes and feel awful. But I am not gonna give up on Lex. Last night when I went to bed I had bad anxiety and just layed there and prayed and finally went to sleep. I am hoping as you say it will go away. My depression is doing alot better. I went to the doctor yesterday. He is my family doc and he really doesnt know alot about the side effects and wanted to know if I wanted to switch already. ( He is the one who prescribed it to me) I said no I am gonna stick with it. He says that I seem to be doing better. So thanks again for your advice. :)
Posted by mel_light on March 11, 2004, at 9:03:51
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro?, posted by susielalala on March 11, 2004, at 8:23:34
I just wanted to chime in on the positive responses for Lexapro. I'm on day 22 (I think) and things are getting much better. A couple of days ago I was still feeling the side effects but yesterday and today, I woke up feeling GREAT. It's been a long time since I've felt like my old self and this is the closest I've been. I'm sure the lexapro is now working. I'm not saying the anxiety and depression are gone but yesterday when I went to work people around me noticed a difference and I don't even share with them anything about this.This board has been extremely helpful through the lows so I wanted to include you with the highs :-) Thanks guys. I'll be back (hopefully with continued good news)
Posted by dzinegirl on March 11, 2004, at 9:11:14
In reply to Lexapro positive responses?, posted by mel_light on March 11, 2004, at 9:03:51
Hi everyone,
Its day 25 of my 10mg dosage of Lexapro and Im feeling better. Ive been taking it with vitamins and walking with the girls at lunch everyday for 20minutes and it has helped. The side effects were really bad in the beginning and I thought I wasn't going to make it through and would have to take a leave of abscence from work to get through the panic attacks but Im seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. Have faith, spring is almost here and the dark days of winter are almost gone. I pray for all of you---Good Luck and God Bless.dzinegirl
Posted by linnie on March 11, 2004, at 11:55:22
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro?, posted by susielalala on March 11, 2004, at 8:23:34
Has anyone experienced joint pain after taking lexapro? It seemed to come on all of a sudden and the only thing I am doing different is taking lexapro.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 11, 2004, at 17:12:15
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro?, posted by linnie on March 11, 2004, at 11:55:22
Hi,
I'm going out of town until Wednesday and won't be able to post until I get back. This is a vacation that I really hope to enjoy, I think the Lexapro has helped my anxiety levels enough that I can have a good time. (And I have Xanax for the plane, I'm a nervous flyer.) Sad that I need so many pills to feel "normal" but hey, whatever works.
I'll check in when I get back. I'm wishing everyone well.
K.
Posted by want info on March 11, 2004, at 17:29:14
In reply to emily, posted by mystic on March 10, 2004, at 20:52:55
hi mystic...i feel a bit better today...have been on 15 mgs for 3 days and aside from a little headache i feel pretty much ok! i am glad you are feeling better...you deserve to!
emily
Posted by mystic on March 11, 2004, at 18:26:49
In reply to Re: emily » mystic, posted by want info on March 11, 2004, at 17:29:14
Emily...I cant tell you how happy I am to hear that you are feeling better, you have made my night..I was sooo worried about you..you just sounded like a mini me and I knew how you felt...I have been feeling a little better also...havent gone up to the 15mgs but you sound soooo good...Do you think that it is because you went up to the 15mgs...I'm so happy for you..I know with me sometimes I'm afraid to say that I'm feeling better..afraid it might go away but I think that we might have made it through the real bad part...I also think it had a lot to do with the withdrawal from the paxil...I'm soooo happy for you....We take it day to day so dont forget if you dont feel good keep posting!!!..Talk to you soon...Mystic
Posted by mystic on March 11, 2004, at 18:31:08
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro?, posted by linnie on March 11, 2004, at 11:55:22
I have experienced some joint and muscle pain but it has subsided I do a lot of arobics and weight lifting and yoga so I just think it is that and the Lexapro might just be a little of the problem..stick with it...Mystic
Posted by kateincali on March 11, 2004, at 19:07:10
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro?, posted by mystic on March 11, 2004, at 18:31:08
Hello all,
I just began graduate school this past fall and low and behold began having panic attacks when speaking in my lectures or reading essays during class. I have been on Lexapro for 4 days and am having terrible insomnia. I am awakening at 4 a.m. every morning, am feeling highly anxious, sick to my stomach, and fuzzy headed. I have never taken any kind of medication and am wondering is this fairly normal? How long do these side effects usually last? Anyone have any words of wisdom? Thanks for reading.
Posted by mystic on March 11, 2004, at 20:27:11
In reply to New on Lexapro, posted by kateincali on March 11, 2004, at 19:07:10
Kate?...Totally normal was thinking when I first started Lexapro holy moly I hope that I sleep again I have always been a great sleeper and this bothered me but it eventually goes away along with the stomach upset and anxiety...so hang in there I'm on my 5th week and hopefully on the up hill slide...but I will let you in on a secret...These people in this post are angels and you are definately in the right place...hang in there and keep the faith...Mystic
Posted by BobYuma on March 11, 2004, at 20:41:59
In reply to New on Lexapro, posted by kateincali on March 11, 2004, at 19:07:10
> > I just began graduate school this past fall and low and behold began having panic attacks when speaking in my lectures or reading essays during class. I have been on Lexapro for 4 days and am having terrible insomnia. I am awakening at 4 a.m. every morning, am feeling highly anxious, sick to my stomach, and fuzzy headed. I have never taken any kind of medication and am wondering is this fairly normal? How long do these side effects usually last? Anyone have any words of wisdom? Thanks for reading.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
Hi, Kate.
To answer your questions, it's normal to experience nausea, fuzzy headedness, sleeplessness, and anxiousness. They're all side effects of Lexapro.Now for the good part, they do go away, in time. The amount of time seems to depend on the individual. Most seem to take anywhere from one to three months.
If it helps any, I experienced terrible headaches, sleeplessness, jaw clinching to the point that my jaws would actually ache, and anxiety attacks, all from Lexapro .. "but" ... I stayed on Lexapro because the positive effects were bigger than the negative.
If lack of sleep turns out to be a major problem (and it probably will), ask you doctor or druggist for something to help you sleep. That's important.
If the anxiety becomes too bothersome (mine did), then ask your doctor for something to help with that. I took Lorazepam.
Maybe somebody else can tell you what to do about the nausea, I didn't experience that one, thank God.Hopes this helps and makes you feel a bit better. At least you can know you're not alone, all of us here have either "been there" or are still there.
Take care and God Bless.
BobYuma
Posted by susielalala on March 11, 2004, at 21:23:23
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro?, posted by KathrynLex on March 10, 2004, at 18:33:48
I just want to let you all know that you have made me feel so much better. I am on my 9th day of Lexapro. I have gone through hell. I thought I was the only one, until I found this sight. You have no idea how much all of your input has helped. thank you. I problaby would of wuit if it wasnt for this sight. I hope the best for all of you. I will continue to keep praying for all of you.
God Bless!
Posted by Sent4 on March 11, 2004, at 21:28:51
In reply to New on Lexapro, posted by kateincali on March 11, 2004, at 19:07:10
I'm on my 2nd week. My se's were nausea, chills, anxiety. I'm still having trouble sleeping. The nausea, anxiety and sleeplessness were my original symptoms when I went to my Dr for a check up. My main se now is being so sleepy all day. I am encouraged by these postings that these se's will go away. Thanks so much to all the posters here, I thought I was alone in this. :)
Posted by Dr. Bob on March 12, 2004, at 2:21:49
In reply to Re: HELP..WHEN WILL THE ANXIETY END!!!!, posted by jlynne on March 11, 2004, at 2:44:01
> Magdalena, thank you for the hug - I could feel it:)
It's great to support each other, that's the idea here, but I'd like to redirect follow-ups that aren't about medication, like the above, to Psycho-Social-Babble. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20040305/msgs/321962.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by mrs c on March 12, 2004, at 7:54:20
In reply to New on Lexapro, posted by kateincali on March 11, 2004, at 19:07:10
Hi,
Welcome to the board. Your symptoms are very typical. If you go back and read some old posts from this board you will see a wide range of side effects from lexapro. What you are experiencing has happened to many of us, me included. Rest assured, it does pass within a couple of weeks, maybe sooner. This is a wonderful and supportive sight so if you need help or just need to vent about things, we're here. Mrs. C
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