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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by theo on June 9, 2003, at 15:35:39
Starting week 5 of 10mg Lexapro. Side effects gone except stiff neck and a little sleepiness. I was recently asked to speak to a small group, very informal and I totally freaked and felt like I was giving my first speech in high school. Or that feeling when the teacher would call on you and you didn't know the answer and would freeze up. Could this be some anxiety brought on by the Lexapro? Also, how many weeks are considered enough before making a decision to stay with or discontinue Lexapro?
Posted by Mariposa on June 10, 2003, at 12:07:44
In reply to Lexapro, 5th week and am wondering???, posted by theo on June 9, 2003, at 15:35:39
> Starting week 5 of 10mg Lexapro. Side effects gone except stiff neck and a little sleepiness. I was recently asked to speak to a small group, very informal and I totally freaked and felt like I was giving my first speech in high school. Or that feeling when the teacher would call on you and you didn't know the answer and would freeze up. Could this be some anxiety brought on by the Lexapro? Also, how many weeks are considered enough before making a decision to stay with or discontinue Lexapro?
During my 4-5th weeks I had a LOT of trouble w/anxiety and increased depression. I have NEVER had anxiety attacks before, but I did get them, some rather severe, at that time (4-5 wk). My doc upped me from 5mg to 10mg at that point. Things got steadily better from then on, although in re-reading my old posts from weeks 6-8, it's apparent to me now that I was unaware that I was actually improving. I realize now in retrospect that I was improving gradually and just didn't know it.
It really sounds to me that your experience is similar to mine so far, and I would encourage you to give it a little more time. I did not "feel better" until week 9, and by that I mean I was SURE lex was working, before that I was VERY UNSURE and skeptical.
GOOD LUCK and keep posting on your PROGRESS!!!~~~8|8
Posted by tm on June 10, 2003, at 19:24:04
In reply to Lexapro, 5th week and am wondering???, posted by theo on June 9, 2003, at 15:35:39
> Starting week 5 of 10mg Lexapro. Side effects gone except stiff neck and a little sleepiness. I was recently asked to speak to a small group, very informal and I totally freaked and felt like I was giving my first speech in high school. Or that feeling when the teacher would call on you and you didn't know the answer and would freeze up. Could this be some anxiety brought on by the Lexapro? Also, how many weeks are considered enough before making a decision to stay with or discontinue Lexapro?
Theo I thought I was actually behind you and I'm actually a week ahead. On my 5th week I woke up one morning with no anxiety. The day before I had and the next day it was gone it amazed me. I still take Xanax, but by the time I wake up in the morning the Xanax should be gone because it lasts 4-6 hours. The difference is my doctor has steadly raised my Lex until I reached 20mg. He raised it to 20mg last Tuesday. With the little experience I have had with this problem I wonder if your Doc. were to raise your mg it might help. It seemed to help me.
My Psy doc suffers from this also and he says he always has a Xanax in his pocket for those times that may be rough like giving a speech. I started sleeping through the night Friday and my sleepyness has gone away. Theo I thought you were doing better I'm so sorry to here your still having some problems. I remember your words to me to hang in there a little longer and I did and thanks for that. I hope you can make this work for you. I hope this helps!! Tim
Posted by theo on June 11, 2003, at 9:21:07
In reply to Re: Lexapro, 5th week and am wondering???, posted by tm on June 10, 2003, at 19:24:04
I thought they were behind me to. Maybe I should ask my doc about dosage? Who knows. I've got a follow up appt. with doc July 1 so I will hang in there and see what happens. Lately I also wake up extremely tired with headaches, but I could also still be having some discontinuing effects from Paxil, since I started 10mg Lexapro the day after me last "weaning" dose of Paxil.
Posted by Mariposa on June 11, 2003, at 13:05:44
In reply to Re: Lexapro, 5th week and am wondering??? » tm, posted by theo on June 11, 2003, at 9:21:07
> I thought they were behind me to. Maybe I should ask my doc about dosage? Who knows. I've got a follow up appt. with doc July 1 so I will hang in there and see what happens. Lately I also wake up extremely tired with headaches, but I could also still be having some discontinuing effects from Paxil, since I started 10mg Lexapro the day after me last "weaning" dose of Paxil.
Yes diffinitely ask about increase in dosage when you see Doc, I did and it really helped. The tiredness and headaches - very possibly from withdrawl/Paxil. But just a question, been eating "sugar" recently? I did get headaches from eating sugary desserts until I reached that 9 week point, now my headaches have gone.
Tiredness also seemed to be a problem for me back then....I can remember not having any energy at work and getting extremely fatigued. I no longer have this problem either, in fact I have gone the other way and seem to be hyper and full of energy to the point that my husband commented, annoyed, "You act like you're on speed!".
Hope you continue to improve! Best of Luck~~~8|8
Posted by tm on June 11, 2003, at 14:23:56
In reply to Re: Lexapro, 5th week and am wondering??? » tm, posted by theo on June 11, 2003, at 9:21:07
> I thought they were behind me to. Maybe I should ask my doc about dosage? Who knows. I've got a follow up appt. with doc July 1 so I will hang in there and see what happens. Lately I also wake up extremely tired with headaches, but I could also still be having some discontinuing effects from Paxil, since I started 10mg Lexapro the day after me last "weaning" dose of Paxil.
Theo I went from Paxil 25mg Cr to the Lex and suffered with increased anxiety. My pdoc said that Paxil had such a short half life that I believe he said it was out of my system in two weeks. He had me go to 12.5 for a week of Paxil and then I was depending on the Lex and Xanax.
Hang in there. Tim
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