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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 4WD on August 1, 2005, at 13:09:01
Hi. I'm switching to Lexapro from Celexa. The Celexa wasnt' helping with anxiety and my pdoc thinks the Lex will eventually allow me to get off Klonopin (because I want to get off it).
I'm concerned about startup anxiety with the Lex. I've only been on it three days now but I think I'm a bit more anxious when I wake up in the mornings. Maybe it's my imagination but I could use some encouragement about whether the startup anxiety goes away pretty quickly and if it's worth it. I also have increased dry mouth with the Lex - which I wasn't expecting.
I was on 10mg of Celexa, now I'm on 5 mg of Lex. Just stopped Celexa and started right in with Lex. I can't take more because the muscles in my upper back and neck go into spasm and my neck gets painfully stiff and tight if I take a full dose of an SSRI.
I thought I wouldn't get startup anxiety from Lex since it and Celexa are so similar. ANy thoughts? I just need reassurance I guess.
Marsha
Posted by 4WD on August 1, 2005, at 21:03:10
In reply to Celexa to Lexapro -startup anxiety? Encourage pls, posted by 4WD on August 1, 2005, at 13:09:01
How long can I expect the Lexapro startup anxiety to last? How bad might it get?
Marsha
Posted by Slinky on August 4, 2005, at 6:18:41
In reply to Okay, pls just tell me how long it might last?, posted by 4WD on August 1, 2005, at 21:03:10
> How long can I expect the Lexapro startup anxiety to last? How bad might it get?
>Hi Marsha..
I can't say because I take two other meds but after 3 weeks on 20mg lexapro I'm feeling some increasing mental agitation
For some it seems the first two weeks can be the best others it can be a hell...usually the hell improves so I'd hang on in there...
Because of your change from celexa it'll be a bit more rough..in my opinion I don't buy the 10mg equivilent to 20mg of Lexapro because the celexa hits some area in the brain that the lexapro doesn't.
Wish you some improvement soon..
Slinky
Posted by 4WD on August 5, 2005, at 20:54:49
In reply to Re: Okay, pls just tell me how long it might last? » 4WD, posted by Slinky on August 4, 2005, at 6:18:41
> > How long can I expect the Lexapro startup anxiety to last? How bad might it get?
> >
>
> Hi Marsha..
>
> I can't say because I take two other meds but after 3 weeks on 20mg lexapro I'm feeling some increasing mental agitation
> For some it seems the first two weeks can be the best others it can be a hell...usually the hell improves so I'd hang on in there...
> Because of your change from celexa it'll be a bit more rough..in my opinion I don't buy the 10mg equivilent to 20mg of Lexapro because the celexa hits some area in the brain that the lexapro doesn't.
> Wish you some improvement soon..
> Slinky
Thanks, Slinky,I still feel more anxious and also a bit more depressed. I guess the Celexa is wearing off but the Lexapro hasn't kicked in yet (except for the anxiety part). I guess I'll give it at least three weeks before I give up.
Were you on Celexa before? Or what did you switch from to Lexapro and why?
Marsha
Posted by Slinky on August 6, 2005, at 14:19:50
In reply to Re: Okay, pls just tell me how long it might last?, posted by 4WD on August 5, 2005, at 20:54:49
> Were you on Celexa before? Or what did you switch from to Lexapro and why?
>Hi Marsha..
I hope the start up anxiety will go away.
Usually it takes 3 weeks for anxiety for me to ease.
It's expensive but have you tried Neurontin?
I took celexa but stopped it because it set my mind racing obsessively-not anxious but like OCD.
and gave me annoying leg twitches.
I started the lexapro because I started to get bad depression and the paxil I took previously caused
withdrawal problems . lexapro has a longer half life ( I take tegretol that flushes out most ssri's from body quickly ) and it was the only ssri left to try .
It's horrible waiting it out I know..I'm crossing my fingers for you.
Slinky
Posted by 4WD on August 6, 2005, at 21:57:06
In reply to Re: Okay, pls just tell me how long it might last? » 4WD, posted by Slinky on August 6, 2005, at 14:19:50
> > Were you on Celexa before? Or what did you switch from to Lexapro and why?
> >
>
> Hi Marsha..
>
> I hope the start up anxiety will go away.
> Usually it takes 3 weeks for anxiety for me to ease.
> It's expensive but have you tried Neurontin?
> I took celexa but stopped it because it set my mind racing obsessively-not anxious but like OCD.
> and gave me annoying leg twitches.
> I started the lexapro because I started to get bad depression and the paxil I took previously caused
> withdrawal problems . lexapro has a longer half life ( I take tegretol that flushes out most ssri's from body quickly ) and it was the only ssri left to try .
> It's horrible waiting it out I know..I'm crossing my fingers for you.
> Slinky
Thanks for the encouragement. It helps. I'm doing better today. For one thing, I've accepted that this is not the time to try and decrease or stop my Klonopin! I hate being on it and keep trying to take myself off it - that's why the switch to Lexapro- but obviously I better wait until the Lex has a chance to start dealing with the anxiety instead of increasing it.So far, no other really bad side effects. It's weird - I have more dry mouth on Lex than I did on Celexa. Except for the anxiety, everything else is about the same, well except the increased depression I've been having but maybe that's just because the Celexa is leaving and the Lex isn't on board yet.
Thanks again,
Marsha
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