Posted by leeran on May 21, 2003, at 15:15:24
In reply to Re: 6 weeks on Lexapro - Bess and KKAT, posted by Okpolosi on May 21, 2003, at 12:14:03
Okpolosi - - -
I think this is the second post of yours (the one you just wrote) that I have saved in the "Notes" section of Outlook for back-up/future reference.
I had doctors telling me for years that I was too young to be in peri-menopause. Two years ago, a new gynecologist finally tested my hormone levels and gave me the news that I was well into menopause (well, true "menopause" is after you've gone one year without menstruation, which I have yet to do - i.e. it's usually a three-month cycle which means I never know if I've hit the last one or not . . . once it was six months).
Oh yeah, I'm 44.
I can't believe the extreme exhaustion I feel this week (which would be the beginning part of week 5).
Okpolosi, did you write this post? I'm going to copy and paste it here. If so - this is the one other post I've copied and pasted (saved) regarding Lexapro.
You are a SAINT in my book. I'm so glad to hear that Lexapro has had such a positive impact on your life. I'm not looking for miracles per se, just some degree of normalcy that can help me feel more motivated/alive and able to keep a schedule (all this and I'm also on 40 mg. of Adderall!).
By the way, the "hairbrush rage" sounds very peri-menopausal to me. I think natural hormones (prescribed) have helped me with some of the irritiation issues - or maybe it's just a phase of this darned "change" I've already gone through . . . who knows. To be perfectly honest, I don't think I have the energy anymore to get to enraged about much of anything.
Weird thing is (don't know if this is from Lexapro, Adderall, Wellbutrin or what) - my blood pressure was 102/60 at the doctor's office the other day. It has never been that low. I was shocked, considering the Adderall. So, I'm wondering if Lexapro hasn't calmed me down a bit? Again - who knows.
Here's that post of yours (I think it was yours). If it was yours, I had to laugh when I re-read it and saw the reference to Chex mix. I used to be certifiably addicted to that stuff!
Headaches -
First 2 weeks really bad, then went away.
(I have had this)Diahrea - Bad at first, gone by week 4.
(I have had constipation AND diarrhea, the Metamucil in capsule form does seem to help with that strange, constant "bearing down" sensation which had to be attributed to the Lexapro)Nausea - 1 to 2 hours after taking, gone by week 3.
(I have not had this . . . crossing my fingers that I don't)Zombie - bad at first, feeling gradually lessened, gone by week 4.
(I had that feeling the first go-round - on 10 mg.)Bubblehead - prominent first 2 weeks, gone by week 3.
(That's a good description . . . I think I felt that, too)FLU-like symptoms - all during week 2, gone at end of week 2.
(I don't think I've had that - although today I feel "flu-ish" in the sense that I feel so exhausted).Sleepy all day - gone by week 6, also changed time of taking Lex from morning to afternoon around week 5.
(I had this the first time when I stayed on just one week. I've had it this time as well, but not every week. I wish I had kept track - smart idea to do so!)Lethargy - started around week 3, gone by week 6. This one is a little tricky, you think you feel lethargy but once you get up and move it evaporates.
(YES, so true!)Depression - REALLY BAD at week 4, just suffered through it with encouragement from people here.
(I guess that's what I'm feeling? Hopeless? Like this isn't working? Not as "good" as I did a few weeks ago and frustrated by that fact).Anxiety - had several attacks weeks 3,4.
(Yep)Rash - had an itchy rash all over my back - week 1 and 2.
(little blisters on my hand)Dizziness - 1 to 4 hours after taking, gone by week 3.
(I take mine at night so if I'm feeling this, I'm feeling it in la-la land, and I don't mean the area where I live).Appetite - very poor first few weeks. Lost 6 pounds which I have not gained back. I find I eat less now than I used to, and feel full.
(Same here, weigh less than I have in years - but I'm also on Adderall . . . but the Lexapro seems to have even dulled the appetite even more - GOOD THING!!!).Carb craving - Chex Mix - I WANT SOME NOW!!! also Cheerios and BREAD!!!
(Wouldn't eat Cheerios if paid, and burnt out on Chex mix, especially after - years ago - when my husband said I sounded like a cow grazing in the field when I ate the stuff - but BREAD - yes! TOAST! Sourdough toast . . . an entire loaf in a week).
Jaw clenching - Made my teeth hurt by week 2. Still have a little of this now, but seems to be getting less and less.
(My "clenching" was in the chest - and it was very nerve-wracking, thought I was having a heart attack).Blurred vision - noticed around week 2, improved gradually.
(This is quite interesting . . . I hadn't read your post for quite some time, but just this week, I can see the computer screen without glasses again!!! I was actually looking in to bi-focal contacts last week - and probably need them, but I do feel like I'm seeing much better now that you mention it - or mentioned it weeks ago when you posted this).OKPOLOSI, again . . . your posts have been another light at the end of the tunnel (as have so many others).
THANKS!!!!!!!!!!
p.s. I added my comments thinking that perhaps someone else would eventually be able to relate to all this when they "find" this site doing a search on Lexapro, as I did (and probably as so many others have done as well).
poster:leeran
thread:227708
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030520/msgs/228112.html