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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by lil' jimi on May 18, 2003, at 1:45:26
In reply to Feeling anxious on Lexapro, posted by shoff on May 16, 2003, at 15:50:59
> I've been taking Lexapro (10mg) for about 12 days now. And as of yesterday I started to feel a bit hyper and or anxious, like i should take a walk or go to the gym. Is this normal and will it pass? Any suggestions would be great.
hi to shoff and cortney,
welcome and thank you for posting .... there's always a listening ear here .... even if we may not be up to getting our lazy ... bones to work the keyboard, real quick.
i had anxiety when i first started taking lexapro ..... i took 10mg on march 6th and had some pretty intense SEs which made me cut back to 5mg and got me to find this message board which gave me the encouragement to endure my SEs and keep taking lexapro .... i went back up to 10mg on april 9th.
i had panic-anxiety attacks which for me were more unnerving because i had never had them before .... to me, it was very much like there was an electric - hyper - nervous - wound-up energy aspect to lexapro, reminiscent of amphetamines, and at times, after taking a dose, there would be these episodes of depersonalization, not unlike lsd. ... . i also suffered sweating spells, muscle tension, upset stomach, anorgasmia and depression....
for about a week
panic attacks: days 2 and 3 .... (day 3 i find psycho-babble)
anxiety: days 2 through 7
anorgasmia: days 2 through 5 1/2
bad stomach: days 1 through 5
sweating: a couple of weeks .... i still have some sweating, but not often and not at night.by day 10 i was fine and except for the sweats and they continue to get better.
so: i was anxious when i started lex, but it was one of the initial adaptation side effects (SEs), and it went away.
the archives of this thread contain an invaluable wealth of validation and encouragement and must be highly recommended for every new lex user.(update for our weight conscious lex users: i had been weight neutral since i began lex,
But i have gained
5 lbs
from april 9 to may 1
.... should this keep up, i’m having my triglycerides checked again.)everyone’s posts have been extremely helpful to me and i thank our posters, one and all.
may all lex users find success.
(w/a tip o’ the hat to wayne=>)
TAKE CARE ! ! ! ! !
~ jim
Posted by Okpolosi on May 18, 2003, at 10:55:45
In reply to Anxiety and Lexapro, posted by Cortney on May 15, 2003, at 14:27:36
> Has anyone had anxiety problems with Lexapro?
> I had severe panic attacks with Celexa and am afraid the same thing will happen with Lexapro since they are related. Panic attacks went away with Paxil and Effexor, but my brain seems to like to build up a tolerance to antidepressants.
> Also used Prozac, Serzone, Zoloft.
> Anyone?I have never had anxiety attacks before, but I did have them at weeks 4-5 on Lex. For me, it was another in a long line of side effects that went away. Now at 4 mos. and only SE I still notice occasionally is jaw clenching. Otherwise I have had good results.
Posted by Okpolosi on May 18, 2003, at 11:00:56
In reply to Feeling anxious on Lexapro, posted by shoff on May 16, 2003, at 15:50:59
> I've been taking Lexapro (10mg) for about 12 days now. And as of yesterday I started to feel a bit hyper and or anxious, like i should take a walk or go to the gym. Is this normal and will it pass? Any suggestions would be great.
My DR told me Lex may take 6-8 weeks to work. Lex has a long list of possible side effects, including anxiety, which usually go away. I never had anxiety attacks before, but did get some bad ones at weeks 4-5. Now at 4 mos. and only SE I still have occasionally is jaw clenching.
HANG IN THERE AND GIVE THE MEDS A CHANCE TO WORK!!
Posted by Okpolosi on May 18, 2003, at 11:07:10
In reply to Re: Feeling anxious on Lexapro, posted by blkvettes on May 17, 2003, at 17:21:37
> > Hello???????????? Anyone out there?????????
>
>
>
> Hi there, the board gets slow!!!!!!! There is good info on the old posts if you have patience to read them!!!!!!!! GOD BLESS!!!!!!
> WAYNE
>
> I found going back and reading old posts to be MOST HELPFUL!!! Many of the questions you will have, have been asked by others befor, and many good responses can be found there also.Also it seems the board is much more active during the week, much slower to respond over the weekends.
GOOD LUCK TO YOU!!!
Posted by Okpolosi on May 18, 2003, at 11:16:01
In reply to Re: Feeling anxious on Lexapro » shoff, posted by lil' jimi on May 18, 2003, at 1:45:26
I have also had some problems in the weight area...that business w/period and gaining 5 lbs over a weekend!!!
Since starting Lex I have lost 10lbs. Those 5 I gained went away almost as fast as I gained them.
Though I still crave carbs and I feel Like I eat much worse than I used to ( more quantity, and also more "bad" stuff ), I have still lost the weight.
So far I kind of like it because I feel I look better, but I have had several people at work comment on it in a concerned manner ( "are you sick?" ).
For now I will continue, and will try to eat BETTER.
Posted by lil' jimi on May 18, 2003, at 12:49:19
In reply to Re: Feeling anxious on Lexapro - lil jimi, posted by Okpolosi on May 18, 2003, at 11:16:01
hey there, okpolosi,
how's it going?> I have also had some problems in the weight area...that business w/period and gaining 5 lbs over a weekend!!!
>
> Since starting Lex I have lost 10lbs. Those 5 I gained went away almost as fast as I gained them.
>
> Though I still crave carbs and I feel Like I eat much worse than I used to ( more quantity, and also more "bad" stuff ), I have still lost the weight.
>
> So far I kind of like it because I feel I look better, but I have had several people at work comment on it in a concerned manner ( "are you sick?" ).
>
> For now I will continue, and will try to eat BETTER.
oddly for me, is that i had/have not changed my diet nor exercise .... if anything, i have been eating better quality food .... i was surprised when they weighed me at my doc's, although the gain did match up with my sense that my pants are snugger. ..... i'm going to go with a water-retention theory for now ....maybe? (?)it worries me that your weight loss evokes such concern from observers .... please be sure to let us know about changes in this situation .... i just don't want you becoming sick .... i'll bet you have seen your doctor lately? .... and everything's okay? .... well, at least 'internal medicine' okay?
we continue, as always, to depend on you to take care of our okpolosi for us ..... please.
by the bye, i take a whole shipload of supplements .... how about you?
take good care of yourself!!!!
~jim
Posted by Jst4me on May 18, 2003, at 18:57:06
In reply to Re: Dosage on Lexapro » blkvettes, posted by DC on May 15, 2003, at 15:31:14
I've been taking Lex for 2 months now. Started at 10 for the first 4 weeks and bumped to 20 for the past 4 weeks...honestly, short of weight gain I'm not seeing any significant differences.
I was on Paxil about 3 years ago, and then went off to get pregnant. Fast forward to now, I decided to give it a shot again. Tried the new Paxil CR - hated it. I figured it must have been placebo b/c there was no change at all. My husband was as annoying as ever!
The only considerable change is the SE's I have. The sweating can be really bad for me, and I have never been a "sweater", I also have noticed an increase in jaw clenching...but attributed that to my lack of patience. Maybe it's the Lex. I guess I can't say for sure.
What I have noticed is that the indecisiveness (is that even a word?) has not lessened at all. And now, since minor things tend to not be sooo major anymore - I am less likely to have any compassion for my husbands tantrums about computer nonsense...thus causing an argument.Anyway - it has also caused me to ramble on quite a bit!
I am most concerned about the weight gain. I have not altered my diet in any way, and I am in the gym at least 4 days a week faithfully. A little more than 15lbs in less than 2 months is a big concern. Has anyone else had this problem??
Posted by donna king on May 18, 2003, at 19:58:27
In reply to Re: side effects :(, posted by oregon on May 16, 2003, at 17:17:04
I just started taking Lexapro (10 mg) and feel so anxious- like I could jump out of my own skin. Feel like I could have a panic attack. I was anxious to begin with and the dr. thought this would help. Also have a lot of nausea and stomach problems. Does this subside or do I need to contact my dr?
Posted by lil' jimi on May 18, 2003, at 20:17:53
In reply to Re: Weight Gain, posted by Jst4me on May 18, 2003, at 19:13:03
hi jst4me,
welcome and thanks for your contribution to this lex thread .... i am deeply indebted to the folks who have posted on this board and i am glad to have you join us.
weight gain on lex has be an ongoing concern here and the last informal inquiry on this issue a couple weeks ago seemed, to me, to show a large majority with no weight effects from lex, while there was a minority who suffered this side effect ....... which is no real comfort to those with weight gain ...
i suggest using the psycho-babble search engine to mine the archives perhaps using the terms "lexapro, weight".
just a few days ago i posted i had just noted an unexplained weight gain which remains unresolved.
thanks again for your posts and give us your update soon,
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on May 18, 2003, at 21:11:47
In reply to Re: side effects :(, posted by donna king on May 18, 2003, at 19:58:27
hi donna,
welcome to the lexapro thread.
> I just started taking Lexapro (10 mg) and feel so anxious- like I could jump out of my own skin. Feel like I could have a panic attack. I was anxious to begin with and the dr. thought this would help. Also have a lot of nausea and stomach problems. Does this subside or do I need to contact my dr?
you sound just like i felt my first days on lex ...
see: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030514/msgs/227348.htmthere are many stories of how these kind of initial adaptation side effects will subside with time ... this takes weeks: as little as one or as many as 9 or 10 for some .... for most, about 4 to 6 weeks.
reading this whole thread from almost a year ago now was very worthwhile for me ..... for you i might recommned reading the posts from blkvettes .... wayne is a personal inspiration for me
and, speaking of wayne,
TAKE CARE !!!!!!!!
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on May 19, 2003, at 1:02:08
In reply to Re: side effects :(, posted by donna king on May 18, 2003, at 19:58:27
> I just started taking Lexapro (10 mg) and feel so anxious- like I could jump out of my own skin. Feel like I could have a panic attack. I was anxious to begin with and the dr. thought this would help. Also have a lot of nausea and stomach problems. Does this subside or do I need to contact my dr?
hi again donna,
if you feel a need to contact your doctor,
by all means do so.
she or he may well want to be informed of the extent of your side effects
and may even offer treatment for them, especially in the case of anxiety.and contacting the doc, in itself, may help to relief some of your anxiety.
these side effects may subside, but decide whether you want to talk to your doctor based on whether it will make you feel better about your situation.
take care,
~ jim
Posted by blkvettes on May 19, 2003, at 2:10:11
In reply to Re: side effects :( » donna king, posted by lil' jimi on May 19, 2003, at 1:02:08
Hey Jim, your doing a great job with the posts. Everyone else is sitting back and watching you work!!!!!!! TAKE CARE!!!!!!!
WAYNE
Posted by dizzy lizzy on May 19, 2003, at 9:53:26
In reply to Re: side effects :( » donna king, posted by lil' jimi on May 19, 2003, at 1:02:08
Does anyone know about side effects when coming off Lexapro altogether. I been off for about 2 weeks after being on just 5mg for a long ime. I'm so dizzy all the time. Does anyone know how long this will last?
Posted by lil' jimi on May 19, 2003, at 10:00:55
In reply to LIL JIMI AND LEXAPRO, posted by blkvettes on May 19, 2003, at 2:10:11
Posted by lil' jimi on May 19, 2003, at 10:04:22
In reply to LIL JIMI AND LEXAPRO, posted by blkvettes on May 19, 2003, at 2:10:11
Posted by blkvettes on May 19, 2003, at 10:12:47
In reply to Re: side effects :(, posted by dizzy lizzy on May 19, 2003, at 9:53:26
> Does anyone know about side effects when coming off Lexapro altogether. I been off for about 2 weeks after being on just 5mg for a long ime. I'm so dizzy all the time. Does anyone know how long this will last?
Hi, were you dizzy before lexapro at all. Just judging by what I have gone through with other meds the worst should be over soon. The next couple of weeks should be better. Try looking up old posts with a search here. You might find something!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!
Posted by lil' jimi on May 19, 2003, at 10:57:33
In reply to Re: side effects :(, posted by dizzy lizzy on May 19, 2003, at 9:53:26
hi liz,
sorry to hear you are suffering the dizzies there:
> Does anyone know about side effects when coming off Lexapro altogether. I been off for about 2 weeks after being on just 5mg for a long ime. I'm so dizzy all the time. Does anyone know how long this will last?
first, let me emphasize how little i actually know about your situation and encourage you to contact your doctor about your symptoms to see what he/she says, suggests ....
after all, somebody put you on lexapro; they should help you get off of it or at least offer warning(s) about, and support for, how to quit....
well, they should have anyway.(that's going to be my new disclaimer here..... we want to have these doctors earn their money! Heh!)
that said (and i do mean it), now i may offer a few (very few) suggestions:
try drinking more water and/or that electrolyte-balancing sports drink stuff .... besides fighting dehydration, it is helpful to give your electrolytes support during a transition to or from an SSRI like lex.... generally, pushing fluids should benefit your intersynaptic environment and help you to metabolize residual lexapro from your system.
suggestion numero two-oh:
while checking in with your doc, ask if it might help you to use some of those scopolamine-based transdermal patches to help control your temporary vertigo .... definitely want to get your doctor's feedback on this one because we never know what drug interactions might be possible ..... of course checking with your pharmacist is a smart move here too ... doing both gets us more of that confirming validation that we can all use as much of as we can get.suggestion tres:
although with just 5mg to start with, this approach would be uncommon, but you might ask your doc about what is called "titrating down", which i take to mean weaning us off our medication by decreasing the doseage by small progressive steps.
... so maybe you would take 2.5mg for a week and then 1.25mg for a week, et cetera ....i wouldn't think you should have much more of these vertigo side effects to go, after only being on 5mg and having been off for 2 weeks already ... i would be surprised if it lasted another week, but this thread on lexapro is, if anything, a testimony to the wide range of individual variation.... as has been said here many times, "Your Mileage May Vary"!
i hope that some or any of this helps (helped) .... good luck! and thank you for coming to our little lexapro party ... sorry you won't be staying .... hope you are doing better and everything works out for you ..... come on back by anytime and give us an update when you can!
TAKE CARE!!!! (hey, wayne?)
~ jim
Posted by okpolosi on May 19, 2003, at 12:27:39
In reply to Re: Feeling anxious on Lexapro - lil jimi » Okpolosi, posted by lil' jimi on May 18, 2003, at 12:49:19
> hey there, okpolosi,
> how's it going?
>
> > I have also had some problems in the weight area...that business w/period and gaining 5 lbs over a weekend!!!
> >
> > Since starting Lex I have lost 10lbs. Those 5 I gained went away almost as fast as I gained them.
> >
> > Though I still crave carbs and I feel Like I eat much worse than I used to ( more quantity, and also more "bad" stuff ), I have still lost the weight.
> >
> > So far I kind of like it because I feel I look better, but I have had several people at work comment on it in a concerned manner ( "are you sick?" ).
> >
> > For now I will continue, and will try to eat BETTER.
>
>
> oddly for me, is that i had/have not changed my diet nor exercise .... if anything, i have been eating better quality food .... i was surprised when they weighed me at my doc's, although the gain did match up with my sense that my pants are snugger. ..... i'm going to go with a water-retention theory for now ....maybe? (?)
>
> it worries me that your weight loss evokes such concern from observers .... please be sure to let us know about changes in this situation .... i just don't want you becoming sick .... i'll bet you have seen your doctor lately? .... and everything's okay? .... well, at least 'internal medicine' okay?
>
> we continue, as always, to depend on you to take care of our okpolosi for us ..... please.
>
> by the bye, i take a whole shipload of supplements .... how about you?
>
> take good care of yourself!!!!
> ~
>
> jimYes I do take a truckload of all kinds of supplements. And I have been to the DR and everything checks out OK. He said it would be a concern if I continue to lose, and suggested I eat better (which I already knew). I really have not lost more than the 10lbs, which came off through week 9, (now at 4mos.), so I think my weight has stabilized.
Posted by okpolosi on May 19, 2003, at 12:40:35
In reply to Re: side effects :(, posted by donna king on May 18, 2003, at 19:58:27
> I just started taking Lexapro (10 mg) and feel so anxious- like I could jump out of my own skin. Feel like I could have a panic attack. I was anxious to begin with and the dr. thought this would help. Also have a lot of nausea and stomach problems. Does this subside or do I need to contact my dr?
The first few weeks on Lex can be very trying.....lots of side effects....but the good news is that they usually will all lessen and go away with time. Your Dr should have told you it may take 6-8 weeks before you get any "benefits" from Lex, and things may get worse before they get better.
Weeks 4-5 for me were the worst....lots of anxiety and increased depression, but this board gave me the encouragement I needed to stick with it.
Hang in there, we're all pulling for you.
Posted by mister U on May 19, 2003, at 14:12:43
In reply to Re: side effects :( » donna king, posted by okpolosi on May 19, 2003, at 12:40:35
I have the answer. Start taking Clarocet and taper off all your mentall illness meds including ADD & ADHD meds. I've been on it for 3 days and I notice it's working oh so well. I just want you all to feel better. This is a guarantee by the way!
Posted by lil' jimi on May 19, 2003, at 14:12:57
In reply to Re: Feeling anxious on Lexapro - lil jimi, posted by okpolosi on May 19, 2003, at 12:27:39
hi okpolosi!
great to hear back from you!
thanks for your reply to my reply to ....:> > hey there, okpolosi,
> > how's it going?
> >
> > > I have also had some problems in the weight area...that business w/period and gaining 5 lbs over a weekend!!!
> > >
> > > Since starting Lex I have lost 10lbs. Those 5 I gained went away almost as fast as I gained them.
> > >
> > > Though I still crave carbs and I feel Like I eat much worse than I used to ( more quantity, and also more "bad" stuff ), I have still lost the weight.
> > >
> > > So far I kind of like it because I feel I look better, but I have had several people at work comment on it in a concerned manner ( "are you sick?" ).
> > >
> > > For now I will continue, and will try to eat BETTER.
> >
> >
> > oddly for me, is that i had/have not changed my diet nor exercise .... if anything, i have been eating better quality food .... i was surprised when they weighed me at my doc's, although the gain did match up with my sense that my pants are snugger. ..... i'm going to go with a water-retention theory for now ....maybe? (?)
> >
> > it worries me that your weight loss evokes such concern from observers .... please be sure to let us know about changes in this situation .... i just don't want you becoming sick .... i'll bet you have seen your doctor lately? .... and everything's okay? .... well, at least 'internal medicine' okay?
> >
> > we continue, as always, to depend on you to take care of our okpolosi for us ..... please.
> >
> > by the bye, i take a whole shipload of supplements .... how about you?
> >
> > take good care of yourself!!!!
> > ~
> >
> > jim
>
> Yes I do take a truckload of all kinds of supplements. And I have been to the DR and everything checks out OK. He said it would be a concern if I continue to lose, and suggested I eat better (which I already knew). I really have not lost more than the 10lbs, which came off through week 9, (now at 4mos.), so I think my weight has stabilized.i really do appreciate your reassurances, and Congratualtions on your (healthy!) weight loss....
and your plan to eat better ..... (yeah!)(i'm being cheerleader today (!)... can you tell? (!!)! ... sorry!) !!
tonight i am going to write down what all i am taking supplement-wise,
and post it here and see if folks want to compare notes.you made my day by letting us know you're not any kind of internal-medicine-like ill .... and i thank you!
Thanks!
~ jim
Posted by riffraff on May 20, 2003, at 8:46:29
In reply to Re: Lexapro, posted by teriwynn on January 11, 2003, at 20:33:04
Initially, I went to the doc for a physical. I am a 30 year old male and was experiencing back pain, pain in my groin, trouble getting to sleep and digestion problems. I thought that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a physical. I've almost never had health insurance or been to a doctor, and thought that it would be a good idea to get checked out. As it turns out, I was having panic attacks and was presribed clonazepam. The clonozepam was great for getting me to sleep, but was leaving me hung-over, lathargic, and depressed the next day, so I went back to the doc, who then put me on Lexapro. I haven't started taking it yet and I don't think I will. Fuck all this. I don't think that, for me, it is worth risking all these side-affects so many of ya'll are describing and then becoming dependent on some drug to keep me from becoming depressed. I don't know that I have a chemical imbalance like many of you have described. No body ever took any fluid sample from me and then came back and said, "here, see, you have a chemical imbalance." My doctor never even used the words, "chemical imbalance" He just said, "take this drug." At first, he mentioned paxel. When I told him that I had heard some bad things about paxel, he said that he wanted to put me on lexapro. He said that it was, basically, the same drug as paxel, prozac, etc. When I asked him, "why then do you seem to be pushing this particular drug," he said, "because it's the latest, greatest thing." I don't trust these people. Fuck it.
Posted by leeran on May 20, 2003, at 9:30:27
In reply to Thank You All -To Hell With This!, posted by riffraff on May 20, 2003, at 8:46:29
"My doctor never even used the words, 'chemical imbalance" He just said, "take this drug.'"
Ahhhhh, if only there was such a test . . .
The closest thing I've ever heard of to a "test" is the brain imaging that's done at the Amen Clinic in Newport Beach.
My mother (years of being depressed) has lamented the lack of testing so often over the years. It would be so nice to wrap up this pain in a nice clinical package.
Good luck with your decision!
Posted by blkvettes on May 20, 2003, at 11:51:58
In reply to Thank You All -To Hell With This!, posted by riffraff on May 20, 2003, at 8:46:29
> Initially, I went to the doc for a physical. I am a 30 year old male and was experiencing back pain, pain in my groin, trouble getting to sleep and digestion problems. I thought that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get a physical. I've almost never had health insurance or been to a doctor, and thought that it would be a good idea to get checked out. As it turns out, I was having panic attacks and was presribed clonazepam. The clonozepam was great for getting me to sleep, but was leaving me hung-over, lathargic, and depressed the next day, so I went back to the doc, who then put me on Lexapro. I haven't started taking it yet and I don't think I will. Fuck all this. I don't think that, for me, it is worth risking all these side-affects so many of ya'll are describing and then becoming dependent on some drug to keep me from becoming depressed. I don't know that I have a chemical imbalance like many of you have described. No body ever took any fluid sample from me and then came back and said, "here, see, you have a chemical imbalance." My doctor never even used the words, "chemical imbalance" He just said, "take this drug." At first, he mentioned paxel. When I told him that I had heard some bad things about paxel, he said that he wanted to put me on lexapro. He said that it was, basically, the same drug as paxel, prozac, etc. When I asked him, "why then do you seem to be pushing this particular drug," he said, "because it's the latest, greatest thing." I don't trust these people. Fuck it.
Hi there, please dont use that 4 letter word. Others are sensitive to this word for they have sexual dysfunction. Just mentioning this word could depress them!!!! JUST KIDDING!!!!! But you will get a scolding for this, like you care at this point. Maybe you could cut back on your benzo some and you wont feel like you have a hangover the next day. Well I hope all does go well for you, I really mean that. But if things get worse consider the lexapro and start at a low dose and move up as you get more comfortable!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!
Posted by vandy on May 20, 2003, at 18:37:05
In reply to Thank You All -To Hell With This!, posted by riffraff on May 20, 2003, at 8:46:29
If I could offer some thoughts from personal experience: Whenever I found myself saying "F&%*K It" I have frequently found it to be a bad decision. In my case it was the next step that made it bad. For me the next step was to withdraw, leave, walk away, etc. without communication to the other party. This may not apply to you. I hope not. If it doesn't your next step would be to share these feelings exactly with the doc. Tell the doc you don't appreciate the superficial treatment you suspect you're getting and ask for a full explanation. It seems to me a common theme among these messages in this Lexapro thead is that although there are side effects that we might experience at first, these side effects diminish in influence in time. The good response from the drug is worth putting up with the temporary inconvenience if any and it's also worth the wait. That's what I took from the discussion. I sure hope you don't abandon something which may help you because you're confused and frustrated.
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