![[dr. bob]](/dr-bob-sm.gif)
Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 4555 to 4579 of 8406. Go back in thread:
Posted by Arrianna on September 18, 2003, at 23:34:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro kicking in, posted by sussus on September 18, 2003, at 11:26:11
sussus:
Of course you can ask. I've been on 10mg. Lex now for 10 weeks.
Sorry to hear that you're having trouble with anxiety. Maybe it would be a good idea to try raising your dose.
I wish I could offer you more help, however, I've not gone through that yet. So far, the lex has been effective in treating my anxiety except for some very mild anxiety occasionally due to changes in my life, and not necessarily from the lexapro.
There have been other posts regarding this about raising the dose of lex, so maybe they could offer some insight, or others who read this and have experienced what your going through could add some feedback.
Can I ask: is there anything going on in your life that could be contributing to your anxiety? If so, maybe once that's worked through, your anxiety would lessen. If not, I think you'd be doing the right thing about going to your Doc.
What's everyone else think?
Good Luck to you! Hang in there, and I hope it gets better for you!! Let us know what happens, k?
Arrianna
Posted by galkeepinon on September 19, 2003, at 0:14:04
In reply to re: ~jim got some !! ... some _Lexapro_ !!! » lil' jimi, posted by Arrianna on September 18, 2003, at 23:25:19
Arrianna:( I'm going to miss seeing posts from you this weekend! Best wishes in helping your grandma move. Oh ya~don't forget to take that Lex ha!
Glad you packed your meds right away:-)
I'm feeling anxious on this Lex lately like there are butterflies in my tummy lol
The board is going to miss you too!!!
For PB withdrawals, try to think of all the laughs and success we've all had if you start to feel stressed. LOL
okee dokee?!
See ya in the posts when you get back:-)
Galkeepinon
I'm going out of town this weekend with my family to help my grandma move. Definetely going to need my lex to get me through that. Family can be ???? at times, you know. So, I made sure to pack my meds. right away.
>
> Anyways, really going to miss the board while I'm gone. Hope I don't go through psycho-babble withdrawals. Anyway got any suggestions for that? Lol.
>
> See ya' in the posts next week!
> Arrianna
Posted by galkeepinon on September 19, 2003, at 3:09:16
In reply to balance and coordination » galkeepinon, posted by lil' jimi on September 18, 2003, at 2:57:13
hey jim, yeah I'm sitting here feeling like my stomach is going like a roller coaster tonight. I'm not sure what's going on, but if it gets worse tomorrow~I'm calling my doc!
Haven't been drinking much water at all! Need to do that! I have Klonopin but only take 2mg at night. I hope I don't need to take more.
This is just like a VERY NERVOUS feeling~very weird!!!
take care Lex buddy
> ... now that we all know that our good epinephrine is adrenaline, we can imagine how our always interacting neurotransmitters can create our anxiety symptoms ...
>
> ... so sorry you're having a rough time there, Gal ... have you a benzo supplement to use ?
> ... or so i am hoping ...
> ... been drinking enough water lately, like today ?
>
> we may also imagine that our motor coordination suffrs when our dopamine levels make adjustments too
> ... ... be careful there, Gal ... !!
>
> i remember on ol' boy posted what i thought would be the worse lexapro side-effect symptom:
> ... a broken toe !
>
> he lost his balance, fell and broke it ...
> everybody, Watch out now !
>
> take care sweet lady and try to relax
> ... a warm (hot?) bath, maybe ?
>
> ~ jim
>
>
Posted by galkeepinon on September 19, 2003, at 3:11:57
In reply to Re: ANXIETY AND LEXAPRO~Week 6, posted by Banab on September 18, 2003, at 13:49:15
Yikes!!! I'm just getting a total nervous tummy, never felt this way before.
I've felt like you say here before, it could be anxiety or panic, or adjustment like jim said to the Lexapro still.
When does Lexapro stop *adjusting*!!!
> I am at the end of week 5 of taking Lexapro. I had an adjustment period the first week I was on it, but then started feeling really good. I started feel "like my old self again" and have felt good up until now.
>
> Now I have started having severe anxiety leading to panic to where I can't function. The main disturbing symptom is my chest will hurt a little, then my trunk and arms will go all hot, tingly and numb. Like I'm being pricked from the inside. I will have waves of this that last from 2 - 4 hours. I have had two episodes of this.
>
> Has anyone else experienced this sensation? What is it from? Is it just a symptom of axiety?
Posted by Arrianna on September 19, 2003, at 8:24:18
In reply to re: ~jim got some !! ... some _Lexapro_ !!! » Arrianna, posted by galkeepinon on September 19, 2003, at 0:14:04
Gal:
Just got your post this morning and it really put a smile on my face!! Thanks so much for your kindness.
Sincerely, it really feels as if I know you, along with the rest of the board, even though we've never met. I love my psycho-babble family!
Well, I'm about to leave to go out of town now. Thanks again for your post-was feeling ambivilent (sp?) about being with my family, but your post helped so much. I will think of you guys when I'm away!
Oh yeah, the butterflies must really be starting to come out this fall because I've been having the feeling of them in my tummy, too!! Just another "lex" thing. I hope it passes for you and me, too.
Have a great weekend all!! Keep on keeping on!
Arrianna
Posted by sussus on September 19, 2003, at 9:05:04
In reply to Re: Lexapro kicking in » sussus, posted by Arrianna on September 18, 2003, at 23:34:40
Ar - Thanks for the feedback. There are things happening in my life that are anxiety preoducing. In the last two months, I have bought and redone an 80 year old house plus my boyfriend just filed for custody of his three kids - which will make me a fulltime mom. Yikes! I know that the point is not to dull out all feelings; I am just having a hard time with handling everyday tasks and that, in itself, is depressing......
Sus
> sussus:
>
> Of course you can ask. I've been on 10mg. Lex now for 10 weeks.
>
> Sorry to hear that you're having trouble with anxiety. Maybe it would be a good idea to try raising your dose.
>
> I wish I could offer you more help, however, I've not gone through that yet. So far, the lex has been effective in treating my anxiety except for some very mild anxiety occasionally due to changes in my life, and not necessarily from the lexapro.
>
> There have been other posts regarding this about raising the dose of lex, so maybe they could offer some insight, or others who read this and have experienced what your going through could add some feedback.
>
> Can I ask: is there anything going on in your life that could be contributing to your anxiety? If so, maybe once that's worked through, your anxiety would lessen. If not, I think you'd be doing the right thing about going to your Doc.
>
> What's everyone else think?
>
> Good Luck to you! Hang in there, and I hope it gets better for you!! Let us know what happens, k?
>
> Arrianna
Posted by mph-speedy on September 19, 2003, at 11:22:50
In reply to re: PHV's Lexapro Side Effects » lil' jimi, posted by phv on September 15, 2003, at 17:48:54
Hey Patty!
I'm coming up on 3 months and have been steadily improving after each "minor" setback. I had almost immediate results with the cloud lifting and paranoia. It has taken longer to get anger under control but has gone from hard to manage to fairly easy to deal with to not much anger anymore.
So I say hang in there.
Minor side effects I still have are excessive yawning some days, thirst, gas, and shoulder/neck stiffness. However, in my mind a small price to pay for peace of mind - as opposed to only having a piece of my mind!
Take care...
Speedy
Posted by leedsman on September 19, 2003, at 12:01:52
In reply to re: PHV's Lexapro Side Effects, posted by mph-speedy on September 19, 2003, at 11:22:50
Hey guys, I am having a real problem with this shoulder and neck pain, I do not know if it is the fibromyalgia, but it is very debilitating, which I think is also causing the dry eye syndrome and fatigue, when I was on PAxil I did not have this pain and dry eyes, but since the lexapro, it started about 3 weeks ago and I am really worried that this will linger and make me totally nuts, Any suggestions or anybody been through this kind of thing. It is realy uncomfortable and I am not sur if the Lexapro is kicking in because I feel so terrible with this.
Posted by lil' jimi on September 19, 2003, at 16:10:15
In reply to ANXIETY AND LEXAPRO~Week 6, posted by galkeepinon on September 18, 2003, at 0:56:17
hi folks,
i have been keeping up reading here and
... i have been thinking about these late onset SEs you're having ... ...Gal wrote this:
> Hi Esmarelda, I saw your post. I am having EXTREME anxiety yesterday and today. I start week 7, I believe on Friday. I'm so anxious right now I can't even think straight. I don't believe I have ever had this feeling~it's just plain ole anxiousness. Does this pass?
> Any insight anyone? I can't believe it has anything else to do with besides the Lex, because I have read some posts about what seems to happen to some at week 6 or 7. The depression is controllable, but I am anxious as heck!!!
> Typing fast, walking fast, shaking, heart skips, clenching jaw.
> Help please?? :(
> I am also losing my balance, it's scaring me just a tad. >... of course my heart goes out to y'all ...
... we have gotten enough of these reports to where it looks like a pattern ... ... and, as Gal has suggested, this would be a pattern we would Not want to see ... ... better said and dealt with than to be in denial though ...... but let's look at this a little more
... we have to see if this IS a pattern really ...
... we do have a cluster of events ...
... of four cases (hate to call y'all "cases" there ... sorry) which have this similar adversity ...
... now, no matter what i say here, i do Not want to trivialize your suffering
... ... i have deep faith and respect for your reports
... and real concern for your well being ...but, say, very speculatively here, that there are even a couple dozen folks with this kind of experience
... ... not at all impossible, if we consider the posters as representaive of some number of non-posters ...still, when compared to the thousands of lex users, these events seem less common and really too rare to label a trend ... ... yet anyway ...
and there are more than a few who have done very well up to 6 months (so far) and beyond ... i saw a post from Bil L yesterday and he is still doing fine ... ... he's been at 20 mg for a year .... and there are perhaps a dozen posters (i know of) who have gotten beyong this 7 week itch without a relapse ...
my speculation is that the main herd of lex users are tromping along our main sequence unperturbed ... ... while a smaller population of folks have detoured into this problem area here ...
i thought about labeling these events "late onset lex SEs" ... but decided that didn't pay sufficient respect to the fact that you already had your non-late SEs too ...
... of course, your ~ jim here is trying to avoid the "p. o." term
... ... (well no, Not "po'd" ... "poop out")
... no one here wants to hear that ...then i recalled Mariposa's posts about upping her dose to 20mg
... ... as she struggled to get a medico to write her a 20mg script, she said that her new pdoc's theory was that she had adapted to the 10 mg dose and as her liver learned to be more proficient in metabolizing her dose, it had caught up with her by effectively breaking down her beneficial metabolites more quickly than her 10mg could make up for ... ... so she upped her dose and is doing much better ...... this parallel does fail in one respect ... Mariposa's symptom was depression, not so much anxiety ... ... nevertheless, similar mechanism may be at work in your cases as well ...
now we could ignore the rest if the iceberg and focus just on Gal, susssus and banab ...
... it remains to be seen if these parallels hold up over time ... ... three events may well have completely different etiologies ... and time may tell ... should this prove true, then these events may be even less representative of effects we might see in the main lex herd ...
i remember once we had a minor panic break out on the tread because a poster gained like 8 pounds over one weekend ... two more reports of weight gain came in response ... ... some folks have been prescribed lex for eating disorders and these folks were fixing to panic ... ... and it wasn't making me real happy either ...
... within like a day and half, the first poster posted that her period had started and that she felt this explained her weight gain and her other adverse effects ... ... another began her period ... and was relieved that it wasn't the lex ... ... and everybody calmed down then ....
(i am a feminist and believe in women's liberation (even though most women don't ... seem to anymore) and in no way intend to demean women ... especially for their reproductive powers ... which i worship)
(and i am not speculating about anyone's current menstrual cycle(s) here ... either)anyway, let's all just keep tabs on this and see how it plays out ...
... i always want everyone to keep their prescribers updated about their SEs
... 1) they need to know
... 2) we need them to know
... 3) they may be able to help
... 4) we have to educate them about SEs because they don't take lexapro ...
... Yet !
.... HA!in this case, i think we may benefit by having each of ya'll (Gal, Sus, Banab) contact your doctor, discuss it with them, and then come back here and compare notes ...
so i'm calling these events "relapses" ... for now ...... the thread continues to show no real signs of lex poop out as a consistent syndrome ... and where we have seen relapse, we have seen upping the dose as effective ... ... so far ... ...
... i know we must all have our fingers crossed for good luck here ... i do !
well, those are my thoughts, as speculative as they are ... sorry i don't have anything better to offer ... ... i hate feeling like i'm throwing a starving dog a rubber bone !... sorry ...
and now i'm starving ... (and in my own way, a dog too!) ... for your responses! ... ... as always ... from one and all ... post on posters!
and drink water, Please ??
do not let yourself get dehydrated ....TAKE CARE ! ! ! ! !!
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on September 19, 2003, at 16:34:29
In reply to Re: laughter » lil' jimi, posted by Arrianna on September 18, 2003, at 23:19:28
hi arrianna,
> Hi jim!
>
> I don't know-Wayne may be the funny one, yet I think you're the jokester. Ha!! Your posts do add quite a bit of entertainment value!! You add so much. >oooo ... flattery will get you anywhere ! ... Thanks! ... ... you, your own self are a beautuiful spirit to have here on our lex thread ... thanks for joining our little party ... you're good!
> Anyway, how's the lex? By the sounds of it, still working well. Yeah, good for you!!
>
> Arrianna... oh, my lexapro is working fine ... now that i went out to buy some for myself! ... Finally!
thanks agian for your (always) kind reply!
take care and take your lexapro!
(and drink lots of water!)
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on September 19, 2003, at 16:41:09
In reply to re: ~jim got some !! ... some _Lexapro_ !!! » lil' jimi, posted by Arrianna on September 18, 2003, at 23:25:19
hello arrianna ...
sorry if i missed you before you left town there ...
> Hey Jim!
>
> Glad to hear you got your Lex!! We need you to have your lex-a-pro magic for the board!!
>
> I'm going out of town this weekend with my family to help my grandma move. Definetely going to need my lex to get me through that. Family can be ???? at times, you know. So, I made sure to pack my meds. right away.
>
> Anyways, really going to miss the board while I'm gone. Hope I don't go through psycho-babble withdrawals. Anyway got any suggestions for that? Lol.
>
> See ya' in the posts next week!
> Arrianna... glad you got your med(s?) !
... say hi to Granny for me !
... write down your thoughts and expeiences while you're there and you can post them when you come back ... ... maybe ?you are going to be missed!
BE careful out there,
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on September 19, 2003, at 16:50:42
In reply to Re: balance and coordination » lil' jimi, posted by galkeepinon on September 19, 2003, at 3:09:16
hi Galkeepinon!
definitely call the doc
... wished i suggested this earlier
... ... i'd want you to call him/her today
... ... the moreso since tomorrow is saturday ...drink water !
and post, if it can help you feel better
... ... we have the blessing of a great team here!
... ... we want you to take advantage of it ....... Please?
take care !!!!!!!
~ jim
Posted by galkeepinon on September 20, 2003, at 1:02:19
In reply to re: banab, Gal, sus, Mariposa (?): late(r) lex SEs, posted by lil' jimi on September 19, 2003, at 16:10:15
Jim, Thank you SO very much for taking the time to write this! YES! I will update you on my psychiatrist appt next time I see him and I hope others will also. I will definately ask him exactly the things you bring up here. I, personally have posted before about the fact that I have skipped menses, something still yet to be relieved/cured, whatever. I take Provera on occasion to bring about my period. It is not healthy not to get one.
I ended up taking 3mg of Klonopin last night and 50mg Lamictal to see if I could decrease some anxiety (my rationale anyway) and all I ended up with was a huge headache today. BUT, the extra Klonopin did help me and the nervous/very anxious feeling in my tummy.
So, yes, a lot remains to be seen from ALL of us taking Lexapro.
I will definately, like I said, post more when I see my psychiatrist in 2 weeks.
Jim~you da bomb!!! (in a good way of course)
HA!!! Thank you so much again for your support, insight, smarts, queries, and persistence:-):-)
Have a great weekend!
Gal
> hi folks,
>
> i have been keeping up reading here and
> ... i have been thinking about these late onset SEs you're having ... ...
>
> Gal wrote this:
> > Hi Esmarelda, I saw your post. I am having EXTREME anxiety yesterday and today. I start week 7, I believe on Friday. I'm so anxious right now I can't even think straight. I don't believe I have ever had this feeling~it's just plain ole anxiousness. Does this pass?
> > Any insight anyone? I can't believe it has anything else to do with besides the Lex, because I have read some posts about what seems to happen to some at week 6 or 7. The depression is controllable, but I am anxious as heck!!!
> > Typing fast, walking fast, shaking, heart skips, clenching jaw.
> > Help please?? :(
> > I am also losing my balance, it's scaring me just a tad. >
>
> ... of course my heart goes out to y'all ...
> ... we have gotten enough of these reports to where it looks like a pattern ... ... and, as Gal has suggested, this would be a pattern we would Not want to see ... ... better said and dealt with than to be in denial though ...
>
> ... but let's look at this a little more
> ... we have to see if this IS a pattern really ...
> ... we do have a cluster of events ...
> ... of four cases (hate to call y'all "cases" there ... sorry) which have this similar adversity ...
> ... now, no matter what i say here, i do Not want to trivialize your suffering
> ... ... i have deep faith and respect for your reports
> ... and real concern for your well being ...
>
> but, say, very speculatively here, that there are even a couple dozen folks with this kind of experience
> ... ... not at all impossible, if we consider the posters as representaive of some number of non-posters ...
>
> still, when compared to the thousands of lex users, these events seem less common and really too rare to label a trend ... ... yet anyway ...
>
> and there are more than a few who have done very well up to 6 months (so far) and beyond ... i saw a post from Bil L yesterday and he is still doing fine ... ... he's been at 20 mg for a year .... and there are perhaps a dozen posters (i know of) who have gotten beyong this 7 week itch without a relapse ...
>
> my speculation is that the main herd of lex users are tromping along our main sequence unperturbed ... ... while a smaller population of folks have detoured into this problem area here ...
>
> i thought about labeling these events "late onset lex SEs" ... but decided that didn't pay sufficient respect to the fact that you already had your non-late SEs too ...
>
> ... of course, your ~ jim here is trying to avoid the "p. o." term
> ... ... (well no, Not "po'd" ... "poop out")
> ... no one here wants to hear that ...
>
> then i recalled Mariposa's posts about upping her dose to 20mg
> ... ... as she struggled to get a medico to write her a 20mg script, she said that her new pdoc's theory was that she had adapted to the 10 mg dose and as her liver learned to be more proficient in metabolizing her dose, it had caught up with her by effectively breaking down her beneficial metabolites more quickly than her 10mg could make up for ... ... so she upped her dose and is doing much better ...
>
> ... this parallel does fail in one respect ... Mariposa's symptom was depression, not so much anxiety ... ... nevertheless, similar mechanism may be at work in your cases as well ...
>
> now we could ignore the rest if the iceberg and focus just on Gal, susssus and banab ...
>
> ... it remains to be seen if these parallels hold up over time ... ... three events may well have completely different etiologies ... and time may tell ... should this prove true, then these events may be even less representative of effects we might see in the main lex herd ...
>
> i remember once we had a minor panic break out on the tread because a poster gained like 8 pounds over one weekend ... two more reports of weight gain came in response ... ... some folks have been prescribed lex for eating disorders and these folks were fixing to panic ... ... and it wasn't making me real happy either ...
>
> ... within like a day and half, the first poster posted that her period had started and that she felt this explained her weight gain and her other adverse effects ... ... another began her period ... and was relieved that it wasn't the lex ... ... and everybody calmed down then ....
>
> (i am a feminist and believe in women's liberation (even though most women don't ... seem to anymore) and in no way intend to demean women ... especially for their reproductive powers ... which i worship)
> (and i am not speculating about anyone's current menstrual cycle(s) here ... either)
>
> anyway, let's all just keep tabs on this and see how it plays out ...
>
> ... i always want everyone to keep their prescribers updated about their SEs
> ... 1) they need to know
> ... 2) we need them to know
> ... 3) they may be able to help
> ... 4) we have to educate them about SEs because they don't take lexapro ...
> ... Yet !
> .... HA!
>
> in this case, i think we may benefit by having each of ya'll (Gal, Sus, Banab) contact your doctor, discuss it with them, and then come back here and compare notes ...
> so i'm calling these events "relapses" ... for now ...
>
> ... the thread continues to show no real signs of lex poop out as a consistent syndrome ... and where we have seen relapse, we have seen upping the dose as effective ... ... so far ... ...
>
> ... i know we must all have our fingers crossed for good luck here ... i do !
>
> well, those are my thoughts, as speculative as they are ... sorry i don't have anything better to offer ... ... i hate feeling like i'm throwing a starving dog a rubber bone !... sorry ...
>
> and now i'm starving ... (and in my own way, a dog too!) ... for your responses! ... ... as always ... from one and all ... post on posters!
>
> and drink water, Please ??
> do not let yourself get dehydrated ....
>
> TAKE CARE ! ! ! ! !!
> ~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on September 20, 2003, at 2:28:02
In reply to re: banab, Gal, sus, Mariposa (?): late(r) lex SEs » lil' jimi, posted by galkeepinon on September 20, 2003, at 1:02:19
hey gal,
least i could do for some of our favorite _support_ staff here ...
you deserve at least as good as you _give_ around here ... !!!
besides
i like the way you say nice things lady ! ... ... thanks !try to get some rest .... and drink some more water !
... HA!take care!
~ jimp.s. i am not kidding about that water!
xxx,
~ j
Posted by Micah on September 20, 2003, at 6:05:41
In reply to Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by Dr. Bob on June 11, 2002, at 7:52:48
Hi! I've been taking Paxil for years with great success for relieving depression/anxiety, but with sexual side effects. My Dr. is switching me to Lexapro. She seems that Prozac was the "Grandfather" and that Lexapro is the "newborn" in this class of drugs. She says I should have on minor, passing, sexual side-effects, if any. What do you guys who have been on Lexapro say about the sex thing? Thanx!
Posted by theo on September 20, 2003, at 10:12:04
In reply to Re: Lexapro is a NO for me!!, posted by BLKVETTES on September 18, 2003, at 13:24:15
I read many things about many SSRI's and I know SE's vary from person to person. I'm now taking 150mg of Wellbutrin XL which is working great for drive and motivation for me but in talking to my pdoc, he suggested adding a low dose of an SSRI, 5mg Lexapro OR 12.5mg of Paxil CR to take that little edge of anxiety/constant worrying off. I need to know which combo has had best overall success, Wellbutrin-Lexapro combo OR Wellbutrin-Paxil combo. I'm leaning towards adding the 5mg of Lexapro first but when I tried Lex before by itself about four months ago I started at 10mg and it was six weeks of nausea, tiredness and stiff neck and I discontinued it, but with just 5mg added to the 150mg Wellbutrin XL, maybe these SE's wouldn't be so bothersome, NEED ADVICE AND INPUT PLEASE!! The only hesitation I have about adding the Paxil versus Lex would be the fear of having to go through withdrawal whenever I decided to stop using it. Add 5mg of Lex OR 12.5mg Paxil CR? I've tried benzo's and they make me feel great for a few days and then depressed, so benzo's are not an option for me to treat anxiety.
Posted by lil' jimi on September 20, 2003, at 11:36:36
In reply to I'm back, maybe on low dose of Lex, need advice!, posted by theo on September 20, 2003, at 10:12:04
hi,
>> NEED ADVICE AND INPUT PLEASE!! >>
busy right now ...
... but i'm better if i take time to think about it a little ...
later,
~ jim
Posted by BLKVETTES on September 20, 2003, at 18:01:37
In reply to PAXIL to LEXAPRO....improve sex?, posted by Micah on September 20, 2003, at 6:05:41
> Hi! I've been taking Paxil for years with great success for relieving depression/anxiety, but with sexual side effects. My Dr. is switching me to Lexapro. She seems that Prozac was the "Grandfather" and that Lexapro is the "newborn" in this class of drugs. She says I should have on minor, passing, sexual side-effects, if any. What do you guys who have been on Lexapro say about the sex thing? Thanx!
Hey this is one of those things where its all trial and error!!! Lexapro saved my life!!!! Im not sure lexapro is any better than any other med out there. It just comes down to what works best for you. I will agree with the prozac statement!!! Not sure about the lexapro one though!!! Also when you change if you do has doctor discussed withdrawal symptoms from the paxil????????? You may get none, then again you might get them all!!!!!! TAKE CARE!!!
WAYNE
Posted by BLKVETTES on September 20, 2003, at 18:13:42
In reply to I'm back, maybe on low dose of Lex, need advice!, posted by theo on September 20, 2003, at 10:12:04
> I read many things about many SSRI's and I know SE's vary from person to person. I'm now taking 150mg of Wellbutrin XL which is working great for drive and motivation for me but in talking to my pdoc, he suggested adding a low dose of an SSRI, 5mg Lexapro OR 12.5mg of Paxil CR to take that little edge of anxiety/constant worrying off. I need to know which combo has had best overall success, Wellbutrin-Lexapro combo OR Wellbutrin-Paxil combo. I'm leaning towards adding the 5mg of Lexapro first but when I tried Lex before by itself about four months ago I started at 10mg and it was six weeks of nausea, tiredness and stiff neck and I discontinued it, but with just 5mg added to the 150mg Wellbutrin XL, maybe these SE's wouldn't be so bothersome, NEED ADVICE AND INPUT PLEASE!! The only hesitation I have about adding the Paxil versus Lex would be the fear of having to go through withdrawal whenever I decided to stop using it. Add 5mg of Lex OR 12.5mg Paxil CR? I've tried benzo's and they make me feel great for a few days and then depressed, so benzo's are not an option for me to treat anxiety.
Darn on not being able to use a benzo, that stinks. Gosh giving advice is almost impossible!!! If you did not have withdrawal from lexapro and your worried about paxil I guess you try the lexapro. But I guess we take chances on every med we try!!! You just try everything until you hit it!!! Your not really talking about that much paxil. But I guess you have read one to many withdrawal stories as I have. Some people dont have withdrawal!!! I think you got a good taste of what will happen when you stopped the lexapro before!!! GOOD LUCK!!!!
WAYNE
Posted by leedsman on September 20, 2003, at 18:45:50
In reply to Re: PAXIL to LEXAPRO....improve sex?, posted by BLKVETTES on September 20, 2003, at 18:01:37
I was taking Lexapro for 6 weeks and really did not have much success , I started getting really bad necka nd muscle pain, I talked to my pdoc and she asked me if I wanted to take Wellbutrin along with Lexapro to give it a boost, but what I have read on the psycho-babble, it makes you high like you are on marijuana or something. I thought I would just try Paxil again and am taking 25mg Paxil CR for 3-4 weeks to see if it helps, can you take Wellbutrin with Paxil also?
I had really good results with regular Paxil, for 5 years, I know there is a time release with the CR , but it's still the same right? What if I get off Paxil after a week can I start right on the Lexapro again or should I wean down. I appreciate your advice and I hope Lexapro is working for all of you,
Posted by PHV on September 20, 2003, at 22:30:58
In reply to re: PHV's Lexapro Side Effects, posted by mph-speedy on September 19, 2003, at 11:22:50
Hi everyone - It's Patty here again. Wow, have I learned a whole lot on this message board this evening. Been on Lex 11 weeks now for depression. Nearly immediate results for the depression - but started with major anxiety last week. Thanks to this board, I was encouraged to go see my doc right away. She put me on Busbar & Xanax. Got me through this week on a stressful business trip okay. Seemed to get better as the week progressed and I was assuming the anxiety (something I've NEVER experienced before) was due to the stress of this trip. Meds were required less and less as the week progressed. Here I am at home today - and I feel like I'm ready to jump out of my skin again. I can't stand this! I'm waiting for the Xanex to kick in - tho it seems to be taking forever right now. This just so isn't me. I'm really troubled and debating the lesser of two evils. Was it worse being depressed, crying every day and feeling down almost constantly - or is it worse now dealing with this anxiety, jaw clenching, weight gain - and I even saw someone mention the constant need to stretch - which is what I started doing recently too??!! I've even seen posts about excessive thirst. My God - I can't believe these are the options we have to deal with to make our depression and/or anxiety go away. I noticed a strange trend on this board. Seems like those of us taking Lex for depression - find ourselves with anxiety side effects - while those taking Lex for anxiety find themselves w/ depression side effects. What's worse??
Anyway, I guess I'm just feeling really discouraged right now. I was initially so impressed with the depression going away so quickly. But these other goofy SE make me feel so not in control of my life - which is so not me.
Since the anxiety started last weekend - and it subsided greatly as the week progressed, I thought it was due to the fact that I would be seeing many ex co-workers, etc. for the first time in years during my conference. Due to my depression in the past year plus, I have gained 20 pounds - and was really nervous that everyone would look at me and see how much weight I put on - which is extremely noticeable due to how thin I used to be. Fortunately, I was the only one who seemed to be cognizant of my weight gain - or at least grateful that no one commented on how heavy I now am. Therefore, I attributed my anxiety to seeing many people I've not seen in years. Yet I woke up this morning at home - and have been feeling as anxious as I was last weekend for the first time and can't seem to come down. The Xanex I took earlier today knocked me out for a few hours, but I woke up clenching my jaw and ready to run a marathon again. I'm STILL waiting for my second Xanex to kick in - along with a Tylenol PM my doc told me I could add if I wasn't feeling the R&R from the Xanex.
This just sucks. I thought taking Lex would improve my life. Now I'm starting to feel that SE's just aren't worth it. I think I need to head back to my doc to try to come up with some other solutions. I just can't imagine continuing this way . . .
Thanks for listening to me vent . . .
Patty
Posted by lil' jimi on September 21, 2003, at 2:18:23
In reply to PAXIL to LEXAPRO....improve sex?, posted by Micah on September 20, 2003, at 6:05:41
hi Micah,
> Hi! I've been taking Paxil for years with great success for relieving depression/anxiety, but with sexual side effects. My Dr. is switching me to Lexapro. She seems that Prozac was the "Grandfather" and that Lexapro is the "newborn" in this class of drugs. She says I should have on minor, passing, sexual side-effects, if any. What do you guys who have been on Lexapro say about the sex thing? Thanx! >
in terms of when these drugs were introduced, yes ...
... lexapro's been out about a year
... prozac ... a whole heck of a lot longer ... ... more than a decade ...however, drugs are better judged by their effectiveness to an individual than by their maturity ... ... old or new, the best drug is the one that works ... for you ...
ah, but you knew that ... ... still, sometimes it would seem like the pharma reps get the docs all buzzed up about the industry's latest ...
and sometimes our hopes get used too ... ...still there has been some progress, after a fashoin ...
paxil versus lex on the issue of sex SEs, brings up two separate personal experiences which make me much less than objective here ...
... anyway ...
about decade ago i guess, my wife was given paxil for her nerves ... in the oh, maybe a year she tried it, we never heard about any side effects ... ... the loss of her libido caused so much more pain because we never suspected the paxil at all ... we are still recovering ...... so i have some idea about paxil SEs, even though i have never taken any ...
last march i began lexapro ... ... i experienced about a week of anorgasmia ... ... no other sexual SEs at all ... although i had a fleet of other SEs that first couple of weeks ... all of the anorgasmia dissappeared by week 2 of lex ...
the posts on this thread have not had a consistent theme of sexual SEs after the initial adujustment phase ... although initially anorgasmia is not uncommon ... ... my doc mnetioned SEs, "possibly delayed ejaculation" ... ... i'd say that three days is a delay alright ... the exceptions have been those with longer term persistent dysfunction ... ... or those on multiple meds ... ... there have been very few reports of sexual SEs among longer term lex-only users, say more than 6 months ... i would say that it may be zero ...
... i recall there were a few reports of a month or more of anorgasmia, but those folks were so relieved from their depression that it seemed to them as insignificant ...
... some of these folks remind me that i'm not that depressed ...
... and i am truly grateful ...... impressive to me, although not particularly representative, and not real impressive to many others either ...is that... since i recovered from my brief bout of anorgasmia, i have experienced improved sexual response ... ... there have been very, very few similar reports, except at my inquiries here i have seen replies from a few who have had my experience ... but not many at all ...
all that said ... you could not pay me to take paxil ... ... it's just caused too much pain in our lives already
... but you could not pay me to Not take lexapro ...
... it's been better than good to me ...
TAKE CARE !!~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on September 21, 2003, at 2:47:53
In reply to I'm back, maybe on low dose of Lex, need advice!, posted by theo on September 20, 2003, at 10:12:04
hi Theo,
don't i recall your earlier visits here ? ... or is that just the lexapro talking ... ?
> I read many things about many SSRI's and I know SE's vary from person to person. I'm now taking 150mg of Wellbutrin XL which is working great for drive and motivation for me but in talking to my pdoc, he suggested adding a low dose of an SSRI, 5mg Lexapro OR 12.5mg of Paxil CR to take that little edge of anxiety/constant worrying off. I need to know which combo has had best overall success, Wellbutrin-Lexapro combo OR Wellbutrin-Paxil combo. I'm leaning towards adding the 5mg of Lexapro first but when I tried Lex before by itself about four months ago I started at 10mg and it was six weeks of nausea, tiredness and stiff neck and I discontinued it, but with just 5mg added to the 150mg Wellbutrin XL, maybe these SE's wouldn't be so bothersome, NEED ADVICE AND INPUT PLEASE!! The only hesitation I have about adding the Paxil versus Lex would be the fear of having to go through withdrawal whenever I decided to stop using it. Add 5mg of Lex OR 12.5mg Paxil CR? I've tried benzo's and they make me feel great for a few days and then depressed, so benzo's are not an option for me to treat anxiety. >
.... aye, there's the rub ... besides the difference in the effects (and, of course, the side-effects) of paxil and lexaprro on you ... we must factor in the significant impact of your Wellbutrin ... ... no clear answers here tonight ... or this morning anyway ...
... and as we always (?) say around here:
... "You picks your poison
and you takes your chances !!" ...( i don't think anyone's said that here before .)
if you have just read my post to Micah, you know my prejudice against paxil ... plus there's a lot of users of the Well-Lex combo from what i've read here ...
not too much help, huh ? ... ... sorry ...
could be that the Wellbutrin would counteract the paxil SEs that i fear so much ... wellbutrin has been used for those SEs in other SSRIs ... and you have had a negative lex experience ... which might taint your expectations of lex ...
still not much help, though ...
here's what i would do (Your Mileage May Vary!) ...
i'd pick one ... for whatever reason ... but whichever one i'd picked, i'd commit myeslf to giving it a really good long try out, just to see what it's going to be like on the other side of the adaptation SEs ... ... maybe 8 weeks ...
and with the wellbutrin, it shouldn't be so bad ...(maybe i should have taken longer if this is all i got so far here?)
...anyway that's my input .. good luck and ...take care,
~ jim
Posted by theo on September 21, 2003, at 11:08:14
In reply to re: Theo, posted by lil' jimi on September 21, 2003, at 2:47:53
Thanks for the input. Before when I tried Lex I started at 10mg as I was stopping 20mg of Paxil. I stopped the Paxil because I had taking it a while and felt the need to make a change because I had been on it for a long while. Now that I've not taken any SSRI for at least eight weeks now, maybe trying the Lex at 5mg might be a more of a fair evaluation for the Lex. When docs first got their hands on Lex it was "10mg for everyone" which for someone with anxiety is probably to much to start with. Is it OK to break Lex to just take 5mg since they only come in 10mg and 20mg?? My pdoc actually suggested "WellPro" and of course acted like he coined the term, but from what you've read about the Wellbutrin-Lexapro combo have you heard positive results? Not just about offsetting sexual sides but adding something to give a serotonin boost since Wellbutrin doesn't cover that area? Also would 5mg have less sides than 10mg from what you've read?
Posted by lil' jimi on September 21, 2003, at 14:28:02
In reply to re: Theo » lil' jimi, posted by theo on September 21, 2003, at 11:08:14
hi Theo,
> Thanks for the input. >
you're welcome
> Before when I tried Lex I started at 10mg as I was stopping 20mg of Paxil. I stopped the Paxil because I had taking it a while and felt the need to make a change because I had been on it for a long while. Now that I've not taken any SSRI for at least eight weeks now, maybe trying the Lex at 5mg might be a more of a fair evaluation for the Lex. >
i think this is a fair assessment ...
... and i feel it relects the cumulative wisdom from this thread ...> When docs first got their hands on Lex it was "10mg for everyone" which for someone with anxiety is probably to much too start with. >
my sentiments exactly ... ...
... as i've oft repeated here ...
... i (who had never suffered with anxiety) took 10mg ONE day (march 6) and then .... ....> Is it OK to break Lex to just take 5mg since they only come in 10mg and 20mg?? >
... from march 7 for the next month ... i broke the 10mg pills into halves (as best i could) and took only 5mg until sometime in april before i went back up to 10mg ... ...
> My pdoc actually suggested "WellPro" and of course acted like he coined the term, but from what you've read about the Wellbutrin-Lexapro combo have you heard positive results? >
i haven't read enough well-lex reports to have an opinion ... and i don't believe i've seen a well-pax reference before ... ... who knows about these combos nicknames ? ... ... at least "wellpro" sounds encouraging ... ... if that will only help to make us well ...
> Not just about offsetting sexual sides but adding something to give a serotonin boost since Wellbutrin doesn't cover that area? >
i just thought that those offsetting effects might make paxil a more likely candidate ... one i would never choose, but that's just my prejudice speaking ... ... you must, of course, consider all the alternatives which may work for you ... ... wellbutrin may be the redemption of your paxil for you ...
i haven't read any other's personal experiences on which to base this response ... ... nevertheless, that is the theory of the SSRIs' combos with wellbutrin ...
from
http://www.medicinenet.com/bupropion/article.htm"GENERIC NAME: bupropion
BRAND NAME: Wellbutrin; Zyban
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Bupropion is an antidepressant medication that affects chemicals within the brain that nerves use to send messages to each other. These chemical messengers are called neurotransmitters. The neurotransmitters that are released by nerves are taken up again by the nerves that release them for reuse. (This is referred to as reuptake.) Many experts believe that depression is caused by an imbalance among the amounts of neurotransmitters that are released. Bupropion is unrelated to other antidepressants. It works by inhibiting the reuptake of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, an action which results in more dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine to transmit messages to other nerves. Bupropion is unique in that its major effect is on dopamine, an effect which is not shared by the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs (e.g. paroxetine, Paxil; fluoxetine, Prozac; sertraline, Zoloft) or the tricyclic antidepressants or TCAs (e.g. amitriptyline, Elavil; imipramine, Tofranil; desipramine, Norpramin). "
... hey, this bupropion sounds great ... why aren't i on it ? .... it'll even help me quit smoking !! (i don't smoke ... HA!) ...
anything that can help folks fight tobacco adiction is strong medicine in my book ...
... and we see here that it works on raising dopamine, norepinephrine ans serotonin levels, all three ...
... adding the ssri effect of lex should be expected to further increase serotonin levels ...
... this is the theory anyway ...> Also would 5mg have less sides than 10mg from what you've read? >
yes ... ... that's practically gospel here
... ... however, i have read posts of folk who take 20mg right off the bat and have no SEs ... which is rare ... ... but it is less rare for folks diving in with 10mg and reporting zero SEs ... not too imply that either isn't uncommmon ... at all... still it is consistent with our posters' report (and it makes intuitive sense) the any SEs would be less with less doseage ...
anyway that is my contribution ...
take care !
~ jim
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