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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by trucker on March 27, 2004, at 22:00:01
In reply to How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d, posted by peace123 on March 27, 2004, at 19:30:06
WELL ACTUALLY I DON'T THINK THERE WILL BE AN OFF. FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND AS LONG AS IT WORKS FOR YOU UNTIL THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER WERE ARE HERE FOR THE DURATION... LIKE YOU I ENJOY MYSELF ON IT AND AM HAPPY MY DOC RECOMENDED IT FOR ME. HELLO TO ALL I HAVE BEEN GONE FOR A LONG TIME. 70 HOUR WEEKS ARE A ROUGH ONE NOT ALLOT OF TIME FOR ANYTHING ELSE!!!
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> Hi all,
>
> I was asked by a few family members, how will your doctor know when to stop Lexapro.
>
> I had no answer for them, guess i was not thinking that far down the line..,as i have been feeling so good on this medicine..that stopping is something I have not given much thought to.
>
> Can anyone answer this question?
>
> thanks,
>
> Peace123
Posted by Mrs. C on March 27, 2004, at 22:38:16
In reply to How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d, posted by peace123 on March 27, 2004, at 19:30:06
I have absolutely no idea. Good question. I never want to stop taking mine. Mrs. C
Posted by trucker on March 27, 2004, at 22:52:23
In reply to re: Searching for Specific Information on pBabble, posted by Mrs. C on March 27, 2004, at 22:41:02
WELL NEAR AS I CAN TELL I'VE BEEN GONE SINCE AUG OR SEPT OF LAST YEAR. I DON'T SEE ANY POSTS FROM WAYNE OR JIM ON HERE, HAVE THEY GONE AWAY? I LOVE LEX... IT IS WONDERFUL.... I FEEL LIKE MY OLE SELF ON THE STUFF. I HOPE THEY NEVER TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME...
TRUCKER
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> Trucker, I am not sure who you are looking for. When I first started on this board five months ago, I don't remember seeing your name. How long have you been gone? How are you doing on Lex? Tell us more about yourself? Mrs. C
Posted by trucker on March 27, 2004, at 23:16:20
In reply to re: Searching for Specific Information on pBabble, posted by Mrs. C on March 27, 2004, at 23:03:25
I WAS FIRST ON ZOLOFT THEN SWITCHED TO LEX AND I DO LIKE LEX ALLOT BETTER. THE ONLY THING I NOTICE IS THAT WHEN HAVING SEX THE DRUG MAKES MY LEGS ITCH NERVOUSLY... STRANGE STUFF, HOWEVER NO ONE CAN HAVE MY LEX... ALL MINE FOR NOW... HA! HA!
TRUCKER
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> Trucker, Wayne sounds familiar but has not been here in quite a while. I have no idea who Jim is. Sorry. I am glad the lex has been working for you. Hope you find the guys you are looking for. Mrs.C
Posted by sexylexy on March 27, 2004, at 23:37:43
In reply to Re: How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d » peace123, posted by trucker on March 27, 2004, at 22:00:01
Peace,
These meds are not meant to be taken forever unless you have chronic depression/anxiety. These are learned traits that you literally must learn to forget. Something triggers your anxiety/depression and your brain begins thinking this way, once it does, you forget how to be "normal" and your brain feels normal thinking anxious and depression. You take the medication to stop the thinking and return your thought process to normal. Usually this takes 6 months to a year. This is about how long most non-chronic persons stay on medication. It is important to not rush off the medication because the sooner you get off the higher chance your mind will be able to remember depression. Hope this helps, good luck!
Lexy
Posted by sexylexy on March 27, 2004, at 23:42:12
In reply to re: Searching for Specific Information on pBabble, posted by trucker on March 27, 2004, at 22:27:57
Trucker,
A lot of times when people start feeling better they get more involved in other things and move off the site. New people pop up everyday. I was new in December and now am getting to be an oldie...hehe. I love this site and my lex family, good luck and welcome back.
Lexy
Posted by jlynne on March 27, 2004, at 23:46:28
In reply to Re: Trucker . . . » jlynne, posted by trucker on March 27, 2004, at 22:56:26
I'm jealous . . . how long have you been on Lex, and how long before you got past the s/e's??
(If you say "what s/e's?" I will be very resentful:~)
I am in my 7th week and questioning whether or not to tough it out a little longer.
Thanks ...jlynne
Posted by sexylexy on March 27, 2004, at 23:56:47
In reply to Trucker, before you leave again . . ., posted by jlynne on March 27, 2004, at 23:46:28
Hey its Lexy,
What dose are you on? Things did not get really better for me until I upped my dose. I was on 10mg for like over 9 weeks seeing some results but only go up to feeling about 60%, went up to 15mg for a week and now been a 20 for a little over a week and feel MUCH better. I know this is a slow process but feel like if I continue improving that I will be back to me in the next few months. I wish so much I would have upped my dosage after like 6 weeks or so, would have saved me a lot of sadness.
The side effects I had were extreme fogginess, sensitivity to light, insomnia, light twich, tired but wired feeling, a little irriatable. Nothing like the hell I experiened on my 3 weeks of Zoloft. The side effects seemed to go away after like 5 or 6 weeks. Good luck and God Bless you.
Lexy
Posted by jlynne on March 28, 2004, at 0:19:31
In reply to Re: Trucker, before you leave again . . . » jlynne, posted by sexylexy on March 27, 2004, at 23:56:47
Lexy, I have been at 15mg for about 2wks; was on 10mg for the first 5wks. At 5wks the tears and social anxiety came back full force, and that is why I upped to 15mg.
Before I upped, the s/e's were getting tolerable, but since the increase they have not let up. Then last night the tears came back again. My doc told me to increase to 20mg as I need to, but I am so afraid that the s/e's will just get worse and worse, and that the tears will just keep coming back anyway.
I have been doing better today; trying to keep myself busy, physically and mentally. I'm trying to tough it out, but this is all so exhausting.
Thanks for listening . . . jlynne
Posted by sexylexy on March 28, 2004, at 1:03:28
In reply to Lexy, posted by jlynne on March 28, 2004, at 0:19:31
Jlynne,
I just wrote you a long message and the computer erased it... ughh. Here I go again.
I am assuming you are on your period and that is making things a lot worse. Here is how it was for me.
Period one: lots of tears, felt like someone was doing a bad job of rewiring my brain. I would be and content then a second miniute I would be in tears, then picking a fight with my poor boyfriend (over and over again). I mean it was TERRIBLE.
Period two: Moody, two major crying spells for no reason, one fight with boyfriend, much better than first but still pretty bad.
One and two were on 10mg.
Period 3: On 20mg. Much better, no fights, no crying spells, actually teared up at a stupid commercial but was able to laugh at myself. Also had a few bad things happen during PMS and handled it OK. Much, much, much better. I have heard that each month gets better.
Also you are only on week 7, most people, Mrs C, LynneDA effects till week 8 and 9.
Getting better is SUCH a process, it is so hard to be paitent when you are sick. I cannot tell you that lexapro is the drug for you, however I can tell you for a while I thought it was not helping me. I gave it a chance and am so glad I did. Good luck and God Bless. Please feel free to ask any questions!
Lexy
Posted by wantinfo on March 28, 2004, at 10:17:03
In reply to Re: Lexy, posted by sexylexy on March 28, 2004, at 1:03:28
hey all! i started 20mg last night. i'm keeping my fingers crossed. i guess i am starting my 8th week? and i do feel better but still not like "me"...i'm just not sure this is the right med. i SO hope it is though! thanks for everyone's support...emily
Posted by mystic on March 28, 2004, at 10:52:02
In reply to here we go on 20mg..., posted by wantinfo on March 28, 2004, at 10:17:03
Hey EM>>just got my answer from the other post...good luck on the 20mgs..WE are here for you so keep us posted we care...!!!>>>Mystic
Posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 11:35:44
In reply to dealing with things, posted by peace123 on March 26, 2004, at 17:41:45
Hi Peace123,
Before starting on Lexapro very minor things would cause me to get anxious. This has gotten much better in the past few months. (I've been on Lex since December.) I think in a couple of weeks you will start to notice that injustice and inequality in the workplace doesn't effect you as much.
K.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 11:48:36
In reply to here we go on 20mg..., posted by wantinfo on March 28, 2004, at 10:17:03
Hi EM,
I really hope the 20 mgs works out for you! You're in my prayers.
K.
Posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 12:17:43
In reply to Re: How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d, posted by sexylexy on March 27, 2004, at 23:37:43
according to the doctors i have spoken too you are on it til it nolonger works for you then they put you on something else. its not a thought process it is an imbalance of chemical/hormons etc... in your system that has malfuntioned for what ever reason.
trucker
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////> Peace,
> These meds are not meant to be taken forever unless you have chronic depression/anxiety. These are learned traits that you literally must learn to forget. Something triggers your anxiety/depression and your brain begins thinking this way, once it does, you forget how to be "normal" and your brain feels normal thinking anxious and depression. You take the medication to stop the thinking and return your thought process to normal. Usually this takes 6 months to a year. This is about how long most non-chronic persons stay on medication. It is important to not rush off the medication because the sooner you get off the higher chance your mind will be able to remember depression. Hope this helps, good luck!
> Lexy
Posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 12:26:33
In reply to Trucker, before you leave again . . ., posted by jlynne on March 27, 2004, at 23:46:28
i have been on it a year to a year and a half. i feel normal again. it takes about three months to get past the s/e's but my dear it is definately worth it. some people it takes a little longer. tough it out it will be the best meds you have ever taken. my sexaul desires came back on lex... the higher the dose the more my legs itch but it is well worth it. i want to get layed now. on zoloft i didn't care if i ever got layed again. sorry for being so blunt but its the truth and you should know that is one of the bennifits of lex.
trucker///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////> I'm jealous . . . how long have you been on Lex, and how long before you got past the s/e's??
>
> (If you say "what s/e's?" I will be very resentful:~)
>
> I am in my 7th week and questioning whether or not to tough it out a little longer.
>
> Thanks ...jlynne
Posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 12:30:40
In reply to Re: Trucker, before you leave again . . . » jlynne, posted by sexylexy on March 27, 2004, at 23:56:47
i am on 20 mgs. been there after the first six weeks or so. i won't ever try to change it again, see i thought that i could go with out it and cut back, NEVER AGAIN... I FELT LIKE DUNG. NOT EVEN HUMAN AND DEPRESSED WASN'T THE WORD FOR IT...
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> Hey its Lexy,
> What dose are you on? Things did not get really better for me until I upped my dose. I was on 10mg for like over 9 weeks seeing some results but only go up to feeling about 60%, went up to 15mg for a week and now been a 20 for a little over a week and feel MUCH better. I know this is a slow process but feel like if I continue improving that I will be back to me in the next few months. I wish so much I would have upped my dosage after like 6 weeks or so, would have saved me a lot of sadness.
> The side effects I had were extreme fogginess, sensitivity to light, insomnia, light twich, tired but wired feeling, a little irriatable. Nothing like the hell I experiened on my 3 weeks of Zoloft. The side effects seemed to go away after like 5 or 6 weeks. Good luck and God Bless you.
> Lexy
Posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 12:31:32
In reply to Re: How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d » sexylexy, posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 12:17:43
Hi Guys,
First, I think doctors only try to determine when to stop your a/d if you're interested in going off of medication. Second, they evaluate your progress and figure out if you should be taken off of your a/d. Then, if they feel you're ready to stop taking meds they'll help you taper off of whatever medication you're on.
In some cases, being on medication for an extended period of time can fix the chemical imbalance you have. But other people need to be on a/d's for their entire lives because the chemical imbalance is so severe.
I just thought I'd add my two cents to the discussion.
K.
Posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 12:40:16
In reply to here we go on 20mg..., posted by wantinfo on March 28, 2004, at 10:17:03
it may take three months but the results are worth it....
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> hey all! i started 20mg last night. i'm keeping my fingers crossed. i guess i am starting my 8th week? and i do feel better but still not like "me"...i'm just not sure this is the right med. i SO hope it is though! thanks for everyone's support...emily
Posted by wantinfo on March 28, 2004, at 15:38:03
In reply to Re: here we go on 20mg... » wantinfo, posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 11:48:36
thanks k! i can't remember ... are you on 20, or did you go straight from 15 to wellbutrin and lex? how IS the wellbutrin? EM
Posted by sexylexy on March 28, 2004, at 16:47:23
In reply to Re: How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d » sexylexy, posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 12:17:43
Trucker,
The learned behavior causes your thoughts to maintain the depression/anxiety which causes your chemical imbalance. This is the majority of anxiety/deperssion, for these people, meds are not to be taken forever.
For those who feel like they been depressed since childhood may actually have a biological or chemical imbalance. They need to be on meds and use cognitive behavioral therapy to learn coping skills to combat the depression.
Lexy
Posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 18:22:32
In reply to Re: How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d » trucker, posted by sexylexy on March 28, 2004, at 16:47:23
have you studied medicine? where did you get your info, i'd like to read more on this. can you give me a link to read more?trucker
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> Trucker,
> The learned behavior causes your thoughts to maintain the depression/anxiety which causes your chemical imbalance. This is the majority of anxiety/deperssion, for these people, meds are not to be taken forever.
> For those who feel like they been depressed since childhood may actually have a biological or chemical imbalance. They need to be on meds and use cognitive behavioral therapy to learn coping skills to combat the depression.
> Lexy
Posted by sexylexy on March 28, 2004, at 18:36:02
In reply to Re: How do doctors determine when to stop your a/d » sexylexy, posted by trucker on March 28, 2004, at 18:22:32
Trucker,
I will look for a link for some information. I know I have a lot of paper, info but will see if I can find some for you on a data base. I am actually a therapist and in a month will begin work for a psychiatrist doing therapy once a week with each of his clients. Ill see what I can do and get you some links =)
Lexy
Posted by KathrynLex on March 28, 2004, at 22:13:30
In reply to Re: here we go on 20mg... » KathrynLex, posted by wantinfo on March 28, 2004, at 15:38:03
Hi EM,
I'm at 15 mgs of Lexapro and 50 mgs of Wellbutrin. I'll be increasing to 100 mgs of Wellbutrin tomorrow. I've been debating upping my Lex too because I still have panic attack symptoms when I'm under more stress than usual. (Like when I'm traveling, working towards a very important deadline at the office etc...)
It's too early to tell about the Wellbutrin, since it's only been 3 days. I feel a little fuzzy and notice a slight increase in anxiety levels, but the side effects are tolerable. I feel a little more energized, but it hasn't helped with my short attention span...yet.
I'll keep everyone posted on how it goes. Let all of us know how your increase to 20 mgs goes.
K.
Posted by sideorder on March 29, 2004, at 10:18:40
In reply to Sexual Dysfunction and Lexapro? Need Feedback, posted by sideorder on March 19, 2004, at 16:23:05
I've been on Lex for about 2 weeks now...I feel allot better and the side effects have been minimal. I was wondering if it's O.K. to drink alcohol while taking Lexapro. I know it's not benificial to drink allot because that would be defeating the purpose of even taking Lexapro---and Lex has really curbed my craving and desire to drink in excess. But, my doctor really didn't discuss the matter with me and I was wondering if it's alright to drink moderately.
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