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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by reno on June 5, 2003, at 22:45:21
This is my first day on Lexapro. Took 10MG at 9:00pm.
Started searching internet for info and found this board. Now you guys are starting to scare me!
For past 5 years I've felt like I've been fighting depression. Sometimes far worse than others. Have found that my normal optimism and high spirits have diminished. I'm 44, married for 20 years, 3 kids (2 teenage girls 1 almost teen boy) and by most counts very successful and happy.
I'm able to put on the 'game face' for most occassions, business and social but with family I just sink into my own self which is unlike the way I was 5 years ago. I’ve noticed that alcohol has a much harsher and negative effect on me, so I don’t drink much anymore.
Went to my MD today and said it just feels like I'm living with mental weights. It's too hard to keep thinking things through and I just give up trying. Easier to quit that push on. So he put me on Lexapro and scheduled a 3 week follow up.
These SE postings scare me a bit. I'll monitor my progress and post results. I'll check back because just reading through the posts has been very informative. Some things I can relate to and some I really can't. I hope that some of the things I'll post will be interesting and helpful to others.
--Reno
Posted by Snoozy on June 6, 2003, at 0:34:57
In reply to Lexapro Newbie, posted by reno on June 5, 2003, at 22:45:21
Hi Reno -
I don't have much personal experience with Lexapro, but I just want to say don't be too frightened of what you read here. People who are doing well (and there's a lot of them) with antidepressants generally aren't looking for or posting in a forum like this. But it can be informative to share personal experiences.
I apologize if you've heard this already, but it sounds like this is the first time you've taken an antidepressant? Pretty much all of the antidepressants take time to work, usually 3-4 weeks. The downside is that the side effects can start before that. If you do find you're having trouble with side effects, just keep that in mind and try to hang on. A lot of the side effects do go away with time. And if the Lexapro just doesn't work for you, there are many other drugs that can be tried, as well as things like therapy.
These are just some general comments - hopefully you'll hear from some people taking Lexapro who can be more helpful. Good luck to you.
btw I love that phrase "living with mental weights"
Posted by lil' jimi on June 6, 2003, at 1:16:08
In reply to Lexapro Newbie, posted by reno on June 5, 2003, at 22:45:21
hi reno,
snoozy's message is right on ...... i have been on lexapro since march and snoozer is accurate.
glad to have you posting .... i can offer more details, although snooze's generalities are very appropriate ... thanks snoozy.
i just wanted to share this link to the lex thread .... you are more likely to get lex experienced feedback from the larger number of lex users there..... try:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109458.html
and as blkvettes likes to say
TAKE CARE !!!!!
~ jim
Posted by Felicity on June 6, 2003, at 8:38:10
In reply to Lexapro Newbie, posted by reno on June 5, 2003, at 22:45:21
I've been on Lexapro for just over a week...my first AD ever. These posts had me terrified as well when I first read them. You'll never know how your body will react until you start taking the med. Let me know if there is anything I can do to help.
Keep us posted.
~~Felicity~~
Posted by Mariposa on June 6, 2003, at 11:11:04
In reply to Lexapro Newbie, posted by reno on June 5, 2003, at 22:45:21
Welcome to the Board - Reno.
Please don't let some of the "horror stories" about SE's scare you off!!! I personally had a very rough beginnig - almost all of the possible side effects, and my second week was so bad I called in sick to work.
However, the side effects did diminish and go away, by around week 6 I was pretty much through with them except the jaw clenching. It WAS WORTH IT to suffer through the SE's to get to where I am now - doing SOOOO MUCH BETTER and feeling like I have a reason to go on.
I did start off at 5mg, went to 10mg around end of week 4. If you do develop a problem w/SE's you can always cut back to 5mg, then raise back to 10 when doing better.
Keep us posted on your progress and BEST OF LUCK!~~~8|8
Posted by kinsey on June 6, 2003, at 13:10:50
In reply to Re: Lexapro Newbie » reno, posted by Mariposa on June 6, 2003, at 11:11:04
Hi - I'm also a newbie (kind of) to lexapro. Tomorrow will be the beginning of my third week of taking 10mg. I have read all the posts and i have found that somethings pertain to what i'm going through and some do not. you may be lucky enough to not have any!! i think also you may be looking for changes so much that you start thinking you are getting some of the SE's you are reading!! don't be scared, i'm actually feeling a little better going into this 3rd week. good luck to you - keep us posted. kinsey
Posted by tumnus on June 7, 2003, at 1:20:47
In reply to Re: Lexapro Newbie, posted by kinsey on June 6, 2003, at 13:10:50
I started on 10mg and that went well after about two weeks but I had a dip and went to 20mg. It worked really well for me. While I was waiting for the seritonin to build up, my doctor suggested lots of sunlight and some exercise. Getting outside really helped get me through that period. I just switched from Lexapro to Celexa, it contains the isomer that Lexapro is derived from, and had a great deal more side effects like extremely dry throat. I am going back on Lexapro.
Hope that helps.
This is the end of the thread.
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