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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 14:54:54
Hi, my pdoc just increased my Lexapro to 60mg a day for OCD and depression. I thought that the max dose was 20mg (thats what I discovered in my research). But the doc. says to increase to 60mg.
Anyone else taking such a large dose? I am concerned because I do not want to cause any damage to myself or set myself up for terrible withdrawal effects if I end having to discontinue the med after being on such a high dose.
I also take 30mg of Remeron. I was also wondering if anyone knew if these meds taken at higher doses for long periods of time are bad on the liver.
Just worry about all this medication. Anyones comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
BRC
Posted by DMark on July 8, 2004, at 15:02:57
In reply to Need advice!! Are High doses of Lexapro Safe?, posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 14:54:54
I must say that 60mg sounds pretty high. I started on 10 and eventually went to 20 (which is the normal dose i'm told) then back to 10. I understand your concern about the withdrawal. I am going thru it right now and it hasn't been pleasant. Even by slowly reducing my dose, I am getting withdrawal symptoms that are just crazy. I don't want to scare anyone but I have never experienced withdrawal as such and i've been on dozens of meds. I think doctors need to know more about the effects of these meds before prescribing them in such high doses. I know its trial and error for everyone but the potential for bad reations is always there. I hope everything goes well for you. Don't be afraid to get a 2nd opinion either. Some doctors have more knowledge when it comes to antidepressants.
DMark
Posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 18:25:03
In reply to Re: Need advice!! Are High doses of Lexapro Safe?, posted by DMark on July 8, 2004, at 15:02:57
Thank, Dmark for responding to my post. I knew that 60mg of Lexapro was pretty high that is why I wanted to know others experiences. I am sorry to hear about your withdrawal symptoms.
If you don't mind me asking what are your withdrawal symptoms like. Because when I have tried to stop an SSRI in the past even with tappering. My head felt like it was going to explode. I felt tingling shock sensation in my head, just felt like I had a bad case of the flu, just felt sick. Was just wondering if it was me or did others experience the same symptoms. Another quick question (sorry for all the questions :) ) but did Lexapro help you feel any better or did it just not work.
I was also concerned about the serotonin syndrome occuring on such high doses of an SSRI. My pdoc is supposed to be one of the best. He has all kind of buildings dedicated to him where I live, but I am very weary about medication and like you stated it is a game of trial and error. So even the best of doctors are pretty much shooting in the dark when it comes to these meds. Anyway thanks for your input and I hope you began to feel better soon.
Posted by Jota on July 8, 2004, at 21:09:17
In reply to Re: Need advice!! Are High doses of Lexapro Safe? » DMark, posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 18:25:03
I've been taking Lexapro 40mg per day for about 16 months with good results.
Posted by DMark on July 13, 2004, at 12:32:49
In reply to Re: Need advice!! Are High doses of Lexapro Safe? » DMark, posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 18:25:03
Hi BRC. Sorry for the delay in my response. I was away for the weekend.
To answer your question about the withdrawal symptoms. The main symptom was a shocking feeling in my abdomen which caused my whole body to shake. I was also having a hard time keeping my stress under control. One minute i'd be fine and the next i'd be in a state of panic. There wasn't even a reason to be stressed. I also felt really depressed on and off. I had times where I felt really hopeless and couldn't help but cry. These only lasted a few days then I went back on my normal dose again till I figure a better way out of withdrawing.
Lexapro did help me more than any other SSRI and i've taken quite a few. The problem is the few side effects that I get from being on it are not worth it and i've decided to try another med in hopes of losing the side effects. I have another thread on the board which decribes the main reasons for stopping if you missed it.
DMark
This is the end of the thread.
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