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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 bigpopper on September 25, 2006, at 18:06:19
I am a 36 yr. old male with no depress or anxiety issues before. This started about 2 month ago while I was going through some medical issues that involved Luratab and medrol (steriods). I was on Luratab for 1 month and would take 3-4 day. Then The Dr gave me a 2X of medrol. The day after I quit the Medrol I had a complete breakdown. Horrible anxiety and depression. I could take a Lortab and it would go away. Could not even get out of bed. Thought I was dying. Had Upper/lower GI, CT scan of head and body. No problems. The Dr. said That these medications triggered some slight depression I already Had?? I lost 30 pounds in these 2 months. He put me on 10mg of Lexapro and have been on it for 15 days. I have been having some bad SE's, but had the same SE's the day before I started (the day a broke down). How long before the Lexapro makes me feel better or any opinions. I have also been take 1-1.5 mg of Xanax for anxiety as needed and ambien CR. Any advice appreciated!
Posted by Phillipa on September 25, 2006, at 19:45:08
In reply to New To Depression/Anxiety Please HELP!, posted by bigpopper on September 25, 2006, at 18:06:19
Any improvement at all? Steroids are bad stuff. Love Phillipa
Posted by Racer on September 25, 2006, at 20:04:43
In reply to New To Depression/Anxiety Please HELP!, posted by bigpopper on September 25, 2006, at 18:06:19
(I'm sorry -- my first bit of advice is PARAGRAPHS! They make it so much easier to read...)> I am a 36 yr. old male with no depress or anxiety issues before. This started about 2 month ago while I was going through some medical issues that involved Luratab and medrol (steriods). I was on Luratab for 1 month and would take 3-4 day. Then The Dr gave me a 2X of medrol. The day after I quit the Medrol I had a complete breakdown.
Sounds like it is related to steroids. Hormones -- natural or artificial -- are powerful things. Trust me -- I've been taking various hormones for nearly a year now, and they make me CRAZY! I'd expect your doctor is right that they've had a lot to do with this.
And likely right, too, that there was something underlying it that they triggered. I suppose it's possible they actually caused this, but...
> Horrible anxiety and depression. I could take a Lortab and it would go away. Could not even get out of bed. Thought I was dying.
Yep, that's depression. With a side order of anxiety for good measure... I'm sorry you're experiencing this.
>The Dr. said That these medications triggered some slight depression I already Had?? I lost 30 pounds in these 2 months. He put me on 10mg of Lexapro and have been on it for 15 days. I have been having some bad SE's, but had the same SE's the day before I started (the day a broke down).
Well, if you were having the side effects before going on the medication, I doubt it's caused by the medication ;-) Depression does tend to bring along a lot of its own, special physical effects, you know.
>How long before the Lexapro makes me feel better or any opinions. I have also been take 1-1.5 mg of Xanax for anxiety as needed and ambien CR. Any advice appreciated!
Generally speaking, any of the SSRIs will show some effect within four weeks if they're going to. Side effects often show up sooner, of course -- another sick cosmic joke, eh? Most of the early side effects, though, do go away within a few weeks. If you haven't noticed any improvement at all after about 4 weeks, it's worth looking at another drug.
If, at four weeks, you're feeling a tiny bit better, but not well, then raising the dose makes sense. If raising the dose doesn't help, or it causes increased side effects that you can't handle, then augmenting it with another drug is also a possibility.
The good news is that there are a lot of great drugs out there and one is very likely to help you. The bad news is that it's frog-kissing time: you gotta try 'em to find out if they'll help.
Good luck.
Posted by bigpopper on September 25, 2006, at 20:46:10
In reply to Re: New To Depression/Anxiety Please HELP! » bigpopper, posted by Racer on September 25, 2006, at 20:04:43
Thanks for the response!
I hope all of this came from the medications that I was on. And I hope it goes away soon.
My appetite is getting better. I ate 2 meals today plus some ensure for good measure.
I seems that the mornings are horrible then the nights are better?? That is better than all day being bad. The anxiety is much less than last week.
Is 15 days still kinda soon to see much improvement? Is is normal for things to get worse before they get better?
My doctor says that I am worrying myself into a fit of anxiety and to stop looking at these type of forums?? But, I think there are alot of positive and actual good info on here. I will try to filter out the bad info.
Posted by Racer on September 26, 2006, at 1:11:02
In reply to Re: New To Depression/Anxiety Please HELP!, posted by bigpopper on September 25, 2006, at 20:46:10
> Thanks for the response!
>You're welcome. And welcome to Babble.
>
>
> I seems that the mornings are horrible then the nights are better?? That is better than all day being bad. The anxiety is much less than last week.For many people, depression is worst in the mornings. Depending one where you are, another option to look into is light box therapy. Basically means sitting under a bright light for a period of time in the morning. I know it helps me, and I've heard from other people that it helps them, too. The lamps are about $100, and I'm pleased by my investment.
And I'm glad the anxiety is easing. That's often the worst part of it all for me.
>
> Is 15 days still kinda soon to see much improvement? Is is normal for things to get worse before they get better?15 days? Yeah, that's pretty soon to be seeing any improvement, really. Expect three to four weeks, minimum, for the depression. The anxiety might improve first, which it sounds as though you're already experiencing, so that's a good sign for you.
"Normal?" Gotta define those terms ;-) For some people, it does seem worse before it gets any better, for others it's a gradual improvement. If you're feeling worse now, that's normal FOR YOU. That's really all that matters in the end, isn't it? What do you experience?
>
> My doctor says that I am worrying myself into a fit of anxiety and to stop looking at these type of forums?? But, I think there are alot of positive and actual good info on here. I will try to filter out the bad info.Yeah, that's one downside to this sort of place. There really is a lot of good information -- but I've found the best part of this place is the support. There are so many people here who will help encourage you to keep trying.
I had a bad patch a while back, and was so afraid to take any medications that I probably wouldn't have managed to stick with anything just then. One person from this site called me every single day to cheer me, to reassure me, to comfort me -- and it made such a difference for me. There's a lot of that sort of support here.
Good luck, and welcome.
Posted by bigpopper on September 26, 2006, at 11:51:55
In reply to Re: New To Depression/Anxiety Please HELP! » bigpopper, posted by Racer on September 25, 2006, at 20:04:43
Is is normal to feel better at night? And could this be due to taking lexapro in the morning which is increasing Anxiety?
My hands seem to tremble at time also.
Posted by frankie2120 on September 29, 2006, at 9:50:51
In reply to Re: New To Depression/Anxiety Please HELP!, posted by bigpopper on September 26, 2006, at 11:51:55
I suffered from bad depression and anxiety and was on Laxepro for two years... a lil yanning at first but that was about the only side effect i had... it did a great job with the depression... Took like 5-6 weeks to start working... I started feeling better so i stopped taking it after like 5 months... wasn't smart... symptoms came back and doctor said to stay on it for at least 13 months and then we can re evaluate.... so i did that and it worked nicely...
However my anxiety issues began to esclate... so at my last doctor visit we decided to try Effexor XR... the transission from one drug to the other was fine... no side effects when stoping the lexapro... there were some emotional up's and downs for about a month while i was getting used to the Effexor... but like a light switch after 5 weeks my anxieties all but are gone... I feel like my eye's have been opened.... I was a regular smoker too and I've since lost all urge to smoke and havn't even wanted one in 2 weeks.. and i wasn't even trying to quit...
Well that's my story... if the depression is your main thing the Laxepro worked real good for me... u just have to give these things time to regulate the chemistry in your brain... so just be patient... good luck...
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