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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by scaredgirl on September 22, 2011, at 4:32:01
Hi everone,
I'm new here..or any board for that matter. I've been so lost for a few months that i don't know what to do. I've had a personal loss in my life recently and was very sad for a while, not depressed but just sad( since i was prepared for it) and recently have been feeling very stressed coz of environmental factors..my cortisol levels were very high when i got my saliva test done..
I'm on a low dose of beta blockers and started taking xanax- 1/2 of .25 in the morning and evening- i know its a low dose but after about 2 weeks, i couln't get out of bed, i just felt so lethargic and tired and my heart rate dropped to 50 and felt so weak that i stopped taking xanax altogether. I feel better now.In general i'm not physically active( other than little bit of walk everyday and runing around with kids) and i recently lost 20lbs and been very anxious and having panic attacks as well.
The doc wants to start me on lexapro but since i'm so sensitive to medicines, i wanted to know if anyone has taken like 1.25mg of lexapro and done okay..are the side effects really bad? Since i'm already so anxious, i don't want to feel more anxiety as SE.Also i want to feel normal again. Please help me!
Thank you so much and i prey for everyone in the similar state..i know how tough al this is...
Posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 10:41:33
In reply to Lexapro 1.25mg, posted by scaredgirl on September 22, 2011, at 4:32:01
That's a really small dose of lexapro. I know what you mean about sensitive to meds as usually take very low doses of meds. I'm sorry about your recent loss and sadness but does sadness call for a med or time and maybe some theraphy? Also the low heart rate I suspect is an effect of the beta blockers. How low is low dose? Phillipa
Posted by jerseygal1 on September 22, 2011, at 14:54:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg » scaredgirl, posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 10:41:33
Yes, that is a very low dose of lexapro. Lexapro doses usually are 10-30 mg. Have you ruled out all physical causes of what you are experiencing? Also, Phillipa is right that therapy may help to deal with the loss.
Posted by B2chica on September 22, 2011, at 15:25:02
In reply to Lexapro 1.25mg, posted by scaredgirl on September 22, 2011, at 4:32:01
i dont even know how 1.25 would begin to be helpful.
i can tell you that at at (i think i took 15 and then 30 of lex but cant remember) the only really bad side effect i got fro the higher dose was extreme solmnolence.
so i would think even if you started at the lowest (5?) to give that a try and see how it works.everyone is different, so just know your body and reactions.
Posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 19:40:05
In reply to Lexapro 1.25mg, posted by scaredgirl on September 22, 2011, at 4:32:01
Hi and welcome.
I'm curious how you might describe your panic attacks and maybe if you could say how frequently you experience them?
And over what time period would you say you lost the twenty pounds? I ask because that is a significant amount of weight.
I am sorry to ask questions when you came looking for an answer. No one here is a doctor; it's all peer support, so no one is qualified to really answer, but I thought if people here knew a bit more,
they might offer more focused support. My concern reading your post is that the physical symptoms you describe as being similar to an agitated type of depression of some sort. I'd like to know you would be getting the best treatment for yourself.Therapy is almost always beneficial. Sometimes medication can help stop a major depressive episode from establishing itself. What you describe sounds like it is effecting your daily life significantly.
Are you sleeping alright?
fb
Posted by scaredgirl on September 22, 2011, at 20:06:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg » scaredgirl, posted by floatingbridge on September 22, 2011, at 19:40:05
> Hi and welcome.
>
> I'm curious how you might describe your panic attacks and maybe if you could say how frequently you experience them?
>
> And over what time period would you say you lost the twenty pounds? I ask because that is a significant amount of weight.
>
> I am sorry to ask questions when you came looking for an answer. No one here is a doctor; it's all peer support, so no one is qualified to really answer, but I thought if people here knew a bit more,
> they might offer more focused support. My concern reading your post is that the physical symptoms you describe as being similar to an agitated type of depression of some sort. I'd like to know you would be getting the best treatment for yourself.
>
> Therapy is almost always beneficial. Sometimes medication can help stop a major depressive episode from establishing itself. What you describe sounds like it is effecting your daily life significantly.
>
> Are you sleeping alright?
>
> fb
>Thank you all for listening and your kind support..i lost my dad a
few months ago and then had my uncle and aunt and come and live with me for 6 months..Its a culture thing and there's alot of responsibility to take care fo their every need..i have 2 little kids who are my first priority and so on and so forth. Def i fely my stress levels going so high that i would cry for no reason and get stressed for every little thing, my body cudn't handle stress atall..i developed tachychardia which i had ablated years ago and that depressed me further so i started losing wt coz i dont feel hungry but force myself to eat.Doctor said i'm depressed coz now i feel anxious so many time sin aday, like a wave just washes over me and leaves me shivering and more anxious.
The PD charges 350-400 and i dont wanna go and my doc prescribed lexapro 5 mg and said i can take 2.5 mg to begin with. If i take 1.25, will itgive me side effects coz i'm very nervous already..shud i slowly incraese my dose..
Thank you each and everyone of you for your response..its very much appreciated..i dont know who to turn to and i'm so sad right now..:((
I lost
Posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 21:34:44
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg, posted by scaredgirl on September 22, 2011, at 20:06:51
How bout starting at l.25mg and see how you feel? Since the doc prescribed 5mg won't hurt to start lower and up the dose depending on how you feel. I don't want to seem rude what culture are we speaking of? As had to suggest other options. Phillipa
Posted by Kathryn Lex on September 22, 2011, at 22:33:45
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg, posted by scaredgirl on September 22, 2011, at 20:06:51
Take a deep breath and remember that things will get better.
Have you started the Lexapro yet? Everyone responds to medication very differently and it's possible that 1.25 mgs could really help.
There are also things you can take with it to help minimize the side effects. When I started taking Lexapro I also took Xanax to help with anxiety. Maybe you could try a similar approach? In any case I'm sorry for your loss and I wish you the best of luck.
> Thank you all for listening and your kind support..i lost my dad a
> few months ago and then had my uncle and aunt and come and live with me for 6 months..Its a culture thing and there's alot of responsibility to take care fo their every need..i have 2 little kids who are my first priority and so on and so forth. Def i fely my stress levels going so high that i would cry for no reason and get stressed for every little thing, my body cudn't handle stress atall..i developed tachychardia which i had ablated years ago and that depressed me further so i started losing wt coz i dont feel hungry but force myself to eat.
>
> Doctor said i'm depressed coz now i feel anxious so many time sin aday, like a wave just washes over me and leaves me shivering and more anxious.
>
> The PD charges 350-400 and i dont wanna go and my doc prescribed lexapro 5 mg and said i can take 2.5 mg to begin with. If i take 1.25, will itgive me side effects coz i'm very nervous already..shud i slowly incraese my dose..
>
> Thank you each and everyone of you for your response..its very much appreciated..i dont know who to turn to and i'm so sad right now..:((
>
> I lost
>
>
Posted by scaredgirl on September 24, 2011, at 11:02:11
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg » scaredgirl, posted by Phillipa on September 22, 2011, at 21:34:44
Thank you Philipa for your advice..i'm gonna see a PD and then get the correct dose/med and start already coz waiting doesn't help anyways..its Indian culture..and i know its far from perfect..
> How bout starting at l.25mg and see how you feel? Since the doc prescribed 5mg won't hurt to start lower and up the dose depending on how you feel. I don't want to seem rude what culture are we speaking of? As had to suggest other options. Phillipa
Posted by scaredgirl on September 24, 2011, at 11:07:21
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg, posted by Kathryn Lex on September 22, 2011, at 22:33:45
Thanks guys so much..i do keep telling myself positive things..i'm taking half of .25mg xanax in the evening coz then its the worst..hopefully i'll feel normal again once i see my PD and get the correct dose..even with light dose of xanax i feel light headed and very sleepy..
> Take a deep breath and remember that things will get better.
>
> Have you started the Lexapro yet? Everyone responds to medication very differently and it's possible that 1.25 mgs could really help.
>
> There are also things you can take with it to help minimize the side effects. When I started taking Lexapro I also took Xanax to help with anxiety. Maybe you could try a similar approach? In any case I'm sorry for your loss and I wish you the best of luck.
>
> > Thank you all for listening and your kind support..i lost my dad a
> > few months ago and then had my uncle and aunt and come and live with me for 6 months..Its a culture thing and there's alot of responsibility to take care fo their every need..i have 2 little kids who are my first priority and so on and so forth. Def i fely my stress levels going so high that i would cry for no reason and get stressed for every little thing, my body cudn't handle stress atall..i developed tachychardia which i had ablated years ago and that depressed me further so i started losing wt coz i dont feel hungry but force myself to eat.
> >
> > Doctor said i'm depressed coz now i feel anxious so many time sin aday, like a wave just washes over me and leaves me shivering and more anxious.
> >
> > The PD charges 350-400 and i dont wanna go and my doc prescribed lexapro 5 mg and said i can take 2.5 mg to begin with. If i take 1.25, will itgive me side effects coz i'm very nervous already..shud i slowly incraese my dose..
> >
> > Thank you each and everyone of you for your response..its very much appreciated..i dont know who to turn to and i'm so sad right now..:((
> >
> > I lost
> >
> >
>
>
Posted by floatingbridge on September 24, 2011, at 12:20:53
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg, posted by scaredgirl on September 24, 2011, at 11:07:21
Hey, very good luck with this all. I am glad your going to a pdoc. Don't let him or her give you too much. They very well may not, so don't worry. Just in case you land a doc that wants to prescribe too much. My opinion is to go low and light as possible to treat your symptoms.
I had a friend who treated her depression with six months of low dose lexapro and Xanax and then was able to discontinue. She did not use her Xanax nightly and used low doses as well. She's been fine for five years now.
Update any time :-)
fb
Posted by Scaredgirl on September 24, 2011, at 13:03:24
In reply to Re: Lexapro 1.25mg » scaredgirl, posted by floatingbridge on September 24, 2011, at 12:20:53
I have a heart tachychardia problem as well.. I am more worried abt that.. That's why I thought it's best to go to the doc.. Thank you for your support.. :)
> Hey, very good luck with this all. I am glad your going to a pdoc. Don't let him or her give you too much. They very well may not, so don't worry. Just in case you land a doc that wants to prescribe too much. My opinion is to go low and light as possible to treat your symptoms.
>
> I had a friend who treated her depression with six months of low dose lexapro and Xanax and then was able to discontinue. She did not use her Xanax nightly and used low doses as well. She's been fine for five years now.
>
> Update any time :-)
>
> fb
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