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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by roxy on December 3, 2002, at 8:42:38
I just started taking Lexapro 10mg one week ago today. This is the first antidepressant med I have ever taken. I was wondering about the side effects. I find myself clenching my jaws all the time. I have constant neck and upper shoulder pain. I find myself getting extremely tired in the afternoon having to take a nap at least two hours a day even after a full night's sleep. Also, headaches so strong they actually wake me up the middle of the night. I also find myself trembling at times. Do these effects lessen? Is weight gain a side effect? It would really help to know if other people suffer from these side effects, and if so, how long do they last?? Thank you.
Posted by markmn on December 3, 2002, at 12:08:39
In reply to Started Lexapro 1 week ago, posted by roxy on December 3, 2002, at 8:42:38
Hi roxy,
They all go away, at least mine have. I was having the same problems when I started Lexapro about a month ago. But I'm doing great now and have few if any problems with the drug. Stick with it. So far it's the best AD I've been on. It's worth sticking out the initial side-effects. Take a multi-vitamin and an amino acid booster. These both helped me get over the side-effects. Good luck and take care,
mark
Posted by TerryW on December 3, 2002, at 16:43:21
In reply to Started Lexapro 1 week ago, posted by roxy on December 3, 2002, at 8:42:38
Roxy:
Go to a previous posting on this forum from June 9, 2002. The direct link is http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109458.html
There are numerous replies here to the post of “Anyone switched to Lexapro?” You will find that a number of people have also experienced the jaw clinching, neck and back tension, headaches, tiredness, disrupted sleep and other side effects.
For additional information on how other people are responding to Lexapro take a look at these two sites.
1. Anxietyhelp.com – Those on Lexapro have posted short posts here about their experience, both good and bad. http://www.anxietyhelp.org/treatment/medication/cipralex.html
2. Remedyfind.com – Those on Lexapro here have scored the medication in different categories – side effects, efficacy, etc. http://www.remedyfind.com/rem.asp?ID=3743&lPageNum=2
As you will see from the many posts the medication will affect no two people the same: what may be effective for one person will be hellish for the next. Most people report a diminishing of the side effects after a week to two weeks. Hopefully these sites with the experience of other’s will give you some comfort.
I have been on Lexapro for 8 days (for dysthymia and social anxiety) and experienced the jaw clinching and back/neck tension. Compared to some other people who have posted I consider myself lucky in that these side effects went away after several days and I felt the good effects of the medication within this same short time period. One lingering side effect has been of the sexual nature.
Best wishes and good luck,Terry
Posted by nappy on December 3, 2002, at 19:40:19
In reply to Re: Started Lexapro 1 week ago, posted by TerryW on December 3, 2002, at 16:43:21
I am headed to the pharmacy to pick up 10mg Lexapro, I am curious about sexual side effects. I have NO libido, doc says the antidepressant should help "clear up the obsession/depression and it should come back"..but I hear some of you saying Lexapro has side effects...explain please! Thanks!
Posted by atlrunner2002 on December 3, 2002, at 20:02:09
In reply to Started Lexapro 1 week ago, posted by roxy on December 3, 2002, at 8:42:38
> I just started taking Lexapro 10mg one week ago today. This is the first antidepressant med I have ever taken. I was wondering about the side effects. I find myself clenching my jaws all the time. I have constant neck and upper shoulder pain. I find myself getting extremely tired in the afternoon having to take a nap at least two hours a day even after a full night's sleep. Also, headaches so strong they actually wake me up the middle of the night. I also find myself trembling at times. Do these effects lessen? Is weight gain a side effect? It would really help to know if other people suffer from these side effects, and if so, how long do they last?? Thank you.
I have been on Lexapro for about 9 weeks now. I did have side effects at first, including being very wired/insomnia for a few days, then extremely sleepy/comatose/sleeping 12 hours a night for a couple of weeks. Also, decreased appetite, constipation, jaw clenching in the a.m. (I take it in the morning), some irritability, VERY slight/infrequent headaches, nausea, and sore throat. Anyway, after about 6 weeks, all side effects were gone, and in my experience, Lexapro is a miracle drug for depression - completely gone! So far, no weight gain; in fact, I lost 6-8 pounds in the first few weeks, although my weight has stabilized and my appetite is normal again.
I started at 10 mg, then went to 15, then recently to 20, hoping it would help w/my anxiety, so I could get off Xanax. At 15 mg I felt like a million bucks (like I had taken a Happy pill) and at 20 mg I have been emotionally "flat". So, after meeting with my Dr today and talking about all of it, I'm going back to 15 mg. Give it a chance, and stick with it long enough to work through the sides and see if it truly helps your depression.
Now, I have a ton of energy during the day, and sleep like a rock at night - no more sides at all, and the depression is gone. It's wonderful - I hope it works as well for you!
Posted by pmanches on December 4, 2002, at 1:10:09
In reply to Re: Effexor to Lexapro - weight gain and body temp » roxy, posted by atlrunner2002 on December 3, 2002, at 20:02:09
I have been on ad's since early spring 02. I recently went from celexa to lexapro. I have had the intense jaw clenching you describe as well as teeth grinding. It won't go away no matter how hard I try to break it. If anyone has any ideas I sure would appreciate hearing about it. The lexapro is otherwise a very good med in my opinion.
Posted by wharfrat on December 4, 2002, at 9:10:12
In reply to Started Lexapro 1 week ago, posted by roxy on December 3, 2002, at 8:42:38
> I just started taking Lexapro 10mg one week ago today. This is the first antidepressant med I have ever taken. I was wondering about the side effects. I find myself clenching my jaws all the time. I have constant neck and upper shoulder pain. I find myself getting extremely tired in the afternoon having to take a nap at least two hours a day even after a full night's sleep. Also, headaches so strong they actually wake me up the middle of the night. I also find myself trembling at times. Do these effects lessen? Is weight gain a side effect? It would really help to know if other people suffer from these side effects, and if so, how long do they last?? Thank you.
Roxy,
You should be getting close to the end of the side effects you mention. Weight gain?, I don't know. I had a real sweet tooth about week 3 but it only lasted about a week. Like you, lexapro is the first antidepressant I've ever taken as well. But it is working well. The only side effect that seems to linger is sexual side effects. But don't worry yourself about that. All SSRI's seem to have sexual side effects, but my doc said that supposedly lexapro is not nearly as bad as some of the others. And from some of the post I've read here, people that have been on paxil, zoloft, celexa and so on after switching to Lexapro have regained libido and the ability to achieve the big "O". Hang in there you'll do fine.
What time of day do you take your Lexapro?
Good luck,
Wharf
Posted by Peter S. on December 4, 2002, at 12:31:24
In reply to Re: Effexor to Lexapro - weight gain and body temp, posted by pmanches on December 4, 2002, at 1:10:09
Hi atlrlunner,
what other meds have you tried besides Lexapro? How have they worked? It sounds like this is the best. I've gone through many meds and have experienced poop-out. If it sounds good I would definitiely be willing to try it.
Thanks!
Peter
Posted by TerryW on December 4, 2002, at 12:41:36
In reply to Going to get my rx today, posted by nappy on December 3, 2002, at 19:40:19
> I am headed to the pharmacy to pick up 10mg Lexapro, I am curious about sexual side effects. I have NO libido, doc says the antidepressant should help "clear up the obsession/depression and it should come back"..but I hear some of you saying Lexapro has side effects...explain please! Thanks!
--------
My sexual side effect has been increased time to reach orgasm. This same side effect existed on Paxil. However, unlike on Paxil, Lexapro does not seem to diminish erecetions and the arousal process. In fact, the former seems to be enhanced. I have only been on Lexapro for 9 days so things may change. Only time will tell. So far Lexapro has been better (i.e., less side effects) than Paxil. On Paxil I felt like I had been castrated. I can't speak to how Lexapro affects the female population.Unfortunately, I have read that most SSRIs do have sexual side effects. Check around at the other sites that I posted in my last message for more peoples' experiences.
Good luck.
Posted by atlrunner2002 on December 4, 2002, at 18:04:24
In reply to Lexapro- atlrunner, posted by Peter S. on December 4, 2002, at 12:31:24
> Hi atlrlunner,
>
> what other meds have you tried besides Lexapro? How have they worked? It sounds like this is the best. I've gone through many meds and have experienced poop-out. If it sounds good I would definitiely be willing to try it.
>
> Thanks!
>
> PeterHi Peter,
I have never been on anything until I started on Lexapro. My doctor put me on the lowest dose of Xanax as needed along with it to help with the anxiety until the Lexapro "kicked in."
Unfortunately I have not found as much relief from the anxiety as I have for the depression, so yesterday she added Buspar 2x/day yesterday to see if that will help. Since the Lex has been such a miracle for my depression, and I've worked through all the sides, neither of us want me to switch to another SSRI. Like I said, I did have some minor side effects initially, but stuck with it, and all are gone now. I feel like a new person - or, actually, like "Me" again! My friends, family and co-workers have all noticed and commented positively. The key was also finding the right dose; 10 mg was not enough and 20 mg too much.
Good luck to you! Let me know if you have any more questions.
S.
This is the end of the thread.
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