Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 140297

Shown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by Dysfunk on February 9, 2003, at 12:32:20

I am confused as to what is going on with my body so I thought I would throw a question out there.

Some of you speak of feeling the effects of Lexapro after a week, some say it takes about a month to kick in. Some speak of weight gain and increased appetite, some speak of appetite loss. Some of you have total exhaustion from the medicine.

I want to know if the symptoms each of you on Lex are feeling are constant since you started taking the medicine or have they suddenly changed and reversed themselves?

I have been on the meds for about a month. I don't think I am feeling positive effects yet, but suddenly I am experiencing no desire to eat, total exhaustion and weight loss (after initial weight gain). I am trying to figure out if what I am feeling is the medicine just kicking in or am I getting a cold?

After weeks of taking the medicine, has anyone's symptoms suddenly changed?

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by missinglynxx on February 9, 2003, at 12:47:00

In reply to Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by Dysfunk on February 9, 2003, at 12:32:20

Hi there dysfunk. That appetite loss sounds horrible dude!
what else are you taking and at what dose, IT might make it easier
For us to figure out

WHAT is going on with you.. are you less depressed after a month, or still in side effect HELL?

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by Dysfunk on February 9, 2003, at 12:55:42

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by missinglynxx on February 9, 2003, at 12:47:00

I don't mind the appetite loss, I was craving sweets and carbs like crazy after years of staying on top of a healthy diet. I am still eating, I just want 2 meals, not 3+.

Nothing has changed with me except I started taking an herbal supplement called Kan Jang to help me fight a cold (if that is what it is).

I don't feel the depression has changed yet. I think it got worse during PMS (I am not a "dude") and so did the anxiety. I am not really feeling any adverse side effects except the awful sweating. I also started having night sweats with the appetite change and exhaustion. Again, could be a cold, could be the meds.

Just wondering if anyone has had symptoms after 4 weeks?

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by missinglynxx on February 9, 2003, at 17:33:27

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by Dysfunk on February 9, 2003, at 12:55:42

Sorry Dysfunk that you arent feeling any better/. Lexapro is one of the Stronger Antidepressants around IMO
I found it Way too strong,, I would stick with it,, if you arent upset so far,, MAYBE relief is only one week away
I read that in order to evaluate a psychiatric Medication (this was in the Journal Of Psychiarty)you have to hit the highest dose for some time.. Then you really get a clearer picture
Good luck
How was Celexa for you? (no dude this time haha)?

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by Dysfunk on February 10, 2003, at 16:51:36

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by missinglynxx on February 9, 2003, at 17:33:27

Missinglynxx :

I was about to start taking Celexa, but my doctor got info on Lexapro, so we went right to that. Since I am already on 40 mgs. of Prozac, I think he wanted to hold at 10 mg of Lex. I am hoping you are right, "dude", and I am close to feeling positive results. Thanks for you conern. Dys.

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by lostsailor on February 11, 2003, at 10:42:11

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by Dysfunk on February 10, 2003, at 16:51:36

you are on a lot of ssri meds. ever talk to doc about seritonin syndrome??? I am doing great on lexapro. No real side effects and panic has subsided a bit more.

If you are "treatment resistant: perhaps effexor would help. It activates both the seritonin receptors and the uuugggg, the ones that the tricyclics do.

Just an idead. Oh and compared to other meds...doc thinks lex is cool because he says chemically it is pretty "clean" med in terms of effects on the body other than the brain.

good luck, keep us posted!!,

~tony

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by Dysfunk on February 12, 2003, at 16:53:47

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by lostsailor on February 11, 2003, at 10:42:11

Tony: I just weaned off Effexor having had bad side effects and withdrawal. Maybe I have tried alot of the meds.- I have been on some drug consistantly for about 12 years. Prozac worked great for me, then it quit working. Later on I tried it again and it seems to be helping a bit. I know I can feel better than I do now, so we are trying to add something in to Prozac. I guess it is a matter of finding the right cocktail. My doctor is trying the newer meds now. Hopefully they will work. I am on the verge of reporting to my doc that I don't think the Lex is working for me either. Too bad....it seemed to be a drug that worked in a real unique manner and could work for me.Thanks for your interest.I will keep everyone posted as well as follow other's successes/failures on the meds.

Dysfunk

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by Dysfunk on February 12, 2003, at 16:54:23

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by lostsailor on February 11, 2003, at 10:42:11

By the way, what is seritonin syndrome?

 

Question for missinglynx

Posted by JackD on February 13, 2003, at 0:43:20

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by missinglynxx on February 9, 2003, at 17:33:27

SOrry to butt in, but you (missinglynxx) mentioned that Lexapro is "too strong". I tend to get hypomanic VERY easily on medicines and I too felt it was pushing me quite a bit towards hypomania. Do you know of any other medicines that are more gentle so to speak? Thanks bro.

 

Strong versus Mild for Jack

Posted by missinglynxx on February 13, 2003, at 3:35:37

In reply to Question for missinglynx, posted by JackD on February 13, 2003, at 0:43:20

> SOrry to butt in, but you (missinglynxx) mentioned that Lexapro is "too strong". I tend to get hypomanic VERY easily on medicines and I too felt it was pushing me quite a bit towards hypomania. Do you know of any other medicines that are more gentle so to speak? Thanks bro.

Hmmmmmmmm Let me think.....
By too strong I was refering to what I told my psychiatrist. I took 1/4 of a Lexapro and had probems with walking,,, LOL I was totally freaked out both physically and mentally. on two doses
The drugs with a normal balancing affect in Me Jack are Nortriptyline,, Zyprexa,,Abilify!!
I guess Im in the minority,, I really dislike Serontin Style drugs (nortriptyline is focused on norephinephrine.... What are you thinking of taking?

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal? » Dysfunk

Posted by ayuda on February 13, 2003, at 23:23:29

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by Dysfunk on February 12, 2003, at 16:54:23

> By the way, what is seritonin syndrome?

Serotonin syndrome is essentially serotonin "overdose." You can find the information in any explanation of SSRI's -- I don't think that I will do it justice from memory (it's also called "serotonin shock", and I had it the first time I tried Zoloft).

Here is a link to look at:
http://www.fpnotebook.com/PSY165.htm

 

Re: Strong versus Mild for Jack

Posted by JackD on February 14, 2003, at 1:31:19

In reply to Strong versus Mild for Jack, posted by missinglynxx on February 13, 2003, at 3:35:37

I'm like you, i respond better to Norepinephrine enhancing drugs than serotonin ones. And also, I too am very sensitive to medications. The problem with NE enhancing drugs is they seem to make me cycle and eventually crash big time.

Lexapro is strong (for me) in the sense that i wake up grinding my teeth, feeling way too hyper, and like my head is going to explode. At the same time it doesn't quite fix my depression much.

I'm not sure what to try next. I've tried most of the SSRI's and Paxil was the only one that didn't do anything for the depression, but didn't make me feel too medicated either. REmeron worked great until it stopped. Maybe REmeron and Paxil together? Who knows.

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by Dysfunk on February 14, 2003, at 16:43:11

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal? » Dysfunk, posted by ayuda on February 13, 2003, at 23:23:29

Ayuda:

Wow, thanks I am going to check it out.I never heard of that. I have had things like the shakes and sinus problems-never tied it into the drugs. I will read further. Thanks for the info and the ayuda ;-)

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal? » Dysfunk

Posted by nails on February 14, 2003, at 22:22:13

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by Dysfunk on February 9, 2003, at 12:55:42

In response to the following msg posted by dysfunk on 2/9/03:
"....I don't feel the depression has changed yet. I think it got worse during PMS (I am not a "dude") and so did the anxiety. I am not really feeling any adverse side effects except the awful sweating. I also started having night sweats with the appetite change and exhaustion. Again, could be a cold, could be the meds. Just wondering if anyone has had symptoms after 4 weeks?"

Dysfunk, I've only been on Lexapro for a few days and haven't noticed any side-effects yet. Up until 3 days ago, I'd been on Prozac. My main side effect from Prozac was a total loss of sex drive. I'd also had very vivid dreams and difficulty waking up which, I just learned from this site, is another side-effect of SSDIs. Regarding the sweating: I, too, experience terrible episodes of sweating, including night sweats. I haven't heard about this being a side-effect of antideps, so I assumed it was early pre-menopause "hot-flashes. (Blood tests show I am NOT perimenopausal, but I understand they are not always accurate). Do you hear about others on antideps suffering from the sweats (especially males?). I'm wondering if you and I are experiencing peri-menopausal hot flashes or if this is, in fact, a result of antidep meds. I don't know your age, and I've been told I'm "too young" to have peri-menopausal symptoms, but I understand these symptoms can start in women as young as their late 20's.
Is Lexapro your first antidep med? Or had you been on something prior? I know when I was first put on Prozac, I noticed a BIG difference in mood/outlook/attitude in just one week, and most side-effects were evident in the first month. But, everyone reacts differently to different meds.
Any men reading this experience sweats while on antideps??

 

Lexapro sudden symptom change -Nails

Posted by Dysfunk on February 15, 2003, at 14:03:16

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal? » Dysfunk, posted by nails on February 14, 2003, at 22:22:13

Nails:

I was checked for peri-menopause and I too, although close in age, am not going through that yet. I know that the sweating is a side effect of anti-d's. I only noticed it since I started taking Effexor and Lexapro. Night sweats I can deal with, armpits are another story! If I didn't have social anxiety before, I do now with huge pit stains! My brother was on Effexor and didn't feel the sweating was that debilitating. Maybe it effects men diff.

I have been on Prozac too for a long time and I am now on a low dose of it. I have the sexual side effects, but have learned to deal with it. There are meds that you can take to increase blood flow such as Ritalin. It didn't work for me, though. There is Viagra cream for women too. I am able to achieve multiple orgasms, it just takes patience. I am lucky to have a patient husband.

I too am curious if other men find the sweating has increased?

 

Lexipro not working

Posted by Dysfunk on February 15, 2003, at 14:15:17

In reply to Re: Strong versus Mild for Jack, posted by JackD on February 14, 2003, at 1:31:19

It is one month today since I started Lexipro with 40 mg of Prozac still in my system. I don't think it is working. I feel anxious, possibly more so than before (although I do live in NYC near a possible terrorist target) and I feel underlying depression. I know I can feel better. Has it taken anyone a long time for Lex to work for them? Maybe since I am used to meds (having been on Prozac for years) that it will take longer to feel and positive effects? Any thoughts?

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by Porcupine on February 16, 2003, at 21:26:03

In reply to Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by Dysfunk on February 14, 2003, at 16:43:11

Hello, I have been taking Lexapro for over a month now, about 6 weeks. I have noticed several side effects that have developed as I go along. The first was that Lexapro makes me very sleepy 4-6 hours after taking it. Switching to nightime use helped a lot. The second is lack of appetite. I just thought that that was my depression but at 240 lbs. appetite has never been a problem for me. I also have the night sweats thing but for me it is not as bad as Effexor where I had no thermal control and would cycle from sweating to chills.

Lately I have also been getting a tremor in my left eye that is annoying but does not disturb my vision. Believe it or not this has been the best antidepressant for me so far and I have taken quite a list. Unfourtunately I am not getting as much relief from the depression as when I first started and suicidal thoughts are wiggling their way back into my head. All in all life continues to suck.

 

Re: Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?

Posted by YoYo on October 12, 2003, at 13:20:53

In reply to Lexapro sudden symptom change or reversal?, posted by Dysfunk on February 9, 2003, at 12:32:20

> I am confused as to what is going on with my body so I thought I would throw a question out there.
>
> Some of you speak of feeling the effects of Lexapro after a week, some say it takes about a month to kick in. Some speak of weight gain and increased appetite, some speak of appetite loss. Some of you have total exhaustion from the medicine.
>
> I want to know if the symptoms each of you on Lex are feeling are constant since you started taking the medicine or have they suddenly changed and reversed themselves?
>
> I have been on the meds for about a month. I don't think I am feeling positive effects yet, but suddenly I am experiencing no desire to eat, total exhaustion and weight loss (after initial weight gain). I am trying to figure out if what I am feeling is the medicine just kicking in or am I getting a cold?
>
> After weeks of taking the medicine, has anyone's symptoms suddenly changed?

Hi Dysfunk,

I'm a very active retiree [59]. Just started Lex and have found similar effects. It may be too early to tell, but after 1 week I have no noticeable side effects except a slight decrease in appetite and interest in food [which is very unusual for me]. No weight loss yet, but better than lots of pounds under most others [Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft, etc.].

Unlike Zoloft and Prozac, the disappointing thing is that there doesn't appear to be any change in mood or attitude. With Z and P there was nearly an immediate euphoria. In fact, my daughter thought I was getting "loopy."

It's nearly 8 months later, so I hope you've resolved your issues. I suppose we all are looking for that elusive magic bullet.

YoYo


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