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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by CellarDoor818 on April 2, 2003, at 7:03:58
Hi to all! I have just started Lexapro use, my first time on anything for dysthimia and/or atypical depression. When I took my first pill yesterday, I felt a little nauseous (but could still eat something of a dinner) and then kind of tired, drowsy, out of it (but was still able to do homework). That was at about 4:30. However, when I tried to got to bed at about 11:30, I was unable to sleep well at all, felt nauseous, and felt like my heart was just pounding. I don't think I was able to get more than three hours sleep, and while my heart is no long pounding, I still feel a little nauseous. Can anyone tell me if I should call my doctor, if these are normal side affects that will subside, and if so, how long do you think it will take? Thanks a lot!!
Jenn
Posted by Bill L on April 2, 2003, at 15:13:22
In reply to Lexapro Side Effects - First Time Med User, posted by CellarDoor818 on April 2, 2003, at 7:03:58
Those are common side effects when starting on these kind of medications. You will probably feel better in a few days. Hopefully, your sleep will improve in a couple of weeks. Are you starting on 10 mg? If so, you may want to cut the pills in half and take 5 mg for a few days, then increase to 10. Ask your doctor.
Posted by okpolosi on April 4, 2003, at 10:57:37
In reply to Re: Lexapro Side Effects - First Time Med User, posted by Bill L on April 2, 2003, at 15:13:22
These are side effects I experienced as well. I started at 5mg and at week 4 went to 10mg. SE's can be really bad at first but they do get better and eventually go away. Into week 10 now and about the only SE I still have a little of is jaw clenching. Hang in there because in my case the benefits after the drug kicks in (FOR ME IT WAS WEEK 9 BEFOR I FELT BETTER) are well worth the initial suffering w/SE's.
Posted by baracuda on April 5, 2003, at 1:05:38
In reply to Re: Lexapro Side Effects - First Time Med User, posted by okpolosi on April 4, 2003, at 10:57:37
well people...this is my 3.5 week - and the strangest things are happening to me...im starting to experience dizziness, the kind where i feel like i just stopped twirling around (like when your a kid and trying to get dizzy so you fall down), im stressing out, and im extremely irritable. i also feel very restless.
but i also have pms right now, and this is my first month off the prozac during this time... im not sure i like this feeling with lex... im still not feeling undepressed... but i do like the fact that my appetite is gone. that seems to be the only benefit so far.
im so glad all of you are here to keep me focused and postively motivated. if i dont feel better by week 9 then thats it im going back to the pdoc for yet ANOTHER med switch.
i hope this works tho - i find switching meds to be completely the last thing i want to do on earth.
Posted by CellarDoor818 on April 5, 2003, at 7:32:20
In reply to Re: Lexapro Side Effects - First Time Med User, posted by baracuda on April 5, 2003, at 1:05:38
Hey everyone! Thanks for all your posts! Now I'm on day 5 (4 Lexapro down) and I must say I do feel much better. My sleep patterns are pretty much back to normal. The only side affects I still think I'm really feeling is a lack of appetite and dry mouth. It's so strange -
I used to have a lot of issues with food and have anorexia-esque food thought patterns (not that I had anorexia, but food and dieting was just on my mind A LOT, I guess, and provided me with a lot of anxiety) and that is completely GONE. I've lost some weight and I think my lack of appetite is due to the medication, but I AM JUST NOT WORRIED ABOUT FOOD ANYMORE. When I actually do get hungry, I've just been eating whatever the hell I feel like!!!! I hope this account makes sense, because it feels like a major thing for me.I have a lot of stress going on right now with my current boyfriend, and it could be the placebo affect, but I just feel like I'm handling the whole situation so much better than I usually would be, without the Lexapro. I think a week ago, our situation would have been cause for a major crying, moody, "life is over," "i will never be functional," kind of episode, and now I swear, I just don't feel that way. Am I a little anxious over what will happen with our relationship? Sure. Do I miss him (we're taking a 'break'. sigh.)? Definitely. But I've been having fun with other friends, getting out of my apartment, and I've been able to think really clearly about our situation - without getting swept up in some over-emotional, weepy scenes and feeling like my life is positively over. I guess the short version of what I'm saying is that I feel like I'm FINALLY having rational, reasonable, appropriate, "big girl" emotional responses instead of forever feeling like the mopey, moody thirteen year old in black lipstick I used to be is still running the show. So far, yeah for Lexapro!! Honestly, if I continue to feel this good (or better, I realize it still might not have fully kicked in yet), I don't care if I have to take it for the rest of my life.
Baracuda - I hope things start going better for you!! I keep thinking to myself that PMS will be the true test of this medication, because usually that's a very bad time for me. And even at three and a half weeks, it is possible I guess that the Lexapro hasn't kicked in yet and there's vast improvement right around the corner. But if I were you, I would definitely try to reserve judgement until the PMS is over, because that tends to be a horrible mood time for me no matter what. Good luck to you and everyone else!!!!
Posted by baracuda on April 6, 2003, at 15:55:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro Side Effects - First Time Med User, posted by CellarDoor818 on April 5, 2003, at 7:32:20
thanks for the support cellar! im hanging in there...
This is the end of the thread.
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