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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by boggioj on August 7, 2003, at 13:37:18
I am new to this board, but have been reading for a few weks and it has been of much help. I am looking for anyone with similiar experience or advice, my doctor does not seem to know much about these meds. I have been on Paxil for around 7 years when this past year it stopped working and I experienced horrible panic attacks. I started therapy several months ago and we both decided that I should try Lexpro. I have been on it 10 mg for a month and am still feeling somewhat the same. A few days ago I called my doctor and asked if I should increase the dose. I am now taking 20mg and have been waking in the middle of night in panic as well as just an overall increase in anxiety. Does anyone have experience with this medication. Has the anxiety decreased over time? Also does anyone know what dose of Lexpro would be similiar to 20mg Paxil. I want to make sure I am not overmedicating myself. Any advice would help. Thanks.
Posted by jlo820 on August 7, 2003, at 16:52:51
In reply to Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board, posted by boggioj on August 7, 2003, at 13:37:18
1. 50 mg is the ususal high dosage of Paxil, and 20 (sometimes 30) is the usual high dosage of Lexapro. So if you were on 20 mg Paxil, you will be getting more medication with 20 mg Lexapro than with the Paxil. This is not very exact, but it is useful by comparison.
2. Anxiety should go away within a few weeks to a month (if it is caused by Lexapro).
Posted by trauma queen on August 7, 2003, at 17:41:30
In reply to Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board, posted by boggioj on August 7, 2003, at 13:37:18
boggioj--
I have no experience with Paxil, but I just started on Lexapro about 2.5 wks ago. I'm on 10mg a day. Before it, I had depression and anxiety thru the roof...it was so overwhelming I couldn't stand myself...tried to OD on narcotics and Xanax... so that is what brought me to Lexapro...
First week, I was much better... of course my mom flew down to help me and I was so happy b/c of that... but the Lexapro kicked in right away and I was actually happy! But I had this horrible underlying anxiety...i was shaking like a leaf, had sweats, muscle aches and cramps. It was very uncomfortable. But that too went away, and now I'm very chill, but have zero motivation. Plus, certain stress situations are popping up in my life now... THEY'RE TESTING ME!! ...and last night I sort of lost it and had a good cry. Today, I'm a little anxious, getting a headache, lying around watching Notting Hill...not very productive. Needing to talk to people... family, friends mostly.
So...that's me in a nutshell...I am hopeful that a few more weeks on Lexapro and things will be better and that "light" I hear so much about will go on... Hope Lexapro helps you too...! How are YOU doing??
Tari Anne
> I am new to this board, but have been reading for a few weks and it has been of much help. I am looking for anyone with similiar experience or advice, my doctor does not seem to know much about these meds. I have been on Paxil for around 7 years when this past year it stopped working and I experienced horrible panic attacks. I started therapy several months ago and we both decided that I should try Lexpro. I have been on it 10 mg for a month and am still feeling somewhat the same. A few days ago I called my doctor and asked if I should increase the dose. I am now taking 20mg and have been waking in the middle of night in panic as well as just an overall increase in anxiety. Does anyone have experience with this medication. Has the anxiety decreased over time? Also does anyone know what dose of Lexpro would be similiar to 20mg Paxil. I want to make sure I am not overmedicating myself. Any advice would help. Thanks.
>
>
Posted by boggioj on August 8, 2003, at 1:09:50
In reply to Re: Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board » boggioj, posted by trauma queen on August 7, 2003, at 17:41:30
Wow, it is so nice to hear back from people who have experience with these meds/the problems that warrent their use. I am going to go back down to 10mg. tonight and talk with my doctor about upping the dose to 15mg. I am not sure if it is possible to do 15 - I know the doses only come in 10 and 20mg. I will keep you informed on how continues to play out and would be interested to know if the anxiety decreases after a couple more weeks. I have also thought if Lexpro does not work I might try going back to paxil even though it "pooped out" and increasing that dose since 20mg is on the lower half of the scale. Has anyone ever experienced the so called "poop out"
Posted by jlo820 on August 8, 2003, at 10:41:36
In reply to Re: Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board, posted by boggioj on August 8, 2003, at 1:09:50
>>> I am not sure if it is possible to do 15 - I know the doses only come in 10 and 20mg.
Cut the 10 mg in half.
>>> Has anyone ever experienced the so called "poop out"This happens not infrequently with SSRI's, but I have never experienced it.
Posted by kinsey on August 9, 2003, at 9:27:23
In reply to Re: Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board, posted by jlo820 on August 8, 2003, at 10:41:36
I started Lexapro the end of May. I also experienced in the beginning terrible anxiety attacks that really scared me. i questioned if i should stay on this med and i posted it on this board. several people told me to "hang in there" with this medication and i did - boy was i glad i listened to their advise. I'm feeling much better now and i see improvement - in fact - since this was given to me by my GP, i've decided to find a good p-doc so i can learn more and hopefully stay on this medication. my GP said she would keep me on Lexapro for only six months to a year and then slowly take me off and if i felt i needed it again she would put me back on!!!! no way - one of the worse times was starting this medication. any-way hang in there - IT WILL GET BETTER. kinsey. p.s. i do get times of extreme tired-ness - but hey it's much better than the insomnia i was gettting prior to lexapro!!!
Posted by boggioj on August 9, 2003, at 22:30:20
In reply to Re: Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board, posted by kinsey on August 9, 2003, at 9:27:23
In reply to Kinsey. Thank you. I have upped my dose to 15mg and am going to stick with it using adovan to supplement for anxiety. I have my wedding coming up in 4 weeks so let keep my fingers crossed. I was wondering what dose you are on and what you are taking it for? I have heard most people talk of taking it for depression, but I am taking it for panic disorder. I am curios to know if it is helping those with this same dilemma. Once again thank you. Also anyone noticed hair loss? I have experienced this for the past year on paxil , now lexpro. Side effects suck, but not as bad as panic.
Posted by galkeepinon on August 10, 2003, at 0:27:35
In reply to Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board, posted by boggioj on August 7, 2003, at 13:37:18
Hi, I read a study, if I find it again I will post it for you. It was done at Harvard and 10mg opf Lexapro is equivalent to 40mg of Paxil. I strated Lexapro a week ago for major depression and it has done well, I had virtually no side effects, except for anciness.
I wish you the best and hang in there:-)
> I am new to this board, but have been reading for a few weks and it has been of much help. I am looking for anyone with similiar experience or advice, my doctor does not seem to know much about these meds. I have been on Paxil for around 7 years when this past year it stopped working and I experienced horrible panic attacks. I started therapy several months ago and we both decided that I should try Lexpro. I have been on it 10 mg for a month and am still feeling somewhat the same. A few days ago I called my doctor and asked if I should increase the dose. I am now taking 20mg and have been waking in the middle of night in panic as well as just an overall increase in anxiety. Does anyone have experience with this medication. Has the anxiety decreased over time? Also does anyone know what dose of Lexpro would be similiar to 20mg Paxil. I want to make sure I am not overmedicating myself. Any advice would help. Thanks.
>
>
Posted by kinsey on August 10, 2003, at 14:00:33
In reply to Re: Lexpro and panic disorder; new to board, posted by boggioj on August 9, 2003, at 22:30:20
> In reply to Kinsey. Thank you. I have upped my dose to 15mg and am going to stick with it using adovan to supplement for anxiety. I have my wedding coming up in 4 weeks so let keep my fingers crossed. I was wondering what dose you are on and what you are taking it for? I have heard most people talk of taking it for depression, but I am taking it for panic disorder. I am curios to know if it is helping those with this same dilemma. Once again thank you. Also anyone noticed hair loss? I have experienced this for the past year on paxil , now lexpro. Side effects suck, but not as bad as panic.
I am on 10mg of Lexapro. depression, anxiety and panic attacks is what finally made me start taking medication and i can actually see a difference. in my opinion it has helped with the panic attacks. so good luck to you and have a beautiful wedding day!! kinsey p.s. i have not had any hair loss as a SE.
This is the end of the thread.
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