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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by lost on August 22, 2003, at 11:06:37
I have been dealing with depression and anxiety for three years .I have tried both paxil and effexor both only for a week i couldnt handle the side effects.So after a 2 and ahalf years i finally went to my doc. who gave me lexapro 10 mg a day. yesterday i took it for the first time in the middle of the day . bad idea all day i had horrible anxeity, shakes and just generally felt like i was going to jump out of my skin.then when i tried to sleep last night i dont reaaly know if i sleep or not.my was going a mile a minute i couldnt control my thoughts at all.does all this symptom ever do away if i kept taking it.And has any one had better luck taking it in the mourning or at night. thanks
Posted by jlo820 on August 22, 2003, at 11:18:26
In reply to first day on lexapro/hell, posted by lost on August 22, 2003, at 11:06:37
You have to stick with these meds if you want to know if they are going to work or not.
These side effects will typically go away in a few weeks, if not sooner.
These are powerful drugs that are affecting millions of neurotransmitters in our brains, of course there are going to be some major things happening when we first start taking them. But eventually your body and brain will get used to it.
To know if the med is going to help with your depression/anxiety/whatever, you need to stay on it for at least two months.
Posted by Sabina on August 22, 2003, at 14:23:49
In reply to first day on lexapro/hell, posted by lost on August 22, 2003, at 11:06:37
this may or may not help you, but it's worth mentioning because it made such a difference to me.
i was in a similar situation, having tried every ssri on the market since they first came out. i had variable, negative side effects with all of them and came extremely close to taking my life. most recently i was on a low dose of lexapro, which i stuck with for over six weeks, as i was instructed. both my gp and therapist said they'd *never* seen anyone have any se's from lex, which nearly sent me over the edge because i knew what was happening to me was real *and* very bad.
that's when i found this board and at least got some validation and support. it was also at that point that i began to take a hard look at myself. i just thought i was nervous and moody. turns out, there were a lot of behaviors with which i was coping, hiding, and diminishing the importance.
to my own surprise, i began to feel that i might be a misdiagnosed bipolar II. i did some research, saw my first ever pdoc, then my therapist, who both agreed that might be the problem.
today i am finally properly diagnosed, off ssri's, and taking a low dose of an atypical antipsychotic (that sounded pretty extreme to me at first, but it was fine). i'm finally getting a hint of what it's like to feel calm. my coping skills have improved, as have my sleep patterns.
please note - i'm not *at all* saying that you were improperly diagnosed. i'm only relating what happened to me; even though i personally suspect it may be a more common scenario than many people realize. bipolar II can be particulary tricky and easily missed, especially by a gp who may not be able to evaluate you properly.
btw, i'm still with my gp and i don't blame her for missing it; especially considering how i hid things so well from everyone, even myself!
by all means, continue to give the lexapro a chance. i just wanted to offer up a thought to consider if it doesn't work out for you. good luck!
Posted by Mariposa on August 22, 2003, at 18:59:00
In reply to first day on lexapro/hell, posted by lost on August 22, 2003, at 11:06:37
> I have been dealing with depression and anxiety for three years .I have tried both paxil and effexor both only for a week i couldnt handle the side effects.So after a 2 and ahalf years i finally went to my doc. who gave me lexapro 10 mg a day. yesterday i took it for the first time in the middle of the day . bad idea all day i had horrible anxeity, shakes and just generally felt like i was going to jump out of my skin.then when i tried to sleep last night i dont reaaly know if i sleep or not.my was going a mile a minute i couldnt control my thoughts at all.does all this symptom ever do away if i kept taking it.And has any one had better luck taking it in the mourning or at night. thanks
I too would encourage you to stick with it, but to help w/side effects you might try cutting pills in half and take 5mg for the first 2 weeks when the se's are the worst, then go up to 10mg. Might also try taking it before bed so you sleep through the worst of it.
Good luck and keep us posted on your progress!~~~8|8
Posted by galkeepinon on August 23, 2003, at 12:35:22
In reply to first day on lexapro/hell, posted by lost on August 22, 2003, at 11:06:37
Hi there! I have been dealing with depression and anxiety for a long time and was just put on Lexapro (10mg) about 3 weekas ago. I take it in the morning. I tried both in the AM and the PM and I do better in the AM. I've tried every SSRI out there except Zoloft I should mention. The first 2 weeks of Lex were tough-but if you hold out and find alternative ways to help you such as calling your doc about your sleep, checking out some great posts here about what others have posted about how they got through their *tough* moments their first few days/weeks of Lexapro, I'm sure your mind will ease. I am now starting week 4 today and am much better, I still have a few side effects but time......time.......***As far as your thoughts racing/being controlled, I had the exact same thing, and my thoughts have slowed down considerably!!!! I can't believe it. I really hope you hang in there and give Lexapro a chance, you have to give something a chance to see if it will work for you. I know side effects are unbearable at times, but this may be the medication that will help you.
All the best:-)> I have been dealing with depression and anxiety for three years .I have tried both paxil and effexor both only for a week i couldnt handle the side effects.So after a 2 and ahalf years i finally went to my doc. who gave me lexapro 10 mg a day. yesterday i took it for the first time in the middle of the day . bad idea all day i had horrible anxeity, shakes and just generally felt like i was going to jump out of my skin.then when i tried to sleep last night i dont reaaly know if i sleep or not.my was going a mile a minute i couldnt control my thoughts at all.does all this symptom ever do away if i kept taking it.And has any one had better luck taking it in the mourning or at night. thanks
Posted by galkeepinon on August 23, 2003, at 12:38:30
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell, posted by Sabina on August 22, 2003, at 14:23:49
Sabina! I am really interested in this. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you! What meds did you end up on??? I really think you made a good point here ;)
Hope to hear back :-)
galkeepinon> this may or may not help you, but it's worth mentioning because it made such a difference to me.
>
> i was in a similar situation, having tried every ssri on the market since they first came out. i had variable, negative side effects with all of them and came extremely close to taking my life. most recently i was on a low dose of lexapro, which i stuck with for over six weeks, as i was instructed. both my gp and therapist said they'd *never* seen anyone have any se's from lex, which nearly sent me over the edge because i knew what was happening to me was real *and* very bad.
>
> that's when i found this board and at least got some validation and support. it was also at that point that i began to take a hard look at myself. i just thought i was nervous and moody. turns out, there were a lot of behaviors with which i was coping, hiding, and diminishing the importance.
>
> to my own surprise, i began to feel that i might be a misdiagnosed bipolar II. i did some research, saw my first ever pdoc, then my therapist, who both agreed that might be the problem.
>
> today i am finally properly diagnosed, off ssri's, and taking a low dose of an atypical antipsychotic (that sounded pretty extreme to me at first, but it was fine). i'm finally getting a hint of what it's like to feel calm. my coping skills have improved, as have my sleep patterns.
>
> please note - i'm not *at all* saying that you were improperly diagnosed. i'm only relating what happened to me; even though i personally suspect it may be a more common scenario than many people realize. bipolar II can be particulary tricky and easily missed, especially by a gp who may not be able to evaluate you properly.
>
> btw, i'm still with my gp and i don't blame her for missing it; especially considering how i hid things so well from everyone, even myself!
>
> by all means, continue to give the lexapro a chance. i just wanted to offer up a thought to consider if it doesn't work out for you. good luck!
Posted by Sabina on August 23, 2003, at 13:38:48
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell » Sabina, posted by galkeepinon on August 23, 2003, at 12:38:30
i purposely left out mentioning my med before. i didn't want to come across as a fanatic with a misdiagnosis agenda.
the short answer: i am currently taking seroquel, 50mg b.i.d. i also have .05mg xanax to take p.r.n.
the long answer: my early (i mean *early*) morning dose helps me get a few extra hours of sleep, while my evening dose allows me to have a chilled out evening. that is to say, i do still have a small amount of drowsiness. if i have a very busy day and can't afford the drowsiness, i change to four 25mg doses. the single side effect has certainly been bearable with this workaround and has diminished over time.
the rest of the time, i am *much* better than i've ever been, even as a child! gone are the racing thoughts, fear, insomnia, worry, nervousness, crying jags, etc. i've even stopped planning my suicide.
my pdoc has mentioned a desire to add a mood stabilizer. i have decided that i want to wait on that as long as i'm having such great results with what i'm doing now, though i won't rule it out for the future.
Posted by lost on August 23, 2003, at 16:24:46
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell » lost, posted by Mariposa on August 22, 2003, at 18:59:00
thank alot for every one input .I tried taking 5 mg instead of 10 before i went to bed and had a little better luck. I still dont know for sure if i really sleep it has kinda been of a blur of being awake or asleep a night,and i woke up with a anxiety atack. but over all the lower dose was better.I cant wait till all the side efects are gone and it makes it all worth it
Posted by lost on August 23, 2003, at 16:37:34
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell, posted by Sabina on August 22, 2003, at 14:23:49
im glad to hear you are doing better. One of my family members is bipolar so i some what under stand what you are going thru and how easily it is misdignosed. and all docs dont relize they are only humen and miss stuff to the first the a told my doctor that my heart felt like it was going to jump out of my chest and i would get sorth of breath and my mind would go a mile a minute he said i might have a heart problem.All it is is axiety attacks. as for taking the lexapro i believe in time i will fell better till then i will just kinda feel like a space cadet. lift off
> this may or may not help you, but it's worth mentioning because it made such a difference to me.
>
> i was in a similar situation, having tried every ssri on the market since they first came out. i had variable, negative side effects with all of them and came extremely close to taking my life. most recently i was on a low dose of lexapro, which i stuck with for over six weeks, as i was instructed. both my gp and therapist said they'd *never* seen anyone have any se's from lex, which nearly sent me over the edge because i knew what was happening to me was real *and* very bad.
>
> that's when i found this board and at least got some validation and support. it was also at that point that i began to take a hard look at myself. i just thought i was nervous and moody. turns out, there were a lot of behaviors with which i was coping, hiding, and diminishing the importance.
>
> to my own surprise, i began to feel that i might be a misdiagnosed bipolar II. i did some research, saw my first ever pdoc, then my therapist, who both agreed that might be the problem.
>
> today i am finally properly diagnosed, off ssri's, and taking a low dose of an atypical antipsychotic (that sounded pretty extreme to me at first, but it was fine). i'm finally getting a hint of what it's like to feel calm. my coping skills have improved, as have my sleep patterns.
>
> please note - i'm not *at all* saying that you were improperly diagnosed. i'm only relating what happened to me; even though i personally suspect it may be a more common scenario than many people realize. bipolar II can be particulary tricky and easily missed, especially by a gp who may not be able to evaluate you properly.
>
> btw, i'm still with my gp and i don't blame her for missing it; especially considering how i hid things so well from everyone, even myself!
>
> by all means, continue to give the lexapro a chance. i just wanted to offer up a thought to consider if it doesn't work out for you. good luck!
Posted by galkeepinon on August 23, 2003, at 20:43:59
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell » galkeepinon, posted by Sabina on August 23, 2003, at 13:38:48
Gosh Sabina~sounds great! Are you gaining any weight on the Seroquel 50mg twice a day? I'm glad you're doing good~sounds like you know your limits with the mood stabilizer too.
Take care of yourself:-)> i purposely left out mentioning my med before. i didn't want to come across as a fanatic with a misdiagnosis agenda.
>
> the short answer: i am currently taking seroquel, 50mg b.i.d. i also have .05mg xanax to take p.r.n.
>
> the long answer: my early (i mean *early*) morning dose helps me get a few extra hours of sleep, while my evening dose allows me to have a chilled out evening. that is to say, i do still have a small amount of drowsiness. if i have a very busy day and can't afford the drowsiness, i change to four 25mg doses. the single side effect has certainly been bearable with this workaround and has diminished over time.
>
> the rest of the time, i am *much* better than i've ever been, even as a child! gone are the racing thoughts, fear, insomnia, worry, nervousness, crying jags, etc. i've even stopped planning my suicide.
>
> my pdoc has mentioned a desire to add a mood stabilizer. i have decided that i want to wait on that as long as i'm having such great results with what i'm doing now, though i won't rule it out for the future.
>
>
Posted by hog80ci on August 24, 2003, at 13:54:27
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell » lost, posted by galkeepinon on August 23, 2003, at 12:35:22
I sure am glad I checked in today. This is exactly what's happening to me. I started 10 mg on Weds or thurs of last week. Can't remember. Feel like I am coming apart at the seams right now. Racing thoughts that play over and over and over. I can't stand it. This is exactly why I take meds in the first place. To stop the monkey mind. It helps to read that this will pass. I might have to get a mouth guard too. I didn't think I was clenching at night but my jaws are killing me today.
My thanks to all of you.
jim
Posted by Treb on August 24, 2003, at 23:31:58
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell, posted by hog80ci on August 24, 2003, at 13:54:27
I'm on day 10 and my jaws seem to be letting up a bit. I take Trazadone 50 mg as needed for sleep and I think it is helping with the involuntary clenching during sleep. I hope it gets better for you. I seem to feel better every day now!
Thanks, Treb
Posted by McPac on August 24, 2003, at 23:35:27
In reply to Re: first day on lexapro/hell, posted by Sabina on August 22, 2003, at 14:23:49
Hi Sabina,
What SPECIFIC symptoms were you having to the various anti-dep's that SIGNALED that you were bipolar?
Thanks!!!
Posted by Sabina on August 25, 2003, at 1:08:48
In reply to Sabina, Re: first day on lexapro/hell, posted by McPac on August 24, 2003, at 23:35:27
i don't believe i said that i was having specific symptoms to the various antidepressants that signaled that i was bipolar. i don't even know if that's a pharmacological possibilty.
however, if i did give that impression then i apologize. i hope the use of all caps was only for emphasis and didn't indicate a confrontational tone/yelling. if so, i certainly didn't intend to upset you or anyone else.i only know that it was my prolonged, dreadful side effects that led me to seek a more comprehensive diagnosis to problems that were becoming completely untenable and life threatening. i wouldn't even say that i was misdiagnosed so much as i and my health care providers simply *missed* the diagnosis.
to clarify, the "various antidepressants" were comprised *only* of ssri's, specifically prozac, paxil, zoloft, and lexapro. i had no difficulty, neither did i experience much relief, on elavil, etc.
i had also taken my fair share of benzodiazepines and painkillers. i liked ultram for anxiety, but i found it to be a very temporary fix. (however, i do have one family member who has had great success with it for emotional issues.)
anyway, i had all of the typical awful side effects from the ssri's, including dizziness, somnolence, nausea, sweating, too many to even list. they *did not* abate over time, even at a low dose. worst of all was depersonalization and racing thoughts that were extreme and completely disabling.
what i did say about that time was this:
>>>it was also at that point that i began to take a hard look at myself. i just thought i was nervous and moody. turns out, there were a lot of behaviors with which i was coping, hiding, and diminishing the importance. to my own surprise, i began to feel that i might be a misdiagnosed bipolar II.<<<
i was in the midst of a serious phyical illness that caused me to lose my job. pain, insomnia, and stress exacerbated what i had previously characterized as anxiety or nervousness to a point where i couldn't handle things without medication.
as i now understand bipolar II, i can see not only an accurate portrait of myself (barring a few tendencies that don't fit), but also my maternal grandfather. he managed to cover his symptoms his entire life, as i might have done had it not been for my physical illness.
i am still quite happy on seroquel. i cannot tell you the difference that this drug has made in my quality of life. again, i'm not saying that it's for everyone, but i would feel wrong about not mentioning it in the hopes that another person might be spared some of the pain i've experienced.
i hope this very wordy answer to a very brief question wasn't too annoying for you. ;)
Posted by McPac on August 25, 2003, at 1:41:57
In reply to Re: missed diagnosis - bipolar II and ssri's » McPac, posted by Sabina on August 25, 2003, at 1:08:48
"i hope the use of all caps was only for emphasis"
>>>>>>> Yes, that was all that was for, lol.
Sometimes when a bipolar is mistaken for a unipolar they may be put only on AD's---which only exacerbate their problems. The resulting reaction can (may) signal that the person may be bipolar instead.
Posted by Sabina on August 25, 2003, at 2:13:51
In reply to Sabin, : missed diagnosis - bipolar II and ssri's, posted by McPac on August 25, 2003, at 1:41:57
re: all caps. i referred to another post of yours and kinda figured that. i was worried i'd gotten someone ticked off!
re: uni or bipolar and AD's. y'know, i think that my pdoc said something along those lines to me. god, do i wish it hadn't taken so many years to get on the right track. at least i am now, right? thanks for that information.
bina
Posted by galkeepinon on August 25, 2003, at 2:16:02
In reply to Re: thanks! » McPac, posted by Sabina on August 25, 2003, at 2:13:51
Are you gaining any weight on the Seroquel 50mg twice a day? I wasn't sure if you missed my post???:(
> re: all caps. i referred to another post of yours and kinda figured that. i was worried i'd gotten someone ticked off!
>
> re: uni or bipolar and AD's. y'know, i think that my pdoc said something along those lines to me. god, do i wish it hadn't taken so many years to get on the right track. at least i am now, right? thanks for that information.
>
> bina
Posted by Sabina on August 25, 2003, at 2:46:24
In reply to Sabina it's gal....... » Sabina, posted by galkeepinon on August 25, 2003, at 2:16:02
sorry, i did miss your post somehow. i *need* this med, and i don't plan on stopping over vanity. i'm scared to actually weigh myself, but i'm pretty sure i've gained a bit. actually, i'm more of the mind that it's a leftover effect from the lexapro. i was so nuts on it that i couldn't handle anything. i haven't been driving on the seroquel until i felt safe to do so, but i do plan to get back into my normal gym schedule this week. i'm looking forward to it.
good luck to you as well. :)
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