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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 12 of 12. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by spagirlnj on November 5, 2003, at 19:49:36
Hi there. This is my first post. Thanks in advance for your thoughts...
I started Lexapro about 3 months ago. It has been very helpful for dealing with my anxiety. I am less overwhelmed by worrisome, persistent thoughts and generally I feel a greater sense of contentment.
I have also been more focused and i have made major changes - moved out of manhattan, got a new job (both of which, now that they are completed, will help with anxiety a LOT). so - but, it has not been an easy time to make that all happen. but i still feel better since taking the lexapro.
so - here's what i'm wondering. i have a hard time getting up in the morning and therefore haven't been able to go to the gym. i also yawn a lot more during the day. energy is generally good still - but i haven't been able to get to the gym enough b/c i want to sleep more. i now sleep like 8 or 9 hours / day. and i have very intense dreams. my doc said that was normal, and that i sleep more b/c i'm dreaming in REM state more.
in the beginning i didn't have much of an appetite. wish that would come back. :) i'm not sure if the weight gain has come from not going to the gym or the drug. or both (most likely)
fyi - it is slighly harder to orgasm, but since i'm not in a relationship at the moment, it's not the end of the world. in fact. not thinking about sex all the time is a major relief.
feel very good about the results overall - i'd just like to figure out if there are any natural things i can do to:
1) feel able to wake up easier and get to the gym
2) not feel so tired/yawn during the day.thoughts?
thanks!
Posted by bobbiedobbs on November 9, 2003, at 11:19:49
In reply to Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by spagirlnj on November 5, 2003, at 19:49:36
I am also a new lexapro user and my experience largely mirrors yours - except for the weight gain. The biggest problems are nausea and sexual side effects (that being no effects). Did this recede for you over time? And was there any change in your social anxiety level? Thanks. I guess I didn't answer your questions. For tiredness, I drink some coffee (which doesn't help as much as before) and take 10-15 minute power naps. I also take the lex at 6:30 p.m. which seems to help in the daytime.
phil
Posted by spagirlnj on November 9, 2003, at 13:04:55
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by bobbiedobbs on November 9, 2003, at 11:19:49
hi phil. thanks for your response. the nausea passed very early on (after a week). yes, i have had a decreased sex drive - but that is fine with me. And yes, it's harder to climax - but it's not impossible. as my doctor said - you have to work a little hard. :)
yesterday i took it in the evening - and i think that has helped a bit. as i mentioned, i'm speaking to my doctor tomorrow. i've heard that taking wellbutrin in conjunction with lexapro can help alleviate both the sexual side effects and lack of energy - but of course, consult your doc.
social anxiety wasn't an issue for me. mine was more obsessing over things at work, home, etc. (over thinking things, if you will).
i'll see what he says - but honestly, i may have to choose having anxiety over feeling fat. i'm also wondering about the long-term effects of these drugs.
is this really a lifestyle i can sustain?
thanks in advance for anyone's thoughts.
best of luck.
> I am also a new lexapro user and my experience largely mirrors yours - except for the weight gain. The biggest problems are nausea and sexual side effects (that being no effects). Did this recede for you over time? And was there any change in your social anxiety level? Thanks. I guess I didn't answer your questions. For tiredness, I drink some coffee (which doesn't help as much as before) and take 10-15 minute power naps. I also take the lex at 6:30 p.m. which seems to help in the daytime.
> phil
Posted by Youngathart on November 10, 2003, at 8:17:28
In reply to Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by spagirlnj on November 5, 2003, at 19:49:36
Hi, I've been on Lexapro since July. The nausea was the worst of my symptoms until recently. I sleep way too much now, and that sometimes is a problem. I really have a hard time getting up in the morning.
I have trouble with orgasms too. I can...but it takes alot. I'm in a relationship, and thankgoodness he is very understanding.
Do you have any itching from this drug?
Posted by spagirlnj on November 10, 2003, at 21:28:50
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by Youngathart on November 10, 2003, at 8:17:28
hi there. i've been on since july too. the nausea psses after the first week. the last two days i've started taking it at night (like with dinner. -- i'm on 10 mg / day , btw).
it seems to have helped with the sleepiness. tomorrow i'm starting wellbutrin in the AM to try and deal with this lack of energy/weight issue. i can't stand that i've gained weight (i was no twig.. but i went from like an 8/10 to a 10/12).
as for itching - well - it's weird that you ask. i've just noticed this starting. but it happened when i worked out tonight and i thought it was just b/c i hadn't worked out in a while.. but now.. i notice there are some "bite" looking things.
i know, i sound like a nut. :-) sorry. i'm not being psychosematic (sp?).. i'm going to watch on this itching thing.
have you tried anything?
thanks.
> Hi, I've been on Lexapro since July. The nausea was the worst of my symptoms until recently. I sleep way too much now, and that sometimes is a problem. I really have a hard time getting up in the morning.
>
> I have trouble with orgasms too. I can...but it takes alot. I'm in a relationship, and thankgoodness he is very understanding.
>
> Do you have any itching from this drug?
Posted by bobbiedobbs on November 10, 2003, at 23:18:49
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by spagirlnj on November 10, 2003, at 21:28:50
This info sharing is so usefull...
I spoke to my doctor tonight about possibly adding wellbutrin to lexapro for sexual s/e (scary how we all know what s/e stands for) and he absolutely will not consider what he calls "drug cocktails". I too am cautious about multiple meds but believe they can be warranted in certain circumstances. So I am curious what either of you (or other readers) know about Wellbutrin plus Lexapro. My doctor said he would try Wellbutrin alone. Thoughts?
By the way, re the itching, I don't (itch) but I seem to recall seeing this mentioned in other posts. Phil
Posted by panic_attack on November 11, 2003, at 8:58:35
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by spagirlnj on November 10, 2003, at 21:28:50
Hi.. I started taking Lexapro about 2 months ago. I am only on 5 mg cuz I cannot deal with the tiredness. I have a drinking problem and my doc suggested that I combine my Lexapro with Wellbutrin. She said it will help take the drinking urges away as well as give me more energy, etc. So I am going to give it a try. I'll keep you all posted on the s/e's, etc.
Posted by panic_attack on November 11, 2003, at 8:59:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by spagirlnj on November 10, 2003, at 21:28:50
By the way... I also itch like crazy on Lexapro. I keep thinking that maybe there are sand fleas all over me or spiders. Freaky.
Posted by carolee on November 13, 2003, at 9:45:59
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by bobbiedobbs on November 10, 2003, at 23:18:49
i started lexapro about 2 months ago. right away i started to feel better. no OCD thoughts, less anxious/depressed. although the orgasms went along with the sex drive. my doc suggested wellbutrin for the side effects, but i decided to cut my lexapro in half, since i didnt want to take drugs for different SE's. of course cutting my lex., did help, took alittle longer to "get off", but i was still very frustrated by this. i have decided to stop the lexapro, and started:
GABA, insolitol, glutamine, and B6. only on day 2, still anxious, somewhat depressed with some OCD thoughts.
about the itching...my head seemed to be always itchy w/lexapro.
has anyone switched from the medical route to a more "natural" route?
Posted by spagirlnj on November 16, 2003, at 6:20:11
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by carolee on November 13, 2003, at 9:45:59
hey there... thank you all for your feedback. i'd like to ask you for any advice you may have... I am going to talk to a doctor this week as well - but here's what has happpened.
last week i started the wellbutrin in the AM (on tuesday) and took my lexapro at night. i ended up having to go to the emergency room, b/c i had a bit of an allergic reaction (my heart was beating fast and the itching was really bad). but i was totally fine.
i just moved, so i'm not near my doctor anymore. plus he's an asshole. so i didn't call him after htat. i'm going to find a local doc.
but the truth is.. i feel like taking a break from all this. it has definitely helped me with my anxiety, and like you caroloee - with less obsessive thoughts, etc.
but i feel like - i have learned what that feels like, and i can control it a bit more now. i'm in such a better place too.. (out of NYC, great new job).
i can always go back and try something else if i feel the anxiety is returning. but i'd like to try some natural methods for a few months. just to clean out the body here.
i started weening off the lexapro (i've only taken like 3 wellbutrin the whole week). so that's fine..
but i'm not sure how to do it. i've skipped a few days now, and had been cutting them in half.
i was on it for 3 1/2 months.
does anyone have any advice/thoughts?
i'm fine - except my dreams are still WACKED... and i have a little itchyness. the second i take any.. i start yawning, etc.
thanks in advance.
Posted by contenta on November 19, 2003, at 19:28:03
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex, posted by spagirlnj on November 16, 2003, at 6:20:11
Hi all,
After many years of fiercely rejecting the idea of taking meds, I have been on Lexapro for three months now; and it has helped a lot with my anxiety. I was feeling EXTREMELY tired so my doc. decided to combine it with wellbutrin. I take wellbutrin LX in the morning and 10mg of lexapro in the evening. I have not experienced the itching that you mentioned, however everything else mirrors your experiences. Wellbutrin helped the first few days, but it is not helping that much after day 10... I am a bit concerned since my sex drive is completley gone! I have a boyfriend and we haven't been close in more than a month, I can't even THINK of sexual things... it's almost as if I feel repulsed with the idea and too tired to even try something to figure it out. Has anyone have such a negative sexual s/e experience? And if so, what can one do about it? Wellbutrin was supposed to help with this, but didn't ;-(
Thank you!
Posted by spagirlnj on November 23, 2003, at 7:53:55
In reply to Re: Lexapro, sleep, weight, and sex » spagirlnj, posted by contenta on November 19, 2003, at 19:28:03
Hello. sorry for the delay in getting in touch. i understand your frustration. i did have sexual side effects - but not too bad. meaning - it was just a little harder to climax. but that went away. i've heard the wellbutrin will help with that.
glad you did not have the itching.
on a positive note - i've been off any medication for almost 2 weeks, and i'm feeling good. i really learned a lot about managing my anxiety while on lexapro. it did a lot to show me what it even felt like to not have as many "racing" thoughts. and identify moments that were anxiety drivin. my case is mild - and i know i'll always have to stay on top of it. mostly i will catch myself overthinking a past conversation or a future one.. and have trouble falling asleep and wake up with "stress" (and sometimes even teeth grinding). but i think i'm doing a good job of managing through with some cognitive skills.
i resisted meds too. i'm glad i went on lexapro. and i may go back, depending - but so much in my life has changed (new job, location (not NYC), living in my own place.. etc). that i felt i had to take a baseline and see what would happen.
all we can do is stay on top of it, and have faith that things will all be fine. good luck to you.
> Hi all,
>
> After many years of fiercely rejecting the idea of taking meds, I have been on Lexapro for three months now; and it has helped a lot with my anxiety. I was feeling EXTREMELY tired so my doc. decided to combine it with wellbutrin. I take wellbutrin LX in the morning and 10mg of lexapro in the evening. I have not experienced the itching that you mentioned, however everything else mirrors your experiences. Wellbutrin helped the first few days, but it is not helping that much after day 10... I am a bit concerned since my sex drive is completley gone! I have a boyfriend and we haven't been close in more than a month, I can't even THINK of sexual things... it's almost as if I feel repulsed with the idea and too tired to even try something to figure it out. Has anyone have such a negative sexual s/e experience? And if so, what can one do about it? Wellbutrin was supposed to help with this, but didn't ;-(
>
> Thank you!
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