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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Impermanence on April 29, 2004, at 20:21:45
I've been taking antidepressants and benzodiazepines for about a year and a half. First Effexor which made me feel very agitated, then Zispin which never got a chance to work because of my relapse on alcohol and class a drugs. Now I'm sober and clean after a major overdose I've been put on Lexapro (10mg) to help me out of this never ending cycle of depression and fear. I'm not expecting much from this drug for a few weeks yet but I really dident expect to be sitting on the toilet for two hours on my first day along with a nasty headache and nausea all day. Has anybody else had this problem with Lexapro? If so will it last much longer? I never felt this bad starting on Effexor or Zispin.
Posted by shadows721 on April 29, 2004, at 20:34:23
In reply to First day on Lexapro - diarrhea, nausea, headache., posted by Impermanence on April 29, 2004, at 20:21:45
I felt really bad for about the 3 weeks.
Posted by Impermanence on April 29, 2004, at 21:17:59
In reply to Re: First day on Lexapro - diarrhea, nausea, headache., posted by shadows721 on April 29, 2004, at 20:34:23
"I felt really bad for about the 3 weeks."
I better stock up on toilet roll then!!!!
Posted by shadows721 on April 29, 2004, at 22:21:27
In reply to Re: First day on Lexapro - diarrhea, nausea, headache., posted by Impermanence on April 29, 2004, at 21:17:59
I felt tired and like I was going to throw up any minute. I lost some weight, because of that. The diarrhea past quickly. If you can take Imodium, I would. You don't want your electrolytes to get out of wack. The headaches come and go. Each week got better. The sexual side effects kicked in on day 3 - no orgasm. I was so messed up with depression that I just had to tolerate those awful side effects. I remember having to eat dry foods a lot too.
Posted by Scott in Vermont on April 30, 2004, at 7:51:46
In reply to First day on Lexapro - diarrhea, nausea, headache., posted by Impermanence on April 29, 2004, at 20:21:45
Impermanence-
Go to a health food store and pick up a supplement that has acidophilus in it. It (should) greatly help your diarrhea situation. I was already taking it before I started Lexapro, and only dealt with that side effect for a day or so.
Nausea still hits me now and then, usually in the morning within 15 minutes of getting up. It's messed up my workout schedule more than once. I haven't found a way to deal with that one yet.
When I first started the Lexapro, my depression and anxiety actually became much worse. I spent a couple of days leaving work early and going home because I was a complete mess. After about a week I was feeling a bit better, at least the feelings I had were manageable.
I started feeling "level" around my 3rd week, and after more than a month, I feel "normal" again, meaning I feel emotions and I have reactions, but nothing is so devastating that I want to run and hide or do other things. I feel it, I face it, and then I drive on.
The headaches are manageable, watch for jaw clenching. I got around that by chewing gum all the time. If I'm actively chewing something, I'm not all locked up.
Lexapro has helped me a lot. I know it's not for everyone, but it's been good for me. I really hope you find that it works for you, you've been on the meds merry-go-round a lot it seems. I know how much that sucks, been there. I'm really happy to have finally found something that is doing what it is supposed to do and hasn't made my life worse with the side effects.
Last note- sexual side effects. It takes longer to get "there", but it still happens for me and I find I appreciate them a lot more now. I guess its perception.
Posted by Jefferson_girl on April 30, 2004, at 15:32:42
In reply to First day on Lexapro - diarrhea, nausea, headache., posted by Impermanence on April 29, 2004, at 20:21:45
Hi-
Yesterday was my first day on Lexapro, too. I tossed and turned all night and just lay there feeling anxious. This morning I felt very nauseous and I threw up. It is even more depressing to feel this bad - it further isolates me from the world. Being nauseous is tough to take.I took Prozac for about 1.5 years and it worked for me, but I had to take other meds to sleep. That's all fine - but i did the classic thing I never should have done - I decided to quit without talking to my doctor, and now, 4 months later, and back at the very bottom.
He prescribed Lexapro because it is "well-tolerated." I'm hoping I will get past this sick feeling soon. I'm a disaster if I cant get enough sleep.
I have read hundreds of your posts - thanks to everyone for being supportive and helpful.
Jefferson
Posted by Impermanence on May 1, 2004, at 0:16:55
In reply to First day on Lexapro - diarrhea, nausea, headache., posted by Impermanence on April 29, 2004, at 20:21:45
Thank you for your input guys, I feel much better today actually. And scott; "I feel it, I face it, and then I drive on" <<< gives me alot of hope.
Posted by Jefferson_girl on May 1, 2004, at 7:07:51
In reply to Re: First day on Lexapro - diarrhea, nausea, headache., posted by Impermanence on May 1, 2004, at 0:16:55
I am still very nauseous and couldn't sleep much. Also vomited again - maybe Lexapro just isn't right for me? How long do you think I should give it? Thanks for any advice.
Posted by Underhill on May 2, 2004, at 7:03:18
In reply to Re: second day not so good either, posted by Jefferson_girl on May 1, 2004, at 7:07:51
Hi Jefferson_girl (and others),
from what I've heard, it seems that it may take anywhere between 1-3 weeks for the unpleasant initial side effects of Lexapro to subside. Since it takes about 2-4 weeks for the drug to really start working, you're bound to feel miserable for a while. Fun, or what? ;)
If the side effects are really bothersome, it may help to start slowly. For example, take just 2.5 mg for a week, then 5 mg for the next, then raise to 7.5 or 10 mg. I did this, and it helped. However, doing this will probably delay the anti-depressant effect as well.
Posted by Jefferson_girl on May 2, 2004, at 14:10:29
In reply to Re: second day not so good either » Jefferson_girl, posted by Underhill on May 2, 2004, at 7:03:18
Thanks, Underhill!
I was really bad off. I read on the web that some research indicates that certain people are genetically predisposed to suffer from side effects. That would be me! Hello! Well, I have decided to go back to prozac. When I took it before, I started it very slowly - 5mg a day for a week, then up, roughly. I am probably being too hasty in giving up on Lexapro, but Prozac never made me vomit, nor did it cause any sexual problems. I've been worried about what I have read about Lexapro and sexual disfunction. Do you have any comment about that?
It is so hard to put up with being so sick when I am already so down and depressed and sad and lonely. It is hard enough to go out and face the world when you are physically ok. When nauseous and sleepless, it is infinitely harder.
It helps to know others are getting through it.
JG
Posted by Underhill on May 2, 2004, at 16:15:28
In reply to Re: Thanks for the help, Underhill, posted by Jefferson_girl on May 2, 2004, at 14:10:29
Sorry to hear that you're having so much trouble with Lexapro. Yes, it may be a good idea to go back to Prozac if that has worked for you before.
My understanding is that Lexapro (escitalopram) is the most potent and selective SSRI on the market. Its mechanism of action is the same as Prozac's and other SSRI's, but because of its potency, lower doses are sufficient (usually 10 mg a day).
I would guess that Prozac has been easier on you because of its significantly longer half-life, 4-16 days, compared to Lexapro's 20 hours. Prozac accumulates in your system very slowly; it may take about a month to reach steady state, whereas with Lexapro it only takes about a week. The converse applies, too: Prozac takes about a month to wash out from your system after you've stopped taking it. To get the same gentle effect with Lexapro (or any other new med), you have to raise the dosage very gradually over several weeks when starting, and taper off in the same way.
About sexual dysfunction... I don't think there is much statistical difference between SSRI's in that regard; they all tend to kill your libido (and/or orgasm) because they stimulate the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. However, people still respond differently to different meds. Some seem to have no sexual side effects whatsoever with Lexapro, but for others it completely kills their libido. Ditto for Prozac. You just have to experiment with different meds and dosages, or try augmentation with Wellbutrin, for instance. Again if Prozac works for you, it's probably best to go with it.
For me, Lexapro definitely suppresses libido, but not too much on lower doses.
Yes, I understand how terrible it is being sick from side effects AND depressed! That was the case for me too for about 2-3 months ago. I tried Remeron, Luvox and Lexapro, and had pretty bad side effects from all of them. Most of the time I felt like a zombie, and totally hated it. I was ashamed of seeing people (like I imagine you are), since I was not only depressed, but looked and felt drugged as well.
Eventually I settled on a very low dose (2.5 mg a day) of Lexapro. The low dose causes little side effects, but still helps keep me from falling back to depression. I started therapy as well, which has been very helpful. Life actually feels pretty enjoyable and meaningful again (a big change from some months ago!).
When you're depressed, it's very difficult to see any hope. Like you said, it helps to know that others are getting through it. Although it feels bad now, and may for some time, it will not be like that forever. You will make it eventually!
- Underhill
Posted by Jefferson_girl on May 2, 2004, at 18:52:30
In reply to Re: Thanks for the help, Underhill » Jefferson_girl, posted by Underhill on May 2, 2004, at 16:15:28
Here is a very helpful post by Underhill on some of the differences between Prozac and Lexapro. Very well written, also! Thanks, Underhill.
> Sorry to hear that you're having so much trouble with Lexapro. Yes, it may be a good idea to go back to Prozac if that has worked for you before.
>
> My understanding is that Lexapro (escitalopram) is the most potent and selective SSRI on the market. Its mechanism of action is the same as Prozac's and other SSRI's, but because of its potency, lower doses are sufficient (usually 10 mg a day).
>
> I would guess that Prozac has been easier on you because of its significantly longer half-life, 4-16 days, compared to Lexapro's 20 hours. Prozac accumulates in your system very slowly; it may take about a month to reach steady state, whereas with Lexapro it only takes about a week. The converse applies, too: Prozac takes about a month to wash out from your system after you've stopped taking it. To get the same gentle effect with Lexapro (or any other new med), you have to raise the dosage very gradually over several weeks when starting, and taper off in the same way.
>
> About sexual dysfunction... I don't think there is much statistical difference between SSRI's in that regard; they all tend to kill your libido (and/or orgasm) because they stimulate the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. However, people still respond differently to different meds. Some seem to have no sexual side effects whatsoever with Lexapro, but for others it completely kills their libido. Ditto for Prozac. You just have to experiment with different meds and dosages, or try augmentation with Wellbutrin, for instance. Again if Prozac works for you, it's probably best to go with it.
>
> For me, Lexapro definitely suppresses libido, but not too much on lower doses.
>
> Yes, I understand how terrible it is being sick from side effects AND depressed! That was the case for me too for about 2-3 months ago. I tried Remeron, Luvox and Lexapro, and had pretty bad side effects from all of them. Most of the time I felt like a zombie, and totally hated it. I was ashamed of seeing people (like I imagine you are), since I was not only depressed, but looked and felt drugged as well.
>
> Eventually I settled on a very low dose (2.5 mg a day) of Lexapro. The low dose causes little side effects, but still helps keep me from falling back to depression. I started therapy as well, which has been very helpful. Life actually feels pretty enjoyable and meaningful again (a big change from some months ago!).
>
> When you're depressed, it's very difficult to see any hope. Like you said, it helps to know that others are getting through it. Although it feels bad now, and may for some time, it will not be like that forever. You will make it eventually!
>
> - Underhill
>
Posted by KarenRB53 on January 13, 2009, at 15:30:32
In reply to Re: Thanks for the help, Underhill » Jefferson_girl, posted by Underhill on May 2, 2004, at 16:15:28
> Sorry to hear that you're having so much trouble with Lexapro. Yes, it may be a good idea to go back to Prozac if that has worked for you before.
>
> My understanding is that Lexapro (escitalopram) is the most potent and selective SSRI on the market. Its mechanism of action is the same as Prozac's and other SSRI's, but because of its potency, lower doses are sufficient (usually 10 mg a day).
>
> I would guess that Prozac has been easier on you because of its significantly longer half-life, 4-16 days, compared to Lexapro's 20 hours. Prozac accumulates in your system very slowly; it may take about a month to reach steady state, whereas with Lexapro it only takes about a week. The converse applies, too: Prozac takes about a month to wash out from your system after you've stopped taking it. To get the same gentle effect with Lexapro (or any other new med), you have to raise the dosage very gradually over several weeks when starting, and taper off in the same way.
>
> About sexual dysfunction... I don't think there is much statistical difference between SSRI's in that regard; they all tend to kill your libido (and/or orgasm) because they stimulate the 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. However, people still respond differently to different meds. Some seem to have no sexual side effects whatsoever with Lexapro, but for others it completely kills their libido. Ditto for Prozac. You just have to experiment with different meds and dosages, or try augmentation with Wellbutrin, for instance. Again if Prozac works for you, it's probably best to go with it.
>
> For me, Lexapro definitely suppresses libido, but not too much on lower doses.
>
> Yes, I understand how terrible it is being sick from side effects AND depressed! That was the case for me too for about 2-3 months ago. I tried Remeron, Luvox and Lexapro, and had pretty bad side effects from all of them. Most of the time I felt like a zombie, and totally hated it. I was ashamed of seeing people (like I imagine you are), since I was not only depressed, but looked and felt drugged as well.
>
> Eventually I settled on a very low dose (2.5 mg a day) of Lexapro. The low dose causes little side effects, but still helps keep me from falling back to depression. I started therapy as well, which has been very helpful. Life actually feels pretty enjoyable and meaningful again (a big change from some months ago!).
>
> When you're depressed, it's very difficult to see any hope. Like you said, it helps to know that others are getting through it. Although it feels bad now, and may for some time, it will not be like that forever. You will make it eventually!
>
> - Underhill
>Glad I found your posting. I'm going to start Lexapro also and start at 2.5mg daily. Do you take it at night or morning?
Karen
This is the end of the thread.
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