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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 14 of 14. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by megj on October 13, 2005, at 16:36:14
I was on Lexapro for over two years and did extremely well on it. No side effects except for a little weight gain. My regular doctor (not the doc who prescribed it)suggested I come off it slowly and I did thinking I was better and didn't need it anymore. That was 10 months ago. The withdrawal was tough to say the least and I felt my depression coming back within the first month or so off Lexapro. I stayed off hoping I would do better. I lost 20 pounds off an already petite frame. I became agitated and started crying every day like the old days.
This weekend was the last straw and I made the decision to go back on Lexapro. I saw my regular doctor on Monday and took my first dose. Well, this has been hell so far. My anxiety is through the roof. I'm still just as depressed if not more so than before. I'm taking xanax twice a day which helps but also makes me a zombie and I can't do much. I haven't worked all week. I cannot eat which I really need to before I shrivel up to nothing. I'm in grad school and have midterms next week for which I can't imagine being able to study for. I called the psychiatrist who put me on Lexapro two years ago and told him the story and he said it was "odd" for me to be having this reaction. He didn't want me to stop taking it but suggested I double my xanax until he can see me on Monday. My lexapro dose is at 10mg which I took for three days except today I took only 5mg.
How long does this start up anxiety take to go away? And is it possible that I may no longer respond to it like I used to? I could kick myself in the rear for going off Lex to begin with.
Just as a side note, I'm a pack a day smoker and have tried quitting more times than I can count. Eversince I took my first dose of Lex on Monday, I can't even look at a cigarette. So I might be complicating this whole thing with nicotine withdrawal. I tried smoking a couple times to take the edge off but the opposite happens and it sends me into a major panic melt down. I have never felt this disabled before in my life. Very out of control and scared that I won't get better. Please share anything you think might help.
Posted by CK1 on October 13, 2005, at 17:56:07
In reply to Lexapro start up, posted by megj on October 13, 2005, at 16:36:14
Meg,
This is a question that has come up a lot in recent years. I've read so many stories about people doing well on an SSRI for years and stopping it (thinking they are better) only to go back on and it doesn't work the second time around or they have much more side effects than the first time. It's VERY common and I don't have a solid answer for you. I would stick with it a few more days at least and see if things improve. Based on my experience, if the first few weeks of trying an SSRI are bad (meaning the SSRI causes intense anxiety/depression) things are not going to get better. Sure, there is the 3-4 week adjustment period, but the adjustment period should not be "horrible." If it is, your bodies telling you something. A lot of people on this board starting SSRI's complain about having severely increased anxiety/depression the first few weeks and try to "stick it out". They believe you have to get worse before you get better so to speak. I don't necessarily believe this is true............
Anyway, I guess I didn't help much. Just wanted to say that what you're experience is VERY COMMON and I wish there was more research on it. Also, on a different note, I think the "Poop Out" phenomenon should be studied intensely. These SSRI's stop working for soo many people. Whoever could find out why would be a very rich person!
Posted by maddy4 on October 13, 2005, at 19:23:38
In reply to Re: Lexapro start up, posted by CK1 on October 13, 2005, at 17:56:07
hey - im going through the EXACT same thing. except this is my 1st time on an ssri in 12 years. look above and read all of my posts on lex. i am having HEINOUS start up effects. i finally got klonopin and xan as needed and am much better now. im taking it for anxiety/panic (no depression) i was only taking 2.5 mg for 11 days - but just upped it to 5mg past 3 days. hope this helps. my anxiety was thru the roof and i was getting agoraphobic since STARTING the lex - until i added the klonopin
Posted by denise1966 on October 14, 2005, at 6:55:57
In reply to Re: Lexapro start up, posted by maddy4 on October 13, 2005, at 19:23:38
Hi
I totally agree with CK1, I stupidly came off Seroxat 8 years ago, 3 years later depression started again and I started Seroxat only to have horrendous side effects. I never had those side effects before.
Anyway two years down the line after trying lots of different ADs and combinations to no avail I tried going on Seroxat at a higher dose. This time strangely I had no side effects apart from a rough couple of days to begin with and they started to work but never like they had in the past.
Now the Seroxat has stopped working and I have a feeling I'm going to have to rely on Antipsychotics.
However, if I were you I wouldn't give up just yet. Years ago, over 10 years ago I came off Seroxat and went back on it, had the anxiety affects but it seemed to work out ok in the end.
You never really can tell.
But I def think they should be doing a study on why this happens and I can't believe your Doc was suprised that you were having these bad affects, where does he/she live, in cloud cuckoo land????
All the best
Denise
Posted by Glydin on October 14, 2005, at 8:20:10
In reply to Lexapro start up, posted by megj on October 13, 2005, at 16:36:14
The startup stuff was really rough for me and I just looked at it as part of the process. It was difficult for me as there were factors at play that included the action of the med itself and the fact my own anxiety made med startups very difficult. Within about 2 weeks all was getting better and gradually over 4-6 weeks I got max benefits. Klonopin really helped during the startup and now, I rarely use it.
Lex has been great for me. It was my first time on it but it was not my first SSRI experience. Lex has been good for me for depression and anxiety.
I hope it will kickin again for you.
Posted by Joslynn on October 14, 2005, at 9:46:10
In reply to Lexapro start up, posted by megj on October 13, 2005, at 16:36:14
Thanks for sharing your story.I am on Lex and I have heard that for some, there is startup anxiety that goes away eventually.
I don't know the answer, but one thing I did want to say is...please, can you not beat yourself up and want to "kick yourself" for going off of it? You meant not harm to yourself, you had a doc telling you it would be ok...I just think that with all you are going through, if you can just forgive yourself for that decision, it may help? You made the decision in good faith, with what you thought was good advisement. Now the question is, what can you do next without beating yourself up for the past. (I know that is easier said than done, because when I am depressed, I want to beat myself up for everything, including world famine, hurricanes, etc!)
Did you post say you are seeing someone different now? Maybe a pdoc instead of a GP.
Posted by Joslynn on October 14, 2005, at 9:50:34
In reply to Lexapro start up, posted by megj on October 13, 2005, at 16:36:14
Oh, I just reread your post and I see it has only been five days back on the Lex. That's probably not enough time to figure out whether or not it is working again. I know that if you were taking it for the first time, it could take several weeks or even a month or more to work. So, can you try to hold out to give it more time?
Also, if you can't smoke, what about the nic patch, just so that you aren't going through the nic withdrawal at the same time as starting up a med that could cause initial anxiety? That just seems like a lot for your system to handle at once. Then later, when you are feeling better, you can try quitting the nicotine.
Posted by SLS on October 14, 2005, at 11:40:32
In reply to Re: Lexapro start up, posted by Joslynn on October 14, 2005, at 9:50:34
> Oh, I just reread your post and I see it has only been five days back on the Lex. That's probably not enough time to figure out whether or not it is working again. I know that if you were taking it for the first time, it could take several weeks or even a month or more to work. So, can you try to hold out to give it more time?
>
> Also, if you can't smoke, what about the nic patch, just so that you aren't going through the nic withdrawal at the same time as starting up a med that could cause initial anxiety? That just seems like a lot for your system to handle at once. Then later, when you are feeling better, you can try quitting the nicotine.
Good advice!Anxiety is definitely a startup side effect of Lexapro that usually disappears by the third week. It might take as long as 4 weeks at the right dosage of Lexapro before you respond again. It is difficult to predict how you will respond to this drug after only 4 days.
- Scott
Posted by megj on October 14, 2005, at 11:45:04
In reply to Re: I totally agree with CK1, posted by denise1966 on October 14, 2005, at 6:55:57
Well, this morning I woke up feeling semi human only to feel shaky, weird and nauseated about 15 minutes later. I thought it was anxiety revving up so I took .25 xanax which helped relax me within 30 to 45 minutes. Then that turned into feeling stoned and apathetic. I'm starting to worry that I'm getting addicted to the benzo. The shaky weird feeling was similar to a hangover or better yet like morning sickness for those of you who can relate to what that feels like. i just took 5 mg of Lex and praying for the best.
I hate feeling like a space cadet. Like I'm either a complete ball of anxiety or totally out of it and wanting only to sleep. Not being able to eat has got me pretty worried too. I feel hungry but have no appetite if that makes any sense.
Posted by Golf4 on October 15, 2005, at 9:18:17
In reply to Re: Lexapro start up, posted by SLS on October 14, 2005, at 11:40:32
> > Oh, I just reread your post and I see it has only been five days back on the Lex. That's probably not enough time to figure out whether or not it is working again. I know that if you were taking it for the first time, it could take several weeks or even a month or more to work. So, can you try to hold out to give it more time?
> >
> > Also, if you can't smoke, what about the nic patch, just so that you aren't going through the nic withdrawal at the same time as starting up a med that could cause initial anxiety? That just seems like a lot for your system to handle at once. Then later, when you are feeling better, you can try quitting the nicotine.
>
>
> Good advice!
>
> Anxiety is definitely a startup side effect of Lexapro that usually disappears by the third week. It might take as long as 4 weeks at the right dosage of Lexapro before you respond again. It is difficult to predict how you will respond to this drug after only 4 days.
>
>
> - ScottI agree with Scott ; to encourage you please note that after a while(after you got used to this med)it becomes also an excellent anxiolitic ; peculiar but very true.So,give the drug a chance and ease yourself augmenting for a while with Clonazepam etc.Talk with your doc
Posted by Glydin on October 15, 2005, at 20:48:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro start up, posted by Golf4 on October 15, 2005, at 9:18:17
>it becomes also an excellent anxiolitic ; peculiar but very true..
That is very true. I never thought I would ever be without daily use of Klonopin. Since on Lex, I very rarely require it. I have been unusually pleased.
Posted by ravenstorm on October 18, 2005, at 9:20:07
In reply to Re: Lexapro start up, posted by Glydin on October 15, 2005, at 20:48:40
I too had this happen to me. This isn't just the normal start up anxiety. . .you are having different side effects to a drug you have previously taken after going off of SSRIs.
I went through heinous paxil withdrawal and have not been able to tolerate SSRIs since. A low dose of celexa gave me askasthia. Benzos didn't touch that. I wish this was a more studied phenomenon. That the doctors don't acknowledge this happens to some people is ridiculous. When I was first put on AD's they put me on a full dose all at once, now I can't even handle miniscule amounts.
I feel for you. I am unmedicated presently and desperately need a medication.
Posted by megj on October 23, 2005, at 0:28:14
I posted last week about Lex start up se's. It's been two weeks on Lex 5 mg and Xan 1.5 mg for anxiety.
I've noticed a couple things I could use some feed back on.
First, I've been up and down. One day feeling really really good and the next day like a nervous wreck barely able to function. While the Xan helps with the anxiety, sometimes it takes a long time for it to kick in and when it does, I feel sedated and emotionally numb - making me consider switching to a different benzo.
Next, I've also noticed that I have some mental thought patterns that trigger my anxiety which brought me to the conclusion that I'm doing this to myself and need to find some way or technique to control my anxiety attacks (in addition to meds).
I did see my psychiatrist last Monday (before I noticed this pattern) and he felt I would do better on a different AD and mentioned Remeron.
I didn't want to switch because that day I saw him I was feeling good and thought I would just get better from there - not worse.
I'm not sure why he thought Remeron would be good choice. I didn't think to ask. But after reading so much on this board it seems like there's so much else out there that would be less sedating and faster acting like seroquel or buspar or something. Something that can address the depression and anxiety quickly without going through some funky adjustment period for two months.
My pressing problem at the moment is that I have to go out of town in a month. This includes flying (major panic trigger) and seeing someone I haven't seen in awhile (again, major panic trigger). I'm so afraid that this depression and anxiety is gonna freak me out so bad that I won't go.
I've been in talk therapy before and I'm not opposed to doing again, but if there's something else that can help me get through this upcoming crisis, I'd like to know about it.
I'm going to call my doc again on Monday to tell him what's been happening with me and if I can get some suggestions from here to share with him, I'd appreciate it.Thanks
Meg
Posted by Phillipa on October 23, 2005, at 18:16:34
In reply to Anxiety/depression triggers switching meds to help, posted by megj on October 23, 2005, at 0:28:14
Meg, the only meds I know of that work immediately are the benzos. AD's usually require a few weeks. Fondly, Phillipa
This is the end of the thread.
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