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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 19 of 19. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Franz on March 6, 2012, at 12:29:28
Hello. I am trying escitalopram again but only at 5 mg as I read many people benefit and with the consent of my Dr. I also take 0.25 mg alprazolam at night and want to quit the same dose during the day.
I have noticed side effects: gastric, ears, but the one that worries me is that I feel anxious which. Maybe it is aggravated due to some events. I have taken escitalopram 5 mg for a week. Maybe this side effect passes with time?
Posted by ed_uk2010 on March 6, 2012, at 14:38:24
In reply to Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety?, posted by Franz on March 6, 2012, at 12:29:28
>I have taken escitalopram 5 mg for a week. Maybe this side effect passes with time?
It should pass within 2 weeks.
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2012, at 18:24:56
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety?, posted by ed_uk2010 on March 6, 2012, at 14:38:24
I'd continue with the twice a day low dose benzo. Phillipa
Posted by Franz on March 6, 2012, at 20:17:51
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety?, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2012, at 18:24:56
> I'd continue with the twice a day low dose benzo. Phillipa
Instead of escitalopram? If I remember well you don´t like it, right?
Posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2012, at 21:06:05
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by Franz on March 6, 2012, at 20:17:51
Yes is this lexapro? As get the two generic names mixed up am currently taking 2.5-5mg of lexapro namebrand with the 50mg of luvox and keep lowering dose of benzos. Don't really notice much with meds anymore. Strange as in the past I'd get horrible side effects? Phillipa no the ad twice a day though the benzo
Posted by Franz on March 7, 2012, at 9:11:32
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Franz, posted by Phillipa on March 6, 2012, at 21:06:05
> Yes is this lexapro? As get the two generic names mixed up am currently taking 2.5-5mg of lexapro namebrand with the 50mg of luvox and keep lowering dose of benzos. Don't really notice much with meds anymore. Strange as in the past I'd get horrible side effects? Phillipa no the ad twice a day though the benzo
Yes, Lexapro is a brand of escitalopram. So you say keep the twice a day benzo with the escitalopram?. I would like to quit at least the morning benzo.
After 2 hours I feel the effect of escitalopram: sweat, ear pressure which then subside. I hope it does not make my tinnitus worse like fluoxetine, but any med messes with it.
Posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2012, at 9:48:27
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by Franz on March 7, 2012, at 9:11:32
I take it at bedtime feel not a thing? Used to have side effects none now. Tinnitus also? Have you seen an ENT for this? Why do SSRI's cause tinnitus? Maybe these meds are not as benign as we think? I've always trusted the benzos probably because year ago they did make me well from panic way before SSRI'S were released. Phillipa
Posted by Franz on March 7, 2012, at 9:58:11
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Franz, posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2012, at 9:48:27
> I take it at bedtime feel not a thing? Used to have side effects none now. Tinnitus also? Have you seen an ENT for this? Why do SSRI's cause tinnitus? Maybe these meds are not as benign as we think? I've always trusted the benzos probably because year ago they did make me well from panic way before SSRI'S were released. Phillipa
Yes I went to the Dr and and told me I was not the only one with tinnitus due to fluoxetine. I don´t think in my case they it causes it, but aggravates it, like any stimulant or noise exposure. Strange because I googled and I read about the use of SSRI for tinnitus treatment, maybe it is for the anxiety it produces and for people who tolerate them well. I hope the problems with escitalopram pass.
Yes, benzos are of great help.
Posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2012, at 19:02:07
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by Franz on March 7, 2012, at 9:58:11
Franz me also so prozac was the culprit? Will also have to google. Phillipa
Posted by Franz on March 7, 2012, at 19:31:14
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Franz, posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2012, at 19:02:07
> Franz me also so prozac was the culprit? Will also have to google. Phillipa
Yes, Prozac aggravated my tinnitus and the Dr had other patients with the same problem. After I quit Prozac the tinnitus went down so I did not take the mediation for tinnitus. I hope the 5 mg escitalopram have a milder effect.
Posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2012, at 21:07:07
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety?, posted by Franz on March 7, 2012, at 19:31:14
What med did you take for tinnitus and did it work? Phillipa
Posted by Franz on March 8, 2012, at 10:38:41
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Franz, posted by Phillipa on March 7, 2012, at 21:07:07
> What med did you take for tinnitus and did it work? Phillipa
I did not have to take it as after quitting Prozac the tinnitus diminished.
This is the drug the Dr uses:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trimetazidine
Posted by Phillipa on March 8, 2012, at 19:18:02
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Phillipa, posted by Franz on March 8, 2012, at 10:38:41
I have heard that before that prozac can cause tinnitis. Glad it went away when you stopped the med. Interesting that a cardiac would be used for tinnitis? Phillipa
Posted by bleauberry on March 9, 2012, at 14:02:01
In reply to Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety?, posted by Franz on March 6, 2012, at 12:29:28
Increased anxiety is a common side effect of start-up ssris such as lexapro. It usually fades into calmness but takes weeks and months to do that. I don't completely buy into the theory of neurotransmitter deficiency...partially but not completely...but let's assume for the sake of discussion that it is true and provable fact. It isn't, but just to make a point.... Ok someone has low serotonin and they have depression. Lexapro is immediately going to put a lot of serotonin at the synapse, where there has been a deficiency of it for quite a while. Well, obviously the receptors are going to freak out. The will adjust and adapt, but the sudden surge of serotonin creates some temporary chaos in the circuits.
If it is a big enough problem that you don't think you can endure it to give the med a fair test, then simply lower the dose. It is too high for you right now. Pills can be broken or cut or crushed into whatever size you want. They can be crushed and powdered and stirred into juice or water for accurate dosing of small custom doses. (example...1/4 glass of 5mg lex stirred into it is a dose of 1.25mg.
But only 10mg or higher will work, right? Wrong. My doctor told me stories of some of his patients who did very well on 1mg or less, and those same patients did poorly on regular doses.
In the event that you discovered you are one of those that does better with tiny doses, lexapro makes it easy because it can be prescribed in liquid form.
Anyway, at this point you have 3 choices.
1. Endure it.
2. Lower the dose to where you can endure it, try to increase it later.
3. Take something to help the immediate symptoms. In meds that might mean xanax. In herbs it might mean lemon balm, passionflower, skullcap, valerian.
Posted by Franz on March 9, 2012, at 20:39:55
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety?, posted by bleauberry on March 9, 2012, at 14:02:01
> Increased anxiety is a common side effect of start-up ssris such as lexapro. It usually fades into calmness but takes weeks and months to do that. I don't completely buy into the theory of neurotransmitter deficiency...partially but not completely...but let's assume for the sake of discussion that it is true and provable fact. It isn't, but just to make a point.... Ok someone has low serotonin and they have depression. Lexapro is immediately going to put a lot of serotonin at the synapse, where there has been a deficiency of it for quite a while. Well, obviously the receptors are going to freak out. The will adjust and adapt, but the sudden surge of serotonin creates some temporary chaos in the circuits.
>
> If it is a big enough problem that you don't think you can endure it to give the med a fair test, then simply lower the dose. It is too high for you right now. Pills can be broken or cut or crushed into whatever size you want. They can be crushed and powdered and stirred into juice or water for accurate dosing of small custom doses. (example...1/4 glass of 5mg lex stirred into it is a dose of 1.25mg.
>
> But only 10mg or higher will work, right? Wrong. My doctor told me stories of some of his patients who did very well on 1mg or less, and those same patients did poorly on regular doses.
>
> In the event that you discovered you are one of those that does better with tiny doses, lexapro makes it easy because it can be prescribed in liquid form.
>
> Anyway, at this point you have 3 choices.
> 1. Endure it.
> 2. Lower the dose to where you can endure it, try to increase it later.
> 3. Take something to help the immediate symptoms. In meds that might mean xanax. In herbs it might mean lemon balm, passionflower, skullcap, valerian.Thanks bleauberry, your comment is encouraging. I don´t think my Dr will accept less than 5 mg, he will say it is placebo and that 5 mg is already too low, but maybe one has to lie and take what works even if it is less than the usual dose.
Yes, I take .25 mg alprazolam at night which I think it is the best drug I have taken.
I will endure the 5 mg as much as I can and if I still get side effects (the worse is tinnitus that now is mild but want it to be lower because it scares me)I will cut to 2.5. Maybe it helps with mood and stress at least.
Posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2012, at 23:12:31
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » bleauberry, posted by Franz on March 9, 2012, at 20:39:55
Franz we have the opposite problem I asked to go to 5mg yesterday and was told no to stay at 2.5mg so I would guess my pdoc doesn't feel it's placebo. Or maybe cause also take starting dose of Luvox 50mg. Still very low. But I added back full .25 of xanax and the full l0mg of valium and found less anxiety today. I've always believed in benzos. I thought they had quit working for me but just the addition of a tiny chunk of both restored less anxiety. So if side effects on 5mg 2.5mg with the xanax should work. And don't wosen the tinnitus!!! Phillipa
Posted by Franz on March 10, 2012, at 14:10:56
In reply to Re: Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety? » Franz, posted by Phillipa on March 9, 2012, at 23:12:31
> Franz we have the opposite problem I asked to go to 5mg yesterday and was told no to stay at 2.5mg so I would guess my pdoc doesn't feel it's placebo. Or maybe cause also take starting dose of Luvox 50mg. Still very low. But I added back full .25 of xanax and the full l0mg of valium and found less anxiety today. I've always believed in benzos. I thought they had quit working for me but just the addition of a tiny chunk of both restored less anxiety. So if side effects on 5mg 2.5mg with the xanax should work. And don't wosen the tinnitus!!! Phillipa
Thanks Phillipia, good to know that 2.5 mg escit can have an effect.
Posted by Franz on March 10, 2012, at 17:12:19
In reply to Re: SSRIs and ear problems » Phillipa, posted by Franz on March 10, 2012, at 14:10:56
Posted by jrbecker76 on March 12, 2012, at 11:35:49
In reply to Trying escitalopram at 5 mg caused anxiety?, posted by Franz on March 6, 2012, at 12:29:28
most people find that the start-up anxiety effects on Lexapro pass, but for a minority of people they don't. I was on Celexa (Citalopram) for years and tried switching over to Lexapro on two extended attempts. Unfortunately, I found that the Lex is just too stimulating, causing significant irritability and anxiety. I never had these effects on Citalopram which is why I've stuck with it.
This is the end of the thread.
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