All about Lexapro

Hello everyone. I am new to the group. I was diagnosed with Social
Anxiety Disorder about 6 weeks ago. I was put on Paxil CR and I
gradually made my way up to 50 mg a day. Recently I added Buspar,
15 mg a day. Today my doc told me he was going to put me on Lex and
up the Buspar. I am going to up the gradually to 30 mg a day and
reduced the PAxil gradually while adding the Lex. In about a week I
will be on 30 mg od buspar and 10 mg of Lex.
Since I am new to this stuff, how does this sound to everyone? Does
it sound right? I am a 27 yo male, 6 foot, 175.
The meds before helped for low anxiety situations, but didn’t help
for high anxiety situations.
Thanks in advnace for your thoughts.

An update…..I am doing pretty well…down to 70mg of Paxil (down
10mg) with only one really bad day of dizziness and not feeling well
and up to 10mg Lexapro.
What I do notice is that I am not sleeping well…even with Ambien.
Is this related to withdrawing from Paxil or maybe from adding
Lexapro?
Stephanie

Stephanie,
I switched because I have a new Dr.who thinks Lex is much better than
paxil,with fewer side effects.
I feel good but has been hard to tell because I came down with the
shingles which bothered me.
I have been on Lexapro 3 mo.had shingles 6 wks,still have pain in my
ribs.
This new psc dr.thinks it is the best med out,I have to stay on low
dose maintance dose for depression and panic attacks.
It does seem to be the best one about not gaining weight and Paxil
the worst,i know a couple of people who gained 40 lbs. while on 40
mgs of paxil.
hope it works better for you.
Natalie

Hi Stephanie,
I also switched from paxil to Lexapro,did you say you were on 80mgs
of paxil? that was a large dose,never knew anyone that was on more
than 40 mgs.
I always have to take less tan most people,I know that 10 of lexapro
equals 40 of celexa,does anyone know about paxil,I forgor to ask the
dr.
I am not hungry on lexopro.
Best Of Luck,
Natalie

Hey Stephanie, I have been on Lex for 4 months now. I just increase
my does from 10 to 15 mg. Lex has worked very well for me, the only
problem is it does not keep you in that happy mood all day. There is
a four hour timelife from the time you take it that you reach the
max. benefit. But since upping my dose it has helped. If your
anxiety gets really bad I suggest you try the new Xanax XR. Its
pretty good from what I hear. Hope this is helpful to you.
Kevin

Hi all,
I am new here and am hoping Lexapro will help me. I started on Paxil
in Aug. 2002, switched from Prozac because I thought I was allergic
to it. I don’t think I was because I was diagnosed with multiple
allergies. Anyway, I was on Prozac and Desepramine and switched to
Paxil (reg, not time rel.) and Wellbutrin (reg. not time release).
My depression had gotten better and my anxiety problem was under
control I felt so much better for almost the whole year I was on
Paxil but…….
1. I gained 20lbs in a year - devastating for me because I had
weight loss surgery in 1999 and lost over 100lbs. No matter what I
did, I could not stop gaining and can’t loose it, and I should not be
gaining with the extesive bypass I have.
2. I have recently (about a month) taken a decidedly downward
turn….very down again, hopeless, missed a few days of work, don’t
want to do anything of see anyone.
3. I am SOOOO tired all the time…it is horrible.
Those are enough but other symptoms are troublesome to me too. I saw
my Dr. today and told her about all this. I have been seeing her
every three months because I felt stableized.
We discussed many options to eliminate my side effects and to improve
my depression while keeping my anxiety at bay. We decided to start
with this….taper off the 80mgs of Paxil by 10mg a week, and add the
Lexapro at the same time, 5mg at first, then up to 10mg. We are
hoping adding another SSRI while tapering off, will help with the
withdrawl symptoms.
Any advice, support or words of encouragement would be greatly
appreciated. I will be checking in frequently while this process is
playing out. I have high hopes for Lexapro from what I have read
about it. I will be reading the archives to learn more too. Wish me
luck!
Stephanie

i am on a 10 mg lexapro and 200mg wellbutrin combo. has anyone had
any problems with itching and hives. i am going crazy and just
started wondering if it might be a side effect. i am calling doc
first thing monday!

Crystal,
I’m taking both.
5mg of Lexapro and 100mg of Wellbutrin. The Wellbutrin
really helps me feel more up but the Lexapro did, of
course, affect my libido. I’m taking Ginko with it and
we’ll see if that works. When I was on Wellbutrin
alone, my sex drive was over the top which actually
got old so maybe this is a good thing. Overall,
Wellbutrin made me feel much better.
-Tom
San Jose
Message: 2

Hi people,
Does anyone have any experience with the Lexapro/Wellbutrin combo?
I was talking with my psydoc, and I told him, I’m *okay* but that I
wouldn’t mind having a few really happy days now and then…that’s
when he suggested maybe adding wellbutrin. I said no, no, no
thanks! But I’m thinking, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. However, I
haven’t heard one good thing about W, anyone here??
Thanks!
Crystal

Any suggestions on how to get off Lexapro and keep the withdraw
symptoms to a minimum?
Every time I try tapering down I get down from 20 Mg to 10 Mg and
start feeling the withdrawing.
I’m married and need to have a Sex Drive. I have forgotten what its
like to have a sex drive.
Jeff Wait