All about Lexapro

Hey everyone - thanx for responding to my pill-cutting post, etc Thumbnails
work,
i’ve found, (if you have them) - Thanks!
I think my body has gotten pretty used to this drug pretty fast - I have only
had the
effect of being a little drowsy and a little bit more of an insomniac than I
usually
am (oh, who am I kidding, I just ran out of Ambien a couple of days ago…it’s
probably not even Lexapro-related…)
But, being new to the whole SSRI thing, i just wonder how to gauge how well it’s
working. I don’t have panic attacks, unless I am trying to get to sleep. I
vaguely
remember being irritable and joyless and frustrated - almost “cursed” - all the
time, as little as 2 weeks ago. My general feeling now, is that I still feel
like the
world is out to get me a little, I just don’t care quite as much.
I still have depressed thoughts, but am absent of the enraged feelings that go
with
them.
How long before it started to “work” for most of you? And by “working”, I mean,
do
any of you truly feel happier, or just more functional?
How long before most side effects show up - have I weathered the storm, or are
there still more coming?
I know all people react to meds differently - if there is anything I’ve learned
from
reading all your posts, this is it. All of you have elected to take Lex, at a
doctor’s
recommendation, and I am hoping to hear some of your experiences.
Any input is welcome, appreciated even…
- P

Hi all,
I have a question. I was wondering if anyone knew the safety of taking
Lexapro while pregnant. I know it’s pretty new and they probably haven’t had it
out long enough to test but I’m worried because I think I may be pregnant and
I’ve started on 5mg about a week ago.
Thanks!
Amy

Hey guys - I notice I’m a LOT, um, randier these days. Has anyone had the same
experience?

…on when the tiredness and insomnia go away?
-P

Hi, I’m a pharmacist in a mental health facility and I also suffer
from depression and take Lexapro. Lately, there have been a few
things said on this board that I think could cause some confusion.
So, while the Forest Co. representatives (they market Lexapro) and a
psych doc from Western Psych in Pittsburgh were at our facility this
week, I got some answers to some questions.
Yes, 10mg. of Lexapro does equal 40 mg. of Celexa — but in efficacy
only. That means that people score equally as well on depression
screening exams. That does not mean that they are equal in
potency. AND it is not a linear equation, so 10mg of Lex = 40mg of
Celexa does not mean that 20mg.=80mg or that 30mg.=120mg. Also,
Lexapro does work well at 10mg., but that is an individual by
individual response. I do well at 10mg, but someone else may need
30mg. and it isn’t out of line for a psychdoc to prescribe that.
Weight gain — yes, 1% of people will experience weight gain. But
2% of people in their studies who got the placebo and not Lexapro
gained weight. Again, an individual response.
Alcohol and Lex — remember, the target organ for Lex is the brain,
as is the target organ for alcohol. Alcohol is a depressant, and we
are already depressed. Do you really want to add to the problem??
That being said, I would stick to a drink or two at the most on any
one night. AND please, please, please, do not drive!!
Splitting a Lexapro tablet — it is scored, so therefore, the best
and least likely to cause powdering way to split it, is with your
hands. I place both thumbnails against the score and bend
backwards. If you don’t have enough finger strength, a pill
splitter (plastic contraption with a razor blade inside) is your
second choice, but still will cause some “powdering”.
Hope this helps,
Edie

Hi again. I used to be a regular drinker of pepsi and mt dew. I
told this to my doctor and he said that the caffeine would be a bad
influence on me and suggested I cut down. Not only hat but he said
If I need something to drink, just to drink water, which I’m not at
all fond of. Plus he says to avoid softdrinks in general. I think
this is more opinion based. I wanted to ask what everyone else’s
opinions were about it. I have cut down on the caffeine a bit, but I
can’t keep myself from having a mt dew, pepsi twist, or pepsi vanilla
every once in awhile, though. :p So far I haven’t seen anything
major from reducing it and I still drink caffeine free non-diet soda
everyday and I know the Lex is working, though, right now, I get mood
swings. The swings usually go to feelings of looking forword to some
simple things or feeling a little dperessed and a little anxious.
Feelings of extreme anxiety and depression are situational and from
something negative. Lol. I added more to this post than I intended.
Anyways, what I really wanted to know was what people thought of non-
diet softdrinks and caffeine while on these meds.

In a message dated 11/14/03 8:20:29 AM, “Heather Tuccinardi” <
blackrose@…
< anyone actually drank alcohol while taking these meds? If so, anything happen?
It’s never a good idea to mix alcohol with psych meds, but with some personal
experimentation and with comparison with other friends who are on Lexapro, we
noticed the following effects:
a) One beer becomes three (i.e. you get drunk much more quickly)
b) You experience a shocking amount of memory loss. The next day, and weeks
after, you won’t remember anything from when you started getting tipsy.
Occasional images return.
c) The next day you wake up with a massive, massive headache.
With that said, a drink or two in moderation and at a slow rate shouldn’t
affect you too much.
Exercise care and pace yourself… and enjoy your holiday!
All the best,
Brian in Houston

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for your honest posts. I finally feel comfortable enough to speak
up about my experience with Lex (and others). It seems like I get
depressed every few years, and my family doctor will prescribe an AD and a
couple months of therapy. The longest (before now) I ever stayed on an
AD was 4 weeks. I tried Paxil (great for anxiety but I sure zoned out of
life); Wellbutrin made me
feel like I was zooming around out of control; and Prozac was like Paxil.
So this go around, there was an actual trigger to my depression (DS, 16,
got into heavy duty
trouble, etc.) and I knew I would be a basket case. Let me first tell you
that usually I am a very
strong person. But over the years, after being raised by abusive adoptive
parents, I know
my limitations. Well, in July the family doctor put me on 10mgs of Lex so
I wouldn’t cry at my
desk all day…I had some breakthrough crying jags so he upped it to
20. After a couple weeks I felt guilty for being on meds, that I should
just face the world, and trailed off to zero…BIG MISTAKE. Went back on
10mgs, but I recently visited a psychiatrist to tailor my meds because
I told my therapist I didn’t like them, they weren’t helping much, and I
haven’t slept right in months. The psych had me go back to 20 and gave me
Sonata to sleep. Sonata kept me up more! So a few days ago she added 15mgs
of Restoril and I finally feel I have the right combination (for now).
Side effects from Lex - first few weeks I had excessive sweating, some
nausea, and trouble with sex. The only one I have occasionally now is hand
sweating and I feel OK with the sex I think because I am getting good sleep.
Alcohol, I am a social drinker, a couple glasses of wine a couple times a
week and a few beers on the weekend. Well, I have to drink a lot less or I
don’t remember anything. Certainly don’t drive at all, and if you’re home,
a word of advice - don’t answer the phone…hahaha…it might be important
and you won’t remember…and we don’t need guilt on top of depression.
Well, I will stop now. Thanks again everyone!
Joyce

I Have been on Lex for about 8 months now. I started with 5 mg then
10 and am now taking 20 mg daily. I like Lex a lot but it seems not
to last. That happy feeling only stays several hours after taking
the medication. I wanted to know if anyone else is taking other meds
along with lex. And if so are you happy with the results.
Kevin

–withouth shattering them into a million tiny pieces?
I’ve found that taking it twice a day, 5 mg each, makes a big difference. But I
have so much fine powder around, people are going to start thinking i’m a on
some
other drug…