Hi - New Here
I started Lexapro yesterday and this is my first time on any Psych
medication. I suffer from Major Depressive Disorder and have tried
therapy only, but felt I needed meds to get through some dark times
right now.
Now I”m scared. After reading so much (darn internet), my main
concerns are coming off the drug and the withdrawals that people seem
to go through. It scares me so much! Also, the side effects.
I took my first dose, 10mg, last night. When I got up this morning, I
felt a little jittery and kind of “strange”, but that went away after
a few hours. Is this typical? Will it go away?
Glad I found this group…
Tasha
May 29th, 2006 at 5:26 pm
Tasha,
It’s typical for Lexapro to cause you to be jittery. Give it at least 6
weeks for it’s positive effects. When you are ready to go off of it, it has
to be done slowly, it’s true and under doctor’s care cause a sudden stopping
of the medication has bad sad effects.
Angela
May 30th, 2006 at 4:21 am
I guess no one takes lexapro for agoraphobia or anxiety huh?
Larissa
May 30th, 2006 at 11:50 pm
I take for Social and General Anxiety. That’s its’ main purpose for me.
May 31st, 2006 at 6:20 pm
Larissa,
I do. I take it for panic attacks, general anxiety , and agoraphobia.
questions? alison
Hi Alison, yes I have a few if you dont mind. How bad is your agoraphobia? Are
you housebound? How long have you been on lex, any side effects, what dosage,
and how long did it take before you noticed improvement with th agoraphobia? Im
starting it in a couple weeks and my husband is quitting smoking the day I start
them. He really wants me to get better, and I want him healthy. Thank you Alison
in advance for answering. Larissa
June 1st, 2006 at 5:49 pm
In a message dated 8/25/2005 3:56:26 P.M. Pacific Standard Time,
oraidergrl@… writes:
Can I just cut the 10mg in half?
Yes. I used a razor blade…they are hard to cut!
Marilyn
June 2nd, 2006 at 1:25 am
Annie -
You are right. She should follow her doctor’s orders, and no one else’s.
Duh.
That thought did cross my mind….I figured her doctor would tell her how to
take it.
Marilyn
June 2nd, 2006 at 9:01 am
In a message dated 8/26/2005 6:25:28 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
topmercedes40@… writes:
Wasn’t trying to play doc. Heck, I’m busy trying to
play human.
I understand. None of us intentionally would give out advice to another
with the intent to harm, or play doctor. We answered the question. True, it
is
up to a doctor to give this kind of advice, but, none of us thought of that.
It was innocent enough.
We know better now. I say we put it behind us, and move on…..
I think valid points were made all around. I think we all agree, that for
medical advice, we speak to our doctors, and no one intentionally set out to
play doctor, or pretend to have medical knowledge.
Marilyn
June 2nd, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I agree. Always consult doc, but at the same time most of us have done
enough research on meds and their effects to sort of know what we are
talking about. At the same time each person reacts differently to each med
so a doctor’s advice is always first step.
June 3rd, 2006 at 12:13 am
In a message dated 8/26/2005 8:06:53 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
chapmn47@… writes:
When you gave her that advice, you didn’t say that that was what your doctor
had you do, you said with such authority “yes, cut in half- take 5 for a
week…”
Ahhh, the power or the internet…it is difficult, when reading words, to
say anything with authority, or whatever…words in print are just that - words
in print - we cannot see the face, cannot read the emotion, understand how
the words are meant to be taken.
To belabor this is pointless. Let’s just DROP IT, and move on to discussing
more productive things.
Marilyn
June 9th, 2006 at 12:35 am
In a message dated 8/27/2005 7:19:24 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
chapmn47@… writes:
I don’t mean to start trouble but I think it is important for people here to
understand the difference between giving (medical ) advice and sharing their
experiences.
That is cool, Sue. I think we all understand what went on now. Live and
learn, right?
Marilyn
June 20th, 2006 at 1:51 am
Larrissa,
I was 19 the last time I was
I fear vomiting also as
If I could be
ok here goes.. My agaraphobia is fairly bad. I had to cancell a therapy
appointment yesterday cause I coudl not leave. Generally I am able to
force myself oout of the house after about 2 hours of panic and then I am
still shaking like a leaf. I often have panic attacks once I am out which
kinda makes me stay in a lot. fear of fear. panic about possible panic (
so mucha circular trap) Are you housebound?
I was pretty much housebound most of my life.
ever more than 15 miles from home, and I am now 51.
do a few others here. The odd things about this is I havent vomited since I was
10, Ive had diarrhea maybe 3x in my life, and my family to are all very very
healthy. We are truly blessed and I am eternally grateful. I have come close
twice to vomiting and I fought it tooth n nail. I cant be around someone who is
‘doing it’ nor can I handle it myself. Baby spit up is not a problem or when my
cats vomit. I was driving out boat the other day with a friend and 5 kids, a 4
year old was being held over the side by the adult and I was perfectly in
control. If I saw it happen, or he did it IN the boat, then I may have freaked.
The meds I’ve been on is Atenolol, for 3 months due to an elevated pulse rate
because I was having an ekg done. I had 3 rare side effects with it. The next
med was Alprazolam, and Ive been on it 3 years. Had 1 hour of side effects when
I first took it, lightheadedness and sleepiness, that was it. I am still on it
at 1 1/2 mg day. It has helped me to live a little, shop, go places, the mall,
Wal Mart. I was put to the test 3 weeks ago when I had to drive 35 mins. from
home to go to court for a bounced check. My husband went he is my support
person. I made it there, and 30 mins. sitting in the courtroom I felt that warm
sensation of a panic attacking coming on and then my name was called, thank the
good Lord. I got lost going home and handled that very well, even stopped at the
market and picked up a few things so I have done better. I have 4 pks. of
Lexapro sitting in my medicine cabinet awaiting me. Its been there a year and
its still good for another year, but Monday I will start it and mu husband is
going to quit cigs the same day. He wants me to get better.
guaranteed I wouldnt have vomiting or stomach upset with this med I would take
it in a heartbeat. I will kep you posted, thank you for listening. Larissa
I have been on the lex for about 6 months.. and here is where I am a bad
example… I am so drug sensitive I am only taking 4 mg. I started on
one. I use a liquid form .Because lex can intensify anxiety to start with
that is where it is good to have benzos to ward off the anxiety of going
on. the SSRI. I was terrified to even take the stuff at all and stared
at it for a month or something 1st I would cry if I even saw the box.,
. SO because I am not at a therapudic dosage I am a bad example. I still
have horrible anxiety. Here is the thing..I still think some days it is
better.. then I tend to have a week of being a freak. I am trying hard to
up the dosage but I am still scared of the drug ( this is not entirely a
rational thing besides that messing with brain chemicals is a serious
thign in my book) Well, Larissa I think the lex is worth a try ..it is
very low on side effects in comparison to other drugs. I do also
recommend therapy. beign agoraphobic is no way to live .. I am sure you
would agree.
I am here for you whenever you need support. I am home almost all the
tiem as my anxiety is such that I cannot work right now.
do not let my current situation deter you..cause until I am on at least
10 or 20 mg there is no tellign if the lex is useful for me or not.
alison
June 20th, 2006 at 9:27 am
I use a liquid form .Because lex can intensify anxiety to start with
that is where it is good to have benzos to ward off the anxiety of going
on. the SSRI. I was terrified to even take the stuff at all and stared
at it for a month or something 1st I would cry if I even saw the box
Alison did you stay on the benzos while you were beginning the Lex? Larissa