All about Lexapro

I was wondering how long it takes for Wellbutrin to kick in for energy
and has anyone experience constipation when starting it?
Any answers I’d appreciate.
Thanks,
Suzi

I took Lexapro until the sexulal Disfunction, No erection,nor
ejaculation . I ws on 10 mg a day and now after bieng off it for six
months I want to do 5 Mg and see if this helps . I would take Viagra
but I do not think it is generic yet And is to expensive . Does anyone
hav any ideas

I have only been on Lex for a few months after being on Effexor for
over a year. Dosage was 10mg. I saw my psyciatrist on Tuesday
complaing about my inability to get a decent nights sleep. He
prescribed Trazodone 50 mg. I was to take one pill a night for
three nights. If that did not help then I was to up it to two
tablets or 100mg.
That night I took one tablet at 9pm. I went to bed at 11:30. At
that time I had an ache in my lower right side but brushed it off.
I fell asleep after 12:30 but awoke again shortly after 4 in the
morning with abdominal cramps. I thought I had the stomach flu
coming on or stomach upset due to the new medication as that is a
common side effect. At 8:30 I left my bedroom and went downstairs
with the dogs to let them out. After letting them back in a few
minutes later I went to the bathroom myself. It was there I had the
most horrible abdominal cramping with diarrea to the point I thought
I was about to throw up. I grabbed a bucket that is used to swish
rinse the tub with and brought it to my face thinking I was going to
heave. The next thing I know is I am coming too, lying on the floor
with my face smashed into the baseboard heater.
After a bit I made it back to bed where the clock read 10:10. There
I stayed until my husband got home a few hours later when he took me
to hospital.
After a 2.5 hour wait in the waiting room I was finally seen by an
ER doctor who ordered a ct scan on my head, xrays on my nose and
neck and an EKG as well a blood work. I hit pretty hard when I
landed and my face is a mess.
My EKG showed prolonged TQ syndrome. The ER doctor was quite
concerned so I was admitted to hospital for further observation as
this syndrome can cause sudden death. The floor specialist did not
think it was TQ syndrome but vasovagal syndrome and wanted me to go
home. My GP wanted me to stay in for further investigation. No one
contacted my psyc even though I asked them to as he would be more
familiar with the medications I was on as he had prescribed them.
In any case I ended up going home and the psyc never was contacted
till I called him the next morning.
He does not believe I have vasovagal syndrome or that my ‘episode’
of prolonged tq was caused by the medication but an unknown
prexisting condition that the medication brought forward. I am
immediately removed from my meds and to see a cardiologist. This
syndrome is little known but quite common. IF ANY OF YOU ARE
EXPERIENCING FAINTING OR DIZZYNESS TELL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY.
This syndrome is usually not diagnosed until something like I went
through happens, often resulting in death. This is what has
happened to some of those athletes who die suddenly on the field.
This is serious stuff, especially if there is a family history of
sudden death - which I have on my mothers side.
My worry right now is not my heart though, my worry is whether there
is anything out there that I can take to help with my depression. I
see the psyc on Monday and will also get another EKG done. Good
news if the meds have been good for treating my anxiety - so who
knows how I will be in a few days when they wear off.

My doc just put me on Remeron (7.5mg to start) for sleeping. I am
concerned about side effects. I am curious about others experiences
on this drug. How is it for sleep? I heard it makes you hungry.
What can you do to avoid weight gain? Does the drowsiness carry
through the day? At what does?
RJ

I need help sleeping. I was on Trazadone for the last 3 years and it
worked great with the Lexapro, however recently it stopped working.
What other options are there available for sleep. Thanks in advance.
RJ

Hi,
I just joined this group because my doctor just put me on Lexapro. I
got a bit concerned when I read the medical info about it on the web.
It says that at first your symptoms can become worse and you can become
suicidal. Does anyone know anything about this?
I’m Colleen, age 56, from Minnesota. I thought I was having a nervous
breakdown because I couldn’t stop crying, but my doctor said it was
depression. She had me take that test where you answer certain
questions and I got a 17, which is a high score. I wonder if I had
taken it on a day that I felt better if I would have scored lower. I
suspect I would have.
Colleen

Hi…Just started on 10 mg. Lexapro(Nov.16) for severe anxiety and
moderate depression. Was wondering how long before I will feel some
relief. I would really appreciate some positive feedback cause I am in
sooo much need of support…Thanks Patty

Hi everyone
I just wanted to introduce myself and tell everyone about my history
with meds.
I am 34 yrs old and was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder
(from being sexually, mentally and physically abused as a child).
Post traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) involves depression, anxiety,
insomnia, muscle tension, nightmares, hypervigiliance and also
includes other symptoms.
I was first put on Wellbutrin Sr 150 in 2001 but was very dizzy on
that, felt like the room was moving. I was switched to Wellbutrin
75mg that was not Sr(Sr means sustained release). I was on that for
about 6 months and really did not feel much benefit from it after 6
months, so I stopped it.
I was put on Celexa in 2002 and also trazodone 50mg for sleep. The
Celexa made me very anxious the first week and also had extreme
muscle tension from it. I was told by my doc to wait it out and the
side effect should go away. I also had insomnia for about 2 weeks but
after 3 weeks the side effects mellowed. However, I became very hyper
on Celexa afterwards, I couldn’t sit still and it raised my libido
sky high. I don’t know if it kicked me into a manic episode(but am
not bipolar) but it really made me hyper and sexually frustrated. The
trazodone did not work at 50mg so I stopped it and didn’t want to
take a higher dose. I stopped taking the Celexa as well about 7
months later.
I was put on 10mg Lexapro in Feb. 2004 and it was absolutely
wonderful. The very first day of taking it, all the anxiety
disappeared, I felt like I had a massage. I was so excited to have
found something that finally worked!!! I did have insomnia however
for the first week and a half or so but then it went away. I didn’t
experience many side effects at all on Lexapro but maybe mild
tiredness throughout the day. I told as many people possible about
Lexapro, to me it was like a miracle drug. My depression lifted, my
anxiety disappeared, my muscle tension was gone, and I was able to
fall asleep faster(usually it takes me 2 hours or more to fall
asleep). In 2005 a little anxiety started to come back so my doc told
me to take 15mg(1&1/2 tablets). It solved the problem. About 4 months
later I needed to be raised to 20mg and was on 20mg until June 2006
when the Lexapro stopped working I had an episode of depression
and major anxiety after the Lexapro stopped working.
I was switched to Cymbalta 60mg and it took about 4 weeks to work,
the depression disappeared but it did nothing for the anxiety and
muscle tension. I also was having rage problems and sleeping problems
so was put on Abilify along with the Cymbalta. Abilify made me VERY
hyper and I felt like I wanted to jump out of my skin. I started
smoking again due to the effects of Abilify(not able to sit still,
not able to stay in one place, extreme anxiety). I told my doc to get
me off of Abilify immediately - I HATED it. I was switched to
Seroquel and it helped with the rage and insomnia. I had to up my
dose of Seroquel after a month(it stopped working on the lower dose).
I took the higher dose for about 2 weeks then had to be upped again.
After being upped to 150mg at night- I asked to be taken off of it
because it had stopped working at that dose and did not wish to keep
raising the dosage.
I was then put on Hydroxyzine (still on Cymbalta as well) at night
for sleep and during the day for anxiety- it worked for about 4 days
then stopped working. The doc raised the dosage to 100mg at night but
it still did not work. The doc then said to stay on Hydroxyzine
during the day and try Trazodone 100mg at night(started it last
week). It did not help me get to sleep, so one night I took 200mg but
still nothing. I have since stopped taking the Trazodone- gave up on
it and don’t want to raise it beyond 200mg. I also stopped taking the
Hydroxyzine as it didn’t help for anxiety during the day.
Now, I am only taking Cymbalta which helps depression immensely and
also gives me more energy. However, I still have anxiety now and
insomnia(am up at 3:35am writing this). I am going to call my doc
Friday to ask to be taken off the Cymbalta-will have to be weaned off
of it and to start Lexapro again. I have been off of Lexapro for 5
months and they say if you take a vacation from it after it stops
working for you and get back on it- it may work again.
I have found that Lexapro was the only drug that helped me with all
my symptoms - depression, anxiety, muscle tension, and insomnia. The
only downside was it made me a little tired but its worth it.
Sorry for this being so long but wanted to tell my story

For the past 3 years I have been taking lexapro 20mg and trazadone
50mg for sleep. This has worked well. Recently I began experiencing an
increase level of sleep loss similiar to before the trazadone (several
awakenings nightly). Has the trazadone stopped working? Your help is
appreciated. Thanks.
RH

Hi Everyone,
I am the one who created the latest poll about m.d’s vs psychiatrists, who
prescribes our meds. I see a psychiatrist, and am curious about how many
members also see psychiatrists.
Regards,
Liz
“Vocatvs atqve non vocatvs, Deus aderit”
(Bidden or not, God is present)