All about Lexapro

Escitalopram (lexapro)

admin — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:26:29 +0000

Escitalopram (Lexapro by Forest Laboratories in the United States and elsewhere by Lundbeck as Cipralex, Sipralexa and Seroplex) is an antidepressant of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) class. It is approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder; other indications include social anxiety disorder, panic disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Escitalopram (lexapro) is the S-stereoisomer (enantiomer) of the earlier Lundbeck drug citalopram (Celexa), hence the name escitalopram. Escitalopram is noted for its high selectivity of serotonin reuptake inhibition and, as a result has fewer side effects not related to its serotonergic activity.

Lexapro stopped working??

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 11:45:09 +0000

I started taking Lexapro about 3 months ago after I was taken off
paxil. I hated Paxil because I was so numb mentally and physically.
When I started taking lexapro I felt so much better and not numb which
I was really happy about. However, lately I still get really depressed.
I take it everyday so I’m not skipping doses. I just don’t know what to
do..

Strange side effects

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:33:19 +0000

I have been on Zoloft since 2001. I switched to generic brand several
months ago. Since then I’ve been experiencing strange symptoms much
more frequently than when I first began Zoloft.
I notice my heart will begin to race I feel sick to my stomach get
extremely weak and shakey and I sweat to the point where I am soaked.
I usually am so weak that I am on the floor.
Has any one else had this problem? I am strongly considering going
off the medication since this is happening all to frequently to me.

usage

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 12:57:23 +0000

how are folks doing when they wean off lex after a year. do you find
you’re ok when you take one now and then? Curious for reaction.

Possibly going up to 30mg

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 05:21:28 +0000

Hi,
I have been on Lexapro for 3 weeks (1 week on 10 mg, 2 weeks on 20mg).
I am feeling a lot better. I have depression and OCD. In the past I
have take high doses of meds. I was on 350 mg of Luvox, 80 mg of
Prozac. I am going to my psychiatrist on Monday and don’t know if I
should go up to 30 mg. On one hand I think I am feeling better so stay
put and on the other hand I am thinking I will feel even better and
have less OCD at 30mg.
What has been your experience on 30 mg? Any big difference compared to
20 mg. What do you guys think I should do?
Thanks,
Jeff

Lexapro - the 4th time around

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:45:33 +0000

Yeah - I started my 4th stint on lexapro about ten days ago. It’s
helped to pull me out of rough patches three other times and I’m
hoping it helps again.
I am a 45 year old male dealing with GAD and some depression. I had
always been a worrier of sorts and was subject to low moods but I hit
a real rough spot in 2004 caused by a health issue for a loved one
(an issue at it turns out that was not nearly as bad as my anxious
mind had conjured)—At any rate I went in the space of six short
weeks from being what I thought was a fairly well-adjusted (if high
strung person) to becoming a nervous wreck–reduced to laying all day
in agony on my living room couch. I was finally put on 10 mg of
Lexapro and Seroquel for sleep. The startup was hard — I am one of
those people who experience an increase in anxiety and some insomnia
in the startup phase. I had to cut back to 5 mg for awhile - then
back to 10 mg–I was feeling alot better within 4 weeks—and within
4 months I felt so good that I decided to quit Lexapro altogether—–
-not a good move. I spent the next year fighting my anxiety with
herbs and supplements with mixed results.
I went back on Lexapro in the Summer of 2005 and stayed on it for
about a year. It helped me function through some stressful times. I
dropped back off in July of 2006 but found myself going through a
rough spot around the beginning of November and went back on. It
seemed to take a little longer to work the 3rd time around but I felt
better in about 5 weeks or so. But, I felt kind of up and down all
winter and thought about raising the dosage (I’ve never taken more
than 10 mg) -However I seemed to have luck in dropping it back down
to 5 mg and then decided to drop back off it at the end of April,
2007. Then stress at work really caught up to me and July was a
really bad month. I started back on Lex about 10 days ago— going
from 2.5 mg to 5 mg. Its too early to tell how it’s working yet. I’m
taking the startup slow.
For those of you who are on Lexapro for the first time I would advise
(for what its worth) you not to follow my example and drop out too
early (once you’re feeling good). It’s best to use Lexapro as a tool
to look clearly at the root of your problems –to identify your
stressors and to get the help you need. It’s only now that I have
begun to take steps to finally change my lifestyle– especially my
approach on how I deal with stress in the workplace. I am also for
the first time looking at CBT as an aid.

Full Lexapro Effect?

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 06:33:43 +0000

I would like to hear your personal experiences on how long it took for
Lexapro to have its full effect? I have been on Lexapro for 3 weeks (2
weeks at 20 mg) and have been feeling better but was wondering how long
it will continue to kick in and get better and stronger in my system.
Thanks!!

not sure how to reply to messages but thanks for the feedback.

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 22:57:47 +0000

Colleen, I’m glad the meds help, I know its irritating for someone to
say”have you taken your meds?” but I think it depends who says it. I
couldn’t stand it when my ex would say this, but I don’t mind when my
sister asks. I guess you know when someone is concerned versus being
smart. Thanks for your welcome everyone

hi new member

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 07:45:57 +0000

Hello, I am a new member, I have been taking Lexapro for months now, I
started out with 10 mg. and now take 20 mg. I take it in the morning.
I have no probelm sleeping either day or night. But I am also on other
meds. Thank goodness I haven’t experience the rls with the meds I am
taking. I have had this before when I took tylenol nighttime pills.
And some other med. gave me rls but I dont’ recall which it was. My
moods are fairly stable now compared to what they were. I can’t say
I’m not depressed but the crying jags have stopped. I am curious of
what dosage others are taking. I am not a small person. For my size I
think it may be a low dose?
Thank you for any feedback.

Lexapro and suicide

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 00:10:02 +0000

My question is for anyone with information on people taking lexapro
and trying to commit suicide. My sister started taking Lexapro and
within 3 weeks suddenly went off the deepend and was 2 minutes away
from a successful attempt. She lives with me and I kept nagging her to
get help for her depression. I feel guilty now thinking had I left her
alone she wouldnt have gone through all this. She was never suicidal
before Lexapro just always depressive. Can anyone shed light on this
for me?