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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by firefly on March 7, 2003, at 5:57:29
Woke up very early this morning (5:30am, after only a few hours of sleep), slightly shaky, with restless legs and some racing thoughts. I haven't had insomnia since before we moved last September. Since we've been here in this cabin-like apartment, I've been sleeping much better, but it feels like my insomnia is creeping back the past few days and I believe it's the Lexapro. It just feels similar to what I felt on the paxil - a jitteriness from the inside out, and a restlessness.
Yesterday evening I felt very jittery and even had some small brain zaps. Last night an hour after I took my dose of Lexapro, I was a little dizzy, bubble-headed, had fever-like chills and felt very uncomfortable for hours. After waking up feeling like this this morning, I am deciding that I am going to go off of the Lexapro and not take it anymore. My psychiatrist did say all of the things so far that I'm feeling (including the brain zaps) are common side effects of the Lexapro, and he left it up to me if I want to continue, being that I am so sensitive to medications, especially SSRI's it seems.
This stuff, and SSRI's, even in the smallest doses, has a powerful effect on me in a negative way - more negative than positive, and if this is what I'm feeling on so low a dose in so short a time, I do not want to continue. I do not want to risk a severe withdrawal like I had with the paxil. My thought is that the tiny bit better it's making me feel mood-wise is not enough to justify the negative side effects, including making me uncomfortable enough not to want to go out driving to work on my agoraphobia.
If by some chance I get off of it and feel the depression hit me hard again, I have other options. I could try this again, *or* better yet... retry St. John's wort. And spring is also just around the corner which will give me plenty of opportunities to raise my mood naturally, without negative side effects. Goodbye Lexapro.
Posted by kara lynne on March 7, 2003, at 14:06:09
In reply to Sixth Day on Lexapro... deciding to *stop*, posted by firefly on March 7, 2003, at 5:57:29
Hi firefly,
I also had a really hard time adjusting to Lexapro, never could get up to a therapeutic dose and stopped to try something else-- which I couldn't tolerate either. After I stopped that I started Lexapro again 3 nights ago because I was getting dangerously depressed and needed something. I am breaking it in about 5mg pieces. I'm still having really awful headaches, same as before like there's water in my head-- but I'm going to try to stick with it. Just wondering if you've tried smaller doses. Good luck.
Posted by jrbecker on March 7, 2003, at 21:23:16
In reply to Re: Sixth Day on Lexapro... deciding to *stop*, posted by kara lynne on March 7, 2003, at 14:06:09
what about trying celexa? Have you given it a trial yet?
Posted by atlrunner2002 on March 9, 2003, at 6:42:40
In reply to Sixth Day on Lexapro... deciding to *stop*, posted by firefly on March 7, 2003, at 5:57:29
I too had all of the side effects you mention in your post the first week I was on Lexapro...but they quickly went away. I worked through ALL of the side effects within 6 weeks, and in my opinion it's a miracle drug. The depression is GONE and I have no side effects. I've been on it for 5 1/2 months now. I encourage you to stick it out. From what I understand all of these drugs take time to adjust to. Whatever you decide - good luck!
> Woke up very early this morning (5:30am, after only a few hours of sleep), slightly shaky, with restless legs and some racing thoughts. I haven't had insomnia since before we moved last September. Since we've been here in this cabin-like apartment, I've been sleeping much better, but it feels like my insomnia is creeping back the past few days and I believe it's the Lexapro. It just feels similar to what I felt on the paxil - a jitteriness from the inside out, and a restlessness.
>
> Yesterday evening I felt very jittery and even had some small brain zaps. Last night an hour after I took my dose of Lexapro, I was a little dizzy, bubble-headed, had fever-like chills and felt very uncomfortable for hours. After waking up feeling like this this morning, I am deciding that I am going to go off of the Lexapro and not take it anymore. My psychiatrist did say all of the things so far that I'm feeling (including the brain zaps) are common side effects of the Lexapro, and he left it up to me if I want to continue, being that I am so sensitive to medications, especially SSRI's it seems.
>
> This stuff, and SSRI's, even in the smallest doses, has a powerful effect on me in a negative way - more negative than positive, and if this is what I'm feeling on so low a dose in so short a time, I do not want to continue. I do not want to risk a severe withdrawal like I had with the paxil. My thought is that the tiny bit better it's making me feel mood-wise is not enough to justify the negative side effects, including making me uncomfortable enough not to want to go out driving to work on my agoraphobia.
>
> If by some chance I get off of it and feel the depression hit me hard again, I have other options. I could try this again, *or* better yet... retry St. John's wort. And spring is also just around the corner which will give me plenty of opportunities to raise my mood naturally, without negative side effects. Goodbye Lexapro.
Posted by male34 on March 9, 2003, at 9:51:59
In reply to Sixth Day on Lexapro... deciding to *stop*, posted by firefly on March 7, 2003, at 5:57:29
6 days is to early to judge i know its rough starting LEx and all ssris but you may want to rethink it over, i was side effect bad also now on 6 weeks feeling better with alittle bit of diazapm on the side works well ,lex will make you sleepy but trust me get up when its time and stay busy.
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