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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by eefreemom on June 21, 2004, at 21:31:19
Hi everyone, I'm a first-time poster though I've browsed here since starting Lexapro 10 mg/day 8 months ago. Never been on meds before but was thrilled with the effects for the first 7 months. But lately I'm having the old bad feelings creep back up on me. Also been feeling sooooo sleepy, trouble getting up in the morning, trouble getting motivated all day. I know somnolence is a common side effect, but I haven't had it til now. Wondering if I should ask the doc to up the dose, but would rather avoid that. Or if I should try p.m. dosing instead of a.m. Any thoughts?
Also I noticed some earlier posts about Allese bcp affecting depression. Been on Allese for about 4 years and now wondering if that's been a contributor to my depression. I did try going off of it for a few months about a year ago in the hope that I would feel better but to no avail, which led me to the shrink, which led me to Lexapro.....
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted by MGOLDW on June 22, 2004, at 10:09:37
In reply to Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by eefreemom on June 21, 2004, at 21:31:19
Hi, As a 5 months 10mg/day Lexapro user I can tell you that I have not experimented any decline in effectiveness.
I know that my post doesn't help you much but I just wanted to let you know that your post is being read and that you will always find support here.
Good luck
Posted by Bill LL on June 22, 2004, at 15:13:11
In reply to Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by eefreemom on June 21, 2004, at 21:31:19
Your experience with Lexapro is extremely common. A dose of 10 mg is the starting dose. You need a dose increase. Go to either 15 or 20 mg. If you choose 20, make sure your doctor gives you the 20 mg pills. It's a lot cheaper than 2 of the 10 mg pills.
I have been doing very well on 30 mg per day of Lexapro for the past year.
> Hi everyone, I'm a first-time poster though I've browsed here since starting Lexapro 10 mg/day 8 months ago. Never been on meds before but was thrilled with the effects for the first 7 months. But lately I'm having the old bad feelings creep back up on me. Also been feeling sooooo sleepy, trouble getting up in the morning, trouble getting motivated all day. I know somnolence is a common side effect, but I haven't had it til now. Wondering if I should ask the doc to up the dose, but would rather avoid that. Or if I should try p.m. dosing instead of a.m. Any thoughts?
>
> Also I noticed some earlier posts about Allese bcp affecting depression. Been on Allese for about 4 years and now wondering if that's been a contributor to my depression. I did try going off of it for a few months about a year ago in the hope that I would feel better but to no avail, which led me to the shrink, which led me to Lexapro.....
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted by MoTucker on June 23, 2004, at 16:27:35
In reply to Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by eefreemom on June 21, 2004, at 21:31:19
Hi, I've been on Lex for just over a year and I just experienced a similar problem. The old feelings came back. I think they had been creeping back but I didn't notice b/c I don't think about things objectively when I'm slipping into a depression.
I am on 10 mg - and I decided for now not to adjust the dose. I've not been in therapy for a long time and decided to see if I can work my way through some of my root issues before I up the dose. I'd like to some day get off the meds (maybe not possible, I know) so I don't want to up the dose and make that harder.
I never realized you had to keep upping the dose. When I went on Lex it was really new so maybe they didn't know that yet? I wish I would have known that going in. I'm sure I would have still chosen the meds, but it would have been nice to know that I hadn't found a permanent fix.
M.T.
> Hi everyone, I'm a first-time poster though I've browsed here since starting Lexapro 10 mg/day 8 months ago. Never been on meds before but was thrilled with the effects for the first 7 months. But lately I'm having the old bad feelings creep back up on me. Also been feeling sooooo sleepy, trouble getting up in the morning, trouble getting motivated all day. I know somnolence is a common side effect, but I haven't had it til now. Wondering if I should ask the doc to up the dose, but would rather avoid that. Or if I should try p.m. dosing instead of a.m. Any thoughts?
>
> Also I noticed some earlier posts about Allese bcp affecting depression. Been on Allese for about 4 years and now wondering if that's been a contributor to my depression. I did try going off of it for a few months about a year ago in the hope that I would feel better but to no avail, which led me to the shrink, which led me to Lexapro.....
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted by LynneDa on June 25, 2004, at 12:31:05
In reply to Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by eefreemom on June 21, 2004, at 21:31:19
Hi! I too was on Lex for about 8 or 9 months. I am now in the process of transitioning to Wellbutrin because I am so sleepy that it's greatly effecting my work & life! I went from serious insomnia when I first started taking it last fall to this sleepier/foggier state than when I wasn't on anything. I got sleepier when I went up to 20mg for a few months. I tried playing with the time I took it, to no avail. This past month I went down to 10 and didn't notice much of a recession in the sleepiness, but of course did notice an increase in symptoms!
So - let your doctor know. Some people have added the Wellbutrin to the Lex, others have added different meds that seem to energize them, like Provigil. On the other hand, meds do "poop out" unfortunately, or just take dips depending on your internal chemical cycle. We have monthly cycles, but we also have seasonal and yearly cycles that can effect or change the way a med is metabolized. At least that's what my therapist tells me and it makes sense to me!
Best of luck to you!
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hi everyone, I'm a first-time poster though I've browsed here since starting Lexapro 10 mg/day 8 months ago. Never been on meds before but was thrilled with the effects for the first 7 months. But lately I'm having the old bad feelings creep back up on me. Also been feeling sooooo sleepy, trouble getting up in the morning, trouble getting motivated all day. I know somnolence is a common side effect, but I haven't had it til now. Wondering if I should ask the doc to up the dose, but would rather avoid that. Or if I should try p.m. dosing instead of a.m. Any thoughts?
>
> Also I noticed some earlier posts about Allese bcp affecting depression. Been on Allese for about 4 years and now wondering if that's been a contributor to my depression. I did try going off of it for a few months about a year ago in the hope that I would feel better but to no avail, which led me to the shrink, which led me to Lexapro.....
>
> Thanks in advance for any advice.
Posted by LynneDa on June 25, 2004, at 12:37:05
In reply to Re: Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by MoTucker on June 23, 2004, at 16:27:35
MT - Just a note about your post. A drop in effectiveness can occur with any med, not just Lex. Some people choose to up the dosage and see what that does, others will just change meds all together. Our bodies metabolize things differently and change over time due to circumstances beyond our control! That changes our reactions to various meds too.
Very good luck with therapy. Sometimes you have to be on a med to clear your head enough to allow the therapy to work & it sounds like that's what you've been able to do!
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I never realized you had to keep upping the dose. When I went on Lex it was really new so maybe they didn't know that yet? I wish I would have known that going in. I'm sure I would have still chosen the meds, but it would have been nice to know that I hadn't found a permanent fix.
>
> M.T.
>
>
Posted by leos on June 26, 2004, at 9:41:29
In reply to Re: Lexapro decline in effectiveness » MoTucker, posted by LynneDa on June 25, 2004, at 12:37:05
hi. i also experienced loss of effectiveness on 10mg lexapro. it worked for a couple months then the irritability (moodiness), impatience, mild anxiety, etc. started to creep back in - at first i thought i was pms'g but after a month i realized the lex. wasnt doing its thing. it did, however, keep the sadness and hopelessness at bay - thats why my psych said it was working and sugg to up the dose - i did but felt like i was in a fog, which may have eventually subsided but i didnt want to spend time (and anxiety)waiting for it to go away...a question: has anyone upped the dose and what were the side effects from that and did they go away with time? thanks!
Posted by RetiredYoung on June 26, 2004, at 14:11:57
In reply to Re: Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by leos on June 26, 2004, at 9:41:29
> a question: has anyone upped the dose and what were the side effects from that and did they go away with time? thanks!
I have upped my dose twice now to combat what seems to be poop-out. I'm now at 25mg. It's working fine for depression, BUT the increase in fatigue is almost unbearable. I've just started to try Adderal to address this.
Posted by Mariposa on June 28, 2004, at 8:40:53
In reply to Re: Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by RetiredYoung on June 26, 2004, at 14:11:57
I too have had to increase dose twice, currently at 30mg. I did not experience a return of se's, only relief from irritability and PMS symptoms.~~~8|8
Posted by flipsactown on June 28, 2004, at 21:05:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro decline in effectiveness, posted by RetiredYoung on June 26, 2004, at 14:11:57
>
> I have upped my dose twice now to combat what seems to be poop-out. I'm now at 25mg. It's working fine for depression, BUT the increase in fatigue is almost unbearable. I've just started to try Adderal to address this.
>
>
It has been 20 days since I started Lexapro. I started with 10 mg for 1 week and increased to 20 mg thereafter. The fatigue was almost unbearable for me also. In fact, I have been sleeping and lying down watching TV night and day as I was too tired and totally unmotivated for the first 15 days. I am still feeling fatigued, but it appears to be lessening. I see my pdoc on Wednesday. Hopefully, I will feel even better. If not, I will ask about a dose increase or possibly augmenting with another med to reduce fatigue SE and increase AD effect. How will Adderal affect Lexapro's effectiveness as an AD? Will it reduce the fatigue SE? Thanks.FST
Posted by RetiredYoung on June 29, 2004, at 19:21:19
In reply to Re: Lexapro decline in effectiveness » RetiredYoung, posted by flipsactown on June 28, 2004, at 21:05:51
>
How will Adderal affect Lexapro's effectiveness as an AD? Will it reduce the fatigue SE? Thanks.
>
> FST
>
Everyone is different, so there's no clear cut answer as to Adderal's effect on Lexapro. So far, my experience is that it has helped both my depression and general fatigue. However, it's only been a week or so, and it's quite possible the Adderal will lose effectiveness for me, requiring me to continually up the dose - this is something I don't think I'll be willing to do given that Adderal = addictive amphetimines. I tried Provigil before the Adderal and discontinued as it quickly lost it's benefical stimulating effect for me.
This is the end of the thread.
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