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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by wiggum on June 10, 2005, at 8:40:54
I would like to hear from people who had success with Lexapro for anxiety and panic attacks. Also tell me how long it took to feel better. Thanks!
Posted by pedrito on June 10, 2005, at 8:56:49
In reply to Anyone Had Success with Lexapro for anxiety, posted by wiggum on June 10, 2005, at 8:40:54
> I would like to hear from people who had success with Lexapro for anxiety and panic attacks. Also tell me how long it took to feel better. Thanks!
Hi,
I've been on Lex for 6 or so weeks now and can report:
- intensity of anxiety overall down about 30-40%
- time spent not anxious up 20%
- insight into causal issues improved
- general demeanour&outlook less desperateI started to feel differences (not necessarily better) after 3-4 days. I also experienced a marked increase in depression during the first two weeks. My T had never heard of this but I have read others experience it too. She has had a number of people responding positively within a week and some others taking 2 months. As always, YMMV.
I have Derealization (see dpselfhelp.com) and so may not be your archetypal user of Lex but I hope this info is of use.
Pete
Posted by JenStar on June 10, 2005, at 13:32:37
In reply to Anyone Had Success with Lexapro for anxiety, posted by wiggum on June 10, 2005, at 8:40:54
hi Wiggum,
I'm currently taking 20 mg/day Lex for severe anxiety. I'm also sort of hypochondriac-ish (people who know me might say "SORT of???!!!" and shake their heads in half-joking disbelief) but to me it just feel "sort of" because all the physical symptoms I have seem very real to me.Anyway, I have a long history of obsessing over potential illnesses I think I have because I experienced certain sypmtoms. The anxiety from this becomes overwhelming and I sort of stop functioning normally, and all I can do, all day, is think constantly about getting sick & dying.
So I went on the Lexapro (with Xanax initially, to help me over the "hump"). I started on 10 mg/day and it helped some, but 4 wks later I was still anxious, so the doc upped it to 20 mg/day. Now, 2-3 wks after that, I'm feeling "better." I don't think about being ill all the time. I still think about it SOME of the time, and some days are better than others. But I haven't needed a Xanax in weeks and I'm feeling more normal.
I went through this exact scenario about 2 yrs ago - thought I had an illness, anxiety got completely out of control, had to go on Xanax + Lex, dropped the Xanax, stayed on the Lex, felt better. I felt so much better, in fact, that I went off the Lex and was "good" for over a year. I guess the anxiety caught up with me again!
I'm not sure when or if I'll be able to "get off" lex this time. Maybe my anxiety needs constant medical supervision to keep it in check. But I AM feeling better.
what are YOU anxious about? What meds have YOu tried?
best of luck to you!
JenStar
Posted by Phillipa on June 10, 2005, at 18:32:57
In reply to Re: Anyone Had Success with Lexapro for anxiety » wiggum, posted by JenStar on June 10, 2005, at 13:32:37
You're really lucky it worked again. A lot of people can't get the same AD to work again after going off of it. If your anxiety increased after going off of it you might want to reconsider if you really want to stop the med. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Glydin on June 10, 2005, at 23:10:03
In reply to Anyone Had Success with Lexapro for anxiety, posted by wiggum on June 10, 2005, at 8:40:54
I've had great success!!
I'm going on three months of use. My benzo use has decreased unbelievibly - of which I was monotherapy for three years for anxiety and panic. First few weeks on Lex, I did experience anxiety rampup. This was probably direct action as well as an expected result whenever an anxiety proned person begins a new med, IMO. By three - fourish weeks, there was a very noticable decrease in all anxiety aspects. Plus, I basically felt much better overall.
It's been a wonderful treatment for me.
Posted by jessers11581 on June 11, 2005, at 17:12:41
In reply to Re: Anyone Had Success with Lexapro for anxiety » wiggum, posted by JenStar on June 10, 2005, at 13:32:37
Hi JenStar! Your post rings so close to home for me. I am also a HUGE hypochondriac and cannot live a normal life because of it. I have lots of physical symptoms that I get freaked out over(numerous digestive issues, fatigue, congestion, etc.). I am constanly worrying that I have some kind of physical problem. My latest obsession is candida, which suupposedly can manifest itself in just about every symptom known to man. All I want in this WORLD is just to STOP WORRYING about these things all the time. I have a feeling that if I were able to get myself together emotionally, all the physical problems would go away. But who knows. I've had just about everything checked and it doesn't appear that there is anything "organically" wrong with me. I think I have low self-esteem and some issues with adequacy that cause me to focus too much on my health. Do you feel this way also? I'd really love to talk to you about this because it's such an issue in my own life. Please give me your thoughts. Thanks! J
> hi Wiggum,
> I'm currently taking 20 mg/day Lex for severe anxiety. I'm also sort of hypochondriac-ish (people who know me might say "SORT of???!!!" and shake their heads in half-joking disbelief) but to me it just feel "sort of" because all the physical symptoms I have seem very real to me.
>
> Anyway, I have a long history of obsessing over potential illnesses I think I have because I experienced certain sypmtoms. The anxiety from this becomes overwhelming and I sort of stop functioning normally, and all I can do, all day, is think constantly about getting sick & dying.
>
> So I went on the Lexapro (with Xanax initially, to help me over the "hump"). I started on 10 mg/day and it helped some, but 4 wks later I was still anxious, so the doc upped it to 20 mg/day. Now, 2-3 wks after that, I'm feeling "better." I don't think about being ill all the time. I still think about it SOME of the time, and some days are better than others. But I haven't needed a Xanax in weeks and I'm feeling more normal.
>
> I went through this exact scenario about 2 yrs ago - thought I had an illness, anxiety got completely out of control, had to go on Xanax + Lex, dropped the Xanax, stayed on the Lex, felt better. I felt so much better, in fact, that I went off the Lex and was "good" for over a year. I guess the anxiety caught up with me again!
>
> I'm not sure when or if I'll be able to "get off" lex this time. Maybe my anxiety needs constant medical supervision to keep it in check. But I AM feeling better.
>
> what are YOU anxious about? What meds have YOu tried?
>
> best of luck to you!
> JenStar
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