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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jessers11581 on June 26, 2005, at 17:54:49
Hello again! Well, unfortunately my efforts to discontinue anti-depressants did not work out so well. I was able to stay drug-free for about a month before the depression and nagging anxiety came back full force, so I decided to go back to medication. This time, I'm using Lexapro instead of Cymbalta (which I was taking right before discontinuing meds). I think that SSRI's tend to work a little bit better for me than SNRI's. I was on Celexa for many years with positive results other than some cognitive fogginess and fatigue. So anyway, I'm giving Lexaro a shot. It seems to be working quite well for my mood, but I've been having this persistent NAUSEA since starting it that is driving me nuts. I don't ever remember having this side effect with Celexa, or Cymbalta for that matter. So I don't understand why the Lexapro would do it. I also notice that my tolerance for alcohol is severely decreased and that I get quite a bit of dizziness along with the nausea. I'm only taking 10 mg. a day, which I don't think is very much for Lexapro, is it? I also take it at night, and my nausea is occurring during the daytime hours. Anyway, does this sound familiar to anyone? I've been using the drug for approximately 10 days now. I really hope this goes away--it's really putting a damper on things! Thanks for any info/advice.
Posted by Maxime on June 26, 2005, at 22:45:00
In reply to persistant nausea with Lexapro..., posted by jessers11581 on June 26, 2005, at 17:54:49
Hi. I haven't taken it myself, but I have heard of others with the same problem. For some it went away, for others it didn't. I would keep taking it for at least 14 days and see how you are doing. I had a friend who was throwing up on it and she had to stop it right away (she also got a rash). If no improvement after 14 days talk to your doctor about some alternative.
I hope the situation improves since it is helping your mood.
Let us know what happens.
Maxime
> Hello again! Well, unfortunately my efforts to discontinue anti-depressants did not work out so well. I was able to stay drug-free for about a month before the depression and nagging anxiety came back full force, so I decided to go back to medication. This time, I'm using Lexapro instead of Cymbalta (which I was taking right before discontinuing meds). I think that SSRI's tend to work a little bit better for me than SNRI's. I was on Celexa for many years with positive results other than some cognitive fogginess and fatigue. So anyway, I'm giving Lexaro a shot. It seems to be working quite well for my mood, but I've been having this persistent NAUSEA since starting it that is driving me nuts. I don't ever remember having this side effect with Celexa, or Cymbalta for that matter. So I don't understand why the Lexapro would do it. I also notice that my tolerance for alcohol is severely decreased and that I get quite a bit of dizziness along with the nausea. I'm only taking 10 mg. a day, which I don't think is very much for Lexapro, is it? I also take it at night, and my nausea is occurring during the daytime hours. Anyway, does this sound familiar to anyone? I've been using the drug for approximately 10 days now. I really hope this goes away--it's really putting a damper on things! Thanks for any info/advice.
Posted by Emily Elizabeth on June 27, 2005, at 15:45:57
In reply to Re: persistant nausea with Lexapro... » jessers11581, posted by Maxime on June 26, 2005, at 22:45:00
This sounds like an experience that I had. We (pdoc and I) think that Lexapro was the culprit, but we can't be sure because I began having the symptom after I added desipramine. We think that it might have augmented the lex in such a way that it increased the side effects.
But anyway, it took a very long time to go away--several weeks. We played with the timing of my meds in order to try to move the side effects to when I was asleep. Is there a reason that you take Lex at night? My impression is that most people take it in the AM b/c it can be activating.
I ended up decreasing the lex a little, which I think may have helped. But, I was us to 50mg, so I was on a pretty high dose. Most folks take between 5-20, but it isn't uncommon to go higher esp for anxiety.
Other things... eating small ammounts throughout the time when you are prone to feel nauseous may help. Avoids that medicine tummy feeling. Also, ginger candy can help w/ nausea.
Hope you feel better!
EE
Posted by jessers11581 on June 27, 2005, at 18:41:57
In reply to Re: persistant nausea with Lexapro..., posted by Emily Elizabeth on June 27, 2005, at 15:45:57
Posted by MGOLDW on June 28, 2005, at 12:05:01
In reply to persistant nausea with Lexapro..., posted by jessers11581 on June 26, 2005, at 17:54:49
Hi! The first weeks on Lexapro are very rough. Severe anxiety, nausea, insomnea, headache are some of the side effects that I experienced. Hang in there, it takes several weeks,(8 in my case) to get the full benefit of the medication.
Good luck:::
Posted by h on June 28, 2005, at 15:18:19
In reply to persistant nausea with Lexapro..., posted by jessers11581 on June 26, 2005, at 17:54:49
Cut the pills in half. Maybe even a quarter. The Lexapro made me really nauseous when i started it but my doc said to cut the pills in half (in my case a quarter for awhile) and increase it gradually. It really helped when I ramped up very gradually.
Best of luck
h
Posted by Sarah T. on June 30, 2005, at 23:28:37
In reply to Re: persistant nausea with Lexapro..., posted by MGOLDW on June 28, 2005, at 12:05:01
I wonder why the start-up period for Lexapro seems to be so much more difficult than it is for Celexa.
This is the end of the thread.
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