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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 20 of 20. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Comet on March 5, 2006, at 15:42:58
I know there was a long thread about Lex - but I'd be interested in updates from Lexapro users - past and present. I was wondering if anyone would be willing to post a paragraph or two about their experience - who long have you or were you on Lex, whether it's been positive, negative or mixed, why were they prescribed the drug and whether or not it has been effective for that reason.
I'll start - I was prescribed Lex a little under a month ago. The doc. suggested that I try it as an alternative to Klonopin for GAD and panic. I decided to try for two reasons - I am a little worried about longterm habituation to the K - which works very well - and I've tended towards dysthimia and thought that Lex my help in that category as well. I started with 10mg over 3 weeks ago. The first two weeks were unpleasant to be sure with a whole host of side effects that for the most part have gone away. I'm still adjusting. The side effects that I mostly notice now are - a tendency to clench my jaw and sex side effects.
At first I was so spacey during the day that it made it difficult to concentrate and get work done. I found that switching to taking it in the evening has mostly done away with this problem. Though I could probably take a nap at any given time without effort.
I'm still weening off the K so I can't say for certain whether or not it is having a positive effect on GAD - although going from 1 mg to .5 mg of K has been relatively painless. Can't say whether or not it's improved my mood either - but I do feel unhurried about most things. This is positive in that I'm usually a big ball of stress - but negative in that I don't seem to have the same follow through on important assignments
Posted by Greif on March 5, 2006, at 20:40:25
In reply to Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by Comet on March 5, 2006, at 15:42:58
I have been on Lex since it came out. Before that I was on Celexa. It does zero for anxiety in fact most people I know who take Lex have increased anxiety and insomnia. I take 2MG of Klon daily with the lex or I cant sleep. It effects everyone different. Try going to Remedyfind.com
and you will read hundreds of posts of Lex v K for anxiety. Despite what Forest Labs says...it does not reduce anxiety for most. Give it a try and see. Keep the k around just in case it affects you like it does me. I have not been depressed in years since taking cel/lex. Good luck
Posted by jessers11581 on March 5, 2006, at 21:04:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by Greif on March 5, 2006, at 20:40:25
I definitely did not have positive experiences with Lexapro. I had been on 20 mg.- 40 mg. Celexa for almost four years before trying Lex. The Celexa worked really well for a long time, but eventually, it seemed to kind of poop out on me, so Lex was the next thing my doc recommended. I took 10 mg. Lex for about 2 months (maybe longer, I can't remember). The side effects were: nausea, terrible brain fog and spaciness, jaw clenching (but I still get this on Cymbalta), and of course the obliterated sex drive.
That being said, I do know people who are doing really well on it. My boss takes 20 mg. per day and feels great. He does act a little loopy sometimes, but hey! He's happy.
Good luck to you!
Posted by Phillipa on March 5, 2006, at 21:45:10
In reply to Re: Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by jessers11581 on March 5, 2006, at 21:04:51
I know a poster here who has great results from it. Fondly, Phillipa
Posted by Glydin on March 5, 2006, at 23:17:15
In reply to Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by Comet on March 5, 2006, at 15:42:58
My experience with Lex has been positive beyond my expectations for depression and anxiety. We have posted with one another before, so I won't review the details of my findings unless you would like to ask specific questions of my experience. I’m always open for those inquiries.
It’s a wonderful treatment for me.
Posted by mopey on March 6, 2006, at 21:19:27
In reply to Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by Comet on March 5, 2006, at 15:42:58
Hi. I've been taking 7.5 mg of Lexapro for two years -- find it works great for me. I know it seems like a crazy dose, but I tend to be sensitive to meds, and this dosage works for me.
I've gained some weight (30 pounds or so), but I'm not sure how much of that is the medication and how much is the fat that I'm not as active and am getting older.
Posted by flmm on March 7, 2006, at 20:58:31
In reply to Re: Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by mopey on March 6, 2006, at 21:19:27
Completely eleminates panic and anxiety for me. Decent for depression!
Posted by jessers11581 on March 8, 2006, at 6:24:13
In reply to Re: Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by flmm on March 7, 2006, at 20:58:31
Those of you who have used, or are using, Lexapro: have you noticed that it's difficult for you to think straight, or that you just aren't as sharp-witted as you should be? I felt like I had a lot of "brain-fog" and spaciness on Lexapro and Celexa both, and I'm just curious to see whether others have had similar experiences. Thanks!
Posted by Glydin on March 8, 2006, at 7:26:33
In reply to Re: question for everyone, posted by jessers11581 on March 8, 2006, at 6:24:13
Gratefully, I have not experienced this with Lexapro. I do know of what you're speaking - I was monotherapy Klonopin for a few years. My startup with K came with brain fog, memory problems and an inability to articulate the words I needed or wanted to use (hated that one). That side effect did pass for me but it was not a good feeling while experiencing it and was very frustrating.
Posted by utopizen on March 8, 2006, at 10:52:19
In reply to Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by Comet on March 5, 2006, at 15:42:58
It took me 3-4 months of continued Lexapro use before it helped my mood, and my anxiety. But when it did, I was like,
"holy ... I just realized I haven't been craving my bed in the middle of the day for a week now!"
I used it along with Klonopin, 1mg 3x/day. I've been on it for... a year and a half. 30mg/day.
I used it for social anxiety disorder, which is pretty much dead now, anxiety in general, and depression.
Klonopin, at prn or whatever, is helpful... while you wait for it to kick in.
Posted by Comet on March 8, 2006, at 13:00:42
In reply to Re: question for everyone, posted by jessers11581 on March 8, 2006, at 6:24:13
"I felt like I had a lot of "brain-fog" and spaciness on Lexapro and Celexa both, and I'm just curious to see whether others have had similar experiences. Thanks!"
I definitely experienced this for the first couple of weeks. Was sleepy and had felt foggy for a while. I switched to taking it at night and this helped significantly with the fogginess during the day. But - I may have been adjusting to the Lex also - so who knows. I'm probably functioning at 90 - 95% of normal now. Also, I don't know if this helps or not - but it seems to - I take 60 miligrams of ginkgo in the morning and feel a little bit sharper.
Posted by utopizen on March 8, 2006, at 16:17:36
In reply to Re: question for everyone, posted by Comet on March 8, 2006, at 13:00:42
> "I felt like I had a lot of "brain-fog" and spaciness on Lexapro and Celexa both, and I'm just curious to see whether others have had similar experiences. Thanks!"
>If you get "brain fog" I mean, I've heard it reported on pretty much SSRI... I've never myself experienced it on anything but Risperdal, which I tried for social anxiety for 3 days before giving up.
It's a pretty vague side effect, to be honest. I mean, all I know is with Risperdal, it was so much, I felt like my brain's frontal lobes were just taken out of me and felt so dull, I was in a fetal position on the ground in agony.
I really think perhaps, it's not as bad as you think. These are just SSRI's, not antipsychotics.
If you are experiencing any cognitive impairment, it has to be pretty mild, and very unlikely to last more than a month or two if that.
I'd talk to your doc. Perhaps you went on too high to quickly? My roomie got Celexa prescribed at 10mg for first week, then 20mg everyday thereafter.
So, maybe you're just sensitive to the drug and need to speak to your doc about 1/2 the dose until you're more adjusted. Or, just wait it out, depending on how it's affecting your everyday life.
I took Celexa at 20mg everyday and was fine years ago, before going off it for my own reasons and switching.
I now take Lexapro, at 30mg, with no side effects.
Posted by msurtees on March 9, 2006, at 9:05:11
In reply to Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by Comet on March 5, 2006, at 15:42:58
I've been on it for about a year now. I love it and find that it's wonderful. I do seem to have high anxiety with though from time to time.
Posted by flipsactown on March 10, 2006, at 22:00:47
In reply to Re: Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by flmm on March 7, 2006, at 20:58:31
Lexapro worked great for my unipolar depression. However, it pooped out after 6 months.
I am currently on Cymbalta 30mg and have been for the last 3 or 4 months and it is still effective, but not as effective as months 2 and 3. I am also taking Wellbutrin SR 400mg and Trazodone 100mg.
FST
Posted by circusboy on March 11, 2006, at 16:00:01
In reply to Re: question for everyone, posted by jessers11581 on March 8, 2006, at 6:24:13
> Those of you who have used, or are using, Lexapro: have you noticed that it's difficult for you to think straight, or that you just aren't as sharp-witted as you should be?
* * *
I very definitely experienced the same on Celexa (20mg). You're certainly not imagining it, and it may not resolve on its own.Zoloft and Prozac were the only two (S)SRI's that actually made me feel sharper -- for a time, anyway. I think I was finally pulled under by the over-time dampening of dopaminergic function that SSRI's are hypothesized to cause.
What are your primary symptoms? Mine were/are all related to cognitive functioning (slowed thinking et al.), which probably aren't a good match for SSRI's in the first place.
-cb (nee pellmell... can't seem to reset my password; must've been using my old university email address)
Posted by NIKITA on March 20, 2006, at 12:10:39
In reply to Re: question for everyone » jessers11581, posted by circusboy on March 11, 2006, at 16:00:01
I've had good luck with Lexapro. Was on 5 mg. for a long time, then it seemed to poop out. Just went up to 10 mg. and feel SO much better. For me, it helps as a mood stabilizer, kind of numbing my overwrought emotions. I've been feeling really sleepy and lethargic since increasing the dosase though.
Posted by Op27Nr2 on April 1, 2006, at 1:09:31
In reply to Lexapro Past and Present Users Poll, posted by Comet on March 5, 2006, at 15:42:58
For those who have taken Lexapro long term have you experienced a significant change in weight? For the guys, any change in your ability to gain an erection?
I'm about to start a program which includes Lexapro, and want to know what to expect.
Thanks in advance for any information.
Posted by maryhelen on April 1, 2006, at 13:44:46
In reply to Re: question for everyone, posted by NIKITA on March 20, 2006, at 12:10:39
I started taking Ciraplex in the beginning of February. I went on the web to check it out and I think it is the same drug as Lexapro. I live in Canada, so maybe they use a different name. Does anyone know?
My pdoc also started me on Lamitcal (a drug that worked three years ago and I had the first response to the depression being gone, in my life, the drug pooped out after 8 weeks). He also started me on Lithium. I think he may have done this because I had been taking Lithium just before the Lamitcal. I couldn't keep taking the Lithium, as I was returning to work and couldn't go back with the side effects; severe tremors, my hair falling out but mostly my brain was dull and I had turned very stupid. So maybe pdoc felt that there was a bit of a crossover with the Lamitcal and Lithium . I will be able to ask these questions when I see him. Do you think this combination may clash and I won't have a change of getting the full effect of the Lexapro?
I developed serious stomache flu, and could not keep the meds down for 3 weeks so I have just started them up again 2 weeks ago. I hear many positive responses to Lexapro. One thing is that I do not have anxiety. I have treatment resistant unipolar depression.
Lexapro 20 mg.
Lamitcal 75 mg. so far. It will go up.
Lithium 900 mg. just reached it a few days ago and will have to have the levels checked.
You guys are so well informed and do so much research and know so much. Any thoughts on this drug combo? Maybe I should have made this a separate thread.
maryhelen
Posted by ed_uk on April 1, 2006, at 14:05:04
In reply to Re: question for everyone, posted by maryhelen on April 1, 2006, at 13:44:46
Hi
Cipralex and Lexapro are brand names for the drug escitalopram. Lexapro is the American brand name. Cipralex is the brand name in Canada and the UK.
Ed
Posted by maryhelen on April 1, 2006, at 14:25:40
In reply to Re: question for everyone » maryhelen, posted by ed_uk on April 1, 2006, at 14:05:04
> Hi
>
> Cipralex and Lexapro are brand names for the drug escitalopram. Lexapro is the American brand name. Cipralex is the brand name in Canada and the UK.
>
> EdThanks Ed for your quick response. I didn't want to be talking about a different drug.
Appreciate it and have a good day!
maryhelen
This is the end of the thread.
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