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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 10 of 10. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 21:27:27
Hi everyone. I'm new to the threads here, so hello :) I have a question for you all about Lexapro. My boyfriend started taking it about a month ago for anxiety/depression (mainly anxiety and obsessive thoughts). He was previously on buspirone, but it was not helping, so his psychiatrist had him discontinue it and switch to Lexapro instead. He takes 10 mg of Lexapro before bed. It seems that, starting about a week or so ago, he has been complaining of difficulty focusing at work and occasionally cloudy thoughts. He says he feels lazy and has trouble focusing on anything long enough to get things done without difficulty. Is this a normal side effect of Lexapro? Does it go away? His psychiatrist is on vacation currently, so we are hoping for some answers in the meanwhile. Thanks!
Posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 21:34:14
In reply to Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing?, posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 21:27:27
Sorry, I forgot to mention, he is also on clonazepam as needed for anxiety. He was prescribed the clonazepam at the same time as the Lexapro. He takes 0.25 mg of clonazepam every day or every other day when he feels especially anxious. Thanks!
Posted by Phillipa on May 17, 2010, at 22:27:06
In reply to Re: Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing? (follow-up), posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 21:34:14
Welcome to babble great to have you. Other than the trouble focusing how's the lexapro and clonazepam helping is he less depressed and anxious? Love Phillipa
Posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 23:16:43
In reply to Re: Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing? (follow-up) » kiwiofhearts, posted by Phillipa on May 17, 2010, at 22:27:06
The clonazepam seems to help him a lot with his anxiety, but I think the psychiatrist's goal is to eventually increase his Lexapro to 20 mg daily and have him not really use the clonazepam much after that. So far, with a month on 10 mg of Lexapro, he says it might be helping but he's not sure. It doesn't curb his anxiety like the clonazepam does, and now he's having some additional anxiety about his new-found inability to focus or be productive at work.
Posted by bearfan on May 18, 2010, at 0:40:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing? (follow-up), posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 23:16:43
I had that same side effect. 10mg at once is kind of a lot, so it does get better, although never totally went away from me.
Posted by Elanor Roosevelt on May 18, 2010, at 9:49:35
In reply to Re: Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing? (follow-up), posted by bearfan on May 18, 2010, at 0:40:40
What time of the day is he dosing with Lexapro?
If he can take the Lexapro and Clozenepan nights (the sleep may be choppy at first) he may get an overall smoother ride during the days
Posted by kiwiofhearts on May 18, 2010, at 12:09:23
In reply to Re: Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing? (follow-up), posted by Elanor Roosevelt on May 18, 2010, at 9:49:35
Thank you for the replies. He is currently taking the Lexapro at night before bed.
Posted by manic666 on May 18, 2010, at 12:33:50
In reply to Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing?, posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 21:27:27
10mg is not a lot its the starter dose//40mg is use by a lot ,were as 20mg is theraputic to most///the shrink had put him on a benzo till the med kicks in///he will feel spaced out .thats his brain slowing down //he has been on red alert with anxiety you said//im afraid its a side effect that may be with him for a while,mabye always//the med is doing its work an calming his brain your not going to be the sharpest with a med in your head ????????????oo0h a ryme
Posted by Deneb on May 27, 2010, at 21:24:25
In reply to Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing?, posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 21:27:27
Hello kiwiofhearts!
Welcome to Psycho-Babble! I don't take Lexapro, but I do take Celexa, which is close. The only time I have noticed cognitive problems was when I became depressed, but meds can have different side effects for different people. Could it be that it is just his depression causing the problems with focusing?
Deneb
Posted by kiwiofhearts on June 14, 2010, at 14:23:56
In reply to Lexapro and Difficulty Focusing?, posted by kiwiofhearts on May 17, 2010, at 21:27:27
I wanted to say thanks to everyone for your replies. Now that my boyfriend has been on the Lexapro for a while and has gone up to 20mg of Lexapro daily, he is MUCH less anxious and very rarely needs the clonazepam at all.
Also, he went back to his psychiatrist and was diagnosed with ADHD, which may explain his long-term problems focusing, which the Lexapro seemed to make worse. He is now on 35mg of Vyvanse daily for ADHD in addition to the Lexapro, and his problems focusing are much more manageable now. So he is now doing very well, quite happy, without anxiety, and having a much easier time at work and with his social relationships :)
This is the end of the thread.
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