Share your experience with Lexapro

[graywarrior]

My doc prescribed it. I hate it.

[Rowdyboy]

1. Worked well and easily when I needed it....

No side effects, no problems. Don't use it anymore but, if I need an antidepressant again, it'll be my 1st choice.

Sorry you had a bad experience.

[DawgHouse]

2. I am curious

What specifically do you not like about it? Are you having bad side effects?

[HeeBGBz]

3. I'm taking it too and I hate it

I want off it, but I haven't gone back to the doctor to get it done.

I think it's whats making me fatigued all the time.

[graywarrior]

5. Exactly! I'm so tired all the time. That's new for me.

I can't sleep, or I don't fall asleep until after 2 am and then I wake up 3 or 4 times after that to take a leak. I feel dizzy.

How many mgs are you on? I'm on 10.

[HeeBGBz]

8. I sleep way too much

I'm on 10.

[xultar]

48. I take it with Efexor and I LOVE IT! No more depression!!! n/t

[LynneSin]

25. It is, see my post below

I gained 50lbs in 3 months after losing 30 on 10mg. I was fatigued and that fatigued prevented made it difficult for me to excercize. Plus the fatigue left me unmotivated which means I start not caring about what I eat. Plus I slept horribly at nights.

I was a fricking mess from it. If you don't like it get your doctor to start tapering you off of it now!

[leftofthedial]

31. fatigue?

or just such flat affect and overall mellowness that you don't want to do anything?

[HeeBGBz]

42. Exhaustion mostly

I get up and around to do things and I feel the strength drain out of me after a few minutes. I get pressure in the back of my neck and all I want to do is lay down.

Of course, this could be any number of things causing it. Lack of insurance and all that. I just try to weed out possibilities as I go.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

61. Gained wt. from Lexapro, Prozac and Effexor. Wasn't until the

doc prescribed Wellbutrin, Xanax and Topamax (for depression, anxiety and weight loss, respectively) that she "got it right" and I lost the weight I put on.

[sakabatou]

41. That's why you take it at night...

[Zuni]

4. I take 40 milligrams every night

suffer no real side effects. Less harsh than Paxil

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I took it about 3 years ago

worked great. But I gained 30 pounds in about 6 weeks. When I went off of it, I dropped the extra weight.

My mom is on it now and she is gaining weight like crazy.

[HeeBGBz]

9. Wow, I've plumped up too

Never thought about it being because of the Lexapro.

[proud2BlibKansan]

12. I didn't either

My doctor conveniently forgot to tell me of that side effect.

It was a great medication and did help me deal with a pretty serious depression. So I don't mean to criticize it.

[LynneSin]

26. My doctor told me the opposite

I specifically told her that I was in the process of losing weight and she swore that Lexapro is actually a preferred drug if you're dieting since it won't affect weight gain/loss

[Maestro]

17. Wow I am glad to see that others

gained weight with this. I've gained 30 pounds too while on this. I feel better mentally, but the weight gain is hacking me off.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. Well if it helps

I am now on NOTHING! I took several heavy duty meds for several years for depression and eventually recovered and need nothing now. I always had a goal of coming off meds entirely and I worked with a terrific counselor who coordinated care with my doctor. It's been almost two years since I took anything and I feel better than ever all the time.

So I am proof that not all depression patients need meds for life. I also know that I could need to go back on something at anytime. And that is fine. I am glad to know I don't have to be sick and depressed.

And Maestro, what helped me the most was the counselor making me realize how important my teaching career was for me. I grew to really love what I do. I thought I loved teaching, but didn't realize how much my identity and self-worth were tied into my career. It is also so selfless. I have no time to worry about ME when I am in my classroom with kids. And that was a critical point for me, since my depression put me on the pitty pot big time.

[Maestro]

22. My problem really isn't depression but anger management

since I get so freakin' frustrated with politicians, teachers that need to hang it up, parents who don't want to be parents and arrogant curriculum directors among other things. Lexapro has done a good job keeping me "level." I was never about to go "postal" or anything but I was an extremely angry person at times. I've seen a counselor, but we didn't get along.

[proud2BlibKansan]

39. Yes, I can sure relate to

that anger. Can I ever. grrrr :mad:

[graywarrior]

7. Geeze, if I can weight I shoot myself

Anyone go off cold turkey, or wean off it?

[Bossy Monkey]

11. It's recommended that you taper off

This is the same info from the PDR, also the package insert:
http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/lexapro_wcp.htm
The bit about discontinuation is about a third of the way down the page.

[HeeBGBz]

13. I've gone four days cold turkey.

Felt dizzy, grouchy, and potentially unstable.

I don't trust my "family" doctor anymore. Yes, I have depression, but some of this shit makes you worse than you are.

[graywarrior]

10. Cripes, I gotta get off this shit.

[HeeBGBz]

14. Isn't this just great

Patients with major depressive disorder, both adult and pediatric, may experience worsening of their depression and/or the emergence of suicidal ideation and behavior (suicidality), whether or not they are taking antidepressant medications, and this risk may persist until significant remission occurs. Although there has been a long-standing concern that antidepressants may have a role in inducing worsening of depression and the emergence of suicidality in certain patients, a causal role for antidepressants in inducing such behaviors has not been established. Nevertheless, patients being treated with antidepressants should be observed closely for clinical worsening and suicidality, especially at the beginning of a course of drug therapy, or at the time of dose changes, either increases or decreases. Consideration should be given to changing the therapeutic regimen, including possibly discontinuing the medication, in patients whose depression is persistently worse or whose emergent suicidality is severe, abrupt in onset, or was not part of the patient’s presenting symptoms.

Mmm hmmm, well if the Dark Lords ever decide to off me, they can use this to explain it all away. Rat bastards.

Damn, I miss barbituates...

[scarlet_owl]

15. It works well for me. It really helped when I had withdrawal

symptoms from Effexor.

[graywarrior]

16. Should I laugh or cry over that one?

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. Effexor

is the worst. It really works for depression but the side effects are horrid.

[Maestro]

23. Tried Effexor too

I was nothing more than a zombie. For some it works but for others; No Way!

[proud2BlibKansan]

38. The side effects of Effexor are

hellacious. When I was on it, if I took it even an hour later than usual, my head felt like there was a giant tin drum inside it.

[chookie]

60. Questions for you

Why am I picking on you about this? Because I have read a lot of your posts, think you are very articulate and uncommonly common sensical. (I've wanted to tell you that for a long time!)

I have had a lifelong mood disorder -- periodic severe depression. The new generation of antidepressants were a blessing. I took Zoloft for years with great success, but long term use, in me, caused problems. (The doctor increased the dose and caused even worse problems, ending up dosing me into a full blown mania episode. YIKES! A psychiatrist diagnosed me, after that episode, as a BPII subcategory (mania brought on by chemicals, and no, it wasn't even a fun kind of mania).

I am understandable nervous about using antidepressants again, but I have been fighting the "black dog" and losing big time, and am getting desperate enough to give treatment yet another chance.

You said you have tried quite a few of what's out there. I have tried Zoloft, Prozac (seemed to be okay short term), and Paxil (hated it -- it doped me into being unable to function).

If you would be so kind, could you please comment on your experiences with the different drugs, and what was good and what was bad and why? I am going to see the doctor tomorrow (GP) and I DREAD it. I think so highly of your judgement that I think your input on this matter would be valuable as I work with the doc to come up with a plan to combat this awful disease.


I have had bad psychiatrist karma imaginable; had pretty bad experiences with therapists, generally. (As soon as I found a great one, my insurance coverage ran out, wouldn't you know!) "Talk therapy" tends to make me worse, which is pretty awful.

It makes me glad to hear that you dealt with the illness successfully -- you are most fortunate, and I wish the same good fortune on all who suffer from this terrible disease.

[purr]

19. I hated it too...

made me feel spaced worse than Xanax and I didnt feel 'right' being on it.

[Missy Vixen]

21. Can't take it

The side effects alone were incompatible with a happy life -- heart racing, bla bla bla. It seems that there are supposedly anxiety reducers in anti-depressants, but they don't function correctly in my body.

It's really bad that St. John's Wort causes some sort of toxicity. I took it in the wintertime for SAD; it worked great and NO side effects, at least with me.

I hope that you and your doctor can find a medication that works perfectly for you.

Julie

[LynneSin]

24. I loved it until....

I was originally started out with 10mg. The person who prescribed it knew that I was trying to lose weight and said Lexapro would not interfere with weight loss like Prozac and other SSRI have done. I ended up losing about 25lbs on the Lexapro 10mg. After 3 months the PA (it wasn't a doctor) decided to up me to 20mg, which is the normal dosage

YIKES!!!

I could barely stay focused with this new prescription and felt I had no motivation or energy. The 25-30lbs I lost on 10mg not only came raging back but I added an additional 20lbs on top :cry: I wasn't depressed but I found myself wanting to do absolutely nothing except lie in bed all day since I had the energy of a 3-toe sloth. Finally I researched and read about the antipathy associated with Lexapro. I ended up just tapering myself off of the pill and I've been free of it for about 6 months.

So I'm back to square one still dealing with depression and now more weight ever on my body. I'm seeing a specialist who knows my history (I'm not going back to my original doctor's office since you never really see a doctor when you go and they also misdiagnosed me and I almost ended up with an appedectomy) and also am visiting a Nutritionist/Personal Trainer once a week to help get the weight off my body.

If you hate the Lexapro then let your doctor know and get off of it. I can't tell you how miserable I was with all this weight gain from taking it. I searched the internet and found that what I went through was mild compared to others

[Worst Username Ever]

27. My fiancee is on it.

Thank god for Lexapro. Sometimes she has some problems sleeping, but other than that she tolerates it pretty well. Her outlook on life and her patience are so much better. She went off of it for a while and our relationship really suffered, I just could not communicate with her without her getting upset and angry at me about anything I said.

[Shell Beau]

28. I used it for about a month. It was okay. I am on Paxil CR right now and

there has been a manufacturing problem so there is no more Paxil CR for a while , so I will be back on Lexapro.

[bertha katzenengel]

29. Didn't do shit for me, graywarrior. It just did not work. I got very, very

low while on it. :( Effexor worked great but raised my BP dangerously. Now I take Cymbalta (a new one) -- it's doing pretty well.

I hope you get switched to something that works, and soon. Best of luck.

[Pithlet]

30. I hated it, too

Took it for post partum depression. I hated how it made me feel, and even though I followed doctor's orders and weaned myself from it slowly, I had awful withdrawal symptoms for months. The "electrical zaps" were the worst. I still have some lingering effects months later.

[HeeBGBz]

43. Electrical zaps?

Would that be brain pops? Eek. I had those and it was mad freaky. I think I was on Paxil then. I hate Paxil. Had annoying "sexual side effects". Like achieving an orgasm became freakin work. Not that that would make any difference at the moment.

[Pithlet]

52. They felt like

intense tingling shooting through my arms and legs, like I'd touched an electric fence.

[Steph13]

32. I love it... but..

you have to find the right anti-depressant for your body. I was on Zoloft, Paxil & Effexor, all with serious side effects. My Dr switched me to Lexapro, and all I had was a very upset stomach the first day, and nothing since. It's really helped me tremendously, but everyone is different, and you have to find the one that fits you best. The Zoloft made me feel REALLY good all the time, but I could NOT sleep worth a damn, the Paxil worked, but made me want to sleep ALL the time! And the Effexor made me have nightmares almost on a nightly basis. NOT fun! I was getting down about finding the right one for me, but my Dr just told me to hang onto hope because there's many different kinds out there. With Lexapro, I finally found my 'magic pill!' :P (and am on 10mg & haven't noticed any weight gain from it.. I have gained a little recently, but I know I've been gorging on candy & junk food lately too!)

[LynneSin]

33. Don't increase the 10mg

I felt the same way you did with 10mg. I didn't have any problems until he increased it to 20

[Steph13]

34. Thanks for the info..

..it really helps.. I'll make sure I stay where I'm at! Figure why mess with something that's working? I just don't want my Dr to try & wean me off it, and I try to hang onto it like a crack addict! Half my family's on it, so maybe we're just angry by nature & need drugs. :crazy: I do notice though that I have more patience, and less snappy.. I knew when I did it, and hated it.. but felt like I couldn't help it. I've only been on it for maybe 6 months to a year, so maybe I'll eventually be able to wean myself off it, but just not yet.

A big issue though was I've always wanted to go into the veterinary field. I love animals SOOO much.. but if I came anywhere NEAR a sick or needy animal, I'd burst into tears. The Lexapro has enabled me to start volunteering at a no-kill animal shelter, and recently started working there part time for experience & extra cash. I'm also helping administer meds & such with the vet techs. it's what I really love doing, but I feel like if I wasn't on it, I'd be an emotional mess & not able to do what I'm doing now.

[Maestro]

36. I'm backing down to 10mg at the request of my doctor

He says I was only one of four patients he had at 20mg. He says the benefits vs more possible side effects are not really worth it unless of course I really need the extra 10mg. It is sort of like the law of diminishing returns. I'll see if I can't drop some of this weight now in a few months.

[CornField]

35. Ugh! My 13-yr-old was just put on this

I shouldn't have read this thread at all. I'm already a basketcase about her going on ADs.

And, one of the side effects of her PCOS (polycystic ovaries syndrome) is weight gain. We were hoping that once we got the PCOS under control, it would be easier for her to drop some weight. If the Lexapro interferes with that... Ugh!

Just Ugh!

You know, when my kids are giving me fits -- when they've gotten too close to a strange dog and had to be rushed to the ER -- when they've kept me awake until 3 a.m. for no apparent reason -- when they have made my hair stand on end by getting lost in public places --

Not once during all of those times have I ever wished them gone. It is during these times -- when I feel so incredibly inadequate as a parent and provider -- that I begin to question why I had children.

[Steph13]

37. I wouldn't worry

.. just make sure she lets you know about any side effects she's feeling. She just needs to find the right drug for her.. this may be it! & I wouldn't worry too much because I have PCOS too... I'm 29. I've always been skinny though, and they did say it seemed weird because one of the indicators of PCOS is weight gain. I would just monitor her closely.. she'll be the one that needs to tell you whether it's working or not!

P.S. They have me on ortho evra for the PCOS as well.. so on that AND the Lexapro, and couldn't feel better!

[tjdee]

44. I have PCOS too...ah, sweet weight gain...

I'm not an overweight person, but I carry any extra pounds right in my friggin middle, which is classic PCOS.

How did they diagnose her so young? I'm curious how she'd exhibit any of the signs already....

Oh, uh, I'm not on any ADs...

[chookie]

63. Question, please

Is your daughter being given this drug for POS? Is a symptom of her disorder depression?

If so, this may be something I need to talk to my doctor about....

I never heard of polycystic ovaries syndrome before.

I posted elsewhere in this thread about my own fight with depression, and will not repeat myself here.

But something weird hormonally has been happening to me for 3 years -- I am very far from age of menopause, but suddenly, periods stopped. (As a caregiver to a mom with alzheimers, i attributed it to stress). After 3 months, they came back. The problem occured again this year -- my periods stopped for 6 months! I don;t have medical insurance, so I never consulted my doctor. My depression during the cessation of menstruation was intense....

The periods started again. Go figure.

I should mention that all my life, I have had irregular periods -- commonly getting them every two weeks. I have told this to at least a dozen doctors, and none of them even said a word in reply. It was only one a few years ago, who I was discussing a serious depressive episode with, who said "HOLY FUCKING SHIT!" and said I might have a hormonal disorder which is related to the depression. Then I lost my health insurance, and it never got tested again....

Looking at the list of symptoms of POS, I am wondering if that is something that has to be eliminated as cause.

[sakabatou]

40. Took it, helped for a while...

then I stopped because it stopped helping me and then I got nightmares and cold sweats and I went back on. Now I'm Zoloft, which is much better.

[graywarrior]

45. This is great info. I cut my 10mg in half and will try weaning off

My head is not as fuzzy today. The thing that makes me the most angry is the reliance on something to "train" me into being controllable. It's like a ball & chain. Where I normally just pull up stacks and move where I want, I need to worry about friggin medication sources. Fuck that shit.

I got depressed coz I hate my shitty job. Now I don't have that anymore so mayble I'll start cheering up. Of course, I'm broke, so that's another good depression waiting around the corner.

[HeeBGBz]

49. I'm going to start doing the same.

I just know that when I don't taper off, I get this awful dizziness. Maybe if I gradually taper, I won't experience it as bad.

Rock on, graywarrior.

[Ladyhawk]

46. Diarrhea...not helping n/t

[graywarrior]

47. A woman of few words. How ya feeling?

[OldLeftieLawyer]

50. I'm curious

Are any of you folks on antidepressants in talk therapy as well? The drugs shouldn't be prescribed on their own - although a lot of internists do prescribe them - but as an adjunct to seeing a therapist. They're really only a stop-gap drug, but I see a lot of people in my practice who are on them almost as a lifelong commitment, and that's pretty disturbing, given the long-term side effects.

Anyway, as a clinician, I saw this thread, and figured it was a good, albeit small, random sample to ask.

[graywarrior]

51. You make a good point about therapy.

One of the reasons I so despise being on these drugs is that they are prescribed so freely without any follow up or any recommendations to seek therapy. Most people hope the magic pill will cure all their problems.

My main problem is I'm a spoiled control freak who gets depressed when things don't go my way. If I continue that path for any length of time, I slip comfortably into depression and stay there until someone calls me on it. It's like a hypnotic trance that I can't break. guess I need to bitch slap myself.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

54. When I was in training,

I interned with an absolutely outstanding clinician who was renowned for his unorthodox approach. This might be of some interest to you:

He was with a patient who suffered with a mild form of depression. She talked, as you do, about the downward spiral and how it had become comfortable for her, even though she knew it was terribly self-destructive (she stopped working, socializing, just sort of sat in the dark).

But, it IS comfortable.

So, Dr. Greenbank said to her, "Stop it. Don't do that any more. When you find yourself sliding, stop it. You can do that."

No one had ever suggested to her that she held the key to her jail cell. But, she heard his words whenever she started to slide, and she began to improve.

It was a demonstration of simplicity and compassion that I never forgot, and so, I offer it to you. I wish you good - no, great - luck.

(PS: The research on the antidepressants suggests they're essentially worthless, placebos more often than not having a more salubrious effect - when combined with cognitive therapy.)

[HeeBGBz]

53. No therapy, just drugs

For the first few weeks that I started taking them, I was up and energized. Now, I'm dragging ass around barely doing anything.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

55. The halo effect

I'll bet what you experienced is what I call a variation on the halo effect - simply put, if you believed the medication would help you, it would help you.

But, as you noted, it doesn't last. The spectrum of antidepressant drugs have been shown to be mostly worthless. It's not your imagination. So far, there are no drugs that will alleviate real depression. It's mostly the talk therapy that helps, but I know that that's beyond the reach of so many people.

Another reason to despise that ratbastard in the White House.

I wish you much luck, and thanks to both of you for your responses.

[HeeBGBz]

56. I didn't visit the doctor for depression when he prescribed it to me

I was in for something else and he told me I was depressed.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

57. Is he a psychiatrist?

That's quite strange, him doing that.

[HeeBGBz]

58. No. Family all purpose doctor

He was also my mom and grandmother's family doctor.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

62. With all due respect,

I would find another physician for my needs, if I were you.

That's unheard of - an internist telling a patient that he or she is suffering from depression.

[HeeBGBz]

64. Yeah, I have concerns

He had given me other antidepressants at earlier times. At this time though, he was the one that told me I was depressed and he chastised me for (what I assumed) was my going to a different doctor in town.

[seemunkee]

59. My daughter is on it

She has tried other meds and lexapro helps without aggravating her sleep problems.

[graywarrior]

65. Valuable information OldLeftieLawyer

Drives home the "you create you're own reality" message.

I let school and a full time job, which I hate, wear me down and ended up in a doctor office complaining about severe stomach pain and stress. My real solution is to leave my job, but that means taking responsibility to support myself another way. More stress.

I hate making decisions about myself.