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HELP Please!!!!!! Lexapro problems? Lithium suggested!!!???

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Posted 3/26/2006 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

I have suffered on and off with GAD with mild to moderate depression for almost 10 years.  Had horrible results with Paxil and Zoloft made me sleep all the time.  I took 20mg's of Celexa starting in January of 01 and stayed on that dose until April of 2003 and at that time felt really well so I weaned off.  I was hit with another bad bout of GAD at xmas of 2003, but this time with depression which gave me awful suicidal thoughts of which I have not fully been able to kick even when I dont feel utterly depressed. (although they do disapper at times when I am very relexaed)  Starting in Winter of 03 I took 40 mg's of Celexa which at the beginning made my anxiety/agitation/suicidal thinking much worse but it eventually ironed out and I was ok.  Then in July of 04 my pdoc thought Lexapro would be good for me and we started at 10mg's and got up to 20 over a period of a month or so.  From there I had some good days and bad days.  I cant remember having more than two months of straight good days though even while on the medication.  It was constant waxing and weaning from feeling normal to anxious. 

In April of 05 I decided that the periods of suicidal thinking/anxiety were not me and I associated it with the medicine.  I quit LEX cold turkey and as you could imagine it was 8 weeks of absolute withdrawl hell.  But.....from June 05 until December 05 I felt like the old me....outgoing, able to handle stress, it was a great time again.  Once again though, in early December of 05 my problem resurfaced.  I told my pdoc I was against the SSRI's because of how they made me think.  We tried Gabitril, which was a joke.  After six weeks of getting worse and worse I finally went back on 10mg's of Celexa.  I took that starting from Jan 25, 06 for six weeks.  It had only a ripple of efficacy.  I revisited my pdoc and we again went back to Lexapro and I have now been on 10 mg's of Lexapro for 22 days.  I have had a couple decent days.  I have alot of anxiety.  I also find myself becoming very angry and frustrated at times.  I am completely preoccupied with my problem.  Also I feel dulled...I played golf with friends yesterday and it was very dull...not alot of joy in it.  Suicidal thoughts are at bay but I can tap into them easily.  I really just dont feel like me and I am tired of feeling like this.  Its been 4 months and I have had no real relief.  Now, because I have had recurrent issues with anxiety/depression and what seems to be mood swings lately...my pdoc thinks a mood stablizer will be a good thing for me.  I am suspect to say the least!!!!  He thinks Lithium would be good because it has antidepressant qualities and acts a shield to future episodes.  Could it be that I just need to change meds?  HELP PLEASE!!!!

Can anyone please offer some insight on similar experiences???  My patience is really wearing thin and I need support!!!!

Posted 3/26/2006 2:53 AM (GMT 0)

Hi sdguy,  Welcome to healing well forum.  I am really sorry that you are having so many problems. 

Okay, first are you seeing a psychiatrist?  The reason that I ask this is that with your diagnosis it is important that a psychiatrist is the one who is prescribing your medications and not a primary care physician.  If so, are you also seeing a counselor or therapist about your anxiety and depression?  It is not so common anymore to find psychiatrist doing their own therapy sessions with patients in length.  This is why you should be seeing someone for additional therapy especially if you are continuing to have problems.

Secondly, there are many good antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications on the market now.  I know you stated it your post that you told your doctor that you didn't want in SSRI but I wonder why you were prescribed Celexa and Lexapro again when they didn't prove to have much of a benefit to you.  This really doesnt make much sense.  I have taken Zoloft and Luvox and Effexor and had very good effects from all of them.  The only ones that I couldnt tolerate was Remeron and Prozac.  So please do keep in mind that these medications do work differently on different people.

Lastly, if my doctor mentioned Lithium Carbonate to me I would be freaked out too.  So your reaction to it is perfectly normal.  However, I dont know your medical history or anything and am not a doctor so I am not qualified to say if this is right or not for you.  Lithium is used a lot for manic depression and can be used just for short periods of time to force a response from a patient.  http://www.mentalhealth.com/drug/p30-l02.html   here is a web site for you so you can read on it and do your own research. 

Please let us know how it goes, take care

Posted 3/26/2006 3:20 AM (GMT 0)
My Brother-in law was on LITHIUM and it all most killed him.Sorry not trying to scare you but thought you need to know this and please remember not every one has this reaction to this med.

My Brother-in -law was getting ready for work and my sister said that he was not feeling well and that maybe he needed to stay home from work.So he did.about an hour later he call 911 and an ambalnce was call out there in the mean time my sisiter's next door neighber called my sister and then called us and by thie time we all got to the hospital he was haveing convolcation's and whent into cardiact arrest we honetly thought he was a gonna now keep in mind he is only 38.

They did all kind's of test once they got him revived and come to find out he had high amount's of LITHIUM in his blood stream and what had happen his body was not breaking this drug down and it was building up in his system.

He is now on Welbutain (sp) and is doing very well on this med's thank god so please if you do go on this drug that you read up on it and make sure that it will not interfear with any other med's that you are on before starting this drug.Please let me know what you decide to do.
Posted 3/27/2006 1:02 AM (GMT 0)
I am sorry about what happened to your brother in law curley that must of been really frightening for everyone in your family.  Lithium is one of those drugs that has to be monitored closely and does require what is called "Lithium Levels" blood work on regular basis to insure that it is being properly absorbed in the body.  I had a reaction similar to that on Tegretol.  I taking it for seizures and it built up in my system and became toxic.  They found it pretty fast though.
Posted 3/27/2006 2:51 AM (GMT 0)

sdguy,

I suggest you look at Cymbalta as a possible med for you.  Like you, Lithium was once suggested to me (an obvious misdiagnosis); and I have been through countless anti-depressant medications and those prescribed for anxiety as well.  None of them worked with the exception of only these two, Cymbalta and the Klonopin.

Cymbalta changed my life.  I no longer take it, as I focused on healthy lifestyle in conjunction and no longer feel depressed.  For anxiety, Klonopin (generic name: Clonazapam) has worked very well for me also.

I'd want to try Cymbalta first; especially given the fact that Lithium is somewhat hardcore, and the careful monitoring that is absolutely necessary can feel quite tedious indeed!

Posted 3/27/2006 5:21 AM (GMT 0)
I gave up using lexapro for about 3 days in August of last year. My first dose gave me such a drunken sailor feel. I was disoriented, clutzy with a very dry mouth. Well, alternating doses from 5mg to 10mg its been almost 3 weeks and besides one episode of a sharp one sided headache, slighlty dry mouth and achey jaw. I feel fine, calmer without over analyzing. With research, I read different AD affects certain chemicals in the brain. With lexapro, that would be serotonin. Check with your doctor, perhaps you need another chemical to counter effect the usually AD. (Xanax? For anxiety.) Have you considered an all natural remedy? From what I read, you experience phases of Depression. I understand coming of AD meds can be difficult, maybe suffer the withdrawals while keeping the best positive outlook before experimenting again. What ever the reason, meds is not the last resort...........for a cure or change. Life offers many possibilities.
Posted 3/30/2006 8:15 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taking lithium for the past three years to treat bipolar disorder.  I personally have not seen any noticeable side effects to Litihium.  I had more side effects on antidepressants that I have tried, than with lithium.

Lithium does have an antidepressant effect to it as well.  Research has shown that lithium has an anti-suicidal component to it.  Maybe your doctor wants you to try lithium because you have had suicidal thinking.  If I were you I would pinpoint him on his exact reasoning behind his suggestion.  I would confront him about your fears regarding taking a mood stabilizer.  Good Luck!

Posted 3/30/2006 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
Well, Three weeks into Lexapro and I feel great! No more erratic or paranoid mood swings. I don't worry or contemplate like I did before. The days seem to be free flowing. The fatigue is gradually dimineshing, other than that absolute no side affects. If I can also say my husband and I are really intimate and I feel because no longer do I feel insecure or bothered with past traumatic experiences and guilt................10 mgs, we shall see. I wish everyone can experience what I am with Lexapro. I am hopeful for you all.....
Posted 3/30/2006 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Wow!  That is really great Jenifer...I am happy for you.

Posted 3/31/2006 3:27 PM (GMT 0)
My heart goes out to you...I was unable to take Lexapro. I had been on Zoloft and doing ok...then I moved, had to find a new doc in my area and this doc said they did not like Zoloft and wanted to try me on Lexapro. I became incredibly short tempered, frustrated and feeling as though I was going to have a nervous breakdown. I found a new doc and this one put me on Cymbalta which now I am finding is horrible to get off of and I have now developed hypothyroidism...which I am hearing could be a side effect...so hang in there. Be strong and do not give up. Try another doctor and get another opinion on what meds are out there they may work for you.

 

Posted 3/31/2006 3:49 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Hilton, I wanted to tell you welcome to Healing Well forum.  We are happy to have you.  I am sorry that you have had so many problems with antidepressants,  it is harder when you have a physician that puts his own personal feelings into the mix when your doing okay on something and just feels that he has to change it.  I have had this happen to me years ago and I ended up changing doctors.  The ones I have now are wonderful and completely listen to my needs.  Anyway....welcome once again, I look forward to hearing more from you.  Take care...

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