Lexapro - Need advice please

Kat remember, that's what the doc told you to do. If you need it, take it! I don't think the .125 is going to touch your anxiety right now, I would just take a whole one if I were you. You WILL get through this...((hugs)) Fox

Hi Kat! I too am on lexapro and my doc upped my dose yesterday to 15mg. I was taking 10mg. I can say my anxiety has increased but I take ativan .5mg in the morning to take the edge off things and then at night when it never fails i start getting a little jittery and when its a bad day i will also take it in the afternoon. If you have the xanax i say take it there's no need to suffer thru the side effects if you have something to help you out until the lexapro kicks in!!

This is my second time on lexapro and the first time i was on it i was taking 10mg at first then they bumped me up to 20mg and i was also taking 1mg of ativan 4 times a day! I took the ativan like they told me to and i did that for a couple months then slowly weaned myself off of it...it really did help me get thru the rough spots while i was getting adjusted to the lexapro!

The sleeping will get back to normal it just takes time for your body to get used to the lexapro...i'm not sleeping like i was but i've only been on lexapro a short time and i know soon enough i will be back to my old sleeping habit...can't wait for that!!!!

Take care!
Huskergrl

when i took it the first time i started feeling better within a month but it was at least two months to feel like my old self again. It does take time and i get frustrated now even tho ive been on it before. Just wish this was like an antibiotic you take it and in a couple days you feel like yourself again...that would be awesome! If your unsure about the xanax maybe ask your doc for something different..i really like the ativan and it really does help alot with the shakyness and jitters and all the other stuff and i know its not hard to wean off of cuz i've done it before with no problems.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon...keep me posted!

A lot of people with depression or anxiety say they feel better in the evenings. I can agree with this statement, I used to always feel so much better at night. I think it was because things were quieter, less stress.

I have some suggestions for you. I won't tell you just to "stop worrying" because as we know, its near impossible. Here are some things that really helped me:

Sit down and just start writing. I gave myself three pages to fill. No more and no less. I did not re-read one single word of it. Whatever I felt went down on the paper. At that point, it was acknowledged and there was no going back to it (through the re-reading). When you have finished your three pages, you burn them. Shred them. Shove them in an envelope and seal it. Whatever it takes, you're done with it for that moment. When I first started, I felt like I needed to do this multiple times a day; now I only do it once or twice a week. Also when I first started, I designated a time each day. I would think "today I'm going to acknowledge and handle my anxiety from 3-5". This way, when the overwhelming feelings/thoughts came about I would remember that they were allowed in that two hour time span and not and at any other time. It sounds crazy and I'm not saying it was easy, but it did help and now, two months later, I don't have to do it every day.

Also, a thing I found myself doing was worrying about tomorrow. I see you doing that and its perfectly normal but remember that there are so many events going on today! I completely understand the need to feel prepared for whatever may come. No matter how prepared we make ourselves, even us superwomen, there's always going to be a kicker. At one point, I absolutely refused to think about the next day. People would ask me to make plans with them for dinner or events and as tough as it was I would have to let them know I wasn't in a frame of mind to make promises I couldn't keep. Maybe I would have a bad day, maybe I would be feeling ok... I didn't know until that day came around. To be honest, my mood was fluctuating a lot, feeling sadness over the breakup and worrying about my ex's depression. Who knew what I would be like on X day at X time. Your lexapro may work today, tomorrow, three weeks from now... who the heck knows!!! You have devised a plan and are sticking with it. Try to eliminate/alleviate some of the causes of the anxiety. Say, "self, you are doing a great job sticking to this plan. If you need meds, take them. If you need a dr visit, make it. That is all you can do. Keep up the good work". I found that posting these "thoughts" next to my mirror really helped.

Finally, pray (if you do). Meditate if not :) Every morning I set a timer for ten minutes and lay on my back with my palms facing up. I just breathe. I don't hold them in and let them out, I just try to get them regular.

I see you are struggling, but you are doing so well. You are acknowledging when you are better/worse off at times and trust me, that's progress. You are noticing/learning more about yourself. Soon, I bet you will be able to identify what causes those better or worse times.

Keep up the great work and keep posting!

Courtney

Hi Friends, just wanted to give you an update.

Courtney - thanks for your advice, I did that Friday night. Just made a word document and typed everything in my head that I am afraid of, all my fears and mistakes. Then I went and took a hot bath, cried for a while and talked to my Mom (she died 10 years ago) and prayed. Friday was a bad day but I did make it through with not taking any more Xanax. I have been telling myself when I wake up, today is going to be a good day and am going to keep doing that throughout the day. I have too many things in my life to be thankful for to worry about every little thing going wrong. I have always been a worrier but it is through the roof these past few months.

Fox, thank you too for your support, it is hard to know what to do. I just feel like I won't be able to tell if my side effects are from the Lexapro or the Xanax until I stop the Xanax and only use it when I really need it, been taking it every day. A low dose but still. I probably really needed it Friday but didn't want to take a step back. I think today I may be ready to switch to a 1/4 of .25 mg for a few days and then hopefully be done and then I can make a clear decision about the Lexapro. I don't know how much longer I can stick with it. I spent 3 weeks and 10 mg and its been a little over 2 weeks at 20mg. I know you have to wait it out 4-6 weeks but I don't know if I can take it much longer. I think I feel worse than when I saw my Dr in the first place about my anxiety and panic attacks. The sleep issue is really a big problem, I have been waking up every morning around 3am and can't go back to sleep so am averaging maybe 3 or 4 hours of sleep. My head and body feel like its vibrating all day and I am having trouble concentrating and remembering things, my job is stressful so I need to have all my wits about me when I am working. Also having sexual side effects and can't orgasm. (Is this an overshare :) I think the exhaustion is the worst, I am dragging around all the time, don't even have the energy to go to the gym. I walk every day to get my daughter from school but thats about it. I have lost 50 pounds since last January (through diet and exercise) but now have lost another 10 in the past few weeks because I have no appetite and feel nauseous all the time, I have to force myself to eat and that has never been a problem for me. I'm not even happy about my weight loss anymore.

Yesterday was a pretty good day, I took .125mg at about 3AM thinking maybe it would help me fall back asleep but no luck with that and didn't take any more yesterday. I dropped this kids off with their grandparents and spent the day CHristmas shopping which was nice. I work from home so getting out of the house is a plus. Although I have always loved my job, working at home can be kind of isolating, especially during times like this. Last night, I wrapped presents with the help of my kids and listened to Christmas Music, so overall it was good compared to most days recently.

Anyway, thanks for listening and for the support. We will see how today goes.

Oh, no!! I am sorry to hear you have to deal with that. I am able to go out and about ok. I think you may be right and am wondering if it is the lexapro? I wish there was something else I could take besides the Xanax when things are really bad which I wouldn'tt have to worry about becoming dependant on it. I just have no idea, am going to call my doctor this week and am wondering if I should give up on and taper off the Lexapro, at this point am afraid to even try anything else. I just want SLEEP!!!! and CALM!!! I took Paxil at first but only lasted a week and thought I was going off the deep end. My friend is on Zoloft and she has good things to day about it but I don't know. I keep hoping I will wake up one morning and start to feel better but I have been about the same for weeks, I am able to "function" but not at the same level I am used to. My mind races with worry every waking hour which is a lot these days. I have been on the lexapro for about 6 weeks, the past 2 at a higher dosage which isn't making any difference. I keep telling myself I need to stick it out but not sure if I can. Yesterday afternoon and evening was the best I felt in a long time but today right back to how I felt on Friday. Ugh, this is awful. It has given me a new appreciation to the pain people go through who suffer from mental issues, addictions etc. Praying for peace for me and everyone else here. Thanks! Hugs to you

I agree about the sleep part, haven't had more than 4-5 hours in a few months and I have always been a good sleeper. I talked to my Dr today, thankfully she always returns my calls, going to taper off the Lexapro. She said cut to 10 mg for a week and then 10mg ever other day for another week. She called in Zoloft and Ativan for me, she doesn't think my insomnia is from the Xanax and said the ativan lasts longer. Not sure if I am going to try the Zoloft, will have to see how I am feeling. Tried paxil first, then the lexapro and don't know if I can do this again. I just want to feel like myself again and SLEEP would be nice. Thank you all for your support and sharing your stories, it helps more than you know.

So thought I would give an update. I am in week 2 of my lexapro tapering, per doc now taking .10mg every other day. Had none yesterday and one today. Not sure that I feel much different, still not sleeping well and very anxious and jittery in the mornings. Been taking the ativan once a day .5mg which seems to help. I have another week at this dose then my Dr said to stop and switch to zoloft. Still haven't decided to try something else just getting off the Lexapro for now, would say I haven't had any side effects worse then what I have already been dealing with these past few weeks. Was very irritable on Sunday but also started my period Monday so could have just been PMS. The head buzzing seems to have stopped though after going back to 10. We will see, still praying for a full night of sleep and a return to "normal". Thanks again for the advice and support.

KatCar06

Good to hear from you and to know you are making it through your weaning  from the Lexapro.  I have tapered off of some of the tough ADs and each time it was a different experience.  I am glad you and your Dr. worked out a plan just for you. 

When you have those bad moments remember that there are good moments right around the corner and keep on moving through your feelings.

May the new year be good to you and know we care so keep on talking with us.

Kindly,

Kitt

Hi KatCar,

I am currently weaning off from 10mg lexapro after being on it for 2 years for panic/anxity/depression. I decided to wean off because i just felt it was the right time and that I have been having migraines since january and by process of elimination, suspected that it was the lexapro that was causing my headaches/migraines. I am on day 5 of half a dosage.. The side effects are a pain, clammy hands, tingly all over, feel weak and lethargic and disconnected, head is spacey. I take a low dose of xanax to help me get by.. How long did your entire weaning off process take? Also, how long til the yucky side effects finally subsided. At any rate, I am determined to go thru this wean off process.. Would love to hear from you or anybody else who has experienced weaning off from lexapro...Thanks!