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Posted 5/9/2012 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
I have been fighting anxiety and panic for around 4 years now from relentless work stress.  My dad had anxiety and panic, but my doctor swears anxiety is a learned behavior, and is also a by-product of your nervous system just being in the fight or flight mode way too long.

I tend to agree with him.  Just to survive and save my job, I have been taking Klonopin for a while and can miss a day here and there.  My doctor has been trying to get me to take an anti-depressant for years now, but I'm more anxious than depressed.  I am honestly afraid of them for numerous reasons.

He again prescribed Lexapro 20mg.  I have never filled any of the prescriptions he has given me for this drug.  Besides personal reasons, I also fear the side effects mostly.  I tend to truly get some of the side effects of certain drugs, and he realizes that. 

He is very patient with me, but I can tell he feels bad that I will not take his advice.  He just wants me to feel better, he is a good doctor.  He does understand my fears, but tries to dispute them in a kind way.  Such a good doc, but I do think I am frustrating him a bit. 

Has anyone taken this drug?  Would you recommend it?  I can't keep taking Klonopin.  He wants me to take both and thinks Lexapro may help me reduce the need of Klonopin.  I fear it will possibly create 2 dependancies.  Has that happened to anyone?

Posted 5/9/2012 1:40 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Vigro. I am on Lex. It is indicated for anxiety as well as depression. Your doc's suggestion to start Lex and hope it reduces the need for Klonopin is not unusual. Many docs believe that Benzos are not an optimal longer term solution. I took xanax initially but now that i am taking Lex i dont take xanax any more. I still have it, though, if i need it. One suggestion I have is talk with your doc about starting with a lower dose of Lexapro, to minimize side effects. Some people start at 5mg and build up if/as necessary. (I m not a doctor and none of what I say is medical advice; just some ideas to discuss w your doctor). Good luck, Medved
Posted 5/9/2012 2:28 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Medved,

At first he said he would start me on 10mg, but ended up saying he thought 20mg's would still be a good start.  Not sure if it is a drug that can be cut in half, or if it is time release capsule?  I will call the pharmacy and ask.  If it cannot be divided, I'll have him call in a smaller dose. 

Still afraid to take it, but I do agree, staying on Klonopin is not a good answer.  I was seeing a therapist for a while and he was good, and I did start feeling a bit better, but stress at work started getting real intense, so the cognitive therapies no longer work as well.  Mostly because I'm bringing work home at night and during weekends because the work load is too heavy, and the sales pressure too high.  So just more toxic and my family doctor thinks I need to be on Lexapro long enough to help my nervous system calm down for a period of time as to give it a break.  I understand the logic, just not a fan of adding drugs if I can avoid it.

Thanks again Medved. 

Virgo....

Posted 5/9/2012 2:55 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Virgo,

With mental illnesses or other psychological issues it is difficult to say what caused it or not. If there are other members of your family with the same condition it can mean that you are more vulnerable to it due to your genetics. This does not mean, however, that it is the genetics that cause it. It is usually a mixture of things (genetics, viruses and childhood traumas are but some examples) that cause a mental illness or psychological problem. Only 30% of the causes of Generalized Anxiety Disorder are genetic, and drugs can be used to moderate their behavior.

Also, if one technique works for someone who is genetically predisposed, it may not work for another person who is also.

Medications are not for everyone, and not necessary in every case. I resisted them through months of anxiety/depression  and therapy. Finally, I realized that I was so exhausted by the emotional turmoil of the anxiety and depression that I couldn't function anymore.  I wasn't participating in life for fear of having an attack. It took trying many differnt meds before I found ones that worked for me.

Have you considered going back to therapy along with trying the Lexapro ?  The combination may work for you. 

This site is great for sharing worries and concerns - keep talking  and keep in touch - don't lose hope.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 5/9/2012 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Virgo - I started on 10mgs of Lexapro. The side effects I had were difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and an uncomfortable "on edge" feeling when I woke up (felt sort of like I had drank 8 cups of coffee, but was still tired). I then reduced to 5mgs of Lexapro and those effects disappeared. Maybe if I had stayed on 10mgs, they would have disappeared anyway, as my body adjusted to the medication. Based on my own experience -- and with the caveat that I am not qualified to give anyone medical advice -- I would suggest you consider starting on 5mgs and work your way up, as needed. That approach may minimize your side effects. My doctor told me that Lexapro is generally better tolerated than other ADs.
Posted 5/9/2012 3:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Good to meet you. I take Lexapro and have found itto be a good medication for me it is the strongest of the ssri's and has a max dose of 20mg a day you can cut these pills in half but my advice would be to just ask your doctor for a lower dose to save the hassle of cutting them in half.

Medication will only help ease the symptoms so it is always best to do some type of therapy as well as the medication to find out what is making you anxious.

Hibee
Posted 5/9/2012 6:32 PM (GMT 0)
Virgo:

I don't know a lot lot about all the various meds, but I do know that even thought they are called "antidepressants" that they work on anxiety too. I am not depressed...but have had anxiety my entire life. I think it's just the way I am. I am a type A personality. Anyway, if anxiety is running your life, I would certainly give it a try.

Anxiety stinks...it really does.
Posted 5/9/2012 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have recently started Lexapro 10mg, and I know what you are fealing about taking an antidepressant. I tryed three different ones before lex and I totally flipped out, horrible, horrible side effects. So was super hesitant when the doc prescribed this one, but I have to say I have been on it for a month along with Visteral and it is the only one I can tolerate. Am I cured no, and I know it is going to be a working progress, I still have horrible days, but still can see more good days too. I know is super scary not knowing what is going to happen, but really is worth a try!
Posted 5/12/2012 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
Thank everyone, I really love this site. I have anxiety, and I also went through surgery for GERD back in December and I do not know what I would have done without this site. Being able to talk to people that have similar conditions is priceless!

I am still on the fence regarding taking Lexapro. I think the klonopin I have been on for the last few years is responsible for my hair shedding. I googled a lot on Lexapro and people generally say it helps them, but also increases hair shedding. I worry about losing more, as it is starting to get noticeable. I had pretty thick hair, so even though I noticed the thinning, no one else did until recently.

My derm and doctor blame the stress for it, but I've never had a true scalp testing to determine. It started a month after taking klonopin. I have not been able to find a hair "specialist" in my area, other than hair club for men - not sure they do actual testing to determine the cause of loss.

I remain conflicted, but have to do something. KITT, I agree, I need to go back to therapy and continue to try natural methods as well. I work so many hours and like to get in physical exercise, never giving me time for meditation - but I have to fit it in!

I think I will get to the bottom of my hair loss first, and then try Lexapro as long as the loss is not tied to Klonopin.

Thanks so much everyone for your advice, I truly appreciate it and hope we all find the things that help us feel better!! Virgo
Posted 5/12/2012 6:27 PM (GMT 0)
Virgo,

Hey glad to know you find the support and sharing in the forums helpful.  I do to.  It is a known fact that stress can contribute to and cause hair loss among predisposed indivuals.

It is also true that general anesthesia used during surgery can put the body into shock (causing stress) which becomes cumulative with the stress already resulting from anticipating and undergoing surgical procedures (both physical and emotional).  This also may contribute to hair loss but not everyone is the same. 

 

I hope your stress level slows down to a quiet roar and the hair loss reverses itself.

 

Kindly,

Kitt


Posted 5/12/2012 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, just like you, I am terrified of meds, and have refused to take any for many years even though I have terrible anxiety and very severe OCD. However, my issues are now really messing up my family life, so I relented and went to a new doctor. He has been extremely understanding, and started me on just 2.5 mg of Lexapro with instructions to increase it after 3 weeks to just 5 mg to get me started without worry of side effects. So far, so good. Tomorrow is my bump up day to the 5 mg. I'm nervous about it, but will give it a try. I need help desperately.

He said Lexapro has less side effects than most SSRIs because it only works on serotonin and not norepinephrine (sp) like many of the other drugs. I tried Paxil years ago, but it was the most horrible experience (for real) and told him not to even consider that one.

So, I am keeping my fingers crossed. Perhaps you could start out really slowly, too. I just cut a 5 mg tablet in half per his instructions. Good luck to you.
Posted 5/12/2012 11:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Kate,

No chance at work load reduction. I am in the finance/bank industry and it seems like we are all finally past the financial crisis, which created it's own stress to get through, but now the sales pressure is more intense than I have ever experienced in my 24 years of finance/banking.  I am 44 and I would love to find a different profession, but it would create a huge pay cut and probably a cut in benefits.  My husband has been only doing contract work, so no benefits.  He has an immune disorder, so needs my insurance.  

My entire department is soooo stressed out and work a lot on the weekends.  I will e-mail and finish reports and responses from them as well.  It is just crazy!!  I've been interviewing in the same field, but get the impression everyone has intense sales goals and a heavy work load. 

The money is not worth it, I could live with less money, but the benefits are very important.  The economy is not favorable for too much job searching beyond what I know.

LHA, thanks.  I'm sad you are going through the same.  Good advice.  I think I will call my DR. Monday and ask him to call in 5 mg and start like you have and see how it goes.  I need to do something finally.  I feel bad you have OCD.  I think anxiety channels itself in different ways.  I just turn into an "overthinker" and worry wart with the anxiety and panic.  Still no fun, but I am fortunate that my friends and husband seem to understand that part of me; maybe because I hide it behind humor, but they all know where the humor comes from....

Thanks all!!!!  Virgo

Posted 5/12/2012 11:55 PM (GMT 0)
I also suffer from anxiety.  Was on Paxil for ten years 30mg, then 25mg; three months on Effexor. Started seeing a new dr. who put me on Lexapro 10mg, I "think" it was working.  Switched medical insurance and now my new dr. gave a prescription for Remeron (spelling?), which I have not touched....like you, and many who suffer from anxiety...I'm worried and scared to take this new med.  I have an appointment to see him on May 29th....I've been reading information on Zoloft and Lexapro....but for some odd reason Remeron just scares me.
Posted 5/13/2012 11:54 AM (GMT 0)
Duplicate Post

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 5/13/2012 8:46:30 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 5/13/2012 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Health advocate, thanks so much. I have tried so many natural supplements over the past few years, and have not had much luck. I have heard that lack of magnesium and some B vitamins may be the culprit in the increase in anxiety and panic in our over stressed culture. I gave both a try for a while, but honestly, I don't think I gave it a long enough attempt. My doctor insisted on checking my levels of these 2 things before I took on a regular basis. He said my levels were normal.

I totally love my doctor,he always wants to protect his patients, but what I think he misses is, a text book range of "normal" is not truly normal for every patient. I sit at the lowest range in acceptable iron, after having very below levels of normal for some time. Low iron can lead to some hair loss, which I continue to have, as well as other issues. My sister has the same thing with her thyriod. Her level are climbing out of an acceptable range, but they won't treat her until she actually has hypo-thyroid disease by clinical definition - it is frustrating her.

If I'm not mistaken, B12 (stress vitamin) and Magnesium are water soluable within your body, not fat soluable which would be toxic if taken at higher levels?? I will have to read again and give this a try. I am still thinking of calling my Dr. however, and have him start me on 10mg of Lexapro, then cut them in half and slowly move up from 5 to 10 mg to see if it helps. I will also give magnesium and B12 another try - for a longer period of time. I simply cannot handle the exhaustion in fighting this issue much longer. Should throw in some therapy of meditation as well!
Posted 5/13/2012 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
I have read that about B-12 and B-1 - but these must be balanced so they don't throw other vitamins or B vitamins out of balance.

In spite of, or perhaps because of, all the metabolic processes that rely on magnesium, less than 1 percent of our body’s total magnesium can be measured in our blood; the rest is busily occupied in the cells and tissues or holding our bones together.

Therefore, it is virtually impossible to make an accurate assessment of the level of magnesium in various body tissue cells using a routine serum magnesium test. This test is often called a total serum magnesium test, which you might imagine relates to all the magnesium in your body—but it does not.

Magnesium in the blood does not correlate with the amount of magnesium in other parts of your body. In fact, if you are under the stress of various ailments, your body pumps magnesium out of the cells and into the blood, giving the mistaken
appearance of normality on testing in spite of bodywide depletion.

Unfortunately, most magnesium evaluations done in hospitals and in laboratories use the antiquated serum magnesium test.

Try taking magnesium in divided doses throughout the day.

Always consult a doctor.
Posted 5/14/2012 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
Hmmm, very interesting Health Advocate. In my banking/finance job, my clients are mostly medical related and I have learned a lot over the years. One of the things I learned the most is, you should always educate yourself, and have someone to be your advocate. Contrary to popular belief in our culture, medicine is not an exact science. It is still part text book, and accidents and oversights. Heard too many horror stories, plus I really had to be an advocate for my husband's immune disorder. He almost died a few years ago because of doctor error, we had to go to Cleveland clinic in a hurry to get things under control. Had I not read up and fought for him, I think the outcome would have been a lot different. The doctor actually asked me if I was a nurse because I knew so much about what was going on. I had to tell him, no - I am just frustrated watching him suffer over 3 weeks while no one helped him or knew what to do. No one was listening to me and he was too sick to fight for himself, so I read everything I could get my hands on and started to talk the talk.

I think we all haveto research and know, within reason, what we can do to help our bodies and to trust that we are doing the right things as long as we use moderation and understand what we are putting in our bodies, and how our bodies assimilate things.

Good info H.A. Thanks so much!
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