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Lexapro isn't working anymore...any thoughts on new gen meds?

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Posted 7/9/2012 1:37 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone.

This is my first post, but I've been dealing with Anxiety/Depression since a lab accident in 2005. In 2005, a doctor put me on 15 mg of Lexapro daily. Since then, I've tried going off of the Lexapro and switching to Citalopram (the racemic mixture) with very poor results. I then tried going holistic and using a lot of different vitamins and exercise to help. This seemed to work for the short term but not for the long term. I went back on the Lexapro in 2008-9. Earlier this year, my fiancee went with me to my doctor and told them what she wasn't telling me - the Lexapro wasn't working like it used to. The doctor put me on 0.5 mg of Klonopin 2x daily and I've been taking 1x daily. He also increased my Lexapro dosage to 20 mg/day. Now, my anxiety is COMPLETELY under control. I don't like the fact that it's under control by a potentially addictive medication, but this is the first time since 2005 that I've felt normal when it comes to my anxiety (I can actually go to a movie theater without having a panic attack now!!). However, the depression is almost as bad as its ever been. The Lexapro just doesn't seem to be working anymore. I find myself feeling almost suicidal everyday and have completely lost interest in sex, video games, drinking, friends (pretty much all of the things I used to love). What I need to know is whether there are any new-gen SSRIs that are on the market that might be able to help me instead of the Lexapro or if there's a medication with similar side effects that might have better results.

Thanks in advance for your answers!!
Posted 7/9/2012 2:56 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Matt. Welcome to HW. You have come to a good place with people who understand anxiety and depression well. Regarding medication, I think the difficulty is that different people have different reactions to SSRIs -- both in terms of whether and to what extent they work, and any side effects. So there can be a fair amount of "trial and error" involved. Thus, someone might say "Paxil [or Prozac or Zoloft] etc. worked well for me" -- but that does not mean it will work wel for you. Or maybe someone will say they hated a particular medication, but them that same medication might work well for you. I realize this observation is not very helpful. But I think it is the reality. The newest SSRI of which I am aware is Viibryd. But the fact that it is new does not necessarily mean it is better, or that it will work better for you. The best suggestion I can make is to confer with your psychiatrist about the various options and take her/his advice. I am sorry that I cannot be more helpful. I wish I could just tell you what would work for you. But I can't. I wish you the best. Medved
Posted 7/9/2012 3:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Medved. I know that SSRIs are very difficult things. I'm just not aware of whether or not there has been a rash of "Lexapro isn't working, try this" recommendations.
Posted 7/10/2012 6:29 AM (GMT 0)
I have never tried lexapro but I have tried several other depression meds. I'm on wellbutron right now and I love it!! It has worked great for me compared to all the others. I started out on 75 mg. 2x a day and now take 150 2 x a day, but it has really helped me. And usually my body seems to get use to the meds fast but it's not happened with this one yet and I've been on it for quite a while.
Posted 7/10/2012 12:53 PM (GMT 0)
That's funny that you mention Wellbutron. My doc decided to put me on Wellbutron yesterday in conjunction with the Lexapro since they attach to different active sites. I'll let you know how it works for me!
Posted 7/12/2012 5:16 AM (GMT 0)
Great I hope it really helps!!!
Posted 7/12/2012 3:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Sorry to here that your depression is bad at the moment but good to read that your anxiety is under control. I take Lexapro and have found it to be a good medication for me and as far as I know it is the strongest of the ssri's.

Have you looked into doing some kind of talking therapy/mindfulness along side the medication as that gets good results? Just a suggestion.

Hibee
Posted 7/15/2012 2:38 AM (GMT 0)
Ditch the drinking if you can, that may be causing a lot of your issues. Not a good mix with the SSRIs and Klonopin.

Klonopin to my understanding is a bit more long acting for anxiety, but you mentioned depression as the main issue.

Lexapro stopped working as well for me as well and I switched to Prozac after my last "episode" and that is taking some adjustment.

None of them are magical, but the drinking needs to go.

Try switching to another SSRI as they do sometimes "poop out" and a switch might help.

Lexapro for me actually worked great for anxiety but not the depression.
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