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Afraid to take my Lexapro

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Anxiety & Panic Disorders
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Posted 4/19/2014 3:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hi have been experiencing anxiety and mild depression for years. I have known it but have sort of been in denial never admitting it to anyone. It has recently gotten much worse. I've had a few panic attacks recently as well as general anxiety feeling unable to breathe. There are things that make me anxious that should not and it is affecting my family life and my marriage. I get anxious when my son asks for help with school work, I get anxious going to my daughter's soccer games, I lose sleep worrying about ridiculous things, every little thing my husband does irritates me, and I actually quit the teaching job I had several years ago due to anxiety. I want to be able to live my life and be a present mother for my teenage children while they are still at home, and I want to love my husband again. Lately my anxiety has been worse and it has raised my blood pressure. I lost 20 lbs. on doctor's orders hoping that would bring my BP down. It didn't, because I experience anxiety at the doctor's office. I actually cried in the doctor's office this week which was embarrassing. She has prescribed Lexapro as a mood stabilizer starting with 5mg for 2 weeks then increasing to 10 mg. I went and picked up the prescription but am afraid to take it. I look at it every morning and wonder if this is the day I will start. But I am afraid of the side effects and especially afraid of the withdrawal symptoms I've read about should I decide I don't want to be medicated the rest of my life. I know that I would need to taper off of it, but I've also read about people having terrible side effects tapering properly. So do I live with anxiety the rest of my life, not being able to enjoy the things I should? Or do I live medicated for the rest of my life because I might not be able to get off the meds? I am sorry this is so long. This is my first post here and I really needed to hear from someone who has been in my position and has experience with Lexapro. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Posted 4/19/2014 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
mamagoose,

My heart went out to you when I read, " I actually cried in the doctor's office this week." I have done that so many times that I have decided it is OK - it is the only way I can talk to my Dr. about some of my issues.

There are several methods to treating anxiety - one being therapy, another is taking medications along with therapy and then there is the self help articles and books.

I have had anxiety and depression for 30 years - most of that time I was on medication.  I am one person that needs to be on medication.  I have a great psychiatrist who supports me and over the years I have tried a whole lot of the medications for anxiety/depression.

I took Lexapro and it felt like it started to work right away but I ended up topping off at 20 mg and it just did not do the job for me...............that does not mean it won't be the perfect medication for you.

I am going to post some links from our resources for you to look at:

Drugs used to treat mental health disorders:

http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/medications-treat-mental-disorders

How Keeping a Journal Can help you with Anxiety

 

http://www.anxietyreallysucks.com/how-keeping-a-journal-can-help-you-with-anxiety/

Mindfulness Meditation

 

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/06/03/new-to-mindfulness-how-to-get-started/#.Urr-gZ3naAI

I hope you find something in these links that you will try.

Whether you take your medication or not is between you and your physician, but keep him/her up to date on your decision.

 

Posted 4/20/2014 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
I was able to take Lexapro for a period of time and then taper off it, under a doctor's supervision. I think it was helpful for me, when I was on it, and I did not have any withdrawal symptoms -- though I was on a low dose. I guess everyone's experience is different, but that was mine - for whatever it is worth. I wish you the best.
Posted 4/20/2014 5:53 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for your responses. I like the idea of journaling, something I haven't done in a really long time. And thank you medved for your success story with tapering off the drug. I still have not taken it, but am thinking it is unavoidable. I need out of this hole I am in.
Posted 4/20/2014 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
mamagoose14,

Living with anxiety is a lonely place to be. Joining HW was a good choice as the peer support and  friendship offered here has help others in the past that deal with anxiety/depression and loneliness.

Keep talking with us and know we care.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 4/21/2014 3:41 PM (GMT 0)
I started lexapro 2 weeks ago, I started taking. .5mg for 6 days and then started taking 10mg after that. I was terrified of taking meds. I didn't want to go through the side effects. I took my dose at night before bed. I also took .5 of Xanax 3x a day to help. I do have side effects such as being nauseous and a little foggy. I also had some joint pain and my anxiety was actually worse some days at the beginning, the Xanax helped. I told myself though that it take 6 to 8 weeks before it kicks in- it's not going to happen over night. But I realized I needed to do something and try to be a better wife and mother. I
Am only on 2 weeks but things have become a lot better I'm about 75% normal feeling so hopefully another 4 weeks will have me at 100%. Good luck to you
Posted 4/21/2014 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
Delphyned,

Thank you for sharing and supporting mamagoose14.  It is a huge help to find someone else who is doing well on the same medications that we are about to start using.

Kindly,

Kitt

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