HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

Lexapro? Scared to start

Support Forums
>
Anxiety & Panic Disorders
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 10/11/2014 11:47 PM (GMT 0)
I have been debating starting Lexapro for a while now ..
Of course read about bad side effects people have but curious
if anyone is on it
Thanks
Posted 10/12/2014 1:41 AM (GMT 0)
I am on it,it's a good med so far ,not on it for long .Its better for anxiety .
Posted 10/12/2014 2:00 AM (GMT 0)
It might help to start with a low dose (such as 5mg) and move up gradually, as needed, But of course you should discuss with your doctor.

Lexapro has helped lots of people (including me).
Posted 10/12/2014 2:50 AM (GMT 0)
Hi GC and welcome!

It is hard to say just how any individual will react to any given med...

..but I can tell you that you will have the greatest chance with any start up by learing and using some coping skills during the initial break in time.

We have some great self-help ideas in our Resources...here's the link.:)



https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

Let us know what you decide and how we can support you along the journey to finding wellness!

Scaredy Cat

Posted 10/12/2014 1:50 PM (GMT 0)
I am not on Lexapro, but I am prescribed it. I have done hours and hours of research on this medication. There are a LOT of people on Lexapro. It actually seems to be tolerated by most. Ive noticed most of the people on this forum that are on lex are quite happy with it too:) Most AD's are going to have some sort of side effects for most people (and usually they subside within the first couple of weeks). I agree with starting out on a lower dose after discussing it with your doctor.

I have been treating my recent bout of anxiety with buspar and xanax. But if I need to get on an AD in the future I would try lexapro first. .
Posted 10/12/2014 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Bus par is not an Antidepressant?
What is it ?

Thanks
Posted 10/12/2014 5:29 PM (GMT 0)

Giftcreations123 said...
Bus par is not an Antidepressant?
What is it ?

Thanks

Anxiety med i believe ..GC~
Posted 10/12/2014 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
It is an anti anxiety medication. It works on neurotransmitters, but differently than the AD's. There are thought to be no discontinuation symptoms, but I tapper off anyway. It is a very mild medication with a very short half life, so you have to take it more than just once a day. Just like any of these medications, it does not work for everyone. I'm pretty sure it does nothing for my panic, so I use xanax for that. But what it does for me is give me a better outlook and helped me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I don't continue to progress on this medication regiment, I wil be taking Lexapro.
Posted 10/13/2014 5:31 AM (GMT 0)
I have been taking lexapro since June. Started off taking paxil but suffered terrible side effects. Everyone is different though and I know people who are very happy on paxil. I started on 10 mg of lexapro. The main side effect I had was headaches, but they lessened with time. I eventually had to double to 20 mg. The side effect I'm dealing with now is night sweats. I can tolerate those as long as the meds are managing my anxiety, which they are. I am very happy with lexapro and I also have xanax but rarely take it. I am anxious to talk to my doctor in November about the night sweats though.....I'm only assuming that it's a side effect of the lexapro.
Posted 10/13/2014 5:53 AM (GMT 0)
I was on Lexapro once for a year. It was a long time ago when I was in high school. It may have affected me badly because of my age. I was about 16 and they gave it to me for depression. It screwed me up bad. I got the zombie affect. I felt like a hollow shell. I slept all day and all night and lost every aspect of myself. I literally felt like I was nothing more then a shell with no personality or thoughts. It was almost like watching your life go by from the sidelines. I felt like something else was living for me, and I was locked up inside heavily sedated. I lost all since of feeling, no happy or sad. I didn't care about anyone of anything going on around me. It was awful. Worse then being extremely depressed because at least then I had some control over myself. The worst part is every time I saw the doctor (which was about once a month) and told them the meds weren't helping they would up the dose! I was a kid, I didn't understand anything about the system like I do know. It left a bad taste in my mouth for a long time and I stopped taking my meds after that. cry

Post Edited (AngelKisses89) : 10/12/2014 11:58:11 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 10/14/2014 12:45 AM (GMT 0)
I would not take Lexapro (or any other anxiety medication). I used to have severe anxiety (several panic attacks every week, couldn't drive, couldn't get in an elevator, couldn't be alone, etc....). I still have the tendency to feel anxious and get some symptoms, but I have not had a full-blown anxiety attack in years. I learned to control it without drugs, with Ayurveda. Ayurveda truly saved my life. I think there are better ways to treat anxiety, other than drugs. I feel that drugs only suppress the symptom, without treating the root cause. When I was struck with panic attacks, it just felt very wrong to me to 'treat' it w medication; I wanted a different way. I felt kind of hurt every time a doctor tried to prescribe me Xanax or something. I felt like they didn't care. Ayurvedic medicine has been a huge, huge blessing in my life....
Posted 10/14/2014 2:06 AM (GMT 0)
GC, it is completely your choice whether to try out the Lexapro or not, but the only way you will know how your body will react to it is to give it a try. Most side effects of most drugs go away after a few weeks anyways (if not sooner), but each person is going to be different. For me, Lexapro was a wonderful drug with ZERO side effects. Maybe it would be the same for you. If not, you can always discontinue the drug and whatever side effect(s) you had will go away.
Posted 10/14/2014 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
So I started a low dose last night
When do side effects start?
Not sure I will be able to tell a side effect because I generally don't feel great
Thanks
Posted 10/14/2014 3:08 AM (GMT 0)
Hi G.C.

Try not to anticipate any side effects...they may not happen at all!

Here are some great self help coping skills that should help you get through your start up phase if you practice them daily!

Self Help sites with breathing/relaxation exercises instructions

Panic attack relief exercises:

 

http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/73076/34334/breathing-lessons/

http://www.healthyplace.com/

http://www.stress-relief-exercises.com/

http://www.ehow.com/video_4405003_breathing-exercises-panic-attacks.html

http://www.psybersquare.com/anxiety/panic_relax_I

 

Best wishes...and keep us posted so that we can support you.

S.C.

Posted 10/14/2014 3:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you so much !
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply