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Lexapro and increased anxiety

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Posted 4/8/2018 11:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi. I’m new to this forum and hoping someone can help me. I have been having extreme anxiety for the past 6-8 weeks. Started Lexapro 10mg 17 days ago. 2 weeks on 10mg and increased to 15mg for 4 days. Today I feel AWFUL. No appetite at all, nausea, shaky, increased anxiety. What is going on??! Do I need to go back to 10mg? I can’t tolerate this. I kinda felt like this when I first started Lex 2 weeks ago but it lightened up some till now. Help please?! sad
Posted 4/9/2018 1:09 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Nervous and welcome!

We are glad you've found us...though sorry to hear of the challenge you are having with anxiety...and with how you are feeling today. :/

It could be that you are having a random particularly hard day. It happens, and a lot of things can factor into it. I think I might give your current Rx regimen another day or so, and see if things level out for you.

If you don't seem to be pulling out of the rough spot in a day or two, then you can consult with your doctor about how to proceed...

...and yes, going back to your starting dose for some time may be what you need for a bit longer before trying another increase.

To help with your start up (and beyond) please see our Resources at the top of the main forum page here...which are filled with great self help material...

...and keep posting with us if you find it helpful. We understand, care about what you are going through...and are here for support anytime. smile

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat
Posted 4/9/2018 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
no doubt the increase in lex is the culprit. lex is a fairly powerfull ssri and Is know to have intense startup effects for some. I would drop back to the lower dose and see if there is improvement. its common for drs to push for an increase too soon in my experience with ssri drugs. you may take longer to get relief but you will get there just the same -with much less side effects and discomfort
Posted 4/9/2018 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you for the responses. I have never had such a hard time before like I am now. I have had quite a few switches in the past few months too. I was on Zoloft for years and felt like it stopped working so my Dr put me on Cymbalta in July. I felt like it created random anxiety so we decided it wasn’t a good fit and Dr gave me Prozac to help wean off the Cymbalta in mid January. The Prozac was horrible and made me have panic attacks at work and then the constant anxiety began. So we stopped the Prozac after few weeks and I went back on Zoloft for 5 weeks which did not help at all. So we decided to try the lexapro and that’s where I am now. I’ve had no appetite for almost 2 months, anxious, shaky. Things somewhat let up a bit but the increase to 15mg of Lex caused me to feel worsening anxiety, nausea, no appetite at all/ where before things improved in evening for me.
So needless to say, it’s been a long road with not much positive results as of yet. Thank you for listening and any advice to get thru this.
Posted 4/9/2018 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
I can’t seem to find the “Resources “ tab. Anyone able to show me where that is? Thanks smile
Posted 4/9/2018 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
Well, hopefully you will level out soon...either spontaneously, or by dialing your dosage back temporarily.

Here is our Resources link. ☺

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

Keep us posted so we can keep you in support.

S.C.
Posted 4/9/2018 1:33 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

Welcome to the forum.

When you increase your medication it seems to be the norm that things get worse before they get better again so stick with it if you can and keep in touch with your doctor.

Keep us posted.

Hibee
Posted 4/9/2018 2:03 PM (GMT 0)
Boy, this rings a bell because I just started on effexor 3 days ago, today being my third day. I too have had more anxiety since starting and have to take klonopin at night in order to sleep. Today is hitting me hard since I am at work versus having been home the past days with the weekend. I need to commit to being on this for 2 weeks per my psychologist's orders. Really hoping that this is in that same class of "it gets worse before it gets better" deal, as I know many people get relief from this. I am on a really small starting dose as well, 37.5. I am actually a bit scared today as to how I feel, really tangled up inside.
Posted 4/9/2018 3:55 PM (GMT 0)
Does anyone know how to differentiate whether my symptoms are from the lexapro or if it’s just my anxiety worsening and the med isn’t working?
Posted 4/9/2018 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
its the lex. I went tru the exact same thing on Lexapro. same symptoms to the letter. I had to switch to cipralex which is the far weaker version of lex. it took 6 weeks but it did eventually work. I am fine now. hopefully you will be also. did dr give you a benzo to help get you tru the startup effects?
Posted 4/9/2018 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
She gave me clonazepam 0.5mg. I only take on occasion because I’m scared I’ll get hooked on it. It works so well when I do take it.
Posted 4/9/2018 10:37 PM (GMT 0)
I also have klonopin right now to get me through the tranistion. I wouldn't be too worried about getting hooked on that small of a dose for a month or 2. I tried zoloft initially, and that didn't work for me at all. I quit after 9 days, and as you have read, am on Effexor right now, day 3. Really don't feel at all like myself which is disconcerting of course. First 2 days I was more wired up, but today I way more tired and unmotivated. I am taking the XR version. I tried to offset this a bit with my adderall, but that didn't do all that much. Being an engineer I need my wits about me, and today I was just stuck in mud unable to really think much. I know this is a small sample to go off of, but if today is the norm there is no way I could work under this cloud. But, my psychiatrist says we need 2 weeks at least before we judge this fairly which I agree with. Just have to resist the urge to want to have this work right away so I can get back to being me again.
Posted 4/9/2018 10:58 PM (GMT 0)
It is so hard to be patient with these meds. I feel like I have put my life on hold waiting for this to get better. I need to go back to work soon but I can’t go when I feel like this. I had a friend on Effexor for many years and she loved it. I hope the side effects subside quickly for us all.
Posted 4/10/2018 11:49 PM (GMT 0)
good that you know to use caution with the benzo. that's the right way to approach them. good that you have them if really needed tho.
Posted 4/10/2018 11:57 PM (GMT 0)
I had another horrible day today. I don’t know what’s going on with me. Out of control anxiety, nauseated, no appetite, crying. I just feel hopeless the Lex will work. Today’s day 18 on it. sad
Posted 4/11/2018 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
N.,

I am sorry this has been so difficult! Here's hoping today is the turn around you need!

Keep working on those coping skills...

...and keep us updated so we can keep you in support!

S.C.
Posted 4/12/2018 1:12 AM (GMT 0)
did you cut back to 10mg? if not I would try it and see if you improve. I know exactly what you are going tru. if this helps.
Posted 4/12/2018 1:34 AM (GMT 0)
Yes. I cut bk to 10mg 3 days ago. Hoping this levels out soon.
Posted 4/13/2018 2:34 AM (GMT 0)
if it dosnt-i would speak to your dr. it could be your body just cant handle lex. mine couldn't but I do fine on the weak version. cipralex
Posted 4/13/2018 5:41 PM (GMT 0)
My Dr keeps throwing meds at me. She seems to think I should feel some improvement after 3 weeks, but at my previous appt she said give it 4 weeks. So what the heck? It’s been 3 weeks and 1 day today. The morning anxiety is still awful. The no appetite is really bad too.
On average, how long does it take to start to feel better?
Also, she wants me to take seroquel 25mg at bedtime to call me down for the mornings. Ugh. So sick of meds. That med scares me to take. Ive never had this hard of a time with SSRI or anxiety ever before.
Just need reassurance to wait it out or maybe I need to stop the Lex. Thanks
Posted 4/13/2018 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
N.,

It is really hard to predict whether an Rx is going to be beneficial at this stage, because while some people do have relief within the first few weeks...for many it takes 6 or more for therapeutic benefits to begin.

On the one hand...it would be a shame to stop too early, when a turn around may be close...and because you do have 3 weeks already invested...

...on the other hand...only you know what you are going through, and whether or not you can push through any longer.

Some questions to ask yourself:

*Do you trust your doctor, and has he/she been helpful/on the mark for your treatment in the past?

*Are there alternatives to meds that you can consider and access. (therapy/self help)

*Would you want to start again with another choice of med if you did decide to discontinue the Lex...or does this seem overwhelming?

Is your current prescribing doctor a GP or a Psychiatrist? If you have not consulted with a P-doc yet...is this a possibility? This specialist have the best knowledge of psychotropics, and could really help you fine tune your regimen.

I hope you find the answers and relief you need soon!

S.C.
Posted 4/13/2018 8:00 PM (GMT 0)
My prescribing Dr is a psychiatric PA. She seems to care but is stumped as to why I’m still having hard time. I hate to quit the Lex too if I’m almost where I’ll turn a corner. I just don’t like the frequency as which she prescribed so many diff things to try. That’s prob part of the problem. I don’t understand why mornings are so bad but afternoons onward I’m ok.
Thanks for the reply. Idk what I’ll do. Just wait n see I suppose. sad
Posted 4/13/2018 9:14 PM (GMT 0)
Your Cortisol may be high in the morning...it is at its most concentrated in the a.m.

I used to wake up a shaky mess everyday...and gradually feel better as it got towards afternoon.

This stress hormone helps us to get up and moving after hrs. of inactivity...but some of us over produce it when we are struggling with anxiety.

Just knowing there was a reason for how I was feeling helped...that and using coping skills to reduce my overall stress levels....especially before bed and in the morning...before even getting out of bed.
Posted 4/13/2018 9:21 PM (GMT 0)
It actually is slightly elevated. My primary Dr has it checked. So I’m sure that adds to this whole nightmare. My Dr also messed around with my thyroid meds right when all this happened. He increased my dose and then all this started. Had the level rechecked 6weeks after the increase and my TSH dropped fast. So he lowered the dose thinking I may be feeling hyperthyroid and I just had the 6 weeks recheck blood draw done today. So many diff things cause the same symptoms. It’s so difficult to determine which ones causing it. I wish my appetite would return. I love food usually. It’s awful.
Posted 4/13/2018 10:55 PM (GMT 0)
looks like a lot going on with you right now. add thyrod problems into the mix complicates things. are you sleeping ok? or at least sort of ok? if you are I would not take the seriquol as its VERY strong. it seems to be the rage right now and I was prescribed it too. thankfully my cipralex started working and I started sleeping well again on my own. it took 6 full weeks for my med to kick in but I was on a very low starter dose so tht was expected. in my case slow and steady won the race but it was 6 weeks of hell. yes you seem to be at a cross roads with the lex right now. but like scat says -you have to make the decision yourself. yes you are miserable and a wreck now but you will get tru this and be normal again. I know you don't feel that way now but hang in there.
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