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Lexapro-- Im new to it and i need advice please!!

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Posted 12/7/2006 8:14 PM (GMT 0)

Hello everyone,, i am new to this board.... Today is my 9th day on lexapro 5mg. My doctor wanted me to start 10mgs after one week, but i asked for another week because i feel that im not ready for 10 yet. I am experiencing side effects pretty bad... although they are getting better, i have some nausea, headaches, feel a little "out of it", and the one that bothers me the most?! INSOMNIA!! I have to take a xanex at nite just to even be able to fall asleep, and i still wake up all night long. I notice that after i take my pill, for a few hours im kinda jittery, then around 5 hours after i take it im kinda zombied out... I guess what my question is is will these side effects, espicially the insomnia go away with time?? around how long? i need sleep in order to work!! and also my other question is, when i up my dose from 5 to 10mgs next week, will the side effects get worse?? Anyone that has any experience with this please give me some advice... ... also is it better to take it in the mornin or at night?? Thanks everyone...
Amanda confused

Posted 12/7/2006 8:55 PM (GMT 0)

welcome blondiegirl

I agree about 5 and would stay on this dose a while, maybe taking it on waking would help if it stimulates you

its a newish prozac type med, everyone reacts differently but the early side effects should stip soom, then the med usually starts working and gives much help with anxiety, panic attacks, etc

sadly all antidepressants often make us worse before making us better later, the xanax helps and you are lucky you have some

stay with us

Posted 12/7/2006 9:00 PM (GMT 0)
Yea I know about the insomnia part of it as I been on it for a week now 10mgs it made me feel great at frist then the insomnia hit me I tryed taking a xanex for it at night but with little help. I just got back from my doc. about it and he just put me on auelien cr (sp) can't read his writing on the perserption and told me it was a sideafect of it but to stay on it and it should go away soon.

Posted 12/7/2006 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you guys for your replys!! This has been really hard for me.. and im just ready to feel better and feel like the old outgoing happy me!!

Posted 12/7/2006 9:39 PM (GMT 0)
freezinginAK.....  keep me posted on how your Insomnia is going.... if it doesnt improve for me, i will have to switch to something else because i work and sleep is very important to me....
Posted 12/7/2006 9:51 PM (GMT 0)

Ok I will let you know how it go's, I been so out of it the past few day's form the lack of sleep it put me into a p/a yesterday with that and all the other thing's I been doing, I feel so stressed out right now but I will keep you informed

Dave

Posted 12/7/2006 9:57 PM (GMT 0)
I was on Lexapro for a couple of years. I liked it, but it took some time for levels to equalize. It stopped working for me about 2-3 months ago. Tried Cymbalta and it didn't work either. So now I'm on Prozac and weaning off the Cymbalta. It just takes time for your body to adjust to the new drug. Hang in there.
Posted 12/7/2006 10:19 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to HW
Glad to have you aboard
sorry for the reson
You will find fantastic ppl here and great support as well .
I dont take ssri's but I know you will get lots of replies
Thanks all for your input
Again
Welcome to HW
as Harry said stay with us
Lyn
Posted 12/7/2006 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Everyone,

This is my first time here. Lately I've been experiencing very strange things. I have this fear of going crazy. I have panic attacks every time this thought comes into my mind. I can't control it. Can anyone give me some advice??? Also, I was depressed for a month and a half, thinking that I was actually crazy, and that I was going to lose my family because of it.

I really need some advice.

----Liz
Posted 12/7/2006 11:15 PM (GMT 0)
Hey Dave,

 What time do you take your pill?

Posted 12/8/2006 12:48 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Blondie and Dave,  I have also just started taking lexapro (exactly 1 month today).  I have been experiencing headaches, nausia, insomnia etc...   I thought it was because I was under alot of stress with my College final exams etc..., but now I am realizing (after reading your posts) that it maybe side effects.  Would I still be having side effects a month later? Anyway, I'd like to know how you two make out with it.  Please keep me posted.

Beth

Posted 12/8/2006 1:20 AM (GMT 0)

hay Blondie I take all my normal meds in the mornings like lexapro and I'm now back on valium instead of the xanax for my momments of anxiety

Hay Beth Anne, yea the doc said it may take sometime for the body to take to it are you taking something else like xanax I found that I would get headaches and nausia form it that's why I went back on the valium I just feel better on it.

and Wecome to HW

Posted 12/8/2006 2:58 AM (GMT 0)
I also take mine in the morning.... And i have xanax for my moments of anxiety and i also take it at night to try to sleep..... even though it really doesnt help....

Welcome Beth! Wow its been a month and you are still having the side effects? hmm.. well iv heard it takes 4-6 weeks to level out, but i wouldnt wait too much longer before talking to your doctor about it.. are you sleeping any at night?

Posted 12/8/2006 3:00 AM (GMT 0)
Liz,
It sounds like you are having a rough time. You really should see a doctor... those kind of thoughts are not a good way to go through life...
Posted 12/8/2006 6:11 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Blondiegirl and WELCOME to Healing Well. I used to take Lexapro. My pdoc suggested that I take it at 5PM. Maybe you could try that. Hope you can get some zzzzz's soon. I know how that is.
Posted 12/8/2006 6:34 PM (GMT 0)
hopefulmigrainer
THank you for your advice.. i may try that... did you have bad side effects also? if so , for how long?
Posted 12/8/2006 7:06 PM (GMT 0)
Hello Chulila and blondiegirl

 

Were so happy you have joined us here at HW.  I wish it was under better reasons but it's great to meet you both. As you can see you will find pleanty of support and information from members going thru the same things you are. Please keep us posted and I hope you find something that helps you feel better soon.

Posted 12/9/2006 12:43 AM (GMT 0)
I am not taking any other meds, just the lexapro.  I do not sleep through the night at all.  It takes me a long time to finally fall asleep, then I wake up off and on through out the night.  I have all ways been this way though.  So far, I do not feel any relieve from this med.  I am going to make an appt with a doc and see what he thinks.  My primary care doc put me on lexapro, maybe a mental heath doc will change it.  For now, I will try to give it a chance.

I hope you all are doing well today.

Beth

Posted 12/9/2006 6:24 PM (GMT 0)

Keeping you posted Blondie, frist night I may have sleeped 5 hours with the ambien kind of off ond on then at 4 am I took a valium and sleeped like a log

2nd night I sleeped all the way though the night

Dave

Posted 12/9/2006 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Dave,

im so glad your sleeping!! im still not..you think its the ambien thats makin you sleep??

Posted 12/9/2006 7:30 PM (GMT 0)
Yea I do, I been feeling like such a zomb lately and I'm feeling much better now that I'm getting some sleep. One thing I have notice about lexapro it dose seem bring out the pain more in my lower back from a sliped disk but not to bad that have to be on pain meds again.

Dave

Post Edited (freezinginAK) : 12/9/2006 12:50:57 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 12/9/2006 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Yes i agree with that... iv been noticing alot of muscle pain... iv read that other people had that side effect too... lets pray it goes away... along with our insomnia... because i really wouldnt want you to get hooked on those sleeping pills!!
Posted 12/9/2006 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
I'm wondering if the insomnia is a side effect of my Lexapro now... because no matter HOW hard I try I keep going to bed later and later... today I want to bed at 7 AM...

and woke up at 2:30 pm... OIIII

This is EVERY DAY you guys and I don't know what to do... Ativan doesn't do a dang thing... I can't even feel the Ativan so it certainly isn't making me sleepy.

I guess I didn't notice it that I've been staying up later and later.... hmm

Twiggygal~
Posted 12/10/2006 5:56 AM (GMT 0)
Have any of you tried to supplement the Lexapro with either Trazadone or amitriptyline? I can't take either. I'm allergice to Trazadone and the I have occular hypertension so I can't take the amitriptyline. However, you should all ask your doctor about supplementing your Lexapro with these meds. They both are low-level anti-depressants. The trazadone is prescribed frequently to help with sleep and the amitriptylene does something to the pain signals in the body. It has been a life saver for my Mom who has had several failed back surgeries.
Posted 12/11/2006 6:13 PM (GMT 0)
Ok.... so over the weekend i upped my dosage from 5mg to 10 mgs..... i feel ok... i think im gettin better... im still not sleeping well though.. and iv noticed something new... i keep having the urge to urinate very frequently and when i do, its just a little bit and i still feel like i have to go.... iv read that this could be a side effect... anyone else have this before? if so , did it go away?
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