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Posted 12/30/2006 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone successfully taken lexapro for anxiety/panic disorder?  If so, what mg and how long before you noticed it was helping you?  Also, has anyone been able to take the lex and not gain any weight from it? 

I know...lots of questions.  I've given cymbalta a fair trial, and though there are certain things I like about the cymbalta, it just does not cure the anxiety issues for me.  My doctor will let me try the lexapro again, and if it doesn't work, we'll move on to zoloft, again.

Oh, I know....all meds effect everyone differently.  Just looking for a little input on lexapro.

Posted 12/30/2006 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I myself am on lexapro 10mgs and I like it, I did have some side affects to it at frist like not sleeping at night but as far as weight gain I still haven't put on a pound from it but I have to watch my diet because I have diabetes too boot

I think that most anti-d's do help with anxiety disorders but it dose not pevent one from still having conpleate control over the anxiety disorder it self and like you said all meds effect everyone differently.

dave
Posted 12/30/2006 7:41 PM (GMT 0)
I take Lexapro - only 5mg. along with 300mg. of Wellbutrin.  Lexapro is one of the only SSRI's that helps with GAD.  Do you have an anti-anxiety med like xanax or klonopin to take when you are panicky? 

I learned that serotonin is responsible for telling the brain...I am happy, I am hungry...that's why we gain weight on the meds.  I hate it too.  But I'd rather have a few extra pain than to live day in and day out with depression and anciety.

Posted 12/30/2006 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
I take Lexapro... 20 mgs.

I have only gained weight because I'm trying to put on weight, but if I wasn't trying I wouldn't be gaining anything.


I weigh only 112 pounds and I'm 5'7". I've been on Lexapro for nearly four months. :) I've only put on 4 pounds in those four months, but I'm trying. :)

It has helped me.

It helps my obsessive thoughts and anxiety throughout the day. I also take Ativan/Lorazepam once or twice a day, depending on when I need it.

How long did it take for me to notice it was helping.... I'd say about 2 weeks... I could feel the side effects but then the anxiety I felt everyday started to dissipate, and now I hardly feel anxious at all, except when faced with situations I can't handle. (I'm agorophobic, but trying to get farther and farther from my house)

Twiggygal~
Posted 12/30/2006 10:50 PM (GMT 0)

all 3 antidepressants mentiomed in the first post are prozac type, there are still several other types to try if they dont work

for some reason some docs only ever think of the prozac type ones, but often if they dont work, then another type will

Posted 12/31/2006 4:37 AM (GMT 0)

Thanks for the replies, everyone.  I do have alprazolam to take, as needed.  My doctor called me in some wellbutrin xl a few days ago, against his better wishes.  I have to agree with him...I don't think it can help me, as my anxiety issues are pretty bad.

I feel like I've given cymbalta a fair shot.  It helps, but I just would like to try something else.  I have some lexapro left from last time, so I might start up on that again and see how I do.  If I'm okay, then I'll call and ask it I can get more.  I don't mind the weight gain, if it's only a few pounds, but I read these horror stories about waking up 20 pounds heavier!  It does make me itch, though.  Has anyone else had this problem with lex?  It's not like a rash or hives, just itching.  Even on the bottom of my feet.  I never gave it longer than a week or so.  Maybe it's a se that will go away the longer I'm on it.

Anymore advice would be great!  Thanks, all!

Posted 1/1/2007 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
Any more advice?  BTW,  Happy New Year to all!

Posted 1/1/2007 11:01 AM (GMT 0)
My advice is to give Lexapro a chance..

I don't know.. I always have an itchy feeling but my feet felt like they were burning almost for a week there when I started Lexapro.. it was strange...

Twiggygal~
Posted 1/1/2007 1:28 PM (GMT 0)
hi i took 20 mg lexapro for 2 years and was just increased to 30 in an attempt to help w/ pms symptoms.Its helped and i noticed the other day my nails aren't all bitten down and my eyebrows haven't been compulsively plucked in awhile :-) I didn't have weight gain from it...weight gain from chocolate yes...lexapro no :-) .i also am prescribed klonopin 2x a day but i take it more like 1x a day every couple days. more on weekends when i feel like my day has no usual structure and i lay in bed w/ my heart beating outta my chest.nan
Posted 1/2/2007 2:23 AM (GMT 0)

I just joined the forum so I could respond.

I sound a great deal like Nan above me here. I'm a Male,however.

I have been taking Lexapro for three months. 20 mgs for two months. For "Pure O" OCD. I'm beginning to taper. It's not providing much relief and the side effects are getting worse not better. Too much medication induced anxiety. Heart pounding is the most obvious. Zombie like state when I awake. Dizziness at times. Mental confusion. It doesn't have to be this way.

I switched from Prozac after 17 years of success. It "pooped out" this past summer after we went to 80 mgs. But for 17 years I had relative bliss. Most of the time at only 20 mgs of prozac. That's a low dose for OCD. I know SSRIs work for me. I gotta go to Plan B. Had high hopes for Lexapro. It seems to work well for many. Not me. I don't want to have to fight my Meds.

Taking small dose (less than 1 mg usually a quarter or half mg) per day while dealing with side effect anxiety. I'm thinking I need a small dose of an SSRI and Klonopin as needed. May try Luvox next.  Supposedly, great for OCD.

Posted 1/3/2007 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for all of the responses. I'm giving it a shot at 10mg to see how I do. Wish me luck!
Posted 1/4/2007 1:22 AM (GMT 0)
good luck
Posted 1/4/2007 3:49 AM (GMT 0)
I'm on 30mg of Lexapro. It's hard to say exactly how it works for me, though I know it does. Was on Celexa before (similar to lexapro) and Effexor (not bad, but not as good as Lexapro.)

I basically have chronic low depression, so I think meds work, but it's hard to detect that they're working. What I can tell you is that recently I had to stop taking it for a month (health insurance issues) and I was definitely more antsy than when on it. I also noticed that I was sleeping longer and was tired more when not on it. Also not as "up" to doing things.

Give it a go. See how it works for you. I do think I had the itchy symptoms for a bit. But then I also blamed my laundry detergent! :)

good luck
Posted 1/4/2007 3:23 PM (GMT 0)
I take 10mgs of lexapro and usually do very well on it. I took it a year and a half ago and it worked wonders for me than I went off to try to get pregnant and had a bad relapse, went back on about 3 months ago and now am wondering if I need a little higher dose or need to take it at a different time, it was working great in the beginning but now my anxiety is back pretty bad but mostly in the mornings, seem to feel good at night but wake up icky and for most of the day, but I take it in the morning so I don't know if by the time I wake up the last dose is running out  of my system and if it just takes til evening to get completely in it.  I don't know if anyone else has any experience with this problem.

My advice is to give it a good try though cause like I said it really does work wonders if it is the right one.

Good luck to you.

Take care of you.

scaredy

Posted 1/4/2007 7:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone for your responses! I really appreciate it. I'm on day 3 of 10mg and so far so good. I haven't even had the itching as bad as before! Everyone's posts are very encouraging! I also feel maybe I can take wb with the lexapro on down the road, if I see I'm gaining weight. My doctor says people just don't automatically put on 20 pounds from meds, but there sure are a lot of people out there who say they did. That scares me...to find something to work and then have to stop it.
Also, I take my lexapro in the early evening. Scaredycat, have you tried that? Maybe you need a higher dose to last longer?
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