Lexapro, any ideas?

I know others have posted on lexapro but I just wanted to lay out my scenario for your opinions.

My husband has been having panic/anxiety attacks since 12/05. He has been taking ativan and atenonlol(for blood pressure). With these meds he was getting the anxiety usually the same time at night, about 6-7 and when bad, it would last for hours. He can't take xanax for faster relief.

He went to a therapist who gave him lexapro about 3 weeks ago or so. He is now getting anxiety in the daytime. He stopped a day from the lexapro and he said he felt better. I've heard good things about lexapro and someone on here even said their anxiety stopped. He is at his wits end and I am too, seeing him suffer everyday. He's tried other ssris and hated them too. I really was hoping that the lexapro would help. How can he live like this? Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks so much,

ChristianWithHope said...
Denim,
What kind of doctor prescribed the Lexapro - you mentioned a "therapist"? The SSRI's can be tough at first for those of us with anxiety, but with patience and a good doctor (preferably a psychiatrist) they can be effective. SSRI's can take a number of weeks to actually kick in, and during that time they can actually make you feel worse.
We don't know your husband's history with medication, but we applaud you for not giving up on him.
Has he had any counseling?

He's had counseling in the past and will be starting again with a new therapist at this place. I believe it was a nurse that prescribed the pills based on a few things, feeling this med fit him best. It has to be hard to continue when they actually make you feel worse, I would like him to give it a full month or so and not skip days, which he has, but what can I do but be understanding and give my opinions. Thanks so much.

He is only taking I think 5mgs, I know he started on 1/4 of the 10mg pill, then tried 1/2 and complained of feeling weird. I'd have to ask him what he is taking now. I do know he has skipped a day here and there also. I've told him about you because I thought it was so encouraging.

So, your doctor thought of upping the dose even though your symptoms were not sleeping?

Were you more anxious also? Funny how upping your dose made it better for you. It's interesting. I'm glad it worked for you. I'll tell my husband what you said and let me know please if you also felt more anxious at first. I really want him to stick with it if it can help. This everyday anxiety for him is terrible. Thanks so much.

5mg is a good starting dose, early side effects should be accepted, more ativan should  help, may also help to take the lexapro just before bed

generic celexa is very similar if not the same and usually cheaper

Denim,
You can really help your husband by gently encouraging him each night to take the medication - even if you have get a glass of water and take it to him. Skipping dosages only prolongs the pain as his brain is adapting. Every bone in his body may be telling him that this stuff is making him worse, but he has to stick it out. The sleep disruption is not at all surprising - night time can be a living nightmare for those in this stage of anxiety. I've been through this twice (with another SSRI).
Gradually increasing the dosage is the best path to reaching a therapeutic dose - and it's different for everyone. It's a tough journey. Until he finds that sweet spot, his mood and sleep patterns may be all over the place. It's possible that he'll need a different med as well - but I wouldn't tell him that right now.
Get him out of the house - and out of his chair if you can.
So a nurse prescribed his medication? That doesn't sound right at all...

True - you can't make him take it. But if you walk up to him and suggest he take it, will he generally? Or will he put you off? Either way, you've done your part.
I would dare say that most of us with anxiety disorders have gone through periods where we've had one to many attacks on any given day. Other times it's a sustained, wrenching ache that won't give you even a moment's peace. I've seen both.
If he's gone through this for 17 months w/o relief, then he needs to do something different - and it sounds like he is.
Note that there are multiple SSRI oriented meds that have subtle differences - so even if Lexapro doesn't work, another one may. I TOTALLY freaked out on Paxil - but I don't know if that was an over reaction on my part (if was my first experience with an anti depressant) or the med itself. Zoloft (sounds like soft) and was portrayed as being gentle. It worked for me. We're very prone to suggestion. : )

Thanks Faith & Charity, what is reactive depression/anxiety? I have chronic pain and was considering lexapro myself. But back to him, it seems none of these anti depressants agree with him and he will ultimately be the one to decise what he feels works and doesn't. I know he hates taking pills but sometimes there's no choice but if you feel worse taking something I can see why it would be hard to keep taking it. When he's anxious he can't even stand music but he does go for walks with me. Thanks for your prayers. God knows exactly what he needs and is our source of hope, just wish we didn't have to wait so long and if the answer is here, wish we weren't so dense. :)

Thanks again. 

 

freezinginAK said...

  Hi again denim,

  When I first came down with A/P my whole life change, I use to paint cars for a living and became over exposed to the chemicals that I worked with and had a real hard time with my A/P and had lost my job and had to fight work comp from it and We ended up living in campgrounds bouncing checks and moving from one to the other, but I fought the fight and found it with in me to get better as your hubby must do and not give up.

  I had found little help at that time in life as I had to fish for the salmon so we could eat Good thing I new how to fish for the fresh silvers while others where having a hard time just to hook a fish, But being homeless had too be the hard's thing for me but sometimes you just have to fight and try the meds to get better as I myself had a hard time taking meds at the time because I had become chemically sensitive to most meds but I keep trying as your hubby must do and yes Lexapro was hard at first with the side affects but I tryed it and had a hard time at first but when my pdoc upped my dose I had finally found relief and am so happy that I did stick with it, and he too needs to put some trust in it, as like me I couldn't handle most meds and xanax made me worst with P/A's from it all the time.

  Please if he wish's to he can talk to me man to man about it as I know how it is and my email is posted under my sig. so he can talk about it and trust me I have done more thing's in my life that I hated to do but did and A/P is one that can past.

  Cowboy up

Thank you so much. You have been so inspirational to me, if I could only pass that on to him. I don't want him to stop the lexapro after I heard how it helped you. I can't imagine going through life with his disorder plus me having chronic pain at the same time, something has to give. I told him how it bothered you(now I'm not sure if it was you) but it bothered someone at a lower dose, but that person said at a higher dose he felt relief. I can't make him take it, I wish someone could. I'll let him know about you offering to write him and I thank you for that. I hope you continue to do well. You have been through a lot yourself, God bless you.

bump for newbie
PLEASE check for EXISTING threads prior to posting another one on same subject

Thanks

Blue727 said...
Denim,

Little insight...I am a 27 year old male with two young children.  You and your husband should be very greatfull to have each other through this.  To shed some light on the situation, I have been on the following medications off and on since 2003:

I have been on xanax, paxil, cymbalta, buspirone, clomipramine (had to go to e.R. On this stuff after one dose), clonazepan, mirtazipine, zoloft, zyprexa, seroquel, prozac, celexa, toprol xl and welbutrin. I currently take 20 mg of lexapro, 0.5 mg of risperdal, 20 mg of prilosec and 10 mg of ambien for sleep. However, I feel I am getting no better.  I have been on the Lexapro since 2/11/07 and feel it has caused me to have panic attacks and feel more on edge.  I must be sensitive to all of these medications.

I have decided to taper off all my medications and go a different route.  Nothing has worked so far, so I might as well have a clean slate.  If you would like to know, I will be taking a "First Cleanse" program, Goldenseal, Cranberry Juice, Lot's of water, a multi vitamin and staying away from my horrible habits of caffeine and chewing tobacco.  While doing this, I plan to somehow make myself sleep for like four days straight to let my mind rest.

After this test, I will submit for an MRI, all thyroid and thyroid antibodies testings, submit saliva tests for adrenal, cortisol and testosterone levels to rule out those things and then will try and see an ENT to look at the possiblity of having Labyrinthitus or Meneire's disease.  Neurologist maybe a little ways down the line as well.

Let me know what you think.  Hang in there and if I can help in anyway, please let me know.  I will keep you updated on my findings to see if we can't work this all out together.

My

I think this is a wondeful idea. I am all for saliva testing when you're body is clean especially. I give you a lot of credit for doing this. You sound like a smart man.

My husband stopped the lexapro also. He was having more attacks than before. He still isn't doing well. Ativan seems to be the only thing that calms him down. I have told him to go for saliva testing for adrenals and thyroid, I think that could say a lot.

I know nothing of those diseases you mentioned, but I will look them up. Do keep me informed. I feel like there should be a sloution. My husband is now saying his heart feels weak! That's really freaking me out, is it anxiety or a heart condition that one doctor said was no big deal. I told my husband to see a cardiologist. So far, every doctor I've seen for my problems and he has seen for his has been a waste of time and frustrating for the most part.

I wish you well. Please keep in touch. My email is there if you want to write me. God bless~Barbara~   

Blue727 said...
You can order your own saliva testing for all thryoid, thyroid antibodies, testosterone, cortisol levels, progesterone, estradiol, Free T4, Free T3 and DHEA+ DHES(S) pool at www.canaryclub.com and it is $141.55. 

Thank you. I've heard of them and ZRT(I think the name is). Too bad our medical labs didn't use saliva testing and get to the heart of some matters by looking at people's symptoms more.