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Posted 3/19/2012 8:07 PM (GMT 0)
I am on day 4 of Lexapro.  It is making me jittery, interrupting my sleep, and my anxiety is -- if anything -- worse not better.  Also finding it hard to focus on work (or anything).  I feel unmotivated.  I have a call into my doctor to discuss these side effects.  But I guess all he will say is "hang in there and they will pass."

By the way, what is the protocol for calling p-doc between appointments, to discuss things like this?  Do you reserve that only for "true emergencies"?

 

Posted 3/19/2012 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear the side effects are tough.  If I need to get a message to my Pdoc I can call and talk to her nurse who usually calls me back with the Drs. response or advice.

I do not remember if you ever posted what dose of Lexapro you are taking.  Perhaps you could slow down your dose as I have heard of people that even start at 2.5 mg and then increase to 5 mg and on up as their body tolerates the medication.  I think it would be  very prudent of you to go slow. These drugs effect everyone differently.

As for the Xanax can you break it down to a lower dose and try it around 10 PM to help you get sleepy and fall asleep easily.

You might also try taking a Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc combo tablet as I have read that it helps with sleep - as long as you are not allergic to any of these ingredients.

Hope you have sweet dreams tonight and do let us hear what your Dr. has recommended.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 3/19/2012 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kitt. You are so helpful! My doc has no nurse. Just an answering service that gets him messages. He usually calls back the same day. He started me on 10mg. I did not know that it came in 5mg until after the appointment. If I had known that, I might have asked to start on 5mg. He indicated that he will want to move me up to at least 20 mg. But I am going to resist that -- at least until we give the 10mg a good shot to see if it is sufficient. I have .5mg xanax, but I break it in half and take only .25mg. That seems sufficient, when I need it.
Posted 3/20/2012 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
Im going through the same thing right now with paxil, hang in there it will get better soon. I know it is really uncomfortable but the outcome is worth it. I took paxil years ago and it kicked in about 1 1/2 weeks. started feeling great. your almost there. You should have seen me today anyone who talked to me had to think boy oh boy that lady is out there!! good luck
Posted 3/20/2012 12:35 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Barb.  It does help to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Posted 3/20/2012 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
There is just hang in there. Is it helping at all to take away some of the anxious thoughts for ya? I also am taking .25 xanax as needed but i try not to take it much and really today as spacy as i was i really did not need it although my heart was racing really bad at times i knew it was alot the med and it will go away so i went with the flow!!
Posted 3/20/2012 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
One thing I find particularly difficult when my anxiety level is high is talking with other people.  I had lunch with an old friend  the other day and it was very awkward -- for me.  I just wanted it to end.  I sort of feel like I am "faking" since I am pretending to be interested in what they are saying, but really just thinking about my own anxiety.  Is that unusual?   
Posted 3/20/2012 4:12 AM (GMT 0)
I have felt exactly like this. It is as if it takes so much energy just to keep yourself together, that there is not a lot of patience/interest when it comes to socializing...sometimes it is really a struggle...

...on the other hand, sometimes it is a great distraction. It depends on where I am at the moment with the anxiety, and how I am coping with it!

If someone is telling a long and drawn out story, it can almost make me want to run away...I feel trapped by them for some irrational reason, and want to just walk away...how awful is that?

...and sometimes when my husband recounts his day at work, it is all I can do to stay and hear it! I just can't be a captive audience sometimes...I am just tapped out and not into listening.

Phew! Sorry about the rant...feels good to get that off my chest...and I am sorry that you had the same problem, but it is good to know that someone else has felt this way.:p

Keep on working on the things that are challenging you lately...you are doing great.:)

S.C.
Posted 3/20/2012 8:42 AM (GMT 0)
I'm also on lexapro. It works really well for me when I am on the right dose and all the side effects, except maybe a little sleepiness, are long gone. Just stick with it! Hopefully it will work for you too!

I also feel like running away during conversations sometimes. Or just not focused at all. It sucks, but I think it's pretty common. Listening to lectures at school is the worst. I always have to force myself not to run right out of there and I usually end up not absorbing a thing the teacher says! Oh man. Haha.
Posted 3/20/2012 2:25 PM (GMT 0)
i dont know if i can stick with this.  The worst side effects for me are not being able to sleep through the night and waking up all jittery in the morning.  Really hard for me to function like that.  And I dont know how long these side effects will last.  (I am on day 5).

I started on 10mg.  NO WAY i will go higher than that.  I can't deal with these side effects....

Posted 3/20/2012 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
medved,

IMHO,  I would really like to see you talk to your Dr. about reducing your dose to 5mg  as well as see you use your Xanax until you are doing better.

I know how rough it is to feel the way you are feeling but keep believing that it will get better.  What works for me now is to give my self plenty of time to get in the zone when I first wake up.  I will get up earlier if I know I have to get ready and go somewhere first thing in the morning. Rushing through your morning routine when you wake up feeling jittery makes you feel even more anxious. 

If I am having a tough day I will limit my socializing even if I have to cancel a luncheon.  The people in my life that know of my dx understand when I say I need to reschedule an engagement. When we are feeling anxious it is hard to visit and listen to others - also for me I get overstimulated and want to run away too.  Somedays I will not answer the phone if I see it is someone calling to visit and I need to stay focused on staying in the moment. 

Never feel the need to be social out of guilt or not wanting to hurt anothers feelings while you are working through you fears and anxiety.  You will get better but for now take care of you.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 3/20/2012 4:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kitt.  I think I will take the xanax tonight in an effort to get a decent night's sleep.  I see doc on Thursday and will discuss with him whether to reduce to 5mg.  I know his initial thought was that I would take 10 mg for a week and then INCREASE the dose.  But given the effect it is having thus far, maybe decrease is the right move. 
Posted 3/21/2012 12:21 AM (GMT 0)
When I took Paxil years ago I only took the children's dose. That was all I needed. Maybe you don't need a big dose
Posted 3/21/2012 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
the doc seemed to think i should ulimately be taking more than 10mg, so it might be tough to convince him to try 5mg.  But my theory is take the least amount that will do the trick.  so why not start low.  Will see later this week what he says. 

If i take 10mg for a week and then reduce to 5mg, will i likely have some sort of "withdrawal" type reaction -- or is that too fast?

(Doc really minimized side effects when he prescribed this)

Posted 3/21/2012 9:46 AM (GMT 0)
Ive heard of people only taking 10mg as their maximum dose, so it doesn't surprise me that the side effects are this bad. I agree with everyone about reducing to 5.
Everyone is different, but I do not experience withdrawal symptoms when I reduce my lexapro by 5mg, and I've done it more that once! You should be fine, just talk to your doctor first :)
Posted 3/21/2012 2:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks sj45. I don't know why he did not start me on 5mg. I would have asked that, but I did not know 5mg existed at the time of my appointment. He just sort of said "the dose you start with is 10mg." I will definitely try to switch to 5mg. I can't deal with the lack of sleep and jittery feeling. Last night I took .25mg Xanax and did manage to get 6.5 hours sleep. But it wasn't enough, and I awoke feeling jittery. I also don't have much appetite these days. I am forcing myself to eat.
Posted 3/21/2012 2:49 PM (GMT 0)
medved,

I guess in all my advice I forgot to mention that patients have rights and telling your Dr. you would like to reduce the Lexapro to 5 mg is a right you have.  You can listen to your Drs. reasoning but still make the decision that you would be more comfortable dropping the dosage for now. A good Dr. will work with you on your decision. 

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 3/22/2012 11:22 PM (GMT 0)
Just an update. I saw my doctor. He recommended that I stay on 10mg Lexapro rather than reducing to 5mg. But he suspects the side effects I am having (difficulty sleeping, feeling very jittery and some anxiety) are more from excess adrenaline rather than from Lexapro side effects. So he gave me a beta blocker to take at night, which he says should reduce adrenaline. He said this is a common practice in the UK, although not in the US (where I am located).

Anyone heard or or experienced this approach before?

I would have liked to reduce to 5mg Lexapro. But I am paying this guy A LOT of money for his expertise and advice -- so for now I will follow it.
Posted 3/22/2012 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
I am with you I'm going through the same thing with Paxil. We need to look at it this way it will kick in soon and we will feel great. It's short tem feeling worse.how long have you been taking it? Oh also I started taking mine in the daytime and it's kinda funny I almost feel like I had a couple drinks but I'm more anxious!
Posted 3/23/2012 1:18 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on the Lexapro for a week.
Posted 3/23/2012 10:55 AM (GMT 0)
Ok I've taken Paxil for 4 days. We will be feeling better soon
Posted 3/23/2012 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Did not sleep much last night and awoke feeling very jittery.  So I called the pdoc and  basically insisted on reducing to 5mg of Lexapro.  He said OK.  Will see if that makes side effects (sleeplessness and jittery feelings) any better.  I suspect it will.  Of course whether the 5mg is sufficient medication to  help with  my anxiety is a different question.  But honestly I can't deal with the side effects.  I want to address my anxiety -- but in the mean time, day to day, I need to be able to function.
Posted 3/23/2012 7:13 PM (GMT 0)
medved,

Good for you and I know my pdoc will often have great reasons for why I should increase or stay on a dose but like you if I am not tolerating it well then I need to explain to her why I want to try a different dose.  Yes I have heard of Drs. using betablockers but do suggest to your Dr. that he put you on an extended release such as Inderal LA so you are covered around the clock not just at night time. Now he may not feel this is the right choice for you but it is an idea. 

As always what works for one person does not work for another so there is no cookie cutter version or one size fits all. 

Please be sure to combine your medications with some type of therapy as it the meds will not change your way of thinking to help you learn how to deal with the anxiety.

Take care and I hope you have a pleasant weekend.

Kindly,

Kitt

 

Posted 3/23/2012 8:43 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Kitt. Yes, I definitely want to combine with therapy. Indeed, I am more enthusiastic about therapy than about medication (after many years of resisting therapy, figuring I could "handle my own problems") though I may need some of both. I know some go to a therapist separate from the psychiatrist, but I plan to do it all through the psychiatrist. It costs a bit more (my doc does not take insurance), but I would rather do this all with one person.
Posted 3/24/2012 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
I slept better last night did great today. Foggy headed feeling but found myself laughing a lot. I am only taking 5 mg of the paxil. I started real slow. I did stay extra busy today so maybe that helped! How are you doing now?
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