Lexapro Anyone?

[Smile]

My current diagnosis: panic disorder, agoraphobia, subthreshold PTSD & ice tendencies.

Just saw a new psychiatrist who put me on Lexapro.

Any of you been on it? Pros? Cons? I saw something about suicidal ideation which concerns me.

Any input greatly appreciated... As usual :)

 

[joeylittle]

subthreshold PTSD & ice tendencies.

I'm curious, what defines these?

 

[Smile]

I'm curious, what defines these?

Typo! OCD tendencies :)
Subthreshold PTSD is based on me having 99% of the symptoms but no memory of the actual trauma.
OCD tendencies: I do a lot of counting, checking & rechecking but it doesn't stop my life. I just do them on the way.hope that makes sense?

 

[AnnaLost]

I was on Lexapro for about 5 months earlier this year. I found it helped at first, but then I was exhausted all the time. I could barely get out of bed. So I weaned myself off and decided to deal with the uncomfortable feelings head on. I still use Ativan on an as needed basis tho, and that works for the most part for me. Good luck!

 

[Smile]

I was on Lexapro for about 5 months earlier this year. I found it helped at first, but then I was exhau...

Thanks!

 

[Poofycat]

I was put on Lexapro about 5 years ago for MDD. The major side effect I have is weight gain, like 5 lbs each time I make an adjustment in dose. Annoying, but not a deal breaker. I'm not sure if the suicidal ideation is worse because of it, but I still struggle with that.

Be careful taking cold medicine, such as NyQuil, while you're on it. I almost threw myself in front a bus while doing that, which apparently my doc had never heard of before.

 

[Ocean5]

I almost threw myself in front a bus while doing that, which apparently my doc had never heard of before.

Glad you didn't.
Scary how often this seems to occur. P-doc never hearing of side effects before. Told doc side effects (but this was Zoloft), told "never in all my years have I heard of such a thing." Then told I read online. Told anything can be written online. I tell her these are government websites like NIH and major medical universities. Then dead silence.

And this wasn't even suicidal side effect. It's a shame some doctor's don't keep up on their medical research about drugs and treatments.

 

[Deleted member 28403]

I heard of weightgain that comes with it, and also that it can quite addicting.

 

[Smile]

Yes, hearing about the suicidal ideation side effect was scary for me.... Glad your alive to tell the tale!

I suppose now that y'all mention it, I do seem to have an appetite now. But then that triggers my bulimia... Which I was doing really well with until now... Hmm, something to bring up with doc tomorrow.

Thank you!!

 

[OperatorR]

Your question was very helpful. I was thinking about whether to take that medication, but was concerned about the side effects. I won't use it after reading the comments.

 

[EOD96]

My current diagnosis: panic disorder, agoraphobia, subthreshold PTSD & ice tendencies.

Just saw a new psy...

Yes, I took Lexapro for about two years while undergoing intensive therapy and self work. I didnt notice any side affects other than a little weight gain, and of course that could have been because I drank too. If I could have stayed off the alcohol Im sure I would have been able to heal more fully. There are a variety of SSRIs on the market, and from what I read in the literature, if you have issues with one, then your doctor can prescribe another, or change your dose. I think its important to be active and involved in discussions with the doc about this (or any) medication because ultimately your feedback drives your treatment.

This my general experience on Lexapro: It took about a week to get into my system and do its work. Then I noticed that my wild swings of emotion tended to settle into a kind of muted continuum. Because I wasnt depressed anymore, I was able to rest more fully, which in turn further helped with the depression symptoms. By getting more sleep, I got less anxious, stopped having panic attacks, and I began to feel more in control of my mind. As a result I was able to directly address my PTSD with my therapist and get some solid work done on healing. The trap for me, however, was forgetting that I was clinically depressed, and that my symptoms were muted by the drug. I got off Lexapro and became depressed again and then all my symptoms came back. So I got back on, and off several times until my GP strongly advise that I stay on for a year, which I did. I've been off Lexapro since November 2015 and dont have any plans to get back on. So I would recommend that once you find an SSRI and dosage that works for you, commit to stay on it for a good long while. Even if you feel "fine" remember that you feel fine because the drug is working. I hope this helps, and best of luck in your recovery.

 

[OperatorR]

Thank you for sharing your insight and experience. I hope you continue to do well with your recovery.