Lexapro for ptsd

[TTC18]

How about hydroxyzine? Just got that one first -and half a pill puts me to sleep, so I pretty much won't be able to use it unless it's bedtime.

 

[EveHarrington]

Hydroxizine is an antihistamine so it’s not surprising that it puts you to sleep. It’s sometimes prescribed as a sleep aid.

 

[TTC18]

Yeah, it just makes me sleepy all the time - I guess if I'm asleep I'm not able to panic? Medically-induced coma doesn't seem like the best prescription for mental health tho.

 

[Vee]

How about hydroxyzine? Just got that one first -and half a pill puts me to sleep, so I pretty much won't be able to use it unless it's bedtime.

I take Lexapro. 15mg daily. I have GAD, depression and PTSD. Let me take the time to address a few things here from my experience:

1) PTSD is rarely "cured". For most it is a life-long diagnosis like asthma or diabetes, in which a person manages the symptoms and hopes to stay in remission from flare ups, but never actually "gets completely rid" of it.
2) Medication, the right medication, can really make a world of difference. It doesn't cure anything, but it can really help manage a lot of symptoms. For me, medication helps me not to have intrusive or unwanted thoughts or flashbacks, and it helps me control my hypervigilence and not to dwell on negative thoughts.
3) Therapy is a must have for PTSD. The only times I've ever heard of PTSD being "cured", in that people go the rest of their lives without symptoms, is after they've resolved their issues through therapy.
4) I've taken hydroxyzine, and really it's just like a big benadryl or other antihistamine. It makes you tired and helps you sleep, but it doesn't treat the anxiety.

I hope this helps.

Vee

 

[Friday]

4) I've taken hydroxyzine, and really it's just like a big benadryl or other antihistamine. It makes you tired and helps you sleep, but it doesn't treat the anxiety

For many -if not most- people, it does.

The same way it -and a few other other antihistamines- can cause anxiety, panic, itching, insomnia, or rage in some people.

This one is well known for lowering anxiety in most people. Which is part of why it’s often given after surgery. Lowers anxiety, reduces inflammation, eases nausea, & counters opiate itching, all in one fell swoop.

I always have to opt-out after surgery, because I get an extremely rare side effect, but it’s a god send for most of people.

One of those medication bell curves. You’re on one end with minimal side effects (sleepiness) I’m on the other end with severe side effects on the other, but most people are in the middle of the bell curve with useful & moderate side effects.

 

[Phoenix(not)]

I spent five long years of my life with "try this", (now) "try that" (includeing brain zappers) ad nauseum. One med had a significant positive effect though and I have been using it beneficially for eight years. My psychiatrist explained to me (when I asked) why they progress from one to the next (because the first works well for some but not others), how we are all different and there is _no_ "one size fits all". If there are any words of wisdom I could add, it is that learning and practicing Mindfulness techniques is at least as good as any medication for mood and anxiety mitigation. At least for me and presumably many others. In the country I live, it is considered the "new black". I guess what I'm suggesting is my experience seeking a pill to totally mitigate PTSD symptoms, side effect free is not realistic. I still have the exaggerated startle response and experience occasional distress/anxiety so am not claiming to be "cured". But I do know when it happens I sit down and ground myself in Mindfulness exercise and that really helps.

 

[Nessa7]

Hydroxyzine can stay in your system for a pretty long time. My old psych used to prefer to prescribe a larger dose at night instead of smaller doses throughout the day. It worked pretty well for me. It didn't have a super significant impact on anxiety, but it kept my hypervigilance symptoms under control for most of the day.

 

[TTC18]

Side Effects!!!
First morning after taking lexapro last night. I feel like I drank an ocean of coffee. Hands shaking. Mind racing. NO GOOD. Hands stop shaking if I rest them on the keyboard but I still feel tremors running through them. So the hands aren't shaking enough to shake the whole computer. Typing/retyping fixing typos all over the place. I was fine until about 1 hr ago - I had 1 cup of coffee this Am like usual. Is this because of the coffee? I didn't get a 'don't drink coffee' warning from my doctor. I probably would have asked for a different med if i had, I love my coffee... But I don't love this. I feel like I'm going to jump right out of my skin.

 

[TTC18]

Emailed doc - she said don't take anymore. She's switching me to zoloft.

 

[EveHarrington]

Be careful with Zoloft. That stuff can kill all feelings!

 

[TTC18]

Great, lol. Maybe it won't affect me too badly. What's worse - feeling like you've had an IV of caffeine, or being numb to the world? Maybe I can start with a super low dose of zoloft, and it won't make me a zombie

 

[hithere]

I get stuff like that already -feelings like electrical shocks all over, and different places, and in my brain - particularly behind or beside my eyes. Especially during a panic attack. But I've had that forever, so it's not med related. Or maybe the brain zaps are worse than what I already have. :(

From what you describe and what my friends and loved ones on it have described, brain zaps are worse. My problem or issue with this drug is that the psychiatrists and the manufacturer will deny this--or say things like, well you obviously need to be on it for the rest of your life. I feel like these are "big pharma, fda" issues that make me angry. There are other drugs that also have a withdrawal period such as prozac, but lexapro seems to be the worse if you look at forums and companies that have cropped up with products specifically geared at lexapro withdrawal.