just started taking lexapro 4 days ago...
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Home is where the heart is
Posts: 7,061
I took Lexpro for nearly 2 years. It worked well for me. But in some people certain antidepressants can increase anxiety. I would suggest talking with your doctor about the increase in anxiety as you doctor may want to change you to a different medication. I had a similar reaction to Welbutrin.
Welecome to our mental health forum
Welecome to our mental health forum
To Life!
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 9,293
I just found this, and thought you would be interested:
Lexapro Drug Information and Side Effects (Escitalopram oxalate) on HealthSquare.com
You may want to call your doctor and report this, if it's an increase in anxiety. Most especially if there are any of the other symptoms too.
Best of luck to you. And please let us know how you make out.
Shalom!
Special warnings about Lexapro
In clinical studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Lexapro or any other antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance this risk with the clinical need. Lexapro has not been studied in children or adolescents and is not approved for treating anyone less than 18 years old.
Additionally, the progression of major depression is associated with a worsening of symptoms and/or the emergence of suicidal thinking or behavior in both adults and children, whether or not they are taking antidepressants. Individuals being treated with Lexapro and their caregivers should watch for any change in symptoms or any new symptoms that appear suddenly--especially agitation, anxiety, hostility, panic, restlessness, extreme hyperactivity, and suicidal thinking or behavior--and report them to the doctor immediately. Be especially observant at the beginning of treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.
Lexapro makes some people sleepy. Until you know how the drug affects you, use caution when driving a car or operating other hazardous machinery.
In clinical studies, antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior in children and adolescents with depression and other psychiatric disorders. Anyone considering the use of Lexapro or any other antidepressant in a child or adolescent must balance this risk with the clinical need. Lexapro has not been studied in children or adolescents and is not approved for treating anyone less than 18 years old.
Additionally, the progression of major depression is associated with a worsening of symptoms and/or the emergence of suicidal thinking or behavior in both adults and children, whether or not they are taking antidepressants. Individuals being treated with Lexapro and their caregivers should watch for any change in symptoms or any new symptoms that appear suddenly--especially agitation, anxiety, hostility, panic, restlessness, extreme hyperactivity, and suicidal thinking or behavior--and report them to the doctor immediately. Be especially observant at the beginning of treatment or whenever there is a change in dose.
Lexapro makes some people sleepy. Until you know how the drug affects you, use caution when driving a car or operating other hazardous machinery.
You may want to call your doctor and report this, if it's an increase in anxiety. Most especially if there are any of the other symptoms too.
Best of luck to you. And please let us know how you make out.
Shalom!
Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Omak WA
Posts: 1,049
Lexapro..
Hi offhegoes,
I have taken Lexapro with my Effexor XR for two years now. I was on just Effexor XR & Lithium before this...but had a continuous flat affect.
When I started Lexapro my mood got better, slept better, and had less anxiety. I can see where it could make someone more anxious if they have other meds that might also cause some anxiety.
It does not make me sleepy like some people...but everybody reacts differently to meds. Lexapro is a SSRI which balances out the Serotonin in my brain...Effexor is a SSRI too and does the same for me....which I must have really needed because I am doing better than I have ever done in my adult life with this combo of meds.
The best thing to do is talk with your doc about the medicatiion Lexapro and see what would be best for you. Some of my meds in the past have worked completely opposite from what they were supposed to do.
retiredmom...
I have taken Lexapro with my Effexor XR for two years now. I was on just Effexor XR & Lithium before this...but had a continuous flat affect.
When I started Lexapro my mood got better, slept better, and had less anxiety. I can see where it could make someone more anxious if they have other meds that might also cause some anxiety.
It does not make me sleepy like some people...but everybody reacts differently to meds. Lexapro is a SSRI which balances out the Serotonin in my brain...Effexor is a SSRI too and does the same for me....which I must have really needed because I am doing better than I have ever done in my adult life with this combo of meds.
The best thing to do is talk with your doc about the medicatiion Lexapro and see what would be best for you. Some of my meds in the past have worked completely opposite from what they were supposed to do.
retiredmom...
same planet...different world
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Butte, America
Posts: 10,946
hi Off -
I took lexapro for half a year or so after stopping drinking... the paperwork says to give it up to two months to get completely settled in the chemistry. But the normal time for a difference is noticeable after around four to six weeks.
If that helps.
I took lexapro for half a year or so after stopping drinking... the paperwork says to give it up to two months to get completely settled in the chemistry. But the normal time for a difference is noticeable after around four to six weeks.
If that helps.
Sewer Dweller
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Chi-Town
Posts: 34
Im on lexapro, and for the first month or so I felt quite strange. I had to have my GF make sure I wasnt acting to strangely. But after a month or so, I felt great, now I don't feel like Im on anything, I just feel generally better. Happier.
I did have my dosage upped after four months though because I was still having crummy days but now hardly ever.
I did have my dosage upped after four months though because I was still having crummy days but now hardly ever.
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