Lexapro For Depression

Hi there, I am a 40 yr old woman, who started taking Lexapro about 3 to 4 weeks ago, starting on 5mg for the first 2 plus weeks, then increased it a few days ago to 10mg as directed by my Dr. My history of depression is this: I feel I have dysthymic disorder with major depression disorder tendencies. I have suffered a few bouts of severe reactive depression as a result of some considerable life stressors in the past, which then, you could say, turned into simple Major Depressive Disorder. At one of these times I took Lexapro with good effect. I think I have been depressed (often mildly) for years, but struggled through. I also have considerable anxiety, which has plagued me for 10 plus years, generally focusing on my health. Before biting the bullet and seeing a Dr this time, I was cons...

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I've been taking Lexapro and Zanax for nearly ten years for extreme anxiety and depression. In march I was taken off Xanax as my local gp couldn't prescribe it anymore. Since then I don't feel lexapro is working. I can't sleep longer than 2 or 3 hours and don't leave the house. What should I do? ## Do not go off your Lexapro. Sometimes you may think something is not working until you go off of it. Then you find out the hard way (as I have) that it was doing more than you thought it was. If you are not abusing Xanax and your doctor stopped prescribing it out of personal bias, just find another doctor who will prescribe it, as long as you don't abuse it.

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I am experiencing anxiety and depression on Keppra. Is this a normal side effect? ## anxiety and depression with keppra you need to yalk to your doctor about this as i am on keppra and topamax both for seizures and also i take antideprssent and i haven't had a seizure or depression for a long time now ## Am taking 750mg BID and have had to add 10mg 1Xday Lexapro for moderate plus depression.

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I have a history of anxiety/depression. After 2 life changing events I fell back into this funk. Was put on Luvox and it worked fine. Then had another loss with a company rightsizing and was laid off and have since moved back into home with parents (I am 40). Without insurance started going to local psychiatrist who decided I was Bipolar. To make long story short..........wrong diagnosis. After a month and a half on Latuda which has sent me spiraling down even further into depression and hopelessness, my parents got involved and with blessing of my psychologist (who also didn't think I was Bipolar) we weaned me off of Latuda and onto 10 mg Lexapro after much research. I've been on for 2 weeks and have suffered the nausea, dizziness and loss of weight and right now after 2 1/2 mo...

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I suffer from anxiety and depression. It wasn't until I found myself sitting at a traffic light and wincing from the overwhelming feeling of sadness. I was well aware that I came from a high anxiety family and was certain I inherited that from my mother. What I didn't realize was how depression had slowly creeped into my life. I had no reason to feel depressed. I have a good job and wonderful family. No real money problems just the usual bills yet I had an overwelming feeling of sadness. I schedule a physical and went to see my doctor. During the physical he asked if I had anything to complain about medical or otherwise. So I told about the feeling at the traffic light and all the rest. He offered me lexapro after questioning me about a family history. He explained the there is ...

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3yrs down on Lex after severe depressive, anxiety episode--life changing. Took long time (3mos) to adapt to drug (brain zaps, sleepyness, fog) with initisl 20mg. 10mg per day is my dosage now. Call it my happy pill...given me new lease on life, sleep, etc. If just starting out, keep faith, side affects subcide and body adapts. Never thought depression when happen to me...wrong ## Awesome! I am very glad that it has worked so well for you. And yes, that is correct, side effects will normally subside after 4 to 6 weeks, when your body gets used to the medication. I'd also like to add that if one medication doesn't work for you, there are others that you can try. Are there any questions or comments?

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I have been on Lexapro for about 7 years. I feel like it has just been masking my anxiety/depression. I want to try to come off of it, I want to try and be healthy on my own. Does anyone have long use effects? I feel tired all the time. I have ZERO libido. I eat all the time, almost feel like anxiety is still there. I'm lazy, just don't want to do anything. Has anyone tapered off? How was the experience? What do you do now for anxiety? Thank you so much. ## What does your Dr say about coming off? Do they agree you should? ## Hi Lariana, How are you? I actually don't have any personal experience with this medication, but from reading your description I get the sense that you may need to talk with your doctor about developing some sort of tapering schedule to help you graduall...

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My MD started me on Lexapro a little more than a month ago. Started at 5 mg and I got such paranoia that I quit. On follow-up exam he suggested 2.5 mg and I've been doing that for about 3 weeks. Today I upped it to 5 mg. He was talking as high as 40 mg. I see no reason for anyone taking that amount especially with what I'm reading about rats coming down with retinal degeneration and adrenal failure, plus all the symptoms that come from withdrawals. I will stop at 10 mgs. I don't have social anxiety, I have a problem with motivation which I guess stems from some type of depression. ## My heel hurt so back got ## Hello, CatAddict! How are you? Lab animals are usually given far greater amounts than the therapeutic doses, so you can't really go by that. As to why some people...

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IS ABILIFY SAFE TO TAKE FOR DEPRESSION/ANXIETY IN A 15 YR. OLD GIRL MY 15 YR.OLD DAUGHTER WAS TAKING LEXAPRO 20MG ONCE DAILY FOR DEPRESSION/ ANXIETY PRESCRIBED BY OUR FAMILY MD.. WE WERE THEN ADVISED TO SEE A PYSCHOLOGIST AND A PYSCHIATRIST.FOR AN EVALUATION. AND THEY PUT HER ON ABILIFY 2 MG A DAY AND ATIVAN 2MG PRN....SHE SAYS SHE FELT BETTER TAKING LEXAPRO.. I HAVE READ SO MANY NEGATIVE INFO ON ABILIFY..SHE IS STILL UNABLE TO SLEEP WELL AND AND KEEP HER MIND FROM RACING. SHE IS A STRAIGHT A STUDENT TAKING ADVANCED COURSES. I AM NOT SURE IF ITS A SAFE MED FOR HER.. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY GOOD OR BAD INFO ..HELP! ## Abilify contains the active ingredient Aripiprazole, which is a potent antipsychotic and antidepressant, as to safety, there are risks associated with all medications. Have y...

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I want to know if lexepro is effective the for symtoms of depression and anxiety and what side effects can I expect when I first start taking it? ## Yes its effective. I've been taking it for about a month and feel sooo much better. The only side effect I've experienced is loss of sexual desire ## I would rather have the feeling of well being than sex. To have both would be great but ya can't always get what you want. ## Try Cymblata..It is a new Antidepressant on the market..results are good ## well i have been taking lexapro for awhile and the first week it made me really sleepy and the no desire thing too but after some time i couldn't tell it was working anymore ## I started having panic attacks 2 yrs ago. I have been on 15mg of lexapro for 2 yrs now. It took about 3...

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My doctor put me on 10 mg of Lexapro after I started school and my anxiety was getting pretty bad. I have not ever had problems with depression besides the occasional sadness or bad day. Lexapro worked so well for my anxiety as soon as I started taking it. About a month into taking this drug I met the love of my life. I was very happy and life just seemed perfect. About 9 months later, I decided everything was going so well that I would stop taking Lexapro. For two weeks I cut my dose in half and then quit taking it cold turkey. Biggest mistake I have ever made. For the first couple weeks I felt great, still happy as ever, me and my boyfriend had had many conversations about getting married and making future plans for about the past 4 months. Then one day I woke up and it's like a s...

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I was just wondering if anyone has drank with this med and were there any side effects? I've been on lexapro 10 mg for a month and am feeling great but I am petrified to even attempt to drink alcohol, but would like to try. So if anyone could help that would be great. ## I have been on Lexapro for 3 years. I drink about twice a week and everything seems to be fine. I have noticed that if you drink heavly for a few nights in a row you will feel a slight depression. Just don't over do it. I was worried at first also. ## Lexapro is an antidepressant. Drinking alcohol is not recommended, as alcohol is a major depressant, and undoes the work the medication does. ## Never do that! I was on that medicine for 2 years, and I was never able to drink! the first time I drank when I was on l...

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I've been taking Lexapro for over 10 yrs and don't like being dependent on it - has anyone successfully stopped their dependence on this drug? ## Many people have successfully stopped taking it, it's really a matter of doing so properly. If you're not replacing it with a similar medication, it should be tapered slowly to avoid the worst of the withdrawal symptoms and your doctor should be able to help you set up an appropriate tapering schedule. The FDA lists the typical withdrawal effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, chills, fever, diarrhea, rebound depression and anxiety. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Hey there, I was on 20mg of lexapro a day for 3 years. Went (kinda) cold turkey. So glad I did. The month leading upto it I actually started skip...

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Today I visited my new family doctor. I began to explain to her that after starting my new job a year and half ago, I began to have the "normal signs of depression"- no motivation to do the things I normally loved doing (actually, no motivation to do much of anything), fatigue, memory loss, brain fog, not much of a libido (I'm 24 with a fiancé), etc. but never suicidal. I have a wonderful life, seemingly I am happy with everything, a great family so I guess depression actually isn't something one must "admit" and have a "bad life" which I had generally thought. (That's ignorance I know but now I do understand depression a bit more after reading up on it.) Anyway, my doc suggested Lexapro for an antidepressant and anxiety med. (Currently, I've...

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I have been on Lexapro 10mg for 4 days.. Terrible nausea, diarrhea, clenching jaw. Has anyone felt this? Also my hands are lightly shaking. Wondering when it will stop? I do not feel better yet at all. I was prescribed it for depression and major anxiety. ## HI, Kelly! Sorry that you're feeling so awful. Side effects that severe are not normal and you should contact your doctor as soon as possible. I think this just may not be the right medication for you to take. Some mild nausea and diarrhea are normal, but not severe nausea and the clenching jaw can sometimes be the sign of a severe reaction. ## I had the same reaction, even to the point of possibly being hypomanic, but I enjoyed it. my pupils dilated, sweat constantly, became shaky, felt like I had the flu....it all subsides and...

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I have been on Lexapro for a year and a half now 10 mg...I was wondering if anybody has had the side affect of weight gain I have gained 40 lb. since I have been on it..the strange thing is I don't do any binge eating or over eat due to my acid reflux...next doctors appointment I am going to ask to be put down to 5mg...it's so hard to go on the treadmill when you don't have any energy or will power..my anxiety is under control its my depression that gets me down and I just feel like sleeping all day..?? ## Some people have reported weight gain as a side effect and the FDA does not it among the possible ones, though it is not very common. Others are listed as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, and dry mouth. What other medications have you tried?

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I have had thyroid cancer for the following 12 years with 10 surgeries and all the I131 a person is allowed to have administered. Just recently, in July, I had a severe back reconsruct with fusion and all nerves to my legs had been so damamged by the severity at which they were pinched from my spine let to totally different problems. I was told to try prestique not only to benefit from the depression that I do have but also it said it helps with the pain throughout your body. Has anyone heard this before.. I have heard Lexapro helping fibermalgia patiets...any thought??? ## Pristiq contains the active ingredient Desvenlafaxine, which is an SNRI antidepressant and yes, this class of medications has been shown to help with some forms of nerve pain. On top of that, it has also been shown t...

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Was on Wellbutrin only about a month, just didn't seem to be working or helping at all. Dr finally decided to try Lexapro. Just curious if I'll experience any major effects while tapering Wellbutrin (only on it a month) and start up effects of Lexapro....these in between stages are horrible because it's hard to tell which is the culprit. I just need some relief. Second guessing my decision to stop paxil after years of being on it- maybe I should have just stayed on it. ## Why did you stop the Paxil? The FDA does warn that while switching medications, you may experience nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, rebound depression, and anxiety. What dosage were you taking of the Paxil?

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I just started lexapro for ocd, depression and general anxiety. The first day was weird, then it went up. I started to be more content and happy, with much less fear. Around day 5 I just became flat what is a horrible feeling, just like depression, not feeling anything. Then I just thought I'd surrender and wait it out. Today started off good and after a few hours I just went flat again. So it's like hope hope and then it's gone. Can anybody relate and is this normal (going up being happy and from one moment to another feeling nothing again)? ## Yes, that can be normal for the first 3 weeks, or so, according to FDA reports. You may also experience dizziness, drowsiness, dry mouth, and headache. It usually takes about 3 to 4 weeks for a medication in this class to reach its f...

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I have recently been prescribed Lexapro for depression and my doctor said to start with 10 mg for 7 days and then I could go onto 20 mg. Does this sound correct for prior uses? I am already afraid. ## Why are you afraid? That is normal dosage escalation. The FDA lists the typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth, and weight changes. Are you on any other medications?

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