Posted by hope2003 on February 7, 2003, at 16:12:49
In reply to Re: Anyone switched to Lexapro? « ggrrl, posted by teriwynn on January 8, 2003, at 10:50:37
I hope you are still checking the messages on this board,as I am referring to one of yours dated 8th of January:
1-I consider your message a friendly&constructive one,in general and for me,in special ; I am due to start weaning off Effexor(300mg/day) targeting to start Lexapro administration and I am also on Carbamazepine(400mg),being dx as a Bipolar2
2-I would like now to ask you a couple of questions,knowing that though all of us are differently reacting to the different meds,but some of us can find similarities worth to be taken into account and be discussed with our doctors:
a)besides Depakote,have you tried any other M.S.(Lamictal etc.) ?
b)can you imagine taking Effexor(while weaning off slowly)together with Lexapro(trying to minimize the withdrawal problems and assure min.of time not being covered by any AD)
c)are you taking occasionally Klonopin etc.?
d)have you enjoyed ,while still being on Effexor,at least the anti-anxiety effect(Effexor being "strong"for this problem) and are you considering Lexapro powerful in this sens the sane?
e)have you faced any sexual s/e while being on Effexor and not facing them now,as being already on Lexapro?
f)have you ever been on Celexa ? what is now your successful dosage for Lexapro ?
waiting with interest to your(ar anyone capable talking from his own experience) reactionbe well continuously
HOPE2003
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> I have taken antidepressants for two years now. Most recently, I came off of Effexor and was switched to Lexapro. I was experiencing a lot of queasiness and nausea on Effexor and was experiencing major mood swings, so I just stopped taking the drug without my doctor's guidance. I went from 350 mg to 0 mg cold turkey. BIG MISTAKE. I thought I was going to die. I sunk into a major depression, felt nauseous and sick all the time. My doctor put me back on the Effexor at the same time as prescribing Lexapro. Then I gradually weaned off Effexor. Lesson one: you have to wean off Effexor. Lesson two: don't self medicate or stop taking your prescribed drugs. Lesson three: if a drug isn't working, try another. I've followed this string of messages and I can tell you that there is not ONE miracle drug that works for everyone. For some unexplained reason, certain SSRI's work well for certain people. And even then, an SSRI that works well for one person can suddenly stop working for no reason at all. I was on Zoloft for over a year and it worked well and then suddenly, it just wasn't doing it for me.
>
> As for Lexapro, it's been working great for me. I've been taking it for about three months now. It's working without any major side effects. I did experience some slight nausea in the very beginning, but that could have been coming off of the Effexor too. I am also on Depakote as I am BiPolar, so that could be it too.
>
> I have a couple of final comments for all of you.
>
> Stick with it; there is a solution if you'll give yourself enough time to find it.
>
> Use message boards like this to help you understand that others have been or are in the same situation and gain strength from that, but do not allow others and their stories to dictate your actions: leave that to your doctors.
>
> Understand that people like pharmrep, who I believe was forced to stop using this message board when someone sent a message to the FDA, are gathering information that will help with future solutions. Was he disseminating information about his drug? Yes. But I found his advice to be good -- usually directing us to check with our doctors. And remember that it was Dr. Bob who started this board. Dr Bob uses this board as a means to gather information from us, the patients. In doing so, he has offered advice repeatedly. Without knowing any of us (or our conditions) personally, why isn't he being charged with treating patients improperly. Long and short of it: the internet should be seen only for what it is -- a source of information that can be used by anyone. When we start censoring people like pharmrep, the information is bound to be more biased than it was when it was an open forum.
>
> To those of you suffering with any mental disorders, I wish you luck. Keep trying. It's taken me over two years, but I am living proof that there is a light at the end of the rainbow.
poster:hope2003
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030204/msgs/140014.html