Posted by mph-speedy on August 17, 2003, at 16:10:55
In reply to Re: LEXAPRO update, posted by Mariposa on August 16, 2003, at 11:19:44
> Haven't posted in a while, but have been monitoring the board regularly.
>
> Have been taking 10mg for going on 6 months. About a month or so ago I started getting easily irritated and angry again along w/increased depression and apathy, feelings I had NOT had since starting the Lex ( dx-PMDD, or severe PMS from my Gyn doc ). I asked if I could raise my dose and Gyn doc refused. Have to get *permission* so insurance will cover.
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> Decided to see a pdoc and had to jump through all kinds of hoops (phone calls to ins., several visits to counselor, etc. ) but did get in to see him finally. Had a long talk about my seeming *poop out*, and what he told me made a lot of sense. Liver starts producing enzymes to break down Lex when you start taking it. Over a period of time liver ramps up until it is producing the max. of enzyme that it can. At this point, the amount of Lex that makes it into your system to be of use may be less than the amount that was in system previously. That was why I was not feeling the same benefits as I had previously.
>
> What confused me, and still does, is that pdoc also talked about hormones as a possible cause of my troubles. Neither he, nor gyn doc offered to test my hormones. Am 47 and initially I thought I was peri-menopausal. No one has ruled that out as a possibility, but it also seems no one is overly concerned about it either!!!
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> Pdoc also told me about Dr. Elizabeth L. Vliet and her website "www.herplace.com" as a source for more info on hormones.
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> Got my Lex raised to 20mg, third day now and have not really noticed any difference yet, realize it is still early and will keep you posted.~~~8|8I almost "lost it", six months after cutting HRT (estrogen only) daily dose in half, going on a low fat, low carb diet, and cutting out alchohol consumption during the week. Seems like the combination of stopping the booze self medication and the drop in hormones made the depression very evident in the form of anger, anxiety, sadness, and major paranoia. Upped dose of estrogen back to what it was and went on 10mg lex. Immediate results with very little SE's. I think hormones can be a major factor if you are close to menapause. Prescription may not be neccessary, but definitely address the hormone issue. Get tested!
speedy
poster:mph-speedy
thread:109458
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20030812/msgs/251630.html