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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by theo on May 30, 2003, at 8:23:17
Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg?
Thanks
Posted by tm on May 30, 2003, at 9:21:24
In reply to Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg?, posted by theo on May 30, 2003, at 8:23:17
Yes, the company has what they call I believe a starter package. My PsyDoc gave me two weeks of 10mg. All I have researched also says that is a starting point. My Doc moved me up to 15mg before my two weeks were up. I have only been on it a little over 4 weeks and I am still waiting on the full effects. Also I read that the higher the dose the higher the drop out rate. Go to Google and just type Lexapro and there will be more info there. Good Luck Tim
Posted by Mariposa on May 30, 2003, at 10:50:51
In reply to Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg?, posted by theo on May 30, 2003, at 8:23:17
> Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg?
> Thanks10 mg is the "recommended" dosage, and from what I have read, 20mg is not "supposed" to show any significant difference.
My DR told me to start at 5mg, then I went to 10mg at end of week 4. When I asked him about increasing my dosage to 15 or 20 he refused and said if I didn't think it was working at 10mg I needed to switch to a different med.
Posted by tm on May 30, 2003, at 12:09:44
In reply to Re: Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg? » theo, posted by Mariposa on May 30, 2003, at 10:50:51
How long have you been at ten and what are you results? Tim
Posted by Bill L on May 30, 2003, at 12:24:39
In reply to Re: Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg? » theo, posted by Mariposa on May 30, 2003, at 10:50:51
Mariposa, I hope you don't take offense to this but I think your doctor is not very knowledgable. After hundreds of posts over the years, this is the first time I berated a doctor. I can't believe he told you that he would not prescribe more than 10 mg of Lexapro.
It's true that a study showed that 10 mg worked the same as 20 mg Lexapro. BUT, like all of these studies, this study only lasted a short time.
Oftentimes a given dose of a drug will work well for a few months or even a year before an increase is necessary.
If I were you, I would change docs.
Posted by theo on May 30, 2003, at 15:26:00
In reply to Re: Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg?, posted by tm on May 30, 2003, at 12:09:44
I started at 10mg with the starter pack but have seen so many people on this site starting at 5mg I wanted to make sure I didn't miss something. I'm having some nausea and aggitation on some days still but am sure I probably just need to try and be patient. I also just weaned off of Paxil 20mg before starting Lexapro 10mg so maybe I'm having some discontinuation effects from the Paxil also. Could that be possible and is Lexapro 10mg normal starting dose??
Posted by tm on May 30, 2003, at 16:18:17
In reply to Re: Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg? » tm, posted by theo on May 30, 2003, at 15:26:00
I switched off of of Paxil 25mg CR and went to Lex. The doc told me that paxil has a very short life and was out of my system in a couple of weeks. He weened me off the Paxil by giving me 1 week of paxil 12.5 at the same time I was taking 10 of lex. I am now at 15 with the lex. I still fight some nausea when I'm not doing well and suspect that is more of a mental thing. I have lost wait because of this. From what I have read 10 seems to be normal. Some have started out at 5. This whole process has only been about 4 weeks for me. I go back to the Psy, Doc, on Tuesday and I am going to get my exact start date. i have a question, I'm leaving down next week with a trip my wife and I have been taking for ten years and I now am starting to get anxiety feelings. This is all new to me, any ideas on how to help cope. Good Luck let me know how things are going it sounds like we are following the same path. Tim
Posted by Mariposa on May 30, 2003, at 20:39:12
In reply to to Mariposa, posted by Bill L on May 30, 2003, at 12:24:39
> Mariposa, I hope you don't take offense to this but I think your doctor is not very knowledgable. After hundreds of posts over the years, this is the first time I berated a doctor. I can't believe he told you that he would not prescribe more than 10 mg of Lexapro.
>
> It's true that a study showed that 10 mg worked the same as 20 mg Lexapro. BUT, like all of these studies, this study only lasted a short time.
>
> Oftentimes a given dose of a drug will work well for a few months or even a year before an increase is necessary.
>
> If I were you, I would change docs.I have strongly considered it but live in a small town and there are only a few Doc....supposedly I'm seeing the best from talking to people around town. May have to drive 40 mins. to "the city" to get some help.
Thanks for the input and concern....but actually I seem to be doing well at 10mg for the time being.
Good luck to us all!
Posted by lil' jimi on June 1, 2003, at 6:12:34
In reply to to Mariposa, posted by Bill L on May 30, 2003, at 12:24:39
hi bill l,
would you do the gang over at the lex thread a favor and give us your update, please?
i ask this because you are the longest lex user i've read of and your story would inspire the new lex users to hang in there through the initial SEs .... and because i'd like to hear how you are doing, especially wrt lexapro.
the lex thread begins at
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109458.htmlthank you!
~ jim
Posted by Bill L on June 1, 2003, at 10:58:31
In reply to Re: Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg? » tm, posted by theo on May 30, 2003, at 15:26:00
1) I think it's a good idea to start with 5 mg lexapro just to get used to it. I know of 2 people who use 5 mg Lexapro as their maintainance dose. I think that 5 mg longterm is ok for anxiety. But if major depression is the problem, then one would probably need between 10 and 20 mg.
2) It's true that 10 mg is the recommended starting dose. So one would either start at 10, or start at 5 and go to 10 after a week or 2.
3) Nausea and aggitation are symptoms that people feel early on after starting Lexapro. But discontinuing Paxil also gives short term adverse effects. I found that taking the herb Valerian was good for aggitation.
Posted by holoman on December 2, 2003, at 12:10:09
In reply to Re: Is common starting dose for Lexapro 10mg?, posted by Bill L on June 1, 2003, at 10:58:31
10mg is given in the sample, so it is obviously a recommended starting point, although I wouldn't aregue with starting at 5mg to be safe. However, I am 17 years old and currently taking 30mg a day with no problems. I started at 10, increased to 20, and then 30. 10 helped with my depression, but I had other problems with OCD and Anxiety... my Dr. told me that higher dosages are usually used to treat people with those additional problems. I got my original prescription of 10mg from my family Dr. while waiting to get an appointment with a Psychiatrist. In that time period, I increased the dosage myself to 20mg, which noticable helped. When I saw the Psych. for the 1st time, he didn't think I should decrease since I was having no problems. After 4 months, I was still have problems with OCD and Anxiety, so he increased my dosage to 30mg. a day... and I am having no problems with it. If lexapro isn't working for you, I would suggest talking to your Dr. about Zyprexa.. it helps lexapro to work better-- but if your only concern is that everyone you know is taking a much lower dose, I wouldnt worry about it.
This is the end of the thread.
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