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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 10:33:50
My doc suggested Lexapro in addition to the Effexor XR I take in the morning (which does help me with anxiety).
In the meantime, I was cutting the 10mg Lexapro pills in half at bedtime for two weeks. No improvment, plus I feel like a zombie when I get up in the morning.
I eventually went to 10 mg., on pdoc's advice, and felt even more zombie-ish in the am. No good when you have a preschooler who needs to get to school in the morning.
Then I changed my Lexapro dosage timing to the morning. Felt like a listless zombie by mid afternoon and got nothing done.
I am going to try taking it at dinner, maybe it will make me sleepy by bedtime? (I also suffer from pretty severe insomnia).
Any other ideas? I *think* the Lexapro is helping with the depression that accompanies my GAD but at what price?
Thanks for any comments.
JM
Posted by SLS on July 26, 2003, at 10:40:33
In reply to Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 10:33:50
Hi.
I don't know how long you have been on Lexapro, but if you are not satisfied with it by six weeks, I would consider switching to Paxil or Effexor.
- Scott
Posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 10:43:53
In reply to Re: Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by SLS on July 26, 2003, at 10:40:33
Scott, thanks for the quick reply! However, I already am on Effexor XR with good results. My anxiety has diminished but the depression remains.
I am trying to figure out the timing of my Lexapro dosage. I still hold out hope for it's antidepressant effects..
Thanks.
JM
Posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 10:46:20
In reply to Re: Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 10:43:53
P.S. I will never let a Paxil pill pass through my lips again. Still haven't lost the ten pounds I gained on it 1 and 1/2 years ago and I felt completely emotionless--total flat affect.
JM
Posted by SLS on July 26, 2003, at 11:05:34
In reply to Re: Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 10:46:20
Isn't is amazing how differently each individual reacts to a given drug? Paxil did not wash out my emotions at all. You might consider adding a tricyclic like desipramine. It can improve both depression and anxiety if it hits the right target. I experienced a mild to moderate antidepressant effect from mixing Effexor with nortriptyline, another tricyclic. The two together did more for me than either one alone. Unfortunately, the improvement it offered me was inadequate, and I would not have been able to return to work. It did make grocery shopping a little easier, though.
- Scott
Posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 11:20:48
In reply to Re: Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by SLS on July 26, 2003, at 11:05:34
Hi Scott, isn't grocery shopping the worst when you don't feel good?
Thanks for the advice. I'll ask my pdoc, I am just very weight-gain-phobic when it comes to tricylclics. Call me vain, but the weight gain only increases my depression and self-loathing.
JM
Posted by River1924 on July 26, 2003, at 11:40:55
In reply to Re: Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by JESSsMom on July 26, 2003, at 11:20:48
Is it possible to take more Effexor rather than two meds? Or have you maxed the upper limit of between 200 and 300 milligrams of Effexor? Supposedly higher doses of Effexor act less like SSRI's because the med starts to work on norepinephrine, which 'can' be stimulating. I don't think SSRI's like Lexapro are very good at increasing motivation. Although I'll feel very happy on higher doses of SSRI's, I would just rather sit. If you want to add a second med, try a very low dose of Wellbutrin. (It may increase your anxiety.)
Posted by pasdenom on July 26, 2003, at 19:43:30
In reply to Re: Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by River1924 on July 26, 2003, at 11:40:55
Hi,
I'm on Effexor XR 150 mg, Lamictal 100mg, and Lexapro 30 mg. The Effexor energizes me, takes away my anxiety 100%, made me hypomanic when I started it. I love it. Lamictal brought some stability and helped me sleep. Before I took it I was staying up till 4-6am and only getting 3 hrs of sleep. The lexapro was added to overcome some breakthrough depression I was experiencing. Lexapro has taken away much of my motivation and has made me dippier than I usually am. However, I am happy and the drug does not take away my energy, sexual desire, or affect my sleep in any way that I can discern--however, I have been getting less and less sleep at nights and making up for it with naps. I don't know if lex is causing this or if I'm summer hypomanic.
Talk to your doc about the fatigue. No one should have to put up with that. Anyway it might go away.
Take care.
Posted by JESSsMom on July 29, 2003, at 11:30:00
In reply to Re: Lexapro--so tired and apathetic, posted by pasdenom on July 26, 2003, at 19:43:30
Hi all,
I totally give up on Lexapro and it had seemed so promising! Can't stand the need for naps in the pm which screws with my insomnia even worse. Oh well....my best to those it helps.
JM
This is the end of the thread.
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