Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by reluctant on January 9, 2004, at 14:27:17
Hmm . . . maybe it's nothing to do with the lexapro - maybe it's good ol' PMS, I've sort of lost track. My first week on Lexapro after switching from Zoloft, I felt pretty good - generally more up, and not too bad side effects beyond teeth clenching & having a hard time getting out of bed. This week, things are getting to me more and I feel generally sad and discouraged. I know, ups and downs are to be expected, but last week I was doing pretty good at keeping the self-destructive thoughts under control for a change, and this week it's not so good. I remember seeing several posts from people that said that they had a slump before things got better - but I think that was usually week 4 or 5. I'd like to hear from other people about their timetable with lexapro - when did you start to really feel better, when did you have a slump if you had one, how long it lasted, etc. FYI, I'm on 10mg/day with no immediate plans to increase; also on 200 mg wellbutrin.
I know I go on a lot about how I have to use the meds as a tool rather than a cure-all, but the truth is: deep down, I think I was hoping for a wonder drug.
At least I'm feeling something. on zoloft I was just kind of . .. blah . . . with no energy, and not much motivation to change the situation. Luckily I had set up an appointment w/ my pdoc long before, and she had to tell me that I needed to make a change - I lacked that much drive.
thanks, all!-r.
Posted by KathrynLex on January 9, 2004, at 16:02:54
In reply to The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump?, posted by reluctant on January 9, 2004, at 14:27:17
Hi R.
I think we all want a wonder drug. I know I do.
While I haven't experienced a slump, I wanted to write and offer you some encouragement. How long have you been starting to feel sad and more discouraged? I noticed a similar feeling the 2nd and 3rd days that I took the drug. My depression seemed like it was coming back with a vengence, but about the 4th day it eased up a bit and my mood was more stable by day 5. My experience might be a bit different from yours because I wasn't taking anything before I started Lex.
Also, week 2 seems to be very difficult for a lot of people. I know it was my worst week. (Right now I'm on day 21 of 10 mg of Lex.) For me it was awful because the side effects were so bad. But you said you haven't had much trouble with those. Maybe you've had a very quick response to the drug and so you have hit the slump earlier than most. That could be a possibility if you're sensitive to meds.
Try to make it through week 2, I'm willing to bet you'll see some improvement by week 3. I know it's difficult, but it will be worth it. Hang in there!
K.
Posted by reluctant on January 9, 2004, at 16:08:23
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump?, posted by KathrynLex on January 9, 2004, at 16:02:54
Thanks K - it's been about three days, and it's been progressive. hopefully it won't get worse and worse. I think it's true that the SE's may be less for me simply because I had been on another SSRI before. The initial side effects of zoloft were pretty terrible. I'm still hopeful, and it would be silly for me to give up on it now.
-r.
Posted by Mariposa on January 9, 2004, at 16:52:53
In reply to The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump?, posted by reluctant on January 9, 2004, at 14:27:17
Started at 5mg
week 1 - BAD headaches
week 2 - Lex flu
week 3 - improvement in side effects
week 4 - started to feel more depressed, anxiety
week 5 - increased to 10mg
week 9 - finally noticed it was working
month 5 - feel like Lex isn't working, increase to 20mgStill @20mg and handling it, though some days worse than others.
Hang in there!~~~8|8
Posted by reluctant on January 9, 2004, at 16:58:10
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump?, posted by Mariposa on January 9, 2004, at 16:52:53
Hi Mariposa -do you still feel like it's not working? "20 mg and handling it" doesn't sound real positive, if not quite negative . . . thanks for your post . . .
-r.
Posted by Mariposa on January 9, 2004, at 21:32:54
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump? » Mariposa, posted by reluctant on January 9, 2004, at 16:58:10
>
> Hi Mariposa -
>
> do you still feel like it's not working? "20 mg and handling it" doesn't sound real positive, if not quite negative . . . thanks for your post . . .
>
> -r.Been thinking I need an increase again. See pdoc in Feb., and we'll discuss.~~~8|8
Posted by Marietta on January 10, 2004, at 17:16:17
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump? » reluctant, posted by Mariposa on January 9, 2004, at 21:32:54
I had never taken any A/D before so i had no idea what to expect. I had just come out of a breakup of a 3 yr relationship (I'm 44) and I felt shattered, abandoned, lonely, angry etc etc. Didn't help much it ended over the holidays too!
My doc prescribed Lexapro. I wasn't sleeping much BEFORE Lex and definitely didn't after!! BUT....alas things have improved. I am on day 19 and feel decent again and can see that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Not there YET but i at least realize that I am not the bad person I was made out to be in my relationship and my self-esteem is somewhat higher. I have a long way to go but.......at least i WANT TO GO ON now.Week one: not much sleep, no appetite, depressed, sad
Week two: AWFUL! The drug was in my system and i was lucky to sleep an hour at a time. nothing helped either to put me to sleep. No energy..hard to focus on my job and work. ON day 8, i cut back from 10mg to 5mg for a few days, then gradually after a few days went to 7.5 and then to 10mg.
week three: I'm on day 19 and sleep is coming. I've been on 10mg again for 3 days. I am optimistic about the future and at least want to wake up tomorrow ...which is more than i could say 2 weeks ago.
Posted by psychlover on January 10, 2004, at 17:17:36
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump? » reluctant, posted by Mariposa on January 9, 2004, at 21:32:54
Lexapro 10 mg worked for maybe a month or so (I don't remember), and then Lex 20 worked for like 9 months, then it pooped out, I gained weight, got depressed and obsessive and anxious again. I asked my pdoc to add Wellbutrin to my regimen a few months ago. Started on WB XL 150 mg for a month or so, then upped to WB 300 mg. I love it. Now I am trying to wean off Lex completely to see what happens. I just dropped to Lex 10 mg this last week in addition to WB 300 mg. I feel good. I will stay at this does of Lex before I go lower.
Good luck!
Posted by reluctant on January 10, 2004, at 17:21:36
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump?, posted by psychlover on January 10, 2004, at 17:17:36
Hi all - thank you for your feedback, it's very helpful to hear.
Marietta, I wish you strength. sounds like you're well on your way to getting through this rough time.
-r.
Posted by Marietta on January 10, 2004, at 17:32:06
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: When Was Your Slump?, posted by psychlover on January 10, 2004, at 17:17:36
Reluctant, keep reading on this board. I doubt that I would have continued on to Day 19 if i hadn't had the support. Many are feeling just like we are.....some better, some worse. But there is a comfort to know that out there, somewhere, someone is feeling just like we are and can offer some advice. Good luck to you!!!
Posted by reluctant on January 10, 2004, at 17:35:10
In reply to Re: The Lexapro Calendar: thanks everyone!, posted by reluctant on January 10, 2004, at 17:21:36
I just wanted to toot my own horn and say that I joined the gym today to help get out of the slumpiness (and so I wouldn't merge with my couch during this frigid winter). So hopefully between the lexapro, the exercise, and the new therapist, I'll get somewhere. ok, i'm done self-congratulating.
-r.
Posted by KathrynLex on January 10, 2004, at 23:20:54
In reply to P.S., posted by reluctant on January 10, 2004, at 17:35:10
Way to go R, good luck at the gym.
K.
Posted by nicky847 on January 12, 2004, at 11:49:04
In reply to P.S., posted by reluctant on January 10, 2004, at 17:35:10
Thats great that you did that! One thing I notice with anti depressants..if the whole focus of your life is waiting for them to work then the chances of them working arent as high...i find that it is best to subscribe to a "watched pot never boils" theory with these...i take my med every day and keep on living my life and little by little things get back to where i would like for them to be..
and self congratulating is GOOD!!! God knows that most of us here got depressed in part b/c we dont do that enough!
> I just wanted to toot my own horn and say that I joined the gym today to help get out of the slumpiness (and so I wouldn't merge with my couch during this frigid winter). So hopefully between the lexapro, the exercise, and the new therapist, I'll get somewhere. ok, i'm done self-congratulating.
>
> -r.
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