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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by riken on January 13, 2004, at 15:05:18
I'm on my 3rd day on Lex. I have experienced some of the SE talked about in this board and It gives me hope they should go away.
My question is if any of you follow an excercise routine and if you would share if it helps you dealing with depression. I have tried the going to the gym grind to find out it gave me way too much energy and can not sleep after working out--i used to go at night. And as far as the depression goes it did little to nothing.
Also one more question, have any of you experienced dialated pupils when waking up? This morning when I woke up everything was very bright. It reminded me of my drug abuse days (MDMA, LSD) how my vision would almost hurt. ..
thanks--riken
Posted by sarita0001 on January 13, 2004, at 15:57:14
In reply to New to lexapro-?uestion about excercise, posted by riken on January 13, 2004, at 15:05:18
Hi,
I used to get dilated pupils on Topamax. I think it's a common thing on meds, it happened to one of my friends too. It goes away when you stop the med. (at least in my experience)
Sara
Posted by JohnFromCalifornia on January 14, 2004, at 1:29:08
In reply to New to lexapro-?uestion about excercise, posted by riken on January 13, 2004, at 15:05:18
> I'm on my 3rd day on Lex. I have experienced some of the SE talked about in this board and It gives me hope they should go away.
>
> My question is if any of you follow an excercise routine and if you would share if it helps you dealing with depression. I have tried the going to the gym grind to find out it gave me way too much energy and can not sleep after working out--i used to go at night. And as far as the depression goes it did little to nothing.We have some things in common -- I am a little bit farther down the road in a couple of areas, which may or may not be of help to you, everybody being so different.
I've found over the years that exercise has helped tremendously with my chronic low-grade depression. But I hate gyms. Instead I bicycle, skate or run. For example, up to this fall I was bicycling 150 miles a week. (And I'm no kid -- I turn 54 next Monday!)
Nevertheless in early November I was hit by a bout of severe depression for no apparent cause. My doc put me on Paxil 25MG, and then just under three weeks later (due to nasty SE's), he replaced it with Lexapro 10MG.
The Paxil knocked the stuffing out of any desire to exercise or, for that matter, have sex. With Lexapro my sex drive came back but I have still not got over that "flu-like" sensation peculiar to SSRIs, and haven't been on my bike for many weeks. I've been through five weeks of steady (10mg/day) usage, and Lexapro is supposed to be "fast acting."
It's true my depression lifted rapidly, and for that I am MOST grateful. But since my first week on SSRIs I haven't been able to be happy about anything! I've just been sort of flat, unable to experience any kind of strong emotion.
So when my Lexapro script ran out four days ago I didn't refill it. And guess what? This looming monster depression started yesterday and built all day today. Terrifying!
Tomorrow at the crack of dawn I'll be at the pharmacy, refilling my Lexapro script. For the first time I realize how powerful these drugs are.
If there is ANY way I can get along without SSRIs, I'm going to try to find it. Some people can't, I know, and I do not take issue with the good these drugs can do.
But I've managed nasty depression in the past in other ways: A day being knocked out on Remerol, for example, completely terminates severe depression for me. I'm one of the lucky ones who's only rarely afflicted with the "black dog" of deep depression.
My plan is gradually to reduce dosage until I can quit Lexapro. If (or when) I get occasional depression attacks in the future, I'll fight them in other ways. In the meantime, for my low-grade depression, as soon as I can I'm getting back on my bicycle. (Since early November I've gained 15lb and I feel like I'm 100 years old.)
Your solution may well be different -- Lexapro may be just what YOU needed -- and no doubt you'll get many other suggestions on this board. But yes, in answer to your query, exercise in the form of a sport you like is DEFINITELY a depression-fighter.
And no, Lexapro is not the panacea it's made out to be. Medication this strong extracts a price, and part of that price is dependence. If you really need Lexapro, it can be a lifesaver. But be sure SSRIs are what you really need. If you don't, there ARE alternatives.
Posted by nicky847 on January 14, 2004, at 9:05:46
In reply to New to lexapro-?uestion about excercise, posted by riken on January 13, 2004, at 15:05:18
I exercise 5 times a week and find it really helps...
> I'm on my 3rd day on Lex. I have experienced some of the SE talked about in this board and It gives me hope they should go away.
>
> My question is if any of you follow an excercise routine and if you would share if it helps you dealing with depression. I have tried the going to the gym grind to find out it gave me way too much energy and can not sleep after working out--i used to go at night. And as far as the depression goes it did little to nothing.
>
> Also one more question, have any of you experienced dialated pupils when waking up? This morning when I woke up everything was very bright. It reminded me of my drug abuse days (MDMA, LSD) how my vision would almost hurt. ..
>
> thanks--riken
Posted by antigua on January 14, 2004, at 10:40:18
In reply to New to lexapro-?uestion about excercise, posted by riken on January 13, 2004, at 15:05:18
I try to walk 2.5 miles five days/week and have been doing so for more than a year. It has helped tremendously with my depression. It's free, I'm alone w/time to think, my BP has gone down considerably and I've lost a lot of weight. Plus, I think it has improved my sleeping pattern. I treasure my walking time now--maybe I'm just obsessive about it!
Good luck,
antigua
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