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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 17 of 17. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 8:50:00
I have been on 10mg of Lexapro for 6 days now and I have absolutely no side effects except that my anxiety seems to be worse. The morning especially. I soon as I wake up my heart is racing and I get those fake feelings. It usually goes away after a while but then I have that general nervousness throughout the day. I also smoke and everytime I think of smoking it makes me a nervous wreck cause that usually makes my anxiety worse. I used to enjoy smoking but I guess I should quit now. Basically the anxiety seems to be worse after taking this but I will stick through it. Just wondering if anyone else has experinced this?
Posted by nicky847 on March 25, 2004, at 10:30:13
In reply to Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 8:50:00
Nicolet-
It is very very common to feel an increase in anxiety the first few weeks on Lexapro, I know I did, you should be feeling better in a couple of weeks, or at least not WORSE than you did before you started...in about 6-8 weeks if you are responding to the med then you should notice that you are actually feeling better than you did before you started..and that is a good feeling..as for the smoking my advice to you is to just follow what your body is telling you right now...if it is telling you not to smoke then dont smoke...if a cigarette helps calm you down then by all means smoke em if you got em..nows probably not the best time to try and quit smoking....maybe try that in a few months
> I have been on 10mg of Lexapro for 6 days now and I have absolutely no side effects except that my anxiety seems to be worse. The morning especially. I soon as I wake up my heart is racing and I get those fake feelings. It usually goes away after a while but then I have that general nervousness throughout the day. I also smoke and everytime I think of smoking it makes me a nervous wreck cause that usually makes my anxiety worse. I used to enjoy smoking but I guess I should quit now. Basically the anxiety seems to be worse after taking this but I will stick through it. Just wondering if anyone else has experinced this?
Posted by celextolex on March 25, 2004, at 12:57:54
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicky847 on March 25, 2004, at 10:30:13
You are scaring me. I just switched from Celexa to Lexapro precisely because Celexa wasn't helping my anxiety. Are you saying that I'm suddenly going to get worse? Or maybe not since I have already been taking Celexa for awhile?
Posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 13:42:13
In reply to Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 8:50:00
Hi Nicolet,
Like Nicky said, it's not uncommon for Lex to increase your anxiety during the first few weeks that you take it. The good news is that it goes away. The even better news is that you don't have to suffer through the anxiety. Ask your psychiatrist about Xanax, Klonopin or Lorazepam. If you take one of those when you're feeling anxious, I can almost guarantee you'll be relaxed within 20-30 mins.
Good luck and hang in there because the results really are worth it.
K.
Posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 13:44:29
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by celextolex on March 25, 2004, at 12:57:54
Hi CelextoLex,
My guess is that you're transition won't be too bad since Celexa and Lexapro are so similar. If your anxiety starts to get worse, remember that it's temporary and will go away within a few weeks. If the anxiety gets to be too uncomfortable ask your pdoc about benzos. (e.g. Xanax, Klonopin, Lorazepam.)
I know you'll be fine, just hang in there!
K.
Posted by nicky847 on March 25, 2004, at 13:53:34
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by celextolex on March 25, 2004, at 12:57:54
You probably won't experience any increase in anxiety due to the fact you have already been taking Celexa..sometimes the increase in serotonin levels in the brain caused by starting an SSRI can be activating and cause an increase in anxiety until the body adjusts..
> You are scaring me. I just switched from Celexa to Lexapro precisely because Celexa wasn't helping my anxiety. Are you saying that I'm suddenly going to get worse? Or maybe not since I have already been taking Celexa for awhile?
Posted by celextolex on March 25, 2004, at 14:09:28
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse » celextolex, posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 13:44:29
Thanks. That makes me feel better.
I've already got Lorazepam. The problem is I'm getting hooked i.e. the more often I take it, the more I need to get the same effect. I also use propranolol, which is a beta blocker, which helps me in dire need. I wish I didn't need any of the above.... :(
Posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 14:34:30
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse » nicolet, posted by KathrynLex on March 25, 2004, at 13:42:13
Thanks Kathryn and Nicky I'm glad to hear that the increase in anxiety will go away. I actually do have xanax I just really really try not to take them. This whole anxity/panic disorder only started a month ago out of nowhere and is now controlling my life...or trying to. I just hope one day I can continue on not thinking about what I am going to feel like and if Im going to have an attack. Thanks for all your help!
Posted by nicky847 on March 25, 2004, at 15:17:44
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 14:34:30
From my experience the only way to beat it is to lose your fear of the symptoms..and to be patient in your recovery, try to use it as a personal growth experience...not a disease..and things are alot easier that way..good luck to you..
Nick
> Thanks Kathryn and Nicky I'm glad to hear that the increase in anxiety will go away. I actually do have xanax I just really really try not to take them. This whole anxity/panic disorder only started a month ago out of nowhere and is now controlling my life...or trying to. I just hope one day I can continue on not thinking about what I am going to feel like and if Im going to have an attack. Thanks for all your help!
Posted by metalflipflop on March 25, 2004, at 19:47:47
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by celextolex on March 25, 2004, at 14:09:28
i switched from celexa to lexapro b/c of hand tremor; i figured it woudn't be that different and maybe that side effect would lessen. lexapro made me so anxious i was having panic, and i don't have an anxiety disorder. i couldn't tolerate at a high enough dose to treat my depression. celexa is MUCH better for me, much more calming.
seriously, everybody's response is different, so you might be the opposite. when i first went on celexa i felt kind of sleepy, which subsided, but when i first went on lex and then zoloft, i felt SO agitated. which with zoloft also wore off to a certain extent but never completely. i am back on celexa and feeling so much better. i didn't know what i had until i lost it!
just to let you know that you should trust your body and listen to it.
liz
Posted by witzkey on March 26, 2004, at 13:23:41
In reply to Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 8:50:00
Lexapro helped me to quit smoking. also check out whyquit.com
Posted by celextolex on March 26, 2004, at 13:52:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by witzkey on March 26, 2004, at 13:23:41
> Lexapro helped me to quit smoking. also check out whyquit.com
So far, my anxiety has made me start smoking... and I have increased it daily. Hopefully, the Lexapro will make it stop again.
Posted by green hornet on March 27, 2004, at 8:22:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 14:34:30
> Thanks Kathryn and Nicky I'm glad to hear that the increase in anxiety will go away. I actually do have xanax I just really really try not to take them. This whole anxity/panic disorder only started a month ago out of nowhere and is now controlling my life...or trying to. I just hope one day I can continue on not thinking about what I am going to feel like and if Im going to have an attack. Thanks for all your help!
Nicolet,
You said that your anxiety/panic problems came out of no where -- that's what happened to me. What meds were you on at the time and were any changes made within the past eight weeks prior to the anxiety thing starting? I am really curious as your problem sounds alot like mine.
Green Hornet
Posted by nicolet on March 29, 2004, at 9:29:13
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by green hornet on March 27, 2004, at 8:22:51
> > Thanks Kathryn and Nicky I'm glad to hear that the increase in anxiety will go away. I actually do have xanax I just really really try not to take them. This whole anxity/panic disorder only started a month ago out of nowhere and is now controlling my life...or trying to. I just hope one day I can continue on not thinking about what I am going to feel like and if Im going to have an attack. Thanks for all your help!
>
> Nicolet,
> You said that your anxiety/panic problems came out of no where -- that's what happened to me. What meds were you on at the time and were any changes made within the past eight weeks prior to the anxiety thing starting? I am really curious as your problem sounds alot like mine.
> Green Hornet
Green Hornet,I was on absolutely no meds. I had no medical problems and anxitey wasn't even any where in my vocabulary. Basically led a typical life of a 28 year old woman. However, not to get into my personal life but I was having a lot of stress due to an unfaithful boyfriend. Everyone seems to belive this is what brought it on since I was stressing for about the entire summer/fall. I have to say as a follow up to my earlier post I am feeling a lot better and lex seems to be working....just a little tired and out of it but much better than before.
Posted by nicolet on March 29, 2004, at 9:32:19
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by witzkey on March 26, 2004, at 13:23:41
> Lexapro helped me to quit smoking. also check out whyquit.com
Thanks for the site I'll check it out. Just curious though, how did lexapro helped you quit? cause I actually dont feel like smoking on it which is so not like me and was wondering if you felt the same.
Posted by Mariposa on March 30, 2004, at 11:33:07
In reply to Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicolet on March 25, 2004, at 8:50:00
> I have been on 10mg of Lexapro for 6 days now and I have absolutely no side effects except that my anxiety seems to be worse. The morning especially. I soon as I wake up my heart is racing and I get those fake feelings. It usually goes away after a while but then I have that general nervousness throughout the day. I also smoke and everytime I think of smoking it makes me a nervous wreck cause that usually makes my anxiety worse. I used to enjoy smoking but I guess I should quit now. Basically the anxiety seems to be worse after taking this but I will stick through it. Just wondering if anyone else has experinced this?
I never had anxiety attacks before I took Lex, around 4-6 weeks in I started having them. But like almost all Lex se's they went away.
Good luck!~~~8|8
Posted by nicky847 on April 1, 2004, at 11:02:44
In reply to Re: Lexapro has made my anxiety worse, posted by nicolet on March 29, 2004, at 9:32:19
Nic-
i think that nicotine actually has some anti depressant effects..it acts as an MAOI...it may be that part of your craving for cigarettes may have come from the a/d effect you got from them..now that you are taking the lexapro you dont need that as much..just a theory but it could be true..
> > Lexapro helped me to quit smoking. also check out whyquit.com
>
> Thanks for the site I'll check it out. Just curious though, how did lexapro helped you quit? cause I actually dont feel like smoking on it which is so not like me and was wondering if you felt the same.
This is the end of the thread.
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