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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by deepdarkhole on July 27, 2004, at 10:18:31
I have been on lexapro for 4 months now for anxiety. Although I feel slightly better I am now dealing with MAJOR depression. Long story short...I have tried celexa, remeron, wellbutrin, zoloft, paxil, buspar...I couldn't tolerate the side effects. Lexapro is the first med I could seem to tolerate, but it is not having the desired effect.
Anyway I feel a little better and have no desire to go back to where I was. However I wish to feel "normal" again. My pdoc suggested I switch to prozac. I AM SO SCARED!!! I hate trying new meds.
What do you guys think? Has anyone else gone through this?
Posted by RetiredYoung on July 27, 2004, at 10:40:02
In reply to Opinions please - Lexapro to Prozac, posted by deepdarkhole on July 27, 2004, at 10:18:31
Couple of comments:
From your post, it would seem the Lexapro *caused* the major depression that you mentioned?
Of the meds that you mentioned that you'd already tried, which ones helped you and how, and then what were the side effects?
Finally, I've learned through a decade plus of trial and error, that complete relief with tolerable side effects is probably not realistic. It's all a balancing act.
Posted by deepdarkhole on July 27, 2004, at 13:22:18
In reply to Re: Opinions please - Lexapro to Prozac » deepdarkhole, posted by RetiredYoung on July 27, 2004, at 10:40:02
The side effects were terrible...shaking, headaches, weakness, panic, uncontrollable crying...I could not function!!! None of them helped at all!!!!!
So, is this life? Is this as good as it will get and I should just be happy that the blurred vision, trouble swallowing, and all day anxiety have stopped for now? At least I don't spend my days and night obessing about my health and when I am going to die. I just don't seem to smile, laugh, or enjoy anything. Basically if I am not crying, I am "flat"!
Posted by woolav on July 27, 2004, at 13:22:46
In reply to Opinions please - Lexapro to Prozac, posted by deepdarkhole on July 27, 2004, at 10:18:31
I hear ya! I tried so many drugs and with me, its either the side effects or poop out that causes me to stop. I was taking paxil and it wasnt helping at all (except weight gain and excessive use of profanity) ???? So, i have been taking prozac for 7 days now, and Ive experiances an array of things already. Like, being ultra awake the first few days, very sleepy, headaches, tiny brain zaps. But from what i hear thats normal and in another week or 2 i should be happy again. I really feel that prozac will work....Good luck.
S
Posted by RetiredYoung on July 27, 2004, at 13:36:01
In reply to Re: Opinions please - Lexapro to Prozac, posted by deepdarkhole on July 27, 2004, at 13:22:18
I don't know if this is as good as it gets for you - I certainly hope not.
If all the medications that you listed caused all of those side effects, and provided no help at all, I can certainly understand how you feel.
You're really going to have to talk to a good psychiatric doctor. You do still have other options like tricyclics, MAOIs, other benzodiazepines, etc. You should be able to discuss the drugs you've tried, the side effects you absolutely cannot live with, and go from there. I wish you the best of luck.
Posted by banga on July 27, 2004, at 22:14:41
In reply to Re: Opinions please - Lexapro to Prozac, posted by RetiredYoung on July 27, 2004, at 13:36:01
No that is NOT life, and there is help with the right meds and psychotherapy. Not to be a drug pusher, I resisted a long time and then the day comes where you say "oh my GOD is this how NORMAL people feel?" Some doctors are so enamored with the SSRIs and avoid tricyclics and MAOI'S as if they are bad. But I now feel the avoidance is unwarranted. I got onto clomipramine--a tricyclic that usually isnt prescribed for depression and anxiety--and there were miracle moments when my grey world turned color and my anxiety abated. Not to bash Prozac-it worked for my depression but not anxiety and then pooped out...
With the side effects--I dont know how quickly youre switching from one drug to another, but in my experience switching around a lot gets the picture of what is my general base depression level vs what is a withdrawal symptom gets complex...are you able to stick with a med long enough? Many side effects abate. If you have, then of course ignore these comments. And with the caveat that I am not a pdoc it sounds odd to keep hammering at the SSRIs and not give a tricyclic a shot?
Posted by zeebop on July 28, 2004, at 3:49:41
In reply to Opinions please - Lexapro to Prozac, posted by deepdarkhole on July 27, 2004, at 10:18:31
> I have been on lexapro for 4 months now for anxiety. Although I feel slightly better I am now dealing with MAJOR depression. Long story short...I have tried celexa, remeron, wellbutrin, zoloft, paxil, buspar...I couldn't tolerate the side effects. Lexapro is the first med I could seem to tolerate, but it is not having the desired effect.
> Anyway I feel a little better and have no desire to go back to where I was. However I wish to feel "normal" again. My pdoc suggested I switch to prozac. I AM SO SCARED!!! I hate trying new meds.
> What do you guys think? Has anyone else gone through this?HI,
-try prozac as a last SSRIs for you (it was the best SSRI for me,and I've tried them all)...
but if nothing improves,I think you should consider aTCA with potent NE effects,because they are excellent drugs
(imipramine,nortriptyline,amitriptyline,maprotiline,clomipramine)..imipramine is the middle of the road one in terms of benifcial effects(potent NE+5HT) and side effects,and it helped me go through one of my darkest depression.
This is the end of the thread.
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