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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 8 of 8. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Keko on October 27, 2004, at 17:21:48
I am reading where so many others, like myself, are having a hard time tolerating Lexapro at higher doses than 5mg. I'm currently on less than 2.5mg, and I'm still dealing with a bit of hypomania (kind of a speedy feeling with loss of concentration). It often feels like I have ADD in this state. Sometimes it feels good when I'm only taking 1/8 of a 10mg pill (yes, THAT low), while other times I turn into an irritable witch (in time for Halloween) - in this state, I fly off the handle easily and fight feelings of road rage, etc. I've never had this problem with ANY of the other SSRIs, and I find Lexapro extremely activating.
I really want to hear back from others who have had similar experiences. The reason I'm asking is because this pill splitting is driving me crazy, and if enough people post here with similar experiences, I'll call Forrest Labs (the manufacturers of Lexapro) and see if they'll come out with a scored version at a lower dose. (I don't want to take the liquid form.) They need to hear back from us--we are the post marketing guinea pigs, and they need to know that 10mg is too high a starting dose for a lot of people (I've heard the same story on many other boards).
Posted by Pfinstegg on October 27, 2004, at 18:02:10
In reply to Pls. POST Here if you take 5mg LEXAPRO or less, posted by Keko on October 27, 2004, at 17:21:48
I'm with you. If I take more than 5 mg., I don't get agitated, but just get flat and anhedonic, and also have very annoying sexual s/e's. I'm currently taking 5 mg. of Lexapro, and splitting a 75 mg. tablet of Wellbutrin. These low doses seem to work a lot better than the higher ones- but perhaps because therapy has helped lighten the depression quite a bit- although not entirely. Taking this combination, I hope I'm normalizing my serotonin, nor-epinephrine and dopamine a bit. I would be glad to go to 2.5 mg. of Lexapro!
Posted by sabre on October 27, 2004, at 18:45:10
In reply to Re: Pls. POST Here if you take 5mg LEXAPRO or less » Keko, posted by Pfinstegg on October 27, 2004, at 18:02:10
Hi Keko
I have posted above on this issue.I was taking 2mg of Lexapro in the morning. I'm okay on this at home but with the effects of social anxiety at work, I am too nervous. I took 1/4 of a beta blocker but the Lex increased its effects making me feel flat and tired.
I tried 2.5 and was hypomanic. While 5mg wiped me out, leaving me depressed and unable to get off the couch.
Following Underhill's suggestions, today I tried 1mg in the morning and will follow this with 1mg at lunch and maybe .5g in the evening.
I suspect that the Lex could help the depression and panic, however, I don't have huge hopes for it helping the social anxiety. I just feel like it's so much deeper seated. I hate it.sabre
Posted by CarlaSF on October 28, 2004, at 9:26:53
In reply to Pls. POST Here if you take 5mg LEXAPRO or less, posted by Keko on October 27, 2004, at 17:21:48
Lexapro caused me to have wall climbing, unremmitting anxiety at 2.5 mgs!!! It was the worst SSRI that I ever took. I call it Lexacrack. I don't know what the pharmacuetical company is thinking that they could market this stuff touting how it has less side effects. I can't believe people are taking 20mgs of this crap.
Posted by Keko on October 28, 2004, at 18:00:02
In reply to Re: Pls. POST Here if you take 5mg LEXAPRO or less, posted by CarlaSF on October 28, 2004, at 9:26:53
<<unremmitting anxiety at 2.5 mgs!!! It was the worst SSRI that I ever took. I call it Lexacrack.>>
ROFL, thanks for the chuckles, Carla. That's a perfect name for it, as that's been my experience with Lexapro as well. It seems to help a lot of people, but others, like us are just way too sensitive to this med. I'm on 1/8 of a 10mg tablet (yes, only 1.25mg), and I'm still having speedy effects several hours post-dosage. After 5 months of hanging in there, I'm finally throwing in the towel on Lexapro, it's just too activating for my system
Posted by sabre on October 29, 2004, at 1:37:59
In reply to Re: Pls. POST Here if you take 5mg LEXAPRO or less, posted by Keko on October 28, 2004, at 18:00:02
Just curious. If any of you have tried the higher dosages of Lexapro eg 5mg and above, does it have the opposite effect i.e. makes you feel depressed, fatigued and lacking in motivation?
sabre
Posted by CarlaSF on October 29, 2004, at 14:17:26
In reply to Re: Pls. POST Here if you take 5mg LEXAPRO or less, posted by Keko on October 28, 2004, at 18:00:02
Hehehe! Keko- I'm sure that people will be chopping up and snorting Lexapro real soon. I've taken Paxil and Lex's sister, Celexa and didn't have nearly the speedy side effect like Lexapro. What'a bad is the speediness is latent. I was soooo tired the first 10 days, them whammo, a switch was flipped in my body. Then I was literally chewing xanax to offset the side effects. I've since flushes lex down the toilet.
Good luck with your taper off of Lexapro.
Posted by stresser on October 30, 2004, at 21:18:21
In reply to Re: Pls. POST Here if you take 5mg LEXAPRO or less, posted by CarlaSF on October 29, 2004, at 14:17:26
I took 20 mgs of lexapro and didn't notice much at all. I was taking Welbutrin as well, and had quite a bit of anxiety plus felt pudgey. I stopped both, and am waiting to see what happens next. I do know that the lexapro kept the depression level DOWN for me.
This is the end of the thread.
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