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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 8:26:50
I was just put on lexapro 4 days ago I am having trouble staying asleep am also having trouble thinking feels like there is cotton up there anyone else having similar problems?
Posted by JenStar on November 12, 2004, at 8:26:51
In reply to lexapro 10, posted by cat-hate-her on November 11, 2004, at 17:58:12
take heart, the side effects are (sadly!) normal BUT will stop in about 1.5-2 weeks. Hang in there...once the med kicks in and the SE's stop, you'll be much happier. :) This will probably get moved to the med board, so pls check there for updates.
take care,
JenStar
Posted by shortelise on November 12, 2004, at 8:26:52
In reply to Re: lexapro 10 » cat-hate-her, posted by JenStar on November 11, 2004, at 22:30:17
That's that?
Posted by Wildman on November 12, 2004, at 9:45:08
In reply to SE's? » JenStar, posted by shortelise on November 12, 2004, at 0:22:35
The side effects that you describe lasted for about a week for me. I had some Ativan to take during that time, which REALLY helped. Any benzo will do.
As for sleeping not so well, that may take longer to adapt to. I was having a heck of a time getting to sleep and staying asleep so my pdoc rxd me some Seroquel to take at night. I take 25-50mg about an hour and a half before I want to go to sleep. It knocks me out, but I am still able to hear the baby when she wakes up, deal with it, and then am able to get back to sleep.
Talk to your pdoc about this. You are experiencing a normal reaction to a drug that has really helped me.
Wildman
Posted by JenStar on November 12, 2004, at 10:23:27
In reply to SE's? » JenStar, posted by shortelise on November 12, 2004, at 0:22:35
sorry, I was making up my own short-hand for side-effects. I took Xanax for a few weeks until the Lex really started working & the side-effects went away. Then I tapered off the Xanax b/c the Lex was working so well.
I truly hope you're feeling better. For me, Lexapro was a miracle and lifted my depression & anxiety. Hopefully it does the same for you. :)
Hang in there!
Wishing you the best,JenStar
Posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 12:33:50
In reply to Re: lexapro 10 » cat-hate-her, posted by JenStar on November 11, 2004, at 22:30:17
Thank you for answering I feel so alone in all this my husband dosnt understand me or this
will try to stay calm and wait for better days
Posted by Wildman on November 12, 2004, at 14:25:12
In reply to Re: lexapro 10, posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 12:33:50
I hope your husband can come around and show some understanding with this - you are taking positive steps to improve your life and DESERVE tons of support.
The physical symptoms are pretty yucky that first week, but they DO get better. I presume you are talking about the tight, constricted feeling that you get about 5 hours after taking the med, right?
That will go away and won't come back. It's just your brain getting lots of nice serotonin.I started on 5mg/day and then jumped to 10mg/day after about a week. Jumping right into 10mg could be tough, if you've never taken this sort of med before.
Hang in there. You will feel better. I didn't start to feel the positive effects of Lex for a few weeks. Have faith and have a great weekend.
Wildman
Posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 14:36:53
In reply to Re: lexapro 10, posted by Wildman on November 12, 2004, at 14:25:12
Thank all of you for the support my husband dosnt understand because we just got married in august and have three wonderfull children why am I sad I dont really even know. before being put on this med i tryed efforox? didnt give it a chance untill i fell again then I knew when I started having bad thoughts (suicide) knew it was time to try something anything i knew I didnt want to die it just seemed like some kind of releif or that everyone around me could do better without all my tears and panic attacks. once again I thank you all for letting me know there is others out there dealing with simillar crap!!! will try to keep the faith that a pill could make me feel better tho hard for me to belive my doc is going to call on monday and see if I've been able to sleep if not she is going to give me something she said she was worried to do so right off the bat because it could cause wicked dreams!!! Thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 14:41:59
In reply to Re: lexapro 10 » Wildman, posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 14:36:53
ow ya is there a best time to take this med doc never said??
Posted by JenStar on November 12, 2004, at 21:56:57
In reply to Re: lexapro 10 » cat-hate-her, posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 14:41:59
hi cat,
for me I liked taking it at night before going to bed b/c it made me a bit sleepy.The doc told me that some people get sleepy so they take it at night. But others get alert from it, so they take it at breakfast.
I'd recommend: see how you feel a few hours after. If it makes you drowsy, take it at night.
I was really scared too, when I first started taking it. I found this board to be a complete lifesaver -- I felt good knowing that other people were going thru the same thing, or had already done it, and came out OK. You'll be OK too!
It's true, the Lex doesn't fully work for a few weeks. Give it a chance and it will get really good. Don't get discouraged early...sticking with it really makes a difference.
I think some people feel suicidal on antidepressants because they don't work right away. Then the person thinks: "oh my gosh. This was my last resort...and THIS isn't even working...what do I do now?" At that point, some people contemplate suicide. <---That's MY interpretation , of course, with no science to back it up. Just my musings. But that's why it's so important, I think, to give the drug time. If you need something like Xanax or another 'calmer' until Lex kicks in, your doctor should offer it gladly. Don't be afraid to ask.
I hope you feel better soon.
Can you direct your hubby to some websites, or get some books from the library that might help him understand?Take care!
JenStar
Posted by JenStar on November 12, 2004, at 21:59:30
In reply to Re: lexapro 10 » Wildman, posted by cat-hate-her on November 12, 2004, at 14:36:53
don't worry about bad dreams. Once you start getting rest & the anxiety calms, the dreams will calm too (if they even get bad in the first place, which they probably won't.)
Can you do something nice for yourself, like chocolate or a pedicure or something you like?
By the way, congrats on your marriage! :)
take care,
JenStar
Posted by cat-hate-her on November 16, 2004, at 11:41:47
In reply to Re: lexapro 10 » cat-hate-her, posted by JenStar on November 12, 2004, at 21:59:30
THANKS JENSTAR................. where do all you nice people come from must be far away from alaska!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by cat-hate-her on November 16, 2004, at 11:49:00
In reply to Re: lexapro 10 » cat-hate-her, posted by JenStar on November 12, 2004, at 21:56:57
hey jenstar in the nicest of ways please note name cat-HATE-her this is prob where most of my depression comes from her name was cathirine cat for short before me and my husband where married he saw her for a short while very very hard on me and once again thank you for all the info you have given me!!!!Am feeling better no panic attacks in two days chest still hurt and hard to breathe but hardly any tears yeahhhhhhh doc never called like she said she would so didnt get to talk to her about sleeping kinda sucked well prob should get to work so thanks again
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