Depression Blog.com

I had taken Lexapro for about 7 months. I definatly experienced sexual side effects and weight gain. I was presbribed Lex for Anxiety and havent been having any probalems for a long while. I just stopped taking it about 3 weeks ago and didnt know you were supposed to ween yourself off. How long does it take to get out of your system.

I have taken Lexapro for a little over a week and the first day I took it, I was overwhelmed with energy and a racing heartbeat. The high energy levels eventually wore off and my body crashed. On the third day I began to feel less anxious but was plagued with other problems - I had neck pain that turned to headaches, I was short of breathe with a pounding heart, nauseated, dry mouth, loss of appetite, joint pain, tremors, and the worst part was I felt so dizzy and out of it, almost like a drunken high and I couldn't remember what I had done hours before. I finally decided that feeling less anxious wasn't worth all the side effects caused by the drug.

I have been taking Lexapro for about 5 months. It has helped with my depression but I have had many side affects. I have gain 15 pounds which is making me more depressed. I am definelty sleeping too much and have constant constipation. At times I do feel fatigue and worst of all I have lost all sex drive. My partner is starting to be affected by it. I am going to seek other medications through my doctor.

I took Lexapro for about 2 weeks. It was one of the most horrible experiences I have ever had. My husband said the spark was not there, I was a zombie. I have only had 2 major panic attacks in the last 10 years, until I started taking Lexapro, I had two. Then we decided to come off of it cold turkey. The withdrawal was as equally horrible. During this time I had some terrible thoughts of hurting myself. Now I am on Celexa (the parent drug of Lexapro), which is wonderful for me. The side effects are tolerable and I am feeling "normal". I also have never experienced bad withdrawals from this drug. It's funny two drugs that are with in the same family and they react different with me. Just keep trying until you find the right one for you.

I had stopped taking the lexapro, and started to take it again, and on the bottle it said Take 1/2 tablets, and took that as one or two tablets,which is what i took 2 Tablets , not a half of a tablet which it really should of really been done .(I'm a moron by the way) but following this there have been periods throughout the day and week where I feel terrible anxiety, a heat rush comes over my body, and i feel like my skin is crawling out of my body, just disturbing thoughts and all this. Parts of the day will go just fine and then BOOM it hits.I Don't Know What To Do

this is a horrible, Frankenstein's monster of a drug. i'm going on St John's Wort as soon as i can get my hands on some.

I have been on a small dose of Lexapro for about four months now and have not experienced any trouble with it. The ups and downs of my moods have evened out and my family and friends say they have noticed a big change in me (for the better).

Been taking it for a week. All the highs and lows are missing—food doesn't taste as good. Jokes aren't as funny. The world is boring. No decrease in sex drive, but I find ejaculation a problem due to lack of sensation.
Why bother? This is for depression?!! I'm off of it and back on scotch!

My doctor switched me from Prozac to Lexapro (depression treatment) a few months ago. The first few days were very uncomfortable - felt like I had snakes crawling on me. The last couple months I have become an embarrassment to myself. I cannot control my temper, which seems to flare up at some rather inconsequential things. I feel like I could easily harm someone during these rages and at the time I would really like to. I have insulted everyone at work and feel incapable of keeping my temper in check. I used to be a person, despite the depression, that could function socially. Now I am afraid to be in public because these feelings of anger and rage come on so unexpectedly and even though I know it is unacceptable, I cannot keep my emotions from going beserk. I don't know if the Lexapro is causing this, but I was interested to see that others are experiencing similar effects. Sometimes the things (i.e. a whining child or a ringing telephone) that cause me to fly off the handle will not effect me adversely at all. I would like to ask my doctor, but I feel ashamed of my inability to control my anger.

I have been taking Lexapro now for about three months. I started at 5 mg every other day and then increased dosage to 5 mg ever day. I have slowly titrated up to 10 mg per day. At 5 mg, I felt that the medication appropriately helped me to level out my moods, especially during PMS which is problematic for me (and for my family). However, I still felt abnormally anxiety ridden, so we decided that I should increase my dose to a max of 10 mg per day. On this dose, my moods are still even, however I have noticed a total lack of sex drive and I have had more of an appetite (hence unwanted weight gain). The good news is that my moodiness, especially during PMS, is much more controllable and I am actually able to smile during times which otherwise I'd be moody and angry.

The one thing that bothers me most about Lexapro or any of the other SSRIs that I have tried (namely Paxil and Prozac) is the lack of interest I have in many activities. It almost seems as if I become indifferent to many things. I find that the joy I used to find in certain activities or time spent with certain friends is not even remotely interesting. People have always been drawn to me because of my sense of humor, charisma, passion for life and zest! Unfortunately, I am feeling rather "dull" if that makes any sense whatsoever! It's as if the medication dulls my responses thereby making me indifferent to things that I would typically find amusing. What's frustrating is that I can even pinpoint this exact response as it occurs. For example, if someone says something that typically would make me laugh my ass off, I can sit there and realize that the "real me" would find this to be highly entertaining. The "medicated me" doesn't find too much of anything funny! It's as if my standards are unattainably high and that something has to be extraordinarily impressive in order to get a response out of me now. That is rather amusing itself in a way and I find a way to joke with myself about it!

One thing that I must say is that people who have bipolar (which I do not have a full blown bipolar disorder) really tend to "MISS" their upswings when medicated. They feel as if they are "flat" or not at all feeling anything at all because their moods are stabilized. I have many physician friends who tell me that we are all manic, bipolar and OCD to some extent even if just a bit (because of typical hormonal changes in our brains). So, for people who have "really great personalities" and tend to have a lot of fun (like I used to have...) these personality traits are commonly missed. The question then is, are we better with or without the meds? Should the people in our lives love us as the person we are or should we take medication in order to get a handle on our emotions? Is it necessary to do this to ourselves?

I would love some feedback on this post as I am certain that I am starting to become annoyed with the pressure that society puts on in general. Is it the demands placed on us by work, family, etc. that drives us to try to make ourselves PERFECT? If so, is that REALLY a good reason to be medicated? Granted, I don't like the anxiety or nervousness that I have when not on the medication. Maybe behavioral modification or therapy is more in line to what most of us need? Does anyone have any suggestions on other options aside from medicinal therapeutics?

I am only 33 years of age and do not feel like living the rest of my life without completely feeling every emotion that I encounter (whether good or bad!). What are your thoughts?

FYI...Paxil was, by far, the worst experience of my life. The side effects were awful both while I was on the meds along with the withdrawals when I decided to quit taking them. I basically felt inhuman for a full year of my life while taking a only a small dose of Paxil. I can't even imagine taking the full recommended daily dose! Perhaps everyone responds differently to medications, but Paxil was my worst nightmare. Prozac was ok, but again, I was left feeling indifferent about much of my life. The sexual side effects are what made me quit taking them. Sex after all, is a very important thing in MOST of our lives and it's the one thing on this Earth that is completely enjoyable. How completely inhumane is it for these drug manufacturers to screw that little slice of heaven up? hehehe Lexapro has been the best drug thus far where efficacy and tolerability are concerned. However, I am quite sure that I am a strong and capable woman who does not need these medications to survive. What started out as a quest to help me with PMS mood swings has become a battle that I'm not sure I want to continue. How about you?

wow, great post.

I think you hit the nail on the head there. When we take drugs to change our minds...the drugs change our minds.

depression is a natural part of life and often there are better solutions than medication. the problem is that its more profitalbe to prescribe someone's ills away than it is to address them and most doctors do not feel the side effect of the prescriptions they write.

these drugs are extremely good for many people, but many others would do well to do a bit of research on their own vice assuming their doctor always knows what is best for them.

not saying you should ignore your doctor, just that you should look to see if there are natural ways to solve your problems before turning to medication which may or may not make you better.

This stuff needs to be taken off the market, until truthful side effects are listed for meds like this one, it caused extended mood swings, sex fell off the face of the earth, has created MAJOR problems between me and my wife , left her with feelings of inadequacy, (not beeing able to arouse me, this stuff stinks!!!!!!!!

I have been on lexapro for about 6 months now after switching from prozac. I really don't notice any side effects that bother me except the strange dreams. I seem to have them most nights and wake up thinking "what was that all about". Are bad dreams a side effect?

i have been trying to ween myself off lexapro for about 2 weeks due to possible pregnancy. i first went every other day with regular dose, then every 2 days at regular dose. now im doing every 2 days with half the dose. i was doing fine with this until i went 3 days by accident. i felt like i was coming down with something. achy and dizzy. i took the half dose that night, and woke up feeling fine. my worry is if i am pregnant, how would this affect my baby? im i doing the right thing?

I was prescribed Lexapro about 3 months ago for severe depression and anxiety. When I started takeing it I was fine then about 3 days after the first dose I became a Zombie. I couldnt take it in the morning I had to switch to Nighttime, bad idea. I was able to fall asleep no problem but after a few hours I would wake up agitated. Then 6 weeks after the first day I awoke from a deep sleep feeling like I was having a heartattack, Had rapid heartbeat, and a hot feeling all over me, and was fighting to keep concious. I went the the ER and was told I was having an Anxiety attack. Thank God for Ativan. Even now that I have not taken it for 3 weeks I still have the attacks, I believe Lexapro has something to do with it.

I've been taking Lexapro (10mg/day) for six months now after a year or so of moderate depression. The drug's effects seemed to change over time...

Within three days, I was suddenly sleeping better, but it took about three weeks before I felt a change in mood. The mood change was great, though. I was happy, even giddy at times. I did notice that my ability to control impulses was greatly reduced. I ate the same things, but found myself not knowing when to stop, but that only lasted a short while. Occassionally a suicidal thought would pop up, and, unlike before, there was actually a temptation to follow through. The flip side of this situation was that when an urge to do something fun or productive popped up, I found myself more likely to follow through, too. My sexual drive almost completely disappeared, though I had no trouble getting an erection or achieving an orgasm... I just never thought about sex and didn't miss it. I was not sexually active at the time, so this side effect was something I could live with.

About four months later, the effects seem to "level off." My sexual drive is back in full force, but I'm having trouble sleeping again. Though most days are "okay," I do find that I tend to have wild dreams that leave me with feelings of anxiety and anger that seem to stick with me throughout the day. I'm not a shrink, but it seems to me that my brain is just processing things subconsciously now, since the Lexapro's changed my habit of doing so consciously.

And, I'm not in a good mood anymore. I don't feel depressed, but I feel like I'm gradually heading back into the blahs... I'm a bit worried about raising my dosage.

I have been on Lexapro for 2 months.I have found it does help. One thing, has anyone had problems with a feeling of numbness in their knees?Please let me know,Thank you,Nancy.

Lexapro gives me the shits.

I think this is one that when it works for you, it's good, but when it doesn't it's horrible. I only lasted 3 days on it (10 mg). I was yawning uncontrollably, exhausted constantly, and sleeping 15 hours at a time, also uncontrollably, and with a very druggy feeling all the time. It was supposed to boost the Wellbutrin (300mg/day) and destroyed everything good the WB does for me. As always, your milage may vary, and see a doc to get off it.

At first I though Lexapro was the greatest thing out there, now I know otherwise. I had been taking it for about 9 months, after being on it for 3 months my doctor increased it from 10mg a day to 20mg. I gained about 30 pounds, can not concentraite, and almost lost my job (because I found it physically impossible to get up in the morning). I talked to my doctor he weaned me off of it any that is THE WORST. I can't sleep and I am light headed all day. Don't do it!!!

I am a 27 year old female.
I started taking Lexapro 6 weeks ago for Anxiety.
at first I only noticed the sexual side effect, I cannot orgasm at all.
This drug that I thought was working ok for me since
my anxiety seemed to decrease since i started turned on my horribly!
4 days ago I felt a bit distant in the morning, by that night I became filled with negative thoughts and wanted to harm myself, a loved one tried to help and I became violent at him.
Now I feel awful, im not like that I have never hit anyone in my life, up till that day.
and now im living with the guilt of hurting someone I loved and not even remembering all of it.
I am seeing my dr this week to get off this drug,
its making me think things i have never thought of and to me id rather take my chances with the anxiety than loose my mind.

I too have been on Lexapro for about 2 months.I have gained 14 lbs.I was on Atkins for my daughters wedding.I lost 30 but, now I am right back to where I started from.Does anyone have any numbness in their legs feet or knees?Thank you for your time.

I took Lexapro for about 6 months. Quit cold turkey, no advice from dr. Ended up in E-Room due to numbness and tingling in my right side of body. They thought I was having a stroke. Then they thought I had MS. Had an MRI. Ruled out MS. One neurologist could not figure out what was going on with me, so I decided to see another one. He finally figured out that these were all side effects of the Lexapro. Now I am back on it to get my seratonin levels back to where they were before I quit the Lexapro. After a few weeks, I can taper off it gradually. I cannot wait to get off this drug. It impairs my decision making, my arms and wrists tingle and have shocking pains. I am very tired. No lobido whatsoever. I was not made aware of any of these side effects and certainly never made aware of the side effects of going OFF the drug. I had only a little bit of information about this drug. I only had mild depression and should never had been prescribed this drug.

I started Lexapro 10 mg a week ago today for panic attacks and anxiety that was running my blood pressure up. The first night I thought I was going to die. I got hot flashes on my hands and arms, but was ice cold on my chest. I got sick at my stomach and thought I was going to pass out. I didn't fall asleep until 3 a.m. in the morning. I pulse raced, and my chest ached. I went back to the doctor and he reduced me to 5 mg in the mornings and added Toporol XL 25 mg for my blood pressure. I went around for 5 days with still having high blood pressure and now I felt dizzy and week and kept having mini panic attacks. Yesterday the doctor told me not to take the Lexapro for 2 days and upped my blood pressure medicine to 37 1/2 mg. Well my pressure is normal now yesterday I felt good, but today I felt anxious. I was wondering if a person could safely take the 5 mg of Lexapro every other day and stave off some of the side effects. My doctor feels that in the long run I really need to take it, but I feel panicky about even starting back taking it in 2 days.

I started Lexapro 10 mg a week ago today for panic attacks and anxiety that was running my blood pressure up. The first night I thought I was going to die. I got hot flashes on my hands and arms, but was ice cold on my chest. I got sick at my stomach and thought I was going to pass out. I didn't fall asleep until 3 a.m. in the morning. I pulse raced, and my chest ached. I went back to the doctor and he reduced me to 5 mg in the mornings and added Toporol XL 25 mg for my blood pressure. I went around for 5 days with still having high blood pressure and now I felt dizzy and week and kept having mini panic attacks. Yesterday the doctor told me not to take the Lexapro for 2 days and upped my blood pressure medicine to 37 1/2 mg. Well my pressure is normal now yesterday I felt good, but today I felt anxious. I was wondering if a person could safely take the 5 mg of Lexapro every other day and stave off some of the side effects. My doctor feels that in the long run I really need to take it, but I feel panicky about even starting back taking it in 2 days.

I have been on 20 mg of Lexapro for a little over a year now. I was on Prozac for 2 years and doing well but got Mononucleosis that wasn't diagnosed and I was switched to Effexor which put 35 lbs on me in less than 2 months. Lexapro has made me a zombie. I feel like I am watching life rather than participating in it. Just to site an example... yesterday I skydived for the first time. I jumped from almost 14,000 feet above the earth at 120 mph with no emotion. I landed and said "Wow - that was surreal." No excitement and no fear. No residual happiness or worry or sadness or anything. I am just existing. I can't stand it and came here tonight for affirmation that I need to get off this medication once and for all and reclaim my life!

I've been on Lexapro for 2-3 months after being switched from Celexa because of migraine headaches. At first I thought it was absolutely amazing. I would get giddy sometimes and have a lot of energy that I didn't have before. Now I am not so sure. I've become extremely impulsive, not able to study (I'm a sophomore in college). I've become so angry at times that I've succumb to the urge to hurt myself. I've destroyed my apartment door, cut my hand up with a rock, scratched my arm with my finger nails and completely tore up my bedroom(all on different occasions and in the past 3 weeks). I feel like I'm going crazy and I don't know if it is from the Lexapro, or if something else is wrong with me. I've never acted this way before, even when I had a slight urge. I'm afraid of doing something I will really really regret. Does anyone else feel this way???

I have completely gone off 10mg daily doses of Lexapro after 2 years. I have had bad side effects of dizziness, light headiness, loss of concentration. How long will these side effects last. It has been a week and they don't seem to be getting any better.
Thank you
Jenny

I've been on Lexapro, 10mg. for about 2 years. While it has helped my depression I have gained weight which is causing me to get depressed again and my sex drive is almost zero. I love my wife and love sex but the drive is gone. Everybody tells me not to worry about the weight because I carry it well, but it still bothers me. Trying to loose seems impossible. Is there something to take for the sex drive. My Dr. says I'll have to dewcide which is more important.

I was on lexapro for about a year. I found it to be very helpfull in panic attacks and general depression. I always paniced about driving long distances but with the lexapro I was able to drive from pa. to florida with no problem. I never experienced any side effects with starting or stopping. I was on paxil for a while and that made me violent. Everyone responds to meds. different

I have been taking Lexapro for about two years now. I have had to up my dosage to 20mg. i now find i have constant headaches and if I miss a pill I get moody, irratable and extremly angry. This is driving my partner insane as I am still an emotional mess.

I STARTED TAKING 10MG OF LEXAPRO LAST WEDNESDAY, TODAY IS MONDAY. I AM SOOOO SLEEPY. ALL I WANT TO DO IS NAP ALL DAY. I AM EATING LESS SO THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WONDER THOUGH IF I WILL EVER WAKE-UP ON THIS DRUG????

I STARTED TAKING 10MG OF LEXAPRO LAST WEDNESDAY, TODAY IS MONDAY. I AM SOOOO SLEEPY. ALL I WANT TO DO IS NAP ALL DAY. I AM EATING LESS SO THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WONDER THOUGH IF I WILL EVER WAKE-UP ON THIS DRUG????

I STARTED TAKING 10MG OF LEXAPRO LAST WEDNESDAY, TODAY IS MONDAY. I AM SOOOO SLEEPY. ALL I WANT TO DO IS NAP ALL DAY. I AM EATING LESS SO THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WONDER THOUGH IF I WILL EVER WAKE-UP ON THIS DRUG????

I STARTED TAKING 10MG OF LEXAPRO LAST WEDNESDAY, TODAY IS MONDAY. I AM SOOOO SLEEPY. ALL I WANT TO DO IS NAP ALL DAY. I AM EATING LESS SO THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WONDER THOUGH IF I WILL EVER WAKE-UP ON THIS DRUG????

I STARTED TAKING 10MG OF LEXAPRO LAST WEDNESDAY, TODAY IS MONDAY. I AM SOOOO SLEEPY. ALL I WANT TO DO IS NAP ALL DAY. I AM EATING LESS SO THAT IS A GOOD THING. I WONDER THOUGH IF I WILL EVER WAKE-UP ON THIS DRUG????

Holly smokes! Worked good for about six months then bad mood swings and I cant sleep! So I quit cold turkey after six months of 20mil a day. Its been two weeks now and I dont sleep every third day at all. My heart races my skin crawls, cant count how many times aday that I start to black out! This crap is crazy! The last month of taking it was pure hell and the last two week have been even worse! I burn up and then freeze! I am calling the doc again to day this crap is badddddddddddd news beware of quitting cold turkey! Jason

Hello!
I had been taking lexapro for 6 months at 10 mg per a day, and have been off it for 7 months now and still have terrible side effects. My doctor had prescribed this drug to me because I told him I get nervous with a rapid heart beat around alot of people or if im expected to speak. Well I still have this so called called Anxiety as he called it. Since I stopped taking the lexapro most of the side effects stayed with me these were: Dizziness, lack of focus, Unable to hold a normal conversation due to the lack of focus. I wish I had never taken this drug. Is there any hope that the side effects will go away?

I began Lexapro a week ago for anger and depression issues. So far, I've suffered mostly gastrointestinal problems. Awakening in the middle of the night with severe diarrhea and vomiting, as well as the chronic fatigue and dull headaches, hasn't convinced me this was the best route of treatment. As compared with the side effects of some of the other meds, I'm willing to continue with the treatment for a while.

I have taken lexapro on and off for the last couple of years. The latest round started about a year ago. I am now realizing that a lot of the things I have been experiencing may be side effects of the drug. I am interested in sex but my body won't cooperate. I can't become aroused and forget about orgams. My husband is frustrated because he then feels he is lacking. I become extremely angry almost instantanously about small things. I am unable to control my anger or control myself when I am angry. Thankfully I have not physically injured anyone but I have become verbally abusive to my husband. I started taking the drug for anxiety but my behavior on the drug has caused so many problems in my life that I have more anxiety now. My husband and I have separated because of the problems. I think it may be the drug. I have reduced my dose by half and in a week I am going to go every other day until I am weaned off. I'd rather deal with a little anxiety than all of the other stuff.

Hello my name is Danielle and I am 19. I have a very minimal amount of Anxiety, and my doctor prescribed me to Lexapro 10mg (smallest dose. That only last two days. I was a complete zombie, couldn't move slept over 38 of the 48 hrs I was on it and the other 10 hours I was laying down. I had to take myself off. If you suffer from anxiety, tell your doctor that lexapro is NOT for you. Yea, it helps you not to be anxious, but thats just because you cant talk and your sleep haha :).

I've been on Lexapro for about a month now. I've had depression with anxiety for the last five years (badly) and probably to some extent my entire life. So far, I think this has helped level out my depression, but has had little if any positive effect for my anxiety. If anything, I think it has actually increased it.

I've found I feel edgy and jumpy all day now, whereas before I would only have periods of that, usually after commuting in high speed, high volume traffic, social situations or something to that extent. I'm not sleeping well, but then again, I wasn't previously either. I wake up feeling very tired, unable to concentrate for hours, and sometimes I get a "buzzing" sensation in my head, with very short periods of clarity in between. When this happens it seems like my thoughts are all racing, scattered and disconnected, then all of a sudden something changes and I have a moment of clear thought, then it goes back to the buzz... Funny thing is, that moment of clear thought is sometimes more troubling than all the buzzing, and I think thats because of how sudden it is. I've noticed that my eyes are moving irratically, almost spasmaticly, when this is happening which makes it hard to focus (visually) on top of not being able to focus mentally. This isn't a good feeling at all and it can last minutes, hours and in some cases and to a lessor extent even thoughout the day. Those days I can't think clearly all day and my work suffers from it.

I seem to have a stiff neck in relation to taking this med, I have had it for about a week now with really no explanation for it, but I can't turn my head fully to the left... This has never happened for more than a day or two in my entire life. (could just be getting old...) And, I'm having intestinal troubles which I think are definitely related to the Lexapro.

I'm sticking with it, 10 mg a day, for a week or so more, then I'm weaning myself off if the anxiety doesn't improve and the other symptoms subside. But after reading this blog, I'm definitely tapering of it slowly, ouch to those who didn't. Anxiety was the main reason i was taking Lexapro...

yea i wish a dr would post on here how the correct way to ween yourself off this drug would be, im quitting it myself slowly but would like more info

I was prescribed Lexapro for anxiety which I've been dealing with on and off for 10 years. I took it for two days and on the second night I woke up at 1:30am with a racing and skipping heartbeat. I could not get back to sleep because my heartrate was very high. Even though I stopped taking the Lexapro, I broke out into a sweat with uncontrollable trembling the following two nights. I am afraid to take anymore anxiety meds. I'm going to try yoga and meditation. I hope it works!

I cannot believe (in reading all of this) how much I have in common with mostly all of you. I was placed on Lexapro 20mg three months ago and virtually became a zombie. I was mad at the world, mad at my husband, blamed everyone for everything! I sensed something was wrong when I lost interest in reading (my favorite pass-time) and the book I started writing. I became bored with watching t.v., exercising, everything. Driving down the road I would literally zone out. It is as though this drug took me from reality and put me into unreality. I knew it was time to stop when I began to be angry all the time and yell and scream at my husband and children. This was not not okay for me. Foolishly I quit cold turkey. Now I understand why I have the explosive poops, the constant feeling of heat and pickiness on my face, incredible fatigue, and the most horrible brain zaps you can imagine. The brain zaps are the most difficult to deal with, because it is a constant reminder of what this drug did to me and my family. Recently (and I laugh at this) my husband went to his doctor for his anxiety with me, and the doctor put him on (Guess?) Lexapro!! My husband won't touch the stuff, and now I am having to use his to wean myself off and hopefully get rid of these brain zaps. I do not know how much longer I can take them, they occur once every two minutes. I feel as though I am dying. My whole body aches and my head feels like it is going to explode. I feel as though I have the worst case of the flu in the world. If you are thinking about taking Lexapro (and your doctor prescribes it) Please DON'T!! Horrible isn't quite the word to describe it. Reading all of your experiences makes me pray for you that you will all feel better soon. Another brain zap--gotta go!

I have been on Lexapro for about a year now. Before that I was taking Paxil, which my Dr. had prescribed for severe PMS. When I began to gain weight my therapist suggested Lex. This has caused not only continued wt. gain but also many other problems. I was recently married and my husband is wonderful but the anger that I have been having (from these pills - I am now convinced) has put a lot of strain on our marriage. I wish I had done my homework on this medication before just blindly trusting in it. Now that I have (thanks to my parents bringing it to my attention) I would never have taken this had I known all that I now do. I would not recommend anyone take these or any other meds. without first looking into it as much as they can. My husband hates the internet but we would never have found all of this out without it, so for that I am grateful and I think he is too. I appreciate all of you for supplying this info to others and I hope that we can save other people from suffering unneccessarily as we have.

I am planning to print out some of your blogs and giving them to my Dr. and therapist. You all may want to do the same so that they can see that it is not just you that this med affects negatively. We are victims - some of you have mentioned becoming so angry you have said terrible things - I have done that and worse I have actually become physically violent with my husband and I have never in my entire life hit a soul. My parents have heard of situations where people have become so violent while on this kind of med. they have committed murder or suicide. I have too had thoughts of suicide, that I do not believe were my own - they were from this drug.
It is up to us - we need to spread the word to everyone we know that this medication is BAD. I had no idea that these changes that were coming over me could possibly be from the medication, I just thought there was something wrong with me and so did my husband - we were both at our wits end. Had it not been for my parents and all of you, I would never have known that it isn't me. I am weening myself off as we speak - without my DR.s help.

PLEASE - SPREAD THE WORD - MAKE COPIES OF THESE STATMENTS AND MAKE YOUR DOCTORS AWARE TOO! TELL EVERYONE YOU KNOW AND LOVE!

Thank you and God bless you all!

I was just given Lexpro today for dysthymia. I went online to do research on the med and found this site. Your responses really scare me, but I wonder if you all are the 5% who take the drug or the 95%. That is, what % of people really have bad side effects? Do 95% take it, it works great and no side effects?

I do not think I'll take it, for now. Maybe the best way to change my life for the better, is to simply change my life for the better. None of these meds seem like a "miracle" drug anyway, so why risk the terrible downside potential?

WEll, I have been on 10Mg of Lexapro for about a month and a half. I was taking St. John's Wort for a couple weeks before that. The lexapro has been working wonders for me so far...I think. I am a lot more calm and focused than I was before, but I am having a little trouble with sex drive. My girlfriend on the other hand, has been on it for a couple of weeks now. She has lost all interest in sex, and we both used to be very active. She says she doens't have any feeling anymore. It's making us both very tired. I am not sure what to do. We both think that maybe she should ween herself away from it if these effects are going to continue. Does the sexual side effect last the whole time you take this ? I am not diggin on what I am hearing on this website.

Thank you,
-Jason-

I have been on lexapro for 4 weeks. I still feel some anxiety. My face and neck feels like it is on fire. Pins and needles. My bllod pressure is good. They other day had had this sharp pain in my left side of my chest that last 2 seconds and went away. Are these commmon with anxiety and depression? How long befroe Lexapro works?

i have a lot of stuff going on right now and i started having these 5 minute hot flashes and sweating about 1 x a week. The Doctor thinks it is stress related and put me on this lexapro to help out. The first day I went to the bathroom 4 times ( took a dump) and very liquid. I had dry mouth clenching of the jaw. joints were tired and it really wore me out. i had the feeling of just not giving a damn about anything. Dayu 2 was better bsathroom wise I started to do better. I went once and it was more of a shot gun blast. The other effects lessened. I started to find it hard to motivate myself to do anything. My appetite was less. Day 3 is today. since my appetyite was less I decided to have food. I thought it would be a good idea to have lunch. I sat down and made some lunch a regular normal portion then prodeeded onto nachos, soup, a few bowls of life cereal, some cookies, and more. what was that all about - - ate for like an hour straight and could not get enough or could not stop. Then I went to sleep for 3 hours woke up Stillhave not gone to the bathoom except to pee. So maybe i am a bit constipated now. however at the amount I ate today somthing has to give. But i woke up slight fever my hands are very hot. It is now about 8pm and I did have a small bit of ice cream becsuse I needed something cold. Then started looking in the refridgerator and decided to go upstars before i started on a big eating binge again. So I am on the computer forever. Must get out of the house and do something.

By the way - -if you have ever taken ecstacy this is kind of how you feel after all the nice3 effects have worn off. At least as far as the musle and joint feeling goes.

I have been on Lexapro 10mg for 3 years I have weaned myself down to taking 2.5 every other day and hope to give it up totally soon how long does it take to be totally out of my system so I will know if I can manage without the medication or not

Many thanks

Suzanne

I quit cold turkey after several yeras on SSRIs and seemed to do allright until the 6th month when things really started to spiral. The concensous is that it's a relapse of Depression but somehow I feel it's tied to the use of the medicine. I've never spiraled like this including severe agorophobia. I may start back on Lexapro for a time and see if it makes any difference to slowly come off. I've read that for long term use this could involve up to a year or of taper after and if I can line back out on the dose. I will start back at 5mg to see how it does. 10mg of Lexapro is equal to 40mg of Celexa and it is a spinoff from Celexa.........Philip

anybody taking 5 mg every other day?

right now on 5mg per day.

JJ

I've been on Lexapro for about three months now. At first, it was horrible. And then after about a week or two of taking it, I noticed a change in how I felt. I didn't worry so much and I could at least attempt to enjoy myself. However, after about a few weeks of feeling fine, my anxiety and depression came back, and I'd even testify that it was worse than before. I noticed I felt sick alot, my bowel problems (the reason why my dr. prescribed it) got slightly worse, my muscles ached, and I was tired all the time. I went back to my dr. and told him that it wasn't working out, and what did he do? He upped my prescription from 10 mg to 20 mg. What happened? Nothing. I feel the same. If anything, the symptoms are worse. I can't sleep despite how tired I am, I'm sore, I'm tired, I feel horrible, and it affects me even if I miss one dose.

I'M SO SICK OF THIS. the other day I had a freaken panic attack, and that NEVER hardly happens to me. This stuff is suppose to treat that.

I'm making my decision now. I'm not going back to my doctor, I'm taking myself off this medicine. I really hope someone here can help in how you get off of it slowly, cause I'm sure everyone would like to know. This medicine is ruining my life. I'm irritable, I'm stressed, I'm tired, and that's not me.

I can solve my life's problems without lexapro. I can feel good about myself and energetic without stuffing my body with chemicals. I believe we all can.

I've been taking Lexapro for 2 months. It has been a huge help to me actually. I am much happier, high energy, and generally have a amazing performance at work. However, I've been wondering about long-term impacts and also especially any negative effects on the heart. I do sometimes feel just a little too over the top - a little too wired. I kind of perform 100% all the time which can lead to exhaustion. I have gained a little weight which is awful. Otherwise, I do feel a black cloud has been lifted.

lexapro is a drug i have not heard andthing negative on birth defects

Why isn't it in the list of side-effects that anger and rage can occur in ADULTS too? THey only warn for kids under 18.... I'm 28 and feel like a ticking time-bomb. I'm feeling almost uncontrollable rage and agression.
I'm on it only for 2 weeks and I really feel like things can go very, very bad. That I could hurt someone, besides myself.
I think I should quit and see what happens.

I don't know what's worse though. Being depressed and suicidal or this.
I'm sick of AD by now, I might try cipramil one last time to see if that does any good (had it before, no rage). But this.... I'm scared of myself and I truely feel it's best if I'm locked up before I hurt anyone.
But of course no one will listen and they'll say to just throw in a valium... :s

I was on lexapro for about 3 months and during this time was being treated for a ruptured disc, I had surgery and was off lexapro for aproximately 5 days and then started back up, I feel ditzy as hell some hours of the day, raging anger other times of the day, I pick fights and know I have no reason to be angry, I have no idea if I should stop or continue but I can't deal with this. Not to mention that it effects my ability to enjoy sex, that was constant before I stopped cold turkey. It does affect my ability to be so indecisive and my ability to form complete thoughts, and verbalize properly, I seem like a flake and I don't like that, that isn't me.

I have been on lexapro 10mg for over a year. I recently have gone down to half a pill for a few weeks and I am now on my fourth day of no lexapro. My heart is pounding in my chest all the time. It does not hurt but I am worried. Is this normal for withrawls from lexapro?

I began getting headaches after only three days of taking Lexapro. I also began experiencing muscle twitching throughout my body. I stopped after only two weeks, only to have the headaches persist, neck pain, and one episode of seeing "zig zag lights" (like migraine "aura"). Lexapro was the first anti-anxiety medication that I have ever taken, and it will definitely be the last!

Hi to all you good kind people from Sydney Australia. I've had a diagnosis of bi-polar for many years and have been on a lot of anti-depressants. As far as I'm concerned Lexapro is disgusting and if you react badly to it, can be very dangerous. I started off on 5mg just over a week ago in hospital. I ended up running away from there and was locked up for 3 days in the public mental health system (a terrible experience).

I've had so many of the same symptoms as you are all reporting, and am really worried that I won't be able to resume my university studies at the end of Feb. next year. The major symptoms that have troubled me are a shortness of breath when doing anything exerting, I just start crying for no reason at all, that terrible feeling of rage that a lot of you are reporting, insomnia, no motivation and feeling tired all the time.

I'm also getting hot and cold flushes in my hands and arms, extremely impulsive behaviour (running away from hospital a prime example), sore muscles down my left neck and arm, tingling fingertips, and basically not giving a damn. The inability to form complete sentences and remember words is so frustrating and really quite frightening.

I'm very angry at my Dr. for locking me up and have told him to shove the Lexapro, but I'm still getting the side effects. For everyone who's asked the question "how do we come off this medication?" I really think we need to do that slowly. Some of you have been on it for quite a while now, and, although I'm not a doctor, I think that with side effects like these a "go slowly" approach is really needed. It appears to be too dangerous otherwise. I hope this has helped. I'm suffering a lot of the same symptoms as you all are. Lexapro is awful if you have a negative reaction to it.

All the best to you all and I hope you don't have to suffer this for too much longer, because how can we deal with our depression and anxiety when we have all the rest of this crap to deal with.

I had a stroke 7 months ago. My doctor put me on lexapro 10mg I only lasted 2 days on it. I got clammy hands and dizziness. I was so scared. Is this normal to experience this? how long does it take to get over it.

I have been taking lexapro for 2 yrs now. i want to fight depression by my self so i am weening my self off with out the dr . what are the side effects have none yet . but gained weight.

I have been on Lexapro for 4 months now. When I began the Dr. put me on 10 mg. I had EXTREME nausea and headaches the first 2 weeks (at least). Now he has increased my dosage to 20 mg. Since beginning a higher dosage I have had shortness of breath, terribly vivid and strange dreams, and I'm more edgy than ever. It's as if I'm depressed in a different way now because now I'm always worried about who I'm going to blow up at next.
My husband and I had fought some before Lexapro, but since I have begun the medicine it has been a whole new can of worms. I get mad at him for absolutely nothing. Seriously, nothing. I have no control over my anger. I have no desire to work. I have no desire to get out of bed, or even out of the shower.
My appetite is non-existant. I can go days without eating. Also, I have extreme cramping in my stomach. Has anyone else experienced this??

I am really, really angry.

I have had mild to moderate depression since I was a young teenager. My depression became severe following some very unpleasent life events about 3 years ago. I resisted taking antidepressents for as long as I could, as my mother had warned me against them. About two and a half years ago when I was so depressed I was no longer able to get out of bed, a friend took me to an emergency clinic. The doctor there prescribed me Lexapro. At the time I argued against it, as I knew that my mother had suffered badly from brain zaps and tinitus while taking Celexa (which Lexapro is related to). The doctor there assured me that it was very safe, that he had prescribed it to many young people, and that no one had complained about side effects.

I started taking 10mg, but after two weeks the doctor thought I had not made enough improvement and increased the dose to 20mg. I took a few doses of this strength, but it gave me terrible insomnia, racing heart, skipped heart beats, and trouble regulating my breathing. After two or three doses I decrease the dose back to 10mg (but didn’t tell the doctor). I have been taking 10mg of Lexapro for 2 and a half years now and have not been aware of any side effects until now.

My depression has stedily improved, and I believe I have not been depressed now for around 6 months. My physical depression improved much faster than my mood. Initially my mood just became flattened, as other people have mentioned, but after about 18 months I began to experience normal highs and lows again.

I talked to my doctor about stopping the medicine, as I believe I have now been well for some time. She agreed, however warned me to think carefully about it, as she knew there was a stressful event in my life at the time. She also told me to come off it very slowly. I decided to wait a few months, as I was moving overseas, and didn’t want to cope with the transition as well as coming off medication.

I have not yet started to decrease my medicine. I was planing to do so very soon, as I have been living in Switzerland for several months now and am coping fine. However, about 3 weeks ago, I started having trouble sleeping. I wake up a lot in the night, and have nightmares. Stranger still, as I am falling asleep, I suddenly feel like an electric shock is going through my body, starting in my brain. After these shocks I feel very frightened and disoriented for some time and can’t sleep. It suddenly occurred to me today that I am suffering from what my mother described as ‘brain zaps’. So I googled lexapro and brain zap, and found out exactly how common it is.

What I don’t understand, is that I haven’t started to come off my medication yet, so I can’t be suffering from withdrawal. Has anyone else had brain zaps while taking their regular dose of medication?

What really surprised me (and made me furious) is the number of people complaining of weight gain while taking this medicine. Since I started taking Lexapro, I have put on 45 pounds. I was plump (but not obese) beforehand, so this is really quite serious. When I went to see the doctor about coming off Lexapro, I also asked her about my weight gain. I thought it might be related to the medication. She looked up Lexapro, and told me that weight gain was not a side effect. She said that I ate too much and didn’t exercise enough. I told her that I ate very well, lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, and that I rode my bicycle everywhere I went (at least 8km a day). I don’t think she believed me. I no longer fit into any of my clothes, I don’t have money to buy new ones (I am a student) and the result is I feel like I’m not fit to be seen outside the house.

I am now desperate to stop taking Lexapro, but am also very scared, after having read about all the withdrawal effects. Does anyone have any advice about how to stop taking Lexapro, and what I can do to reverse the weight gain?

I was prescribed to lexapro 7 months ago. When I first started taking it I felt wonderful. Had lots of energy and just felt so good. Well recently felt like it wasnt working for me and I got a bad cold well flu so about 2 weeks ago I quit cold turkey and now I am so miserable. I have had bad headaches and I cant sleep at all. When I get to sleep I have weird dreams well more like nightmares well as u can see I am up now. I dont know what to do I am just miserable but scared to start taking them again. guess I need to see another doctor. :(

I'm taking lexapro. I have bad depression i have been though alot. I need to stop it though. I'm haveing really bad side effects that scare me. On the 29th i have an appointment for my doctor. And I'm going to tell him about them but I can't tell my mom I don't want her to worry. Should I stop and just not tell her or should I keep taking it please tell me. This is really important.

I HAVE SEVERE SCOLIOSIS OF THE SPINE. PAIN, NUMBNESS AND PICKINESS GOES DOWN MY RIGHT SIDE TO MY LEGS. NOW THE PICKINESS IS GOING TO MY NECK AND SIDE OF FACE. IS THIS NORMAL

WELL ON DAY 4 IM NUMB,CANT FEEL MY TEETH,NOT HAPPY ,AND MY BODY IS SWOLLEN, I JUST SLEEPED THE WHOLE DAY AWAY THANKS LEXAPRO.I WENT CRAZY YESTERDAY VIOLENT.AND TODAY IS BLA..BLA.BLA. ON DAY TWO OF IT I WAS HAPPY BUT NOW IM CRASHING AND BURNING..THIS SUCKS I DONT FEEL THIS IS RIGHT FOR ME.