Depression Blog.com

I began taking 1/2 tablet of 5 mg. Lexaprol 2 days ago for depression. Initially, I slept well and experienced noticable improvement emotionally for the crying jags -- although I felt "flat." The next day, I developed a severe migraine, felt listless, sensitive to noise, irritable, crabby, dry mouth and had to lay around all day. All weekend, I was unable to reach the doctor who prescribed the medication -- who had reassured me Lexapro could not cause weight gain. However, I read that Lexapro can indeed can weight gain as well as all the symptoms I experienced .. and more.

I used Prozac, in the past, with success. Recently, while feeling depressed and anxious, I decided to take it again. I started it 2 weeks ago and feel some benefit, but my Doctor suggested I try Lexapro. I read so many bad things about this drug that I'm afraid to use it. I've taken, just, one pill and I'm concerned about continuing it's use. I, of course, will discontinue the prozac if I continue the Lexapro, but it comes down to sticking with an old, "tried and true" drug, or try a new one. Any advice would be welcomed!

I have been taking Lexapro for 3weeks now. I was prescribed by my family MD. 5 months ago my wife left me after having an affair with another man and has since left took our children and is now living with him. Needless to say I was and still am EXTREMELY derpressed. I have been seeing a therapist which has helped but I felt I needed "more" of something perhaps meds so that I may at least start functioning again and to maybe boost myself up so that I may get on my feet.

OK, for the first 7 days of taking I didnt cry once, not a single tear, which may or may not be good, considering I have cried everyday for close to 20 weeks. That cycle has been broken and now I continue to cry everyday or at least every other day, but its different. Now I go from being "fine" and feeling good to just BAMM crying hysterically. All of which by the way may or may not be a direct result of the drug, I am aware. I have experienced that "flat" feeling that seems common, I wake up feeling very unmotivated and just want to ly around. NO INTEREST in food whatsoever, when I do eat it is maybe a 1/4 of the portion that I may normally eat. Complete loss of physical desire sexually. Almost impossible to orgasm.

Some people close say I seem to look better but that just maybe due to my weight loss.

I think the one thing at this point I can contribute to this drug is the flatness of feeling. I feel like iam in a fog, I have lost the desire to "fight" for my kids, legally it has been a nightmare, once again maybeb I am just tired of it or maybe the drug is causing me to care less.

I also have not worked as much and have found it extremely difficult to leave the house unless it is absolutely necesarry, not common behavior for me previously.

I've been taking 20mg daily of Lexapro for 3 months. No wt. gain, fatigued, but am inspired to exercise. At first the sexual side effects were not acheiving organism, but I have been working on it and with some effort can now. I also have very vivid dreams to where for a split second I wonder if it really happened. I will also have more than 1 dream a night and not sleep the whole night. It has helped me in my mood swings and has improved my motivation. My doc wants to start to ween me off, but with the holidays coming up, I don't want to.

I took Lexapro for 6 days. Took it at night. 1st dose 10 mg, woke up 3 hrs later, had crazy thoughts (this drug should be taken off the market). Day 2 took 5 mg at night. Again woke up 3 hrs later. When waking up you wake up wide awake, and stay wide awake. Day 3, 5 mg again, same story except now I am feeling very exhausted and anxiety. (never had that before, only mild depression). Day 4 same deal. Day 5 same deal. Day 6 same deal, (i upped the dose to 10 mg this time) .. that was enough for me, I stopped taking this junk... It took me 5 days to feel normal again. Now I have slept 2 nights complete. While on this "stuff" I also had serious (crazy thoughts) the 1st night. Night Sweats on other nights. Anxiety 2 mornings. Also felt detached to everything and everyone. Also had sexual side effects, had no feeling during sex and took forever to have an orgasm. Felt like I completely lost 2 weeks of my life. Glad to be off this crap and will never take an anti-depressant again. It's easier to go walking, exercise, and think positive. My opinion is that I am amazed that the FDA approved this drug with all the problems I have encountered and also read about. My advice is to don't go on this crap. God Bless.

I have been taking Lexapro for 2 months and the change has been dramatic. I am back to my old self again. I am really sensitive to medication but I find Lexapro only gives me sexual side effects (however this is very frustrating). Doc wants to change me to Aurorix to improve my libido, I'm hesitant as Lexapro has helped me so much and I react easily to medication. Has anyone been on Aurorix before? If so how did you find it?

Lexapro didn't do much for my depression, all it really did is make me really tired all the time, I found myself taking naps almost every afternoon just to get through the day, good thing I had a job that this worked with. Not having energy to do anything isn't really a way my depression is getting cured

Well I have taken Lexapro twice and I am already feeling negative side effects. The very first night that I took it I already had dry mouth and naseau. That continued the second time that I took it, but on top of that I now feel like I am sedated!!! I am tired all the time and even after 10 hours of sleep last night, I still felt that I needed more sleep. This is not good since I am a single mother and my daughter wanted me to wake up (which I reluctantly did). I still feel tired now, and feel like I need a nap. I got these same results years ago when I was prescribed Paxil---which I immediatly quit since I do not need to sleep all day! So, I will not take another one of these pills and will call my Doctor first thing Monday. I had taken prozac with great success before, but I have anxiety right now so I am not sure how I am going to address this now. We will see what I end up doing, but this drug is only making things worse. Hope this helps.

Ohhhh....I forgot to mention in my above post that I have no appetite!! The last thing I need to do is lose any energy....I have no desire to eat....not even things that I love. Like I said I am a single mother and I need all the energy I can get. This pill is just draining the life out of me....

I'm 4 days in, I've reduced my dosage from 10 to 5 mg, but I am so done with this crap. One minute, I'm euphoric, ready to conquer the world, next minute bugs are in my skin, next minute I'm screaming at anyone in range. I've had sorrow troughs on this stuff that border on suicidal. Lexapro is evil -- I'd be happier naturally sad.

My grandson has just been given Lexapro and I Would like to know the side affects from this drug

Geez.....I've really learned alot reading the comments about lexapro.
I just thought I had gone a little weird! I lost my Mother and one of my brothers within a week of eack other. And trying to get out of a bad relationship. I ended up depressed....crying all the time, tired. I went to the Dr. for a sinus infection while talking with him he decided I was depressed. He gave me the prescription but I didn't have it fill for a week....I just kept thinking I could handle everything once I had the infection under control. Well the sinus infection got better but I didn't! I filled my prescription and after the first week I stopped the majority of my crying....you could ask me about the weather and I no longer started blubbering. I have found that my sleep pattern is totally messed up. I now sleep 4 to 5 hrs a night and then have a hard time being alert until mid morning. I haven't had an orgasm since I started lexapro. Dr. wants me on it for 6 mos. After reading a few of the comments, I'm really hoping I am able to get off the lexapro. I have MS which can cause sexual dysfunction by itself.

well i think lexapro sucks ass...ive been takeing 15 miligrams everynight for like 3 months and dont feel shit...the first day it made me a bit drowsey but other than that one day it sucks....later.

i was on 20 mg. of lexapro for 2 years. yes it did help but for some reason one day i started getting very lathargic,nausea,felt like i was walking on air looking for words memory loss.i tried to wean myself off but i kept getting worse.i finally had to stop it. well i have been suffering for 11 weeks now and i want to know if i am going to get better. i have pain behind my eyes my mind is blinded had migrains for 5 weeks straight. doctor's have no answers and one told me if i don't try another med that she can't help me.if you have any answers please let me know.jandtpolanco@verizon.net

I was prescribed Lexapro in May '05 after going through a very hard seperation. After being on this medication for just a few days, I started having suicidal thoughts and being extreemly paranoid. I also started cutting my arms and legs with razors, knifes, and anything else I could find. After 10 days of being on this medication, I cut myself up so badly, it scarred me, and I went to the emergency room. The ER told me it was an effect of the Lexapro and gave me Neurontin to help relax the effects until I could get used to the medication. The Neurontin intensified the effects and I was unable to sleep. After days of not being able to sleep, and continuing to cut myself, I was prescribed some other medication by a psychiatrist for sleep. I began to sleep and weined off the Neurontin. I continued to take the Lexapro for depression losing libido (I really didn't need it due to the divorce), and pretty much shutting myself off from the world. I lost interest in just about everything except my daughter (who I have almost lost b/c of my episodes.) I recently started a great job, and have gotten back to the world six months later. I decided three days ago that I was not going to take this medication any longer. I want to be myself again. I was not aware there would be any side effects to quitting, being I was advised by my doctor that this medicine was not addictive. I now feel dizzy, and almost like I am next to myself. I don't have any other way to explain this feeling. I also can feel like a heartbeat throughout my entire body. I am feeling a depression again, but I know what it is and am making myself do thing to take my mind off it. I know this is a temporary phase that I am going through, but I am willing to do this to get off this. I have lost alot of friends due to this drug. They all think I am "crazy", and the friends I do still have ask me all the time (I guess not realizing it is hurtful) if I think I am crazy. If you are having a hard time and are thinking about taking Lexapro, I hope you read this and know that there are side effects your doctor will not tell you about. They are not rare.

If you are contemplating taking Lexapro....DON'T!!!!! I can not warn you enough.
The withdrawls are HORRIBLE!!!!!!
If I had been informed of this I NEVER would have sstarted taking this medication.(DRUG) I would have to compare the withdrawls to what i would imagine withdrawls from an illegal substance would feel like. I had been on Prozac for 5 years for anxiety and it worked very well!!!! Except for the major side effect of decreased libido. Poor husband! Ha Ha
My doctor said that Lexapro didn't report to have that side effect as much. So he switched me. The decreased libido did not get anybetter!!!!
But, my anxiety issues continued to be controlled on the Lexapro. However, I noticed if I forgot ONE pil, by the end of the day I had all of the symptoms everyone else has complained of. So after 6 months of this I asked a new PCP that I had swithched to if I could go back to Prozac.
Unfortunately, I suspected I was pregnant. So, I didn't fill the Rx. A day later, I tested positive for pregnancy. So I obviously quit the Lexapro Cold Turkey!!!! It has been 5 Days!!!!
I feel HORRIBLE. If anyone has any info. to offer on how long this will last PLEASE email me directly!!!!!! I want to enjoy being pregnant and I am flying to PA to visit my inlaws for Christmas and I am terrified of flying now because of all these symptoms I am experiencing.
Thank you for any info.

My wife had severe panic attacks back in 2004 and was prescribed Lexapro by her physician. After beginning the drug, she would pass out very early and increasingly over time exhibited extreme anger and rage towards me. We seperated and she moved to Norway. In the Summer of 2005 she came off the medication and began to reconsider our situation. She returned here for several weeks and we quickly rekindled our relationship. She returned to Norway in early October and by November 15th began to get the attacks again. She returned to the medication and began exhibiting the same hostility towards me as previously noted, so much so that she felt we had argued when she had visited, and we had not. If anyone has found the same results in a loved one or in their own personal life, please e-mail me. I want to convince her to switch medicines if possible. We have children and I don't want a drug to destroy our opporunities of a happy life.

I was put on lexapro about a month ago for severe anxiety attacks. I began having delusions and even more frequesnt attacks. I felt very paranoid. Since stopping i cry all the time and feel more depressed than when I began. This stuff is awful!

Lexapro was the last me. I was on lexapro for six months, and my life changed. Of course I didn't know it at the time. But I guess I should have known something was up when I told the my boss to go screw himself and he duly librated me of my job. I went from having a major clinical depression to having mania. But sex was great at first, with the prolonged erection, then it just got annoying. I was massively paranoid. But I guess, now sitting here in the mental institute, I should I have seen it coming. It felt great, I rather be manic that depressive any day, its just that other people rather have me depressed over manic.

I've taken Lexapro at 10 mg for a little over a year and it's done pretty well for my social anxiety.

I no longer stammer or shake around people, and I feel comfortable around crowds and other little things that would really get to me.

Unfortunately, I've had some sexual side effects, like delayed ejaculation (my girlfriend didn't seem to mind, ha ha!) which is annoying as I couldn't really enjoy being with my girlfriend as much as she did. When I first started taking it, I'd also wake up randomly in the middle of the night which was annoying. Really, I'd be fast asleep and then I'd feel awake. Oh, and there was awful stomach aches too the first week or so.

I notice that I feel really different when I'm off it so yeah, withdrawal isn't fun.

I'm not really in a position to recommend it or discourage it over some other drug, as I've only taken it, but I find that it's better than nothing.

I started taking Lexapro about 5 weeks ago (10 mg for 1 week, then up to 20mg) and although my mood is greatly improved, I am so tired through much of the day it feels like I don't get any sleep at all. I wake up several times in the night, and it mostly feels like I am "skimming" sleep... always really close to waking up, if that makes any sense. I took Zoloft years ago, and asked for something else this time because Zoloft made me feel like I was living in a fog, but this really makes me feel like I am half asleep. Does this improve?

My wife and I had a terrific marriage for 11 years. 1 year ago the Dr. prescribed LEXAPRO. Immediately her personality changed and got progressivly worse. She distanced herself from me and our 3 kids. It appeared that she had no inhibitions. She had sudden outbursts and then would act like a 16 year old preoccupied with herself. She began to flirt in front of me then talk about it like I was her best friend. She began to hate me and said she was disgusted in our marriage. She eventully had an affair and felt absolutely no remorse or guilt. She would rub the affair in my face being completly insensitive. Shortly, she began acting violent and samshed the windows out of my truck while I was at work (police officer). She then beat me and tried to steal the police car. There were numerous threats of suicide and attempts (knifes/gun) in front of our children. My wife NEVER behaved this way until the Lexapro. I know there is responsibility for what she did but at the time, I just assumed she cracked and lost her mind. I did not know my wife anymore from the time she began Lexapro. I left our home and filed for divorce. After 2 months, she quit Lexapro after trying to overdose. In afew weeks, she began to go back to herself completely.She told me that she does not remember being mean to me or acting that way I described to her. She cannot believe she would commit the affair. She said that she knew what she was doing but felt no guilt whatsoever. She said the time on Leapro made her feel nothing. She knew right from wrong but didn't care or even think about the consequences. She felt she did not love me anymore because she could not feel an emotion for me. She remembers the act and tells me it felt like she was raped. She consented but there was no emotion. It felt like she was watching herself from the ouside. This drug made my wife into a monster. I have only stated minimal incidents. It stems far greater. EVERYTHING my wife did was way out of character. We are Christians and were always very active in our church. She was a Sunday school teacher for years. I know things happen in life, but the immediate drastic changes in her personality was bewildering. Now that she is off Lexapro, I have my wife back (mentally and emotionally) and are working it out. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS DRUG!!!

hello- I have been taking lexapro for around 3 months for anxiety. I have imrpoved greatly since I started taking the medication. Before I was taking it I would constanly dream about being rich and famouse, now I am actualy focused on what I am going to do with my career (I am in college). I also would get scared while driving and in certian social situations. Neither are a problem in my life anymore. Some strange side effects that I have noticed are I have vivid, almost nighmare like, dreams. My doctor told me thia could be because my brain is letting out my anxiety while I sleep. I also get really drunk. I use to know my limits before I started taking lexapro... I def don't anymore. there have been many times where I usually would not even be tipy and I was completley bombed. Overall I think the postivies out way the negatives. The only issue that I heard could arise is weight gain. When will this start happening, if it does?

I was given Lexapro while taking care of my very ill 91-year-old Mom and having a tough time - though I'm normally not depressed. I've never been one to "take anything" - or even "need anything" - and tried to refuse. I was reassured by my physician that It would just "take the edge off" and I could go off of it, with ease, anytime I wanted. My experience has been one of having a "numbness" toward life. Usually highly motivated - I just don't give a "C*ap." I go through the motions and get things done but I use to have this GREAT zest for life that has dissapeared. I also have TERRIBLE alcohol cravings. I am ashamed of what I've done and how I've behaved over these past several months - but it is the only thing that seems to make me feel "normal" again. This is my very first time to have this problem. I am drowsy all day long - don't want to get out of bed in the morning because I am so tired. I have developed terrible tremors and twitching - plus Myclonic Jerks (startling when you go to fall asleep) that lift my whole body off of the bed. I tried a VERY slow withdrawal but had every symptom known to the phenomenon of "SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome-" (Google that to see). The worst was insomnia SO bad that I'd get two to three hours of sleep (even though taking Lunesta). I am a professor and mother of four. I could not WAIT for the side-effects to stop - so I've gone back on 5 MG. I am back to drinking again but trying to be more sane about it. Am stuck between a rock and hard place with no where to go. PLEASE don't start taking Lexapro if it's been suggested to you!!! Finally, I am resentful that both the available literature and professionals' knowledge of this drug are SO inept. I researched the drug beforehand and would not have taken it by ANY means had I known the outcome. Will continue to try to resolve this dilemma!

i just started taking lexapro about a month ago. I was also on it several years ago, but stopped as I was numb to the world. This time around, the same thing. Things that use to make me laugh do not anymore. I dread the thought of getting up and going to work, let alone just getting up. I feel more depressed now that I am on this medicine. I eat constantly. Although I am not hungry. I do not cry at normal sad things. I do not laugh at jokes. And i have no interest in having sex. And when the interest does happen, I cannot even orgasm. This sucks!

I tried Cipralex for three days. This drug is almost an encouragement of suicide. I could not sleep for three days and I just wanted to jump out the window or slash my wrists!
This drug and others like it are just made to poison people by greedy pharmaceutical companies! If you have anxiety or depression, you need social contact, friends and a psychologist.

hello,i feel for everone of you out there on meds, i have been lex for about a yr which i been on and off meds for about 6-7 yrs i had a patial hyst and was put on them.horrible side eff and then i went to the lord and church that help me get offof the meds terrible expecailly effernox!!! i felt i was out of my body when i was in the car driving to the dr and pull off the road i was scared went back home and then tried other meds dont even want to leave the house. so that when i went off and the god really help me thru this. then about 2 yrs ago my son went in the hospital for his bipolar and autisic he try to kill his self, so i was back and forth to the hospital and it was drainning me have 3 other kids i have 10,14,21 and my niece 14 so my husband no help blame me for his hospital i am the bread winner at this time, so the dr decided to put me on celax didnt feel anthing so try zolofox and i didnt feel much either so she try me on lexapro and stay on that went small dose to i belive 100 mgs and i still dont feel releve so i got sick her new yrs with upper respitory and threw up couldnt keep nothing down so i stop taking the lex cold turkey!! and now i having horrible side ad!!! big time, i feel hot cold in hands and feet dr dont know, i irritable big time headahes, nausea,dizziness and cant sleep and i feel like all i want to do is wish i had a new body or god take me life, i dont recommend any meds to take all mind alt drugs .when i was in the bible and going to church i felt healed and i been away from church now about2 yr since my pastor moved to a diff state, i dont feel comfortable at the church this time, but i know the kids think i mean mom my one son he comes and conforts me the one bipolar. i just want to get off the side effect i been cold turkey sincejan 4-5, 2006 since my nausea and vomit and i still have nausea too i cant seem to eat much and i love to eat when i was on it i ate like a pig. i scared i glad i found this site.i cant seem to get to work i off sick this stres seems like it going to get to me but i feellike the devil want me back on the meds and i not giving up i back in the bible and help some but durning the day progress it get worst so any comment or help apprecaite it i should of not try it again after what i went thru yrs ago but the dr talk me inot it say new med so on. yes no sex drive i dont care about at all it been 3 yrs but alot of stress too with my son in hospital and my husb not being or doing his duties as finding a job. thanks for listening i will keep praying for you all b/c i know it a struggle.i even thought of herbal but i heard they can be dangeous too so who knows take care and god be with you all lots of love, huggs and kisses we need someone to care ofr us at here b/c people are not always understanding!!! takecare angie

I posted above. I feel better on 5 MG's. Most side - effects gone. Most of my "drive" for life is back. You have to have a good pill-splitter to do this but it is worth trying. I'll stay on this for a while and then reasearch MUCHLY on how to wean myself without the terrible dizziness and insomnia - What a nightmare! Wish me luck - I'll keep posting!

Lexapro has taken away the severe depression, but it also makes me very hostile and aggressive. All of the SSRI's have this effect on me, even though this particular side effect is mostly seen in adolescents (which I am not!). I sleep great, no weight gain, but the hostility is making me rethink this med for me.

Thought I would post a good link to SSRI Withdrawal Syndrome - so you might know what you face if you go Cold Turkey...though I faced most of them with a gradual withdrawal. Note that many are the same problems we've all had taking it! It just gets markedly worse!!!

www.psycom.net/depression.central.withdrawal.html

I am a newcomer to Lexapro, two weeks on. I was prescribed 10mg daily to stave off winter depression. I am bipolar and am taking it in addition to the mood stabilizer Depakote.

I can see why the anxiety disorder crowd likes it. It calms me right down. Although together with the Depakote it can make me wooly-headed, I can still be productive without being manic.

It has been a much less harsh medication than Paxil or Effexor. The main side effect is sleepiness. I haven't got much of a marriage to speak of so the mild libido dampening is a good thing--less frustration.

I took lex for a day. I took serzone for a year. serzone worked but made me see wierd in the am, sex didn't work right. I lost my pilot's lic over these drugs. Ihave really nothing left to live for. lex gave me the worst nausea and I quit. Honestly, suicide looks like a good alternative either it's over, or I go to hell or something, but at least something changes. I've fought this damn problem for 25 years now and I must say that it is not really feeling like it is something I can beat. I have everything I need and want nothing, even to suck more air.

jack

My daughter has been seeing someone at Vanderbilt. It took trying almost 20 different things before something finally worked. Please don't give up!

Lexapro - my whole family is on it.
We got express scripts now.
The medicine is on our list of ones we can have.
But they won't do me because they say I am s
step one....
For two months they haven't given me the med.
i made a special trip to the drs to tell him the
story.
he gave me another slip.
They sent it back.

the dr gave me samples. i started taking them.
my head felt better but the pain in my legs
started all over agin.
instead of the tightness in my head the tightness
moved to my legs.
the first night it was my right leg
the seoncd night it was my left leg
the third night it was both legs.
i still don't have my med because i'm a step one.

such as life...
has anyone experienced leg pain at night while
on lexapro???
has any one had the privelege of being a step one

Has anyone experienced side effect after just one dose. I am not liking this stuff at all- very dizzy, and just sorta feeling out of it. I've never taken anything like this before, and I'm starting to think my doc gave this to me way too soon...

Also wondering if I will still feel this bad if I stop taking it - I've only taken one dose.

Kelley,

The "out of it" is what most of us experience. I would call it a FOG, most appropriately.

The dizziness I experienced is not like normal Vertigo - but this sort of wierd thing in your head where your eyes go one way and your brain another. Only lasts a second but can be very disorienting - and those "seconds" can start happening several times a minute.

I'm definitely not a Doc - but you sound super-sensitive to it - is that true of any other medications you take?

Definietly, you can go off of it now without the bad withdrawal syndrome (my DH just quit after three weeks - they put him on it for BP - without any of the bad withdrawal). OR - you could reduce your dosage. I'm still doing pretty good on 5 MG (heck splitting the 20 MG pill - but worth it!).

Let us know what's up!

Jean

I am on lexapro 30 mg and have been for a few months. I also see a psychiatrist once a week. There are many things that I am depressed about and I know it is a combination of situational and chemical. I know that lexapro is very similar to celexa but just acts quicker. I don't think that there is any one answer for helping a depressed person and for me I struggle each day. I am not sure what the next day will hold and wake up each morning and wonder how I will feel. I think that I have to try and do even a little bit of positive stuff for my self each day instead of giving up and it is hard to do. Taking antidepressants is only part of the solution.

Hey there everyone! This is my first time on this site, and just been reading all of your comments. I became extremely depressed from 2003 after wandering blindly into a relationship with a monster. To cut the morbid story short, I had never suffered depression in my life, and was a strong, bubbly, outgoing person, and turned my life upside down, with a snowball effect! I have tried and failed with a few medications due to the side effects also. Eventually, I was put on lexapro just over a year now. Ok, first of all, the idea of any prescription drug, is to achieve the desired effect with minimal side effects. All of them do have some side effects, however, this is usually only for a while and they settle down. Its important to stay in contact with your doctor for this reason, ie. if the side effects go on to long etc. It may not agree with you or you may need to adjust the dose. I think that psychotherapy is also very important, but I would'nt be advising people not to take medication if they need it. The other thing is, Anti depres. meds, are like taking antibiotics, you have a course of them, and that usually needs at least 3 months min. to allow it to kick in. Honestly though, I read alot about the side effects, and unless they are impacting on your life more than depression, I think you have to deal with it or, don't get to the point where you stop without supervision, go see the Doctor! Have it with food, take it in the morning so you can sleep at night. Give it time, and if problems persist, you may just need to have dose reduced. Yes your sex life will come back! But hey, think about when your really depressed, what would you rather have at that point? pulled out of the black hole, or a bit longer to orgasm!?! I truely believe that a good portion of the battle is reprogramming your way of thinking! You can get in such a rut, and lose basic life skills. If the meds take the edge off and keep you functional and or alive, take them! Sorry but screw the sweaty palms problems etc! and be thankful that at least options exist. Pay attention to your label in the box too, helps. I still have my moments, but better than 6 months ago, and can now say, "hey, the rest is up to you girl!" Good luck everybody!!!!

I've been on Lexapro for over a year now and I've found it to be, in general, very helpful. I started at 10 mg/once a day but soon found that I got more consistent results if I broke it into 5 mg/twice a day. Now, I have upped my dosage to 5 mg/three times a day totaling 15 mg/day. I started taking Lex for anxiety and mild depression, but mostly for anxiety. It has helped for a period of time but now I've been having more reaccuring bouts of general anxiety. But I also feel that it has gone hand in hand with my pursuit of a career. Thus, more stress in career, more stress and anxiety arrising. So there is a corolation for it.

I never expected for any medication to wisk my pain away. What I hoped for, and what has happened is that I have been more able to COPE with my anxiety and be able to form more clear thoughts on how to deal with it. This has happened and I have spent many hours with thearapists and myself learning how to rethink and release that ball of energy. For me, that's what it is. A pent up ball of energy that, for some reason, has lodged itself in my gut and wants to tear me appart. If I can dispears that with better mental tools, then that is the goal of my journey. I do hope that I will not be on this medication for ever, and I'm sure I won't, but if I can continue to remember that it is a TOOL, and not a CURE, then I will end up the better.
Keep strong...

I have been taking Lexapro for months and also feel very irritable and got curious, so I looked it up, and was surprised to see I'm not the only one who has experienced this.

I've been on Lexapro for about 2.5 months. It has helped with anxiety, but I didn't have much of a problem with anxiety -- mostly depression. It does make me VERY sleepy (but not at first) so I take it around dinner-time. Very vivid and strange dreams. Nausea and dizziness went away after the first week. Libido is okay. No weird thoughts, but I do find that I'm incredibly lethargic. I was before the medication, so I don't think it is really helping with the depression. I saw another posting regarding taking half of the 10mg pill twice a day -- that's a good idea and I may try that.

Overall, I don't feel gloomy and my emotions have "leveled" out. I don't have such extreme reactions to things, but I do think I'm still somewhat depressed. However, I'm in therapy, too, and we're just starting to get to the "meat" of things, so I suspect the depression will decrease. I plan to stick with the Lexapro for at least another three months.

Best of luck to everyone.

I took the medication once for anxiety and had horrible side effects. My doctor said it wasn't known to cause side effects like I had, but as I read this blog, I now know differently. About an hour after I took it I had a hard time completing sentences because my memory became slower and also my speech became slurred. My walking even slowed down. Later that evening I became really emotional and depressed. I would cry about it and then for a while I felt absolutely nothing, nothing in the world mattered anymore. Later, I had a hard time falling asleep and my thoughts became really intrusive and disturbing. I had thoughts of suicide &/or hurting my family members and dog. I forced myself to lay in my bed so I wouldn't hurt anyone. I slept for a few hours and woke up suddenly about 2 hrs too early. I had thoughts while laying in my bed that I was going crazy and my thoughts were racing. Later that day as the drug began to wear off I still felt like I was in a haze and my thoughts felt uncontrollable. About 6 o'clock that night I felt really euphoric. I slept the drug off and that was the last I've had of it.

I'm 21 and had two panic attacks in a row and was put on Lexapro, I experienced extereme fatigue, flat afect, sexual dysfunction, but I thought it was the panic symptoms, and my doctor kept increasing my dose because I hadn't hyperventillated since I was put on Lexapro. My grades fell, I became anti-social, and I finally got off and now have to deal with even more crippling withdrawl symptoms, but at least I feel like myself again.

I am taking Lexapro for anxiety and depression and it works great for me. The main side effect I had was insomnia, but I was able to combat that by taking 3mg of melatonin at night. It works like a charm and I don't wake up feeling groggy or drugged the next day. According to my Dr. and my pharmacist there are no interaction precautions, but as always, check with your own Dr. first and make sure he/she says it is ok before taking anything new.

I was battling alcoholism and my doctor put me on 10mg Lexapro, (not a good idea to drink excessive alcohol with Lexapro, I blacked out nightly). I ended up in a detox and treatment center for the booze and they increased my Lex to 20mg daily. For the first time in over 30 years I am now living life drug and alcohol free (+ 15 months)It has balanced out my highs and lows and I think the decision to trade the effects of Lexapro for the hopeless situation I was in before is a no brainer. It's an indiviual choice for anyone but please take in account all the circumstances before making a decision. For me, it was the deadly spiral of alcoholism vs the negative side affects of lexapro. TODAY I am happy, joyous and free with the help of a proven recovery program of which I have incorporated Lexapro.

I am currently weaning off Lexapro. I started Lexapro about 1 year ago on a very small 5mg dose for 4 weeks and then increased to 10mg and have been on 10mg since. When I first started Lexapro, the side effects were horrible as far as not being able to sleep for 2 weeks, literally!! I thought I was just going to collapse one day from exhaustion! However, the side effects were not so unbearable that I stopped, or as bad as Paxil was 5 years ago! I stayed on Lexapro as directed and my doctor gave me sleep aids (of which did not help my insomnia). I am very sensitive to the meds and try not to use them too long. I can't stand the weight gain!! Also, I never realized Lexapro could affect your sex drive until now. I thought it was just me being too tired or in a bad mood; and I just got married in November!!!

For the most part, Lexapro has helped my panic disorder/attacks tremendously although I do feel less motivated than I did before starting the med. I just attributed that to being lazy now since learning how to de-stress myself & relax from my anxiety!!!

I am weaning off Lexapro; I cut down to 5mg daily for 3-4 weeks and now have cut back to 5mg every other day for about 3-4 weeks until my supply is gone, per MD order. I have noticed light headedness, dizziness at times, mood changes,; I get angry easier and cry more often.
I know there are always w/drawal symptoms from any med but if you do it properly, you'll be ok. Side effects will subside. I have what the doctor told me was the worst & most unusual case of anxiety she has ever seen. Anyway, I followed her direction (mainly because I was terrified of everything!) and have always ended up ok. When I went off Paxil 5 years ago, I was off all meds until last year when I had many life changes going on @ one time. Now I am tapering off Lexapro AND stopped birth control after 15 years to start family planning!! Now, you know my hormones are racing and out of whack! I looked up this blog to find out if anyone else was experiencing similar side effects from tapering. After reading, I realize I am not going crazy! All these things I have been feeling are very quite normal!!!

SSRIs have worked wonders for me but everyone is different in how they react & respond to meds. My advice though, because I work in healthcare, don't ever just quit any anti depressant or SSRI cold turkey!!! To me, you are just asking for weird side effects!!Follow your doctor's order and remember that there is no "wonder cure" for anxiety and it may be a long road but you can & will overcome it! And also remember, you know your body & reactions better than any doctor could ever know you!!!!

I am currently weaning off Lexapro. I started Lexapro about 1 year ago on a very small 5mg dose for 4 weeks and then increased to 10mg and have been on 10mg since. When I first started Lexapro, the side effects were horrible as far as not being able to sleep for 2 weeks, literally!! I thought I was just going to collapse one day from exhaustion! However, the side effects were not so unbearable that I stopped, or as bad as Paxil was 5 years ago! I stayed on Lexapro as directed and my doctor gave me sleep aids (of which did not help my insomnia). I am very sensitive to the meds and try not to use them too long. I can't stand the weight gain!! Also, I never realized Lexapro could affect your sex drive until now. I thought it was just me being too tired or in a bad mood; and I just got married in November!!!

For the most part, Lexapro has helped my panic disorder/attacks tremendously although I do feel less motivated than I did before starting the med. I just attributed that to being lazy now since learning how to de-stress myself & relax from my anxiety!!!

I am weaning off Lexapro; I cut down to 5mg daily for 3-4 weeks and now have cut back to 5mg every other day for about 3-4 weeks until my supply is gone, per MD order. I have noticed light headedness, dizziness at times, mood changes,; I get angry easier and cry more often.
I know there are always w/drawal symptoms from any med but if you do it properly, you'll be ok. Side effects will subside. I have what the doctor told me was the worst & most unusual case of anxiety she has ever seen. Anyway, I followed her direction (mainly because I was terrified of everything!) and have always ended up ok. When I went off Paxil 5 years ago, I was off all meds until last year when I had many life changes going on @ one time. Now I am tapering off Lexapro AND stopped birth control after 15 years to start family planning!! Now, you know my hormones are racing and out of whack! I looked up this blog to find out if anyone else was experiencing similar side effects from tapering. After reading, I realize I am not going crazy! All these things I have been feeling are very quite normal!!!

SSRIs have worked wonders for me but everyone is different in how they react & respond to meds. My advice though, because I work in healthcare, don't ever just quit any anti depressant or SSRI cold turkey!!! To me, you are just asking for weird side effects!!Follow your doctor's order and remember that there is no "wonder cure" for anxiety and it may be a long road but you can & will overcome it! And also remember, you know your body & reactions better than any doctor could ever know you!!!!

I think that Lexapro and other SSRI's seem to react differently in some people than others. I have read that it worked great and also that there were severe side effects. What I have witnessed in a friend taking Lexapro:

Extreme anger, Violence, Suicide attempts, Loss of Inhibitions, Emotional "Numbness", Severe Depression, Mania, She could not feel love for her husband, Sexual Promiscuity, No emotions, No Remorse for actions, Inability to cry over serious life issues, Attempted to jump out of a moving car (several times) Obsessive behavior, Doubled her dose, Lost everything.
I have known her my entire life. This did not happen before the medication. When she quit and after some time, She seemd back to herself. A very loving friend and compassionate person.
Be careful before you take medication and do research!

Hi....wondering if anyone can help me.....I have recently met an otherwise wonderful guy...except, he is on a course of Lexapro.....he has had some fairly recent personal trauma....and is on the maximum dose ( I think it is 15mg - two diferent boxes, 1 of each)
I have read so many similar symptoms, and situations in all your stories....and I think maybe this Lexapro will have a worse effect on this nice guy, in the long term!!
I am having a real hard time adjusting to the almost non-existance of sexual contact....
This guy has regular(everyday)bouts of sleppiness....locking himself away in his room....not wanting to do anything....having to over concentrate in completing the most average tasks.....not seeming to care about me, or anything else....though he says it's not "me"...the frustration and anger at the doctor & othe specialists because they can't, or won't tell him "what's wrong with him"....the same frustration & anger, because he wants to get things done, but finds he just can't muster any motivation...
I am soooo sad for him...there is NOTHING(according to him), that I can do to help him....but there must be something....this man is sooooo worth any time it takes me to find him a cure for this......

Can ANYONE help me pleeeeease...I am finding this soooo very hard to deal with....but I will stay by his side as long as it takes, or I can handle it!!!

Any info or reassurance or help will be appreciated more than you can imagine....

P.S....
I am torn between the feeling that, I "should" stop seeing him...to relieve the pressure of him having to deal with, & worry about having me in his life...& what it's doing to me& him(which he does ..alot).................&...............if I DO stop seeing him...that once again, someone has "left" him...and, let him down...which has happened in other times & situations, most of which apparently, have been "female" persons...is this a clue???

I like him a hell of a lot...& don't want to give up on him...he really is a great guy, normally....when he is having a "good" spell...he is awesome...or at least I think so....lol

I forgot to say thanks to you all for your stories...they have helped alot....& thanks in advance for any help or advice..... :))

I have been taking Lexapro just under a year. I slowly increased the dose and I now take 20mg. I've always been an anxious & sort of nervous person and now with getting older I was starting to get bad bouts of pre-menapause. Lexapro has been a wonder drug for me. I got through the initial side affects - no problem!! Life finally seemed awesome... However, the one only down fall - the dreaded weight gain. I've gained about 20 pounds... I'm completely torn and do not know what to do. I don't want to be anxious but I don't want an ugly stomach gut either.. This is a cruel & unusual punishment!!
I wish I knew what to do...

Signed,
Confused & bloated !!

Stacey.....

If this "drug" is working for your phsyc & emotional problems...and I mean really work.....then you need to start focusing on ways to get your wieght down.....ahhhh....like.......EXERCISE......GOOD EATING HABITS.....STAYING POSITIVE.....what else can I say :))

Gettign down on yourself because you now have a weight gain problem, will only cause you the same grief as you were suffering BEFORE you started taking the very drug that has "helped" you.... Do you get it???

Not to mentioned added weight gain from stressing over it......

Don't stress & worry over it......DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT!!!

You go girl!!!!

Thoughts & Hugs..............................SHAZZA

After a couple of very stressful events, a breakup of a long term relationship and then an unexpected layoff in my job of 9 years, I had the most incapacitating depression and anxiety I have ever had. I am usually a person with a very strong zest for life, and I started having strong suicidal thoughts for the first time in my life. Never being more than a social drinker, I then started drinking heavily in an effort to cope. Needless to say, I was pretty alarmed by these changes and decided after talking to my doctor to give Lexapro a try.

Years ago, I had tried Paxil and Zoloft, during some brief periods of acute stress, but stopped taking them after a few days because of nausea and other side effects. As my life situation improved, the depression gradually lifted. I never knew that the emotional disinterest ("numbness") and almost nonexistant libido were side effects of all SSRI's. My doctor told me that Lexapro was more tolerable for some people than other SSRI's. He was right, the nausea, dry mouth, etc, were much more less bothersome. I took 10 mg a day for about 2 months. The emotional blunting probably put a brake on the dangerous aspects of the depression, but ended up leaving me a total zombie, and my libido and ability to orgasm almost disappeared completely. My appetite also decreased, and I had to remind myself to eat sometimes. I also had insomnia, especially early on, and would go days sometimes without being able to sleep at all.

I went off cold turkey and didn't have too bad a time, probably because I was taking a relatively low dose, for a short time period. The worst effects were some very spacey feelings that would last a few seconds (probably a milder version of the electric "zaps" others have described), and some hot flashes, which did cause a panic attack once. Also, my supressed emotions started to come back, and I was quite emotional for a few days, but was glad to actually feel something genuine for a change. By the end of the week, I felt like my old self again, pretty much. My sexual and food appetites returned. I was so relieved!

My life can be stressful at times (whose isn't, right?) and I can feel myself slipping into mild to moderate depression sometimes. There was no way I wanted to go back to antidepressants again, so I started looking for a more holistic, alternative approach. For me, a combination of 200 mg of SAM-e daily, which lifts my mood and gives me energy (without any side effects so far), and a somewhat rigorous program of exercise has helped a lot. I had to start slow, and it took a while, but exercise has worked as good as any medication I've taken. There's nothing like a good endorphin rush!

Granted, some meds work wonders for some people, (it helped to stop the worst of the depression, I'll concede) but I think they are way to overprescribed. This isn't just related to depression, notice how many television commercials there are now for almost every ailment under the sun. Almost anything in life can be solved by taking some pill, if you believe the advertising.

If your depression is mild to moderate, I would try looking into alternatives before considering SSRI's. Of course, it's a very individual process and takes some trial and error.

I always had panic issues, but after I quit smoking my panic attacks got to be overwhelming. I had to take a month off of work FMLA time because I was terrified to leave my house. My doctor first prescribed Prozac for me - it made my anxiety SO much worse. Then I got Remeron - which I now call the hell-drug because of the awful weekend it gave me. I had alot of trouble with psycho-tropic side effects. My doctor finally prescribed me Lexapro, and I was able to deal with the side effects.

I'm on 10mg a day now, and it has given me my life back. I haven't seen any weight gain, haven't had any brain fogginess to speak of, no aggression, I'm perfectly awake during the day - and I can face the day. This drug helped me stop taking Ativan three times a day.

I can't say enough good about Lexapro. The positives FAR outweigh the negatives for me. Strictly speaking, being able to function as normal without worrying about panic attacks is worth the two weeks or so of light side effects I had to go through, and the side effects of this drug have not been nearly as bad as with others.

I imagine when I wean myself off of it, it will be hard - but that's true of any drug.

Anti-depressents are strange - they affect everyone differently. I just hope that everyone gives this one a chance - it does help some people. It gave me hope back where I thought there was none.

Well, I finally had to admit that I needed help and seek professional help for my anxiety/depression. Let me be up front and say that I do not like having to go to the doctor and even less taking pills. Since this is an informational blog, I thought that I should start at the beginning of my Lexapro experience.

First the background...
I have always been described as a very happy, positive, and upbeat person. My wife said that one of the reasons that she married me was my joy and wonder for the small details of life.

To be honest, I never really appreciated my 'disposition' until the last 4 months. My father has had a 'heart condition' for the last 20 years, but 10-11 months ago his condition was reclassified as 'congestive heart failure'. His (and correspondingly, my mother's) persistent reduction in quality of life and increase in depression is proving difficult to handle. We were also hit by the hurricanes of 2004 and have yet to be able to get the contractors and insurance company to 'fix' our house and property. In addition, my wife and I are the sole providers for my parents and her mother, and I found out last Thanksgiving that there is a good chance that I will lose my job before the end of 2006. My wife worries enough about our ability to care for our parents as it so; therefore, I have not told her about possibly losing my job.

My 'symptoms' have started to intensify and multiply. I have been having a severe problem in sleeping (getting to sleep, quaility of sleep, waking up early). I am very anxious throughout the day for no immediate reason. My wife and others have started mentioning that I have 'nervous' shaking of my feet, legs, and/or hands at various times. I have experienced several episodes of sheer panic and desire for 'flight' lately. Increasingly I feel that I have no control over the events or direction of my life. I've been having bad headaches lately. I've had times when I was eating where I could not physically swallow my food due to what felt like spasms in my throat and/or esophagus. I have not had suicidal thoughts, but I have been increasingly thinking that it would be better to be dead. I don't want to get up in the morning. I feel sad and weepy most of the time. I used to enjoy going out to dinner, watching movies, and listening to / playing music, and working on my computer; but now, I could care less. Nothing seems to please or satisfy me. Plus, the worst part of all is the fact that the true joy of my life, my marriage, is totally falling apart due to my 'funk' as my wife calls it. We increasingly argue and fight. We used to argue about my wife's lack of sexual desire, but now, she's the one complaining about our lack of intimate activity.

Now the treatment...
I just got back from my latest appointment with my doctor where she prescribed Lexapro (10 mg per day at night) and Sonata (10 mg before bedtime as needed). After reading the blogs and webpostings, I am very concerned about the effects of the drug, but I am getting desperate for something to help. I hope for the best and will post of my progress.

I was told to take 10 m of lexaprp amd quit it make me feel terrible. I take only 5 m now and skip weekends. It is a holiday from the stuff I am feeling better now.

I have been on lexapro for the last 6 months with fantastic results at only 5mg a day. However the sexual side effects were really bothering me so my doc suggested that I switch to Aurorix 150mg. I have been on it for 2 wks and yes my libido returned to normal but I have got insomnia, occasional dizzyness and I have been teary and anxious. I am starting back on lexapro tomorrow. I have tried many other antidepressants and so far lexapro has by far been the best for me.

I have been taking LEXAPRO for 8 months now. It has allowed me to react differently to issues that might arise in my life. In other words I don't feel it is impossible to solve any issue in my life. Before, I would feel like too much was going on at once but didn't seem to be able to figure out how to normally go about it.
My experience has been good. I am curious to see if my new learned behavior will remain after I stop taking Lexapro.

I started taking Lexapro almost a year ago. Can't live without! I have been on Wellbutrin and another depression type medication(don't remember but not Prozac or Zoloft) Anyway, thus far,it has been the best medication treatment yet in controlling my depression and my anger. For many years, I have experienced problems with extreme moods, anger, aggressive behavior, and erratic reactions to extreme life events that cause me to over-react to situations that I later find embarrassing and sometimes self injury (Ei...if I was having a very bad day and something happen that was out of my control and turned out negative, I would beat my fist against stearing wheels of cars, doors, throw things which will hurt my hands are cause destruction)I have been diagnosis with Attention Deficit Disorder (and my diagnosis is real!) but since I have been taking Lexapro, I am able to control those impulses. I can now calmly think through situations rationally. I can now exist with a controlling anal retentive husband. Okay, so nobody is perfect. I wish there was a magic medication for that!? Just kidding.
However, I recently have discovered after being on Lexapro for several months, that my sexual libido is almost non-existant. I know that I am now in my 40's but I was wondering if other individuals who are also taking Lexapro have been experiencing the same side-effects and does anyone have any suggestions to remedy this problem?

Reading these comments has scared me to death. I thought I was having problems and see that others have far worse problems than me. I just have started taking Lexapro and only after reading the comments do I feel uneasy. I dont know if I should continue taking the durg or not. I have seen far more negative comments than positive ones. This could be that only the people who have side effects or negative comments come to these sites and the others like myself that would like to have some useful information posted leave positive comments. I'll keep you informed after a few weeks of the drug. If my ejaculation is prolonged and that is the only side effect I have then I may be misarble, but my wife will be happy. She would like for sex to last longer than 30 seconds anyway.

Three years ago, I was prescribed Effexor XR for depression and anxiety at age 43. The effexor worked great for about a year and a half, at which time I noticed its efficacy decreased. I weaned myself off of the effexor, which was a mistake as well as a major feat because the withdrawl symptoms include severe dizziness with head turning. The psychiatrist then prescribed Lexapro. She was very enthusiastic about it, stating that she had seen excellent results with patients she had prescribed it for thus far. Ten mg, twenty mg , thirty mg--she kept bumping it up because I felt no improvement with depression and anxiety. At forty mg, a realitvely high dose, I felt postive and motivated with little anxiety. I noticed frequent and uncomfortable periods of heavy sweating, which first I attributed to premenopausal symptoms. I gained 35 pounds for the first time in my life, with little change in diet--also, I believed at the time, to be the hormonal swings of premenopause. I felt that after six to eight months Lexapro began to weaken in its effective for my anxiety--or the feelings of dread I experienced with returning phone calls, emails, going to work etc. This last month , as with the last several months ---the
" bad" week of "PMS" symptoms I routinely experienced now left me depressed to the point of sleeping in bed for a week.The remaining weeks of the month I was functional but feeling no better than if I had not been taking Lexapro at all. I also experienced headaches and increased blood pressure--probably the headaches the warning sign of the high blood pressure. Previously, my blood pressure was always low. Ironically, I am a psychiatric nurse and ER nurse of twenty years, and I notice the trend appears to be that the doctors will heavily prescribe the "newest" pharmacudical discovery in the hopes that it is an advance over the available current medications. This was the case with Prozac, which , by the way, I never see prescribed now at the facility where I work. Lexapro, according to most of the patients with chronic depression that I counsel, appears to do little if anything to alleviate their sypmtoms. For the mildly depressed or newly depressed, the Lexapro appears to be more successful, and has less sexual side effects. This is only what my patients have told me and what I have experienced, so take it for what its worth. . I revisted my doctor and requested to be placed back on the effexor. My advice to any one who does well on a medication for at least a year and then , despite doseage changes, notices a return of symptoms---talk to your doctor. Often , one may grow to tolerate a certain medication and need a respite for a period of time from it. If it worked well for you in the past , you may be able to return to it after your body loses its tolerance. If you experience continued depression or anxiety despite medication, don't hesitate to call your psychiatrist and tell him/ her. Your subjective feedback is the most important in factor in how they treat you. They are not annoyed by this. In fact, they determine how mentally healthy a person is by their willingness to participate in their own treatment and their incitefullness at being able to report symptoms. Don't wean yourself off any medication without the doctors assistance--although I did it once I know it was very foolish and will not try it again. Some medications, if stopped too abruptly can cause more problems than you will be prepared to deal with. Do not regulate your own medications--do not assume if you are having a bad day that an extra pill will provide extra relief. Also, enough cannot be said about proper diet and excercise. Avoid excessive refined sugars, processed foods with chemicals, alchohol, caffiene --and take a multi vit stress tab does really help. Simply excercise such as walking will increase all the feel good hormones --although when severely depressed even walking for excercise can appear to be overwhelming. Finally, if your family doctor feels that you are depressed, please request or seek a referal to a psychiatrist. (not psychologist, not family doctor.) Even though there are some excellent family practioners , their experience in psych is limited to the rotation that they did as residents. I cannot tell you how many family doctors I have seen make misdiagnosis and/ or poor choices in prescribing psychiatric medication. The family doctor can and should rule out any physcical cause of depression by a thorough exam and blood work. Low thyroid levels are an example of what can be amiss, causing depression like symptoms. The psychiatrist is the specialist and it is your brain, so make sure you get an expert--that is why he is there in the first place. God Bless us all, and thanks to God for the doctors and medications so that we do have hope

I started taking Lexapro about 1 week ago, I decided to begin medication because of GAD (social anxiety, negative dwelling and anger) and mild OCD (obsessive compulsive "eye blinking", muscle tensing and other socially awkward "ticks"). I had been considering taking antidepressants for about 1 year, but I have held off because of my faith in therapy and my mistrust of prescription medication. Although therapy has been very helpful, my issues continue to paralyze me and hold me back in life. So with the approval of my therapist, I started the medicine.
My first experience was very negative, my doctor prescribed me 20mg, which was way to high to start with and I got very sick. I called him the next day to tell him about the intense side effects and he said that he made a mistake and that I should start out with just half a pill (10mg). I have been taking it ever since and the physical side effects are minimal. At first I had a few nights of restless sleep which passed after 3 or 4 days. Other side effects included, sexual (common, but very mild), daziness and most concerning for me is the feeling of being numb and emotionless.
I assume that most of the side effects will go away with time and even if they don't, they are mild and manageable, except the emotionless feeling, which I am very concerned about. I have struggled with having a hard time connecting with my emotions for a long time (well before the medication) and the lexapro seems to be intensifying that struggle. I feel numb all the time now and although I haven't obsessively dwelled on negativity, felt anxious, guilt or shame since the medication started affecting me, I also haven't been able to feel happy, excited, sad or anything, just bland and empty. Perhaps, this is another side effect that will pass with time, however, based on a few testimonials of those who have taken the drug, I fear that the effects may last. I'd be interested in hearing other's experiences about this, especially from those who have struggled with an emotional disconnect before taking the drug and how they overcame it while on the drug.
I would also be interested in hearing about the experiences of those who have taken lexapro for OCD because so far it has only slightly alleviated my OCD, I still have many of the same addictive urges that I had before but, again I have only taken the medication for 1 week now and am still on 10mg.

Any feedback would be appreciated!
Thanks!

My wife take this drug - Lexapro since mid -2005 , she seems managable -stable , I would say almost as normal [heathy ]. as a husband , I need not worry much. I leave her alone to manage my small family since she had post natal-depressions in 2003 August.
Thanks GOD

Links between alcohol and the drug Lexapro usage: I've experienced blackouts while taking Lexapro and drinking alcohol. This is not medical advice, just my recent experience. Check with your physician for all the answers pertaining to your medical case. FDA approved labeling states that Lexapro may impair your judgment, thinking, or motor skills; frequent side effects include amnesia and confusion, as well as otherside effects.

Prozac seems longer lasting to me but dangerous; Lexapro a little less so it seems; alcohol and both drugs will compete in your bodies metabolism within the liver. It is known that use of more than one drug, for example, alcohol and a benzodiazepine, or other inhibitor-type drugs, can result in the alcohol metabolism being delayed, with the result that more alcohol is circulating in the body for a longer period of time than would be the case if alcohol alone were in the system.

So, logically, combining alcohol with drugs like the newer Lexapro or Prozac may worsen the effects listed in the first sentence above. There is reported information that combining alcohol and these drugs, perhaps in higher amounts than prescribed, may cause blackouts and other problems, such as impairing decision making functions to. However, most of the information I have seen and read suggests that for most people (remember people can have markedly different sensitivities to drug effects), drinking while on these depression drugs has and can pose many health problems.  

Be very careful in taking this drug and drinking any type of alchohol. It can be very dangerous. In my case, the drug has caused me to be more irritated easier, and to say and do things that I am sure are not within my nature. Including alienating and saying harsh things to my direct family during a period recently that I blacked out during and have no recollection of ever happening. It also appears that hard, sharp and loud sounds cause many problems as well since I've been on this drug for three weeks now. Also, a prickling sensation appears to happen at different points on my body at any given time throughout the day without reason. Short-term memory seems to be less effective, as well as period of diorientation due to momentary amnesia.

after taking lexapro for three years i felt worse than ever i gained 30 pounds in three years. depression is worse.i am constantly hot.i was on 20mg.for these three years when my m.d.told me to increse dose to 30mg. than up to 40mg.6lbs. in 2 weeks.this is with hardly any appetite.i was hostile and unable to sleep.my m. d.told me to go off of lexapro 40mg.to 30mg.20mg. then10mg. needless to say i felt horrible dizzy,nauseated,i lost my car one day .i started seeing things that weren't there.so after telling my pharmacist he told me everyone is different and to wean off slower.my husband who isn't an m.d. set up a schedule off the medication so i will wean offat a slower pace taking two weeks.its been almost a month now and i still feel fuzzy and dizzy.the weight gain is slow to come off.i will never take another anti depressant again.victoria

after taking lexapro for three years i felt worse than ever i gained 30 pounds in three years. depression is worse.i am constantly hot.i was on 20mg.for these three years when my m.d.told me to increse dose to 30mg. than up to 40mg.6lbs. in 2 weeks.this is with hardly any appetite.i was hostile and unable to sleep.my m. d.told me to go off of lexapro 40mg.to 30mg.20mg. then10mg. needless to say i felt horrible dizzy,nauseated,i lost my car one day .i started seeing things that weren't there.so after telling my pharmacist he told me everyone is different and to wean off slower.my husband who isn't an m.d. set up a schedule off the medication so i will wean offat a slower pace taking two weeks.its been almost a month now and i still feel fuzzy and dizzy.the weight gain is slow to come off.i will never take another anti depressant again.victoria

I am a female who has been on Lexapro for more than 2 years now. I combined it with Wellbutrin. I have been taking 30mg of Lexapro and 150 mg of Wellbutrin.

Psychologically, it helped me a great deal! I no longer had suicidal thoughts, could focus better and felt overall more stable with my moods.
The down side is that over time, I gained 30 pounds! I did not even consider that it may be the medication because I turned 40 last year. I figured my metabolism had solely changed due to getting older. I did not consider that it could be the medications until I deliberatley treid to get back into shape. After consciously eating well and working out again, I could not drop the weight! I bike 30 -35 minutes per session,train with weights and walk lot. I found that after relaly tryinbg to get back into shape, I am still the same pant size a year ago (2 sizes up from my usual size 6).
I decided to go off the two meds, take natural herbs and have acupuncture.
I am down to 20 mg of lex a day with one tablet of wellbutrin (150mg).The have had headaches and have felt easily aggitated. I feel wired, have more energy and do not desire sleep as much. (I was leeping way to much!)
I have already seen a change in my metabolism! I feel thinner already!
Even if it was water weight, I feel lighter and more confident that I will find my size 6 body again.
No matter what the pharmaceutical companies tell you, you can definently gain weight with Lexipro and Wellbutrin!

I am a female who has been on Lexapro for more than 2 years now. I combined it with Wellbutrin. I ook 30mg of Lexapro and 150 mg of Wellbutrin.

Psychologically, it helped me a great deal! I no longer had suicidal thoughts, could focus better and felt overall more mentally stable.
The down side is that over time, I gained 30 pounds! I did not even consider that it might be the medications because I turned 40 last year. I figured my metabolism had simply changed due to getting older. I did not consider that it could be the medications until I deliberatley tried to get back into shape through diet and exercise. After consciously eating well and working out again, I could not drop the weight! I bike 30 -35 minutes per session,train with weights and walk lot. I found that after really tryinbg to get back into shape, I am still the same pant size I was a year ago (2 sizes up from my usual size 6).

I decided to go off the two meds, take natural herbs and have acupuncture.
I am down to 20 mg of lex a day with one tablet of wellbutrin (150mg).This past week, I have had headaches and have felt easily aggitated. I feel wired, have more ,and do not desire sleep as much. (I was sleeping way too much anyway!)

I have already seen a change in my metabolism! I feel thinner already! My stomach is flatter and the extra flab on my hips has gone down. (I had gained fat on the meds where I had never had it before!)
Now I feel lighter and more confident that I will find my size 6 body again.
No matter what the greedy pharmaceutical companies tell you, you can definently gain weight with Lexipro and Wellbutrin!

I just went to the doctor today. It was the hardest thing for me to do. No one ever wants to admit to their self or anyone else that they are no longer in control of their thoughts, feelings, reactions, moods or. I have been putting it off for at least 2 years. I am glad I finally got up the courage to go. I was prescribed Lexapro. After reading more horible comments Vs. good about this drug on this website, I am now having second thoughts. I am going to sleep on this. Should I atleast give it a try? Is it worth it? My doctor seemed to think this drug would work the best for me. Any Thoughts??

I have been on Lexapro for about 2 weeks. My family doctor prescribed it to me and reffered me to a psychiatrist. He decided since I was already on it I should try it for a few more weeks before we tried something else. I suffer from anxiety and get many panic attacks. I have found that the lexapro is working. It's like I have been calmed down. The only things I have noticed so far were dry mouth, trouble staying asleep and leg twitching. I find if I take a xanax the twitching stops and it helps me get a good nights sleep. The twitching just started a week ago. I was thinking maybe it's just my body getting used to the medication. I was also wondering if anyone else has had any twitching in their legs and if so when it subsided if at all.

Well, its my second day on 10mg of Lexapro. After reading the comments below I am scared to continue as I have had near fatal reactions due to these types of medications in the past. (anaphylaxsis, extrapirmidal)

It wasn't an easy choice to start with Lexapro. I am stubborn and didn't want to take medication.

I have been extremely depressed and suffer severe anxiety and panice attacks on a regular basis. I just am at the point where I can't get anything accomplished and think about driving off bridges all day. SO, I decided to take the Lexapro.

Side effects so far- yesterday was the first dose- had nervous spasms and tics that were short-lived but frightening. Also, felt out of it all day. On a positive note, my anxiety seemed to be a lot better.

My depression, anxiety, and panic attacks are causing a great degree of stress on our relationship. I am at the point where I would do anything not to feel this way anymore. I just want to get better.

Now I'm worried that some of these side effects might be on the horizon.

I think that medication work for some people, but I may stop talking this. I have only taken two doses- one 10mg yesterday and one 10mg this morning (before reading this.) Will I have side effects after only two days?

Maybe I should talk with my doctor and start a regular exercise program. All I have to do is stop worrying about leaving the house and everything else that is racing through my mind on a daily basis.

I've been taking Lexapro 10mg daily for about 9 months now and it has been a life saver. (My doctor prescribed it for anxiety relief) My moods are much more even and I haven't had a single panic attack since starting it.

However, the first few days of Lexapro made me dizzy and nauseous to the verge of puking (though I never did). My sex drive disappeared, though later returned, and it now takes me a long time to finish...some might find that a positive...

Also, thanks to a mixup at the pharmacy and an out of town business trip, I got to experience the withdrawl symptoms. My temper became hairtrigger, I felt dizzy, and had difficulty concentrating.

I love what Lexapro has done for me, but I'm very weary of the withdrawl effects now.

This is a great drug!! Started at 20mg and it was WAY TOO MUCH. Dropped my dosage down to 5mg and it has worked wonders for my anxiety and depression. On 20mg I felt drunk all day, my house could be on fire and I would not have cared. Lower dosage allowed me to experience "normal" levels of anxiety while allowing me to brush off trivial things like traffic congestion & rude people. I hate the fact that I do need to take meds but after 7 weeks on this drug I realize that I have seriously been missing out on life. Overall positive experience.

I've been using Lexapro (10mg) to treat postpartum depression and it has done wonders for me. I had a few minor of side effects: nausea on the first day, it's been making me a bit sleepy during the day and it seems to have impacted my short term memory. Fortunately it was a small price to pay considering that before taking it I was in tears a few times per day, had frequent suicidal thoughts, etc. It's now been a year since I started taking it. I am in the process of cutting back on it very gradually. I got really scared of coming off it after reading some negative feedback on the net, so I've been decreasing the dosage by 2.5mg every forthnight. I am on 2.5mg at the moment. I still feel great psychologically, which is fantastic! I had a few days when I wasn't feeling like myself and a bit of a headache, but that was all.
Hope this helps...
Good luck everyone!

Hi, I'm a 31-year old male, and took Lexapro for 7 days, prescribed for intense anxiety issues. I'm now in day 3 of not taking the drug, it made me feel unreal, tired, numb, confused, very edgy with twitching and altered perception and eye movements, and I couldn't ejaculate by day 2. I still feel out of it, but I'm not certain how long it takes the drug to leave the body. Do not take Lexapro with alcohol, I think it really made my side-effects worse by leaps and bounds. I'm not going to retake it regardless, I'd rather find other ways to deal with my anxiety.

I picked up my prescription yesterday of Lexapro (10mg). I've been doing my research and I'm willing to give it a try to see what happens. What I'm afraid of are the possible irreversible effects of the drug. I had a friend who was institutionalized and eventually committed suicide so I'm weary of anything that changes your brain chemistry. I called my doctor's office and they gave me text book answers and didn't sound very familiar with the side effects at all. I'm so glad I found this forum. I'll keep you all updated on my progress. Good luck to all of you.

I've been reading the pros&cons of this drug with much interest.Even the positive feedback is rather tepid and faint in praise, so I must conclude this is a drug to be approached carefully. I have been taking CIPRALEX 10mg(the European variant of this drug)since Sept 05, it takes the edge off depression,makes you go to work which is what it's suposed to do...but it does generate a strange kind of apathy in that you don't care much one way or another.The side effects I encountered preety much follow the general pattern: some weight gain 3kgs,vivid dreams but I began to have a persistent headache-twice a migraine,something I have not had before. Libido was not reduced but orgasm is certainly difficult. I decided to go off the drug suddenly and the reaction was sinister:horrifying nightmares, extreme tiredness, de-personalisation and a zomboid state. I went back on the stuff again as it was really awful.But in the meantime, I think I may have come across a very dangerous side-effect: I was having a routine health check with the occupational nurse and she discovered my blood pressure had rocketed.I have always had excellent blood pressure and nothing else in my life-style has changed since September except taking cipralex.This might explain the migraines tiredness and vastly elevated blood pressure.The doctor says no it can't be, but then he probably gets sme rake-off for prescribing it! I am reducing the dose over a fortnight or so and will have the blood pressure monitored, I am not overweight nor am I yet 50 so I am highly suspicious of this drug as I believe it is creating hypertension. I would be interested if others have similar expweiences, after all, you Americans are litigation enthusiasts we can't do that in Europe, so perhaps there could be grounds for action? In the meantime, I strongly advise getting off these types of drug as they could be brain poison disguised as 'medication' We need more feedback.

I have been taking lexapro for approxiametly 2 weeks. Started having nausea, headaches, and fatigue from the get go. This did resolve in a few days. I started feeling better around one week after starting treatment. Then I went nuts about a week and a half into the treatment. I called my doctor and she said That I was manic-depressive and I was experiecing a manic episode. She said that I had to be put on a mood stabalizer . I am now taking Lexapro along with Depekote ER . I am very fatigued today with some nauseas. I sure hope I start feeling better soon. I am devasted that I have manic depression .

After a couple weeks of stomachaches, the only effect the drug had and continues to have on me is tiredness. I think.

I've just started taking Lexapro for Anxiety (1 week) and I'm feeling more anxious than ever. I also have irrational fears that are getting worse. I don't even want to leave my house now. Will these symptoms get better or do I need to get off of this medication?

I read some very disturbing articles about Lexapro, and was very hesitant to take the medication. So I just want to share my positive story with Lexapro.
A couple of years ago I had a major shift in my life which lead to extreme depression and anxiety. It was one of those things that just would not go away. I woke up in a sweat, my mind churning over all the possibilities of how things could have been different if I’d done this, or that. The anxiety stayed with me every day like a dark cloud, telling me all the bad things that could happen to me in every situation. Feelings of worthlessness and hopelessness lingered constantly. By the end of the day I was just exhausted and panic stricken. I recognized the feeling of depression/anxiety but never to this extent. Finally thoughts of suicide came into my head “it would be so easy just to jump off here, end it”. It was then that I realized I needed help. I told my doctor I think I’m depressed and need something to help me get through the day, he gave me samples of Lexapro. When I got home I sat at my computer and found out as much as I could about antidepressants and Lexapro. I was disturbed to read all the serious problems and side effects from people who had taken these medications. Needless to say my Lexapro sat deep in my desk drawer, I left it for a while and pondered my decision. Basically I was terrified of something even worse happening to me mentally. A few weeks later I’d had enough of the mental torment and suicidal thoughts, “What could be worse than this!” I said to myself. I tore open the Lexapro pack and started taking 10mg nightly.
This is the part I had not read in any Lexapro letters on the internet. After the second day the medication made me tired, lethargic and overall dopey. I slept 12 hours straight every night and woke in a daze. I drifted through my day. I felt very relaxed an strangely at ease with the world. I felt NO feeling of depression of suicide, and my dark thoughts just disappeared? All gone? My mind would not allow me to go there, the Lexapro took over and eased me into everything at a pace I could process, which was actually much more accurate and efficient than ever before. Yes, my sex drive had depleted somewhat but I was more focused on other things. I felt my mind and body become stronger, more focused, more capable and ready to deal with big issues that I’d avoided in the past. Six months later Lexapro became part of me everyday life, I even thought about not EVER coming off the medication. If you’re taking Lexapro I strongly suggest you go to a therapist during your term, and don’t leave anything out in your sessions. This medication can lead you to places where you really don’t care about things as much as you did in the past, or at least it seems to everyone else? It is so important to know who you really are to know how to fix yourself, so divulge all your discoveries to your therapist. A year later I thought I could fly on my own, my therapist said you can always go back on the medication. I thought I’ll give it a shot. I tapered off over a period of 4 weeks, cutting up my pills in half first, then quarters. Finally I was “me”!!!!
I told my partner 3 months later and she said ‘You mean this is really you!” and much to surprise she embraced me tight and kissed me over and over again and welcomed me home.
Lexapro saved my life, I wish we’d had this medication when I was a child. Whatever it is they’re selling, it worked for me.

I just started taking this 3 days ago, 10 mg. Feel lethargic and want to sleep all day. Feel unmotivated and this is very concerning because I have to work everyday. I am thinking that I will stop this now after reading all of the comments here.

I have been taking lexapro for about 6 weeks along with Depekote for manic depression. At first I wasn't able to reach orgasm, but now the orgasms are better than ever. So just hang in there. You will be able to have orgasms soon. Good luck.

Some common side effects that I experieced taking 15 mg of lexapro were naseau, headache, and dry mouth. This went away in about one week. The sexual side effect ( unable to climax ) took about one month. I have rapid cycling manic depression and take this med with depekote. I would recommend it because it doesn't have anticholinergic side effects.

I took Lexapro in 2003. I was dealing with post partum after having twins. I could tell a difference and I liked it, but my clothes were getting tighter and tighter until only two things fit, my two pairs of overalls! At only 2 months on Lexapro, I had gained 20 pounds!! I called the doctor and they did not believe me. So, I went in, was weighed and sure enough, 20 pounds. Since then, I have continued to gain some more weight. I put it on on my belly. It is so ugly.
I had a lot of gas and I know that is from my metabolism slowing down. I learned about that during pregnancy.

Please be aware that weight gain is VERY SERIOUS and VERY LIKElY on Lexapro. If you take it and see a few pounds come on, tell your doc you want to stop. They may dismiss it, but you will be the one stuck with the weight. I think it has had a permenant affect on my metabolism. I am struggeling so hard to lose weight. This has gone on for 3 years. It is terrible and I really hate LEXAPRO and I think that they know the drug causes serious weight gain, but they don't care. They should have a campaign slogan to be "FAT & HAPPY!".

Laxapro and OCD

I started Lexapro about 6 months ago and the gradual change in my doom-and-gloom outlook was noticeably better. My wife say that dealing with me, has become a much more pleasant experience, and I am far less grouchy. Grouchy is my middle name, but now I’m more like Mr. Happy Go Lucky. The truth is that I frown less and say more positive things while on Lexapro. Not that I was a miserable pile before that.

I am aware that some people can get worse on Lexapro. That may be the result of their particular brain chemistry plus their ego and inner-self coming out, but for the most part the drug will certainly shift your composure one way or another. Up or Down, or even a simple “tilt” for some, while for others a complete “upside-down” effect.

For example, who you are when you get drunk is the real you coming out, weather good or bad. Some people start to sing, while others want to fight for no logical reason. The same goes for Lexapro. Someone who becomes an uninhibited degenerate, from a previous church-going Sunday school teacher, may seen shocking, but that’s more likely who they really were under the surface. The old hidden self, come out. It’s great having a chemical to blame when your real ego comes out to play, or, God forbid, if a killer inside is let loose. The Lexapro might shift you up, or down, or free you up to not feel responsible for what your ego always looks forwards to carry out.

For me, Lexapro has helped my fastidious OCD become less important. In fact I was shocked to see that I had spent about a week without attacking the little bottle of rubbing alcohol that I had obsessively carried, to use on my hands and face when I go out in public. (You should try it some time, the germ free clean feeling is great!!) I was also surprised to see that a nicer me seemed to come out, although I was already considered a generally grouchy but ethical guy to begin with, the Lexapro just made me less, how shall I say, “Watch out for that hazardous tiny thing that can utterly destroy your life! Mr. Safety”, kind of guy.

(No, I really mean Mr. Ultra safety. I would see potential hazards in any relaxing day at the beach, envisioning Tsunami’s long before the Indonesia quake. That event only solidified my quest for obsessive safety. I was, in fact, for a long while, obsessed with scientific Chaos Theory. Everywhere I looked, any small thing had the potential to wreak havoc if left unchecked. Lexapro changed that. )

The trick is to find out which direction you go, up or down, tilt or upside-down. For example, when my first bottle of Lexapro ran out, the Pharmacist gave me Prozac, saying it worked the same. Wrong! The effects of Prozac were the opposite. It was a big UPSIDE-DOWN effect. Irrational ticks made worse by itching and more frowning, followed by, you guessed it, thoughts of “That looks dangerous. I better get the hell out of here!”

Once back on Lexapro (sure sex was a little affected) the results were a better outlook from my typical over-analytical OCD self.

I am so horny I can't stand it. All I can think about is sex, sex, sex, all day and night. I have been taking lexapro for 2months along with depekote for manic depression. I am not for sure what is going on. I have turned into a sex addict. Is anybody else experiecing increased libido????

I have had some disturbing character side effects from talking Lexapro. Can anyone give me sites and information on similar side effects?

I have been on lexipro about a month and a half. I have a headache most of the time. Recently my face swelled up and my entire body is one big itch!! Any one itchy out there?

I have been prescribed 10mg/day cipralex (lexipro) for anxiety, but have not taken it yet, despite getting the Rx filled. I have never taken an SSRI before. For the last 10 weeks I have been going through an extremely difficult and emotional time with my boyfriend. Basically he left our home (a total shock to me) and is staying with his parents while we attend couples counseling and work on some issues. I have been hanging on for 10 weeks, but the anxiety over the uncertain outcome of the relationship is really interfering with my ability to function at times. I have two children (not his) who need me to be a constant in this diffcult time. I have read so much over the last 24 hrs about lexapro, about 50/50 good and bad. The problem is the bad things people have reported are pretty darn bad. Scary bad. Now I'm wondering if I should try St. John's Wort to start with instead??

MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN PLACED ON LEXAPRO.
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR PI TODAY AT WORK. SHE HASN'T BEEN DRINKING. THE PD SAID "SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR HER BEHAVING AS IF SHE HAD BEEN. CAN LEXAPRO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF REACTION.

MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN PLACED ON LEXAPRO.
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR PI TODAY AT WORK. SHE HASN'T BEEN DRINKING. THE PD SAID "SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR HER BEHAVING AS IF SHE HAD BEEN. CAN LEXAPRO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF REACTION.

MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN PLACED ON LEXAPRO.
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR PI TODAY AT WORK. SHE HASN'T BEEN DRINKING. THE PD SAID "SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR HER BEHAVING AS IF SHE HAD BEEN. CAN LEXAPRO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF REACTION.

MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN PLACED ON LEXAPRO.
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR PI TODAY AT WORK. SHE HASN'T BEEN DRINKING. THE PD SAID "SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR HER BEHAVING AS IF SHE HAD BEEN. CAN LEXAPRO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF REACTION.

MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN PLACED ON LEXAPRO.
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR PI TODAY AT WORK. SHE HASN'T BEEN DRINKING. THE PD SAID "SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR HER BEHAVING AS IF SHE HAD BEEN. CAN LEXAPRO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF REACTION.

MY DAUGHTER HAS RECENTLY BEEN PLACED ON LEXAPRO.
SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR PI TODAY AT WORK. SHE HASN'T BEEN DRINKING. THE PD SAID "SHE WAS ARRESTED FOR HER BEHAVING AS IF SHE HAD BEEN. CAN LEXAPRO CAUSE THIS TYPE OF REACTION.

I have been sitting here reading about all of you. I wish I had a list of all the drugs I have tryed over the last four years. And still we are going to try a new one on my next visit. I am on cymbalta and Depakote. Cymbalta makes me very ugly. However right now I'm taking it every other day and seems to do the trick. The Depakote that I take for anxiety well that just leaves a bad salty taste in my mouth. Its can just consume me some days. I try not to think of it but when you go to get a drink of water and it taste like salt thats when I call it quits. I do think we all need to take care of ourselves and keep a blog on how your doing. I do have a list of all the drugs I have been on but that would be too time consumming to write. However I sympathize with all of you. None of us want this and sometimes it feels like nothing is going to help that we'r just lost causes. I hate nothing more than to keep trying this and that. I have tremors from abilify (involuntary movements) they are in my mouth and it looks like I am chewing gum all the time and lip smacking. I had this for a year. Their are law suits against this and I do have a lawyer who will take my case. But ya know what I don't think I have the energy or give a shit about going through all that crap. I do well to function everyday. I have lost all friends. People just don't understand how much you really need them and what do they do just drop you off their list.
I really pray and hope we can all find our way. And be whole and well again.

Too the lady that had a problem with her daughter at school. I'm not sure if lexapro can make a person at that way or not. But for sure it can effect everyone differently. I would check with her doctor. And are you sure shes taking it every day and not skipping doses. I took lexapro for a short time I believe it made me irritable. Didn't take it for long. I am not one to put up with side effects. I am probably my phyciatrist worst night mare. From what I can remember without looking, I'v been on paxil, prozac (forget that one), celexa which I loved but didn't seem to last with me. I'v tryed effexor. I do take xanax which helps me alot. I'v tryed neurontin, Lithium, wellbutrin, topamax,zyprexa,Abilify,carbamazepine, Trileptel,citalopram,paroxetine,amantadine.benztropine,I have been on so many phycotic meds and atidepressents. I couldn't tell you what is good and what isn't. alot of them are weight gainers especially the zyprexa that one is a killer for that. I resently sent my doctor a letter and asked him if he would kindly go over my file before our next visit to see if we can really come up with a solution. I don't want any mouth taste show up , or weight gainer, or tremors. So what that leaves I have no idea. i did tell him I realize I'm not his only patient but I am really concerned about all these drugs out there. yada yada yada. I was nice about it. But sometimes you have to watch out for yourself. these doctors see so many people each day. Its almost like when you walk out of his office he doesn't think of you again till you walk back in.
So take care and I hope your daughter is fine.

I am on day 3 of taking lexapro at 10mg. My doctor told me to take it in the morning, so I don't have any problems sleeping. Usually I wake up happy and energetic and never ever want to take a nap, but ever since my husband has been deployed (Iraq) I seem to only want to sleep. I have a 2 1/2 year old daughter and I was feeling that she was suffering from my laziness. It was all I could do not to take a nap everytime she did. I would sleep for 10 hours and still feel like I didn't sleep. Already after 3 days I feel A LOT BETTER. It was this morning that I felt nearly normal when I woke up at 6am, before I had been sleeping until 8:30am. I do kind of have dry mouth, other than that I feel great. I don't know about sexual side effects yet, I guess it don't really care since my husband is gone.
I was really scared to go on anything, I am usually quite agains it, but it seems to be helping.

I am on my second day with Lexapro and believe I will not take it in the morning. I think this drug is too strong (10 mg) for the issues I was having. My stomach is aching, all sound seems magnified, and my eyes are perpetually dilated. I am tense, jaw clenching, and nervous.
The last thing I want to do is gain weight, reading that here was the clincher. Talk about courting a depression - nothing like 10 pounds to put you in a fresh rut. My guess is that the doctors are not as educated about this as we trust them to be.

I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT THE HARM OF THESE MIND ALTERING DRUGS. FORTUNATELY I DON'T TAKE THEM. MY WIFE WHOM I WAS WITH FOR THIRTY ONE YEARS TOOK THEM AND DIED AS A RESULT. THEY TRIED TO GET ME TO TAKE THEM (LEXAPRO)BUT I DEALT WITH THE UPS AND DOWNS AND I'M OK NOW. I KNOW THE FEELING OF DEPRESSION; ITS TERRIBLE; IT LASTED FOR ABOUT SIX MONTHS. I CONDITIONED MYSELF IN MY MIND AND CHAMGED MY THOUGHTS; IT WORKED. I LOST A SON 8 YEARS AGO; HE WAS 11 YEARS OLD. THAT WAS WHEN MY WIFE BECAME DEPRESSED. 18 MONTHS AGO THAY PUT HER ON LEXAPRO AND SHE KILLED HERSELF. I WATCHED THE SIDE EFFECTS SLOWLY CHANGE HER PHYSICALLY AND EMOTIONALLY. I CALLED HER DOCTORS AT SEACOAST MENTAL HEALTH IN EXETER NH; ONLY TO BE RIDICULED AND SCORNED BY HER SO CALLED THERAPIST. SHE WOULD NOT RETURN PHONE CALLS AND WHEN SHE FINALLY DID IT WAS ONLY TO TELL ME THAT SHE HAD TO GET MY WIFE'S PERMISSION TO TALK TO ME. MY HANDS WERE TIED I COULDN'T HELP HER. SHE WAS UNDER THE CARE OF SO-CALLED PROFESSIONALS AND LOOK AT WHAT HAPPENED. THE FDA ALONG WITH THE DRUG MANUFACTURERS AND ULTIMATELY THE DOCTORS WHO USE PEOPLE LIKE GINUEA PIGS ARE ALL TO FAULT. SO TO SUM IT ALL UP: THE POWERFUL DRUG COMPANIES ARE NOT GOING TO HELP YOU; THE FDA BEING FUELED BY THE DRUG COMPANIES ARE NOT GOING TO HELP YOU; AND THOSE DOCTORS WHO ARE PRESCRIBING DRUGS OF WHICH THEY KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ARE CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO HELP YOU. SO THAT LEAVES ONE PERSON; YOURSELF! DON'T BE FOOLED ANY LONGER SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD. IF THERE IS ANYBODY OR ANY GROUP OUT THERE READY TO TAKE ON THESE "QUACKS" LET ME KNOW. YOU OTHERS WHO ARE JUST STARTING ON THESE PILLS; FLUSH THEM DOWN THE TOILET BEFORE THEY RUIN YOUR LIFE AND THE LIVES OF ALL THE LOVED ONES SURROUNDING YOU! MY WIFE HAS BECOME A STATISTIC AND NOW I WANT SOMEONE TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. THEY JUST AS SOON FORGET AND GO ON TO THEIR NEXT PATIENT (VICTIM). I WELCOME YOUR COMMENTS: KEN KNIGHT OF SEABROOK NH

I have been on Lexapro 10 milligrams for the the last year. I was not sexually active during that time but am now and find I am unable to have an orgasm, which has never been a problem for me. I am trying to wean myself off of this drug. CAn anybody tell me (female) who has had this problem, how long it will take after I am off this drug before my ability to orgasm will return??? Am down to 5 milligrams every 3rd night now. Thank you for any help.

Does anyone know if Lexapro can make acne worse if you already have acne to begin with? Or does it give you acne if you don't have acne?

Ken, we are sorry your wife ended her life. How can any of us be prepared for something like this? What can anybody really say to comfort you? We can only hope you have some degree of comfort.

I take Lexapro, and my wife says I am less grouchy when I take it. Prozac, made me feel worse. Your wife may never have felt better on these drugs, which happens a lot.

They say, when someone looses a child, it is far better to loose your limbs, and so only someone who experienced that can really understand and perhaps help, not just a drug. You could have done far more that anyone could ever do. For many of us getting through a difficult time sometimes means only doing what is bearable.

I can only hope that as a culture we learn to only give these chemicals to the people who can actually get better. We share your pain, and hope you know she and your son cannot be forgotten, and that you aren’t along.

i been suffering from postpartum depression since two years.i am taking lexapro since that time now i am doing 90% okay but sometimes iwill feel anxiety and depressed before my periods if continue taking lexapro somemore time can i come out off thi