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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 4, 2016 2:07:56 GMT
*added to post* Pros, cons, experiences. I know everyone reacts different, just wanted to hear all sides. Please and thank you! (Not sure if it makes a difference, but it's the generic form, escitalopram, I'm questioning) ** so it's been 6 doses so far before bed. ..I think im sleeping slightly better. One thing I notice is that around 3pm I get sooo sleepy!! Like need to walk outside for a few minutes to wake up at work! Lol I can't really say yet if I feel any different. Hubby says I'm still irritable Anyone else get that next day sleepiness? I take it around 8pm each night...
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Post by mom on Feb 4, 2016 3:25:32 GMT
My Dh and I both look Lexapro after our daughter passed away. It was fine - until my DH decided to quit cold turkey.
We about got a divorce because the withdrawals were so bad.
He went to the Dr and the Dr told him to never quit cold turkey - and he put him back on it, then tapered him down.
Other than that, we didnt have any issues.
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zookeeper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,909
Aug 28, 2014 2:37:56 GMT
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Post by zookeeper on Feb 4, 2016 3:58:44 GMT
It has helped with my anxiety and panic attacks. I went cold turkey a month ago but did not mean to. It was a situation of pharmacy not being open on the weekend and my being busy at work and not making the pharmacy a priority. Within a few days of being off the lexapro...my brain started going loopy. It almost felt like misfires in my brain. I will not do that again...go cold turkey.
It did and does continue to help me. Just be consistent with taking it.
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Lexapro
Feb 4, 2016 4:00:15 GMT
via mobile
Post by PolarGreen12 on Feb 4, 2016 4:00:15 GMT
I took it for about 6 years for anxiety. It really helped. I didn't have any side effects other than a bit of weight loss. Not enough to get excited about. I stopped taking it about two years ago and didn't have any withdrawal issues myself.
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Post by pb on Feb 4, 2016 4:48:01 GMT
I have taken that generic for about five years. My doctor and I have fiddled with the dose and I am holding at 10 mg.
If I miss a day, I can tell. If I miss two days my DH can tell. And if I miss three my mom is calling me from Oregon.
It has been a lifesaver for me.
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Post by melanell on Feb 4, 2016 12:56:45 GMT
I took it for a little over a year about 12 years ago. I had depression with anxiety attacks after the birth of my first son. It did help. I did not experience any negative side-effects, and my doctor gradually tapered off my dosage for an easy transition off of it.
While the situation wasn't positive that caused me to take it in the first place, the Lexapro itself was a positive for me.
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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 4, 2016 14:37:48 GMT
Thanks all. We are starting with 5mg. I'm hoping it makes me feel "better" and I can sleep! Praying for no bad side effects. Losing a few lbs won't be bad. Lol
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Post by chitchatgirl on Feb 4, 2016 20:41:14 GMT
I switched over to it last year. It makes me incredibly sleepy so I take it at night. If I forget, I'll take it the next morning and I feel like I've taken a bunch of benadryl.
Last year was the worst bout of depression I can ever remember. This stuff really helped me. I stuck to the 5 mg. I still "feel" which I know a lot of people complain about not feeling anything while on antidepressants. My husband confirmed he's noticed a difference in me when it finally hit me I was depressed again and now that I'm treating it.
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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 4, 2016 20:47:19 GMT
My dr said to take it at night too, hoping it will help me sleep and get me off the over the counter sleep aid I've been on. I do feel sleepy this afternoon. But that could be the long day at work and the rain..lol
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Post by jenjie on Feb 4, 2016 20:52:47 GMT
I've been taking 10 mg every night for two weeks. It seems to be helping. One thing I wanted to mention in TMI realm is that I'm having constipation issues which I assume is from the meds. It could be dehydration but considering this is the first time in a year I've had this problem I'm inclined to think it's the Lexapro.
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Post by teri on Feb 4, 2016 21:03:24 GMT
been on the generic for about 8 years (20mg) It's been a life saver for me. If I'm not on it I cry at every little thing. For me it controls my emotions and keeps me from constantly obsessing about things. I'm not at all depressed, just cannot control my emotions. I can tell even if I skip a few days.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Feb 5, 2016 17:36:19 GMT
I've been on it for something like 13 yrs now... first the brand name ($$$!!) and now the generic. I take 10-20 mgs per day; right now it's 20. I've had chronic depression, probably since my early 20s, and getting on Lexapro was such an eye-opener to me; I used to take every. little. thing. personally, thought everyone was making fun of me or talking about me, never got any 'joy' out of life, etc. if that makes any sense.
I've quit cold turkey a couple times (not on purpose; ran out of Rx, and didn't find a new doctor in time) and it was not pretty. Since I've been on it, every once in a while I sort of forget to take it for a couple days. (once I got myself one of those weekly pill sorter thing-a-ma-jigs for all my medications, it's a lot easier to remember.) Like a previous poster said, if I've forgotten and it's been a couple days I can tell in how I feel, and if it's a day or two longer than that, my BF will ask me 'have you been taking your meds' because I really need it to even out my brain chemistry.
I also take it at night (don't remember if there was ever a specific reason why), but I don't think it's ever caused me any digestive issues or any other side effects.
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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 5, 2016 17:54:16 GMT
Good to hear. I'm on 5mg to start. Have taken it twice. Don't notice anything yet tho. A little nausea during the day but that's it. I'm hoping I can stop taking the OTC sleep aid soon (cut down to taking 1 for now) I take the lex before bed also. ..hoping it all works out.
Dumb question too...and nothing of importance...but those who've been on it, have u been able to have a drink now and then and be ok?
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Feb 5, 2016 18:25:42 GMT
I do still drink occasionally... I know it says you shouldn't while you're taking it, but I have, and it doesn't' seem to do anything too bad to me. (that I know of, anyway).
eta: I don't know if it says WHY you shouldn't drink when you're taking those kind of medications... but nothing's ever happened to me. yet, anyway.
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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 5, 2016 18:29:21 GMT
I do still drink occasionally... I know it says you shouldn't while you're taking it, but I have, and it doesn't' seem to do anything too bad to me. (that I know of, anyway). eta: I don't know if it says WHY you shouldn't drink when you're taking those kind of medications... but nothing's ever happened to me. yet, anyway. I know they say alcohol can intensify some of the side effects, etc...I was just curious...not saying I will have a drink until I've taken it for a bit, so I know how I react. How long were u on it before you "felt" anything, good or bad?
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Feb 5, 2016 19:02:12 GMT
honestly, I was extremely lucky, I think-- Lexapro was the first anti-depressant I tried, and whether it was wishful thinking or not, it only took me about a week to start feeling better. Or feeling 'normal' really.
I know it can take a couple weeks or more, and can depend on the dosage. I think I started at 20 mgs and went down to 10 over time, rather than starting at a smaller dose. I don't remember how the psychiatrist made the dosage determination; it was a really long time ago.
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Post by knit.pea on Feb 5, 2016 19:11:18 GMT
I have had no gastro issues with it. At first, it seemed like I wasn't "feeling", because I would previously cry at sad things or yell when I was frustrated (I take it for anxiety, not just for crying or yelling )... and it helped me be remarkably calm all the time. (I think after my vertigo episodes, my body went into fight or flight mode immediately when I became stressed.) So, at first, feeling calm sort of felt like not feeling. If I have a drink, even one, I don't take it that night. I have found I feel really yucky the next morning otherwise, so I just skip one dose (I am on 10 mg).
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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 5, 2016 19:14:12 GMT
Thanks. She didn't tell me "depression", more I think anxiety over a ton of "crap" going on (in 2 months time our dog was killed, my dad dx with cancer, hubs changing jobs, teenage boy drama, on top of regular "life " I feel overwhelmed and can't seem to be in a good mood at all.
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Post by knit.pea on Feb 5, 2016 19:26:39 GMT
I have debated going off it, but honestly I feel better on it.
Just a minor example, but I have lots of anxiety over flying, and I can literally now pack and get on a plane with no issue at all. Before, I would worry for weeks, getting so worked up ... it prevented me from doing things. In the past couple years, we have gone to England, California, and Florida and I am flying by myself this Spring. The change in how I feel about it is amazing.
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Post by hollymolly on Feb 5, 2016 20:06:43 GMT
I've been on it 3 different times, and all 3 times I stopped because I thought I didn't need it anymore.
ETA: Hit reply to soon. I have more to say.
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Post by hollymolly on Feb 5, 2016 20:12:50 GMT
Ok, here's the rest of my reply.
It is the best thing I've found for my chronic depression, but I wish I had never quit it. All 3 times I took it, I gained 15-20 lbs in the first month, with no change in eating habits or activity, and never was able to lose it. Other weight comes and goes, those pounds seem to be permanent. It only happens in the first month, but I'm afraid to ever take it again because I can't stand another 15-20 lb weight gain.
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Post by scrappychick on Feb 5, 2016 21:14:27 GMT
I've been on it for about a year now, and it really does help.
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Feb 5, 2016 21:50:26 GMT
I was on it. It worked for a while. then one day it was like hitting a brick wall. it stopped working. The doctor upped my dose but it never did work again. She upped it 2 or 3 more times and it never worked like it did at first. I had to change.
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Post by wezee on Feb 5, 2016 22:00:55 GMT
I wasn't able to continue on it, I was sleeping 18+ hours a day.
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Post by pb on Feb 6, 2016 1:40:05 GMT
Thanks all. We are starting with 5mg. I'm hoping it makes me feel "better" and I can sleep! Praying for no bad side effects. Losing a few lbs won't be bad. Lol That is what my doc started me at and then we went up 5mg at a time. Evidently you want to ramp up as well as ramp don't. Don't stop taking it cold turkey please. Good luck and feel better soon.
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zookeeper
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,909
Aug 28, 2014 2:37:56 GMT
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Post by zookeeper on Feb 6, 2016 3:34:51 GMT
I drink alcohol in moderation and do not have any issues with the Lexapro. I have also never had any gastro issues with it.
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Post by SunnySmile on Feb 6, 2016 6:11:24 GMT
I had a mild headache for the first couple of weeks, other than that no problems. I take it every day faithfully.
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vanessa
Full Member
Posts: 142
Sept 15, 2015 4:25:10 GMT
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Post by vanessa on Feb 6, 2016 8:06:11 GMT
I took it once and slept for The entire month of October 2003 and gained 70 pounds
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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 6, 2016 16:14:56 GMT
I appreciate all the responses!
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Post by twoboyzmom on Feb 10, 2016 1:36:11 GMT
Updated first post. .
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