Posted by Patient on December 11, 2003, at 14:19:56
In reply to Re: Effexor vs Lexapro, posted by shadows721 on December 9, 2003, at 21:29:28
Hi,
I started taking 5mg Lexapro in February, along with 200mg carbamaxepine (anticonvulsant used as mood stabiliser). My doc switched me from 20mg Celexa to this combination because I was still experiencing irritability and mood swings prior to period (PMS). I didn't notice much help from the carbamazepine, so after a month stopped taking it. I took 5mg Lexapro in the mornings and by late aft. to early evenings I felt anxious and slightly irritable, enough to where I would end up having a glass of wine or taking 0.5mg lorazepam (Ativan), which helped much. I didn't like doing this, so I tried taking 10mg Lexapro, which only made me more anxious in evenings-tried splitting dose to 5mg mornings and 5mg in mid-to late afternoons-it didn't cause anxiety effect, but was no better than 5mg. I would say that for me, the 5mg Lexapro was weaker in results than when I took 20mg of Celexa, plus a bit less sedating. After a few months I added Wellbutrin SR 100mg to 5mg of Lexapro, and what a difference-I felt ten times better. For me, the Wellbutrin made me feel calm up until evening. I had no need for a glass of wine or a benzo drug, in fact, the thought of drinking a glass of wine was a turn off. Anyway, I just wanted to share my experience. Most people do not respond this was to Wellbutrin-especially if one suffers from panic attacks-it usually is stimulating and can cause increase in anxiety-besides ringing in ears and insomnia. I was surprised that it made me feel calm. Just my experience. In a way, taking an SSRI, excluding Prozac, with Wellbutrin, is similar to how Effexor works-a reuptake inhibitor of serotonin, norepinphrine, and dopamine. As somone else suggested though, you should give Lexapro a chance and possibly consider increasing to 10mg daily. I would also suggest dropping the BuSpar-for most cases it causes anxiety rather than decreases it-talk to your doctor about this and read up about how these drugs work.
poster:Patient
thread:288024
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031208/msgs/288801.html