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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 24 of 24. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Capri on June 28, 2003, at 10:09:18
Hi everyone,
I took it upon myself to start off at 5mg of Lex instead of 10. Anyone else start off at a low dose?
I'm super sensitive to meds. I was on effexor for 6 weeks changed to Paxil now to Lexapro.
Anyone know what the equivelent of Lex is to Celexa??? I could only take 15 mg of Celexa a few years ago.
Anyone have luck on Lex??
Any comments would be appreciated!
Posted by lil' jimi on June 28, 2003, at 14:54:01
In reply to Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg??, posted by Capri on June 28, 2003, at 10:09:18
hi capri.
your story sounds like mine:
> I took it upon myself to start off at 5mg of Lex instead of 10. Anyone else start off at a low dose?
>
> I'm super sensitive to meds. I was on effexor for 6 weeks changed to Paxil now to Lexapro.
>
> Anyone know what the equivelent of Lex is to Celexa??? I could only take 15 mg of Celexa a few years ago.
>
> Anyone have luck on Lex??
>
> Any comments would be appreciated!
>
well, except lexapro is the only med i have taken, ... ...
... ... but i took 10mg march 6 and then took myself down to 5mg the next day and did that for a month before i went back to 10mg ... in hindsight, i think this makes a lot of sense ... ... i would recommend everyone start out gradually on lexapro .... although some do fine without such cautioni have had a very positive experience with lex ... ... i have posted a lot of the details in the big lex thread above .... .... it begins at
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109458.html
i can give lots of my details .... .... just ask!
take care !!!
~ jim
Posted by Capri on June 28, 2003, at 21:40:30
In reply to Re: Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg?? » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on June 28, 2003, at 14:54:01
Hi Jim,
I'd like to know more about Lex if you could share it with me.
I started taking 5 mg last night but found I couldn't sleep that well. Will take again tonight but I might switch to a.m.
I've been on several meds over the years on and off. The only one I could tolerate was Paxil but that was 4 years ago. I took Pax for a year and never had any problems going off. I have tried many more meds after that but can't tolerate. Now I'm with Lexapro.
Please share your experience with Lex.
Thanks!
Posted by lil' jimi on June 29, 2003, at 3:33:11
In reply to Re: Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg??, posted by Capri on June 28, 2003, at 21:40:30
hi again Capri,
> I'd like to know more about Lex if you could share it with me.
>
my pleasure ...> I started taking 5 mg last night but found I couldn't sleep that well. Will take again tonight but I might switch to a.m.
>
i believe you are correct to want to switch your time ... ... ... many lex posters have made more than one adjustment to when they take lex to either 1) avoid insomnia or 2) avoid sleepiness and fatigue during the day ... ... timing can make a lot of differnce ... ... it has been suggested that if you notice when you are feeling especially tired from lex, estimate how long it was from when you took it, and adjust you time to that much before bedtime ... ...> I've been on several meds over the years on and off. The only one I could tolerate was Paxil but that was 4 years ago. I took Pax for a year and never had any problems going off. I have tried many more meds after that but can't tolerate. Now I'm with Lexapro.
>
i have read here of paxil withdrawals .. .. . i am impressed and grateful that you had no problems ... ... more than ten years ago my wife was on paxil ... .... ... it was bad for her libido and has been detrimental to our love life ... ... in that category, i have had only very temporary (a week) anorgasmia on lex .. ... ...> Please share your experience with Lex.
> Thanks!i was dxed depressed and prescribed 10mg lex ... ... with my 1st dose i experienced surprisingly intense SEs: flu-like symptoms, depersonalization, vaguenss of focus, and most alarming, panic attacks ... i had never had them before ... ... the next day i found this web site, while i reduced my dose to 5mg ... ... .. ... in what now seems like classic initial SEs for lex, all of my SEs faded to zero by my 2nd week, although many other posters have not been so fortunate ... ... around week 4 or 5 i began to feel relief and increasing benefit from lex ... .. ...
... ... to see the WHOLE story ... ...
... you can load the whole lex thread to your browser's window by using the link http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20020609/msgs/109458.html ... ... and then under your Edit menu select "Find in this page" and a dialog box will let you enter a search term ... ... you can put in "jimi" and each time you click "Find", the browser should bring up another of my posts ... .... not that they are so great, but they tell my story ... in all of its details. (as blkvettes would say) ...... posting on that thread can get you the attention of a lot more lex users .... and the reponses from their experiences ... ...
.. .... if you have anything in particular i could elaborate on, please let me know.
... and please try yo post as much as possible ... ... i like to know how you are doing ... thanks
TAKE CARE !!!!
~ jim
Posted by Capri on June 29, 2003, at 13:57:38
In reply to Re: Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg?? » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on June 29, 2003, at 3:33:11
Hi Jim,
I had some weird side effects on Lex today that I have never had with other AD's. I felt so panicky I was scared. I took a half of Klonopin and was ok. As long as I have them for a backup I'm ok. Did you ever experience this? I'm on my 3rd day. I'm still taking it at night but I take 1/2 klonopin to sleep with it. Do you think I should skip taking it tonight and start taking it tomorrow morning instead?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Capri
Posted by lil' jimi on June 29, 2003, at 14:51:10
In reply to Re: Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg??, posted by Capri on June 29, 2003, at 13:57:38
hi again sweet Capri,
sounds a lot like what i described last time ... ... i'll call them lex induced anxiety attacks .. ... .. it is a very good thing that you can use your klonopin to get you by ... ...
...... .... .. actually i'd say my 3rd day was my worst ... maybe in a tie with my 4th(?) ... .. ... it is very different for each of us, though ... ...
i really appreciate you posting about how you are doing .... ... thanks!
i would take your 5mg right now, rather than try to skip to next morning ... .... well, "right now" is 2:40 PM CDT here in austin .... .... if it gets past 6 or 7 pm reconsider this suggestion (it is ONLY a suggestion) ... ... also try to estimate if you think the lex would be too stimulating for you to sleep and guess if the stimulation will have time to wear off before we want to sleeep ... ... i have been taking my 10mg at noon for a few months now and i believe that's too early for me .. ... .. but i'm not sure ... ...
... ... if you feel up to skipping to the morning, it could be just fine ... ... it is by no means critical to go with my suggestion to do it earlier ... ...
> Hi Jim,
>
> I had some weird side effects on Lex today that I have never had with other AD's. I felt so panicky I was scared. I took a half of Klonopin and was ok. As long as I have them for a backup I'm ok. Did you ever experience this? I'm on my 3rd day. I'm still taking it at night but I take 1/2 klonopin to sleep with it. Do you think I should skip taking it tonight and start taking it tomorrow morning instead?
>
> Thanks a lot for your help!
> Capri... ... if you have the opportunity, discuss these timing effects with your md ... ... if he/she sounds clueless, drop it ... ... we can figure it out for ourselves if we have to ... .. ....
TAKE CARE !!!
~ jim
p.s. those posts on the other thread can be very reassuring .... .... they were for me .... .... couldn't have made it without them ... .. hang in there! ... ~ j
Posted by Capri on June 29, 2003, at 18:18:10
In reply to Re: Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg?? » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on June 29, 2003, at 14:51:10
hey jim,
Thanks for your advice. I feel better knowing other people have gone through the same effects. I hope this is the right cocktail for me. I'm tired of switching back and forth for the past 2 months.
I'm taking this med for irratibility and anxiety when driving, closed places, bridges, etc.
When I took Paxil 4 years ago it never really helped with the "panic" in certain situations. I'm trying to find a med that works like Klonopin but with no "habit forming" substance. Although from what I read most of these AD's are quite habit forming too so what's the difference.
I'll let ya know how I'm doing. Also my stomach is quesy. Not eating that much. We'll see!
Capri
Posted by lil' jimi on June 29, 2003, at 21:26:46
In reply to Re: Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg?? » lil' jimi, posted by Capri on June 29, 2003, at 18:18:10
hi capri,
your symptoms / diagnosis ("sx/dx") are different from mine.
i'm depressed, never had anxiety until initial side effects ("SEs or "ses").
you're on day 3 ... i'm on month 3 and doing great if i do say so myself .. .. .. .. well, pretty good anyway .... ....> hey jim,
>
> Thanks for your advice. I feel better knowing other people have gone through the same effects. I hope this is the right cocktail for me. I'm tired of switching back and forth for the past 2 months.
>
> I'm taking this med for irratibility and anxiety when driving, closed places, bridges, etc.
>
> When I took Paxil 4 years ago it never really helped with the "panic" in certain situations. I'm trying to find a med that works like Klonopin but with no "habit forming" substance. Although from what I read most of these AD's are quite habit forming too so what's the difference.
>
> I'll let ya know how I'm doing. Also my stomach is quesy. Not eating that much. We'll see!
>
> Capri
>great to have you keeping in touch.
i have read about the concerns with benzo supplementing ssris for anxiety ... ... i am with on the 'how-much-more-"habit-forming"-are-benzos-than-ssris?' ... i don't get it either.here's the deal:
... i'm afraid your anxiety sxs are likely to get worse before they get better from the lexapro, although your klonopin should (is meant to) provide support against anxiety until the lex se induced anxiety fades and the lex begins to relieve your sxs .... and your ses could last for weeks: i was 2 weeks; some folks, its 4 to 8 weeks; a few successful outcomes have been through 10 weeks of lex ses ... ...
.... ... .... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't .... .... some good folks try to survive the ses and can't ... ... lexapro is not for everyone, but the only way to tell is to try it ... ... which explains a lot of why you have been through so many meds lately, i'd say ... ... (however, anything less than 4 weeks doesn't seem likely to give a good assessment, of course depending on sensitivities ...)... so some folks should dedicate 3 months to this med to see if it's going to work ... ... and some people will not be able to handle that ... ...
i really want to encourage you to check in with the other thread i have mentioned Because you may well (are going to?) need and want the support and experiences of anxiety sufferers...
... for instance, by using that url, you can also do searches by using 'anxiety' as a search term and be able to pull up a series of posts about lex anxiety experiences ... ... or use 'naesea' ... ...... ... ... because you Are Not Alone and there are a lot of people who want to share with you ... ... and help you ... ... they helped me ... .. ... so i try to help others
... and i Am kind of worried about you, but i don't want to make your concerns worse .. . i'm a afarid i have and i'm sorry for that .. ..
... .. ...blkveetes, male34, tim47 are some of my pals over at the lex thread with personal stories about anxiety... ... male34 is having a rough time ... .... ... blkvettes posts have gotten so much better that he inspires me .. .. ...
i know nothing about benzo addction, but for now i would not be afraid to use your klonopin if you have anxiety ... i'd let it give you the confidence to get through the lex ses ... ... ... there are any posts about klonopin on the lex thread too .. ... ..
... .. i hope i haven't sent you into a panic; i haven't meant to; (as if that's any consolation) ... ... i'd love to offer more of this support over on that thread so that my buddies can offer their insights too .. .. .... ... ....
but do please keep posting anyway / anywhere you can... ... i do want to hear how you are doing ... ..
TAKE CARE !!!!
~ jim
Posted by McPac on June 30, 2003, at 20:18:22
In reply to Re: Anyone start off taking Lex 5mg?? » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on June 29, 2003, at 21:26:46
I'm trying to switch from Zoloft to Lexapro.....my GP has instructed me to START OUT on the Lexapro at 20 mg/day........from reading a few posts on the Babble board, THAT dosage sounds too high!!!! I've read a few posts saying to start out slowly, like 5 mg/day.........also, reading about these crummy panic-type feelings that many get makes me leary....okay, question please, what is the equivalent Lexapro-to-Celexa dose? (Is it 10 mg of Lexapro = 40 mg of Celexa??)........I took ONE Celexa pill (20 mg, it was one of my mom's) about a week ago just to see what kind of reaction I might get from Celexa; it made me a little tired, if anything...is THAT any indication of what Lexapro may be like also for me, since Lex is really the same thing as Celexa? THANK YOU to any and all that responds!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Capri on June 30, 2003, at 22:01:05
In reply to Starting Lexapro at 20 mg/day???????, posted by McPac on June 30, 2003, at 20:18:22
Hello,
I'm not an expert on Lex yet (ha) being this is my 4th day on it but that dose sounds a little high being. The starting dose is usually 10 mg.
I was suppose to start at 10 mg but knowing my past sensitivity to meds I went with the 5 mg. I've gotten a few panicky se's, headache, etc. I take Klonopin to offset the panicky feelings for now which I hope go away as my body adjusts. I too am curious on the mg comparison to Celexa!! I use to take 15 mg years ago.
Take it slow at first. Everyone is different but I always am cautious and take the 1/2 a dose to start off.
Take care and good luck!
Posted by lil' jimi on June 30, 2003, at 22:15:26
In reply to Re: Starting Lexapro at 20 mg/day??????? » McPac, posted by Capri on June 30, 2003, at 22:01:05
hi Capri,
how are you doing?
~ jim
Posted by McPac on June 30, 2003, at 22:16:39
In reply to Re: Starting Lexapro at 20 mg/day??????? » McPac, posted by Capri on June 30, 2003, at 22:01:05
Thanks Capri!
JUST started the Lex minutes ago at 10 mg!
Take care!
Posted by lil' jimi on July 1, 2003, at 16:25:58
In reply to re: Day 4 for You » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on June 30, 2003, at 22:15:26
hi Capri,
How's it going?
... ... thinking of you ... ...
Hope you're Okay!
TAKE CARE !!!!
~ jim
Posted by Capri on July 1, 2003, at 17:16:32
In reply to re: Day 5 of Lex for You » lil' jimi, posted by lil' jimi on July 1, 2003, at 16:25:58
Hi Jim,
Thanks for asking!! I'm hanging in there. Not too bad. I have a bad headache since I started Lex but I've had headaches on all of the AD's I've tried. I know it's a short term side effect (usually last a week).
Still taking it at bedtime but I will probably change that next week.
I'll keep ya posted.....how are you doing?
Feel good,
Capri
Posted by lil' jimi on July 1, 2003, at 18:27:07
In reply to re: Day 5 of Lex for You » lil' jimi, posted by Capri on July 1, 2003, at 17:16:32
hi Capri,
> Hi Jim,
>
> Thanks for asking!! I'm hanging in there. Not too bad. I have a bad headache since I started Lex but I've had headaches on all of the AD's I've tried. I know it's a short term side effect (usually last a week).
>
> Still taking it at bedtime but I will probably change that next week.
>
> I'll keep ya posted.....how are you doing?
>
> Feel good,
> Capri... ... it's good to hear you're hanging in there ..
... want make sure you're drinking enough water .. ...
... and you might consider splitting your dose ... ... take half at your usual time and the 2nd half in the morning, maybe ...
... ... are you still having trouble sleeping?take care,
~ jim
Posted by Capri on July 1, 2003, at 21:02:58
In reply to re: Day 5 of Lex for You » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on July 1, 2003, at 18:27:07
Jim,
I'm still taking 5 mg at night with a 1/2 of Klonopin. I don't wake up all night! In the morning I'm tired when I get up though but after a short time I'm fine. So I haven't tried taking Lex yet without the Klonopin. I want to switch to the a.m. but I don't want to skip my p.m. dose.
I just realized I'm not drinking as much water as I usually do. Maybe that's why I have the headaches right now. I'll take your advice.
Have you had a cocktail on Lexapro? I usually don't until I'm on a med for awhile and my body is use to it. Don't know if I'll be able to have a cocktail for the 4th (oh well)
Talk to ya,
Capri
Posted by lil' jimi on July 2, 2003, at 12:30:28
In reply to re: Day 5 of Lex for You » lil' jimi, posted by Capri on July 1, 2003, at 21:02:58
hi capri,
you sound like you're doing pretty good ...
> I'm still taking 5 mg at night with a 1/2 of Klonopin. I don't wake up all night! In the morning I'm tired when I get up though but after a short time I'm fine. So I haven't tried taking Lex yet without the Klonopin. I want to switch to the a.m. but I don't want to skip my p.m. dose.
>
> I just realized I'm not drinking as much water as I usually do. Maybe that's why I have the headaches right now. I'll take your advice.
>
> Have you had a cocktail on Lexapro? I usually don't until I'm on a med for awhile and my body is use to it. Don't know if I'll be able to have a cocktail for the 4th (oh well)
>
> Talk to ya,
> Caprithanks for your reply!
... and i hope your headaches are relieved ...
i just haven't been a drinking kinda guy for a long time now ... ... i drifted away from it sometime in my twenties ...
(i am talkative to the point that the taciturn folks can find me annoying .... .... so when at a family gathering my gracious brothers-in-law want to offer me a beer, i'd say, "Well, thanks anyway, but beer tends to make me talk ..."
.... so they then shout, "Hey guys! No beer for Jim!"
Ha!)(my social drug of choice has been caffiene .. .... i abuse coffee!)
anyway ... ... i have also been motivated to avoid alcohol since i started lexapro Because it is counterproductive with (tends to counteract) AD....
... which makes sense, since alcohol is a major Depressant and lex is an antidepressant ... ....my suggestions may not have near as much impact as your own experience .... so, with your eyes wide open, (and maybe with taking your lex dose as far away from your cocktail a possible), try it and see if it causes any adversity, particularly any negative impact on the benefits (lower anxiety, et cetera) your looking for from lex ....
... maybe?take care,
~ jimp.s. there have been discussion on "lexapro and alcohol" on the lex thread. .. ~ j
Posted by Capri on July 2, 2003, at 20:04:44
In reply to re: yesterday was Day 5 of Lex for ... » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on July 2, 2003, at 12:30:28
Hi Jim, (my husband's name is Jim too)
The one problem I'm noticing is that I feel panicky sometimes during the day out of no where but I get passed it. Also at night around 8 I start to feel that way. Around 11 I take my Lex with K. This concerns me as I never had this side effect on any of the other AD's. My headache is a lot better today. Wonder why the headaches happen in the beginning of treatment for me. Any thoughts?
My mood is definitely uplifting. I sometimes feel like I had coffee or a few drinks.
I'm hoping my body get's used to it and I won't have that panicky feeling with anxiety. Did you have that in the beginning? If that doesn't go away I will have to stop taking it.
Have a good 4th if you don't see my post... although I know you are on these boards quite often.
Feel good,
Capri
Posted by lil' jimi on July 3, 2003, at 1:09:29
In reply to re: yesterday was Day 5 of Lex for ... » lil' jimi, posted by Capri on July 2, 2003, at 20:04:44
hi Capri,
> Hi Jim, (my husband's name is Jim too)
my regards to your Jim ...
> The one problem I'm noticing is that I feel panicky sometimes during the day out of no where but I get passed it.
this is what i have been afraid of for you ... ...
... ... this is the adptation side-effect i refer to as lexapro induced anxiety ... it is not uncommon and usually it, like almost all of the initial adaptation side-effects, subsides once our neurotransmitters adapt to the lexapro ... ... this can take some number of weeks, just to get pass the side-effects ... and then a few more weeks to have the therapuetic benefits to begin
... ... and the number of weeks involved can vary greatly from person-to-person ... ... in people who have anxious symptoms, this lex side-effect induced anxiety can be rough ... ... i have read of my friends, like blkvettes, over on the lex thread, struggle with these side-effects and have to use their klonopin or xanax or some other benzo to protect them from the anxiety until the side-effect subsided ... ...
... ... i never had anxiety, let alone a panic attack UNTIL i took my first dose of 10mg of lexapro on march 6 .. ...> Also at night around 8 I start to feel that way. Around 11 I take my Lex with K. This concerns me as I never had this side effect on any of the other AD's.
.. .... ... i, and others over on the lex thread, have found that lex can have, depending on the person, several seemingly contradictory side-effects ... ... for me there was a definite stimulant-like effect, while, at the same time, i would feel tired and drowsy .. .. ..
> My headache is a lot better today. Wonder why the headaches happen in the beginning of treatment for me. Any thoughts?
... ... seems like the medication induces dehydration, but it easier to just imagine the amount of stress re-arranging our neurotransmitters must cause and the trauma this causes ... ... more surprising is that it doesn't always cause headaches ...
> My mood is definitely uplifting. I sometimes feel like I had coffee or a few drinks.
... .. it used to make me feel tipsy trippy just after i took my dose too...
> I'm hoping my body get's used to it and I won't have that panicky feeling with anxiety. Did you have that in the beginning? If that doesn't go away I will have to stop taking it.
>i think this stimulant-like initial side-effect exacerbates anxiety, but this should go away ...
> Have a good 4th if you don't see my post... although I know you are on these boards quite often.
>
> Feel good,
> Capri... ... have a safe 4th! ...
have fun,
~ jim
Posted by McPac on July 3, 2003, at 13:56:11
In reply to re: Day 6 of Lex for ... » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on July 3, 2003, at 1:09:29
"i think this stimulant-like initial side-effect exacerbates anxiety, but this should go away"
>>>>>>>>>>>>I was wondering if you knew of folks that felt DIFFERENTLY on Celexa than they do on Lexapro? I too have felt Lexapro's anxiety side effects (I've only been on it 3 or 4 days)....but when I took one of my mom's Celexa tabs a couple of weeks ago, I didn't get that feeling at all...it just made me feel sort of tired (mellow)...of course I only took ONE Celexa pill for just ONE day, just to see what sort of reaction I'd get....but, again, have any/many folks mentioned that Lexapro makes them feel differently than Celexa?
THANKS!!!
Posted by lil' jimi on July 3, 2003, at 14:16:52
In reply to lil jimi, re: Day 6 of Lex for ..., posted by McPac on July 3, 2003, at 13:56:11
hi McPac,
i wrote:
> "i think this stimulant-like initial side-effect exacerbates anxiety, but this should go away"and you ask:
> >>>>>>>>>>>>I was wondering if you knew of folks that felt DIFFERENTLY on Celexa than they do on Lexapro? I too have felt Lexapro's anxiety side effects (I've only been on it 3 or 4 days)....but when I took one of my mom's Celexa tabs a couple of weeks ago, I didn't get that feeling at all...it just made me feel sort of tired (mellow)...of course I only took ONE Celexa pill for just ONE day, just to see what sort of reaction I'd get....but, again, have any/many folks mentioned that Lexapro makes them feel differently than Celexa?
> THANKS!!!and i reply:
... Yes.... from my memory (not the best resource) i can remember several Celexa users who were not well for Lexapro ... At All.
this particular transition, which would seem to be the least challenge since lex is son of celexa, has been among the most difficult ... for some unknown reasons ... in particular, our kind poster, babs, found lex completely unacceptable and went back to Celexa, but there have been several who were fine with Celexa, but could not handle Lexapro ...
which is to say: Yes, very different ... for some folks ...
TAKE CARE !!!
~ jim
Posted by theo on July 3, 2003, at 16:31:09
In reply to re: Day 6 of Lex for ... » Capri, posted by lil' jimi on July 3, 2003, at 1:09:29
The anxiety, panic feeling was the one of the main reasons I quit Lex after 2 months. I figured that was ample time for the side effects to subside.
Posted by McPac on July 3, 2003, at 22:50:13
In reply to re: Day 6 of Lex for ..., posted by theo on July 3, 2003, at 16:31:09
Posted by lil' jimi on July 4, 2003, at 1:12:29
In reply to Thanks jimi!!! (NM) (nm), posted by McPac on July 3, 2003, at 22:50:13
This is the end of the thread.
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