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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by h2os on August 29, 2003, at 19:58:44
I've been taking 10mg. Lex for about 1 year now. Recently Dr.increased to 20mg. 3 weeks ago. Now I'm noticing twitching and jerking when lying down and relaxing....just about to fall asleep. Never had problem before. Anyone else? Will it subside?
h2os
Posted by joebob on August 29, 2003, at 21:32:39
In reply to Twitching at 20mg. increase of Lex, posted by h2os on August 29, 2003, at 19:58:44
20mg after a year at 10?
did it stop working?
i went from 10 to 20 a week ago after a month at 10, have not had the twitching you describe, but sometimes the anxiety others talk about
Posted by h2os on August 29, 2003, at 22:10:41
In reply to curious as to why your doc switched you to, posted by joebob on August 29, 2003, at 21:32:39
> 20mg after a year at 10?
> did it stop working?
> i went from 10 to 20 a week ago after a month at 10, have not had the twitching you describe, but sometimes the anxiety others talk aboutYes..the tears would start up again but I'd have NO emotional feelings. I'd be talking to someone and the tears would just come. Plus, they are suppose to help w/ hot flashes.
Posted by galkeepinon on August 30, 2003, at 2:57:02
In reply to Twitching at 20mg. increase of Lex, posted by h2os on August 29, 2003, at 19:58:44
Hi, I've only been on 10mg of Lexapro for about 5 weeks and I'm now starting to notice this 'twitching' you speak of-it's weird. There is something related to this right when you are about to fall into REM sleep also. It could also be due to the recent increase of the Lexapro. If it gets worse or more bothersome, maybe contact your prescribing doctor.
Good luck:-)
> I've been taking 10mg. Lex for about 1 year now. Recently Dr.increased to 20mg. 3 weeks ago. Now I'm noticing twitching and jerking when lying down and relaxing....just about to fall asleep. Never had problem before. Anyone else? Will it subside?
>
> h2os
Posted by linkadge on August 30, 2003, at 6:27:29
In reply to Re: Twitching at 20mg. increase of Lex » h2os, posted by galkeepinon on August 30, 2003, at 2:57:02
Generally antidepressants decrease the seizure threshold. This can increase the likely hood of having sudden twiches etc. It's doesn't mean you're going to have a seizure, and it may even mean that the drug is working.
Even lithium, the all natural drug, induces twiching and periodic limb movement. I read somewhere that this is when its antidepressant
effect is starting to kick in.
Linkadge
Posted by galkeepinon on August 30, 2003, at 14:29:49
In reply to decreased seizure threshold., posted by linkadge on August 30, 2003, at 6:27:29
Posted by madwand on August 31, 2003, at 11:27:34
In reply to Re: Twitching at 20mg. increase of Lex » h2os, posted by galkeepinon on August 30, 2003, at 2:57:02
Hello,
I have been lurking for a while but this thread pushed me over the threshold into registering and posting. I am curious about this "twitching" phenomenon on Lex. As I approached the end of my first week on Lex, I started having something that sounds similar -- falling asleep and then suddenly getting "blasted awake" within a short period time (sometimes accompanied by a "jerking" sensation). Before going on Lex, I have had this "occasionally" in the past and accompanied by a "sense of doom" (and yes, my doctor knows about that <g>). Now it seems to be happening more often, but the sense of doom is gone.
I had wondered about some form of sleep apnea (in fact, my doctor even mentioned this a possible explanation of my previous "blast awake" episodes), but it seems odd that Lex would make it worse.
Anyway, I would love tap this well of experience on the subject. In general (although it is a bit too early to tell definitely, being at the 10 day mark), I like what Lex is doing for me and would hate to have to discontinue it. Is it normal for this kind of side-effect to "ramp up" in the first week and then (hopefully) decrease?
Thanks!
Posted by Mariposa on August 31, 2003, at 11:58:46
In reply to Re: Twitching at 20mg. increase of Lex, posted by madwand on August 31, 2003, at 11:27:34
> Hello,
> I have been lurking for a while but this thread pushed me over the threshold into registering and posting. I am curious about this "twitching" phenomenon on Lex. As I approached the end of my first week on Lex, I started having something that sounds similar -- falling asleep and then suddenly getting "blasted awake" within a short period time (sometimes accompanied by a "jerking" sensation). Before going on Lex, I have had this "occasionally" in the past and accompanied by a "sense of doom" (and yes, my doctor knows about that <g>). Now it seems to be happening more often, but the sense of doom is gone.
> I had wondered about some form of sleep apnea (in fact, my doctor even mentioned this a possible explanation of my previous "blast awake" episodes), but it seems odd that Lex would make it worse.
> Anyway, I would love tap this well of experience on the subject. In general (although it is a bit too early to tell definitely, being at the 10 day mark), I like what Lex is doing for me and would hate to have to discontinue it. Is it normal for this kind of side-effect to "ramp up" in the first week and then (hopefully) decrease?
> Thanks!Yes, early on the se's of lex can be quite intense, and there is a fairly LONG list of possible se's. Week 2-3 seem to be the worst for many and the se's begin to tapper off afterward. A word of caution to new users, I experienced a deep depression/anxiety around week 4, others have also commented on this. You get over the se's and you think things should get better but they get WORSE!!! I almost quit around that time because I was sure Lex would not work for me. But I hung in there with lots of help from this board and am doing much *better* now.
Good luck to us all!~~~8|8
Posted by madwand on August 31, 2003, at 12:18:27
In reply to Re: Twitching at 20mg. increase of Lex » madwand, posted by Mariposa on August 31, 2003, at 11:58:46
Thanks Mariposa -- that is encouraging (er, sort of <g>). I had anticipated some ups and downs (and in fact had made conscious to decision to embrace them as part of the process), but this "blast awake" thing really jerked my chain. I will "tread water", talk to my doctor if it gets worse/intolerable, and hopefully things will improve.
Ironically, it seems to happen only on days that I exercise! Not enough data to point conclusively yet, but so far its 100% in both direction (i.e., always have the problem the night after I exercise -- never have it the night after I don't).
Anyway, thanks again for the quick and helpful response. I have been "studying" the possibility of going on SSRI's for about 10 years or so, but this is my first time actually on one (and how I finally ended up on one is rather convoluted <g>).
Have a great rest-of-holiday-weekend!
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