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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jcalder on February 17, 2005, at 19:14:00
i have some questions about lexapro. my husband started taking lex about three months ago. he now states that he sees things clearly now, feels great on the medicine and has self confidence now, i guess he didn't before. he moved to california one day while i was at worked, called me up and after 10 years of marriage and 2 very small kids told me he does not want to be with me anymore, said that most of the time he is not happy with me, states that he just feels so great with his lexapro. i am devastated, i did not see this coming at all, and quite frankly, even though he acts as if this is the best decision he has ever made in his life, i feel like he has completely lost his mind. we are now about to lose everything we have worked so hard for, we just baught a house 8 months ago, all of our toys, quads, etc. i am having to sell to make the house payment because he is not sending much money. not to mention the fact that he is destroying our family. i will now be a single mom with 2 kids, and the girls will now come from a broken home, and i have always been so proud of the fact that they didn't. he seems to think all of this is just ok, and is very cool and calm about the whole thing, almost with no emotion. and all of this behavior is so uncharacteristic of him, his family has always been his number one priority, all he lived for and worked for and now he is just throwing us out like a sack of trash, and seems to feel great about it. i was wondering if anyone knows much about this medicine lexapro, or if the fact that he also smokes pot while taking the lexapro could have any adverse affects. i just believe he is not thinking clearly right now, even though he believes he sees things so clearly. it just doesn't make sense. any input would help out, i just feel completely lost and confused...thanks
Posted by Dr. Bob on February 17, 2005, at 23:29:13
In reply to lexapro and marijuana use, posted by jcalder on February 17, 2005, at 19:14:00
> i have some questions about lexapro...
I'm sorry about what you're going through, but I'd like to redirect this thread to the main Psycho-Babble board. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20050217/msgs/459674.html
Thanks,
Bob
Posted by gregw4213 on March 30, 2008, at 1:46:33
In reply to lexapro and marijuana use, posted by jcalder on February 17, 2005, at 19:14:00
I have read your post and can tell you with great certainty that your husband is experiancing mania triggered by the lexapro. Do you know his current dosage? (20 or 30mg) Your husband meets all the criteria of a classic Bi-polar II individual. BPII's cannot be treated with anti-depressants alone(SSRI's, SNRI's, or bupropion). These drugs work wonderful in patients with depression, however for patients that are bi-polar, these drugs have a tendency to cause mania. It took your husband from depression to a feeling of Euphoric individualism. He most likely doesn't need a whole lot of sleep right now, and his confidence level is very high. He probably feels like you were the cause of most of his problems because mania feels so good and when he was with you he remembers the depression. This isn't your fault dear. You sound like you've already put up with more than your share. Eventually he will come down and regret these life altering decisions. The first line of treatment for Bi-polar patients are MOOD STABILIZERS not anti-depressants. If needed anti depressants may be RX'd but only in concert with a mood stabilizer which prevents the patient from going manic. Right now your husband needs a stabilizer such as Lithium Carbonate(typically 900mg/day) or better yet, Abilify. Both are excellent at treating acute manic symptoms. Then, once his mania is in check my recomendation would be to drop the lexapro and add an unbelievable drug called Lamictal(you get a starter pack free but then you'll need insurance because its costly.) If you cant afford lamictal than Lithium is a good alternative for both BPI and BPII patients. I've seen this time and time again. Your husband feels euphoric and liberated but he can't help it. Get him back now or he'll soon destroy both of your lives. Tell him to do it for his children if not you. Your task won't be easy because if he's like most people who go through this, you won't be able to convince him that he's actually experiancing mania and not a new lease on life. You also might want to privately discuss your concerns with his physician. If he/she thinks he is manic he will quit RXing the lexapro. I hope this helps dear . . .and GOOD LUCK :)
This is the end of the thread.
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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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