Questions About Lexparo

My doctor has me on citalopram. Which is the generic of Celexa. I asked her why not lexapro and she said it is too pricey. My prescription is only 4 dollars at walmart! And it has really changed my life for the better. I'm not as quick to emotions. And it has helped my anxiety, which I didn't realize was such a problem, till was gone. I got on it, cause I told my doctor I couldn't stop nagging my husband. It has made me more patient with my kids and husband.
good luck

Hi S.,
I was on lexapro 20 mg on and off for the last 6 yrs, I took it when I thought I needed it against my Dr's orders. I took it at night before going to bed, I had no problems on or when I stopped.

I have been taking Lexapro for several years. I take mine in the morning. I really like it. After trying other SSRIs, it works the fastest for me. Since I have been taking it for awhile, I can skip a day every now and then and it doesn't bother me. Lexapro helps "balance" me.

Please remember, the pills aren't magic. You have to manage your expectations. Find the real root of your anxiety and work on that while taking the Lexapro. Sleep is essential and if you are by yourself, that is so hard to get. Also, have your doctor check you for sleep apnea. You may not be getting "good" sleep.

Best of luck to you.

I LOVE LEXAPRO!!! I suffered from horrible anxiety and insomnia for years before Lexapro. I tried many other medications before Lexapro came on the market - I've been taking it since about six weeks after it came onto the market in 2002. Lexapro has by far the fewest side effects - at least for me.

Yes, if you stop taking it suddenly, you will have withdrawals. (I once went on vacation and forget to pack it... NOT good.) However, as any good doctor will tell you, you have to wean off an SSRI. I have had to quit taking it three different times to do IVF (my RE is very conservative...) and never had a problem with withdrawals. My doctor had me wean off it over a three to four week period. After each IVF I went right back on it either after the first trimester or after a negative pregnancy test.

If you are certain that your insomnia is causing your anxiety, you might want to try something like diazepam or lorazepam that will relax you enough to sleep, but won't completely knock you out so that you can wake up to tend to your son as needed. However, if the anxiety is causing the insomnia, I think you'll really like Lexapro.

It doesn't matter what time of day you take it, this is a medication that needs to build up in your system to work.

Again, don't worry about withdrawals. If you decide you want to stop taking it, you just need to wean slowly and you won't have a problem.

Good luck!

My daughter, a consumate researcher of everything she and her family put in their mouths, takes Lexapro. She's been on it, off for a while, and back on it. No problems. She hasn't experienced any negative side effects. It takes 2 to 3 weeks to get used to any anti-depressant, and sometimes even longer since some drugs begin with a low dose and increase over time to a theraputic dose. You just have to be aware of your own body's response.

STOP TAKING IT NOW!!!!! I was on it and when I went to go off of it due to lack of insurance and with it being $100 per month, I had to go off of it. I had severe withdrawls like I was coming off of drugs. I was shaking, not myself, etc. I had to go to my church office, they wrote a check for the refill and I had to go back on Lexapro. Through the grace of God when we were moving I forgot to take it for several days and when I remembered to take it, I didn't and I was ok. The only way I can explain not having the withdrawls the second time was by the grace of God. Please talk with your doctor and ask him to put you on something else.

most of those medications need 2 weeks to get it fully into your system. I don't like that kind of medicine and have had nothing but bad luck with it and others like it. For anxiety and not sleeping - I've taken Xanax for several years. If I stop taking it - no withdrawls. Most doctors are won't go that route until you've tried everything. Call your DR. immediately and tell him this drug is not for you if you are not happy. Your body knows. I want a medicine that helps when I need it and not ALL THE TIME.

But you should do what is right for you and what you've worked out with your dr. & not what works for me.

I wish you the best of luck.

My husband took it for a couple of years and it worked well for his depression. He slept well on it. He took it in the morning. He went off cold turkey(I didn't want him to) and didn't have any withdrawal symptoms. He is on a different med and doing well. I hope this helps you sleep.

S.,

My daughter started Lexapro last month, and we have seen a tremendous change in her. Yes, she's had to fiddle with the time she takes the medication. If she takes it too early it makes her feel "icky", but if she takes it too late she doesn't sleep. She's found that if she takes it around 4pm she can sleep, and doesn't feel bad. She says that she HAS to eat before taking it.

I've taken antidepressants before, and know from experience that at first you may have some side effects as your body is getting used to the medication. However, if you give it some time you will hopefully find that your body adjusts and you feel SO much better. Talk to your doctor, but I suspect that he/she will encourage you to give it a little time to see if your body will adjust and you will feel better on the medication. Weaning off is just that, Weaning... don't just drop it. Work out a plan with your doctor when the time comes and you should be fine.

Best Wishes!

T.

My husband has been on it for almost a year. He does not take it everyday though. He takes it usually just during the week. He doesn't want to become dependent on it. However, when he has taken it for longer periods and then stopped, he has had no withdrawl symptoms. I know it's different for everyone but it has worked wonders for him nd our family. I can definitely tell a positive difference in him. He takes it in the morning.

Also, have you looked into taking melatonin to help your sleep?? It has worked miracles for us!! :) Good luck!

I was on it for a year for post partum depression. Loved it. The only thing is that I could not lose weight and some people gain weight, I didn't but I felt so much better and I had no withdrawel symptoms but you need to go by what your doctors says to do when getting off of it. Good luck!j

I have taken Lexapro in the past and had no problems with it whatsoever. I believe I took myself off of it (cold turkey) and had no withdrawal symptoms. I am a firm believer that different drugs affect people differently. You'll just have to trust your doctor, IMO. Good luck.

I took it for 2 years and NOTHING but good things happened. It allowed me to get back on track with my anxiety and I was able to stop taking them cold turkey with NO side effects. I did lose about 20 lbs taking it. Good Luck.

Lexapro is a very mild antidepressant. I've been on several over the past 10 years for clinical depression and it is by far the most "friendly," (i.e. fewer side effects). There have been times when money was tight and I quit taking Lexapro without weaning myself off of it and didn't have a problem at all.

I know several people on it and they all feel the same.

If you need to be on something -- this is the best! :)

I toke Lex for over a year with GREAT results emotionally. Sadly, I lost ALL sexual sensation, not drive, just all FEELING. I stopped under Dr orders, but did not know to get off gradually (I guess neither did my dr).

I ended up ruining a good friend's birthday vacation in Hawaii (my dream vaca too) and almost throwing myself off the Maui Marriot 20th story balcony.

I am now on Wellbutrin and feel just as good, with no side effects yet.

I was on it for 6 months and it helped but the withdrawal symptoms made me want to die. I felt like my brain was miss firing if that makes since. I was super nauseous and had horrible headaches. I had the ween myself slowly, took the pill an hour later everyday and then I would try to go until I couldn't stand the symptoms anymore.

I took Lexapro for 3 years and feel like it really helped me. You cannot just stop taking it though. You have to wean yourself off. I did and was just fine.

I used to take Lexapro for my anxiety and it was the only medicine I could take although I only took 5 mg dose (half what is recommended for me). I found it too powerful, and it did take about 20 days to really start working to relieve anxiety, but I didn't have too many side effects. When I started and stopped taking it I used Xanax for a week or two while my body went super sensitive to everything, but then had to adjust back. I would not recommend anything else outside of maybe raising your chlorophyll intake that really has helped me since I stopped taking Lexapro. I think because I do not eat alot of fruits and vegies that is what really sets off my natural anxiety response system. Hope this helps. -J. White

Every anti depressant will have withdrawal side effects, so dont let that be the only reason you are concerned about taking it! If you follow dr.s orders when coming off of it, you should be fine. My sister loves Lexapro! She has tried several meds and that one works best for her. I have always heard that you need to give yourself time to adjust..up to 6 weeks, before you decide if a particular drug is right for you. I hope it will work for you, and that you will be feeling better soon! ~A.~

I had severe anxiety problems this summer and was on a lot of different medications. I learned a lot! Whenever you take antidepressants or anti-anxiety, your body gets used to the medication. If you go off it quickly, you will suffer withdrawal symptoms. You doctor can tell you how to wean off medications so that withdrawal is minimal. I am on Zoloft now and have been able to reduce my dosage with no problems at all.
I was on Lexapro years ago and only stayed on it a week. It took away all of my emotions. I found that Zoloft works best for me. However, everyone's body reacts differently. Know that it takes several weeks for the medicine to take full effect. That part stinks and makes you wonder if you will ever feel better. I will tell you that I've been told by several doctors that the best time to take it is in the morning.
The best advice that I can give to you is to talk to a psychiatrist. They have the most experience with antidepressants and their side effects. Now, some doctors like to over prescribe. That happened to me. I have found a new doctor now that listens to me, and life is good. I wish you the best of luck! If you have more concerns, send me a message. I've been through a lot in the past year and can relate. I'm sorry that you are going through this.

I took Lexapro in 2003 after my daughter was born. I took it for 6 months. I stopped cold turkey (not what the Dr wanted) and had no problems. My husband said he saw a positive difference in my while I was on it. I never felt different, but sometimes I'm too close to the situation and can't make a "logical" decision.

I say go with what you feel comfortable doing. Take it short term at first if you feel the need. Your health is your decision. Good Luck.

Hi S.,

I have been taking Lexapro for 5 years now. My dr first put me on Prozac after my hysterectomy (still had one working ovary)...did ok with it at first, but I started having vision problems. He changed me over to Lexapro and it has been awesome! I have no side effects and I can tell the difference. I recommend taking it at night (I take mine about 9) as it does make you sleepy, but not where you are passed completely out. Hope this helps. Candy

I started Paxil (Paroxitine) with great fear and trepidation for of ever tying to get off it it. But I LOVE it and NEVER want to get off of it. My anxiety is under control....I go with the flow.... I LOVE the *new* me!!! And so does everyone else! I did change a lot though, I evolved into a fun carefree person in less than a year. So watch out, you may become too incredible! hahahhahaha
~A.