Lexapro and Reactions

[Spike Angelus]

I've been on Lexapro for about 2 months now for anxiety, and for a while it seemed to be working, but the last week or so I've started having constant panic attacks again, including having trouble breathing(which was the main reason I went to the doctor to begin with). I called the doctor, and he said it was just my body adjusting to the Lexapro, but isn't it supposed to stop reactions like that? anyway, I'm wondering if any of my fellow BBer's have had to deal with anxiety, and what they've done to overcome it, or if they've reacted to anti-anxiety meds like I've been reacting, and what their doctors did about it.

 

[Washburne]

I'm kind of just starting out so I have no cure (for me) to talk about. But I know however that the adjusting thing happens a lot. But after more than 1,5 month seems a bit unusual to me. On the other hand at the stage I'm at I know things will go up and down. Sometimes I'll feel better and sometimes worse. But hopefully it'll be better/more consistant with time. But differnet people react different (me and my sis has taken the same meds and we react different to it) so if you think you're doctor is wrong you should check with another one. And if the current panic attacks don't stop call your doctor again.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

I was on Paxil for about 7 years for general anxiety disorder. I didn't have full-blown panic attacks, but I had enough anxiety that it was starting to interfere with my daily functioning.

I had every side effect in the book when I started taking it. After that it certainly made me feel better, although it did nothing to change the underlying source of the anxiety. These drugs don't treat anxiety, they just mask it. Ideally, you should also be talking to a therapist to find out the cause of the anxiety and try to deal with it.

After a year or two I started getting strange side effects... a whooshing sound in my head when I'd move my eyes, sometimes accompanied by vertigo and an electric-zap sensation. Judging by the support forums I was posting in, these side effects are pretty common, especially when you start building up tolerance to the drug and it begins to "poop out" and stop working.

Finally, the anxiety came back despite still taking the Paxil. At that point I decided to stop taking it, but I had to wean myself off it very slowly (gradually reducing the dosage over several months), because these drugs can have severe withdrawal effects if you go off them too quickly.

I still have pretty bad GAD, though I've learned to live with it for the time being.

 

[Tueuse de Vampires]

Okay, I'm confused.

You're right there's such a thing as the adjusting time, but usually, it's the other way around. You get the meds, and they start working approx. 3 weeks to 2 months after that, and before they kick in, your symptoms might be worsened.


If they don't show any effect now, you ought consider talking to your doc about either dosage augmentation or switching meds. Not all meds work for all people.

At least that's what I learned at university...and I'm a Psych student 😉

EDIT: And of course, what AC said is also very important: Therapy should come first. Or, if it's not enough, at least therapy and meds together. We always learned that just putting someone on meds and that's it is like the last resort.

 

[Spike Angelus]

I'm kind of just starting out so I have no cure (for me) to talk about. But I know however that the adjusting thing happens a lot. But after more than 1,5 month seems a bit unusual to me. On the other hand at the stage I'm at I know things will go up and down. Sometimes I'll feel better and sometimes worse. But hopefully it'll be better/more consistant with time. But differnet people react different (me and my sis has taken the same meds and we react different to it) so if you think you're doctor is wrong you should check with another one. And if the current panic attacks don't stop call your doctor again.

That's how I was with Paxil. I reacted badly to it (badly as in was rushed to the ER with heart attack signs. Thankfully it wasn't) That's when the doctor switched me. I'm hoping things will even out, and my body gets to normal soon.

 

[Nix]

I'd say keep an eye on things and report to your doctor if the anxiety/pannic gets worse or does not improve. Meds like this should always come with therapy. Therapy is nothing to be scared of just is there to help you like the meds should be. If you ever need to chat feel free to PM me 🙂

 

[Wesley]

Perhaps the earlier period of easing of problems with a placebo effect and you're now getting the 'worsening symptoms' part and then in a couple more weeks they're going to kick in for certain?

 

[Tasha]

A few years ago i had major anxiety problems, i would get serious panic attacks randomly when i was out , at points i couldn't breathe and felt like fainting so much i'd be in tears..
I don't know if this is the same thing you's are talking about,, i never went to any doctor or therapy.
One of the worst years of my life anyways. :| I begged my mum not to tell anyone or do anything, it took me about a year to get better. I still have them now and again (rarely).
I don't really like speaking about them , i don't want my family to think i'm crazy. ;(

 

[Professor Walsh]

Tasha ~ and others, I'm sure, you have no idea how common this is. Anxiety affects a large part of the population, but because it's largely hushed down we don't feel how normal it is. Anxiety is nothing to be ashamed of!

 

[Washburne]

I don't really like speaking about them , i don't want my family to think i'm crazy. ;(

I know the feeling and sure it might get better on it's own but take it from someone that tried to ignore (or at least tried and hide if from everyone else) his issues for a long, long time. If it doesn't get better on it's own, which you can't know in advance, you don't want to wait till it destroys you completely (say hello to the current me). I can't help but wonder what some meds and therapy could have done with my life if I started it much earlier.

 

[Allie]

I have GAD, and also OCD and I am ADD. So I am just screwed, lol. I am on Prozac for depression and GAD, and it also helps with OCD. And I am on Wellbutrin for the ADD, because I can't do adderal or anything ike that. It seems to be helping.

Did they gradually increase your Lexapro? Because a lot of times, you have to go up slowly and then if you quit you have to go down slowly. But I was aways told if your symptons get worse, call the doctor immediately, because some antidepressants can, ironically cause suicidal thoughts.

 

[thevikingsgirl]

My husband's been dealing with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks forever. He tried a lot of different drugs, and the SSRIs like Lexapro helped somewhat but with lots of side effects. And weaning off of them is pretty awful. He manages it naturally now with various lifestyle & herbal/homeopathic things. I'd be happy to post them if you're interested - I know not everybody's open to that stuff. just LMK.

 

[Spike Angelus]

My husband's been dealing with depression, anxiety, and panic attacks forever. He tried a lot of different drugs, and the SSRIs like Lexapro helped somewhat but with lots of side effects. And weaning off of them is pretty awful. He manages it naturally now with various lifestyle & herbal/homeopathic things. I'd be happy to post them if you're interested - I know not everybody's open to that stuff. just LMK.

I'm very open to herbal and homeopathic remedies. You can PM me with the list if you'd like.

 

[Allie]

I would also be interested in seeing the list, please 🙂. I feel like I am on too much medicine and would like other options, lol.

 

[frankie]

I get anxiety attacks nearly everyday. I've trained myself to control them, but for me it means being alone for a few minutes of the day, blocking everyone and everything out, closing my eyes, controlling my breathing and in a way meditating. I need to find those moments of complete calm, where no one else can intrude. Then i'm usually fine for the rest of the day.
The problem is though, that I need to be alone to deal with it, if I have anxiety attacks with people around me, I find it hard to get into that calm frame of mind.