Lexapro
 

I was wondering if anyone here has been taking Lexapro? The side effects that are bothersome would be difficulty falling asleep at night, but really tired all day long. I also have been having headaches.

My question is; Did your side effects go away after taking it and if so, how long before you felt okay? I've been on about two weeks now and still have this going on and read that this drug does cause this to happen.

Thanks in advance!!

Hi GJ's. I took Lexapro several yrs ago and after about a yr, my Dr switched me to EffexorXR, which I have not noticed any side effects from.

Good luck.. I know there are others here on Lexapro, so hopefully someone will come along.

take care.

Do you take it in the morning or at night? If you haven't already, try taking it at the opposite time of the day than you do now.

I took it at night because it made me tired during the day. I never had headaches from Lexapro.

If the symptoms are too bothersome then call the doctor, there are so many choices for ADs and to find the right one can be trial and error.

Thanks DM and Snoopy,
I'll try your idea first snoopy, by taking at night. If that doesn't work, I'll talk to the Doctor...I see him Wed. THANKS!

I do take Lexapro. I have taken it for 1 1/2 years and have had few problems with headaches, I don't think that mine are a result of the lexapro. I take mine with supper, giving it plenty of time to wear off before morning. I don't have any trouble falling asleep.

Hope I help:)

I've been on Lexapro since June. I have no problems now and take it in the morning. When I first started I had trouble staying awake during the day. I switched to night, it didn't help.

I've always been sensitive to meds, so I take it slow and ramp up. I eventually took a 1/2 for 2 weeks. Then 1/2 twice a day for another couple weeks. I was finally able to take the whole pill after about 6 weeks of trial and error. I don't notice any effects today and it sure improved my outlook on life.

Much luck to you.

:hug:

i've been on several and am currently on lexapro.
i'm afraid i'm no help because i've tolerated it well.

i hope you get the problems solved with the med.
or perhaps your dr will change it.

I took Lexapro for about two years. I don't remember any side effects from it at all. It was really great in the beginning but after two years, as with many SSRI's, it fizzled out on me. My doc then switched me to Paxil and it has been wonderful ever since.

Since you've only been on it for two weeks I would give it a full month and see if you still experience side effects. Even then, talk to your doc about it before going off of it. You can't just quit or you will have even worse problems to deal with.

Best of luck to you.

I have been on Lexapro for almost a year now and have never had a problem with it. If I miss a dose or 2 though I can tell so I try my best to keep up with it. Has anyone heard of Cellexa? (sp?)

:hug: Susan

Hi Greenjeans! :)

I tried Lexapro when my neuro first RX'd anti-depressants for me. It had a bad effect on me because it gave me so much energy I couldn't rest. I also started having panic attacks from it. :confused: So the neuro switched me to Zoloft that did a much better job.

At the time I was having therapy after my Dad died. The psychologist said that Lexapro sort of gives you a caffeine-like kick, and might be best for someone with just depression.

The Zoloft has more of a calming effect and can level you out if you have a combination of depression and anxiety.

It made sense to me by the way I responded to the two meds.

I don't know if this is the case with you or not though, just thought I'd mention it.

I hope you get some good results soon! :hug:

Morning all,
Appreciate all the comments! Today I awoke feeling like a mac truck hit. Seems like the longer I take it, the worse I feel. At first it really made a difference. I do have the anxiety mixed with depression and lexapro is supposed to be for both....but....Don't know why I feel crummy! I see the doctor tomorrow, maybe he'll have a better plan, or comfort me that this shall pass. I'm going to take it tonight instead of this morning....

Enjoy your day everybody!!

I started Lexapro about 2 1/2 months ago and have not had any bad side effects from it. I was feeling the depression coming on around the Holiday's and I didn't want to do anything or even get out of bed. I was BLAH!:(

It took about 4 weeks before I noticed a change in my depression and now I feel better. It's not a cure all but it has really helped me.:)

I take my pill when I wake up in the morning. I have extreme fatigue and migraines with my MS normally so I can't tell that is has made them any worse. I have been on Zoloft in the past and tolerated it well also.

The generic Lexapro is so cheap and that's a big thing for me being on Medicare D.:)

Maybe if you give it a few more weeks, it will kick in and you will feel better. I hope so.:)

What is the generic Lexapro? I was told by one dr. that there wasn't a generic for it. :Scratch-Head:

My PCP started me off with name brand samples of Lexapro for 2 weeks and then I started the generic which is for Lexapro and Celexa called Citalopram 40MG. My PCP knows I only have Medicare part D so she tries to give me all generic meds since I'm so poor. :p

I don't have insurance and the Lexapro costs almost $100 a month. I've been paying it because I've had success with it and was afraid to try something else. Neuro suggested Celexa and I can get it through the MS Clinic for $5. I get so confused with all these meds! But when it comes to AD's I want to be careful about changing. I appreciate the info. and by the way.....I'm poor too! :wink::p

:hug: Susan

Susan,

We aren't really poor, we just don't have any money.:) We can't help it because this MS thing is very expensive.:p

I have been living on Social Security since 1993. I have told all of my doctor's that I can't afford the expensive meds and I must have either have generic or Patient Courtesy for free from the Pharmaceutical Companies.

I was really embarrased at first but when I had to stop work and start living on SSDI there was no coverage for medication. There were no affordable supplemental plans for anyone but the elderly retired and my company didn't offer coverage since I was only 40ish and not considered "retired".

I discovered during a conversation with my Cardioligist years ago that he had no idea how much the drugs cost. I clued him in and he is the one that told me not to feel bad about my finances and to let the doctors know. He was the first doctor to go directly to the Pharmaceutical Company to get my heart medication for free.

I think you should get the generic Celexa for $5.00. My PCP knew I had been on Zoloft a few years ago and that doctor gave me samples so I wouldn't have to pay. My current PCP said she thought Lexapro generic would be the best for me and she knew it was generic and cheap. I got mine refilled today and my co pay was $6.00 through Medicare D.

We need all the help we can get. Good luck. I hope the Lexapro works as well for you as it does for me.:)

Thanks for all the advice DOCTORS :D

My Doc said to cut it in half, and take at night :rolleyes:

Who needs doc's when I have you :hug:

LOL!!!!

Susan~~ Celexa is the newer form (derivitive) of Lexapro only w/fewer side effects. I was on it, and it helped me.

I now take EffexorXR, but the Celexa did not give me any side effects at all.

Good luck all!

I did the same thing only I can only tolerate 10 mg of the citalopram. Anything more makes me all wired and jittery.

GJ - The citalopram did help me with some of the fatigue. I can now stay awake until almost lunch time on good days. I still take a 1 to 2 hour nap every day but the citalopram has really helped.

The downside, for me, was that AD's were prescribed to me to help me through the pain cycle. The citalopram does not work as well as the Paxil did for pain. I tense up a lot when I am in pain and it causes more pain. You know the cycle. LOL. Anyhow, Paxil took away my personality and gave me a flat affect but being a little subdued during periods of intense pain, it worked well.

Daisymay, I believe you have this backward. Lexapro is the newer form of Celexa. I ,too, take citalopram, which is the generic form of Celexa. Lexapro is the 'new & improved' version of Celexa, which is why there is not a generic equivalent for it yet (and also why it is much more expensive).

My doctor started me on (1) 20 mg pill/day (for about 2 weeks), then went up to (2) 20 mg pills. I told my doctor that I thought I'd do better on something in between those doses. He has me taking 1 1/2 pills a day (total 30 mg) now, which seems just right.

Oh, and I take mine at night too. With antidepressant/anxiety meds, I have found that you often need to tweak the dosages (with your doctor's approval, of course) somewhat to find what works the way you need it to.

I took my half pill last night, and awoke with a headach and over all blaaa feeling. Prozac never did this....but prozac is not so much for anxiety. I want to take something, but it's really interphering with my schooling and overall feeling of good health. Or maybe the lethargy is from another source? Don't understand why it keeps giving headaches too tho....I want to be a good patient, and listen to the doc's...he said yesterday that it could take a month for the side effects to diminish (or as the pharmacutical companies say, three months :rolleyes: ) Thats a long time to feel less than normal....

I've also noticed that it is causing my right eye vision to be more blurry than normal....I hate to 'think' it's 'something else'....because you'll all think I'm a loon! :( :p :eek: :D

My PCP thought Lexapro might help my pain a little bit too. Antidepressants have never worked on the pain problem for me and Lexapro isn't either.

I am taking Lexapro for a diagnosis of "situational depression" to help me through a major family crisis. I also take Valium for dizziness and anxiety.

I think we all need to keep trying until we find the right meds for each of us and the type of depression we have.:)

I agree, lexapro has not helped with pain. I had a slip and fall on the ice this week and been back on the Vicodin again. I was off for 3 weeks tho :)

I wish my doc had given me the prozac and the valium (never tried valium). I'm also dx'ed with "Situational Depression" FWIW :D

Oh, that's terrible you fell on the ice. I hope you are feeling better.:) I hardly even go outside with all the weather changes going on. It's icy here in OKC today.:(

My sister has been on Prozac for years and she really likes it. Everytime the doctor's switch her, she wind up back on Prozac. It is really cheap but for some reason the doctor seem to swing to the new expensive drugs. I have been told that Prozac and Zoloft have the least side effects.:confused:

I was put on Valium in 1992 when my vertigo and dizziness started and take at least one a day. It is also very helpful with anxiety and I take it as I need it on those days when I am keyed up.

Maybe if you talk to your doctor about your anxiety, he will give you a prescription for Valium. It's worth a try because it really helps.:)

And you can take it as a generic drug as most RX plans don't seem to want to cover it - generic is diazepam - helps me with muscle spasms while sleeping - also - helps me sleep - 6mg at bedtime -

Forgot to mention - if you do take Valium - NO grapefruit or grapefruit juice - big no-no on bottle

yeah i take it at night also with no effects, i know it takes the body some time to adjust to certain meds, just dont remember if i had any side effects i am pretty sure my doc said takeit at night it might make me sleepy