HEALTH Lexapro

D

_dd

Senior Member
I am hoping you wonderful people may have some info you are willing to share.

If you or anyone you know has been prescribed lexapro, if you don't mind sharing any personality or behavioral changes you have noticed, I would sure appreciate it.

My daughter was prescribed this medication for severe depression, and I am seeing some changes in her that I don't care for. I am wondering if anyone else has seen anything. I don't want to influence what the responses may be, so I will save my observations for a bit.

Thanks, any input on changes you have observed in others would be very helpful to me.

dd
 
J

Jean B

Veteran Member
Been there with a daughter who had Epstien Barr. They gave it to her as a preventative measure. Emotionally she was fine, but so tired and sick.

Getting off of it on the lowest amount for 7 months was hard. It took 2 weeks. She was like a drug addict, chills, weeping etc. I knew we were in touble when she started seeing things that weren't there like a stool that she tried to sit on and there wasn't one. I got on line and read side effects. She had about 85% of them. It was not a good thing for her.

We would go the nutrition changes and vitaman direction. Another concern about meds like this that concern me is when the bottom fall out will you be able to get it and afford it? You cannot get off of it cold turkey. It changes your pathways that you think. Another negative IMHO.

If your gut is giving you a caution, go with it.
 
agmfan3

agmfan3

Veteran Member
ok, here is my story, I was having lots of stress at work, and had lumps in my breast, Dr. gave me lexapro, I became dizzy, would tell the kids to get me milk from fridge and be pointing at microwave, when I couldn't remember where the keys on the keyboard were I said enough .... the nurse said she calls lexapro the "numb and dumb" pill. I quit it all, started to walk/run and not stress over stuff ... much better
 
P

PinkyTink

Random Acts of Kindness
Lexapro has worked for me.

I have been on Lexapro for about a year now. It is a 3rd generation I believe from Prozac, so it is a newer & more improved drug. Prozac eventually gave me insomnia. I have done very well on Lexapro. I take it because I simply cannot deal with stress - had too much of it over the past many decades. The stress will lead to depression, and I know that I must stay on it.

Being on Lexapro I feel like my normal self. I do not take a high dose - 5 mg. is all I need to keep myself on an even keel. Actually the only symptom I have is that it is extremely hard for me to cry now. That is the only symptom I have, although I doubt that I could cry if I were off it either. I was not allowed to cry as a child - blah, blah, blah.

I truly wish people would come out of the closet about their need for anti-depressants!! For me, and most others, it is a PHYSICAL issue. My brain does not get enough Serotonin, so I have to take medicine to meet that need, the same as a diabetic needs insulin. Nothing to be ashamed of.

I'm sorry if I haven't been of much help to you, but Lexapro has been a God-send for me. :shr:
 
P

PinkyTink

Random Acts of Kindness
the nurse said she calls lexapro the "numb and dumb" pill.

I am appalled that any nurse would say that about a drug that has helped so many people. I believe you when you say she said it, but she is totally clueless to say something like that. I have never felt numb or dumb on this pill. My mind is as sharp as it always was.
 
L

LetFreedomRing.

Contributing Member
I have been on Lexapro for a few years now. I was depressed and had some problems with obsessivness. Lexapro has been a godsend for me.

Side effects were hard at 1st. Burning in my chest, blurred vision, bad dreams, insomnia. After about 6 weeks everything went away except the insomnia. I still have to take Tylenol PM at night to sleep.

Not all SSRI's are the same and if after a few months on Lexapro she is not doing well, I would ask the Dr. to try another one. Give each some time to work though.

Hope this helps.
 
L

Lady Wingnut

Inactive
had someone close to me have a severe manic episode triggered by the lexapro....it can be dangerous for someone w/ undiagnosed bipolar disorder to take just an antidepressant.....
 
Rescuedog

Rescuedog

Inactive
I tried Lexapro for depression. I either felt great or extremely jittery and anxious. The doctor switched over to Effexor and it was the perfect solution for me. I take 150mg.

I hope your DD finds something that works for her, depression is awful.

RD
 
N

night driver

ESFP adrift in INTJ sea
RELIC went from Celexa to Lexapro...slightly cleaner.

Her only real side effect is that she is more ahead of me when we start working on some kind of change in our preps...
 
B

BuckSarge

Contributing Member
My DW sold Lexapro as a Pharm. Rep. for Forrest Pharm. for two years. This drug should only be prescribed for individuals who have depression and or anxiety. Lexapro is not indicated for any other disorder. If an individual suffers from bi-polar or any other disorder and is given Lexapro, it is being prescribed "off label". Therefore, it may not be treating your disorder. Psychiatrists have been known to combine Lexapro with other medications to achieve a cocktail to treat their patients. Patients should start at 5 mg and titrate up if needed. Lexapro and all other depression meds are not recommended for children under the age of 18. Lexapro clinically has been proven to have the least occurance of side effects compared to other anti-depressants that work on seratonin. The most common side effect noted by physicians is the inability to reach sexual climax for both men and women. In her two years selling this drug, many of these side effects discussed have never been brought to her attention by any physician she called on. Always read the package insert before using any medication. Call your MD immediately if you experience negative side effects that you consider harmful.
 
D

_dd

Senior Member
Thanks everyone for your input and for sharing what you have seen with lexapro.

Daughter is on 10mg a day. She was having severe depression, was at times suicidal, and was having panic attacks. The panic attacks have stopped, the suicidal times have decreased alot, and the depression is some better. While the meds are a help, they aren't a cure all, and she is going to have to work on some coping skills as well.

The main thing that I am seeing that I don't like is that she has become very selfish and self centered. Sometimes she is almost cold hearted. This child used to be one of the most kind and caring people you would ever meet. Now she can be pretty unpleasant to be around, and it is taking its toll on her sister and on me. She also doesn't pursue things that she is talented in any longer. And, it has made getting her to do her schoolwork very difficult. She just doesn't let it bother her if she isn't doing well in something or doesn't get her work done. I have never stressed straight A's. I am satisfied with passing grades. So, it isn't that she had too much stress over school in the past.

And the not crying.....she will cry if she has a bad fight with her boyfriend, or has a bad enough fight with me. But beyond that, no tears. She used to cry over everything...which we don't want either, but now it is the other extreme.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. I haven't noticed anyone else noting the selfishness symptom. I am going to talk to the doc about perhaps lowering her dosage.
 
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