First day on Escitalopram?

are you okay

Yes.

Still tired and I just can wait to have my energy back and feel more calm inside me!

Its way better I guess then few weeks ago but just cant wait for a more stabilise, functionnal me!

And ypu, how are you???

Lynn, is it your first try with a med????

If not, have you been on one for a long time before?

zoloft worked great for 20 years than had breakthrough anxiety. tried a bunch otherones this year. prozac lexapro nortriptyline and pristiq didn't know if i didn't give them enough time but didn't work. hope paxil works on it 3 weeks today

How long time did you allow to the ones ypu tried this year and what dosage?

Maybe thats why it didnt work???

probably prozac 8 weeks 20, pristiq 50 9 weeks. nortripyline 6 weeks

which ones did you try

I tried almost all of them in the past 12 years but the ones that worked was effexor at first for few years. Now it gives me palpitations.

Zoloft was good for 4 or 5 years.

lexapro 3 years.

And last year, I changed too many time the meds and dosages. Now back to lexapro 15mg and I will try keeping this way for a while.

Did you tried lexapro?

You never pass the 3 months. You have to at least give 3 or 4 months.

And if you change dosage, its also sort of a new start again.

what dose do you take now?

10mg

tried 20 too high im sensitive get lots of anxiety

can you split and take 15.

Im really sensitive too, so when I had to increased from 10 to 15, I cut the pill to make 12,5 for around a week then 15.

i will stay on ten till i settle for 2 weeks

how long did you stay on 10

Around 5 weeks Then 12,5 for 8 days then 15mg.

But I had read that 10mg of paxil is about equivalent to 20mg of lexapro.

So your 10mg would be about 5mg in lexapro. That is not a big or therapeutic dose. But I understand the sensitivity to side effects. If your paxil comes in pills form, I would suggest to cut around 15mg before going to 20. That may ease the side effects.

10 mg lexapro =22 Prozac = 19 Paxil = 55 Zoloft

15 mg lexapro = 33 Prozac =

28 Paxil = 82 Zoloft

20 mg lexapro =44 Prozac =38 paxil = 110 Zoloft

i found this on a science website

lolita it is in the recources that i sent you . i did the math from what they said and that is what i came up with. i can send yall the site!

Great!

So lexapro is really more potent that a lot of other ssri.

That means 10mg of paxil is a low dose.

i think that website is pretty legit

i amhaving a bad few days waiting for dr to call back im on 10 mg lexapro he said that is low dose. i know its withdrawal from prozac and start up of lexapro !!! and stress!!!

10mg is like a starting dose for lexapro. Maybe go to 15mg would help. Cause you did great for a few months at 10mg?? Right?!

You stopped prozac , what 5 months ago? Do you think it can still be withdrawal ?

Or sort of a withdrawal from klonopin?

Also, its winter and the lack if vitamines can contribute like vitamine d, b , iron or magnesium !

i stopped prozac nov 20 and went on lexapro 10 thats about 7 weeks. it takes prozac 6 weeks to get out of you system after stopping it. so we did lexapro 10 with a mixture of prozac still in my body for 7 weeks. so prozac withdrawel& lexapro sideffects ?

what is max dose of lexapro i think it is 20 ?

I dont know why but I was thinking you were on lex for few months cause when you were saying that you felt better, etc.

Yes max dose is 20mg with lex. I take 15mg.

Since prozac is now out of your system, I would say its more of lex side effets or setback or that the dose is not enough. But Im not a doctor so its a guess.

lolita

i talk to dr he agreed it may be too low due to it working good with the mixture of prozac still being in my system for 6 weeks. or it could be my body adjusting to lex. he said that it was up to me i could wait and see if i had another episode or up to 15 mgs. he said that looking at my history of the other meds that i recovered then upping to 15 wouldnt hurt he ask me about any side effects i said none other than stomach still trying to heal up. normal i would say stay on 10. i know its a really low dose. im feeling much better now so it will be much easier to change the dose to 15 mg . so we are going to up to 15 and watch for side effects

i just realized i stopped prozac and started lexapro 2 months ago wow!!

sorry your'e having some bad days Brian.

I thought you were doing really well. Praying this blip passes soon for you.

lolita

i recovered on prozac i took prozac for 6 months even though it gave me bad heartburn. we stuck with it even though i new i was going to change meds. because it is a whole lot easier to switch meds or adjust dose when you are feeling pretty good. its hard to switch meds when you are in a bad way! thats probably why you thought i was on lex for more time!!!

i had already put my hard time in on the prozac!!!

Im also months in lexapro total.

Is your anxiety really bad?

Do you take something to help your stomach issues !?

Hope for you it doesnt last!

no the anxiety is not bad now!!

it was some anxiety this morning till around 3 pm . yes i take zantac morning, prilosec lunch, zantac at supper.

But when you say you dont feel well since a dew days, is it stress? anxiety? or else?

Is your stomach issue like heartburn? Have your doctor investigate?

Their is changes you can make and natural stuff that might help ease!

If you have a natural product store near you, you can go and ask for for slippery elm. Its a powder I take in a bit of apple sauce sometimes mix with aloes juice and it help heal the stomach and gut. You can also ask for herbal teas.

But you have to avoid food that cause acidity like tomato, spices, coffee, sugar, raffined food. All that can help soo much.

definetly hard to change life eating habits. ive done it before i can do it again!?!?!

Of course ot is hard! An habit is quick to make but hard to change! I think its the same with our issues with depression, anxiety which are a lot relate to our head, thinking, actions or inactions.

But I have read a lot recently about the food that has a huge impact in our mental health. No wonder with all the process foods, poor nutriments, pesticide today! They say our digestive system mainly our gut is like our first brain with neuroreceptors. Meds we take first past by the digestive system ( stomach, liver, gut, ) so if those are not working optimaly ( because of bad nutrition, bad food, food intoletances, etc), well we wont have great absoption. And Ive read a lot of people consuming stuff like all dairy products and gluten who wont necessarly be allergic or have clear symptoms but are intolerant. And there symptoms were more like depression, brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, aches, headaches, etc. So maybe we have to check on that sometimes.

definetly our stomach has more seritonine than our brain. thats why stomach issues can be a side effect of these meds. and when you have anxiety fear emotions etc it effects you stomach!!!!!

im gonna have to slow down and eat better. sleep better.

I am currently on Ativan for the anxiety and I feel like I am having to take it too muchwhich scares me son Dr is swapping me to xanex XR to be taken once a day. It stays in system for 24 hours supposedly then use ativan only as a rescue med if my anxiety gets super bad. I hope it works for me 😦

that is for anxiety so it will work for that. zanex and klonopin are in the benzo family. take it while you adjust to the celexa, and as you recover on celexa over the next few months you wont need the xanex anymore!!

You will probably get a faster relief with xanax and in will last a little longer I guess.

Give us so news when you take it!

I sure hope it works. I am sick of all this crying and anxiety. I am ready for a little peace and happiness and I know the xanex wont bring that but if it can at least aid the constant anxiety that would be better than nothing.

I assume I will start tomorrow. Waiting for pharmacy to call me and tell me it is ready.

Maybe if the anxiety decrease a bit, you will feel less down and crying???

I hope that for you also!

How long the lamictal is suppose to take to make effect?

brian did you ever take a couple of .5 klonopin when anxiety got bad 3 weeks in

lolita do you ever get chest tightness when anxious

yes sometimes !

But I had that a lot when they stopped my meds in october with panic attacks.

I get it thats the anxiety....I also get nauseas alot too. I started taking a probiotic to see if that helps with stomach.

Lynn i take 2 ativan when i get really bad and it has never hurt me.

Of course you should ask your dr but he will probably advise not to because they have too.

I don't like having to take more pills which is why I asked to try xanax xr and praying it works.

Question?? So have any of you ever dealt with the emotional flatness where all you felt was sad and blaaaa.

I wish i could get some of my happiness or excitement back. Then maybe my interests would come back as well.

all i seem to get is anxiety

I kind of feel blaaa also with anxiety. But Im just worry about this fatigue I have. Its like I sleep but never feel rest. Also tired, tired, tired....

I have the same fatigue issues. I am extremely tired all the time.

I used to run half marathons and have so much energy before all of this happened.

I just know its a combo of the meds and the anxiety. I just want my life back 😦

lolita its 23 days on paxil howlong have you been on lexapro

yes i would take one and wait one hour and if i was still keyed up with anxiety i would take another. but i learned to be careful because if i ever sat down it would put me to sleep. if i was at home i would try and calm myself with one . if i was freaking out at work i would take two if the first one didnt work and keep moving

i got anxiety and then was getting depressed because of the doom and gloom and negativity that anxiety brings thought i would never feel better

9 weeks.

In a way, I am way better then where I first was. I was litteraly just crying, desperate etc. I was having bad bad anxiety.

Sure, I still feel low and anxious but not the way it was. Its mostly the tiredness ...maybe its part of the healing process???

I woke up around 6h30 for the kid then slept until 9h30 and went to the chiroprator for my back aches and all afternoon, I was a zombie on the couch.

Its the same for me!

Having too many anxiety or thinking too much about this or that brings me more negativity and low mood.

i meam 2 a day

Im glad to see in a way that Im not alone in this....I mean with the exhaustion, zombifying fatigue but I hope we all get our energy back!

It can take up to a few weeks 😦

Why everything takes soooooo long!!

im alteady 9weeks in total but last increase was 3weeks ago. So from when should I count?

When you say it can take a few weeks, do you know how long????

lynn yes 2 aday is fine. i took up to 4 aday when i was so bad freaking out.

but usually it was 2 or 3 aday then to 1 aday

lolita everyone is different do it can take days or weeks. I know everytime you change dose uou have side effects. Hopefully were all better soon!!

Brian, woke up with much less anxiety but so spacey and tired 24 days in. Did you ever feel like this

went out to feed the birds 8 degrees in vt.

woke up with much less anxiety this morning, but feel so tired and spacey today.

anxiety back

I found out eating honey nut cheerios without the milk helps my stomach tremendously.

I feel also pretty anxious this morning. From the moment, I woke up its like my mind is starting an auto scan pf myself to check if Im feeling good or not, what aches I have and my brain is thinking way too fast and too many thoughts.

Then, I start questionning myself whats wrong? Is it the med? etc, etc.

All that after a 10hrs sleep. Feels like I havent slept, Im already tired!

yes

lolita the anxiety amplifies everthing so you notice every little pain or this or that!!!!

then these ssris increase anxiety during early days of med or dose change.

so you may be experiencing double dose of anxiety rt now

I know but Im not really early days, no??? 9 weeks is not early isnt it?

what does your doctor say

I took my Xanex er this morning and then went to work with my husband in the yard. Within 30 minutes I felt sick and went in the house and fell into complete hysterics. Lasted about 30 minutes.

Maybe a side effect from the xanex not sure.

Feel a little better now but I am exhausted and chest is hurting.

HATE THIS!!

call the pharmacist, he will be able to tell you if its a side effects. I never had that with klonopin.

I havent see my psychiatrist recently.

I think she will say to up my lexapro but I dont know.

im on 10 citalopram i was surprised he didn't tell me to up the dose but I think he wants to get me under control first since my emotions are already so all over the place.

10 cit worked for me for 19 years so hopefully it will kick in and work again.

BRIAN just jogged almost 2 miles in 14 degrees hope that will wake me up felt good

Thats awesome!!

I hope you feel better!!

I was at 15mg of lexapro also 2 yrs ago amd it worked.

You are 12weeks in right?

Hope you had a good time and it helped?

Andrea, you have citalopram and lamictal since this week.

And now xanax?

How do you handle the lamictal ?

And did you take another dose of xanax since this morning!?? If you dont like it, maybe ask your doc for klonopin!? Its really calming!

im on 10 of citalopram my psychiatrist doesnt want to change me as he says that it helped the first time for 19 years and he thinks it will help again.

I am 5 weeks in citalopram 15 weeks since my depression and anxiety kicked in.

My drs office had me back on citalopram after i ran out and was off for a week.

after 3 weeks they swapped me to lexapro for four weeks and decided to go back to citalopram after escitalopram was making me feel worse and worse.

If i had just stayed on the Citalopram I would be 15 weeks into cit.

I wish i never changed. I just want to be better already!!

I am a mess. I don't know what is working and what is not working anymore. I feel so lost and confused. Maybe its just a bad day for me:(

so you did 10 weeks almost with lexapro ? How was it making ypu worst

Its not a very good day for me also. Have anxiety peaks since yesterday.

I'm sorry. I have been crying all day. I totally get it!

I decided I am going to see an Endrocrinologist as well. I want to speak to someone who specializes in hormones and i am also going to speak to a Holistic specialist.

I just want to make sure i am covering all bases.

I was on lexapro for 4 or 5 weeks.

It was making my anxiety so much worse but it was probably the side effects and it could have been better for me but who knows this is truly a puzzle and you have to keep working the pieces until they fit right.

i hope our puzzles are completed soon.

I hope so!

I suspect also that my hormones might be playing a game on me. It feels like my cycles are sorter and that Im pms for so long before. It all anxiety during that time. Also around ovulation.

And I feel like someone who has hypothyroide but with anxiety and weight loss but all the fatigue is just crazy. My Tsh is always in the range.

lolita

yes 9 weeks is still early days!!!

when did you up you dose?

lynn you feeling a little better!!!!

I increased my dose from 10 to 12,5 at around 5 weeks and at 15mg on december 21st so it was 3 weeks ago!

lolita yes when i stayed steady on one dose one med i started seeing some light around 3 months. stick with it try and stay calm and just know you have to go through these rough times. it will be here before you know it. hope you feel better soon!!!

Thanks again Brian!

You are really nice!

I hope you feel better!?

yesterday less anxiety. this morning had to take a klonopin first waking up

25 days in on paxil

Keep going Lynn!

We will get there!

I like this forum for the support we bring to each other!

Remember that healing is not linear. You had a good day yesterday, so thats a good news. We have ups and downs and one day, we will have more ups then downs I guess!

really bad anxiety today

thats good stick with it you are on the rt medicine for anxiety/depression..

NOW its just time thing!!

go ahead and take a little klonopin in the morning when you take the paxil.

need more than little

hows your anxiety today.

Its a little less from yesterday so far!

Still feeling a bit nervous inside and I have a bad neck aches like a torticollis since yesterday. So I woke up a lot last night.

Maybe go take a walk or run like you did yesterday... It helped so it can do the same!?

lynn

yes stay steady on you dose and med for 2 more months and youll have more good days and in 5 more months you will be feeling like new !!!!

lynn

thats ok just take a little more klonopin if you need it.

well im gonna get busy working!!!

yall hang in there and hope yall have a good day !!!!!!

Have a good day!

Hope you feel better !

lolita i had that neck tensing up and aching so bad i believe its because that extra anxiety that you get from side effects while your body is adjusting. it will also pass!!

My dr told me that I can take the ativan as soon as i feel the anxiety coming even if its just a little bit so I hit it before it gets to to bad.

So that is what I am doing now.

I am on the Xanex Xr and the ativan for emergencies. Since my body is in a constant state of anxiety i do need the extra support right now with the ativan.

My dr said think of it as a broken bone and the pain was so severe you couldn't do your physical therapy? You need all of your meds to get through. You need to take your meds to heal.

We need our meds including our Benzos to heal as well.

Well I have some littles hernias in 3 or 4 cervicales in the neck so its often stiff!

But yesterday, I mad a wrong movement with my head and it kind of turn like a little torticollis. It will pass.

But I know that I have often neck and shoulders tensions....stress I guess!

Your doc is correct. Dont wait too long for the anxiety to climb before taking your ativan or xanax. One day you will need less and less.

Did you retry the xanax? You said you didnt like it?!

andrea my dr told me to take the klonopin which is same family as zanax every morning with the antidepressant when i was bad. i took it like clock work morning , lunch and bedtime. he said not to wait and not to suffer. as the antidepressant adjusted with my body and i recovered i took less and less of the klonopin.

lolita

i know how it is with those pains they can be rough they do pass. i have an injury in neck and low back from many years ago . ive never had surgery one dr said to and 5 other drs said dont. ive made it 20 years without surgery so here i am. i know the times ive started ssri the anxiety makes all these old injuries hurt much worse.. for a little while.

wanted to go on nightime dosing to help the tiredness during the day. yesterday i took a dose at 8:00 am and another at 11:00 pm but do i feel exhaused today. took none this am and will take it tonight, doctor said one day of double dose would be okay but so tired

oh! Im sorry you also suffer from neck and back issues. Its not fun!

I know the aches are more intense when starting a med but I have to say that I almost have them weekly on a different intensity! When it rains its worse also cause even if Im young I have a bit if arthritis with my cervicales hernia. Thats a consequence of years if gymnastic and a car accident from years ago.

lynn

take it at the same time every day either night or morning. this will help speed the recovery process . i know it makes you tired. yes you are right if it relaxes you it would make since to take it at night! this tiredness is partly you body adjusting to paxil and it is you body finally being able to relax a little. just know this will most likely pass . i used to fall asleep watching a movie etc.

lolita believe it or not but it the antidepressants help with the pain. just this med by itself lowers my pain scale from a 5 to a 3. yes the intensity of mine changes daily. and its there everyday. i know neck pain is awful!! its tough but just keep going keep moving!!

I take mine at 11 am. I never took it at night when I use to take it years ago.

Im so tired first thing in the morning that I dont know if I would be more tired to take it at night. And a little scared it cause i insomnia.

But I take lexapro not paxil.

Maybe my morning fatigue is due to clonazepam that I have in my system from the bedtime dose I take. I dont take a big dose but I know that it sort of stay in the system.

can you have one day much freer of anxiety and the next day its back again tomorrow will be 4 weeks

lolita can you have one good day almost free from anxiety and the next day in bad at day 27

Of course Lynn!

The healing process is not linear. That means we have ups and downs.

The meds take minimum 4 weeks to 12weeks to build up correctly in the brain. And thats only for the med to settle. Cause for some, it can take longer to see the depression /anxiety fade. Depends on a lot of thing like our metabolism, our depression or anxiety, what we do in the process, etc, etc. And some have told me that when its not our first time with med, it can be longer.

Remember, 2weeks ago, you never had one day almost free of anxiety and now you do. Thats a progress.

just had a panic attack had to take a klonopin. to get back to my regular morning dose of paxil took 20 mgs instead of 10 in a 24 hour period. i didn't sleep at all last night

I actually had a good day today.

Started out exhausted but got up took my xanex xr and sat on the couch for a few hours with my husband. didn't need the ativan until 12:30 when I started mild anxiety because I was driving to therapy.

Took the ativan and I was able to get through therapy crying very little, went to publix on my own no anxiety and came home and cooked my pasta fagioli for dinner.

Now sitting and drinking some tea. I am exhausted but its the most I have felt myself in a while.

Brian how did you know your meds were working and you could wean off the benzo?

I know its too soon for me I am just wondering.

Thats why you had a panic attack.

Instead of taking 2 doses in 24 hours, you should of slowly move the intake time. For exemple, you begin taking it at lunch for 2 days, then in afternoon, then diner, etc.

I am sooo happy for you Andrea!

Xanax seems to help you a lot with the anxiety and so, you feel less like crying!

And you did a lot of things today!

You must be proud of yourself !

Thank you!!

i am very proud and grateful.Don't get me wrong the anxiety was still there but it was light and I could work with it.

I am so hoping tomorrow brings somewhat the same day!!!

I think we all wish to have a miracle and that the anxiety vanish completly but I guess we have to pas by it being less gradualy. And to be more managable!

And to be able to go in a day being capable of doing more things done without feeling miserable!

But I so glad for you, its been a while that you were waiting for a day like this.

lynn

yes you will have good days then bad days all through recovery we are talking months . bad days will get less and less. i had good and bad days up to 5 months. you had a good day that means you are getting better!!! stay the course!!!

andrea i cant remember i just started doing more things and stopped thinking about myself and this darn medicine.

lynn

you have to steady on the ssri stay on same dose. if you change that dose or change when you take it do it very slowly. even though the dr said you could do that tell him you want to do it slow. the last time i started up on paxil 12 yrs ago i went up 2.5 mgs every 3 weeks that keeps anxiety to a minimum . when you change too much anxiety stays.

andrea

your doing great !!! stick with it !!!

dont worry about the benzo rt now just keep taking it you will know when to come off. take it loke clockwork until your body settles with the celexa. i used to be scared (anxiety) of getting addicted to it BECAUSE everything i read about benzo was negative and everyone would say oh you gonna get addicted to it and its bad. ive read and i know that people with anxiety dont want to take it and the first chance we get we stop taking it usually too early. once your good on celexa you will gradualy come off zanax.

Its my turn today not feeling super!

Its like I have this nervosity inside of me, like anxious state. I woke up like this.

And I also dream so much, its like if I do all sort of thinhs from the past, present, and future. My subconscient is working a lot I guess. And I am again really tired.

Im 10 weeks in this week and I just can wait to feel more relax inside my body and brain but also have more good energy!

When I feel like this, my mind want to discourage and think its not working....

im sorry 😦

I have the nervousness in my stomach as well.

I feel better than I have been but so tired and a but nauseas.

Hoping to feel better as the day goes on. I hope you do as well. 😗

I feel the same.

And I am back from my therapy. Its only the second week but it works a lot of things in my mind. I feel more tired when I get out but I know its normal.

Also, it might seems really weird but I always feels upside down and worse before full moon. Ans sunday, its a full moon plus an eclypse. Maybe I make that up or its only in my head???

I had a good day. I had nervousness all day in my stomach but I got through a 90 minute drive to Orlando, a visit to two Disney parks and now in my way back home. I feel nauseas but it may be my long day.

I was never super nauseas or anxious but I didn't feel completely myself either.

I still consider it an improvement so ill take it!!

Hope everyone gets a good nights rest!!

So you seem like in a good window or a up!

And going to Disney!! Thats a lot!

You are doing great! and you are in how many weeks with the med?

I still have the anxiety and nervousness all day long. its just a little more managable.

I think the new meds maybe helping me get through better.

Right now I just got home and I am exhausted and feeling a lot more anxiety so about to take my night meds and see if I can sleep.

I am 16 weeks in but only 6 weeks back on the citalopram.

Had I stayed on the Citalopram I would be 16 weeks in on the Citalopram.

I am praying I am on an up streak!!

I started a new way of taking my meds and I am not sure if that is helping too.

I am taking Xanex Xr as soon as i wake up. Then I dont take the ativan until I feel anything more than a little anxiety to cut it off before it starts.

I take 1.5 mg of ativan instead of the 1mg and it seems to last longer for me. I usually make it to 5 before i need another dose and sometimes i don't take the second dose. I can take up to three doses a day.

I take my Lamotrogine at 7:00 and my Citalopram between 8:00 and 9:00 pm if I am anxious at all I will take an ativan and

I have also been using calmful sleep drink right before bed to sleep and I have been sleeping better too. Only waking up once a night now.

Thats great!

You found a routine with your meds!

I would say you are more like 6 weeks in because you were with another med before that. Even if it was lexapro (similar ), its not exactly the same. So you are doing good for 6 weeks.

Im 10 weeks in and feel anxious and sometimes low mood. And TIRED! Hope its not anormal!!!

I seem to have nutrient deficiency cause I dont eat much since a while.

lolita when i upped my dose to 15 last week i had some weird dreams too !!! just keep going your 2 1/2 months in just a couple more months you will be good as new !!!!

one month in BRIAN 3 degrees outside

I woke up exhausted today and have a little more anxiety than the past few days. Hoping it doesn't get too bad. I may be getting sick as well because my chest feels heavy(not like the anxiety kind of heavy) and I am coughing and sneezing. 😦

I think its pretty normal after the big day you had yesterday.

Hope you dont get sick!!

Just take care of yourself today and relax.

I really hope so Brian!

Cant wait for all this ups and downs and symptoms relate to anxiety /depression to be all gone!

Yes I Think so too.

My anxiety cane back full swing too. I cried for a while and took my ativan. Felling better but not great:(

Part of the process I know but it feels yucky.....

Hoping it doesn't get much worse than it is right now:(

I hope we all feel better soon!

Then we can all talk about the great things we've done each day!!

lynn wow its been raining off and on and 37 degrees here in alabama working outside thats cold enough for me. if its 3 degrees there i hope you got a fire going thats what i like when its cold out

Here in Quebec, its just crazy cold outside today. I just can wait for winter to be over! The cold, the lack of sun, etc.

Im feeling a bit anxious and shaky today. Thoses shakiness are weird and on and off since a few weeks.

Feel spacey and foggy also....I wonder why???

The temperature is -25 celcius. Dont know what it is in farenheight? cause here we calculate it in celcius. But let me tell you that with the wind, its cold!

I am heading to arkansas. We had the police do a wellness check on my father in law and they found him passed away in his bed.

Naturally my anxiety and depression are back but thanks to my ativan i am able to stay calm for the long drive.

Praying the ativan and xanxex get me through this heartbreak.

Oh no!! I am so sorry to read that! My sincere condoleances!

Just take one step at a time and even if you take a little more of the benzos, its okay if you need it!

Have a safe ride!

I'll think of you😚

no what you mean 3 degrees in VERMONT this morning. and massive snowstorm this weekend. Thankfully i have my happy light.

sorry to here that andrea

be safe!!

loloita i did feel a little foggy off and on early in. cant remember exactly when or details but it did pass . i just thought it was adjusting to meds .

-25 C = -13 F

dang thats cold!!!!!!

yessss it is! lol

Hope this fogginess pass soon!

I had an agitated night with dreaming a lot and several awaking for no reasons.

I hate those kind of nights!

had a good day yesterday even went to the movies last night and had fun slept well and woke up with anxiety had to take a klonopin first thing. it was 4 weeks on wednesday

Thats fantastic Lynn!

You are starting to have good days!

I didnt slept well last night. I was dreamed too much, felt agitate and woke up a lot.

Do you have nights like this sometimes?

do you have to go out a lot snow on its way

Not today, Im staying home and relax!

My kids are home and we make a pyjamas day!

Its actually snowing a little bit but, I saw that its gonna snow more tomorrow and sunday. I like it a lot when there is a snow storm, its beautiful ! We didnt have a big one already, only little ones.

And after those storm, its fun for the kids to play outside.

i take 15 mgs of mirtazapine at night which keeps me asleep

does this happen not a good day.

lolita do you still have anxiety

lolita can i talk to you on messenger or facebook

i will send you a private message.

I still feel a little underlying anxiety but manageable.

But my night wasnt good. But i didnt felt anxious during the night...just agitate and dreaming and light sleep even with klonopin.

How are you todat Andrea?

Are you in Arkansas?

lolita

i had some weird dreams last night. i been working out of town sleeping on a bunk bed i woke up with my foot hurting i kicked the bottom of the top bunk!!!! lol

i guess since he upped my lexapro a little its still some side effects!!!!

thats gteat lynn!!!!!

did you wake up with morning anxiety for a while just one month in

Brian did you have this dreaded feeling everyday as well?

I wake up every morning with a feeling of dread.

It's like it sets my whole day up for a bad day.

My anxiety is at an all time high right now but thats to be expected with my father in laws unexpected death.

Having to identify his body sent me into a frenzy because it was soooooooo bad. He looked so bad because he had not been found for a few days and he had fallen out of bed and was head down for a few days and all the blood went to his face:(

he litterly looked like hed been beat in the face.

sorry to be so graphic bit you three have become my support and I NEEDED to get out my feelings. My heart is so broken.

Luckily my dr called me in a script of ativan to get me through.

How is everyone else doing?

really bad anxiety this morning. i should take moe klonopin in am don,t need it later

Maybe all thoses feeling are from what you are going through. I mean you are in a shock and dealing with emotions a lot from what happened to your father in law. Thats a lot!

Take care of yourself Andrea!

i had to take two klonopin today bad anxiety

lynn yes morning anxiety was there for a while

andrea you are going through a lot right now added to the anxiety youve been dealing with so i would say high anxiety would be normal!! take care!!!

thank you BRIAN,

I just wish this dreadful feeling would go away.

I mean obviously right now I have a reason to feel dreadful.

But even before we found out my father in law died i always have this dreadful feeling and it sucks:(

brian need a pep talk thinking of going up to 15 when i talk to my doctor tomorrow 4 th week.

Lynn, did you see your doctor today?

lynn

if you are feeling better some days you may want to stay at 10 mg paxil but if you feel like its not enough then ease on up. if you do go up go up slowly if dr says go to 15 then cut a 5 in half take a 10 and a 2 1/2 for maybe 2 or 3 weeks then go up to 15 mg

go very very slowly to avoid side effects i cant stress this enough. i did like you on paxil years ago i was on 10 for a few months then went to 20

lynn talk to your dr first !!!!!!!

dr moved me up to 15 today im to keep her informed about anxiety

How are you doing Brian with your last increased ??

I think some day, I start feeling a bit better. But I still have my tiredness. Mostly now since I didnt had a good night.

lynn what my dr told me years ago was to cut them in halves and quarters and go up slowly i think he saw me once a month and he upped it 2 1/2 mg each time until we got to 20 mgs and i had very LITTLE anxiety increase side effects that tIME

lolita

im doing good my confidence is coming back im taking on more jobs and that i wouldnt do a year ago. when i went up 5 mg i had somw weird dreams that was about it . i didnt have any anxiety with the increase and i beleive that is because im not having anxiety anymore.

youve got to get sleep some how no sleep equals anxiety!! i take a little klonopin before i go to bed it helps me sleep!!

went up took 15 mg today not any more anxiety yet had a headache so i took an advil. i will monitor anxiety.

Im so happy that you are doing great with no anxiety. And its only been a few weeks for you on lex right !

Im in week 10. Doing better but still some anxiety but mostly fatigue.

I do take klonopin to bed.....only 0.25mg.

But I woke up a lot from my neck (cervicales and muscles) that are stiff lately. It might be also from the cold, the stress and wrong sleep position.

i will take 12.5 for a few days and see

decided to stick with the 15 second day got out and jogged 2 miles

lolita ive been on lexapro for about 9 weeks. but i recovered on prozac after being on 30 mgs of that for 6 months. i changed straight over to lex . since i was on prozac and got a lot better before switch i didnt have to start at the bottom per say. prozac hurt my stomach thats the only side effect that wouldnt go away.

I thought that when we switch, its like beginning from the start, but like you say, you already recovered with prozac. That make sense.

You know Brian, you really helped me realised to give myself time for healing.

Since you and Katecog gave me those links etc, I try to repeat that to myself a lot. And I try to stay focus on the fact that I will heal. Still working on myself a lot but its all part of the process.

Thanks again xxx

Just keep the same dose. If its 12,5 or 15. Dont play with it! And remember, its normal if in couples of days , you feel side effects.....or you might not! But its the med balancing in your system.

i am staying on 15mg as the doctor perscribed 2 nd day

brian did it take 3 months for you on paxil

lynn it took around 6 months to recover first time and about 8 months the second time on paxil.

both times i started feeling better around 4-5 months

lolita yes when you are bad off in that dark hole and you switch meds or change dose you will experience more anxiety again like starting over because we are so sensitive to changes and everything is amplified because of anxiety then more anxiety. your body cant get to a steady state with all the changing. now with the prozac i was on it for a year or so i guess we tried lower dose higher dose then a little lower dose and it always hurt my stomach heartburn i stuck with 40 mgs for 6 months and i recovered went to 20 mg and anxiety came back went to 30 for 6 months and recovered. i stayed in touch with katecogs on all the ups and downs with prozac and how it hurt my stomach for about a year and i decided to change to something else because of stomach pain. she encouraged me that if i could protect my stomach with medicine and the right foods until i recovered that it would be much easier to make the switch!!! and it was ive never had that happen to me before. my dr said also that prozac stays in your system so long so by the time it was out of my system i would be adjusted to the lexapro ! i did have a little blip about a few weeks ago thats when we decided to go up to 15 mg lexapro. but overall it was an easy switch !!! at least give your med/dose a good 6 months before you give up on it! you dont want to doubt it later if you change to soon! i think i gave prozac more than a fair chance to work without bad side effects. now i dont doubt the med change at all!!

doing the 12.5 today 2 days on 15 gave me more anxiety. do 12.5 for a while

How is the increased ?

Hope you have a good day!

same thing for you Andrea and Brian!!!

is it common to feel spacey when you raise the dose

brian after 4 days on 15 horrible anxiety again back to 10 doctor said

yes it is very normal!

I would do the 12.5 like we suggested you! You really should try it and take your benzos to help with this. But its normal that the anxiety raise.

lynn ive learned everytime we call dr and complain they will make a change. rt now you dont need a bunch of changing you need tme and steady stable. lynn ive been where you are. we cant make rational decisions when we are having anxiety in that dark hole. the dr i have now evertime i would call he would make a change i finally learned to calm down and not call him. thats all some of them know to do . thats all they have in their tool box! like a dog bites we fear the dog we avoid the dog! likwise we fear changes with the meds. now if you have a team like lolita does to help decide things that would be great. but rt now you need time and move slow on doses. Donot change off of paxil stick with it paxil is good its approved for all 5 anxiety disorders . 10 mg may be perfect for you but the only way to know is to try it for 6 months! i was on 10 mg for a few months and started feeling better and ended up on 20 mg. 20 mg worked for me everyone is different! stick with it lynn!!!

thank you BRIAN was on 20 or 15 for the first two weeks and made me sick with stomach, headache and terrible anxiety been on 10mgs for 3 weeks no headache or stomach ache and anxiety was slowly getting better. tried 15 again for 4 days and back to sickness will do 10mgs again for 3 months before i try to go up again.

these meds can cause nausea kinda a sick tummy feeling in the begining for a while as a matter of fact i have a little nausea today. ive had that before with paxil zoloft and lexapro. its a side effect and goes away in a few months. prozac is the only one that burnt my stomach with acid indigestion and didnt go away after 6 months.

started back at 10 today

dr said to try 12.5 started today just some stomach nausea anxiety okay for now

brian did waking up with anxiety last a while

Hi Andrea !

Im just taking some news to see how you are doing?

Hope everything is good and that you feel better!

Have a good day xx

how are yall doing ? hope yall are getting better!!!!

Hi Brian,

I am still struggling but better than the beginning. I am now on 4 medications citalopram-Lamotragiene-Ativan and Xanax. I stopped the Xanax yesterday.

I go to psychiatrist tomorrow. I have been crying everyday and still have anxiety and obsessive thoughts but again i think i am better than i was in the beginning.

I had four really bad days last week. Also my father in law passed away unexpectedly in an at home accident so that did not help and played into my setback.

How are you doing??

Andrea,

Im glad you are feeling better!! thats great!!! I am sorry about your family loss. That can deffinetly be stressful. I am doing better I had a set back a few weeks ago. I upped to 15 mgs lexapro now. Im doing more things and confidence is coming back. and stomach getting better and better after stopping the last med.

there is light at end of tunnel you will get there !! Keep going !!

Hi everyone !

Hope you are all doing better....I am!

I had 3 good weeks and hope it will keep going in that direction.

Im still working hard in therapy and doing mindfulness meditation seems to help!

I keeo on working on beeing positive and allow myself the time to recover. Accepting that I dont have control over my side effects and on the time it will take to recover was a huge step to work on in my head. But I think it made a big difference! But I know I have control over how I react to it and on what I do to change my life. Still working on that.

Of course, I sometimes feel scared to crash again or to have another blip, but I try to tell myself it can happen and if it does, I'll try to take care of myself during that time.

Hope it continues to get better and better.

Nobody seems to come here??? How are you all doing???

Hi Lolita,

I am so so happy your doing well!!

3 weeks is amazing!! Sadly i haven't gotten there yet. Hopefully soon!!

Thank you for letting us know how your doing! It is certainly inspiring and gives me hope!!

how often do you do your mindfulness?

i need to get better with that.

I go to therapy twice a week but i think the meds are still not quite right.

I am going to look into acupuncture and magnetic therapy as well.

I am so happy for you!!

Im in a group therapy. I used to do only therapy with a psychologist before.

But I was refered to that group therapy after my hospitalisation in november. I started it in january and it will end in march. Its 2 hours per day, 4 days a weeks. Its base on cognitivo behavioral. We address a lot of subject.... depression, anxiety, self care, daily routines, therapy, taking acting into our lives, self esteem, affirmation, changing our perceptions and thinking, etc.

we have homeworks etc.

I never thought I would like it but I do. It really help to be in a group, sharing and re-learning how to recover and make changes to take care of ourselves. The therapist are really helpfull.

maybe you can ask your doctor if something like this is available for you ?

I knew about meditation and mindfulness but didnt do it until in this group.....as suggested by the therapist who follow me. I use an app or on youtube. I try to do once a day around 10-15 minutes. But you can do it for more or less. I skip days but sometimes I kind of find myself doing it in my car or else....

I think Im doing better by a factor of stuff... we have to make changes in the way we think, in our routine, by taking actions and doing things that make us happy....finding new activities, passions,... little by little. Set realistic goals so we can live little success first.

Im sad to see you are not well. You went trough a lot.... But do you feel worse with anxiety and depression ? Do you feel any improvement?

What does your doctor say about your medication?

I really hope ypu find relief soon!

glad to hear from yall!! im doing pretty good ! im still on 15 mg lexapro and .25 mg klonopin night for sleep slowly weaning off of klonopin. i had a little blip anxiety last week. sitting in for boss and i had a fellow employee treat me very badly . he was being very passive aggressive. but i made it through with no klonopin!! lolita im glad you are doing better!!! andrea hang in there its not far away !!! yall stay strong !!

good to hear from you brian and even happier your doing so well.

I have had a bad setback and hoping it wont last long. Can't seem to stop crying.

Trying to stay strong. Praying a change comes soon!

Been on paxil 20 for 11 days. yesterday had some bad stomach issues. went to the gym for an hour and went out to dinner with a friend. still waking up with anxiety every morning. go to bed okay and wake up with anxiety.

Feeling sad and unmotivated today.

I really feel like I am going backwards. Going to talk to my psychiatrist on the 6th.

He put me on lamotragine to help with the obsessive thoughts and fears and im still very anxious. Crying everyday. just want to see a change.

So tired....Just so tired.....

If I remember, you have been on latromigene for a while now?? And did you have other changes in your meds?

If you really dont see any improvement and you feel like going backwards... That might be a good thing to have a talk with your doctor

How long have you been on your meds? what dosage?

Wish you find the right one and that you feel better soon.

I have been on LAMOTRAGINE for almost two months. Started at 25 worked up to 100 and next week supposed to go to 200.

I am also on 20 citalopram now for almost four weeks.

I take 3-4 1mg ativan a day to calm me down because i wake up crying everyday.

I am just at a loss. I don't know what to do anymore. Going to see my dr on the 6th but put a call into him because this crying is everyday sometimes 3 times a day. its awful.

4 weeks in citalopram is short but I remember you took it before. Maybe its not helping yet or anymore????

Do you feel lamotragine is helping or not. Sometimes doctors put more med but it not really helping. I dont really know about this med actually.

But you are doing the right thing by calling your doctor and going back to check it out.

andrea a few years ago the dr put me on lamictal i think he didnt know what else to do . i was only on it for about 4 months. it really didnt do much for me . during that time i started seeing a therapist at his office. she immediatly saw that i had anxiety and wanted to know what i was taking i told her only lamictal. she said for anxiety you have to take ssri and lamictal is not an ssri. and she told me that i havent given the other ssris enough time and thats why i ended up where i was. i think she let the dr know a thing or two because the next visit he said ok which ssri do i want to start with ? lol!!! i did read about lamictal that drs are using it for anxiety also. i agree see your dr . it would be good if you had a team like lolita!!!

just remember youhave only been on celexa 20 for 4 weeks too early give it a good 4 to 6 months on same med and same dose!!! keep going!!!

ive been on the citalopram for 16 weeks

i changed to 20 for four weeks ago but its been 20 weeks in total so far.

He added the lamotragene to help with the obsessive thoughts and crying and just raised me to 200.

I am not sure if that is helping or not. I trust my psychiatrist but it is taking so damn long.

20 weeks is a long road, of course!

And mostly if you do seem to see improvement in the way you feel.

Have you had the chance to call your psychiatrist or you will wait until next appointment !

I think of you xx