Lexapro/cipralex....not sure what to do
Posted , 7 users are following.
I was on 20mg lexapro for major depression and weaned off in September 2017. November end, two months after being off, onset of anxiety and minor depression hit literally overnight which apparently is hormonal so i jumped back on 10mg lexapro for a little over 6 weeks now mostly And 4 days at 12.5mg. I am super sensitive to meds and jumping on 10mg was so brutal at times. now I feel flat most of the day. Not really depressed but just unmotivated, scared, no joy, no excitement. I typically feel better in the evening. I wanted to keep the dosage low because it wasn’t as severe as my last episode and they also gave me hrt to add this time. I am at 6 weeks and still not back to normal and wonder if maybe lexapro isn’t working this time. Is 6 weeks too soon? I will see doc soon but wondering what people with experience would do. I hate this flat feeling and want to be happy again. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you!
1 like, 73 replies
nellyy Erin_from_Calif
Posted
Why were you weaned off the Lexapro? I think if something is working stay on it. Six weeks back on it and you will start to feel normal again soon, am sure it's just a matter of days before you feel better.
I started Lexapro about 5 years ago to help with anxiety, depression and severe menopausal symptoms (especially hot flushes and night sweats) initially on 10mg which was increased to 20mg. It worked really well for all my symptoms but I felt the 20mg was too much, like rocket fuel, so cut down to 10mg, but alas too quickly! After a few days I was weeping and hyperventilating uncontrollably so took myself off to hospital emergency ward by taxi. They were good to me (Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia), gave me diazepam to calm me down and kept me in a temporary stay bed overnight in the emergency ward. Have stuck on just the 10mg ever since and this seems to work for me. Really helps with the hot flushes and night sweats and eases the anxiety a great deal.
Stupidly, I forgot to take my Lexapro this morning and wondered why I was feeling so achy, tense and increasingly negative, confused and scared and HOT today at work. I finally noticed in the evening that I had forgotten to tick off my Monday Lexapro 10mg on the box (I write the days on the box and tick them off) as taken, so took it immediately. That was nearly two hours ago and am starting to feel better already. I plan to take my normal 10mg dose again tomorrow morning but maybe, say, not til 10am, instead of the normal 8am. Hopefully I will sleep tonight despite the mix up!
Anyway, sending you positive thoughts and wish you well. You will be better soon. Good luck!
Erin_from_Calif nellyy
Posted
I stopped because I had been on it for a year and a half and was hoping my hormones were under control but I was wrong. Sounds scary what you have been through and glad to see you are doing well! What would we do without the help of medication. I never thought I would hear myself saying that as I have always been one who doesn't like to take anything!
amber09486 Erin_from_Calif
Posted
Erin_from_Calif amber09486
Posted
Hi Amber, going up to 20 and then 25mg made all the difference (but don't want to jinx it). I have been on 20mg for 3 weeks and 25 for a week and feel about 90% right now. Hope this is the uphill and hoping to be 100% soon!
What is your story? Are you on Lex and struggling? I am happy to answer any questions or give some advice.
amber09486 Erin_from_Calif
Posted
I did have one setback this past weekend though. I don’t drink but decided to cut loose with my family and had 4 glasses of wine. That night I woke up at 3am with a panic attack and have been anxious the past day and a half. I suspect the alcohol decreased the lexapro effectiveness and I need a few days to get back to normal. Just had been scary to feel the anxiety again as I had been doing SO WELL!
Erin_from_Calif amber09486
Posted
could also be hormones. The meds don't work as well around that time of the month so pay attention to that too. My doc suggested I take it up 5mg 10 days before and during. Of course, drinking too much might have the effect although I have been to Nola while on lex and drinking didn't effect it. Being well makes you forget how awful anxiety and depression are until it slaps you in the face! Hang in there!