Square 1 after a few good days
Posted , 15 users are following.
I think by now everyone is tired of me on this site. I had 3 really good days and nights this week, a tiny bit of underlying anxiety. Then the reverse happened. Instead of being anxious during the day and it lifting around 5, I've become anxious in the evening and sleeping isn't so easy. The other thing I noticed a few of you have mentioned is that choking feeling and loose bm's, and I'm nauseous.... Maybe I'm getting the flu, I'm sure that would be easier to get over. But I am now experiencing both of those. I feel like I'm starting over. In a few days it'll be 4 weeks on 20 mg, I think I see improvement, then something crops up. And on top of it, I'm so sleepy-tired. More so than just the waking up at night. I'm ready to give up on this medicine and go back to name brand Effexor XR.
1 like, 374 replies
Nickie54 tammy76379
Posted
Hello Tammy and Lois Ann... Hope you ladies r doing well.. Tammy sorry for the set back sometimes it just happens... I went up to 15 mg could not do that the choking was horrible as was the heart burn and indigestion.. So I bumped down to 12.5mg. Then went back down to 10 mg. now I'm at 7.5mg. I just can't take this choking sensation and this heart burn and indigestion ... My aniexty and panic are doing ok... But the trade off is the pits... I've got GAD and Panic disorder and Health related aniexty.. I'm just about done with this Lexapro.. Lois Ann how long do u think I should stay at 7.5mg. Before I can go down to 5 mg. my dr wanted me to increase... No way Johnny..He doesn't live in my skin ..I tried 15 mg. and it made matters worse...I just may not need sooo much .. 5 mg. may be enough.. I'm very sensitive to meds.. So I'm going to try to get to 5 mg. and stay there for a while...post when u can...😊.
tammy76379 Nickie54
Posted
Hi there. If you can remember, I didn't do well in Lexapro and went back to my original med. Effexor XR 75 mg. It has worked wonders for me but this past week, in having breakthrough anxiety. It's scary because the first thing I think of if is that this medicine isn't working any longer. Anyway, I remember that choking feeling very well. It's been a long time since you started this medicine.... Tall to your Dr about different medications. But I'm like you, very sensitive to meds! Good luck?
lois_ann82830 Nickie54
Posted
Hi Nickie
I think Tammy is right. You've been on the lexapro a while and still not getting better. It might not be the meds for you. 5 mg isnt therapeutic so not sure that would work either. Weren't u taking 5mg initially? Did you ever have a dna test to see which meds might work for u?
Lois
Nickie54 tammy76379
Posted
Tammy/Lois... yes has saliva test said Lexapro good.. I think I’m taking to much.. sense dropping down to 7.5mg I feel better.. but the withdrawal may hit anytime.. this is day 5...I was taken g 5 mg. Of am and 5 mg. PM.. I could never take the full amount at once... I was having the choking issue after my am 5 mg. So I bumped down my am 5 mg. To 2.5 mg and continue to take 5 mg. At pm.. I’m doing better that’s all I know the choking issue has calmed down.. I just really think I’m getting to much..so I’m going to do 7.5 mg. For about a month and see what happens..it seems like Drs. Only know to add more mg. Instead of less.. my Dr jeep st said if it don’t work bumping down .. u can always go back up..I’m also feel a little bit zapped and tired...I need y’alls input...😊
lois_ann82830 Nickie54
Posted
Different strokes for different folks
Hang in there
L
Nickie54 lois_ann82830
Posted
Lois Ann... That’s for sure.. Take Care.. hoping this fixes me...😊
tammy76379 Nickie54
Posted
You're stuck it seems between doses! I think the key for you being so sensitive is staying in the dose you feel comfortable and good on for an extended period of time.
I saw my therapist yesterday, and she and I talked about possibly increasing my dose which I do not want to do. So after talking to my PCP, we decided to see if this breakthrough anxiety relieves on its own. And after 4 days it seems to be . So I'm going to just get on with life, take my medicine and go about life. If I should have another breakthrough, then I'll think about it. I'm also menopausal, and it's a major factor in anxiety. I think I favor riding it out as opposed to increasing medicine that's hard to wean down from. So that being said, you should stay the course, and after fiddling around for so long as you have with your dosing, you might need to consider a new medication. Best wishes and God bless you.
Nickie54 tammy76379
Posted
tammy76379 Nickie54
Posted
I won't. I've been struggling a bit and relying in Ativan here and there. It's getting me through the day. I'm really disgusted with this whole anxiety thing. Most people don't understand. It's crippling. Someday I'll wake up and wonder what I'll do with my day rather than wonder how I'll get through the day. Wouldn't that be nice for all of us?
lois_ann82830 tammy76379
Posted
It really is though!!!
I just remember days of psychic paim when I prayed for night to come, to end the day but alas, sleep also escaped me, further adding to the pain
It was really horrible!!! And not knowing what was wrong initially was even scarier...was it insomnia causing anxiety/depression? Was it GAD? Anxiety unspecified? Depression? Was I losing my mind? Would I ever be me again? Is this my life from now on? Certainly didn't wanna live that way.
It took several months to realize the hormonal/cyclic pattern and to realize I most likely have pmdd...a diagnosis that I came to after further discussion with my pdoc
Anyway thanks for medication and may we all find what we need
L
tammy76379 lois_ann82830
Posted
Lois Ann, what scares me now thinking to the future is that I'll be alone in a nursing home, or a shut in. And no one understands what it's like. I'll be trapped. But I am really trying to focus my eyes on Jesus. And that really gives me peace. I have great support through my family, but at the end of the day, it's just me and my thoughts.
But recently spoke with my doctor and have really been reading up on menopause and it's a big factor in anxiety. She totally agrees. So I'm going in a sugar free diet, no alcohol, no caffeine. Cut out the sugar and caffeine a while ago. Beer once in a while.... But there's so much I can't control with this, but they're is still so much I can.... My physical self will help my mental self. But you know, it's a vicious cycle. Just gotta keep fighting. And taking the meds. And I shouldn't worry that if this one stops working, there will be another, etc. And I went thru all of that already and survived, so.... There is hope, thank God.
lois_ann82830 tammy76379
Posted
L
dave51726 tammy76379
Posted
lois_ann82830 dave51726
Posted
With depression, one cannot just snap out of it so I understand
Hopefully along with lexapro, you are getting some therapy
Life is hard and we do the best we can
Wishing you the best
L
tammy76379 dave51726
Posted
Dave, I don't know you, but I care about you, about everyone on this site because we all know exactly what each of us has gone through, or will go through..... Many times more. Our past is exactly that. There's not much we can do about the mistakes we've made other than to say we're sorry to ourselves and to the ones we hurt. When we forgive ourselves, w can move forward. It's not easy. It's work every single day. I'm sick of it really, but I can't quit because the alternative of being sad isn't an option. God has given us life, he knows the beauty inside of us. He created us in his image.... So that's good! We're good. We just have to trust him 100% to know what he's doing in our lives and stop trying to fight it. That's when peace begins.
Dave, I think you should find a support group for men, maybe a Christian group, if you believe. It can change your life to have something good in coming with others. Meantime I'll be praying for all of us.