:blues:  :D I hate feeling so lonley and depressed.  I think the only thing that is keeping me from crying is all the meds I am taking.  I hope to wake up tomorrow and at least get out of bed.  I am dying inside.

Melissa

wigswest,

Welcome to the forums.  I use Lexapro, and it does make me a little laid-back, but not zonked.  I'm not on Abilify but know a little about that med, and it sounds like it may be the initial effects.....  He might want to tell his doctor about how it is effecting his life.  If his business suffers, this makes it a problem, right?

Be sure to visit the Bi Polar room ,too.  Lots of fine people posting there, and they might have some experience with Abilify....Also look into the 'other meds' room.  I know Abilify is discussed there.

                                                 Jackie  

I think I am goin die my husband quit his job yesterday without lining up a new one and I am panicking big time.  Just when I thought things couldn't get worse this happens.  I have now been taking lexapro for 9 days not up to my normal self yet but working on it.  Just hope I can get it since he is quitting his job.  Thanks for all the support.    ((Melissa)) :(

Please take care, Melpointy.  If you need to, post in MNESN.  Keep taking your meds.  You will feel better in the longrun.  Let us know how it's going.

                                                         Love, Jackie  

Sorry to hear that you've just gotten bad news, melpointy.
I can totally relate. My hubby doesn't have a real job and I've been our primary support since the beginning of this year--doesn't seem to want to get one anytime soon   (that's another forum)

jkm is right, keep taking the lex. ive been on it for just over a week, and feel much much better. The med (at least for me) gives some distance for those tough life situations that hit from left field. Just 2 wks ago I was having horrible anxiety probs, and the lex has really mellowed me out. Now I can think about my problems, rather than have my body take control.  Good luck to you!
SW

Melissa,
We're glad you found us, too! Good news about your husband's job  :D
If the anxiety is really bad, you might talk to your doc about temporarily adding on an anti-anxiety med, like a benzo, to help you past the rough spots. Sorry you're having a tough time. And I hope you feel better soon...

Mel, it's good to hear that your husband got his job back! That's wonderful news. I'm sorry that that lex isn't working so well for your anxiety yet. But it's been just a cpl weeks, and from what my tdoc says, it can take up to a month to get the anxiety under control. Although I am extremely happy with the lex, I managed to have 2 long anxiety episodes yesterday and today, but it was much muted than before. Maybe something else in the meantime will work for you until its fully working. Lex and Trazadone are the only 2 I have ever taken, so can't offer much advice on alternatives--sorry. I wish you luck, tho, and please keep us posted!

Take care, Mel!

Scarlet

Nice to here back from you guys.  I had a panic attack last night but today is much better, hope u all are OK.

I take trileptal and Seroquel as well for my moods.  My Pdoc is a stickler with Benzos but my hubby can get a few ativans from his doc so I'll just see how it goes for the next week or so.

Have a Nice Weekend

Melissa

I took Ativan with my lexapro to control the anxiety attacks.  Too bad you can't get a script for it, and it really help with the waiting period of getting enough med in youur system to get the attacks under control.  I was also on buspar, but it takes a couple of weeks to feel the benefits, and it actually increased my anxiety if I took it during the daytime, so I took it and night so I could stay asleep.  I hear Seroquel is good for this, too.

Scarlet,

I know exactly what you are talking about with the depression and anxiety making your thoughts race.  I couldn't think through problems, concentrate enough to read or watch movies.  I could sit still, but my mind was    :mad1:  I remember trying out a new recipe to get my mind refocused off the symptoms, and I had to read every step through  about 3 times to make sure I didn't miss anything.  What a terrible experience!  I noticed within 2 weeks that the anxiety  attacks were much weaker, and easier to breathe through, or divert my attention from with distraction.  What a relief that was!!!  Lexapro is really a good med for me!

                                                         Jkm  

Does anyone else have problems with Naseau and loss of appetite on Lexapro.  I have not been able to eat a whole lot because my stomach feels so queesy!  I drink a glass of milk and sometimes that helps but not always.  

JKM  I had the same problem with the crazy head last night for an hour I could not focus my thoughts were racing.  Is this how you felt?  I think it just takes time for the med to adjust in your brain.  I also get very obsessive thoughts at times and I can not get that thought of my mind for nothing.  I am driving myself INSANE.  I keep telling myself these Side Effects will pass and I wil feel normal again.  Hopefully.

Distraction is good.  I plan on going over my papers that I did when I was in Dialetical behavior therapy last year.  Helps with refocusing your thoughts and behaviors etc...

hope everyone is doing Good.  

Melissa :p

Yes, I was nauseated when I started lexapro and that went away but I still don't have an appetite.  I've lost some weight but I could stand to lose a little so I'm not worried.  I try to eat healthy and just make myself eat some things.  Fruit seems to go down the best or yogurt (low carb).  I try to watch my carbs but I don't limit them extensively like some do.  It's worked very good for me.  I don't feel like cooking but I do anyway.  I'm making hamburgers with low carb bread and a nice salad tonight.  I'll eat a little but not much.  I usually eat eggs or low carb cereal for breakfast.  I marinate and grill a lot of vegetables on the grill.  

Sorry, didn't mean this to turn into a diet thing.  To each his own.

Mel,

Most people have side-effects;  stomachache for the first couple  of weeks, headaches, and jaw clenching...  I know I was on stomach meds from my doc because I lost 10% of my body wieght before I got into treatment, and couldn't afford to.  I had a mild headache with all the anxiety to start with, and it got worse for awhile, then went away.  I slept a lot the first week, as there wasn't much that I felt like doing because of my concentration being poor.  After that, I started to read again for relaxation.  I does come back.  I had the obsessive thoughts.....It's from anxiety and gets to the point where you can identify what is obsessive, and kick it out.

I had days with the mind racing, and it went away as quickly as it started, with the Lexapro.  I initially was dx.'d with panic dsorder and was one wound up chick.  I hope I never get to that point, again.

I haven't gained anymore over my regular weight with Lexapro, but am real active, and have problems maintaining weight.   I'm the kind of person who has to remind myself to eat.

Hang in there.  You're not loosing your mind.  You are having symptoms of anxiety and it will go away.

                                                              Love,  Jackie  

Hi everyone,

I am 31 years young and I am on Celexa 20mg so far for a week and a half.  I have been on this before after a bad divorce about 4 years ago and now I am on it for anxiety ... who knows maybe some underlying depression.  I currently get muscle tension especially in my tmj and I am hoping that I will feel good again soon.  I had tmj before I was on the celexa but that is probably because of all the stress in my life.  Hoping things will get better    ???

I've been treated for tmj, and it gets worse with anxiety regardless of being on meds or not.  Most Lex users agree it gets worse with this med.  You can get a cheap mouth gard for about $20.  at the drugstore, if it gets so bad it causes you headaches.  I'm currently dealing with a ton of stress, and I've 'woken up with a numb lip, not to mention the headache.  I'm trying muscle relaxers, and find it doesn't help much.  Arrg!  Go away TMJ!  I've been on Lex for over a year at 10mg.  May have to go back on anxiety meds before it's over.....  Motrin is probably the most helpful thing for the sore neck muscles.  Lex  takes awhile before it gets the anxiety down, but works faster than most on the depression, from my experience...  Usually anxiety and depression go hand in hand.

                                                                  Jkm    

                                                                     :hearts:

Yes yes!  TMJ just go away.   I agree that TMJ gets worse witht the more anxiety.  My anxiety is getting better and as a result my tmj is starting to relax.  I know that one of the things that helps my anxiety is taking action.  Usuually if something is bothering me I feel better if I do something about it so I don't have to worry about it anymore.  Decisions have to be made, no inbetweens.  When I don't know what to do I ask as many people as I can for help and their opinions then I make a decision.  I like to feel like I am making progress in life and that is what makes me happy and that is what helps decrease my anxiety.  I like to be certain I know that I am in control of my life.  Hmmm .  I have recently moved in withy my sister and have helped her finish her basement and she is happy so that has made me feel good.  Still I can feel the celexa bother my tmj when I first take it but I am thinking it is not bothering it as much now.  

JKM - Maybe you should try 20mg.  Maybe you still have too much stress which causes you to have too much anxiety and this will not allow your mind to relax your TMJ enough.  Just a thought.  I am currently on 20mg, 2nd week.  Also make sure you eat a good diet.  Search on the net to see what to take for TMJ.  I take a complex b, multi vitamin, magnesium, cal-mag, and vit c almost every day.  Take care!

the guy,

Everytime I tried to go up on the Lexapro, even at 15mg., the side effects were horrendous.  I only weigh 97lbs., and it doesn't take much to throw my system in a tizzy.  I was on paxil at 10mg. a couple of years, and had to take it down to 5mg. after 2 mo., as it  made me too drowsy while I was at work...not good!

I'm trying to get my three children settled in school.  Everyday it's $$ or transportaation problems.  After things calm down, that will be one less thing to deal with.  My Father is very ill, also.  I can't do much to change most of the stressors, and they aren't bothering me at the magnitude they were in the past, thanks to meds.  If it starts to increase my symptoms, I won't hesitate to see my doc.  Thanks for your concern.

                                                              Jackie    :mad1:

(((((Tim)))))
Welcome to DF!
I'm so sorry you're going through this! Depression takes it's toll on all aspects of our lives, and relationships feel the strain. Try to hang in there - it can take a while for the anti-depressant effect to kick in. Keep your doctor informed. Chances are you'll need to give the Celexa a little more time, but there are always options. Don't give up.
Meanwhile, keep posting and let us know how you're doing.

Hello two_zeros,

I am on the second time around with Celexa.  The first time I started taking it was just after 9/11 2001.  I had suffered deperession/anxiety for years and 9/11 sent me into a downward spiral.  I was perscribed 40mg of Celexa.  I started at 10mg and worked up to 40mg over 2-3 weeks.  I stared to feel some effects in 2 weeks and the full effects in about a month.  I stopped taking it Nov. 2003.  I had gotten some disturbing news in August and alot of my anxiety and depression came back, so I was perscribed 40mg Celexa again.  I've been on it for about a month now, I am starting to feel better again.  Celexa did help my anxiety.  I think that you just have to stay with it.

Hi,

I just started taking Celexa three days ago. I haven't had bad side effects yet...except for sweating a bit. I really hope this works, I am so tired of staying in my bed all day and having no interest in life. I have never been on medication for depression before.....I feel like everyone else has it together. I am looking forward to feeling better.

Hi, J.J., and welcome to DF
I hope the Celexa works for you also, and that each day sees you feeling better. Let us know how you're doing.

My doctor put me on 20 mg/day of Celexa in order to treat me for "severe" depression.  

1) The first three days, I was placed on 1/2 tablet every 12 hours.  10 mg/1/2day, and I was  :wwww: or  :taz: or
2) I started coming down the third day and went to one full tablet once a day on the fourth and felt like :Oo: I was zoned out.
3) Most of the time, since the fourth day I feel so exhausted, now that I end up going through the day like this:  :sleep_1:

Either way, though it feels better than being up and down on the rollercoaster that I was before.

Welcome to DF, The_Animal!
Give the Celexa some more time to really kick in. Keep us updated on how you're doing.
Wishing you well...

Hello Everyone,
I have been coming to this forum for some time now for inspiration as well as information from all of you. Only now, after what is close to 2 years since, have I summoned the courage to post. Depression and or anxiety have been my companions for as long as I can remember. The past couple of years the old tricks began to fail and the combination began to take its toll on both me and my family (wife, 2 kids). To date I have been on quite a few AD's, (Zoloft, Effexor, Paxil, SAMe, etc ) none have been effective. I am currently starting slow on Lexapro (2.5mg) in the hopes of getting some relief, or just getting to a different version of me. So far side effects have been tolerable, but positive effects have been minimal. I will up the mg's at the end of this week. I have been a professional insomniac for 2 years now and long for some relief from the nightly early waking, the struggle to get through the day with fatigue and 2 young kids is becoming routine, which has made me wonder if there will ever be a better day. So, I just wanted to introduce myself, and to thank you all for the support and courage each of you share. Heres to a better day for us all. Starting today.

atticus,
Welcome to Df! I'm glad to meet you, and to find you've taken some comfort here.
Wishing you well...

Hi,

I started taking Celaxa in July, it seemed to be helping at first but then i hit some major anxiety problems in October and didn't feel like it did anything to ease my anxiety. So rightly or wrongly i stopped taking it about a month ago, it didn't help that my councillor at the surgery told me to go on a diet and exercise regime and she would help me when i completed that regime. Now i'm on nothing and feeling terrible, should i get back on celaxa or explore an alternative with my G.P.

Hi, Radar, and welcome to DF  
If the Celexa wasn't helping that much, I would consider alternatives (although a different dosage of Celexa or a combination of meds might work). There are a number of ADs that also help with anxiety problems; you may want to read through some of the other AD threads, and look through the Anxiety room.
Is it possible for you to see a psychiatrist instead of your GP? They specialize in the management of these medications.
I wish you well, and hope you find some relief. Let us know how you're doing...

Hello,

My name is Doug. I'm 34 years old and started having panic attacks last summer. I've suffered from social anxiety for many, many years, and as of late had a bit of depression.
My doctor put me on Zoloft, but I was on it for around 12 weeks and unfortunately it didn't work...just side effects. So my doctor is switching me to Lexapro. Here's my transition schedule...

Today I reduce my Zoloft from 100mgs to 50, and combine that with 5mgs of Lexapro. This goes on for 10 days.
Step 2 is to reduce the Zoloft to 25mgs and increase the Lexapro to 10mgs. This lasts a week.
After that week, I am to discontinue the Zoloft altogether and stick with the Lexapro at 10mgs.

I am also on Klonopin - I take 2mgs/day and have been taking it for about 5 months now. This I am not happy about as I have read about physical dependance and such, but my doctor assures me that when the time comes he will wean me off properly and the withdrawal should be minimal. I hope he's right. I can't argue, however, as the Klonopin stopped my panic attacks and was a lifesaver.

So that's basically my story. For further reading into my condition and it's history you can check out the "My Zoloft Journey" thread over at the Zoloft board. I'll be updating it if I have a hard time with this transition period.

Just wanted to say hello for now and wish everyone well. I'm sure I'll be posting in the future with a bevvy of questions.

Let us know how your transition to 10 mgs Lexapro goes.  It sounds like you gave Zoloft a fair run.  I used to take Klonopin, but now I take Xanax XR.  I worry like you about tapering off of a benzo, but it sounds like your dr. would wean you slowly.  Keep us updated about your experiences with Lexapro.

Katie :)

Let me add a welcome to you also, Doug. Please let us know how you're doing.

Hi All,

I have been on Lexapro since May this yr for my severe depression and anxiety.   I find it is very good for my depression but does not help the anxiety much.   But there is no way I will go off of it.   It has saved me this time around.

Hi, I am on Celexa and I feel it helps for my depression and OCD.  I would like it to help more for my anxiety, but I take Xanax XR for that.

Katie

so its me two_zeros again...well after 4 months of bulls*** with celexa i have taken it upon ymslef to slowly go off it and i started taking meridia which is a weight loss pill and apaprenyl you cant take SSRI's with it cause it can cause serotonin syndrome, but i foudn this out on my own with no doctors approval or anythuing cause i think ive gotten much worse..since the celexa wasnt doing s**t i though i should foceus on weight loss instead...i guess i just felt like ranting casue im at home today because ive quit my job whcih i actaully liked to take another one which i thought would be better cause it was permanent but i hate it   so i didnt feel like going and i think  im going into a very bad place now
had anyone taken meridia out of curiosity??

and also  i wanna know what people have done to get theiur lives back cause i dont know if medication is gonna do it for me
i was on 40mg of celex...ahhhhhhhhhhh god

Welcome, Basil  
I like your attitude! Controlling the depression is my number one priority also.
Best of luck - let us know how it's going...

Basil, checking in to see how the lexapro is working for you. I hope it is working for you. Good luck.

Thanks, lizard, trina!

Today I took my second 5 mg dose, and I can't say I have experienced any side effects. I feel some of the depression lifting, but I think that has more to do with my normal mood swings and not with the Lex. Anyways, I haven't even started my 10 mg doses yet (Friday is the first full dose day), so I'm not panicking. I'll give it time to do its thing.

Hope everyone else is doing well!

Thanks for the update. Glad to hear that you are not experiencing any side effects thus far. Im on celexa which is similar, and I noticed a differance with in about 4 days.

Hi: Figured this was the place to introduce yourself.  I have been on Celexa for fifteen days, have not taken it today need a break from the side effects.  I will get to that later.  It was prescribed due to severe major depression disorder, possible generalized anxiety disorder and more then likely post traumatic stress disorder, sheesh. Through in a bunch of suicidal ideations and you are pretty much getting the big picture.  Anyway back to celexa here are the side effects that seem to be growing: tmj pain, headaches, no appetite, barely sleep (I also take calazapham(SP?), my chest feels like it has an infection, have the shivers, oh and I am freaking paranoid.....so this is why I need a break for I do not think this AD likes me.

Take Care

Welcome to DF, trg247  :welcomeani:
Definitely, call your doctor. Sorry you're having such a rough time with the side-effects. I hope you find some relief soon.

Hi everyone -- I'm an Effexor refugee.  Eileen took great care of me in the effexor room, but four months of inconsistent results was enough.  I'm now tapering off effexor and this is my fourth day of lexapro 10mg.  No side effects to mention.  My insomnia isn't nearly so bad this week, either.

GO PLACEBO EFFECT!!!!!!!!!

Seriously, with that slight serotonin/norapenephrine marinade that effexor provided, I'm hoping that Lexapro can pick up where effexor left off.  Maybe just a week or two and I'll be in good shape.

Dan

Welcome to our Celexa/Lexapro family, Dan  :welcomeani:
Wishing you well on your journey - sounds like it's starting off positively. Let us know how it's going...