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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by cocohoneynut on January 20, 2004, at 12:18:39
Hi People(it's me again)
Can anyone kinda' give me a week-by-week "up-front-and-personal" idea of the way Lexapro has encouraged them to STICK WITH IT! How did it make you feel during week 1, week 2, week 3, etc. What time do you take your meds? I feel sluggish in the morning...thanks again!!!
Posted by nicky847 on January 20, 2004, at 12:52:40
In reply to Step By Step, posted by cocohoneynut on January 20, 2004, at 12:18:39
Week 1---No real effect + or -
Week 2-- Awful,high anxiety, bad insomnia, very nauseous in the morning, loss of appetite
Week 3- Side effects subsided, Sleep back to normal..depression lifting..anxiety lowered..feeling pretty good
Week 4- Backslided slightly, mainly increased feelings of sadness/depression, but no disruption of sleep
Week 5- Much better mood, sadness/depression subsided, anxiety level still high though
Week 6 on--Have pretty much stabilized, depression is much better..anxiety levels still high at times..I think this will improve though with time as depression fades further and further into memory..I take my meds in the morning...have never tried taking them at night
>Hi People(it's me again)
> Can anyone kinda' give me a week-by-week "up-front-and-personal" idea of the way Lexapro has encouraged them to STICK WITH IT! How did it make you feel during week 1, week 2, week 3, etc. What time do you take your meds? I feel sluggish in the morning...thanks again!!!
Posted by KathrynLex on January 20, 2004, at 13:22:17
In reply to Step By Step, posted by cocohoneynut on January 20, 2004, at 12:18:39
Hello Cocohoneynut,
The biggest thing that has helped me to stick with Lexapro is coming to this message board and getting the support of all the wonderful people here! It's been wonderful knowing that I'm not alone in this.
I take 10 mg lex between 10:30 and 11:00 pm.
My Lexapro experience (so far):
Week 1:
Side Effects - feeling dizzy, difficulty focusing, thirsty all the time, woke up anxious, night sweats, insomnia, no appetite (I also kept repeating song lyrics in my head, but this is a rare s/e)
The first week was a little disorienting. It's been 3 or 4 yrs since I've been on meds and my body had a difficult time adjusting. People who switch to Lexapro from another med seem to have a better time dealing with the side effects.
Week 2:
side effects - sore throat, mild sinus infection, ear congestion etc... all symptoms of the "lex flu" continued insomnia, night sweats, decreased appetite, waking up feeling anxious
Week 2 was by far and away the most difficult week for me. Both my pdoc and doc told me it was just a coincidence that I came down with the flu around the same time I started lex, but I learned that the "lex flu" is fairly common. The side effects were scaring me, but I found that they had a pattern. (e.g. I would start feeling dizzy about an hour after taking it, two hrs after that the night sweats would begin etc...) It was comforting to know what side effect was going to occur and when it would happen.
Week 3:
Side effects - feeling "out of it," muddled thinking, VERY tired
The night sweats were going away by week 3, and I only woke up feeling anxious once or twice. Most of the side effects were tapering off and I noticed my mental attitude was getting better. I actually looked forward to work! My anxiety was getting better as well.
Week 4:
side effects - very few
I was feeling a bit more focused, and I actually had 3 or 4 nights where I didn't wake up at all! I had one disconcerting experience where for a few minutes I didn't recognize anything around me - but it could have been unrelated to the lex and it hasn't happened again. My anxiety is almost gone and my attitude has improved quite a bit. I used to have so many negative, depressing thoughts that I don't have anymore. By the fourth week I was begining to feel more like my old, happy self.
Week 5
side effects - none so far. (today is day 32)
I'm hoping I don't encounter the "week 5 blues" which seems to be fairly common, but it goes away by week 6. I feel like a "normal" person. I can function again without the depression or anxiety interfering as much as it used to. It's great! I'm very glad I gave lex a chance, even though some of the side effects were unpleasant it's been worth it. Everyone I know keeps commenting on how much my attitude has improved.
Lexapro has been wonderful for me. I have a much more positive attitude than I used to and I hope it continues. Please let us know how you do on lex, I hope it works for you. Try not to get discouraged by any side effects you encounter. It can be difficult, but like I said, it's much easier with the support of the people on the board. Good luck!
K.
Posted by cocohoneynut on January 20, 2004, at 14:19:39
In reply to Re: Step By Step, posted by KathrynLex on January 20, 2004, at 13:22:17
Hello K:
Have you always taken your meds between 10:30-11:00 a.m.? Have you ever taken them at night? How long have you been on Lex now? and have you gained any weight? Where you on another drug before Lex, if so which one?? THANK YOU...you're very helpful!!!> Hello Cocohoneynut,
>
> The biggest thing that has helped me to stick with Lexapro is coming to this message board and getting the support of all the wonderful people here! It's been wonderful knowing that I'm not alone in this.
>
> I take 10 mg lex between 10:30 and 11:00 pm.
>
> My Lexapro experience (so far):
>
> Week 1:
>
> Side Effects - feeling dizzy, difficulty focusing, thirsty all the time, woke up anxious, night sweats, insomnia, no appetite (I also kept repeating song lyrics in my head, but this is a rare s/e)
>
> The first week was a little disorienting. It's been 3 or 4 yrs since I've been on meds and my body had a difficult time adjusting. People who switch to Lexapro from another med seem to have a better time dealing with the side effects.
>
> Week 2:
>
> side effects - sore throat, mild sinus infection, ear congestion etc... all symptoms of the "lex flu" continued insomnia, night sweats, decreased appetite, waking up feeling anxious
>
> Week 2 was by far and away the most difficult week for me. Both my pdoc and doc told me it was just a coincidence that I came down with the flu around the same time I started lex, but I learned that the "lex flu" is fairly common. The side effects were scaring me, but I found that they had a pattern. (e.g. I would start feeling dizzy about an hour after taking it, two hrs after that the night sweats would begin etc...) It was comforting to know what side effect was going to occur and when it would happen.
>
> Week 3:
>
> Side effects - feeling "out of it," muddled thinking, VERY tired
>
> The night sweats were going away by week 3, and I only woke up feeling anxious once or twice. Most of the side effects were tapering off and I noticed my mental attitude was getting better. I actually looked forward to work! My anxiety was getting better as well.
>
> Week 4:
>
> side effects - very few
>
> I was feeling a bit more focused, and I actually had 3 or 4 nights where I didn't wake up at all! I had one disconcerting experience where for a few minutes I didn't recognize anything around me - but it could have been unrelated to the lex and it hasn't happened again. My anxiety is almost gone and my attitude has improved quite a bit. I used to have so many negative, depressing thoughts that I don't have anymore. By the fourth week I was begining to feel more like my old, happy self.
>
> Week 5
>
> side effects - none so far. (today is day 32)
>
> I'm hoping I don't encounter the "week 5 blues" which seems to be fairly common, but it goes away by week 6. I feel like a "normal" person. I can function again without the depression or anxiety interfering as much as it used to. It's great! I'm very glad I gave lex a chance, even though some of the side effects were unpleasant it's been worth it. Everyone I know keeps commenting on how much my attitude has improved.
>
> Lexapro has been wonderful for me. I have a much more positive attitude than I used to and I hope it continues. Please let us know how you do on lex, I hope it works for you. Try not to get discouraged by any side effects you encounter. It can be difficult, but like I said, it's much easier with the support of the people on the board. Good luck!
>
> K.
Posted by KathrynLex on January 20, 2004, at 15:16:37
In reply to Re: Step By Step » KathrynLex, posted by cocohoneynut on January 20, 2004, at 14:19:39
Hi,
I think you misread part of my first post - easy mistake to make since it was so long! I take my meds at night, not in the morning. When I started on lex I took it in the AM, but found it easier to cope with the side effects if I took it at night. Try taking it in the morning, and if that doesn't work it's not too difficult to change the time.
I've been on lex for 32 days now and haven't gained any weight. Three or four years ago I took Prozac for depression. It was a fantastic drug, but I stopped taking it after a while and when I got back on it, it wasn't nearly as effective.
I hope this answers your questions.
K.
Posted by Wildman on January 20, 2004, at 15:28:14
In reply to Re: Step By Step » cocohoneynut, posted by cocohoneynut on January 20, 2004, at 14:25:15
I take the Lex first thing in the morning (7AM) while I'm waiting for the coffee to brew :)
I take it with my vitamins and juice. Since it does tend to have a "speedy" effect on some folks (I had this during the first few weeks), my pdoc recommended taking it in the morning.
I found that about 5 hours later that I would really be feeling it and would not want that effect in the middle of the night! Yikes!Wildman
Posted by Mariposa on January 20, 2004, at 17:50:47
In reply to Step By Step, posted by cocohoneynut on January 20, 2004, at 12:18:39
> Hi People(it's me again)
> Can anyone kinda' give me a week-by-week "up-front-and-personal" idea of the way Lexapro has encouraged them to STICK WITH IT! How did it make you feel during week 1, week 2, week 3, etc. What time do you take your meds? I feel sluggish in the morning...thanks again!!!I pulled up one of my old posts in the other Lexapro thread further up the page. Look for *Lexapro side effects COCOHONEYNUT*
I have been on Lex almost 1 year, currently at 20mg, take dose in the mornings, and have had good results.
Hang in there!~~~8|8
This is the end of the thread.
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