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I recently started having anxiety attacks in the middle of the night that are very strong, I have been taking Ativan for over twenty years and also 20 mg. of Amitriptyline, an older antidepressants often used for pain. My anxiety is at its worst around 4 am. but lately the anxiety has gotten worse. I didn’t want to increase the Ativan so I started taking Lexapro, I’ve been on it for 4 days now. I feel so bad now with more anxiety, headaches and cramps in my legs and arms, I take 5 mg. but reduced it to 2.5 mg. I read that this drug can cause anxiety in the beginning and should go away after 1-2 weeks, I also had to increase the Ativan to help me cope with the anxiety from the Lexapro. I am not a good candidate for antidepressants and always avoided them but I’m trying to find another option instead of increasing the Ativan, I already feel defeated because I had to increase them anyway due to the Lexapro. I’m not sure what to do, I know it’s still early being 4 days but I’m fearful of increasing the Ativan. I would like to know if anyone else has taken Lexapro and how it affected you, should I persevere a while longer or look for another option, thank you.
Replies to "I recently started having anxiety attacks in the middle of the night that are very strong,..."
My doctor took me off Amitriptyline a few weeks ago because the cardiologist said that it’s bad for my heart, this might be why I started getting anxiety attacks in the early morning, the Ativan is for anxiety and it works well for me, I wanted to try a new antidepressant to replace the one I had to stop taking and so I started on Lexapro because it’s well tolerated by seniors, perhaps I need to give it some more time to see if the side effects go away.
I know that they have tests to see what works best but I’m sure they cost a lot of money otherwise I would definitely have this done, thanks for your advice.
I’m six days into Escitalopram and I feel so bad, headaches, restlessness etc., I don’t want to stop yet because I’m very depressed and anxious and I know that I need help. It’s not the first time I have tried to use antidepressants but I don’t cope well with the onset and all the side effects. I started taking 5 mg and had to reduce it to 2.5 mg, I know it’s a low dose but being very thin from years of stress and heading to my third battle with lung cancer I need something to help me cope, perhaps if anyone else has used this medication they can help me feel less anxious, hopefully 🙏
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@frouke
Can I asked? Are all these taking more, and different medications done with concurrence of your doctors? Do they know you are taking so many different medications. Different ones at different times. Taking some to alter the affects of others?
If not you really need to coordinate with them.
There are new test now to see gentically what medication will work in your body and those that you body will fight or not accept. Also to determine if one medication affects another.
Please if all this medication changing, different levels, and taking one to counter another is not with coordination with another please talk to your doctors and at the least your pharmacist.
It sounds like you have sleep problems which can drastically affect your mental health, how you feel, anxiety, stress and other issues. There are some great medications out there for sleep not anxiety or stress and you are using anxiety/stress medication to help with sleep when a sleep medication may be all you need and or better for you.