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Starting a new antidepressant
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.
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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.
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1 ReactionMy 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.
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1 ReactionI 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.
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1 Reaction@frouke
I think but not sure that Lexapro is brand name for Escitalopram. If so have been taking escitalopram for many years and has really helped me.
I was told though I would need to take for lifetime.
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2 Reactions@jc76, I researched this medication and it has good reviews, it does mention that anxiety is fairly common in the first few weeks, thank you for your response.
@jc76, you are correct, Lexapro is the brand name for Escitalopram, thanks.
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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2 Reactions@frouke if Lexapro does not work well with you after a trial period, ask your doctor to put you on Zoloft antidepressant.
I avoided antidepressants till I couldn’t so my doctor put me on Zoloft because she says it is well tolerated, and can be discontinued more easily than other antidepressants.
I started on one 25mg. capsule for two weeks and then on two 25mg. capsules. I hope to be on them only through the winter. It needs to be taken with food, especially if you have GERD.
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3 Reactions@rashida Thank you Rashida, I was so stressed out because I’m not very keen taking these meds and I always give up when they start giving me side effects, I was started on 5 mg. and after a few days I lowered it to 2.5 mg. which I’m tolerating better, I wanted to take Zoloft but it’s a capsule and I can’t reduce the dose, Escitalopram is a pill so I can cut it in quarters, if I don’t feel good after another week I will ask for another pill.
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1 Reaction@frouke
I have been on Escitalopram (10 mg) since 2015 with no side effects and a definite help with my depression and anxiety.
It just amplifies that everyone reacts different to medications and you and your doctors need to find what works for you not just statistics.
I read you are under tremendous stress. Has your doctors mentioned taking XANAC?
I want to pass on a personal experience that shows why we need to find a medication that works for you. Mayo Jacksonville (when I was having PTSD anxiety/panic) put me on a sleep medication Ambien. It did not work at all. She then changed it to Trazodone. It worked and got good night sleep. It is why important to reach out to your doctors and find a medication that helps you as an individual.
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