I missed a dose and got a crazy headache and was unable to concentrate on anything. It has been working but when I missed a dose I was beginning to wonder if t could be causing a dependancy issue and if I needed to look at alternatives. Also, is there a generic for Lexapro yet?
2006-11-19 11:49:21 · 9 answers · asked by Sarah C 2 in Health ➔ Mental Health
It would help to understand how the medication works on your brain, which will give you some resolve in why it's not good to miss doses.
Lexapro is part of the SSRI (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) group of antidepressants, the most selective for cases of major depression. The drug works by keeping the neurotransmitter Serotonin, in your brain longer, instead of naturally returning to it's storage bins in your brain for later use, thus lessoning your depression.
Serotonin is believed to play an important role in the regulation of body temperature, mood, sleep, emesis (vomiting), sexuality and appetite. Low levels of Serotonin have been associated with several disorders, notably depression, migraine, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
Regulating your Serotonin is a complex process that occurs in your brain via SSRI's. Naturally, you'll start to feel better over time, as the Serotonin stays in your brain longer and your brain will become acustomed to this, building a dependancy. When stoping an antidepressant, your Dr. will create a discontinuation schedule and may counter the withdrawal effects with other drugs.
Since your brain has become acustomed to the medication, stoping abruptly will cause problems. Some of these problems are
SSRI discontinutation Syndrome.
http://bipolar.about.com/cs/antidep/a/0207_ssridisc1.htm
Brain Shivers;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brain_shiver
and essentially, feeling even more depressed then you were prior to taking the medication.
Most antidepressants develop some sort of dependancy.
There is currently no generic for Lexapro and there won't be one until the patent expires.
Med compliance is a huge issue for patients suffering with psychiatric disorders. You should always follow your Dr's advice and inform them of any changes in medication you have made voluntarily so that they can keep you out of harms way.
good luck
2006-11-20 04:27:46 · answer #1 · answered by Altruist 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I was on Lexapro for about 5 years. I did get the weight gain and headaches that you were talking about. I stopped taking Lexapro b/c of financial reasons. So I stoped cold turkey. I did not have any adverse side effects from coming off of Lexapro. Well I did have trouble sleeping the first night, but that was about it. It really did not cause me any withdrawal at all. You have to remember that what you read on the internet is typically the worst case senerios. People are much more likely to complain then write a nice review. In all honestity you will be fine if you follow what your doctor tells you to. As far as your depression coming back, all you can do is track your moods and make sure that you are staying within normal limits. That way you can catch it before it gets too bad. Also if you are planning to start a family talk to your doc about post-pardon depression. i hope everything works out for the best for you.
2016-05-22 05:14:15 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
lexapro has a longer half life that that. it will stay in your system for awhile before you experience withdrawls. i was in the hospital and they let me miss a dose because of that reason. just because you might have withdrawls doesnt mean you need to look for alternatives. if it is helping then there is no reason to switch. i was on 10mg and i have been raised because they said 10 mg isnt a very high of a dose so if you havent experienced any benifits from it talk to your doctor about posibly raising it. there is not a generic form of it yet, soon i hope.
2006-11-19 16:56:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, Lexapro causes dependency issues in that you will have withdrawal symptoms if you stop taking it. That doesn't mean that you need to look for alternatives. The problem is that all psych meds will have some level of dependency. Just remember to reduce your dosage slowly when/if you have to stop taking the medication.
You already know the withdrawal symptoms, you just experienced them. It usually takes more than one missed dose to bring on those symptoms though.
2006-11-19 11:53:11 · answer #4 · answered by Gypsy Girl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think its dependency I think when you take lexapro and miss a dose you see how you really are with out it. I was on it and after a while it didn't work for me b/c my body got use to it. I don't think its withdrawl, I think its reality of how we are with out it
2006-11-19 11:59:29 · answer #5 · answered by SUMMER 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I was on lexapro for two months and I had no such side effect BUT regardless if a medication has such an effect like you mentioned I would not chance continuing it, especially if you are an adult and it is effecting your *positive concentration.:)>
2006-11-19 12:33:31 · answer #6 · answered by Lester S 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i was on 20 of lexapro, and i had no withdrawl from it. i missed doses every now and then. it canc ause problems, but it's a variable from person to person.
2006-11-19 12:03:51 · answer #7 · answered by HW-7 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Read this and then talk to the doctor
http://66.218.69.11/search/cache?p=lexapro&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fr=yfp-t-501&x=wrt&u=www.drugs.com/lexapro.html&w=lexapro&d=bftLq5IFNz1q&icp=1&.intl=us
2006-11-19 11:53:37 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes you may have grown a dependency on the pill. i know someone who is on it and i believe it can cause some sort of hysteria.
2006-11-19 11:53:13 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋