Question about antidepressants?

Question

I have recently been diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety disorder (I think that's the name), and was given Lexapro. However, I'm afraid to start it because of any side affects-meds don't react the way they're supposed to with me. So I was wondering if anyone has taken this, and whether it's helped, made it worse, given side effects, etc.

Answer 1

Lexapro gave me intense headaches!

Answer 2

Hello,

Depression and anxiety very commonly occur together. For some people, medications are not necessary, providing they get some serious help from a qualified counselor or therapist and practice what they learn. Also, support groups can be very helpful for many people. If you and your doctor have decided that medication is necessary, there are literally dozens of choices, in many medicine categories. You don't mention your age, which can make a difference in the type of treatments your doctor may choose with you.
Most of the newer anti-depressants, such as Prozac, Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro, Effexor, etc. target a chemical in the body called serotonin. In many people with depression and anxiety, there isn't enough serotonin in the brain tissue to keep them feeling and thinking "normally". These medicines increase the amount of serotonin anywhere it occurs in the body, and are often extremely helpful for depression with or without anxiety. Most people never experience any side effects from medications they take (if most people got horrible side effects from a medicine, it would be pulled from the market), so the chance of you experiencing any of the listed possible side effects is actually very small. The best way to reduce the chance of side effects is to start the drug at a low dose, give your body a chance to adjust to that dose, and evaluate for any improvement (or not) in your symptoms. If you're feeling back to normal, even on the starting dose, that's great! If you're not, and you're tolerating the medicine without problems, it's probably safe to slowly increase the dose. Of all the anti-depressants currently marketed in the U.S.A., Lexapro has the lowest reported frequency of nearly all side effects.
You mention that your body doesn't react to medicines the way most people react to them. That could mean several things. First, it could mean that your diagnosis of depression is wrong. There are literally hundreds of medical conditions that can imitate or present with changes of mood or with anxiety (everything from thyroid disorder, diabetes, infections, infectious illnesses, viral illnesses, tumors, gynelogical disorders, sexually transmitted illnesses, pregnancy, high blood pressure, cancer, etc.). There are also psychological conditions that are NOT depression, but which can imitate it (like bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, being the victim of a crime, assault or physical/emotional/sexual abuse, substance abuse problems, obsessive-compulsive disorders, addiction problems, plus things like guilt, shame, poor body image or low self-esteem).
If you do have true depression and anxiety, and if medicine is necessary for your recovery, letting your fear over-ride your reason can lead you to needless and prolonged suffering and could possibly put you at high risk for self-injurious behavior or even suicide. This is NOT an illness to take lightly; it CAN KILL YOU! So, please talk to your doctor about your fears and listen to their advice. Also, don't forget how helpful therapy and counseling can be in your treatment and recovery. Good luck!

Answer 3

When you get sick and tired of Lexapro. Paxil, Xanax, Zoloft, Prozac etc. then get the Book "A More Excellent Way" by Henry W. Wright.

Let me ask you a personal question. Are you bitter toward any one? Are you angry with anyone? Do you resent someone? Do you have flashbacks of what people have done to you? Are you keeping a record of their wrongs? Are you finding reason why you don't like them? Could be a spouse or a friend or a family member.

Bitterness if a principality of the devil. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12. A principality is a territory rules by a prince. So if you have bitterness you are being ruled by the devil. Under the principality of bitterness and answering to it are 7 spirits of re-enforcement.
1. Unforgiveness 2. Resentment 3. Retaliation 4. Anger
5. Hatred, 6. Violence 7. Murder
Once violence erupts, the final fruit of bitterness is murder. Can be physical murder or murder with the tongue, but from the mind to the heart is is there. When it gets to the heart it will set up residence. Autoimmune and stress-related diseases occur.
Welcome depression and anxiety disorder and social disorder and completely incapable of leaving the house may come.

1 John 4:18
there is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear;
because fear has torment. (anxiety, stress & depression)
He that fears is not made perfect in love.

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

The beginning of all healing of spiritually rooted diseases is
1. reconciliation with God
2. reconciliation of you with yourself - forgive yourself
3. reconciliation of you with others - forgive others

You've got to start loving even those who rejected and did you wrong. I encourage you to go before God and ask Jesus to reveal to you the strongholds in your life so you can correct them with love and heal your body.

Answer 4

Lexapro worked great for me....but you cant really tell from another experiance what it will truly do for you. It may not even work for you or make your condition worse. It just all depends on YOUR body. IMO it was the best thing for me and the only side effect I had was decreased sexual needs. But lack of desire is alot better then death right??