Taking Lexapro...?

Question

Hi, my doctor just prescribed me Lexapro 10mg and just before taking it I would like perhaps, for those of you who'd taken it, to tell me how did it helped you with your depression? How did you manage the side effects? Do you think it would be best to start at 5mg? I've read several accounts of people who gained weight, how common is this? For how long did you take it and how did you wean off? Are you still on it, do you think you will need this med all your life? Just in general, how was your experience with this med? I'll thank you in advance for your responses.

Answer 1

From experience Lexapro is a pretty good antidepression med. I started at 10 mg with no side effects, no weight gain. I was switched to 20 mg after a sufficient amount of time to tell whether I needed more or not.

Remember everyone is different, but I've had good results with this drug. Also, combining meds with therapy is always the best way to go. The therapy and finding a good therapist helps to balance and manage our lives much better.

Good luck to you and keep your chin up - everything is going to be fine. Have some patience with yourself. :-)

Answer 2

Lexapro can make people more anxious initially and it already sounds like you are a little nervous about taking the drug. Ask your doc about starting at 5mg versus 10mg. It is quite common to titrate up to a therapeutic dose.

The best advice I can give you is that you are not going to know if/what the side effects will be until you start taking it. Usually, for most people, the side effects go away within a few weeks. Tell your doctor if you are having some strange side effects or call a pharmacist. They are usually really knowledgeable.

If you need the drug, don't worry about coming off it until you are in a position to come off of it. If you are taking it for depression, you may want to consider participating in counseling as well as research has shown that meds and therapy help prevent relapse of symptoms better than meds alone.

Answer 3

I am taking Lexapro and have been for a few months. This is my second SSRI, though...I was on Zoloft before that since 2005. Unfortunately, I have gained 30 lbs since 2005 (since I've been on SSRIs). I am doing well on the Lexapro, depression and anxiety wise. Everyone is different -- some people have to stay on it all their lives and some people for just a short period of time if there was a stressor in their lives. I did start off at 5mg but just a few days. It could take a few weeks for the med to fully get into your system. Besides an increased appetite, I have experienced some occasional dizziness.

Answer 4

If you are taking it for depression you will need to take it probably for the rest of your life although some people do stop taking their meds. If the med is effective it will level out your moods and make you feel like your old self. You may not have any side effects so don't worry about those unless you notice some. As for weight gain usually it isn't the med that causes a weight gain it is the side effect of increased appetite that causes a weight gain. It can take up to 14 days to see the full effect of the med so you really should start taking it so you can get some relief from your depression.

Answer 5

I do have problems with vertigo. Not sure if its the Lexapro, Lithium, or Thyroid replacement that is causing it. Once, the Lexapro was unknowingly substituted with Lipitor by my old pharmacy. For a month I felt like crap with Vertigo, flu like symptoms, bone weariness. Now I CHECK all my meds to make sure there are no further mix ups. I never experienced the shuffling noise that you are dealing with. I know what you mean with your doc not believing you. Mine had a real skeptical look on his face when I said the Paxil was causing me to feel like I was being zapped (I finally trolled the net and discovered others had the same experience). Lexapro is much more forgiving of a missed dose. Paxil was much worse.

Answer 6

I take Lexapro 20 mg per day. i started on 10 but increased the dosage due to mood swings (menopause). I've been on it about two years. I have not gained any weight. The only side effect I have is no sex drive, but that could be from the menopause or depression, not the Lexapro.
It has helped me even out my mood swings, and I don't get weepy over silly things all the time like I used to.
Good luck to you.

Answer 7

Personally, I don't have depression (nor do I take anything), but my bf is bipolar and has taken a variety of different meds (currently he takes Depakote).

You may want to start with a smaller doseage first. At the pharmacy you should be able to buy a pill cutter and cut the 10mgs in half (if you're able to do so). Or just suggest your concerns with your doctor.

I would suggest that you go and check out:
askapatient.com
webmd.com

Dunno if you may need to take this for the rest of your life. But if you've been suffering from depression for a long time then you might actually need it the rest of your life.

Hope that this helps atleast a tiny bit.

Answer 8

-It's helped tremendously. I was depressed w/ anxiety for at least 14 years, some years being much worse than others. I did not seriously get help until I was 28 and I can't remember feeling this good other than random memories of 'good' days in the past. I tried Zoloft (up to 200mgs) about 6 years ago and it did nothing for me.

-I had no side effects other than feeling nauseous and a bit tired for the first 2 or 3 days after starting the medication. Each time my dosage was raised, I felt nauseous for a few days but then it passed. It does not make me feel tired at all anymore. I used to sleep all day before because of my depression, now I wake up in the morning.

-I started at 10mgs and after 6 weeks, it had did absolutely nothing for me. I was raised to 20mgs, then to 30mgs (which I'm on now) and I finally feel 'good' or at least much better than before. Basically , it took over 2 or 3 months for me to notice major changes. Starting at 5mgs would have been a waste of time for me. I don't know many people who start at 5mgs. If the doctor says to start at 10mgs, then start at 10. You can always cut back. I was put on a benzodiazepine (first Ativan, then Klonopin) at the same time for my panic attacks/anxiety.

-I had NO weight gain whatsoever. Only weight loss (about 10 lbs.) which I noticed after being on the meds for a few months. Probably because I'm much more active now. I don't know how common weight gain is but I hear some people complain of it, others not at all.

-I'm still on it but it's only been about 6 months. I have no idea how long I'll be on it and I really don't care right now because it's better than wanting to kill myself everyday. I have a feeling I won't be on it for the rest of my life but who really knows. So far I've had nothing but a good experience.

Answer 9

I took Lexapro for about a year, then I was switched to Effexor. I never had any side effects at all, and no weight gain. I started out on 10 mg...I just took it how the doctor said too. Unfortunately I will most likely have to be on it for the rest of my life (thanks to these great genes I have) each person is different, and gets put on it for different reasons. I think your doctor can help you the most with all of the weaning off and everything.

I did find it better for me to take my medicine in the morning, that way I was able to sleep at night. But that is just me...my mom has to take hers at night so she can sleep...

Good luck, hope I helped a bit =)

Once you find what works for you...stick with it.

Answer 10

My side effects were mostly a decreased libido. Initially, I was tired, but my doctor added 150 mg of Wellbutrin to it. It was a great combo for me and I never gained any weight. I did go for long walks everyday. I would take lexapro around dinner. If you take it in the morning, you might be tired by the afternoon. This website might help you.