Hi-Trying a new way - Triggers

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Hi-Trying a new way - Triggers
9
Sun, 04-18-2004 - 8:29pm
I am a 25 year old single female and I have been dealing with depression for about 10 years I would say. I have been on and off medications and thought I had finally come off medication for good this past December when I came off of Celexa and felt twenty times better off of it than on it. In the last three weeks or so though I felt myself slipping back into depression and my doctor put me on Lexapro. I have been on it for about a week and a half, and all I do is sleep. I have no reasons to be depressed really, I have friends, family, a job, and am a part-time masters student. I have been seeing a therapist for two years. Sometimes I just feel like I've tried everything and nothing seems to work. I hate to think that this will be with me for the rest of my life, that I will constantly be battling to maintain a happy and positive outlook on life. I guess i am posting here as another way to hear from others and get advice/support. I would appreciate any thoughts on medications anyone might have. I personally dislike it, but it has helped me in the past. I just feel like this Lexapro (10mg a day) is taking away every ounce of motivation I have and all I want to do is sleep. I know it can take 2-3 weeks before the medication starts to work but has anyone had any personal experience with Lexapro. Thanks for listening.

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-07-2003
Sun, 04-18-2004 - 9:37pm

Jen,

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
Sun, 04-18-2004 - 10:25pm

Hi, Jen!

AcornLeaves
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-24-2003
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 4:12pm
hi jen,

i'd try 5 mg instead. i think going below the 'standard' dose is often better- esp. for a person sensitive to med's (physically).

 Katrina
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 4:49pm
Hi, Jen!
AcornLeaves
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 8:37pm
Jen, I've been taking Lexapro and Two other meds since last July. I do not notice the sleepiness you talked about or is it that I just don't remember it? I have tried many other antidepressants and failed with them so don't give up. Give the Lexapro six to eight weeks, if its still not working out for you there are lots of others on the market. Sometime we don't have any idea why we are down and that makes it hard to fix. If your depression is caused by a chemical imbalence in your brain there doesn't have to be an external problem that is obvious. Be sure to stay in touch with your doctor and us. Take care. Brenda

Hugs, Brenda 

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-05-2003
Mon, 04-19-2004 - 11:17pm
I am currently on Lexapro and felt like I had brain fuzz for the first month I was on it. My doctor bumped me up to 20mg a day and the brain fuzz is much better. I am still depressed but it has really helped with the anxiety and the mood swings. Let me know if you have other experiences with it. I am also sleeping alot but I am not sure if that is due to the Lexapro or the depression.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-26-2004
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 1:39am

One of the things that is particularly difficult in establishing a medication regimen is that each person has a unique reaction to each med.

AcornLeaves
iVillage Member
Registered: 04-18-2004
Tue, 04-20-2004 - 8:19pm
Thank you for all your messages. Yesterday I was too exhausted to go to work and today I blacked out on the subway on the way to work and was taken by ambulance to the emergency room. They diagnosed me as dehydrated which is weird because I drink tons of water everyday. At any rate, I talked to my physician after returning from the ER and she is taking me off Lexapro. I will see her in a few days to discuss trying a different medication. I am frustrated but happy to be off the Lexapro. I have been on a few different antidepressants in the past and have never had such a horrible reaction. It is just not for me I guess, but I am hopeful to try a different one that will be more effective. My doctor seems to think the Lexapro is connected to my fainting this morning.

Thanks again for all the well wishes, I will be back to update. Too tired right now to do much, but I need to go write a couple papers! Hope you are all well.

Jen

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Wed, 04-21-2004 - 12:54pm
Hugs to you Jen, I hope you are doing better today. It's really scary that you passed out. I had a very bad reaction to Wellbutrin once, I can sympathize. Take care of yourself and get plenty of sleep. Brenda

Hugs, Brenda