my next problem ;)

iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
my next problem ;)
7
Tue, 02-14-2006 - 12:07pm

HI
First let me wish all of you great ladies a Happy Valentines Day!!!!

OK well I did increase my lexapro to 7.5 mg. yes I cut that tiny pill into pieces!
At first did feel increased anxiety, and then it felt like it was working.

I increased it from 5mg. to 7.5 mg. on Tues. feb 7, so a week today. My goal is to get to 10mg.whwre my pdoc and I want me.

Here is my question Fri. night it felt like it started to work. Saturday, Sunday and Monday no anxiety,and more importantly no Negative Thoughts-which is my biggest complaint-
the prob is that today i dont feel awful but not as good as the last 3 days.

Is this normal?? Anyone ever feel this way from their meds??

Is anyone else increasing their meds slowly as well? If so how long do you wait before you increase? My doc wanted me to go from the 5- the 10 but it made me anxious so we did it this way, but i would really like to get to the 10 to see if it will really help and so i wont have to keep increasing, as i get anxious every time i do!!

does anyone have any similar experiences????

thanks again,
Kathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 12-28-2003
Tue, 02-14-2006 - 1:07pm

Hi Kathy,


It sounds like you are going about your increases in the right way for you.

Jennifer

"Oh, that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evi

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-12-2003
Tue, 02-14-2006 - 3:17pm

kathy, it sounds like you are doing great with the lexparo - you have absolutely nothing to worry about!!


unfortunately anti-anxiety medication is not a magic cure to anxiety, it wont get rid of every anxious moment or day. in fact, it is totally normal to have "breakthrough" panic or anxiety even when while taking medication. I hope you are also seeing a therapist who is teaching you some techniques to cope with the break through anxiety, its the combination of both things that will help you get back to 100% (kind of :)) so, just hang in there, dont focus too much on what the lexparo is and isn't doing, that will just lead to a placebo effect and possibly more anxiety!

miaxmas.jpg

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 02-14-2006 - 5:55pm
I had my first panic attack in 1970. That was a long time ago. Since then, I have had ups & downs with the anxiety/panic while ON meds & OFF. It seems to be the nature of this disorder. I look @ all the good years I have had. When I am hit with anxious spells or an unexpected PA, I try to put it behind me ASAP & move on. I am kinder to myself. I try not to set myself up for failure by expecting too much. I put the *what if's,* over analyzing behavior
 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Mon, 02-20-2006 - 6:05pm
How's life treating you, Kathy? Have you increased the lexapro? We have several people taking this med & it's helpful to share experiences. Drop us a line. We care:) (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 01-06-2006
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 8:15am

Hi All,

Jan thank you so much for asking :)

I am so sorry I have not been posting. I try to read every day or so,but don't have time to post. My husband has started this movie obsession! He has been monopolizing the computer with downloads, and burning disks! between him and my 2 boys I am last in line to get the computer! Can't wait till the baby figures it out ;)

I did increase the lexapro on this past Thursday to 10mg. I took the 7.5 for a week and then decided, since I was tolerating it fine, that it was time.

Well I have no side effects, but I am not sure how it is working and that is very upsetting. When I started the 5mg. I felt better almost immeadiately and that lasted about 4 weeks, then with the 7.5 I felt the same, not real improvement. Now with the 10mg. well I guess Iam still waiting.

I feel calm, and rarely ever have a p/a anymore, which is good. But my biggest issue is still around, that is the negative, scary, intusive thoughts that I cant seem to stop obsessing about, not all the time, but enough to be really upsetting.

I think that I am going to die, or why are we all here, what is the point and then I try to analyze everyone's purpose for being on this earth!!
I guess that's my OCD showing its head!

I have not really had the thought that my kids are dying, or the what if they do die thought which I guess is some sort of improvement :)

From what I read on here everyone says it takes abot 6 weeks after each increase to feel the full effect, but when I started seeing my pdoc she said it shouldnt take that long, so I am a little confused about how long to give it, I really want it to work completely because I am having no side effects and don't want to start something new.

I am also in therapy and he seems to think it's working bu t who knows. Like I said parts of me definitely feel better but not all of my issues are gone, and the one that I want gone the most seems to like sticking around the best :)

I hope you are all doing well. Thanks again guys for not disappearing even when I dont post :(

xoxo
Kathy

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-11-2004
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 8:58am

Thanks for the update, Kathy. You sound more optimistic! I hope the lexapro increase begins to give you the results you're seeking sooner than expected. In my experience, I gradually improved. It wasn't dramatic or overnight. I just began to feel better generally & the thoughts became less & less bothersome. In time, I had fewer of them. Then, when an occasional thought would jump in, I was better able to set it aside. We're all affected differently by the meds.


Good luck with your therapy. In spite of members coming & going from the board, our community will always be here for you. I know all about sharing a pc. When my dd was @ home, I had to wrestle that mouse from her death defying grip just to check my e-mail. LOL Keep in touch. (((hugs))) jan


 

 


 



iVillage Member
Registered: 12-05-2005
Tue, 02-21-2006 - 9:08am

Hi Kathy,

You don't have to worry about us ever going away we have been there too,You know murphys

law. I am glad the lexapro is doing good, and things will start falling in place you will

see,Just take and hope you have a good day.

(((BIG HUGS)))
Lynn