Chest pain on Lexapro

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-31-2004
Chest pain on Lexapro
8
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 7:07pm
Hi all-
Just started 10 mgs Lexapro today. I took it at 1 with a xanax and lay down while my daughter was napping. We just had dinner and Im having pain in the middle of my chest. Im starting to get panicky, Im alone with my babyand always think Im going to die and no one will know. Please tell me that this is a side effect. I feel short of breath. The pain isnt constant, comes and goes. I think Ill take another xanax. Is 10 mgs a high dose to start on? Someone elese said they started on 5. Im obsesing and looking all over the web for any fatality from Lexapro and wont be happy until I find something bad. Why oh why do I torture myself! I should be playing with my daughter and Im frantic on the computer. I cant take it anymore. I had a panic attack from the storm today, now my health.
D-
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-29-2003
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 7:13pm

You poor thing. I did the same thing when I started medication. I worried so much, that I made myself sick. I also did too much research. Trust your doctor that you are doing the right thing by you and your daughter. I was so scared to be on it for so many reasons, and i finally tried to tell myself that it was ok, and I'd rather feel better, than deal with the anxiety all the time.

Good luck to you! Good thing you came to this site to vent. Hopefully it made you feel better.

Love and hugs to you!

Jolie

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-25-2005
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 8:31pm
d hugs and hugs!!! I feel so bad for you!!!
I have to say that I think you are so worried about feeling
effects from the med so you are!! Please try concentrating on
something other than how you feel if you can! Get busy with
your little one and give your medication some time----
I know it is hard to live through but please try to hang on!!!
Come and talk to us and we will try to get you through this
I felt so often like you do--- it WILL GET BETTER!!! HUGS! Judy
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-31-2004
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 9:21pm
You guys are all so great. I took a 1/2 xanax and Im feeling a little better. My husband may be coming home tomorrow night instead of Sat so Im happy about that. I have .5 xanax and I keep breaking them in half until I feel better. Figures one of my anxieties if taking pills and having a reaction. I would really like to join in tomorrow in chat but Im not sure how to do it if someone would explain. I just put my little girl to bed and held her and kissed her and said "mommy will get better, I promise". God, I love her.
Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2004
Wed, 06-14-2006 - 11:44pm
Hi! I am currently taking Lexapro- 20mg per day and xanax as needed. I was started out on 10mg per day. I haven't heard of 5mg. I was once told by my doctor that lexapro comes in doses of 10mg. The person taking 5mg must have been cutting it in half or something. Too be quite truthful I personally don't feel that much better on the lexapro and have been taking it for about 6 mos now. I am going back to the doctor to see if she can switch me meds. or something. I would defeiently contact your doctor about the chest pains just in case. I am not really sure what the side effects are but I do know that one of them is insomnia. I had it really bad when I first started taking lexapro. I would wake up at all hours of the night-about every two hours just feeling wired and coulld barely fall back asleep. I hope this helps you!!
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-21-2004
Thu, 06-15-2006 - 12:19am
Hi sorry to post again. I read one of your messages to the woman who was taking lexapro 5mg/day. I saw that your dr. told you that xanax was one of the least addictive drugs. Xanax is highly addictive from my understanding and I was instructed by dr to take it only as needed-when I am feeling very anxious. I am also on lexapro 20mg/day. Also I don't know if you are taking xanax daily or not but I read a post on here earlier last week about a woman who's husband was prescribed xanax daily by his dr. and he has become addicted to it. I'm not trying to scare you nor am I a dr. but I think you need to check into this. I wouldn't want to see you become addicted.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Thu, 06-15-2006 - 11:08am

Please call your doctor.

Sheri Ann

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-31-2004
Thu, 06-15-2006 - 5:05pm
The pains come and go. Its more of a heaviness feeling. I have to go for bloodwork tomorrow so I will mention it then. It does lessen when I lay down. I too thought that was an unusual thing for my dr to say about xanax. Unless he just said that because I told him I was afraid to take it. He said "I never had a patient try to score xanax from me, only heavy narcotics". He said you dont get a high from xanax and thats why its the least addictive. Personally, they make me sleepy. They definetly help with the anxiety but in a dopey way. I dont know. I also told the dr after my c-section I didnt want vicodon cause Im afraid of a reaction so he may have been trying to calm me. He did say in the beginning to take it when needed until the Lexapro kicks in. I dont know, what choice do I have but to trust the medical system. If I listened to myself, Id be in the looney bin for my inability to rationalize.
Donna
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-22-2003
Thu, 06-15-2006 - 5:50pm

Donna, I have stopped taking Lexapro in the past with no problems whatsoever.

Sheri Ann