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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 20:59:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro - increased dose, posted by Mariposa on August 26, 2003, at 19:38:42
Hi Mariposa!
> On thursday 8/14 I increased from 10mg to 20mg after seeing my pdoc on 13th, and with his approval. I asked if I should go to 15mg first and he said no, go right to 20mg. So it's been 11 days and I only had a day or 2 of slight dizziness, very mild and bearable. I had a terrible time of it w/se starting out so I was worried it would be almost as bad this time. Glad to say I'm doing much better @ 20mg!! Just something to think about if increasing dose.
>
> Good luck to us all!~~~8|8... thanks!
... and That's the other side :
no messing around ... just "BAM!" ... Go For It!!
Way To Go, Mariposa! ... ... sure you're not from texas?
... certainly is something to think about!
... now how am i going to do my wimpy titrating up?
... ... ... HA! ... i don't care if i'm a "wimp" or not !
... .. ... i can still stretch it out, if just to see how bad it can be ... ... how bad can it be?... ... actually, Mariposa, what i'm _really_ wimping out about is the deciding to go up or not ... ... but you are an inspiration ...
Thanks!
~ jim
Posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 21:36:09
In reply to Re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear » lil' jimi, posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 20:16:19
Gal Keepin On Keepin On!
> This was such a positive statement>>>... and post here as often as possible ... it's good for you and it's good for us!
>
> :-)
> Take care!... and thanks again ... you are so kind ... and it is very clear ...
... i just hope i didn't scare koko away!new contest, folks!
(no essays have been entered from last contest ... yet!)
"Who Can Post The Most?"
what do you say we try to make the lex thread the biggest thread yet !!
we can be bigger than that ol' effexor thread ... ... if we Just try!!!HA! HA! HA!
..."no more lexapro for this one here, doc ... ... he's is too happy already!" ...
AAAAA AAA A AAAAGGG!take care gal! and ... ...
KEEP ON KEEPIN ON!!!
~ jim
Posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 21:43:29
In reply to re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 21:36:09
LOL jimbo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yeah the lex thread is AWESOME and it's helping A LOT of people out there:-)
I will keep on keepin on if y'all out there do too;)
> Gal Keepin On Keepin On!
>
> > This was such a positive statement>>>... and post here as often as possible ... it's good for you and it's good for us!
> >
> > :-)
> > Take care!
>
> ... and thanks again ... you are so kind ... and it is very clear ...
> ... i just hope i didn't scare koko away!
>
> new contest, folks!
> (no essays have been entered from last contest ... yet!)
> "Who Can Post The Most?"
> what do you say we try to make the lex thread the biggest thread yet !!
> we can be bigger than that ol' effexor thread ... ... if we Just try!!!
>
> HA! HA! HA!
> ..."no more lexapro for this one here, doc ... ... he's is too happy already!" ...
> AAAAA AAA A AAAAGGG!
>
> take care gal! and ... ...
> KEEP ON KEEPIN ON!!!
> ~ jim
Posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 22:47:51
In reply to Re: Lexapro - increased dose, posted by Mariposa on August 26, 2003, at 19:38:42
Hi again Mariposa:-) This is GREAT to hear!!!! Only a day or 2? That's awesome.
Yep~~Good luck to us ALL:-)
Take Care> On thursday 8/14 I increased from 10mg to 20mg after seeing my pdoc on 13th, and with his approval. I asked if I should go to 15mg first and he said no, go right to 20mg. So it's been 11 days and I only had a day or 2 of slight dizziness, very mild and bearable. I had a terrible time of it w/se starting out so I was worried it would be almost as bad this time. Glad to say I'm doing much better @ 20mg!! Just something to think about if increasing dose.
>
> Good luck to us all!~~~8|8
Posted by galkeepinon on August 27, 2003, at 1:39:47
In reply to re: (((li' jimi)))) You okay? why the move up??? » galkeepinon, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 17:38:28
Good! just checkin my friend:-)
yeah trying to cut a pill in tenths???? arghhhhh is right! there is no pill cutter for that one!
Me? well, just waiting for a C-Pass to be approved for my Lexapro, my PCP gave me the samples to start on it for the last 4 weeks and now it came time to get a *real* RX filled and NO GO-they won't cover it soooooooooooo waiting game for gal
so I keep on keepinon:-)
have a good one!> hi You good Gal!
>
> i'm fine ... thanks for your concern ...
> AND
> "Why Move Up?" Indeed!!!
>
> well,
> ... ... ... i don't know ...
> ... ... ... sometimes i have noticed myself flash with anger ... for very little reason ... ... well, for NO reason ...
> ... just sometimes ...
>
> ... but not out of frustration
> ... from like
> TRYING To CUT a PILL Into TENTHS!!
> ....arrggghhhh!!!
>
> ("AH! HA HA HA!!!!", he laughs at himself some more!!)
> (can this guy be serious? where can ~jim get off wanting to do More? he must be crazy!!!!)
>
> so, Beautiful, How are you doing tonight?
> thanks again!
> ~ jim
Posted by Lex Poster Girl on August 27, 2003, at 10:19:05
In reply to re: ~ jim!, posted by BLKVETTES on August 26, 2003, at 16:53:16
Oh yes, still friends. I must have been all doped up from snorting my 6 multiplied by Pi dose of Lex yesterday. Perhaps I'll try cooking with it next. These types of threads are so useful to a chick who spends a lot of time thinking, "Great, I'm so unbalanced I can't stand up straight without this."
Anyway, you have been a great support and it's nice to have these lighter threads too.
Ciao,
Lex
Posted by BLKVETTES on August 27, 2003, at 12:13:35
In reply to re: ~ jim! Wayne, posted by Lex Poster Girl on August 27, 2003, at 10:19:05
> Oh yes, still friends. I must have been all doped up from snorting my 6 multiplied by Pi dose of Lex yesterday. Perhaps I'll try cooking with it next. These types of threads are so useful to a chick who spends a lot of time thinking, "Great, I'm so unbalanced I can't stand up straight without this."
>
> Anyway, you have been a great support and it's nice to have these lighter threads too.
>
> Ciao,
> LexYou gotta love a chick, who snorts her lexapro and has a sense of humor after what she has been through!!!!!!!!!
WAYNE
Posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:38:13
In reply to re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 21:36:09
Hey Jimbo...still here, you didn't scare me away. I'm just too nauseous to type anything. Just kiddin', it isn't that bad. (So I keep telling myself ;o)....) But here I am day 3 and counting.
BTW, did you suggest taking this with food or without?
Again, great forum. I've actually laughed out loud sitting at my desk. (As if my co-workers didn't think I was weird enough...)
Posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:53:22
In reply to koko !, posted by lil' jimi on August 26, 2003, at 19:19:13
OK, I think I'm getting the hang of this now...
I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should take another 10 mg and get the SE's done and over with or if I should go down to 5. And how would I carve out 7.5? Cut in half and then again in another half? My concern, which Lil Jim touched on, is what if I avoid the SE's now just to experince them in another month or 2...what to do, what to do...? Avoidence doesn't normally work well for me. Then I'll just fixate on the SE's that are waiting for me later on when I go back to 10mg, which will create anxiety for the future, which in turn will make me question if the SE's at 5 mg are any better or not, and then I'll doubt the whole cutting down to begin with, and maybe panic about that...Hum....
Posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 13:26:45
In reply to re: Advice:Relax, Read the Thread, Hang in There!, posted by koko on August 26, 2003, at 15:46:25
"I did not have any side effects from taking Celexa for (on and off) 3 years."
>>>>>>>>> Koko, why did you switch from Celexa to Lexapro if you had no side effects on Celexa?
ALSO, important question, Lex makes many anxious (like me---irritable, anxious)......did you feel differently on Celexa? How so? I'd like to try to switch TO Celexa. Thanks!
Posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 13:41:08
In reply to Koko, Read the Thread, Hang in There!, posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 13:26:45
Hi McPac,
I did take Celexa for 3 years on and off. I would typically stop taking it after about a year---just to see if I still needed it. And, of course, I did. So back on I would go. I took my last break from Celexa about 3 months ago. I recently started feeling anxious. That is anxious to the point that breathing exercises wouldn't work because I would convince myself that I couldn't catch my breath and was about to suffocate, or something else equally unreasonable. But Celexa would take about 30-45 days to get into my system and even start working. And it would be a good 4-5 months for full effect. So my Doctor suggested Lex as it is, as he put it, "quicker". Now, I'm 3 days into it and hate the SE's. But, I'm willing to give it a chance. Celexa caused me zero side effects. It was like taking asprin...I didn't feel anything. (Which could be why I'd figure I didn't need it anymore and try to quit.) But, I also didn't panic. If you do switch, I think you'll find it an easy transition...but one which will need time to take effect. Good luck!
Posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:30:21
In reply to Re: why move from Celexa, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 13:41:08
Koko,
so Celexa was much 'milder' to you huh?
Lex gives you anxiety but Celexa didn't right?
THAT's what I was looking for---someone who took BOTH and DID get the anxiety from Lex BUT NOT from Celexa.....thank you! I want the MILDER one (and it seems like Celexa is milder for most folks). Some doctors act like they are identical as to how they make you feel (like they are interchangable), only they'll say that Lex has less side effects...hah, seems like it has MORE side effects to me, esp. the anxiety....koko, is Lex more activating for you...does it give you more anxious energy? I don't want anxious energy myself. THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by lil' jimi on August 27, 2003, at 14:44:43
In reply to re: Thanks, Gal !--should have made it more clear, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:38:13
hey Koko!
(well, i _thought_ i had just posted this, but apparently i had some brain fade and something else happened ... ... ... ?)
anyway, this is what you posted (with my replies):
> Hey Jimbo...still here, you didn't scare me away. >Yeah!
> I'm just too nauseous to type anything. Just kiddin', it isn't that bad. (So I keep telling myself ;o)....) But here I am day 3 and counting. >
i remember that my 3rd through 6th days were really rough, though i didn't have nausea ...
> BTW, did you suggest taking this with food or without? >
this implies a better approach than what i suggested ... which was to separate meals from your lex as much as possible ... my _theory_ being that lex causes nausea and the further you take it from meals the better ....
... however! ... could your lexapro dose be provoking nausea _Because_ it upsets your digestion when taken on an empty stomach?
... got to weigh each of these considerations and try to get a feel for which applies in your case ...
... i believe that one of the side effects of lexapro (part of the neurological adaptation) is (can be) to aggravate the digestion, independent of the presence of food in the stomach ... ... so to minimize the trauma to the digestion of meals, i'd try to separate meals from lex ...
... but as my "However" comment above says, there are other considerations ... play it by ear and do what works best for you ...
... here in this land of lexapro users we learn one thing for sure .... we are all individuals ... !
> Again, great forum. I've actually laughed out loud sitting at my desk. (As if my co-workers didn't think I was weird enough...) >
now you have made me happy! <Smile Emoticon Here!!>
i Love it when our posters get to laugh!
co-workers! ... what are we going to do with them? ... ... HA!thanks for your post and for posting back!
TAKE CARE ! ! ! !!!
~ jim
Posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:56:13
In reply to koko, Re: why move from Celexa, posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:30:21
Anyone.
Lex sure seems to cause more anxiety, jitteriness than Celexa (from the posts I've read)...I haven't tried Celexa...Lex made me anxious, irritable....anybody here think Celexa is better for someone like me...I NEED the anti-dep effect BUT DON'T want the med that will cause anxiety....is Celexa better in THAT way (milder)? THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by galkeepinon on August 27, 2003, at 15:35:07
In reply to Less Anxiety w/ Celexa than Lex??? Re: why move , posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 14:56:13
Hey McPac:-) I took Celexa and as you know I'm on Lex now. For me, I haven't experienced any anxiety on EITHER one, but I'm on week 4 of Lex. Celexa worked well for me, but I was in such a dire need for something to work quick that my doc thought Lex would be the better choice right now.
As for you, I honestly think giving Celexa a fair shot would be great and you may be very, very surprised! Celexa didn't give me ANY anxiety whatsoever, and it helped my depression tremendously, but so did my boyfriend at the time;) LOL---but remember, this is just my experience with Lex and Celexa. If Lex turns out not to be the med for me-which I think it will for a while-back on Celexa I go. One more thing too, remember that Lexapro has all the inactive ingredients of Celexa taken out of it which makes Lexapro more potent-that's why you may had experienced such anxiety on the Lexapro.
Good luck, my friend:-)> Anyone.
>
> Lex sure seems to cause more anxiety, jitteriness than Celexa (from the posts I've read)...I haven't tried Celexa...Lex made me anxious, irritable....anybody here think Celexa is better for someone like me...I NEED the anti-dep effect BUT DON'T want the med that will cause anxiety....is Celexa better in THAT way (milder)? THANKS!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Mariposa on August 27, 2003, at 15:41:55
In reply to Re: koko !---catching up..I got lost in the thread, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:53:22
> OK, I think I'm getting the hang of this now...
> I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should take another 10 mg and get the SE's done and over with or if I should go down to 5. And how would I carve out 7.5? Cut in half and then again in another half? My concern, which Lil Jim touched on, is what if I avoid the SE's now just to experince them in another month or 2...what to do, what to do...? Avoidence doesn't normally work well for me. Then I'll just fixate on the SE's that are waiting for me later on when I go back to 10mg, which will create anxiety for the future, which in turn will make me question if the SE's at 5 mg are any better or not, and then I'll doubt the whole cutting down to begin with, and maybe panic about that...Hum....That may not neccessarily be the case.... I started at 5mg and had TERRIBLE se's, so bad I seriously considered quitting, went to 10mg around week 4, with very mild, in comparison, side effects. Went from 10mg to 20mg about 2 weeks ago (into month 6) with just the slightest bit of diziness for a couple of days.
Of course we are all different,and it seems that trial is the best way to find out.
Best of luck!~~~8|8
Posted by hog80ci on August 27, 2003, at 19:04:12
In reply to Re: Lexapro - increased dose » Mariposa, posted by galkeepinon on August 26, 2003, at 22:47:51
Hi all
I go up to 20mg tomorrow. I've been pretty jittery on 10. I keep telling myself to be patient and not to flush it all down the toilet. Reading your posts always helps. thank you.
Jim
Posted by oldhand on August 27, 2003, at 21:32:38
In reply to Re: Lexapro is a NO for me!! » completelypsycho, posted by trucker on August 26, 2003, at 16:59:06
Take heart! I had the worst withdrawal from Effexor of any one of the meds I have taken. Only got up to 75mg as it raised my blood pressure. Tried to stop cold turkey and had some of the same symptoms you describe. Spent days in agony, muscle and brain zaps, anxiety, panic, etc, etc. My humble opinion is you are withdrawing from the Effexor rather than having SE's from Lexapro. Get ahold of your doc!. and good luck.
Posted by JCServant7 on August 27, 2003, at 22:16:24
In reply to Re: why move from Celexa, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 13:41:08
Well, isn't it best to wean off one drug before switching to another? I mean, my doctor is weaning me off Remeron and I am on 10 mg Lex and 30 mg Remeron.. in about two weeks, I go down to 15 mg Remeron. A slow wean, but he thinks it is best. I am feeling very tired during the day, and it's probably because of the two drugs at once. Can't wait to get off the Remeron. I've gained over 40 lbs and want it all off now! :-)
Steve
Posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 23:34:19
In reply to Re: Less Anxiety w/ Celexa than Lex??? Re: why move » McPac, posted by galkeepinon on August 27, 2003, at 15:35:07
"One more thing too, remember that Lexapro has all the inactive ingredients of Celexa taken out of it which makes Lexapro more potent-that's why you may had experienced such anxiety on the Lexapro".
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, I think that's it exactly.....I'm actually one of those people that DON'T want a very activating drug because that usually spells bad trouble for me....I like and need the less activating, more mild feeling med...hopefully Celexa will be milder....take care Gal!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by galkeepinon on August 28, 2003, at 0:15:33
In reply to Gal, Anxiety w/ Celexa than Lex??? Re: why move, posted by McPac on August 27, 2003, at 23:34:19
Let's hope Celexa is the one for you and will work as the milder one:-) Are you going to start it? Or have you already?
Good luck:-)
Take Care!> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, I think that's it exactly.....I'm actually one of those people that DON'T want a very activating drug because that usually spells bad trouble for me....I like and need the less activating, more mild feeling med...hopefully Celexa will be milder....take care Gal!!!!!!!!!!!!
> "One more thing too, remember that Lexapro has all the inactive ingredients of Celexa taken out of it which makes Lexapro more potent-that's why you may had experienced such anxiety on the Lexapro".
>
Posted by galkeepinon on August 28, 2003, at 1:17:16
In reply to Re: koko !---catching up..I got lost in the thread, posted by koko on August 27, 2003, at 12:53:22
Hi koko, how you hanging in there? Don't expect the SE!! LOL try not to anyway. I always worried about the side effects a lot. I was scared to start this Lexapro because it was a med I had never been on before. It turned out, I didn't die, and it seems to be doing great so far (crossing fingers)
Breathe in............out...............in.........out:-)
Hang in there and keep us posted.> OK, I think I'm getting the hang of this now...
> I'm sitting here trying to decide if I should take another 10 mg and get the SE's done and over with or if I should go down to 5. And how would I carve out 7.5? Cut in half and then again in another half? My concern, which Lil Jim touched on, is what if I avoid the SE's now just to experince them in another month or 2...what to do, what to do...? Avoidence doesn't normally work well for me. Then I'll just fixate on the SE's that are waiting for me later on when I go back to 10mg, which will create anxiety for the future, which in turn will make me question if the SE's at 5 mg are any better or not, and then I'll doubt the whole cutting down to begin with, and maybe panic about that...Hum....
Posted by lil' jimi on August 28, 2003, at 5:48:07
In reply to Re: Lexapro - increased dose, posted by hog80ci on August 27, 2003, at 19:04:12
hey Jim ~
> Hi all
> I go up to 20mg tomorrow. I've been pretty jittery on 10. I keep telling myself to be patient and not to flush it all down the toilet. Reading your posts always helps. thank you.
> Jimjust wanted to say ...
Hang In There, pardner!!take care,
~ jimp.s. how's the Harley doing, man ?
Good luck with the 20 !
Posted by koko on August 28, 2003, at 9:20:57
In reply to Re: koko !---catching up..I got lost in the thread » koko, posted by galkeepinon on August 28, 2003, at 1:17:16
Thanks Gal! That really helps. And you are right, I get so caught up focusing on the SE's that I may be making them worse than they would be otherwise. But this forum helps, and reading about everyone's experiances help. And most of all, knowing that everyone else seems to have experienced this or some SE's simular to this and lived!...that helps too.
So, I'll keep reading and hope that they get better soon. Today is day 4! So far, I've stuck to taking the full 10mg. I'll keep you posted...
Thanks again and I wish everyone a happy and productive Thursday!
Posted by shay on August 28, 2003, at 12:41:33
In reply to Re:(Re: Lexapro and Hitachi) to leeran » leeran, posted by lil' jimi on April 12, 2003, at 20:08:06
I have never been on any medications for depression but feel like I've had some level of depression pretty much since I was a little girl. I've tried some for a few days but couldn't stand how they made me feel. I don't feel like I have major depression so I'm always leary of starting something because of side effects, I don't want to feel worse, since I've also dealt with anxiety. I read some of these posts and wonder if it's even worth getting into taking Lexapro, which I got samples of yesterday. The doc told me to break in half and take 5mg. I'm worried though because I do drink socially and don't want to feel all "wacked out" and "weird." Like I said, no one would even think of me as depressed but I am sometimes. And sometimes it's really bad and sometimes not. I never not do anything or not go anywhere and work a 9-5 so what should I do... I feel like I read these posts and I want to read something like "Lexapro makes me feel great, I'm so happy now, it definitely worked so well!!!!!!" And I'm not reading this, am I going to feel happy and normal or what??? Any suggestions or help... I don't want to be on something for the rest of my life and feel worse. I already feel tired and sad sometimes, w/o feeling sick and weird. Anyone???? Also, I haven't had counseling but wonder if this is more what I should do or if this low dose will be ok for me??? The docs never listen to my symptoms so I don't know who to ask for advice. You all seem to know best! :) Thanks!
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