Hi all,

I've been dealing with anxiety/depression a bit and was given Lexapro. My doc just increased my dose from 10mg to 20mg.

Can anyone let me know if they take this and what your experience has been?

Suzanne

My mother takes/took Lexapro. It would take about two weeks to start working. When she went off of it she became very hyper and slept little and would get angry--she was not supposed to take herself off the med. She has fought depression for many years and there is/was a big difference when she took her med(s), for the better. I'm afraid by me getting cancer is a little too much for her. I never really believed in meds and depression until I experienced it first hand through my mom--depression can be treated successfully with the proper medication. A big issue is when someone depressed starts to feel better and they stop taking the med without consulting their doctor, that's when the trouble starts. Too many long stories--a lot of heartaches that I really don't want to remember.

I am in close contact with my doctor and I don't make a move without her. (My primary wrote the Rx) My concern is about when the time comes to stop it. I will do whatever she tells me but I'm still not excited about the possibilities. There are some side effects too that I have read about. Weight gain, libido (lack there of one:) and dizziness. I've been feeling dizzy and my doc said it may subside so I guess I'll wait and see.

This OC effects so many aspects of our lives. Thank you for your input.

Don't go off of it abruptly if you decide to quit taking seratonin reuptake inhibitors, this one or any other. I took it for a while and had some moderate side effects, but it definitely toned down my anxiety in the early days of my cancer experience.

I have been on ADs since 1994 and sometimes have to switch because they become ineffective -- Lexapro has been working for me since 2005, although we had to double my dose (20mg to 40mg) last year in the midst of winter. Yep, the loss of libido that I had with Prozac has continued with Lexapro.

A psychiatrist friend of mine says that she has had the most success with Lexapro and Cymbalta (I tried Cymbalta before Lexapro but it just wasn't working for me).

Thank you again everyone. All of your input is so valuable to me. I cannot express how much this website has helped me in the past week since I found it.

The Lexapro is helping me very much and I have a lot of support from the primary doc. I'm hoping after my wedding and after my appointment on Monday at FCCC I can relax a little bit and get back to the Suzanne I used to be:)

I've been taking 20mg and occasionally 40mg (makes me sleepy). It tones down the anger but not anxiety for me. Has sex side effects not that I have enough energy or a partner anyway. I had some dizziness too but not sure it's due to lexapro.

Since I last posted here my dizziness has gone away. I just hope that I can ease off of it slowly with minor issues. My main problem was panic attacks. I always felt like I couldn't breathe and I'm scared to feel that way again. I picture myself stopping it and going back to the way I was. I see a therapist so I hope that will be the strength I need to stay off and feel the way I do now.

Try Celexa. I've heard only good things about it.

Thank you....that is one I have not heard off. I'll ask my doctor about it.