Question About Lexapro

[key]

Ok, for about two months my legs have been aching. I am very fatigued I guess. I went to the doctor. I think my thyroid was ok. Anyway, someone had given me Lexapro about 8 months ago. The not feeling well has made me feel kind of down, just because I can't get done the things I need to. So my husband suggested I start taking the Lexapro. I didn't really want to, but thought if it helped my physical symptoms then that would be great. Well, I have taken it 5 days now and it has made me almost crazy. Before I just felt bad physically. Now I feel really abnormal! Crying spells, anxiety, can't concentrate and just feel like sleeping! It is horrible. I feel like someone else. Now I truelly do feel depressed or something. Well, I want to quit taking it as soon as possible and was wondering if since I have only taken it for five days it would be ok to just quit. Anyone else have experience with quitting this drug. I am so antidrugs. I should have known I couldn't take anything. I am usually about all natural.

THanks,

Monica

[Irishjoe]

Ok, for about two months my legs have been aching. I am very fatigued I guess. I went to the doctor. I think my thyroid was ok. Anyway, someone had given me Lexapro about 8 months ago. The not feeling well has made me feel kind of down, just because I can't get done the things I need to. So my husband suggested I start taking the Lexapro. I didn't really want to, but thought if it helped my physical symptoms then that would be great. Well, I have taken it 5 days now and it has made me almost crazy. Before I just felt bad physically. Now I feel really abnormal! Crying spells, anxiety, can't concentrate and just feel like sleeping! It is horrible. I feel like someone else. Now I truelly do feel depressed or something. Well, I want to quit taking it as soon as possible and was wondering if since I have only taken it for five days it would be ok to just quit. Anyone else have experience with quitting this drug. I am so antidrugs. I should have known I couldn't take anything. I am usually about all natural.

THanks,

Monica

I had some of the same porblems. Took Lexapro for a couple of days. Totally waked out of my mind. I quite it immediately. I'd call your physician though because you've been on it maybe long enough to have withdrawal symptoms.

I wonder if Lexapro is a pharmaceutical that is bonded with gluten? I read that some drugs can bring on symptoms similar to that of gluten. Or, maybe it's just a coincidence!

You will get back to normal once you stop taking the Lexapro in a day or so. It took me about two full days to feel "normal" again.

[jlr]

Don't just quit - these drugs are very powerful - as you have been experiencing. Cut the dosage down by a half for a few days and then in half again for another few days then you should be able to get off.

Be careful and take extra care of yourself during this process.

Janet

[kore]

(This is my first post - I will properly introduce myself later). But for now, I strongly advise against stopping an SSRI cold turkey. Call your doctor and ask for a tritration schedule. Lexapro is not known for discontinuation syndrome but it is better to be safe than sorry, especially given your poor response to it. I also suggest that if you want to try another antidepressant, go for it. I recommend that you work with a psychiatrist rather than a general practioner. Some people are more sensitive to SSRI's and a psychiatrist is better trained. Whatever you choose to do I wish you the best of luck.

[key]

Well, I really don't feel that I need anything. I just wanted to not feel so fatigued, which I guess started to make me depressed in some ways. Plus I got glutened a few weeks back and I think I am still recovering from that. Anyway, thanks for answering my questions. I will probably just take half for a couple of days and then less for a couple of days. It is making me nauseated, tired and anxiety, etc. Not really what I needed. To add symptoms to other problems already. I need to cut back on caffeine too. THanks for your suggestions. If anyone else has had any experience with this I would appreciate anymore responses.

Monica

[AmandaD]

key - i had some anxiety issues going on just prior to be diagnosed by biopsy with celiac. lexapro has helped considerably - it's used for many different kinds of conditions - not just anxiety. it is also a gluten free medication - both my doctor and pharmacist talked to the company for me.

do not just quit this medication. it takes close to 6 weeks to truly kick in...it has a cumulative affect. if you would like more info on this please feel free to email me.

Well, I really don't feel that I need anything. I just wanted to not feel so fatigued, which I guess started to make me depressed in some ways. Plus I got glutened a few weeks back and I think I am still recovering from that. Anyway, thanks for answering my questions. I will probably just take half for a couple of days and then less for a couple of days. It is making me nauseated, tired and anxiety, etc. Not really what I needed. To add symptoms to other problems already. I need to cut back on caffeine too. THanks for your suggestions. If anyone else has had any experience with this I would appreciate anymore responses.

Monica

[key]

Did you feel nauseated on it? That part gets worse every day. Has it helped you? THanks for your reply.

Monica

[KaitiUSA]

I took it for 2 weeks around the time I started the diet. It did not work for me at all...caused all sorts of problems. They switched me to Zoloft and that worked so much better(and I am not a fan of meds unless necessary)

[lovegrov]

My wife has been taking Lexapro with no problems. It has helped her, but everybody's different.

I want to re-emphasize what others have said -- you cannot just quit and you shouldn't try to set your own scehdule for quitting. Your doctor should be involved.

richard

[AmandaD]

Monica - Initially I felt a little nauseated - however I had also just found out I had celiac so I'm not sure which it was. I did notice that it caused soft stools for about the first week or so as I was getting used to it. That got better. I really feel that you need to give it time to work...I remember even the first 6 weeks of using it I felt more anxious - I was even all nerved up about taking the medicine everyday. That eventually dies down. Again, like my doctor explained, antidepressants have a "cumulative" affect.

DO NOT go to the Internet and read stuff on Lexapro...try talking to your doctor. Put your faith in your doctor and really listen to what they tell you to do...

[key]

I had an OB doctor give me the Lexapro. I was going through a tough time 8 months ago because my son had been diagnosed with nf1 and then he was having symptoms of celiac and was undiagnosed yet. Plus my health was suffering. I ended up having celiac too. SO I was rather discouraged at the time. Now that I have been gluten free and my son is ok, I felt great for like 6 months. THen I tried reintroducing oats and I think I was getting gluten somewhere else too. Well, I started having bone pain in my legs that has kept me from doing everything I needed to do. I am a mommy to three young boys and I am homeschooling. Went to the doctor again and had blood work done. NOthing wrong there. Well, I started to feel a bit down due to not feeling well, but really I don't think I was depressed, more just not feeling 100%. Well, it has been a few weeks since I had any gluten. STools are normal again, finally. My legs aren't aching and I just feel better, so I don't want to take the Lexapro unnecessarily. If I needed it, I would definitely take it. I just started thinking, well maybe I am depressed, maybe that is why my legs ache, etc. After thinking about it though, I think it was the gluten and I feel better without the Lexapro. So we will see how I do without it. I wasn't crying or anything before going on it. Just had aches. THanks for your help though. I am sure if I was on it for awhile the symptoms might get better, but my whole reason for taking it was because I was having aches, so I don't need anymore issues, like nausea, anxiety, etc. that weren't there before. I wish it was so much easier to stay gluten free. Well, gotta go make some soup to eat.

BYe and thanks for your help.

MOnica

[fogghorn]

Ok, for about two months my legs have been aching. I am very fatigued I guess. I went to the doctor. I think my thyroid was ok. Anyway, someone had given me Lexapro about 8 months ago. The not feeling well has made me feel kind of down, just because I can't get done the things I need to. So my husband suggested I start taking the Lexapro. I didn't really want to, but thought if it helped my physical symptoms then that would be great. Well, I have taken it 5 days now and it has made me almost crazy. Before I just felt bad physically. Now I feel really abnormal! Crying spells, anxiety, can't concentrate and just feel like sleeping! It is horrible. I feel like someone else. Now I truelly do feel depressed or something. Well, I want to quit taking it as soon as possible and was wondering if since I have only taken it for five days it would be ok to just quit. Anyone else have experience with quitting this drug. I am so antidrugs. I should have known I couldn't take anything. I am usually about all natural.

THanks,

Monica

I have taken Lexapro for 2 months now and did not have any of the crying or crazy feelings I think it has actually helped me. My personal opinion is if you don't feel weel on it. Go off to it. But I am not a Dr. Be careful and taper yourself.

[jenvan]

Monica--I know there can be a "waiting" period where your body adjusts to a drug, but why keep taking it if it is only making things worse? You mentined 'someone' gave it to you a while back--a friend or a doctor? I think that makes a difference... Also, some individuals can not tolerate certain anti-depressant drugs etc., regardless of dosage...just like any other drug.

IMO, I say those types of drugs are a last resort. I am not you ! so, perhaps you feel like you are at the end of your rope…but sometimes the only solution is perserverance. How long have you been gluten-free?? That also makes a huge difference. I have had doctors offer me anti-d’s etc. several times (for "depression", fibromyalgia, pain) and I have never opted to take them. In my case, what I have been experiencing has passed or improved in each case. I know some individuals have chemical etc. issues and need these types of meds, but I firmly believe they are passed out too easily and oftentimes to people who do not need them. I encourage you to think it over and assess which one of those people you are--do you need it or is there another solution for you that is better. Other options—explore the cause of your leg pain, try counseling, relaxation techniques, support of friends etc, ‘natural’ (which you said you like) alternatives. If you share a bit more of your situation, why you went on the lexapro, I can get more specific with ideas too.

I have a close friend who has struggled for years with depression. He has been on lexapro for a while and now want to go off of it, as he is getting married, and the lexapro flattens his emotions etc. He is now finding it very hard to get off the meds and struggling to do so. I think we need to take these drugs very seriously. Just my thoughts! Hope you are feeling better...

[key]

Jen,

I never took the Lexapro 8 months ago, but had a sample. I was complaining about my legs aching alot to my hubby that is an MD (Radiologist). He was the one that thought maybe I should take them, because the constant struggle of my legs aching, mainly fatigue seemed to be getting me down. Well, I would be mainly fine some days and then just very fatigued other days. I got majorly gluttened this month twice. My legs aching had been one of my symptoms before going gluten-free. IT went away, so I am assuming that is what my problem has been for two months. Also switched shampoo's ect. I find it hard in my house to make sure that I am 100% gluten free. I still have to use two different peanut butter jars,etc, cook two different meals almost every meal, because of my kids. I wash my hands constantly. Anyway, I don't really think I ever needed the drugs to begin with. I agree some people need them, but I don't think I do. I usually find that exercise and getting outdoors helps me alot. I also was drinking alot of caffeine and not eating very well the past month, because I was fatigued(caffeine) and then not eating, because I was sick of eating Mexican food that I make that is gluten-free! I know sounds crazy. I cut back on caffeine and am cooking again, so I am way better. I am not as fatigued, because I think the gluten has had a chance to get out of my system.

I did quit taking the Lexapro after 5 days and I did it cold turkey, because I didn't want to have another day of being sleepy and nauseated from the drugs. It has been like 4 days and I never had any symptoms of withdraw. I did pray about it though, that I wouldn't have withdraw symptoms and I guess it worked or I hadn't been on it long enough to bother me. My OB doctor gave me the medicine to begin with. He is sort of a friend. I think going through a period of being a bit down, isn't the same as having fullblown depression or anxiety disorders. I don't think I need them at this point in my life. My hubby thought maybe I was having the IBS issues and was tired from being depressed, but I believe it was the other way around. Being in pain and stuff can get you down for sure. He thinks whatever I want to do is fine.

THanks for the suggestions though. I definitely think the antidepressants are great for people when they really need them. THey have really helped a friend of mine.

Monica

[jenvan]

Monica-

Glad to hear you are feeling a bit better. 100% can be hard, but I encourage you to keep plugging along! If your family is contributing to you being glutened...they may need to make some compromises for you. I understand about chronic illnesses and pain--they certainly cause depression and despair. They are hard to 'get out from under.' The nurse I have become friends with, who has been diagnosed with celiac disease for 10 years, believes 2 years is how long it often takes to really feel 'normal' again. I am 10 mos gluten-free now, still have a ways to go in some respects... so I know that for some of us, being gluten-free, with no mess-ups, for an extended period of time (maybe even a year), is how long it can take to lose some of the pain, symptoms and depression that can go along with it. This year has been incredibly hard at times, on my husband too...but keep pushing and I believe you will continue to make progress...as long as you can be vigilantly gluten-free.

[key]

Jen,

I have three kids and my youngest has celiac. It is definitely challenging to keep everyone fed in this house. I am trying to be very vigilant about being gluten free. I had borderline test results after being gluten free for 5 weeks. THe GI doctor thought I had it though too. Anyway, my mom has questioned it to me several times. Then one day about six weeks ago, I just thought, well maybe it is just IBS and gluttened myself. Horrible. Swore I would never ever touch it again. Then they had a mess up at PF Changs and I got gluten there big time. So it was alot at one time and I really feel that is what set me back so much. I feel so much better overall though. i would never go back to the way I was before. I don't doubt my results at all and I got very sick after PF Changs. Anyway, I hope that eventually we will have this thing under control 100%. We have been gluten free since the end of May of this year. I feel alot better. I have thought about making the whole family gluten free, but it is hard to eat gluten-free breads and expensive and the convenience for them is hard to give up. I don't cook alot for them that isn't gluten free. This year has been FUN for us too. My baby is still not on the chart for for weight or height. He has gained and moved up some and the doctor is pleased with his progress, but I of course would love to see him bigger and more plump. I just have to accept that he may always be small. I am small and my hubby isn't that huge, so genetics is involved too.

Ok, gotta run!

Monica