After 7 months of being consumed with all of this, I was referred to a psych. My endocrinologist was giving me 1mg of xanax once daily, but it didn't seem to help much with my anxiety. So, the psychologist prescribed me 10mg lexapro for anxiety and told me to take .5 mg of klonopin twice daily. I have to say that I think the klonopin works better than the xanax, but I'm not too sure of the lexapro. I was told it would take at least 3 weeks to kick in. However, in just three days it has decreased my appetite tremendously, gotten rid of my sex drive, and given me horrible insomnia. I'm even taking it in the morning, in hopes that it will taper down by bedtime, but it doesn't. I'd really like to hear about other people's experiences on this SSRI. When I search back through old threads, I can't really find anything positive. Thanks.
Meds For Anxiety: Xanax, Klonopin, Lexapro
- Thread starter calmmommy
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MarioMasher
Well-known member
I'm currently on Lexapro. Like you, I just started about a week ago. I'd say give it some time. The first few days are definitely the worst.What you have to remember about SSRIs is that they will ramp your anxiety way up before they bring it back down. Trust me, I have felt that myself firsthand. But you also have to keep in mind that the new stuff you are experiencing is pretty much normal for the first few days with an SSRI. That's what is supposed to happen. Just remind yourself that A) these are just enhanced anxiety symptoms, nothing else, and B) it's only temporary until the med starts to kick in, and you will be fine. Doctors tell you to stay on it for a minimum 4-6 weeks for a reason.Drop me an email if you want to talk about Lexapro some more. I'm the person to ask at this point I guess. 
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)MarioMasher
Well-known member
Go back and read BFS in a Nutshell. Alonzo talks specifically about how this happens at the start of an SSRI. It's weird, but it's completely normal. You just have to remind yourself of that.
Nervousmommy,Mario is totally right, the antidepressants take at least 6 weeks to start working properly, the first days are hard, but please stick to it, remeber it is a long term treatment, it should be used for at least 6-12 months to obtain the full therapeutic effect. Im on zoloft and the process you describe i felt it too, it shall pass.Best Regards,Eduardo
cindyandco
Well-known member
I was prescribed Lexapro in September of 2007 - stayed with it for 6 days and that's as long as I could stand it. I think if I had also had klonopin or something to help out at that first stage it would have been okay. I have several friends who use it and say they will take it forever. For me personally prozac was the one that worked best. Everyone is different, just give it time.
alwaystwitching
New member
I took Lexapro 10 mg a couple of years ago. Of course, being bipolar it ramped me up, took away my sex drive and everything else with it. I called the mfg. and they told me the sex drive etc., would never go away while taking the med...so off of it I went.
rumzcaneconundrum
Well-known member
Lexapro made my symptoms 50x worst. And at the height of health anxiety it was devestating, couldn't use it. However, they do say if you can weather the exacerbation of symptoms after a few weeks you will be better.My husband takes it, worked for him, however, tried to come off it, it was hell with withdrawal symptoms, he couldn't handle withdrawal, went back on it.Good luck, everyone is different, I guess you have to outweigh good with bad. If you are at a place where you really need helpp, and you think you can weather initial symptoms...I would try it, worry about withdrawal later.
NightDesign
Member
I took Lexapro (10mg) for only two days, and it caused me to itch and tingle all over and have heat-like sensations in my feet, so I quit taking it. It gave me some insomnia also. The advantage of SSRIs (like Lexapro) is that they are able to be taken for much longer time periods than benzodiazepines, which are largely a short-term anxiety medicine. Obviously, you'll have to weigh the exchanges between how you feel with the medicine or without it.