Increasing my Lexapro

[kristine9190]

Hi Everyone, I met with my Psychiatrist today and he has suggested that I increase my Lexapro 5mg for the next two weeks and another 5mg, to equal 20mg per day. I am OK with this, but I was wondering, if I do start to feel side effects, when will it happen? Tomorrow? Two days from now? A week from now?

I ask because I am leaving for vacation next Thursday, and don't want to experience these side effects while I am away, I would rather know before I leave if I need to stay at 10mg.

Thanks for any insight!

[kristine9190]

Thank You Both for your comments, I upped my dose last night, and I feel fine today. Quite honestly, I never had any side effects of the med when I started it, other than headaches, so I switched the time of day I took it from mornings to evenings, and those went away. My dose is being increased because though I am not suffering from "anxiety attacks", I am irritable, and extremely nervous most days all day. I asked my Dr yesterday when the side effects, if any would happen and he just kind shrugged his shoulders and said, probably tomorrow. I didn't really get the warm and fuzzys from him, it was the first time I had met with this Dr and I am not sure I cared for him. Up until this point my GP and my counselor have worked with me on my Anxiety, it was suggested that if I am still feeling nervous and edgy, that I see an actual psychiatrist that can evaluate my meds, and his suggestion was increase the Lexapro and see where we are after that.

Thank again for your advice, as it is always appreciated :)

[md135]

it usually happens about 2 days or even a day after you up the dose, the drug has all the same effects on you more of it up's all the effects its having already... so, you shouldn't have anything new just worse symptoms of what you have already.I have bad headaches and dizziness taking mine, and when i upped the dose it i just got worse headaches and dizziness... You should be fine, if you can handle it at 10mg 20mg should be ok for you..

[RubyWitch]

This is a question you should have discussed with your p-doc while you had the chance! I don't think any of us could tell you, with any kind of certainty, when, or even if, you would begin to feel side effects from the increase. If I got the time right, you are leaving for vacation in one week. What I would do, and I am NOT saying this is what YOU should do because I am NOT a doctor ........I, personally, would go ahead and do the first 5mg increase today and see how you feel next week before you leave. I am almost certain any side effects would have presented by then. If there ARE any and you feel they are really unbearable, I would do one of two things......either halve the new dose or drop back to my original dose and wait to begin the increase when I returned from vacation. If you do an increase before you leave and are feeling OK, I would hold at this new level until you got home. I would also try and talk to my p-doc.
Question.............why did the doc suggest you up your dose? Were you feeling the current dose was not controling your depression? Were you having problems? Or was he simply raising you to what he feels is the therapeutic dose for this med?
If I was feeling OK at my original dose, I don't think I would make an increase until I got home. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. But because I am who I am, I would make an attempt to talk to my p-doc BEFORE I left and run all this by him. Does that make me a tad paranoid? No doubt. But it also makes me lovable! LOL
Have a grand vacation. Bring me something!
Peace
Greenlydia