Lexapro and Nighttime Problems

[Topher7]

Anyone try Lexapro here. My doctor wanted me to starts low by doing a week with 5 mg a day..cut in half a 10 mg tablet. It hasn't done much. In fact I have woken up the last two nights drenched in sweat and more anxious. The side fo my jaw was shivering and I was a mess of anxiety. All of this usually goes away during the day. Do any of you get 10 times worse symptoms at night..to the point where ti is overwhelming. With health anxiety is scares me but since I'm fine..or close to during the day it makes me think it is anxiety and not the disease I'm worried about./

[coh123]

When I first started Lexapro 3 weeks ago, felt very funny the first week. My Dr. gave  me ambien for sleeping and it is great!!

[Diane401961]

I take lexapro myself and found its the only one so far that works for me...I started on low dose but been on 30mgs for about 2 months and feel like it is helping but i also have health anxiety so I can understand how you feel...I have a disc issue in my neck and am trying to avoid surgery. .had a fusion done 11 years ago for C6-C7. ..this neck issue has caused me lots of anxiety ...hope you find what works for you..I also take xanax as needed but trying to avoid taking it

[Topher7]

And I saw my counselior yesterday. Went well and she pretty much said that I have real hypochondriac tendencies. This whole aLS health issue just has me worked up.

[Topher7]

Thanks for your replys. Last nightj was another tough night. Wide awake and my jaw, throat and tongue felt tight. Then it would all loosen up but come back if I started falling asleep. Just sucks.

[Jame0223]

wow I totally didnt mean to do that! :/

[Jame0223]

I was on Zoloft 100 mg daily for severe axiety and I stopped taking it over the summer then went back on it but after being off of it for so long( a year and a half nonstop) it was horrible to try and get back on so my dr. switched me to 10 mg of lexapro. As of right now Im suffering from the side effects. I feel all messed up and shaky. I feel a lump in my throat...like a got a piece of plastic in my throat and I can't sit still! I can't concentrate either. Man Its pretty bad but it always goes away for me within a week or two. I stopped taking my meds a couple months ago when I got pregnant, when I miscarried I decided to go back on it but never did. Then my panic attacks came back (expecially when driving) and I started to get really depressed starting last week. My shoulder's feel like rocks because the meds can also cause muscle tension. I'm all jittery like tanns. Sometimes Its hard to sleep, but my doctor said that as long as you take it early enough in the day that it wears off a bit to not casue insomnia. Most AD and AA meds have similar side effects, most of which you may not be able to escape. So far Lexapro is a lot nicer then zoloft so I'm sticking to it. And Ive got court in two days! Oh man Im doomed! Im gonna throw up on the judge. Any other side effects you're experiencing? Mostly you just gotta hang tough. Take a sleeping aid if need be.

[Jame0223]

I was on Zoloft 100 mg daily for severe axiety and I stopped taking it over the summer then went back on it but after being off of it for so long( a year and a half nonstop) it was horrible to try and get back on so my dr. switched me to 10 mg of lexapro. As of right now Im suffering from the side effects. I feel all messed up and shaky. I feel a lump in my throat...like a got a piece of plastic in my throat and I can't sit still! I can't concentrate either. Man Its pretty bad but it always goes away for me within a week or two. I stopped taking my meds a couple months ago when I got pregnant, when I miscarried I decided to go back on it but never did. Then my panic attacks came back (expecially when driving) and I started to get really depressed starting last week. My shoulder's feel like rocks because the meds can also cause muscle tension. I'm all jittery like tanns. Sometimes Its hard to sleep, but my doctor said that as long as you take it early enough in the day that it wears off a bit to not casue insomnia. Most AD and AA meds have similar side effects, most of which you may not be able to escape. So far Lexapro is a lot nicer then zoloft so I'm sticking to it. And Ive got court in two days! Oh man Im doomed! Im gonna throw up on the judge. Any other side effects you're experiencing? Mostly you just gotta hang tough. Take a sleeping aid if need be.

[Jame0223]

I was on Zoloft 100 mg daily for severe axiety and I stopped taking it over the summer then went back on it but after being off of it for so long( a year and a half nonstop) it was horrible to try and get back on so my dr. switched me to 10 mg of lexapro. As of right now Im suffering from the side effects. I feel all messed up and shaky. I feel a lump in my throat...like a got a piece of plastic in my throat and I can't sit still! I can't concentrate either. Man Its pretty bad but it always goes away for me within a week or two. I stopped taking my meds a couple months ago when I got pregnant, when I miscarried I decided to go back on it but never did. Then my panic attacks came back (expecially when driving) and I started to get really depressed starting last week. My shoulder's feel like rocks because the meds can also cause muscle tension. I'm all jittery like tanns. Sometimes Its hard to sleep, but my doctor said that as long as you take it early enough in the day that it wears off a bit to not casue insomnia. Most AD and AA meds have similar side effects, most of which you may not be able to escape. So far Lexapro is a lot nicer then zoloft so I'm sticking to it. And Ive got court in two days! Oh man Im doomed! Im gonna throw up on the judge. Any other side effects you're experiencing? Mostly you just gotta hang tough. Take a sleeping aid if need be.

[Jame0223]

I was on Zoloft 100 mg daily for severe axiety and I stopped taking it over the summer then went back on it but after being off of it for so long( a year and a half nonstop) it was horrible to try and get back on so my dr. switched me to 10 mg of lexapro. As of right now Im suffering from the side effects. I feel all messed up and shaky. I feel a lump in my throat...like a got a piece of plastic in my throat and I can't sit still! I can't concentrate either. Man Its pretty bad but it always goes away for me within a week or two. I stopped taking my meds a couple months ago when I got pregnant, when I miscarried I decided to go back on it but never did. Then my panic attacks came back (expecially when driving) and I started to get really depressed starting last week. My shoulder's feel like rocks because the meds can also cause muscle tension. I'm all jittery like tanns. Sometimes Its hard to sleep, but my doctor said that as long as you take it early enough in the day that it wears off a bit to not casue insomnia. Most AD and AA meds have similar side effects, most of which you may not be able to escape. So far Lexapro is a lot nicer then zoloft so I'm sticking to it. And Ive got court in two days! Oh man Im doomed! Im gonna throw up on the judge. Any other side effects you're experiencing? Mostly you just gotta hang tough. Take a sleeping aid if need be.

[nick142]

To all ......every drug  is different....whats good for me ..maybe not good for you...thats why so many dr's try..TRIAL AND ERROR...To see which drug is good for you..the problem that i see...you go thew hell until you find the right drug....can't say i don't use meds ...but i found another way ..without drugs...ANIXETY FREE CD'S ...BUT IT WORKS FOR ME..NOT FOR EVERYBODY...Nick...

[Topher7]

Thanks. I know I will. soetimes I just snap out of it pretty quick. Once I do I need to work on methods to keep my head above water. I'm seeing a counselor now to work on some things so that should help.

[tostressed]

It's hard, but totally possible. I struggled for so long, but knew that I had to change some things to get out of my situation. I was tired of letting the anxiety beat me up everyday. You will get better, just hang in there.

[Topher7]

I meant to say I like your approach too. The funny part is that when I start doing my silly things like jumping up stairs and walking on my toes,. etc to test my strength, I'm actually working out and I always feel better afterward...despite my ankles being shot....lol. I eat healthy..I just need to get on track.

[Topher7]

Thanks you 2. As you have read on here I can go some months of being good but let it get to me all of a sudden. I know I've said I thought I had 5 other diseases or problems but the ALS one seems so real because of the finality of it. There are days I feel good but last night it like my jaw was shivering so it made it seem like my tongue was shaking....when I'd look in a mirror it wasn't. I clinch my teeth and then feel my tongue crawling through the gaps and I feel I have no control. It is like I'm going crazy. Not only that but I will have those myoclonic jerks of legs, arms and face....BTW, have any of you ever felt your face frown or move in your sleep and then it jerks back?This happened with my MS scare and went away right after I got over it. I just feel relieved to get up in the morning and survive. The crazy part is the neurologist has seen me three times and says nothing is wrong except extreme anxiety. Yet I won't believe her. In fact she took my calls all the time too and now is laying off and said I should come in this Monday for an EMG. I think she just wants me to do it so I'll leave her alone..lol. She prescribed me Klonopin  but game ne the Lexapro to start...confused on this.

[tostressed]

I took lexapro for 3 1/2 weeks and my anxiety was worse. I was literally having burning in my head and all day  long panic attacks. At the time I didn't think it was the lexapro. Just thought that my anxiety was getting worse. Doctors kept saying to keep taking the lexapro it has to get in you sysstem. Well almost 4 weeks was enough. I quit the lexapro and got better. I have tried other AD's and all the same side effects.  I have health anxiety also. I personally don't believe that you can treat that with AD's. If you read what they should be used for depression is the main thing. I am not depressed, therfore that stuff never worked for me. I have been dealing with this with no meds. I eat healthier, exercise more, take a daily vitamin and Omega fish oil. I changed my way of thought. I figured I have been having so many symptoms for so long. I would either be way worse or dead by now. I live for each day. I will not let my health anxiety take me over again. I drove myself, my family and doctors crazy. Had so many tests all came back clear. I finally realize that I was making myself sick. Sure I still get some bad days. I think we all do, we just needed to learn how to deal with it differently, then let it eat me up and swallow me whole.
I agree with tanns about the fire alarm in our heads. You have to turn them off before you can begin to heal. Good luck to you.

[tanns]

I took Lexapro last year for about nine months.  I started at 10mg and went down to 5mg right away.  The first 8 days were pretty hard.  Total increase in anxiety but I didn't know that was what it was at the time.  I was a jittery mess and I took mine at dinner time and within 45 minutes I had a headache or was dizzy.  Apparently this is common for some people even though I thought I was dying.  The initial effects can last for 14 or so days.  Mine was 8 and after that I felt fine.  I came off of it because I didn't think it was working.  Based on how I'm feeling now, I think maybe it did.

Health anxiety can take over your life.  I posted this before but one of my (many, MANY) doctors once told me something that made some sense.  He said that anxiety is like a fire alarm ringing in your head when you are trying to study.  Before you can concentrate, you need to turn off the alarm.  That is what anxiety is, sometimes meds help to calm the "alarm" so that your body can relax and get used to feeling that way.  It was a while ago that he told me so I'm sure I explained it better before but you can kind of get the idea.

I hope you get better soon.  This is a rough way to go through life.  We can beat this.
t.