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Lexapro and Stomach Pain

I started taking Lexapro 10 mg two weeks ago for anxiety.  I've had several side effects which is frustrating since I was told this drug is well tolerated.  After taking the 10 mg for a week I dropped down to 5 mg to see if the side effects would subside.  Now the last two days I've had severe stomach pain and loose stools.  I also feel nauseous on and off.  My doctor told me today that It's not the medicine causing it it's a virus.  I feel like this medicine is making me worse instead of better.  Anyone else experience this?
Best Answer
480448 tn?1426948538
Everyone is differemnt when it comes to tolerating these meds.  I had some initial side effects with Lexapro, but it was more of an increase in anxiety and feeling "jittery".  Stomach upset is common, but you are saying "severe stomach pain"?  That would be worrisome.  Problem is...your doc may be right...it's difficult to judge what is side effects and what may be totally unrelated symptoms!  Did you start having side effects right after starting the Lexapro?

If the side effects are severe or are bothersome...then you need to discuss this with your doc again and ask to try a different med.  You shouldn't have too much of an issue d/cing the Lexapro due to the short period of time and low dose you were on it.

Let us know how you're doing!  Hope you're feeling better!!
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Avatar universal
I started lexapro 20 mg in late august and now I have been experiencing severe stomach pain and nausea for over 3 weeks. I even just had a colonoscopy because my GI doctor thinks it's colon related not stomach. I'm waiting on the results. It's so bad and I am usually in bed by 6 every day because of the pain. But oddly, the pain doesn't start until around 1 pm. I gained weight and that is the reason I want to go off. My doctor told me the meds wouldn't do this. Glad I googled it.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I got on here tonight researching to see if anyone else is having the severe stomach pain (not intestinal, STOMACH) like me and I am glad to know that I'm not the only one... I started this med at 10mg/day about 2 weeks ago and I have the WORST stomach pain ALL the time... When something strange is happening to my body as this is I always deduce whether or not I've started taking a new medication and most of the time I have and this one is Lexapro... I'm going to stop taking it because it distracts me from my work and disturbs my sleep because the pain gets so bad... Thank you all for your comments... Now at least I know that it's not just me experiencing this...
Helpful - 0
15639604 tn?1441919082
I've been on lexapro for 2 months and I feel horrible. My stomach is a mess.  Reflux and burping, I've lost weight because of it.  I'd taken lexapro before and was fine, got off  for a long time.  I went back on it thinking I'm OK with this drug.  Well I've been through hell.  I'm off of it as of today.  I can't taper off because my stomach upset is so extreme.  COLD TURKEY as they say.  Goodbye awful drug.

I wish life weren't so stressful and we didn't need drugs.  Too many side effects.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi did you manage to find out if it was the lexapro that was causing this? Reason I ask is I feel the same way in at around the 5-6 week mark of taking 10mg per day
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Avatar universal
i take lexapro,and i was coming off the prozac, but before that paxil,and i started 20mg and i had no symptoms or anything. but im still feeling like i need an increase.
Helpful - 0
1448936 tn?1363206346
When I started lexapro I was severely nauseated to the point where I wouldn't leave the bathroom. I stopped taking it and the nausea subsided. It also increased my anxiety like crazy. My doc prescribed me prozac instead but after the lexapro I'm terrified to take it. I hope you find relief soon.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I see a psychologist for my anxiety and she agreed with my primary care that I should start out on 10mg of Lexapro.  I pretty sensitive to medication and should have asked if I could start at 5mg instead.  My first side effects were heart palpitations, shoulder and neck pain, and I was more tired.  After I week I started taking 5mg and within a few days insomnia started.  A few days more and I started with the stomach pain and diarrhea that I'm now experiencing.  I stopped taking the Lexapro last night in case that's what causing it.  The only reason I don't think it's a virus is because I had the body ache flu for a week towards the middle of January. The following week I had loose stools and assumed it was remnants of the flu bug.  So either I've gotten another virus or this one is still going.  Either way, it seems strange to me.  I just wondered if anyone else on Lexapro was experiencing anything similar.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
If it's a virus, you'd feel muscle weakness and all the other things that go along with a virus, unless it's one of those 24 hour stomach bugs.  If it is, it'll go away.  Digestive problems are one of the most common side effects of medication.  From what I understand, the proper way to go on Lexapro is in 5mg intervals to slowly get your body used to it.  Do you have a psychiatrist expert in these meds, or just a regular doc?  And what's your instinct?  If you stick it out a few days and it goes away, no harm done, could have been a stomach bug or something you ate.  If it doesn't, it's the med.
Helpful - 0
345079 tn?1299202476
It really can affect everyone differently but your doctor may be right in that you have a virus. Wait a day or two and if you are not starting to feel better I would see them and hopefully find something that will not affect you as bad. Either way, feel better!
Helpful - 0
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