My Lexapro journey!

Started Lexapro on Thursday at 10mgs per day.  I took the first tab at 6am Thursday and did not feel anything until 6pm that night.  Started feeling jittery, shakey (shaky) and a little "out of body."  The last one kinda scared me.

Friday morning I woke up feeling somewhat rested but still a little foggy and took another 10mg tab.  Friday went pretty good..I was actually shocked at how well I felt.

Today is a different story.  Woke up at 4am with stomach upset and anxiety through the roof and cant seem to get it under control.  I will have moments of clairty coupled with a few minutes of a "great attitude" but that seems to quicky fade.  I've been fighting some pretty severe depression and anxiety the past year and have tried everything under the sun except SSRI's.

I know that SSRI's take 2-4 weeks to work and I will see this through as this is my last resort.  If this is acceptabe...I will post here to keep everyone up to date.  I'm amazed at how people around me just dont understand what I'm going through.  .

[Julie359]

Well trust me we all know exactly how you are feeling on here.... this sounds very much like what is called activation syndrome.  It is common in SSRI's.  Did your doctor give you anything like Valium or any other anti-anxiety drug to help in the first days of taking the med?

It's bascially your body getting use to the drug, once your system does the jittery, panicky feelings will subside but if it is too much for you to take then you need to talk to your doc and see if there is anything he/she can give you to counteract these feelings.  You don't and should not have to suffer with this inital settling in period, call your doc.

Take care n all the best

[tropicalsoul]

Thanks for the advice.  I do have some xanax and a few valium but am scared to take them.  Gues I'm affraid to get addicted to those as well.  My doctor did offer xanax but I chose the Lexapro path first.

[MrGreen]

You won't have time to get addicted to them. Once your main new medication kicks in you most probably won't need the xanax or valium. It would be fine to use it to calm yourself down for now. Even a small amount. Takes a few months to become dependant on those meds. So you will be fine if you only have to take them for a week or two. Just to calm you down some.

[Julie359]

Yeah this is true, try the valium and Xanax just to get you through this inital period until your body gets use to the new medication.  It will alot easier on you, taking it over a short period won't get you addicted.  

[mama23babies]

I am trying my 5th AD this time with Klonopin. I couldn't get past the worsening anxiety at the beginning. I would make it 4or5 days and couldn't handle it. I am only on my third day of taking zoloft and it seems to be helping so far. Try it it will probably help you too.

[Julie359]

hey good-luck with the Zoloft, i hope this combination of med's gets you through the initial stages.  Hope you both start to feel better shortly..... all the best Julie x