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week 12 on lexapro and still anxious! Please help!
Hi all. I've been on cipralex ( LEXAPRO ) since April 8th starting at 5mg and working up to 30 now. I'm on a whopping dose! I was actually feeling pretty good for the last 10 days and yesterday I had a panic attack while driving to a cbt class of all things! I'm now feeling that panicky anxious feeling again. I've been o a therapeutic dose for over 4 weeks now and on this new increase for 2 weeks. I'm getting frustrated and concerned that this med is just not working on my anxiety. I don't k ow what to do? I'm not a quitter but I seem to be OK for a bit and then it comes back and I have to keep increasing. Well I can't increase any more so now what? I'm very concerned and scared. Please talk some sense in to me. I feel like there is no med out there that will help. This is my FEAR! !! Anyone??
SO far so good, it's only been a few days but no anxiety and no panic attacks!! Only on the 37.5mg so will keep you posted!!
Yes I start cbt therapy later this summer. I'm looking forward to that. I just wish this med would magically kick in so I can gain more confidence in my mood from day to day. Is it possible that I no longer respond to antidepressants? That's what is causing my anxiety.
That's a vert good question...how do you know when you've given a medication a fair shake? That's a tough one.
MY advice would be to wait out the full 6 (even maybe 8) weeks since your dosage increase. Then reevaluate.
Are you in therapy?
MY advice would be to wait out the full 6 (even maybe 8) weeks since your dosage increase. Then reevaluate.
Are you in therapy?
Hi nurse girl, thank you for the response. I went from 20 to 30 3 weeks ago. It seems I have more actual panic attacks since I've been on the lex. Not everyday but occasionally. So.e days are better than others. I don't want to give up just yet, but at what point do you know for certain? 12 weeks is a long time, although the first 4 were at low doses. I've been on the therapeutic dose for 5 weeks now.
I'm sorry you're having trouble. I would hold off deciding on anything until you've given this new dose some more time. It can take 4-6 weeks after a dosage increase for a person to adjust to the new dose, and then reap the benefits. What did you go up to the 30mg from? What dose?
If it was a pretty big jump, that would absolutely cause more marked anxiety. Also, remember that while these meds can do a good job helping to manage the symptoms of anxiety, you still HAVE anxiety, so it isn't out of the question to have a breakthrough panic attack, or a bad day. It happens for sure. Try not to equate that to the medication not working, or your anxiety getting worse. It's way too soon to make any kind of judgement call like that.
Hang in there, update us on how you're doing!
If it was a pretty big jump, that would absolutely cause more marked anxiety. Also, remember that while these meds can do a good job helping to manage the symptoms of anxiety, you still HAVE anxiety, so it isn't out of the question to have a breakthrough panic attack, or a bad day. It happens for sure. Try not to equate that to the medication not working, or your anxiety getting worse. It's way too soon to make any kind of judgement call like that.
Hang in there, update us on how you're doing!
Yes do stick with it! It took me awhile and alot of increases until I felt better. I ended up on 187.5 but would probably have been even better at 225. There's more wiggle room with effexor too which I think allows people to be on it for longer. Good luck! You'll be fine
I have awful panic attacks and anxiety, my dr switched me today to effexor xr, she was worried that the zoloft will poop soon and we are tired of trying meds!! I am crossing my fingers this works, I just need to stick with it and not give up!!
I would definitely go back on it. I switched because I was scared of all the withdrawal stories and the quest to find a med ad good as celexa was, but truthfully, if I had stayed on it, I would be in a better place right now. The withdrawls were nothing major and it really was helping so I'm kind of kicking myself for doing g it. It really never occurred to me that I would have such a hard time with meds. Celexa was the first one I had ever tried and it worked quickly and efficiently. I never knew about poop out either so when it happened, I was pretty stunned to say the least. It's been a really difficult year for me as well as my family. My biggest fear at this moment is not finding a med that will work. My doctor assured me that there is something out there but it's been tough searching. Are you fi Di g the Zoloft as effective as it was the first time? Please don't worry about trying effexor. I've heard it has a lower poop out rate too. Not sure if that's rue, but I've seen lots of people on it for lo g periods of time. Are you on an antidepressant for anxiety or depression or both? I have both bit mainly pretty intense anxiety.
It is ok so far, only been on it under 2 weeks, I feel more alive on it vs the lexapro never realized how blah it made me!!! My Dr is not sold on leaving me on the ZOloft and is doing some research on what would be good and her next option in Effexor XR, would you ever go back on it? IF I may ask, why did you go off it?
Actually I don't think it's effective for my anxiety unless it magically kicks in! I'm not sure what to do. How is Zoloft working? Are you feeling any improvements?
Well, effexor xr did work but it took awhile and alot of increases. When I got up to 187.5. I was doing better. Oh and btw the withdrawls were not as bad as everyone would have you believe. They were very manageable. I had a decent day yesterday but today the morning anxiety is back! Ugh I hate this!
The zoloft did poop out on me last August, but my Dr said try it again and see if it works, it may or may not, so I am gonna give it a try again if not my next option is Paxil or Effexor XR!!
Give it at least 4 weeks after the dosage increase to see if it works. If not, there's always effexor and a host of other alternatives. Be sure to tell your doctor of these changes.
I did have a blah feeling for a bit. The psychiatrist wanted me to try 30 and see if it would help. Funny thing is I was feeling better for like 2 weeks and then I had this stinking panic attack which makes me question the medications effectiveness. Are you back on Zoloft? Do you feel better? I thought Zoloft pooped our on you?
Can you go see your Dr and get back on the Effexor, no sense in suffering, can I ask why you went way up to 30mg? The 20mg worked better for me then the 10mg but had that blah feeling, do you?
I did try Zoloft which didn't work and then effexor which was helping but I made the decision to go off and try lexapro because celexa was so helpful. I just feel horrid and I'm not sure what to do? I should have just stayed on the effexor.
I know how you feel, I had been on zoloft for years and it stopped working for me last year. I have tried many many others with no relief. I finally settled on lexapro in April. I felt pretty good anxious wise and panic attacks but felt blah on it, I also had a few panic attacks and anxious periods while on it. Have you tried any other meds?
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