question about meds

ok...i have have a panic disorder, anxirty disorder, and severe depression...sometimes.  When the depression comes the others get much, much worse.  When it goes i can deal with it.  I have been on 20mg of Lexapro for aboiut four years.  About two weeks ago I had several panic attacks and after each one where sever bouts with anxiety about another panic attack.  Which has led to pretty bad state of depression.  I went to the doctor and they switched me to Paxil time release.  Well that didnt help.  I also started taking xanax in the morning to help with my symptoms at work.  I went back to the doctor and they put me back on Lexapro and xanax xr.  The xanax is very mild and doesnt seem to help at all unless i take a 2.5mg(i think thats it)  not the xanax xr which is a .5mg.  I am going back to the doctor on thursday because this depression has got to get better. My question is do medications like Lexapro run there course in one and start to stop working? I like they way it made  me feel for the 4 yrs i was on it so can i take a higher dose than 20mg?  If not what is the absolute best other medications besides wellbutren and paxil for me to take?  just wondering,
Thanks,
Jayscout99

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Ask your doctor about increasing the dose of Lexapro until you get back to where you were.  There's also another consideration.  Something is going on in your life that is causing distress....maybe you ought to see a therapist and talk about it...that is actually better than medication, and works well with medication.  Once you start switching and trying all the different medications you can get very confused about what is going on, so see if you can sort this out with a therapist rather than rushing to a new medication.

[sparkeler]

There isn't an "absolute best" medication to treat anxiety and depression.  Unfortunately, the lexapro might not be working that well for you anymore.  It happens.  You may need to keep switching until you find something that works.  It can be very long and frusturating, but hang in there.  You'll get it right eventually.  Good luck! And keep the xanax on hand (the stronger dose,) especially while going through the medication changes.

[frustrated1975]

I am dealing with what has been explained to me as a bipolar mother. This last month she has been totally out of her mind and when she finally decided to speak with myself and my sister she explained that she had been prescribed effexor as well as wellbutrin and her "new" therapist advised her that the combination can be extremely toxic and she should have never been prescribed the two meds together. I am wondering if this is true or if this another excuse to justify her actions. My family has been dealing with this for a very long time and as much as I hate to say this sometimes we can distinguish the difference between the truth and excuses with her. We are extremely frustrated and I didnt know who else to ask until I found this website. Any information ANYONE can provide would be extremely grateful.

[jayscout99]

sparkeler,
thanks for the words of encouragement.  i know i will and i am actually having a pretty good day.  i will keep the xanax handy for the nexr couple of weeks so that i can function somewhat normally until i get my meds straight.  i think that self help is also going to be wuite helpful also.
Jayscout99

[sparkeler]

I don't completely agree w/the doctor. Of course you need to be in therapy.  A combination of therapy, medication, and meditation can work wonders for you psyche.  However, the fact may be that the lexapro just isn't working anymore.  It happened to me w/zoloft.  I was on it for 6 years and then I started to have anxiety and depression again.  My doctor recommended a switch.  I tried four other pills before I settled w/lexapro (and of course I have xanax, in case.)  I suggest while figuring all this out you are in therapy and being monitored.  But a medication change may very well be what you need.

[jayscout99]

sparkler,
thats kinda what i was thinking too.  the lexapro did a good job for a long time. i think that i may have an built up a level of immunity(spelling?) to it.  I have had a couple of xanax's this morning but it has helped me to relax and do my job.  i was so anxious about it last night that i think it really helped me.  i only have a couple left, but i go back to the doctor tomorrow and im sure that while i am dealing with this medication change he will prescribe me some more. i am a preschool teacher and whow, that can be crazy sometimes.  I am also a new dad and am having a hard time enjoying my daughter since this all started a couple of weeks ago. So I HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FUNCTION NORMALLY while I am dealing with this. I know one thing for sure though, i have been exercising my little tale off and sincemy appetite has been low i am losing weight like crazy.  
Thanks For listening,
Jay
ps-lexapro is a great drug...it worked for me for a long time.

[scaredycat1]

jayscout, you said you took 20 lexapro, how do you know when you need to up the meds, I only take 10 but am not sure it is working so well, I do feel better than I did, less anxious but not the same but it has only been a month.  hope everything works out for you, sure it will just stay positive,

scaredy

[sparkeler]

Give it another 2 weeks or so.  (Usually takes a good 6 - 8 weeks to fell the full benefits.)  If it still isn't up to par, try upping it to 15mg. (Take one and break the 2nd one in half.)  Remember it doesn't get rid of everyday problems, but helps to manage the anxiety level.

[imcrazy2]

Your best bet is to pose a question to the doc (new thread).....and then everyone who has anything helpful to say will post a response.  It's not as effective if you are asking a question on someone else's post....plus, you didn't really ask anything specific

[Bosox]

How long is to long to be on valium