Lexapro known in UK as Citalopram.......bad move

I have been having very bad mood swings, very extreme, big anger or big sadness, really was getting way of the chart for me. I saw that some of you have had success with AD's and Lexapro so today I started takeing 10mg......awfull stuff really anxious all day and feeling very stoned, a bit like early start of E, not nice at all, I thought it may help with the sides but hell I dont need this. Talking of E when i used to do loads the sides are very much like the withdrawls, very strange it all feels very familiar, anyone else notice that? I have 19 weeks to go, the water helps thanks for that one.I was at the clinic on Friday and they said they will test me at 24 weeks and again 24 weeks later if the virus is non detectable they say I will be clear, which is very different to some of the information that I have seen posted here, maybe the mindset is different across the pond?

[cougareyes]

I've never taken E, so I can't relate there; but I did start taking lexapro 2 weeks before I started tx. I guess I did feel a little cloudy(off and on), but it did even out rather fast. I, my girlfriend, and friends, all say they believe they are helping me considering what I'm going through on tx. Every ones different, sorry your experience doen't seem to be that pleasant.
Peace

[brightoneason]

If it works for you, that is cool, I had hoped it would work for me, maybe because i have been sober for years I am sensitive to this stuff.

[HepCinLA]

I started Lexapro two weeks before treatment.  The initial sides from the Lexapro were far worse than the hep meds.  

When I started Lexapro I felt I was in a cloud or a haze.  I felt anxious and would get that jittery feeling in my legs.  I also had problems sleeping were I would wake up in the middle of the night and was unable to get back to sleep.  And I had the worse case of dry mouth!  I was so fatigued and exhausted, all I wanted to do was sit on the sofa.

I've read that your the sides from Lexapro go away once your body gets acclimated to the drug.  It took 3 weeks before I felt completely normal.  Anyway, well worth it, since I find that I'm much calmer now than before I started Lexapro.

[azgrl]

I'm not on tx yet however I was put on Lexapro in the anticipation of starting tx a couple of weeks ago.....I had a "funny feeling" for about 2 days and then it went away.  I am doing great on them now.....I think I have a bit more patience then I did before although I didn't realize how impatient I really was until I was on them.....I've been on them for about 2 weeks now maybe 3....

deb in az

[brightoneason]

I think I am so fed up with the sides I just dont have it in me to take on anymore I have ALL of the sides i have seen mentioned so far on this site......I wish i had the stamina to hack some more but i will stick with the WATER 5/6 litres a day plus electrolite sports drinks....bring it on!

[fresnoborn]

i have been on lexapro for about 2 weeks now. the first couple of days i felt cloudy and edgey but it has gone away although, i do find myself dizzy at times. before i started taking it i was angry and paranoid all the time and my family was paying the price. i am glad i got on it, after all, it's just temporary. good luck to you in whatever choice you make. you have to weigh the odds.

[debdeb47]

I am a big big Zoloft fan.  I am balanced and happy in my skin when properly dosed up.  If I neglect to take it for a week, (not uncommon) all those loved ones who know me can see it.  Little differnece pre/during tx 13/24).

Deb

[mistybean]

The side effects of AD are terrible.  I had to fight to not take them.  Then the treatment or me got so dark it was spooky.. so I had to take them again.  You will get used to them and they do help during treatment.

[HepCinLA]

Hang in there...things will get better.  Water is key.  I find if I don't drink enough I feel more fatigued.  

Don't give up on the Lexapro just yet.  The AD mellowed me out and I find I have more patience.  I have read others on this site who said that an Lexapro really helped with Riba Rage.  So if you are working, have children or a less than supportive spouse, I recommend sticking with an AD.  

[bobbyullc]

I AM ON CITOLOPRAM AND ONLY TAKE 1/4 PILL A DAY AS ONE WHOLE PILL MADE ME REAL TIRED. I HAS HELPED GREATLY. MAYBE YOU MAY TRY BILLDING UP A TOLERANCE. HOPE YOUR DEPRESSION IS MANAGERBLE IN ANY CASE.
BOBBY

[brightoneason]

I just cant do it, I am in recovery for several years (NA) I thought the Ads would just hold the sides at bay and maybe stop the rage/grief/deppression cycle, but I felt SO stoned it freaked me out, not what I need, Im glad it works for you guys though, whatever it takes to get through the Tx. I may try seeing a herbalist or homeopathy, worth a try and I am learning about the water, loads of it.

[fresnoborn]

whatever works for you, bright. not everyone can take lexapro. good luck to you and i send good healthy vibes your way. lol

[bobbyullc]

i have been in aa/na for 22years. i saw a friend die last year from hep c as his depression was so bad they stopped tx. this is a legit med. if you need it. if not better for you. meanwhile lots of luck.
bobby

[cougareyes]

Two more cents for those out there considering an AD. I never took any medications until I started this tx, so I was very apprehensive about anything. And yes maybe when I first started the lexapro I felt a little out of control, and it scared me. I'm glad I gave it time to adjust.
A friend of mine said the other day "When you're done with tx I hope you still keep taking those psycho drugs" lol. With the deep depression and anger I hear about some having tx, I know the lexapro is helping me. I was moody as h$ll before tx.
Everything does work for everybody.       Peace

[cougareyes]

I meant everthing does NOT work for everyone.   Peace

[johnisme]

Glad to see your doing better now, hope you keep posting as you bring alot to this forum.

You made this statement............A friend of mine said the other day "When you're done with tx I hope you still keep taking those psycho drugs"

Do they come in the "mr natural" cuts???? Oh never mine i keep forgetting this is not the 70's

Take care and hope the rest of your journey flies by fast.

[NYgirl]

I started on Paxill thought it was the worlds WORST stuff...and then got used to it and now don't notice that I ever take it.

It did take about two months getting used to it but I am glad I took it - because I am very "even" now.

[brightoneason]

very sad to hear of your friends death, I too have lost friends to HCV...I think what I was looking for was some valadation from recovery members and you have, I thank you. It still can be a fine line for me,when i had my biopsy it hurt like hell and i was i the recovery room, this guy the doc comes in and tells me they are sorry but they have LOST my biopsy sample! 2 mins and they lost it...straight back in and they do it again...needless to say I was given a shot of pethidine as i was in a great deal of pain..had no problem with that but this feels like such a head f..uck! what i may do is try a quarter or half...whats it like to come of this stuff? (ADs).....by the way i have had bed sweats all this week (5)enough to change my t-shirt twice a night, anyone have this?

[brightoneason]

Thank you, good feedback, i need to settle down a bit and then re think my stratergy...maybe the half or quarter will be the way for me to ease my way in.

[beamishboy]

i have sweats also-at nite&infrequently during the day..Takes almost nothing byway of exertion to bring it on...this is liberally mixed w/ chills...i'm changeing t-shirts&adding sweaters like a runway model-yeh,in my wildest dreams!!maybe this condition is agravated by all the water i'm drinkin,who knows? but you ain't alone!! By the way i'm takin Lexapro 10 mg a day; Sam-e 400mg twice a day:percacet 5mg twice a day if i really need em........maybe i could manage without,but i wouldn't want to try..this isn't ANY fun & the side effects are all too real...I plan on staying the course....Good Luck,tommy

[Dweav]

They started me on Lexpro two week before I started treatment they said it would take a bout a month for it to really start working. At about week 20 they upped it to 20mg. I have had a problem with it and it done me fine. I would try it for a month or two beefore I passed jugment on it. Like just about all drug with sides you'll feel them first but normal they pass after a week or two.

Don

[juliaGianni]

Hi everybody!
I start today with Lexapro.
I'm little bit scared.......
I take erlier prosac(1 year).
I from Poland so sorry for broken english:))))

[lchou]

I started Lexapro a couple of months ago, and so glad I did.  I was very apprehensive about taking them.  I had almost uncontrollable rage, wanting to kill everyone in sight.  It took a few weeks to feel normal, and now I am feeling great.  I alternate between a half and a whole pill every other day.

Try a lower dose.

Hope you feel better.

[sunshine585]

Lexapro is Escitalopram, Celexa is Citalopram
The reason I point this out, is I couldn't take Citalopram, so my Dr. tried me on Lexapro/Escitalopram. I was able to tolerate this.  I also started off on 5mg. and worked myself up to 10mg.

[bajawoman]

"Lexapro is Escitalopram, Celexa is Citalopram "  is correct  

I cannot take Celexa but had very good success with Lexapro  i

t took at least 10 days the first week was outta body experience one or two nights but started with 5 mg and worked up to 10 and never have had to go higher yet.

you have to start with small doses and work up to avoid sx from the AD which ever one you choose  but Lexapro is the newest one on the market may be wrong with that statement but doctor friends recommended it to me
AD's do cause wieght gain and sexual disfunction in some but the down side far out wieghs the upside if you are raging


I have tried Zolof, Celexa, Paxil, Xanex and Prozac this last one is fine and cheap but dulls the creativity part of me  but Lexapro is the best levels me out  I

have anxiety problems very bad panic attacks , depression and bad anger issues from the HCV I have had for many years
now I am after 3 months on Lexapro a normal person the first month still had some issues  but feeling fine emotionally now and able to deal with my muscle and joint pain better

I have taken Xanex small doses for a few years  as it relieves the problems of Panic Attacks and Anger issues right away

I still use it occasionally but less and less as Lexapro has taken care of all the emotional problems for me

It is not easy finding a AD that works for you  I am not treating yet but knew my own situation all too well and I will not  tolerate tx without AD's  They surely are not for everybody  but I am thankful I found one that works so well for me

Good luck with finding one that will help with these issues you are having I feel for you having to find one when you are in the throws of the problems that cause you to find one and being on tx must not be easy time to experiment with AD's

baja