Back on Cipralex (Lexapro)

[CanuckGuy42]

Well i'm on day 3 of a 2nd try at taking Lexapro on the advice of my physician. Last time the increase from 5 mg to 10mg after two days caused intense side effects that made me stop taking it. This time I am taking a much slower increase 5 mg for first week, then to 10mg to try and reduce the impact of the symptoms but I can tell after 3 days I am a bit more aggitated, nervous, anxious but nothing like last time. Also last time I was really against taking medication.. now... i'm ok with it.... my doc said if you have a cold you take something to minimize the symptoms... in a way this is the same thing.

I am wondering how long these "adapting" side effects typically last before my body gets used to the drug? I am hearing a week to two weeks for the side effects and then 4-6 weeks before the therapeutic effect of the drug to start really kicking in.  

I have suspended all my business travel for one month to give this a chance to work so hoping for the best. I will say that already i feel less "nervous" emotionally....its almost like my mind is getting calmer but my body is still agitated. Don't know if that's possible after only 3 days but it feels that way.

[CanuckGuy42]

Well I still have sensations but they are more manageable now..... still have jitteryness but again nothing like before... tingling sensations in my legs but not like before. What I have developed though is pain in my finger joints ever since I started going back to the gym and the joint near the nail on several of my fingers is a bit swollen. I'm 49 so my GP said she doesnt think its arthritis but I never had it this bad before all this anxiety and tingling sensations and stuff started happening.... maybe just age... i don't know but I know anxiety doesn't cause arthritis..but she wasn't interested in looking any further into it.

Fortunately in Canada, once you are referred to a psychiatrist by your GP and they accept you there is no charge under our universal health care system so cost is not an issue. But yes I will listen to what she has to say and then make a decision. I just feel she is so wrapped up in everything being anxiety related that she has lost her objectivity and with that I in turn have downgraded my trust level in her and that doesn't make for a comfortable situation for me. So if I remove her from that process then hopefully I can have her concentrate on non-anxiety related things that come up..... and if that doesn't work I can march my medical records over to another GP.....

[nursegirl6572]

Like I told turkee, there are a lot of subtle improvements you probably don't even notice yet.  Like, for both of you...you aren't posting nearly as often about the sensations you are having.  You can easily see the changes when reading your threads from start to finish, especially from an outsider's POV.  Also, both of you are needing the anti-anxiety meds less and less.

I think going with the p-doc is the right move, but discuss it and go from there.  You seem to be doing well and making strides all the time, therefore if you decide to stick it out with your PCP for now, I think you'd do fine.  It's not a decision you have to make right away.  There are many things to look at....how you LIKE each doc and your comfort level with them...how you perceive their knowledge of these meds, especially with you being sensitive.  Also, you may have to take into consideration any possible cost issues, and ease of getting appointments and the availability of the doc.  You need to look at the things about each doc that are important to you and then weigh out the pros and cons of each MD.

I'm so very happy you're seeing progress!  I know it's a long road, but look!  Already almost at the month mark!  That's awesome!!!!

[CanuckGuy42]

Day 28 - almost a month now!  Back to going to the gym in the morning before work and it feels great! Getting the old routine back. Today I see the psychiatrist to discuss transferring my anxiety care away from my GP and to her. I really feel that this is the best move for me but we will see what she says.

I have stayed at the 12.5mg dose of Lexapro today again pending my discussion with her before I make the final jump to 15mg which was were my GP wanted me.

Tomorrow it will be 2 weeks since i have had to take a klonopin..... feeling pretty good about that......

[CanuckGuy42]

Well i haven't had to take a klonopin in almost 2 weeks but still more jittery than normal but I would say overall its better than 10 days ago.... i'm at 12.5 MG a day of Lexapro now.... going to do another dose increase this week but may wait until I see the psychiatrist later this week as I am going to request to have my care transferred to her and away from my GP.
How are you doing?

[turkee23]

hey CG how you feeling?.....is it getting easier?

[CanuckGuy42]

Thanks for the comment.... like i said i do like her but I'm getting the vibe that she is too vested in this being "her plan for me" quote. It should be my plan for me with her objective support... i have to trust in my doctor to be objective and not committed to one outcome or the other - the only outcome she should be committed to is my getting better. If she believes a certain course of action is the right one then I expect her to recommend but not try to SELL IT and not immediately brush off EVERYTHING to anxiety which is what she is doing now... I have arthritic pain in my finger joints now that I have been going back to the gym (something I did not have before this all started by the way) and she basically brushed it off when i showed her....anxiety doesnt cause arthritis....but she wasn't even interested in looking at it..... also she was the one that told me a psychiatrist would never see me but made the referral anyway and was so suprised when they called .... and the psychiatrist was surprised that my GP told me a psychiatrist would never see me.....she's too vested in this so I need to remove her from that process and work with a doctor on this that is experienced, objective and supportive.....the psychiatrist seemed like that doctor when i met her.....

[Katie82123]

I feel similarly about my therapist. He has his ways and wants me to do it his way. He even went to far as to say my diagnosis is absolutely wrong and he's only known me four months! He's very closed minded

[Paxiled]

Well, given you haven't gotten better, he could also be right.  The test is whether you get better or not.