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Is it common to take two anitdepressants???

I went to the doctor today for a follow up on how I was doing with the Lexapro that I started on Monday. I told her that I take the Lexapro at night because it makes me tired. I told her that I had been experiencing the nausea, dizzy, but most of that is gone now, but I'm still having anxiety a little more frequently and I'm still not having an appetite. My anxiety was always bad in the mornings, that has not changed, but I'm noticing it more all through out the day. I informed her that last night I took the Lexapro around 9pm as I usually do, but this time around 1am I felt like I had drunk at least 10-15 cups of coffee. It was crazy! I barely slept and this morning my Anxiety was horrible. This time I actually felt like I couldn't breath. She said she wants me to take the Xanax 0.25mg and to not be afraid to take it and that she want me to take this antidepressant called AMITRIPTYLINE 10MG 1 TABLET AT BEDTIME AND INCREASE TO 2 TABLETS AT BEDTIME AFTER 1 WEEK. PLUS SHE ALSO WANTS ME TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THE LEXAPRO. Is this Normal practice?????
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Avatar universal
I had Lexapro for 6 mths (May 13 - Oct 13). It too me about 4 weeks to really feel better.
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Avatar universal
I was put on Lexapro 10mg.
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You don't mention the dosage of the Lexapro.  As others have mentioned, general docs really don't know these meds and how they work and don't work very well.  A good psychiatrist will taper you up on the drug so you get used to it as well as taper you down off it when you quit.  So I'd be interested in knowing what dosage you were started at on the Lexapro.  I think when I was put on it we went up 5mg at a time.
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Avatar universal
Would it be better if I just take the Lexapro in the morning instead of at night???  I noticed now that when I take it at night I'm up and not as tired after I take it like I was the first two days I started it. I have noticed that a part of me feels Happy, but the anxiety, feelings and thoughts are still here. I agree, I am in an unpleasant anxious state and it's making me more anxious and worrying! I hate this head space feeling!
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Avatar universal
Thanks for responding! Yes! My thoughts exactly! I haven't filled the prescription yet. The doctor that prescribed this is my family doctor. I haven't seen a psychiatrist. I asked her today about seeing someone that maybe specialize in anxiety and she said that she wanted me to continue seeing the counselor for a few more weeks and if that Didn't improve then we can look into others. I was thinking myself that I shouldn't be on another AD because I just started this one and that maybe what I'm going thru is just side effects, cause although I've Only started the Lexapro on Monday I'm still having racing thoughts, jitters, morning anxiety, feeling of being amped up and now she wants me to try this, is just making me worry even more. Although this anxiety happened to me suddenly and I don't know why. I feel that my problem is that I worry too much and in turn think really negative once the feelings come because they scare me. These feelings come even when I'm not thinking about anything it's like my body and nerves just doing what they want to do.  It *****! I feel like maybe I need to buy some books and help myself! I don't want to give up, but this is a struggle when your mind won't let you rest and you wondering Why it's not working, I did have her test my magnesium level because I had been taking a PPI for the last 9 months. I agree with you all. I think it's to soon and I shouldn't start another AD medicine. I want to see if this Lexapro will work for me first and don't. Want to be taking two AD meds at once. Ugh! The joy's of this beast! I'm so tired and confused!
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480448 tn?1426948538
I wanted to add that you've JUST started the Lexapro, and what you describe (feeling like you drank a lot of coffee) is a very very common side effect.  Most people report that the side effects start to improve after about a week or two.  Unfortunately, one often has to feel a little worse first, before feeling better.

I think adding the Elavil is way premature, being that you're still adjusting to the Lexapro.  If you add another medication to the mix, and don't do well, it will be impossible to nail down which med is the culprit.

I would recommend questioning the doc about giving the Lexapro more time before adding another medication.  You can always get another opinion as well.  If this is your family doc Rx'ing the meds, ask for a referral to a psychiatrist.
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Avatar universal
You mentioned in another post that you started the lex on Jan 13 so that hasn't begun to have any effect on you, although possibly you are getting some side effects. It is always hard to tell what the effects are a result of when you have anxiety because there are so many potential causes including just being in an unpleasant anxious state making you more anxious that it won't go away.
I leave it to someone else to comment on the drug choices doc has made, but will say I have seen people here on 5 meds.
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480448 tn?1426948538
Have you had it filled already?  If not, ask the pharmacist.  There IS a warning for these two medications related to the risk of serotonin syndrome, however, they are two different kinds of ADs.  Elavil is a tricyclic antidepressant, it's an older class of AD.

I would definitely question the instructions to take both medications concurrently.  Is your doc a psychiatrist?
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