Lexapro

[braccio]

I'm wondering what people think of Lexapro as an antidepressant.   I just started taking it the other day, and don't have any feeling yet from it.   Let me know if you take it and how it affects you.  Thanks in adavance for your information.

[adel_ezz]

i forgot to tell you that it brought mania for me. All the Ad's do so and am interested to know if there exists one that doesn't. I never tried the herbal things: ginko buloba, sam-e, st john's... etc...

however as far as bipolar are concerened i always find them taking either this one or its cousin cipram/celexa (same comp) or welbutrin.

moonpanda: have you tried yet the transcranial method you told us about ?

[moonpanda]

Lexapro triggered mania in me, and the withdrawal from it was awful... ugh, I shudder to remember it. I was forced to stop it cold turkey while hospitalized, and it was so uncomfortable that I pushed hard to be discharged so I could go home and take my leftover pills to make it stop. Very, very bad idea, I know, haha.

But anyway, what works for one person may not work for another, and what triggers mania in one person may not do the same in another. If you're being monitored for the potential switch from depression to mania after starting Lexapro (and I'm also assuming you're already on some sort of mood stabilizing medication), then I say give it a try, it might help. Keep in mind that antidepressant medications take a couple weeks to a month or more to start showing results. Good luck!

[adel_ezz]

lexapro/escitalopram/cipralex is one of the best AD's and not very strong, i.e. there others more potent but more harmful too. any BP pt is not advised to take AD's but this is a naive opinion because it's bound you get depressed one day unless miraculously you can beat it which i doubt.

it's very good for anxiety too. it takes time 3 weeks at least to function as an AD but as antianxiety you will notice right away. tray to minimize your dose 5-10mg say, i.e. don't exceed this level if you can of course. i don't remember it had serious withdrawing symptoms unless you are on a high dose

[jazzlover1003]

I took it and it worked well for me.  There was a large study that did indicate that antidepressants can trigger mania in bipolars so it's up to each person and how they react. Check with your dr.

[x89rt]

it took me a week to feel the effects. for me, the effects of the 10mg started diminishing after a couple of months but it started working again when i raised to 20. i do have to warn you, the withdrawls are SERIOUS. you get REALLY depressed. at least i did. you would probably also notice it if you forgot it one day or something.

[cowgirlnerd]

I took it YEARS ago, but I've been told that most bipolar's don't take AD's.  At least, that's what my pdoc has said.  When I was on it, it treated my depression well, though.  It will take a little while before you start feeling it.