It matters sometimes doctors will prescribe it on a daily basis, sometimes whenever you need it... also it's not quite a magic pill but you start feeling full benefits anywhere from a month - 4 months because the bloodstream has to inject into your body fully.
ive had every test done for the dizziness and the unstable feeling i get when on my feet, (like if someone tapped me i would just fall right over) it all strated when i stopped paxil about 1 1/2 years ago. i hope the paxil didnt mess things up with my head.i promised myself if i could get over the withdraw of paxil(might i ad was worse than anything i ever been threw)i would never again take any anti-depressants. well here i am 1 1/2 yrs later and i cant take the constant fear and anxiety anymore. i heard so many good things about lexapro and i thought that it would be a magic pill that would make me better, well not yet, hopefully when i up to 10mgs i will some relief.how does the xanax xr work, is that a daily pill or is it like xanax take when needed? well good luck all and ill write soon
Pumpkin,
I understand where you come from. I have had anxiety problems probably at three different times in my life. I took Lexapro for 9 months. I have never slept so good in my life. I took it in the morning. No dizziness nothing. It was great. It helped alot with social anxiety. I didn't feel the diziness ect that I used to feel when I was in crowds of people. I took Paxil for one month, during which time, I flew to VA. I didn't even break a sweat. (Problem with crowded airplanes and airports. Go figure) With other meds I still had the problem boarding planes. I don't take SSRI's now. Much of my anxiety has been helped with meds and therapy. I am taking Piracetam to see if it helps with my obsessive thoughts. So far so good. It seems they hit all of the sudden and then go away more quickly than they used to. SSRI's help you gain weight of which I am desperatly trying to lose. Hope you have success!!
I tried Lexapro and had really bad side effects. I did not stay on it very long as the side effects scared the heck out of me. I also took and am taking 1MG Xanax XR per day for anxiety.
My goal is to get control of my panic and anxiety so that it does not rule my life.
I went to see a counselor and Psychiatrist. My Psychiatrist just kept prescribign medications for anxiety, my counselor actually helped me talk things out and get to some of the issue that may be causing my anxiety. Along with the in office therapy, she suggested I read the book called "Don't Panic" by R. Reid Wilson, PH.D. The book teaches you how to deal with and ultimately face your anxiety and panic attacks head on. The techniques including daily relaxation, positive talk during anxious times and relaxation at the time of anxiety. It builds on providing the ability and skills to invite panic head on and deal with it. The theory is that if you avoid it, it will always come back. If you face your fears and deal with them adaquately, then panic subsides. The book has worked really well for me. I am going to try next week to taper off the XANAX and slowly go back to a medicine free existence.
I am not a DR. and cannot recommend this in place of medications. I just choose to try to conquer my fear of panic with out drugs. I highly recommend this book which you can purchase for about $9.00. I has helped me a great deal.
thanks, i will try to up the dose to 10mg, i have also tried alot of self help tapes and boy do they work, i leave my house now and 2 years ago i was unable to leave my house for 3 months, so i do believe that it does help, but i still have alot of issues with anxiety, i feel very uncomfortable in resturants and other situations were im in a situation were i cant get out if i feel uncomfortable. but i fight it everyday, im just waiting for it to get better, thats why i tried lexapro b/c i was looking for a liitle help because im tired of fighting it day in and day out. i will let you know how im doing when i increase. take care
Funny you should say that I'm going through the same problems whenever I'm in a large crowd such as a school hallway I'll become very dizzy because it seems like all the voices roll through my ear and makes it uncomfortable feels like my brain rattles also the restlessness is almost unbearable sometimes but then I read the anxiety manual I've gotten for reassurance which helps.
I believe what I read was a lexapro 10mg would work the same as 100-150mg of paxil or zoloft.
I'm currently working on losing my anxiety by using relaxation techniques and boy does it feel good... I'm about 70% less anxious then I was about 2 months ago (www.panic-anxiety.com) gives symptoms and tells you what to do.. it helps a lot.
Also anxiety mimics depression therefore if you find a way to overcontrol your anxiety you could stop medication all ahead as long as your serotonin levels are stable.
Good luck,
Steve
thanks for the reply, do you have any suggestions about dosage, i currently take 5 mg and i really dont feel any of the anxiety going away, i really dont want to up the dose b/c i actually am having problems coming to terms that i have to rely on medication to feel better. but i really cant stand living this kind of life of fear and constant worry. do you thing if i take 7.5 mg it will give me bad side effects and for about how long after i increase. i think 10mg right away might be too much. my concern is the tiredness i have to be up at 5:30 am for work and i dont want to jepordize my job due to this medication. any info you have to offer would be greatfully appriciated.
the therapeutic dose is 10 mgs and there is no need to go higher. If your doctor agrees, you should try the 10 now and any side effects that are difficult will surface immediately and probably be gone within ten days...that is true for 95% of people.
I'm not a doctor I just have knowledge from my personal experience......
I'm currently on lexapro 10mgc for anxiety also... How it went with me was day 1 and 2 didn't feel anything ... then 3-9 or day 10 I was getting bad dizzy spells after I took the pill about 20 mins later that I took it, so i started to take it in the pm and by the time I wake up I didn't feel it too bad, but give it like 2 weeks then try to evaluate yourself about if the medication side effects are subsiding. The other answer to your question about a trip 9 weeks later... they say the medicine should fully become active about 2 - 4 months ... but I wouldn't really worry about side effects around your trip maybe fatigue.