Should i take Meds for anxiety? - Anxiety Message Board

Ash71 · 02-21-2005, 02:57 PM

Hey.. i was just put on Lexapro (5mg) for anxiety. I started on it on Wednesday night and was fine until friday night. I fell asleep on the couch and then got up a couple hours later and went to bed. Right when i got in bed i started to get really panicky and i got sooo hot. I was sweating really bad and my heart beat was going crazy. I finally got to sleep after cooling down and was okay in the morning, but i just didnt feel very happy for some reason. Later that day my heart beat started going out of control again. Before i started taking the medication i would have anxiety that i could calm down pretty easily and fast. After i had an attack i would be fine the rest of the night. This time, on the meds.. i couldnt calm it down at all no matter when i told myself. My question is...how many anxiety attacks did it take you to be put on medicine. I have had this since i was 15..but i have also gone months without having any anxiety. Maybe i should just bear with it without meds.. and try to train myself to stop having them. Like i said.. i dont have them everyday.. so am i on them for something i could stop myself?
Hope this makes sense... Thanks

Arraicha · 02-21-2005, 09:17 PM

You don't need attacks to go on meds, just like you can have attacks yet not need meds. It has to do with how miserable you are and how much your anxiety is keeping you from being functional.

Also, Lexapro is an anti-depressant, not an anti-anxiety medicine. Anti-depressants tend to be prefered to anti-anxiety medicine as you can take them regularily without worrying about becoming dependant. However, they are much slower in becoming effective. You won't feel the results immediatly so you have to be patient. After a couple of weeks, you should feel your anxiety calm down.

On the other hand, sweating is a common side effect to Lexapro and if it is bothering you, perhaps you should ask to change medications.

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Ash71 · 02-22-2005, 07:40 AM

Thanks for the reply.. i stopped taking the lexapro after only taking it 3 nights because i got scared. I dont want to be on a medicine that has worse side effects than than the anxiety itself. And i dont want to have withdrawl after i come off of it. I think i will just try to get rid of the anxiety myself because i know it's all in my head. The only time i get it is if im thinking about it constantly.. when i have things to do it doesnt bother me at all. Also, the doctor prescribed it for anxiety so i dont know.. and i felt like i was more depressed on it.. but maybe it was in my head since i was only on it for 3 days. I dont know!!!!!