Hi all. I have been taking Lexapro for 7 days for anxiety and depression, and I have noticed my heart rate seems to speed up very fast, especially in the morning. Is this something normal to expect for the first week or so?

As far as other side effects go, I know I have lost a little bit of weight (I haven't weighed myself so I dont know exactly how much) but I'm not complaining about that! ;)
Also, I sometimes feel like I can't stop moving. For example, as I'm sitting at my desk typing this, my foot is bouncing up and down, almost like a nervous habit. :bouncing: But I don't feel nervous or anxious.

So, if anyone knows about the heart rate thing, please write! Thanks!
Jessi

My wife takes Lexapro. She does not have any problems with this med. When she took welbutren, she had the heart problem. Her dr took her off it right away. See or call your dr soon.

hi jessicat

lexapro type meds can cause many and varied side effects, these usually stop after a few weeks when the med starts working properly
maybe you could reduce the dose for a while, perhaps by cutting the tablet

valium type meds also help and go well with lexapro, your doc should know this but many dont :eek:

Hi all. I have been taking Lexapro for 7 days for anxiety and depression, and I have noticed my heart rate seems to speed up very fast, especially in the morning. Is this something normal to expect for the first week or so?

As far as other side effects go, I know I have lost a little bit of weight (I haven't weighed myself so I dont know exactly how much) but I'm not complaining about that! ;)
Also, I sometimes feel like I can't stop moving. For example, as I'm sitting at my desk typing this, my foot is bouncing up and down, almost like a nervous habit. :bouncing: But I don't feel nervous or anxious.

So, if anyone knows about the heart rate thing, please write! Thanks!
Jessi

The heart rate is a common side effect. AD's reve up the nervous system...serotonin is defined as an excitatory neurotransmitter. The leg tapping sounds like another side effect of AD's called akathisia, which can be mild or severe depending. Here's a definition I found on it:

Akathisia is a neurologically driven agitation ranging from mild leg tapping, feeling "caffeinated" to severe panic, an extreme manic state and hyper-sensitivity of the nervous system. Symptoms: motor restlessness and specifically, a feeling of muscular quivering; one of the possible complications of treatment with the phenothiazines. Often, the symptoms is of such intensity that it becomes impossible for the patients to sit still day or night, and which is described by them as more difficult to endure than any of the symptoms for which they had been originally treated. Acquaintance with this symptom of akathisia, which often persists for a considerable time after the drug has been withdrawn, is important because it is sometimes mistaken for an agitated depression and wrongly treated.

Hey I have been taking Lexapro for a few days also and I noticed that my legs and feet are always moving now! Its annoying. My packet that came with the pills says if you have a slow or fast heart rate to call your doctor immediatly, BUT it is normal for your heart rate to go up some when you stand up and start moving quickly. What is your heart rate at?

Hello I have been on lexapro for 8 days and I haven't noticed any heart problems.

I haven't been figety either. just kind of zombiefied

I have been having trouble sleeping I wake up alot since ive been on lexapro

I haven't been all that hungry either

int's been odd

I would hesitate to check with your doctor

good luck

I have been taking Lexapro for about 3 weeks now. I haven't really noticed any side effects, sorry I'm not much help :-/

:) Jessica

I was on Lexapro a while back, and my heart rate got to 45. I am 25 years old and my normal heart rate has always been around 80-95. Although my docs were not concerned I discontinued it. Lexapro is kind of new and all of the possible side effects have not been found out yet. I remember when paxil first came out everyone loved it (just like lexapro), however after a while all sorts of side effects came about the longer the med was being prescribed. If you do not feel comfortable discontinue it. Everyone reacts different to certain meds.