brianpain33
06-28-2008, 11:13 PM
I was wondering about anyone here that is taking Lexapro and their experience with it? What dosage are you taking? How long did it take to start working? Has it helped with your pain at all?
I just started taking it a week ago and I am curious about others experience with it.
brian
I just started taking it a week ago and I am curious about others experience with it.
brian
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trowftd3
06-29-2008, 01:05 AM
My daughter took Lexapro but it was for anxiety. It didn't do a thing for her. She started at 10mg and moved up to 20mg before trying something else.
I'm sorry I don't know anything about it's pain killing(helping) abilities.
Good luck. I know you've had a rough time with the antidepressants. I sure hope you find one that works for you. And soon!!!~Mush
I'm sorry I don't know anything about it's pain killing(helping) abilities.
Good luck. I know you've had a rough time with the antidepressants. I sure hope you find one that works for you. And soon!!!~Mush
Fabrashamx
06-29-2008, 02:28 AM
:)Hi Brian,
I was on prozac for years, then when I told the doctor I was having more anxiety, she switched me to Lexipro. I was very happy with it, I felt it not only helped with my depression, it helped with the anxiety.
I had to take it in the morning or else it was keeping me awake, but other than that I liked it very much.
Then we lost prescription benefits, and I had to switch back to prozac because Walmart had it on their $4 generic plan.
I am not as happy with the Prozac as I was with the Lexipro, But it works well on my depression.
I dont think either helped with the pain per se, but I am able to deal with it better, I dont cry as much and I find it easier to get up and out of the house even when I am hurting, which helps take my mind off it, and also keeps me in better shape physically.
HTH,
Fabby :wave:
I was on prozac for years, then when I told the doctor I was having more anxiety, she switched me to Lexipro. I was very happy with it, I felt it not only helped with my depression, it helped with the anxiety.
I had to take it in the morning or else it was keeping me awake, but other than that I liked it very much.
Then we lost prescription benefits, and I had to switch back to prozac because Walmart had it on their $4 generic plan.
I am not as happy with the Prozac as I was with the Lexipro, But it works well on my depression.
I dont think either helped with the pain per se, but I am able to deal with it better, I dont cry as much and I find it easier to get up and out of the house even when I am hurting, which helps take my mind off it, and also keeps me in better shape physically.
HTH,
Fabby :wave:
shooduh08
06-29-2008, 01:36 PM
Hello,
I took Lexapro for about a year a couple of years ago and was quite happy with the results; I had been prescribed 30 mgs for anxiety issues. The meds kept me calm, no problems with appetite or sleeping but did make me gain about 20 pounds - no withdrawal problems when I no longer needed to take it - but still working on losing the extra weight!
I took Lexapro for about a year a couple of years ago and was quite happy with the results; I had been prescribed 30 mgs for anxiety issues. The meds kept me calm, no problems with appetite or sleeping but did make me gain about 20 pounds - no withdrawal problems when I no longer needed to take it - but still working on losing the extra weight!
cat_100
06-29-2008, 04:32 PM
I take it. About 3 months ago my pdoc added 10mg of Lexapro to the 300mg of Wellbutrin that I have been taking for years (due to new issues I was having). It seemed to work pretty quickly, within about 2 weeks or so.
Cat
Cat
Moldova
06-30-2008, 12:03 PM
Brian,
this is the best med for me: no side effects at all!
I was prescribed 10mg for anxiety after my second surgery; due to pnemonia after the surgery I had to be on Neibulazers (sp?), it had steroids, codein in it and gave me such anxiety! Right now I am still on them 10 mg and doing wonderful.
I hope it will work well for you as well
Take care,
M.
this is the best med for me: no side effects at all!
I was prescribed 10mg for anxiety after my second surgery; due to pnemonia after the surgery I had to be on Neibulazers (sp?), it had steroids, codein in it and gave me such anxiety! Right now I am still on them 10 mg and doing wonderful.
I hope it will work well for you as well
Take care,
M.
cmpgirl
06-30-2008, 01:12 PM
Brian, My husband doesn't have chronic pain, so I can't speak to the benefits of the Lexapro in that respect, but as far as depression and anxiety go, it has been a Godsend! He started out at 10mg and then increased to 15mg and finally 20mg. It has been 18 months now and lately he felt that with his therapy progressing so well, and he was starting to feel a bit lethargic, he is back down to 15mg and maybe in a few months even 10mg. He knows he will always need some level of anti-d since it is a chemical imbalance, but he and his psych feel that the 10mg should be a good maintainance dose. (He is also diagnosed with Type II BPD and he has been able to cut way back on his BP meds too)
I'm so glad you are back on line more and look forward to benefiting from your wisdom and wit again. I hope the Lexapro is as helpful to you as it has been to my hubby. Take care and God Bless. CMP/MM
I'm so glad you are back on line more and look forward to benefiting from your wisdom and wit again. I hope the Lexapro is as helpful to you as it has been to my hubby. Take care and God Bless. CMP/MM
marbelmo
06-30-2008, 03:05 PM
Of those in the ssri class, I find that this the "cleanest" drug.
I unfortunately have found that without an ssri I have severe insomnia.
I was on 20 mg of lexapro but have managed to go down to 10mg with no problems. I did this because it's new and so darn expensive.
Good luck with it. I hope it helps you.
I unfortunately have found that without an ssri I have severe insomnia.
I was on 20 mg of lexapro but have managed to go down to 10mg with no problems. I did this because it's new and so darn expensive.
Good luck with it. I hope it helps you.
forginon
06-30-2008, 03:46 PM
Brian,
My daughter takes Lexapro for anxiety. Previously she was taking Paxil, but it wasn't helping enough and she put on a good deal of weight with it.
So her doc switched her to Lexapro 10mg daily. She felt an improvement, but not all that much. Within a week the doc moved her to 20mg daily and that has been wonderful. And, she's losing weight. So she is very satisfied with Lexapro. Another benefit she describes is being more alert. Apparently, the Paxil had a clouding effect.
She can't speak to the pain issue as that's not something she suffers from.
Hopefully it'll also help your pain. But, even if it doesn't, I hope it helps in other ways as it has my daughter.
steve
My daughter takes Lexapro for anxiety. Previously she was taking Paxil, but it wasn't helping enough and she put on a good deal of weight with it.
So her doc switched her to Lexapro 10mg daily. She felt an improvement, but not all that much. Within a week the doc moved her to 20mg daily and that has been wonderful. And, she's losing weight. So she is very satisfied with Lexapro. Another benefit she describes is being more alert. Apparently, the Paxil had a clouding effect.
She can't speak to the pain issue as that's not something she suffers from.
Hopefully it'll also help your pain. But, even if it doesn't, I hope it helps in other ways as it has my daughter.
steve
brianpain33
06-30-2008, 10:15 PM
Well I am on day 8 of the Lexapro and all I can say is that it does not quite have the clouding/drowsy effect of the other anti-d but I am still sleeping alot (like 12-13 hours/day). I think that I definitely need to go up some on it. I know that I have done alot of damage to my brain with all of my "using" of illegal drugs. I am still on short term disability and I know that I have been laying around alot since I have not been making myself do anything.
I did manage do go out for lunch today and go to the grocery store but then I got really tired again and had to come back home and lay down for 5 hours. This was after sleeping 7 hours last night. Something just is not not making sense. I am wondering if it is the Percocet and the fentanyl patch combined together causing me to be too drowsy. The weather has been quite warm here so I am sure that the patch has been releasing alot more into my body. I am just thinking out loud right now. I am really discouraged and not very hopeful. I am sure some of you know that feeling. I don't want to get to the point of not being able to go back to work. I have not even told anyone but my friend and my brother and his girlfriend about being off work. I guess I get worried that people will think that I am lazy or don't want to work. It is not that. It does do me well to be around people and get out of the house every day. I want to get to a 12 step meeting but I haven't been to one in so long and I can't even seem to be able to get my butt out of bed. I know that I need to and quit making excuses. That would really give me a sense of support and give me a feeling of being useful and have a sense of purpose.
I know what I need to do I just need to do it:(
brian
I did manage do go out for lunch today and go to the grocery store but then I got really tired again and had to come back home and lay down for 5 hours. This was after sleeping 7 hours last night. Something just is not not making sense. I am wondering if it is the Percocet and the fentanyl patch combined together causing me to be too drowsy. The weather has been quite warm here so I am sure that the patch has been releasing alot more into my body. I am just thinking out loud right now. I am really discouraged and not very hopeful. I am sure some of you know that feeling. I don't want to get to the point of not being able to go back to work. I have not even told anyone but my friend and my brother and his girlfriend about being off work. I guess I get worried that people will think that I am lazy or don't want to work. It is not that. It does do me well to be around people and get out of the house every day. I want to get to a 12 step meeting but I haven't been to one in so long and I can't even seem to be able to get my butt out of bed. I know that I need to and quit making excuses. That would really give me a sense of support and give me a feeling of being useful and have a sense of purpose.
I know what I need to do I just need to do it:(
brian
macdog
07-01-2008, 03:08 PM
I was put on 10 mg of Lexapro and ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks while they checked my heart for anything and everything. Ended up that the Lexapro was causing me to have med induced panic attacks which would last for hours.
slipperyslope
07-01-2008, 04:32 PM
It could be the lexapro making you so drousy. that is a lot of sleep to be getting and to much sleep can make you more tired.
if the sleepiniess came on right after the new med than I would say, Yes its a side effect for you that may or may not pass. you will have to give it a little more time to see if your body can adjust to it but I would say you do need to be on an AD so keep trying different ones if this is not working for you.
I have heard that getting more than 8 hours of sleep a night for an adult is not healthy, don't no if its true or not but I have read it a lot. ever since I got my CPAP machine for sleep apnea I need a LOT less sleep, I feel fine off of 5-6 hours a night vs 8 plus and I was always tired. Do you snore and have sleep apnea? this could be a reason why you feel so lousy all the time it can also cause depression and ill feelings.
It could also very well be your narcotics. as you know the patch is potent and mixed with oxy could be the culprit. you have been fighting this for a long time now, I remember you asking about provigil did you try it yet? it might be just what Brian needs to perk up a bit. so maybe its time you see the a DR and have some blood work done and a physcial as to why your so groggy and sleeping soooo much. talk to your Dr about this at your next apt, maybe ask for provigil samples its very pricey stuff though. it could also be depression as that to causes a person to sleep a lot and feel tired lots of reasons could be behind this, check with your Dr.
SS
Hope you can get this worked out.
if the sleepiniess came on right after the new med than I would say, Yes its a side effect for you that may or may not pass. you will have to give it a little more time to see if your body can adjust to it but I would say you do need to be on an AD so keep trying different ones if this is not working for you.
I have heard that getting more than 8 hours of sleep a night for an adult is not healthy, don't no if its true or not but I have read it a lot. ever since I got my CPAP machine for sleep apnea I need a LOT less sleep, I feel fine off of 5-6 hours a night vs 8 plus and I was always tired. Do you snore and have sleep apnea? this could be a reason why you feel so lousy all the time it can also cause depression and ill feelings.
It could also very well be your narcotics. as you know the patch is potent and mixed with oxy could be the culprit. you have been fighting this for a long time now, I remember you asking about provigil did you try it yet? it might be just what Brian needs to perk up a bit. so maybe its time you see the a DR and have some blood work done and a physcial as to why your so groggy and sleeping soooo much. talk to your Dr about this at your next apt, maybe ask for provigil samples its very pricey stuff though. it could also be depression as that to causes a person to sleep a lot and feel tired lots of reasons could be behind this, check with your Dr.
SS
Hope you can get this worked out.