How are any of you doing with Lexapro?? - Menopause Message Board

rmc12 · 03-25-2004, 12:13 PM

Hi,

I have posted before about perimenopause frustrations. I went to my gyn yesterday and after the exam I talked about the issues I have and the anxiety I am having a hard time dealing with. Much of it is due to the fact that I have Irritable Bowel and also a back problem where my back went out last year and when the pelvis area is out of whack as it has been (unaligned) my abdominal muscles are affected and of course in perimenopause we have more of the gastrointestinal problems anyway which comes into play. I have just been fretting over every little twinge.

So we discussed some natural options (b vitamins, evening primrose, etc) but she also felt Lexapro would help and said there are little side effects. but she said it does make your stomach act up at first. She said to take 1/4 pill for 5 days and by then it should work fine with my stomach and then up it to 1/2 a pill for 2 weeks and stay at that if it helps anxiety. If not up it to a full one.

I took a 1/4 last night and had indigestion at first and nausea (did not get sick) during the night. I did call her today and she said this was consistent with what some women feel with it at first (heartburn and the nausea) but to "try and push thru with it" and it would subside. If it did not after the intial 5 days then to call and she could give me somethin else.

So...my question is...if you are taking Lexapro or have...have you experienced this stomach thing and for how long. I know everyone is different though.

Also, is there anything natural you find that helps and if this does not work for me (lexapro) I was thinking of trying more natural methods .

I am so tired today after being up a bit of the night with the nausea feeling and also wigging myself out about it.

OH..also she suggested Estrovan Hormone therapy which are vitamins (not hormones) for the perimenopause symtpoms but it does not take care of anxiety she said. Is anyone takign that?

Thanks for reading this long post and for any input you have.

rmc

PennyD · 03-25-2004, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmc12

Hi,

I have posted before about perimenopause frustrations. I went to my gyn yesterday and after the exam I talked about the issues I have and the anxiety I am having a hard time dealing with. Much of it is due to the fact that I have Irritable Bowel and also a back problem where my back went out last year and when the pelvis area is out of whack as it has been (unaligned) my abdominal muscles are affected and of course in perimenopause we have more of the gastrointestinal problems anyway which comes into play. I have just been fretting over every little twinge.

So we discussed some natural options (b vitamins, evening primrose, etc) but she also felt Lexapro would help and said there are little side effects. but she said it does make your stomach act up at first. She said to take 1/4 pill for 5 days and by then it should work fine with my stomach and then up it to 1/2 a pill for 2 weeks and stay at that if it helps anxiety. If not up it to a full one.

I took a 1/4 last night and had indigestion at first and nausea (did not get sick) during the night. I did call her today and she said this was consistent with what some women feel with it at first (heartburn and the nausea) but to "try and push thru with it" and it would subside. If it did not after the intial 5 days then to call and she could give me somethin else.

So...my question is...if you are taking Lexapro or have...have you experienced this stomach thing and for how long. I know everyone is different though.

Also, is there anything natural you find that helps and if this does not work for me (lexapro) I was thinking of trying more natural methods .

I am so tired today after being up a bit of the night with the nausea feeling and also wigging myself out about it.

OH..also she suggested Estrovan Hormone therapy which are vitamins (not hormones) for the perimenopause symtpoms but it does not take care of anxiety she said. Is anyone takign that?

Thanks for reading this long post and for any input you have.

rmc

My GP gave me Lexapro in August 2003 for panic/anxiety attacks that I now know were a part of peri-menopause. I had a violent reaction to one 10mg pill!!! It is time released and every time it released I gave very nauseated and my blood pressure and pulse went very high. A few weeks later she gave me Zoloft I had nausea with it but not a blood pressure or pulse problem. The nausea with the Zoloft was too much for me. So finally I found this board and Molly wrote about Paxil CR with no side effects and that same week a client who is a nurse practioner said the same thing about Paxil CR. I have been on it for 32 days and have had NO side effects!! I am doing so much better. I was better the first week I was on it. If the Lexapro doen't work out you might try the Paxil CR. Hope you feel better soon.

Penny

Ann123 · 03-25-2004, 10:08 PM

I am on Lexapro. The stomach side effects went away for me in about a week and it is working out fine for me now. 10 mgs a day.

cocohoney · 03-26-2004, 06:19 AM

I am on Effexor for perimenopause. My doc put me on Paxil first, but I gained alot of weight (but the med worked fine). Then my doc put me on Lexapro and again I was gaining weight (and again the med worked fine). I had no side effects, etc., but now I'm on Effexor which is a great med!! I told my doc that I didn't want to take these meds and wanted to take herbs or take some natural supplements or vitamins. She suggested St. Johns Wort, Kava Kava or 5-HTP, but in order for them supplements/herbs to work efficiently, you'd have to take 10-12 to equal what is in one pill such as Effexor or Paxil, etc. So, I decided to stay with Effexor for the time being. Perhaps later when I'm doing alot better, I'll go the natural way . . . my husband loves the way I am now. I'm not the bitter, whiney, crying and ***** I used to be. Anyway.....good luck and have a God blessed day!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmc12

Hi,

I have posted before about perimenopause frustrations. I went to my gyn yesterday and after the exam I talked about the issues I have and the anxiety I am having a hard time dealing with. Much of it is due to the fact that I have Irritable Bowel and also a back problem where my back went out last year and when the pelvis area is out of whack as it has been (unaligned) my abdominal muscles are affected and of course in perimenopause we have more of the gastrointestinal problems anyway which comes into play. I have just been fretting over every little twinge.

So we discussed some natural options (b vitamins, evening primrose, etc) but she also felt Lexapro would help and said there are little side effects. but she said it does make your stomach act up at first. She said to take 1/4 pill for 5 days and by then it should work fine with my stomach and then up it to 1/2 a pill for 2 weeks and stay at that if it helps anxiety. If not up it to a full one.

I took a 1/4 last night and had indigestion at first and nausea (did not get sick) during the night. I did call her today and she said this was consistent with what some women feel with it at first (heartburn and the nausea) but to "try and push thru with it" and it would subside. If it did not after the intial 5 days then to call and she could give me somethin else.

So...my question is...if you are taking Lexapro or have...have you experienced this stomach thing and for how long. I know everyone is different though.

Also, is there anything natural you find that helps and if this does not work for me (lexapro) I was thinking of trying more natural methods .

I am so tired today after being up a bit of the night with the nausea feeling and also wigging myself out about it.

OH..also she suggested Estrovan Hormone therapy which are vitamins (not hormones) for the perimenopause symtpoms but it does not take care of anxiety she said. Is anyone takign that?

Thanks for reading this long post and for any input you have.

rmc

molly123 · 03-26-2004, 08:40 AM

Hi rmc,
My dr. originally prescribed me Wellbutrin XL which I felt weird for the 9 days that I took it. I was already feeling so horrible, the side effects were makng me feel worse.

I was later prescribed Paxil CR 12.5mg (the lowest dosage) and I didn't experience any side effects and felt better right away. The dr. said if the Paxil didn't work for me, he would then try me on Effexor.

I have been taking lots supplements and vits too. I have been taking Estroven and just ran out this week. I don't know if the Estroven helped or if I'm going to get more now that I'm out. I am drinking Revivial soy shake which has 160mg of soy which is more than what's in the Estroven. I do think the B vits, Magnesium and the Evening Primrose helps. I am no longer waking up with these headaches nor am I havng these internal shakes.

I saw a commercial on Estroven - they put out something where you can test yourself to see where you are with your menopause. Has anyone seen or used this yet?

Molly

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmc12

Hi,

I have posted before about perimenopause frustrations. I went to my gyn yesterday and after the exam I talked about the issues I have and the anxiety I am having a hard time dealing with. Much of it is due to the fact that I have Irritable Bowel and also a back problem where my back went out last year and when the pelvis area is out of whack as it has been (unaligned) my abdominal muscles are affected and of course in perimenopause we have more of the gastrointestinal problems anyway which comes into play. I have just been fretting over every little twinge.

So we discussed some natural options (b vitamins, evening primrose, etc) but she also felt Lexapro would help and said there are little side effects. but she said it does make your stomach act up at first. She said to take 1/4 pill for 5 days and by then it should work fine with my stomach and then up it to 1/2 a pill for 2 weeks and stay at that if it helps anxiety. If not up it to a full one.

I took a 1/4 last night and had indigestion at first and nausea (did not get sick) during the night. I did call her today and she said this was consistent with what some women feel with it at first (heartburn and the nausea) but to "try and push thru with it" and it would subside. If it did not after the intial 5 days then to call and she could give me somethin else.

So...my question is...if you are taking Lexapro or have...have you experienced this stomach thing and for how long. I know everyone is different though.

Also, is there anything natural you find that helps and if this does not work for me (lexapro) I was thinking of trying more natural methods .

I am so tired today after being up a bit of the night with the nausea feeling and also wigging myself out about it.

OH..also she suggested Estrovan Hormone therapy which are vitamins (not hormones) for the perimenopause symtpoms but it does not take care of anxiety she said. Is anyone takign that?

Thanks for reading this long post and for any input you have.

rmc