Staring at the bottle of Lexapro

[Vito's Mommy]

I've been experiencing light headedness for 3+ years. Brain scan, ENT, Cardiologists, Neurologist,a and now a new doc. I like her a lot, as she's a lil crunchy. BUT, she swings too far to Western Med. I told her I will take the pill, any pill as long as there is a diagnosis based on physical tests, not just theory. I want to know what is wrong, besides anxiety and chronic back pain. I feel there is somethiing that's not adding up and being overlooked.
HOWEVER, I really want the spells to end and I want to not feel so freakin uptight all the time...so I got the prescription filled. But after reading the side affects, I cannot bring myself to take the pill. Anyone on Lexapro here? HELP!!

[EFmom]

I've been on 10mg for about two months now. I was dx with breast cancer in Feb. I found myself weeping continually. I am not a crier--maybe once a year under "normal" circumstances. I couldn't stand crying all the time and it was totally freaking my kids out--they were convinced I was dying because of it.

The Lexapro has been great for me. I've had no side effects and I am back to my normal, cheerful, optimistic self. I didn't ask for it lightly, but I'm glad I did.

It's a hard decision to make.

[BabyBumblebee]

mama.

I take 40mg Lexapro (branded as Cipralex here in Canada) daily - as a mood stabiliser for bipolar, and also to help control anxiety disorder/OCD.

The side effects I experienced at this dose - quite a large one! - were transient and included: stomach ache, headache, and that kind of muzzy fuzzy medicine head that you sometimes get. They were irritating (read; I felt cranky) for about 3 days, and had gone by a week....I noticed that I felt a lot better when I took the meds after some protein-rich food.

I know that this is such a hard and personal decision to make and I can only offer you support and love In my experience I was only living half of a life before I accepted my dx, and starting taking meds reliably.

Please let us know how you are doing...

[Vito's Mommy]

Before taking them, did you ever experience "light headedness, as though you went up and down an elevator several times? This is my main concern. I want to make sure that this isn't from some underlying issue. I rarely hear of people getting dizzy/light headed from anxiety. More the heart pounding, sweaty palm deal. Of course that happened to me today when we went to a salad bar type restaurant full of people...then I really was leaning toward taking the Lexapro! btw, my dosage is 10mg. Thanks for the support!!!

[LadyMarmalade]

[BabyBumblebee]

Vito's Mommy: I did feel really light-headed a lot of the time. The anxiety was casing me to not breathe properly - kinda like hyperventilating - so I was forever feeling as though I waws about to faint.My head used to just spin. I never had the sweaty palms.....just the pounding heart, and faintness.

Did you make any decision about whether to try the Lexapro yet?

[Ruthla]

I'm on a different medication for depression, and I had to hit rock-bottom before I even considered taking it. I was in psychotherapy for a year, using Bach Flower Remedies as needed- and I still couldn't hold myself together and care for my kids. With Prozac, I can function again.

I'm ALSO doing lots of things for myself- carefully researched nutritional supplements, Bach Flower Remedies as needed, avoiding artificial junk in my diet, exercise, etc. I know it's helping me because, without all the alternative therapies, I was on a higher dose of Prozac and I was still getting depressed.

There's no question in my mind that prescription drugs are over-prescribed, and that many people are taking them who don't truly need them. There's also no question in my mind that these drugs can literally be lifesavers in some situations.

You know your own situation better than anybody else. Do you feel like you've done all you can to help yourself and it's just not enough? Do you feel like you know what you need to do to heal but you need a little help getting to a place where you can implement the things that will heal you? If the answer to either of those questions is "yes" then I would suggest taking the medication.

[Vito's Mommy]

You're all so wonderful, thanks for being here. BB, knowing that you had the "dizzies" makes me feel a bit less crazy. (not that I'm happy you had them...wouldn't wish them on anyone) I haven't decidedabout taking them but leaning to a yes decision. I'm home today w/an unexpectedly sick toddler...temp 103.1. I have company coming next week, a girlfriend, her dh and 2 dc. I'm afraid of having side affects while she's here, yet don't want want to get the dizzies while she's here either. I may stick to a little of my Lorazapem while they're here and then go for the Lexapro after they go. Basically, I'm an decided kook. :LOL

[gruver]

it took me a long time and a couple of false starts to really decide that i was going to use lexapro. whoever made the comparison to any other illness such as diabetes and the lack of guilt around those medications is the way i look at it. it is so hard to pinpoint physical symptoms of mental illness because it is just that mental. but it is also an illness.

i'm on 10 mg of lexapro and the major side effect in those 2 weeks i started was exhaustion. i also learned really quickly to take it on a ful stomach.

one thing you may ask your doctor about, which really helped me, was to start the first week taking half a dose and the second week go up to the full one.

good luck mama.

[moneca]

It's so good to hear that there are other mamas out there who struggled with the idea of going on an antidepressant. I'm on zoloft and had to hit rock bottom before I'd take it (not getting out of bed and crying all the time). I felt so horrible for having to take it. I liked the story of having diabetes and taking insulin.

[Vito's Mommy]

A friend also suggested that I take 1/2 dose to start...thanks, I will ask the doc.

[Vito's Mommy]

I started taking them!

I went to the doc today for my physical. She said doing 1/2 dose was just fine. We agreed to give them a try and if it wasn't making me feel better, then we'll keep trying until we get it right. I'm both excited and nervous. Thanks again all...I'll check back in in a few days and update. Hopefully this will help other aprehensive mamas like myself make the right decision for them selves. xoxo, S~

[BabyBumblebee]

I'm so glad that you were able to come to a decision that you are comfortable with - that's awesome

Sounds like your dr is receptive too, which is great. Let us know how you're doing - good or bad - we're here for you.

[Vito's Mommy]

Well, I chose the day to take them as the days that followed are dh days off and I wouldn't be so nervous about being alone if I had a reaction. Can you believe it?! He just got asked to work 6 days straight!! He already works 16/5 and now I'm super bummed. But determined to take them during his days off and see what happens.

[LadyMarmalade]

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[grisandole]

Just want to say that I did/do get the dizziness/lightheadedness with anxiety and panic.

I just started on Zoloft today. I finally broke down and realized that I needed help; I'd tried all the natural stuff, and diet and exercise, and while some of that took the edge of, it wasn't enough and I was suffering, as was my family.

I took Prozac in the past, and it worked well for some of my issues (mild depression and mild OCD), but did nothing, even at high doses, for my anxiety/panic. My doctor hopes that the Zoloft will work, and so do I!

I felt so guilty and like a failure coming home w/a bottle of pills; but I know from experience (taking the Prozac) that it can make a world of difference, and there's no reason for me to be a martyr.

Good luck!

[Vito's Mommy]

Gris, do the dizzies come on when you're home and happy as a clam? Just outta the blue? Like you're going to tip over? Freaks me out. I've been nibbling on my Lorzapem for now and they help. They make me tired after a while though. But it helps me get through presentations for work and going grocery shopping, etc..

[grisandole]

Yes! I always thought it was low blood sugar or something physical, but I had blood work, CT scan, Xrays and stuff and nothing........I do notice that I get them much less if I drink lots of water; and if I get a spell, drinking and eating helps.....

[mommy2girlies]

med vs. bf'ing question

oopps

[mommy2girlies]

med vs. bf'ing question

hey ladies, im kelly, 30, sahm to 2 girls, kya (8-30-02) and carson (6-15-04). great husband life is pretty swell, i've been on wellbutrin since jan. and was on paxil before that right after carson was born (for postpartum depression). i was diagnosed w/ bipolar I when i was in my early 20's. im a rapid cycler, which means instead of having "mania" for 2 wks then "depression" for 2 wks, i'll do it all in one day!! like im on a major rollercoaster! well i've not had an episode since before i was pregnant w/ my oldest. i got off my meds, got pregnant, bf till i was pregnant w/ my youngest and am still bf'ing. carson, my youngest now bf's about 3x a day and im wondering if my imbalance is becoming more "pronounced" because of the shift in my hormonal levels? i had a very bad episode this weekend (last week ws very stressful and my dh and i have discussed me getting back on a mood stabilizing med. i used to take depakote before i was preg. and have done tons of online research about bf'ing and taking a "mood stabilizer" i've read that depakote is approved by the amer. academy of ped. but am still ?? anybody have that experience or know a better med to take for mania while still bf'ing. i know that i might be faced w/ having to give it up, but im really not ready, and neither is my dd....Help!!

hope you ladies can help...it is a very hard decision, but i know i can be a "better" mommy to my girls if im "stable". my episodes usually exhibit themselves as an intense frustration when the source of the frustration wasn't that big of a deal. i just don't want my girls to think that their mom is "uptight" or "mean" it really makes me want to cry when i see my oldest's face if i yell or scream about something so inconsequential. it doesn't happen everyday, but seems like its happening more and more. i know that being a parent is frustrating, but i don't want miss this time and wonder why i waited so long to "be happy" it goes so quick already!!

thanks ladies....

kelly :