are you taking lexapro? side effects....

[gotbreastmilk]

Hi! I was wondering if anyone else here is taking this med for PPD? I have been taking it since my dd was 2 months old. I am having some not so fun side effects with it. Ive gained 30 pounds. Inability to organm (sorry if TMI lol) and If I miss a dose I immediatly get a headache and feel dizzy. Kinda like my head is unattached from my body. My doctor has offered to switch me to something else, but lexapro is supposed to have the least side effects of the anitdepressants so I really don't see the point in switching. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
:fairy

[Jish]

I was on Lexapro for 8 months and didn't have any of the symptoms that you describe. I did have trouble with the orgasm thing the first couple of times, but I think it was because I was worried about it and psyched myself out. I have a friend who had the same problem as you, though so it does happen. If the side effects of meds are troublesome, I know that some people add Wellbutrin daily. I don't know the exact process for how it works, but for many people it takes away some of the troublesome side effects. I was also able to miss a dose and not even notice it. It goes to show that meds affect every person differently.

Just because Lexapro is supposed to have fewer side effects, doesn't mean that it is going to be the best medication for everyone. Everyone metabolizes meds differently and our body chemistry isn't the same as anyone elses. What worked great for me may be awful for you. I had a horrid time on Paxil, but I know some people for whom it is the only med that works for them.

If you are seeing a general doctor or an ob at this point, I would encourage you to see a psychiatrist if possible. They are the most versed in the medications and why some work better for some than others. They are also better able to come up with medication combos that may be able to solve some of your problems. It couldn't hurt to look at other meds or med combos if you are unhappy with this one. Lexapro isn't a miracle drug by any means, and I don't really think it is better than any of the others, although the pharmacutical company who produces it will argue differently.

[EllasMama]

I haven't had the side effects you mentioned, but there have been some. Most were initial, such as nausea and spaciness. But if I am late with a dose, within about 3-4 hours I feel frantic and angry. I think my libido and ability to orgasm have been somewhat affected, also. However, depression also hampered those so it's not that much of a change -- so I can't know for sure if the med is somehow to blame when the problem was there beforehand.

I agree that visiting a psychiatrist and/or trying another med might be worth considering. Of course then you'll get the joy of having to go through more initial side effects with the new med, but if it works out better in the end it would be more than worth the annoyance of the switch.

One thing to keep in mind is that sometimes, medicating for one issue allows for a behavior to emerge. For instance, if you were forgetting to eat because you were depressed, alleviating the depression might open you up for feeling like eating again, thereby causing a weight gain. I'm not saying that is what is happening in your case, but I think things of that sort can happen.

Good luck finding a path that works for you!

Carol

[Foobar]

I got that dizziness when I weaned off of celexa, which is very similar to lexapro (but with more side effects than lexapro). I generally take my med at the same time everyday, and I am pregnant so I can't help with the orgasms (i have a very low libado during pregnancy).
I do have a rare side effect from lexapro that I also got with celexa---bruising...everywhere. Big yucky bruises.

It may not be the best medicine for YOU.
I also don't have the weigh gain issues, but I did lose 5 lbs after stopping celexa...