Still not sure if Lexapro is the right drug for me? How do you really know?

[GrayEyes777]

Quick background: I've been on Lexapro 20 mg since mid-June, so basically about 6 weeks or so (and 3 weeks prior to that at 10 mg).

I will find I go for 2-3 days at feeling decent, like I'm ready to go back to work (I'm on short term disability right now) and then another few days of feeling lousy (anxiety whether it's the "all-day anxiety" or the "panic attack anxiety").

So it's like back and forth.

Am I better than when I first started it back in May? Yes, definitely, it has helped my depression immensely. And the side effects have all but gone except for chronic constipation, but I've always had IBS so just have to keep it under control.

Is it possible that I might need another drug added to the mix? If I remember correctly, the pdoc said he thought I should only be on 20 mg max of Lexapro so upping the dosage is probably not something he'll entertain.

Or is it possible I need a longer length of time on Lexapro to deal with the anxiety? For now, I'm keeping any anxiety under control with an occasional Xanax. I guess I'm surprised I'm still needing a Xanax at this point like 2-3x a week.

I hate to think of having to switch to another AD - I was on Prozac for years with great success, and once it kicked in, rarely needed a Xanax.

Quality of sleep is lousy also - taking 200 mg Trazodone at night. Meh.

Anyway - appreciate any thoughts or advice.

Thanks.

Terri

[LynnK]

I will find I go for 2-3 days at feeling decent, like I'm ready to go back to work (I'm on short term disability right now) and then another few days of feeling lousy (anxiety whether it's the "all-day anxiety" or the "panic attack anxiety").

This is what happens to me when I'm coming out of a depressive episode. It's not even: every day is not gradually better, it's good days intermixed with bad or awful days, and then eventually there are more and more good days until they're mostly all okay. It can take longer than 6 weeks for an AD to work completely as well. Go with what your pdoc wants, of course, but in the meanwhile have hope that it could well get better without having to play the find-a-new-med game again.

Good luck!

[celestia]

I would wait another couple of weeks. I'm on Lexapro. Been on it for 2-3 years (I forget). I started at 10, went to 20, stayed there until a year and a half ago at which time Wellbutrin was added to the mix, and made for a very effective combo.

Currently doing a med increase of both, so at least one pdoc thinks you can go up higher than 20.

I had a great run on prozac also. Lex/Wellbutrin has been better, actually. So I'm really hoping this med tweak will do the job. But unfortunately, gotta wait it out for a bit.

[Azk]

I think you should wait and see.

If it doesn't give you any further improvements within a month or so, then you might want to think about adding something.

Lots of people take SSRI+benzos, they go together well. I'm not your doctor, but I think covering those lousy days with a benzo is the way to go.

[WileE]

Quality of sleep is lousy also - taking 200 mg Trazodone at night. Meh.

What time of day are you taking Lexipro? I started sleeping better when I started taking Lexipro in the evening instead of the morning. But, check with your pdoc first, of course.

[GrayEyes777]

I tried taking Lexapro at night - gave me bad insomnia. But thanks for the idea anyway!

Thanks to everyone else for their thoughts also! Maybe I'm being too tough on myself when I feel I *need* a benzo just 2x a week......

Terri

Quality of sleep is lousy also - taking 200 mg Trazodone at night. Meh.

What time of day are you taking Lexipro? I started sleeping better when I started taking Lexipro in the evening instead of the morning. But, check with your pdoc first, of course.