Hypochondriac starting lexapro

[severus]

I have started getting help for my depression, GAD, SAD, PTSD and hypochondria. I've tried effexor and zoloft, but couldn't handle the side effects. They just put me on lexapro. I'm on the second day. I KNOW that the side effects are temporary, but the increase in anxiety has me certain that I'm dying of a heart attack. Logic is unable to reduce these thoughts. How on earth do I stay on the meds long enough for them to start working with this damn hypochondria? I'm so tired of these racing thoughts.

[longfacecase]

Hello, I've had some sever problem with starting/increasing Lexapro myself. For me, I was put on Seroquel XR temporarily to bring down the racing thoughts and panic. Also i have heard of many other people being put on a benzo temporarily for the same reason. (I'm thinking the benzo option is probably a little more common than the seroquel option, as I was in a little bit of a psychosis (racing thoughts, somewhat delusional/suicidal thinking) when I was put on seroquel..) Please call you doctor and let them know how bad you are struggling, hopefully they will give you something temporary to get you through this period. (it can take a week or 2 for the worst of it to subside)

hang in there.

[severus]

Thanks for the advice! Called my doc and she rang in a script for a few Ativan.

[anxiousinatlanta]

I too am a fellow hypochondriac. I walk around everywhere checking my pulse. I know how stupid it looks but for some reason I feel like I have to make sure I have a pulse. Luckily I'm starting to do it less frequently. I was on Zoloft and Ativan but now I'm on atarax and celexa. I'm feeling so much better.

[severus]

Glad to hear you're doing better. Gives me some hope. Did you have startup side effects with your meds? I definitely know all about the constant pulse checking. I do that and also am always asking my roomie whether my lips are blue. It's mortifying.

[anxiousinatlanta]

I didn't notice any startup side effects with atarax and celexa besides drowsiness from atarax. When I was on Zoloft I didn't notice anything at first but then after a few weeks I become increasingly paranoid and agitated. Are you having any side effects?

[severus]

A few. I'm tired, a bit spacey, and there's been an increase in anxiety. I just keep telling myself they'll go away.

[anxiousinatlanta]

Yeah but you should definitely tell your doctor how you feel when you take your meds. Sometimes antidepressants such as Zoloft, celexa, and lexapro can help alot with anxiety but they can also make it worse. You just have to find the right one. And don't rely on the medicine to cure you. I've found that medicine is a gateway. It helps relieve some anxiety so you can then teach yourself to live again which is what I've been doing and I'm feeling alot better.

[Bevmo]

I'm currently in my second week of taking lexapro, and it seems to be agitating my anxiety. I had also tried zoloft two years ago when I was going through a seperate bout of anxiety/depression, and I found after a month that the depression was alleviated, but I began nervous stuttering... Something I have NEVER in my life done before that medication... I'm beginning to wonder whether SSRIs seem to hyperactivate my anxiety. I am giving lexapro another week, now at half dose, to see if anything changes. The nausea, increased anxiety (like muscle tension, motor tiks) and extreme lethargy that some days comes out of the blue make me think it's not going to help.

[anxiousinatlanta]

Ok tell your doctor and they will change up your medicine which will help

[kroozer]

I was on lexapro for 5 weeks, the doc said would help w my insomnia, so I took it at bedtime---slowly, so I didnt make the connection, my insomnia turned horribly--I finally googled lexapro insomnia and omg, this is an issue!! I took myself off, and have dealt with withdrawal which I found out can be just as bad as side effects--I would have the worst anxiety in the middle of the night, went a cpl weeks w 2-3 hrs a nite sleep, so sleep deprived I became soo depressed!! I look up lexapro withdrawel and find out it can take months!! I know this affects evone different, I saw on some forums people saying hang in there its worth it, thusly the 5 weeks, but woah! I'm glad I went off!! my main message is, if you have insomnia, know it may be from the lexapro, and try it in the morning instead--but I also had more anxiety and gastro issues.....so I'm glad I'm done with it---now the doc upped my doxepin which I have questions about--maybe I'll ask them here..
ANXIETY sucks, but so much more in the middle of the night while the world sleeps--I even looked for insomniac aps on my phone!! I wanted to chat with others who were suffering, not a bad idea really, this ap that doesnt exist! lol

[severus]

UPDATE: Day 6 on 5 mg of Lexapro. The side effects have mostly dissipated, though there is still a slightly higher level of anxiety. But I'm feeling pretty good. Spoke with my psych doc and she's having me hold at 5 mg until I get back from vacation the middle of June. It was nice to have her understand that I won't want to be dealing with a dose increase while on holiday. She also mentioned that there's nothing wrong with taking the dosage increases slowly, especially as I'm so sensitive to meds. Long story short, I'm glad I pushed through the discomfort of the first 5 days. It felt like hell, but everyone was right when they said it should pass. Looking forward to this time next week when I feel even better! It's nice to feel some hope after so many years without it.