I'm afraid to take Lexapro

[nickaepi]

Hi guys/gals. My name is Nick and I'm new to the forum. I currently take .5mg 3x day of Klonopin to "control my anxiety". I've been on it for over a year. It was working for a while but I've figured out it doesn't fix the root problem of my constant irrational fears and worry. I sometimes feel very alone and it scares the heck out of me. I also get zoned out at times and recently thought I was having heart palpitations. (Turns out they weren't). So I can just tell my anxiety is getting worse everyday.

Anyway, my psych. recommended I start Lexapro and thought it would help me with anxiety. I have previously taken Paxil (gained about 30 pounds and very hard time enjoying sex..couldn't "finish the deal", although my wife enjoyed it, I did not..) I also took Serzone years ago but I think they pulled it due to some health concerns.

For some reason, I am just terrified to pop the 1st dose of this medicine. I have been staring at the bottle, called my pharmacist, Dr., mom, friends that have taken Lexapro, etc. Everyone said "you will be fine" and don't be scared of side effects. I just cannot gain the courage to open the bottle and take the 1st pill. It's only 5mg (which I guess isn't a lot) but I am just afraid of something happening to me (I.E.-allergic reaction, I saw postings on internet of people saying even with 1 pill they had horrible side effects , insomnia, brain zaps..). Well, it's scared the heck out of me and now I am just frozen. I know I need the meds to help me with my anxiety and over-excessive fears and ironically I am too afraid to start taking this medicine.

I know if I take it and everything is fine, then I'm good. I've psyched myself out though, at this point, where as soon as I swallow it I know I am going to start panicking and think I'm having some bad reaction. I did some hallucigenic drugs YEARS ago in college and I fear this medicine will make me start having hallucinations or flashbacks. See? i worry about everything and it's making me mentally and physically sick.

Anyway, anyone else have fear of taking a med like this? How did you overcome it? I read the possible side effects and that almost made me have a panic attack just reading that. Geesh. Lots of scary stuff on there. Help!!

[honey]

Hi i know how u feel, i too freak out at the side effects of certain medicines, so i know how u feel.

[mrnewbigginzg]

Hi guys/gals. My name is Nick and I'm new to the forum. I currently take .5mg 3x day of Klonopin to "control my anxiety". I've been on it for over a year. It was working for a while but I've figured out it doesn't fix the root problem of my constant irrational fears and worry. I sometimes feel very alone and it scares the heck out of me. I also get zoned out at times and recently thought I was having heart palpitations. (Turns out they weren't). So I can just tell my anxiety is getting worse everyday.

Anyway, my psych. recommended I start Lexapro and thought it would help me with anxiety. I have previously taken Paxil (gained about 30 pounds and very hard time enjoying sex..couldn't "finish the deal", although my wife enjoyed it, I did not..) I also took Serzone years ago but I think they pulled it due to some health concerns.

For some reason, I am just terrified to pop the 1st dose of this medicine. I have been staring at the bottle, called my pharmacist, Dr., mom, friends that have taken Lexapro, etc. Everyone said "you will be fine" and don't be scared of side effects. I just cannot gain the courage to open the bottle and take the 1st pill. It's only 5mg (which I guess isn't a lot) but I am just afraid of something happening to me (I.E.-allergic reaction, I saw postings on internet of people saying even with 1 pill they had horrible side effects , insomnia, brain zaps..). Well, it's scared the heck out of me and now I am just frozen. I know I need the meds to help me with my anxiety and over-excessive fears and ironically I am too afraid to start taking this medicine.

I know if I take it and everything is fine, then I'm good. I've psyched myself out though, at this point, where as soon as I swallow it I know I am going to start panicking and think I'm having some bad reaction. I did some hallucigenic drugs YEARS ago in college and I fear this medicine will make me start having hallucinations or flashbacks. See? i worry about everything and it's making me mentally and physically sick.

Anyway, anyone else have fear of taking a med like this? How did you overcome it? I read the possible side effects and that almost made me have a panic attack just reading that. Geesh. Lots of scary stuff on there. Help!!

A good antidepressants if fluoxetine or another one that has a very hight successes rate is sertraline and minimal side effects

[mrnewbigginzg]

Hi i know how u feel, i too freak out at the side effects of certain medicines, so i know how u feel.

U must remember that theses side effects hapen to a smal minority of people

[jamus75]

Feel the same way about starting any anxiety meds. All I take or ever taken for anxiety is Ativan. Really no side effects except drowsiness. It works great for panic attacks but does nothing for daily anxiety. I took lexapro once but had a panic attack two seconds after swallowing it and never took it again. It didn't hurt me but just scared me bc of the side effects. Now they want to try me on atenenol which supposedly helps with anxiety heart palps along with controlling my elevated blood pressure.

[mrnewbigginzg]

Feel the same way about starting any anxiety meds. All I take or ever taken for anxiety is Ativan. Really no side effects except drowsiness. It works great for panic attacks but does nothing for daily anxiety. I took lexapro once but had a panic attack two seconds after swallowing it and never took it again. It didn't hurt me but just scared me bc of the side effects. Now they want to try me on atenenol which supposedly helps with anxiety heart palps along with controlling my elevated blood pressure.

Ii take 50 mg off atenolol 2 x daly and it's a big help and av had no side affects besides a bit of dizziness when getting up fast that it rely

[nickaepi]

Feel the same way about starting any anxiety meds. All I take or ever taken for anxiety is Ativan. Really no side effects except drowsiness. It works great for panic attacks but does nothing for daily anxiety. I took lexapro once but had a panic attack two seconds after swallowing it and never took it again. It didn't hurt me but just scared me bc of the side effects. Now they want to try me on atenenol which supposedly helps with anxiety heart palps along with controlling my elevated blood pressure.

Thanks guys. I did start my lexapro and I'm in the middle of my 2nd week. So far, so good. Jamus- I've been on Atenolol for about ~10 years. My BP has been almost perfect every time I get it checked. Keeps your heart rate a little low so I imagine that would help with palps. No side effects for me.

[jamus75]

Thanks guys. I did start my lexapro and I'm in the middle of my 2nd week. So far, so good. Jamus- I've been on Atenolol for about ~10 years. My BP has been almost perfect every time I get it checked. Keeps your heart rate a little low so I imagine that would help with palps. No side effects for me.

That's great news. My BP is fine when I'm not panicking. I take it daily and it's perfect. 120/74. Problem is when I'm at the doc I'm in panic mode and its 160/104 or something which is not crazy high but still scares me and might concern doc. I don't want to get my pressure too low. I'm on Altace right now for BP for 10 years and no side effects that I know of. Atenenol sounds right for me as my pulse usually stays around 68-80 when not anxious but that's rare for me not to be anxious. Lol.

[mrnewbigginzg]

That's great news. My BP is fine when I'm not panicking. I take it daily and it's perfect. 120/74. Problem is when I'm at the doc I'm in panic mode and its 160/104 or something which is not crazy high but still scares me and might concern doc. I don't want to get my pressure too low. I'm on Altace right now for BP for 10 years and no side effects that I know of. Atenenol sounds right for me as my pulse usually stays around 68-80 when not anxious but that's rare for me not to be anxious. Lol.

It's always worth a try You never No till you try

[meco1999]

I'm hesitant to take psych meds too. The last time I took meds was when I was a teen, and I'm 32 now. Took Paxil and Prozac. Paxil gave me vivid nightmares and Prozac gave me suicidal thoughts, but honestly I didn't take either of them more than a couple of weeks.

[Kaybee]

Meds are such a personal decision but work closely with the person who prescribed them. Make sure he or she is available if or when you experience side effects so that you can get advice. And remember that if you are the rare person who develops a troubling side effect you can stop the medication too. But work with your health care provider. They have so much information at their fingertips. (And I have had great success with lexapro. If I had started it instead of zoloft years ago I might be a thinner gal!)