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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 5 of 5. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Spriggy on January 25, 2005, at 18:23:45
I've had panic attacks off and on for a few years. The very first one was caused my a reactino to Compazine.. I know it was the medication- my doctor actually documented it as being a reaction (it was about 20 minutes after it was administered).
I had one other attack a year later (out of the blue in my sleep) and they subsided for another year.
Now, my father was in the hospital and dying, I believe I was experiencing Post Traumatic Stress but anyway, my doctor wanted me to try Ativan and Lexapro.
The Ativan sent me into an immediate panic state- I thought for sure I was dying. It was 1 mg. so I don't know if the dose was too high or if I just react strongly to meds..I spent 3 days after that, not eating, sleeping, or functioning whatsoever. I felt a strange head fog, like I was not real or in a tunel. It was very disturbing.
It went away.
I've now been on Lexapro for 4 weeks (low dose only 5 mg's) and I notice I can go from feeling absolutely great (almost euphoric) to that really weird, head fog feeling (like I did with the Ativan) and end up in the deepest, darkest, depression I've ever experienced in all my life.
I am not a depressed person and didn't even start taking this for depression and now after one month, I'm experiencing serious depression. To the point that today, I ended up in the corner of the floor in a ball begging God to let me die.
Any ideas if this medicine is doing something strange to my brain? I almost feel as if I am going crazy or losing my mind.
It's just strange.
Posted by stresser on January 25, 2005, at 18:32:16
In reply to Lexapro making me worse??, posted by Spriggy on January 25, 2005, at 18:23:45
You may want to talk to you doctor and ask for another type of anti-depressant. You are getting some strange side-effects, and I would feel like I was losing my mind also. I tried Lexapro and didn't like it at all. It didn't calm me down, and the anxiety was still there. I don't think I was as depressed though.....I tried Wellbutrin after that, and that made me manic, intollerable and mean!! I am now on Zoloft, and I think it's going to be ok, because I have noticed that I'm much nicer and not as depressed as before. I took Zoloft years ago, and forgot how much it did help me. Many times we need to try several meds to get the correct mix, just keep trying. You will know when you are on the WRONG one, and need to call the doctor to make a change. Good luck.-L
Posted by Bill LL on January 26, 2005, at 8:48:22
In reply to Lexapro making me worse??, posted by Spriggy on January 25, 2005, at 18:23:45
If you don't take any medications, do you think you would be better off? How severe is your anxiety when you don't take medications.
If your anxiety only comes occasionally, such as when your father was dying, then you should probably not take a drug like Lexapro. Lexapro is more for people like me who have non-stop every day anxiety.
But if you do have unbearable anxiety all the time or very frequently, there are other options. One would be to raise the dose of Lexapro. Effexor is a very safe and effective drug for anxiety. Also Xanax and Klonopin.
Posted by Spriggy on January 26, 2005, at 12:11:44
In reply to Re: Lexapro making me worse??, posted by Bill LL on January 26, 2005, at 8:48:22
Well, I've only had occasional bouts with panic attacks/anxiety.
I think the reason my doctor wanted me on meds this time is because I went 4 days (and nights) with anxiety, high blood pressure, and was not eating.
I think I went through Post Traumatic Stress because of my father.I am weaning myself slowly off the Lexapro. I am convinced it is making me feel worse. I've given it 4 weeks so it should've kicked in by now.
I can't stand this weird "head fog" derealization feeling. It is driving me nuts. I would much rather deal with anxiety or panic attacks then feeling like I'm going nuts.
I'll update you all on how this weaning process go.
Posted by timbr on August 29, 2008, at 12:42:27
In reply to Re: Lexapro making me worse??, posted by Bill LL on January 26, 2005, at 8:48:22
hey guys,
i found this thread after googling the phrase "lexapro making me worse" to see if others had experienced the same severe side effects as me after going on lexapro. i only took lexapro for 4 days, to treat panic disorder, and can confidenly say those were the four worst days of my life. i experienced the exact same symptoms as you. Its not physical symptoms that seem to really worry me, e.g finding it hard to breath, throat swelling, almost feeling like i have forgotten to swallow... tunnel visoin etc etc... its the mental side that scares the sh*t out of me and makes me by far the most uncomfortable. Lexapro made me experience the worst de-personalization (or de-realization) I have ever felt. and in turn made me deeply depressed. i remember looking in the mirror at myself and wondering if it was a photo. also just generally making me think about the big life questions WAY too much. e.g who am i, where did i come from, is my life real, etc.... all of this stuff really terrifies me and rememeber i already suffer from bad panic. i put an immediate stop to taking lexapro, and have never since taken another chemical medication to treat my anxiety and panic simply because i am absoultely terrified what medication can do to me after my lexapro experience.
I felt it very hard get my head around what was happening to me, and just like the others who have posted similar messages, i thought i was going absolutely insane, like completely and utterly mental, it helped me alot having a really really good doctor.
oh and due to thinking i was going insane i was terrified i might do something dangerouse, embarrassing, or just really really weird and i began being a little scared of being in high places, in crowded places, and having things touching or near my throat.
all of this thanks to lexapro :(
anyway i just thought id post and let the others know that i think stufff like this is pretty common (bad reactions to ssri's) and your not alone.
lf you are having severe side effects i would definagtely NOT suggest increasing your dosage.
all the best...
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