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396099 tn?1216254986

Da4 14 on Lexapro and NOT going well..

I'm on Lexapro for GAD (after kicking an OXY addiction) and so far I'm not encouraged.  Before I started I had anxiety and depression but the anxiety was probably more dominant.  It seems as though the Lexapro has seriously elevated that anxiety.  I'm having to take a lot more xanex to cope with it than before I started it.  Is this a "normal" reaction to Lexapro at  this stage of the game?  So far I feel less like my "normal" self than I did before I started on it.  I've been really encouraged by the testamonials I've gotten from a lot of folks so I'm inclined to stay with it for a while but damm this is tough... (this is a repeat her to my question on the anxiety board)
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439522 tn?1214951189
Hey, bud!  At day 14, you should have a decrease in anxiety, not an increase.  You could be having anxiety for a couple of reasons.

1)  You may need to try another SSRI drug.  Lexapro might not be a good one for you.  Many people have to try 2-3 medications before they find one that really works for them.

2)  Anxiety could be from other medications your are taking, or mini-withdrawal from opiates or xanax.

3)  You might not have a serotonin problem.  You might have a nor-epinepherine problem.  In that case, you would want to try something like Effexor XR or Cymbalta (check that one...I think it is a SSRNI).

How far clean are you from the oxy?
Helpful - 0
396099 tn?1216254986
Took my last Oxy January 16th.  I didn't have anxiety issues before I started using.  I always wrote it off as PAWS but it wasn't getting better.  About 1 week or so per month of anxiety and fatigue bur it wasn't going away.  That's why I went with the Lexapro. But it's as if the Lexapro just elevated an already anxious mental state that I have to dial back with xanex.

I've got a call in to the DR and he wants to try something else but I'm not sure what it is yet.  I missed his call today.  Right now my problem is way more anxiety than depression.  And I'm taking more Xanex than I comfortable with. I do NOT want a problem with that drug.
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