Scared to take my meds! Lexapro

[Txxxrho]

I just got prescribed Lexapro for my GAD/HA/OCD/Panic/etc. Afraid to take it at all. I feel like I'm too stressed out to take anything if that makes any sense because of all the problems I have going on right now and afraid it will screw up my brain or make me commit suicide. I get really bad panic attacks when I start meds also so I'm scared to death to try it.

I know meds aren't the answer but they can help until you learn to manage or get through some therapy but I can't ale myself take them.

Advice?

[Fishmanpa]

Advice?

If you have a physical illness and are prescribed meds, you take them to get better. The same goes for a mental illness.

You can get opinions till the cows come home but ultimately, it's your choice.

Good luck and positive thoughts

[MyNameIsTerry]

Like all anxiety & depression meds, there is an element of "leap of faith" involved.

You have to prepared that side effects are likely and whilsy any further anxiety is the last thing you need, it is a possibility. It won't harm you though and you will either get through it (and possibly benefit) or find the side effects too much and your doctor will try something else.

What you can investigate is how to start them. GP's are generally quite poor with these meds and they don't understand how to taper onto them as a specialist would. So, have a look at the meds board for it and see what others have done or raise a thread on there to attract some views from people who have tried it because I doubt you will get the best advice on this board.

They wont make you harm yourself but if you experience suicidal thoughts they advise you to contact your doctor or other medical support to be sure.

---------- Post added at 05:39 ---------- Previous post was at 05:36 ----------


Advice?

If you have a physical illness and are prescribed meds, you take them to get better. The same goes for a mental illness.

You can get opinions till the cows come home but ultimately, it's your choice.

Good luck and positive thoughts

I think a lot of others go through this issue and it can turn out ok or quite bad, its so individual. Caution is the best way and an element of courage to fight through any side effects.

Physical meds can be pretty simple though by comparison, you don't expect your pain killer to inflict more pain on you in the short term. More complicated with meds for diseases though.

[Fishmanpa]

Like all anxiety & depression meds, there is an element of "leap of faith" involved.

You have to prepared that side effects are likely and whilsy any further anxiety is the last thing you need, it is a possibility. It won't harm you though and you will either get through it (and possibly benefit) or find the side effects too much and your doctor will try something else.

What you can investigate is how to start them. GP's are generally quite poor with these meds and they don't understand how to taper onto them as a specialist would. So, have a look at the meds board for it and see what others have done or raise a thread on there to attract some views from people who have tried it because I doubt you will get the best advice on this board.

They wont make you harm yourself but if you experience suicidal thoughts they advise you to contact your doctor or other medical support to be sure.

---------- Post added at 05:39 ---------- Previous post was at 05:36 ----------



I think a lot of others go through this issue and it can turn out ok or quite bad, its so individual. Caution is the best way and an element of courage to fight through any side effects.

Physical meds can be pretty simple though by comparison, you don't expect your pain killer to inflict more pain on you in the short term. More complicated with meds for diseases though.


I had an illness and have physical issues than can bury me 6 feet under. Living with anxiety issues as severe as many here do, is akin to being buried above ground.

I had chemo and radiation for one of my illnesses. If you ever want to talk about side effects, I'm game. BUT... it saved my life. There were also long term side effects of which I suffer from today but I'm alive and well.

I understand the inherent risks of SSRIs. I took Zoloft during a rough period. Personally, I didn't care for it and had some unpleasant side effects but it did help me through that rough period. I currently have a non-SSRI I can take as needed and don't hesitate to do so as they've helped me several times with no discernible side effects.

So is it more complicated? No, not really. Just like meds for serious physical illnesses, some work and some don't. One person may have side effects (or different ones) and another none. Even with my chemo, there were alternatives if one didn't work or I had a severe reaction. It's the same for psychotropics. My daughter tried three different meds and had to endure the ramp up and ramp down until they/she found one that worked for her. She's doing great now between the meds and therapy. Everyone is different but it still comes down to a personal choice.

Positive thoughts

[MyNameIsTerry]

Yes, I agree with you about being buried alive above ground. Its not a life, more an existence.

When I said "complicated" I meant to leave out the more serious side effect prone treatments like yours as they are a more difficult comparison which are bound to bring some level of non disorder anxiety to everyone. You then also have to factor in how someone with anxiety vs. someone without would handle that.

The issue to consider, forgetting about side effects at all, is the anxiety of the sufferer and their thinking about medication or even any form of supplementation of any kind. These people have an additional hurdle to get over, the fear of even taking anything. So, when a GP gives these people meds they seem to end up on forums like this saying they are afraid to take them. Some people even need to address this in their CBT.

So, whilst taking a medication to heal you may seem a simple solution, someone without an anxiety disorder geared towards fear of these things is bound to have an advantage. This does complicate it. I've seen people on here with issues like this or where they are very sensitive and their GP's taper them on to try to remove some of that fear. It still needs the leap but its a more manageable strategy than risking a standard dose from the start.

You've only got to look at the people afraid to take a mainstream antibiotic on NMP. Someone without an anxiety disorder would be popping that pill as soon as possible.

Within 2 days of going on my first one I was under crisis team management due to side effects. My GP explained hardly anything to me. When I started my second one, with 6 months clear inbetween, I didn't even talk to my GP other than to report the side effects as I knew it was either a matter of battling through the side effect window or determing the side effects too severe and a change in med needed. At the first taper it wasn't too bad but the second was 10 days of pure hell, the worst I've ever been by far. I got through it but if it had gone on a lot longer I think I would have needed to switch.

But for me, I wasn't terrified of taking them. I was vewry worried because I knew how ill they could make me but the attitude I adopted was I could either stay in the mess I was or at least try. With some though, they may need help with that since its no different than tackling any other issue in anxiety to them.

I wish it were personal choice in terms of what we try. GP's would have to learn about what they are prescribing then!