My lexapro diary

[jonjon]

Journey so far:

10 days at 5mg
45 days at 10mg
7 days at 15mg

Actually felt BEST the first two or three weeks and have gotten WORSE as this medication has built up in my system.

In particularly since starting week 5 on 10mg things have gone south. Then going up to 15mg anxiety and brain fog almost 24/7! Also depression rearing it’s ugly head too.

Hoping my psychiatrist calls me back today to discuss my options. Her secretary said she doesn’t work fridays so will see…

[pulisa]

You know best how you are feeling. I've always found that less is more but that goes against the therapeutic dose guidance, I know.

Have any of these meds actually helped you though?

[jonjon]

You know best how you are feeling. I've always found that less is more but that goes against the therapeutic dose guidance, I know.

Have any of these meds actually helped you though?

10 years ago I had luck with Pristiq and stayed on it for 3 years. Then came off it without any dramas and felt well for another 3 years.

This time it didn’t help me at all. Just made anxiety worse.

Psychiatrist called and said I can go down to 10mg thank god.

Psychiatrists prescribe massive doses of anti depressants well above the therapeutic dose. Why wouldn’t the opposite be true for some people?

Anyway my blood work revealed some thyroid problem I need to see my GP about.

[pulisa]

The thyroid anomaly could be very significant. Either hypo or hyperthyroidism. You need to get that looked at because it could be having an effect on how you are feeling mentally.

[jonjon]

So thyroid turned out to be nothing. Doctor recommended to eat less salt and have another round of bloods in six months.

Decided to give 20mg lexapro a try as I am only working one day a week and if I don’t try it now I never will.

So have been on 20mg for 5 days now and obviously too early to see any improvement but will try to stick it out. Jaw clenching and headaches still lingering as are anxiety/depression symptoms.

Seeing psychiatrist in 2 weeks. Hopefully I get some relief by then or we will probably stop.

[Phill2]

Good on you for sticking it out jon.
Hope you see some improvement soon.

[jonjon]

Doesn’t look like I’ll be sticking to the 20mg. Have had smashing headaches like I’ve never had before.

[Phill2]

That's really strange.
I never had a headache with it.
Maybe talk to your GP about a change of meds?

[pulisa]

I take it the botox injections haven't helped? Why not look into getting a physio to assess your neck and shoulders as to active trigger points?

Do you still have faith in your psychiatrist?

[jonjon]

I take it the botox injections haven't helped? Why not look into getting a physio to assess your neck and shoulders as to active trigger points?

Do you still have faith in your psychiatrist?

Hey pulisa I feel the Botox does help long term.

However trying to increase the lexapro dose has been a failure. I guess SSRI meds aren’t for me. Especially at higher doses. I have experienced nasty headaches, jaw clenching and fatigue without any real benefits to mood and anxiety.

I am at 10mg now after trying the 20mg which made things SO much worse. Will stick to 10mg for a few more days and then reduce to 5mg and see how things go.

I still believe my psychiatrist has my best intentions at heart but I just don’t respond well to some meds. Her original instructions were to stay at 5mg for 6 weeks but I jumped to 10mg after a couple of weeks.