Re: Starting Lexapro
Originally Posted by
LouiseAndy
I ended up in the a and e with a super bad panic attack. They did a ecg all good. Yet I still felt terrible and having attacks.
By no means an usual scenario. Many of us with panic disorder have seen the insides of A&Es convinced we're having a heart attack.
had my first dose today, I had a rough stomach, I'm having some reflex now which is causing some pain and burning plus my heart rate seems to be kicking it up a notch.
Unfortunately, stomach issues are relatively common due to the extra serotonin activity at the beginning. The enteric nervous system, the mini brain which controls the gut is by far the most serotonergic organ of the body making about 50 times as much serotonin as the brain so can be more affected by SSRIs. However, after a while the body responds to the extra serotonin by downregulating its synthesis and expression and the side-effects usually begin to diminish.
I'm dreading any other side effects or what could make it worse
The thing to always keep in mind is that while the side-effects may sometimes be unpleasant and scary, they are not harmful. Contact your GP is they become too difficult as there are ways of easing, perhaps even eliminating some of them.
__________________
The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.