lexapro - long term

[Lulu]

simon wrote:

hi deb,
I have been taking LP for approx 2 years...I havent really found any SE apart from when I missed a couple of days when I ran out of a repeat script...then the problems started...I went pretty crazy and became quite violent!

me too severe rage then the worse anxiety EVER!

[ann]

After 30 years of chronic depression (from age 30 to 60), Celexa and now Lexapro were prescribed--have taken 10-20 mg for 10 years. It dims the emotions, causes loss of libido--but the trade off is worth it. I did have psychiatric care and every drug available as they came out. It is definitely a chemical disorder in my case. Depression pretty much destroyed my life over the years--financial, emotional, social--but I kept working except for a couple of years. I empathize with all those suffering--I recommend a psychiatric prescriber if you can afford it.

[michael]

I've been on every antidepressant at some point or another and I always changed them because of the sexual side effect. Well I decided one day that being sad and anxious was not worth the ability to climax. reding all these post and have a thought about the people who stop taking them and become sad and feeling like crap. Maybe these feelings you are having are the same feelings you had before you started taking the medication in the first place. If something is working for you and you stop taking it you should expect for the old feelings to come back. Depression medication is not for someone dealing with a divorce or the death of a loved one that should be dealt with on your own but if you are depressed for no reason then you do need medication so when you go off it expect to feel bad this is just how you felt before you started taking lexapro or whatever medication you have taken. Get blood work done on a regular schedule so you know nothing is going on with your liver and other organs. But you can't complain about feeling bad when you go off a medication that you take because you feel bad.

[MpCross]

michael wrote:

I've been on every antidepressant at some point or another and I always changed them because of the sexual side effect. Well I decided one day that being sad and anxious was not worth the ability to climax. reding all these post and have a thought about the people who stop taking them and become sad and feeling like crap. Maybe these feelings you are having are the same feelings you had before you started taking the medication in the first place. If something is working for you and you stop taking it you should expect for the old feelings to come back. Depression medication is not for someone dealing with a divorce or the death of a loved one that should be dealt with on your own but if you are depressed for no reason then you do need medication so when you go off it expect to feel bad this is just how you felt before you started taking lexapro or whatever medication you have taken. Get blood work done on a regular schedule so you know nothing is going on with your liver and other organs. But you can't complain about feeling bad when you go off a medication that you take because you feel bad.

Thank you for your words. I beieve that people want to take a pill and everything goes away. Depression and anxiety are real, not just a temporary moment of a bad crisis, or a sad moment due to a death or divorce, etc... A daily journal and brisk walk help too. I have been on Lexapro for 4 years. You have to believe in yourself and your abilities.

[tewe49]

oct 1, 2009
ive been on lexapro for aver 4 years...i feel fantastic....i take klonipin only if i feel i need alittle if i feel anxious...lexapro, stopped my depression, anxiety, panic attacks, fears , phobias ect...i had no weight gain, in fact i lost 15lbs when i started to use it...but the most important thing is , you need to have some counseling...that changed the way i feel, how i control life, and to change behavior problems...with meds it takes care of your seratoin levels, but you need to get down to the real problems inside...i was a intervert...now im not..ive learned i cant keep everything inside, or it effects your whole entire body emotional, physical...long term effects none..will stay on this forever...god bless

[PettyThief]

I experience acne, allopecia and began to behave in disturbing ways. I also had a manic episode which led to overspending and kleptomania.

GET OFF THIS CRAP IF YOU CAN.

This information is 100% accurate at this website as it is the whole package insert.

http://www.realmentalhealth.com/medications/l...

pettythief.blogspot.com

Cardiovascular - Frequent: palpitation, hypertension. Infrequent: bradycardia, tachycardia, ECG abnormal, flushing, varicose vein.

Central and Peripheral Nervous System Disorders - Frequent: light-headed feeling, migraine. Infrequent: tremor, vertigo, restless legs, shaking, twitching, dysequilibrium, tics, carpal tunnel syndrome, muscle contractions involuntary, sluggishness, coordination abnormal, faintness, hyperreflexia, muscular tone increased.

Gastrointestinal Disorders - Frequent: heartburn, abdominal cramp, gastroenteritis. Infrequent: gastroesophageal reflux, bloating, abdominal discomfort, dyspepsia, increased stool frequency, belching, gastritis, hemorrhoids, gagging, polyposis gastric, swallowing difficult.

General - Frequent: allergy, pain in limb, fever, hot flushes, chest pain. Infrequent: edema of extremities, chills, tightness of chest, leg pain, asthenia, syncope, malaise, anaphylaxis, fall.

Hemic and Lymphatic Disorders - Infrequent: bruise, anemia, nosebleed, hematoma, lymphadenopathy cervical.

Metabolic and Nutritional Disorders - Frequent: increased weight. Infrequent: decreased weight, hyperglycemia, thirst, bilirubin increased, hepatic enzymes increased, gout, hypercholesterolemia.

Musculoskeletal System Disorders - Frequent: arthralgia, myalgia. Infrequent: jaw stiffness, muscle cramp, muscle stiffness, arthritis, muscle weakness, back discomfort, arthropathy, jaw pain, joint stiffness.

Psychiatric Disorders - Frequent: appetite increased, lethargy, irritability, concentration impaired. Infrequent: jitteriness, panic reaction, agitation, apathy, forgetfulness, depression aggravated, nervousness, restlessness aggravated, suicide attempt, amnesia, anxiety attack, bruxism, carbohydrate craving, confusion, depersonalization, disorientation, emotional lability, feeling unreal, tremulousness nervous, crying abnormal, depression, excitability, auditory hallucination, suicidal tendency.

Reproductive Disorders/Female*- Frequent: menstrual cramps, menstrual disorder. Infrequent: menorrhagia, breast neoplasm, pelvic inflammation, premenstrual syndrome, spotting between menses.

*% based on female subjects only: N= 905

Respiratory System Disorders - Frequent: bronchitis, sinus congestion, coughing, nasal congestion, sinus headache. Infrequent: asthma, breath shortness, laryngitis, pneumonia, tracheitis.

Skin and Appendages Disorders - Frequent: rash. Infrequent: pruritus, acne, alopecia, eczema, dermatitis, dry skin, folliculitis, lipoma, furunculosis, dry lips, skin nodule.

Special Senses - Frequent: vision blurred, tinnitus. Infrequent: taste alteration, earache, conjunctivitis, vision abnormal, dry eyes, eye irritation, visual disturbance, eye infection, pupils dilated, metallic taste.

Urinary System Disorders - Frequent: urinary frequency, urinary tract infection. Infrequent: urinary urgency, kidney stone, dysuria, blood in urine.

[Diane]

DebinHillsboro wrote:

I am currently on 30mg of Lexapro and it seems to be doing good. My anxiety level is down, depression is doing better. I have Ativan to take if I need to for a quick remedy.
No side effects on my, I have taken it for about 6months, they test my blood every 6 months to make sure no major organs are effected.
Good luck on your meds.
Don't worry too much on long term effects, or don't read too much info on the web because it's not always accurate.

What blood tests am I supposed to have with Lexapro? I haven't had any at all!

[OZRJ]

Diane wrote:

<quoted text>
What blood tests am I supposed to have with Lexapro? I haven't had any at all!

I think they are getting liver and kidneys checked because 30mg is a fairly high dose. 10mg is average and 20mg is supposed to be the max according to my doctor.
If you are only on 10 or 20mg I wouldnt worry unless you have any specific concenrs and then ask your doctor.

[humdinger]

tonyc wrote:
I was on lexapro for 5 years 10 mg....I truly feel like it was heaven sent, However, I gained 20 pounds while taking Lp.....Im an avid excercise nut but no matter what i did i could not prevent the weight gain. I have been off LP for 4 months now, I tried to get off 2 years ago but could not handle the withdrawal problems. This time i found two natural supplements that made getting off the lexapro a breeze. I took both while I weened off the drug.....Like some of you guys I feel some of the old shit coming back......But at least I feel SOMETHING..On lexapro I had very little if any emotions.....I will be glad to share the products I took with anyone who wants to get off and can't.

Please share with me what the products were.

[Neill]

I take Lexapro. It's the best antidepressant to me (I usually order at http://pillrx.info ). It's effective in depression treatment.