I was prescribed 10mg Lexapro for work performance anxiety (I can't chart as fast as my peers which leads to overtime issues) and social (reconnecting with loved ones I fallen out of touch with) anxiety. The work anxiety has gotten so bad that I was waking up multiple times at night with work anxiety related dreams. I was told to take my dose at night. The next morning I woke up and it felt like a weight had been taken off of my shoulders. I was shocked and so pleased at the immediate results. After two weeks my prescriber increased the dose to 20 mg. It worked wonderful at 10 and 20 mg to control my anxiety and mild depression.
12 days after starting the Lexapro I developed diarrhea and had to stay home from work. I also lost my ability to orgasm. I've now been on medical leave for 6 weeks because of the diarrhea. I've seen many doctors and had several tests, all negative. On my own I did an internet search for 'diarrhea and Lexapro' and learned that they are linked. I brought this up to my new psychiatrist who apologized for not catching it. I learned that up to 20% of people can develop diarrhea with this drug class because of an issue with the serotonin causing the diarrhea. He says it can take up to 2 weeks for the diarrhea to resolve after stopping it. I had already decreased the dose to 10 mg after one month because of the sexual dysfunction. He had me reduce the dose to 5 mg for 3 to 5 days and then stop. He recommends I don't replace it with anything for at least a month so that my body can normalize. He says that this basically eliminates that drug class and that my other options to treat the anxiety are much more addictive.
I also have newly diagnosed ADHD (2019) and have struggled to find the right medication for that. I have tried and failed many typical ADHD meds. I recently started Armodafinal and I think it is helping without causing side effects, but I've been off work for so long, because of the diarrhea, it's hard to tell how effective it is.
I would love to hear from anyone who has had a similar experience of having SSRIs be effective for treatment but not being able to tolerate their side effects, and what they then tried and found effective.
Times are hard for everyone, and I would love to get my anxiety (& ADHD) back in check.
Thank you ❤️
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F_RN_Dx_at_39
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Have you already tried stimulant medication? I was experiencing work-related anxiety because of my ADHD and found that starting Ritalin basically eliminated my anxiety. I’m able to finish paperwork more quickly (less overthinking, easier to make decisions), so it feels less overwhelming. I know the concern with stimulants is often that they will exacerbate anxiety, but for many of us it has the opposite effect, so it may be worth asking your doctor about. Good luck and be well.
Hi there,so you diagnosed 2 yrs ago which is 24 months.if you divide the 24 months by how many different adhd meds you have tried it must be down to 3-4 months for each medication tried.that’s not enough time for the adhd med to work.
Also if you getting a bad stomach from certain meds you could ask for a tablet H-1 or H-2 blocker which may help
Stimulants are supposed to work right away. You start at a low dose and titrate up for maximum effectiveness. I understand that and that antidepressants can take a while to build up in your system for maximum effectiveness. They didn't work. Adderall was most effective but exacerbated my Raynaud's to the point it was causing neuropathy and I do not want to fuck up my hands forever. I also do not want to take more drugs to counteract drugs. I understand that is a possible option with the Lexapro.
I do appreciate your response. I've seen counselors, I'm listening to tons of ADHD podcasts, I have read books and have a decent understanding of how medications work. I've exacerbated the knowledge base of my current prescriber and have been paying out of network for advice from a psychiatrist that was recommended by my therapist whom I respect based on our two interactions. I've kept good med logs with doses, titrations, effectiveness and side effects. It's definitely been a journey, but I don't feel like I've given up on any of them too soon. I know it's always going to take work. And I'm willing to put it in.
Hi there, I'm sorry to hear you're suffering with unwanted side effects. Had an unpleasant experience on 20mg of Lexapro myself, years ago. I don't recall any GI issues, however I would sleep for 12-14 hours straight while taking it. Alarm couldn't wake me, & I've been a VERY light sleeper my whole life so for me this was off the charts wack. After accidentally sleeping through an entire 6 hour studio class, realized it definitely wasn't working for me.
Then got a Prozac rx, which made me an emotionless zombie so I only took that for about 6 months. Finally got success with Zoloft. The side effects I've had aren't bad (just garden variety nausea), & my partner brought up that my anxiety is way less intense these days. Huge deal to hear that!I wish you the best with your treatment, & would love to hear updates if you care to share any down the road.
Hi took Chantix to quit smoking 10 years ago and discovered the best ADHD/Anxiety medication ever, with no stimulates or side effects... it literally rewired my brain... with lasting effects that lead to no more excessive drinking, and end to 10 yrs cocaine use and quit a 25 yr long smoking habit..to the point of wiping the entire memory from my awareness... I cannot believe I was ever a smoker...much less a 25 yr...fully committed...loved my cigarettes..never ran out always had a lighter...smoker, to the thought never crosses my mind..
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