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Do you have Lexapro side effects or
a Lexapro story you would like others to read? Your
story does help others.
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- "After reading the above I am angry. I, too, have been on 5 different
drugs over a 7 year period for depression. I am an intelligent,
successful full time working mom with 2 small boys, a husband and a
mortgage. How can I deal my whole life with headaches, insomnia, dizziness,
inability to remember things, and panic? The makers of Lexapro should
be jailed for the garbage they put on their web site about side effects
"no clinically important weight gain reported" What's clinically
important for them
-- 100 lbs?"
- Very difficult to achieve climax, dizziness, much increase of panic
disorder which had been under control for years. Couldn't get back to
sleep if awakened during the night. Decreased sex drive (I'm female)
- I have been using Lexapro for about a year I exercise regularly and watch
my diet, I have gained 15lbs and can't figure out why after reading the side
effects of Lexapro I do believe it is from that, I am going to taper off
this drug and try natural remedies."
- "On just 5mg. I am sleepy and very tired. The back of my neck hurts
and usually turns into a headache."
- "I was given Lexapro by my doctor because it was to have very few
side effects. Well I took the first dose and had flu like symptoms. The
second day I continued to have flu like symptoms, and also ended up with a migraine.
I was put on this because of depression, but as I write this I can honestly
tell you this is my third day, and I will never, never use this med.
again!!!!!"
- "I just took Lexapro for the first time about 7 hours ago. I am
experiencing nausea, dizziness, decreased sex drive, and I keep grinding my
teeth. I have been shaky and unable to focus on anything. Typing
this statement took me nearly 10 minutes. I'm my opinion this drug
should not be legal."
- "My son (17) was just prescribed this medication after the Celexa had
stopped working so well for him. He has had tremendous mood swings and
violent outrages, he gets very angry very easily. I have taken him off
this medication after 3 days due to all this plus other side effects.
There has to be something out there to help him, I just don't know what it
may be. His treatment is for borderline severe depression, due to loss
of grandparents and father (divorced and not much contact). Thank you
for this page it has helped me make my decision for my son."
- "I have been taking Lexapro for 8 weeks now, first 10 mg/day and for
the past 3 weeks I have been taking 20 mg a day. I don't know which of
these side effects are a result of Lexapro, but my blood pressure has risen
to ungodly levels, such as 220/120 and 202/120. I also have severe
insomnia (but I have that from PTSD too) and am terribly fatigued much of
the time. I don't cry as much, though, and am not as irritable as I
was. I am getting headaches, though, and feel dizzy. I am not
sure this medicine is good for me."
- "I honestly didn't realize that there were so many side effects
associated with this drug. I'm a 17-year-old female who has been on
Lexapro for about a year now. My psychiatrist recommended the drug,
saying that it had minimal side effects and would NOT cause me to gain
weight. Since being on the drug, I've gained 20 pounds. I'm
worse off now than I was before the drug. I've recently tried to stop
taking it, and have been without it for a week...and the last week has been
extremely unpleasant. Headaches, nausea, chills, tremors...it's
horrible."
- "I've been taking Lexapro for 6 months now and trying to get off it
for 2 months. I have to start taking again because horrible dizziness and
vomiting form being dizzy. This medicine has disabled me."
- "I have been on Lexapro for almost a month. The side effects are
horrible. I can't think clearly, I feel like I am unable to carry on
conversations. I have no appetite. I feel my mind has slipped. This is a
terrible drug."
- "I was prescribed Lexapro for Bipolar and depression. I have
been on it for the last 10 months since then I have gained 30lbs. I am more
depressed now than before because of the weight gain. I have also
experienced drowsiness and fatigue. I am going to try and get my Dr. to take
me off and deal with this disorder differently. I am on 20mg. I'm done!"
- "So far I've been taking Lexapro for about a month now and I seem to
get irritated a lot and the other day I had to go to the hospital because I
punched my hand through the glass."
- "I can't seem to remember things. I'm in class and I can't retain
hardly anything."
- "I have been taking Lexapro for several months now. Not until reading
the side effects of others did i become aware of the side effects that I
have. I have gained 20 lbs, my memory or should I say what memory??? My sex
life with my boyfriend has become non-existent. I have no motivation to do
anything. I would like to thank this website for some insight and I will be
making an appt. with my doctor tomorrow."
- "I have been on Lexapro for 3 weeks. I was on Effexor (for 2 weeks
until I was warned about its awful side effects). I feel better (less
anxiety), however I have the following side effects with Lexapro: sweating,
stomach pain, chest pain, arm and hand pains, nightmares, and strong
headaches."
- "TRUST me do not let your doctor talk you in to talking LEXAPRO! guys
try getting it up at night! all the
in the world will not even
help!!!"
- "I have been on Lexapro for almost a month. The side effects are
horrible. I can't think clearly, I feel like I am unable to carry on
conversations. I have no appetite. I feel my mind has slipped. This is a
terrible drug."
- "I was given samples of 10mg. Lexapro tabs to help with anxiety
associated with menopause. After the first dose I felt like I had
taken speed. My blood pressure was off the charts, my head ached, my
heart was pounding and my mouth was dry down to my stomach. I couldn't
eat. It took over 24 hours for the effects to wear off. Never
again."
- "I was prescribed Lexapro after my therapist claimed I have BPD.
I only took the 10 MG tablet ONCE and these were what happened:
I felt like I was tripping on acid, I could barely breathe, I went from
depressed to extremely agitated in a very short time, I went from really
tired after taking it to extremely awake, I didn't dream at all that night,
I was still feeling funky the next day, and people claim it isn't until
weeks into treatment you finally see side affects-HAH! I will never
take this drug again-and I switched therapists!"
- "Vivid dreams, profuse sweating, leg muscle cramps, sever wrist and
hand pain, arthritic type pain in most all joints - hate it."
- "My doctor gave me a few weeks worth to try. I gained weight, then
more weight, then more. I put on 14 pounds in two weeks!!! I also felt as
though it did not relieve my feelings of anxiety."
- "I requested Lexapro to my doctor as a means of dealing with symptoms
associated with a disk hernia, work related stress and anxiety I am
experiencing in relation to these two issues. I have experienced
increased fatigue, anxiety, head and neck pain, sinus pain, dry skin,
itching, confusion, increased sweating (especially at night) with at the
same time as having the chills, nausea and a feeling of the need to vomit,
frequent urination, body aches, painful joints and popping/cracking joints
as well as a whole host of less bothersome side affects. I've found
that I an increased appetite, lethargy and constant, energy draining
feverish symptom that never seems to go away. This winter I used the
medication for a couple of months or so but did not seems to experience all
the side affects that I have this summer. It seems to me that heat
and/or sun causes more adverse reaction for me. I feel so worn down
with this drug. It just seems to exacerbate my original problems.
!
I am more depressed, more anxious, more agitated and irritable and more
uncomfortable than I was before beginning taking the product. I would
be cautious using Lexapro and advise my physician immediately if or when you
have any serious side effects that are particularly bothersome for you.
I think I'm going to try something else or seeks some sort of alternative
treatments. I am extremely uncomfortable taking it."
- "I was prescribed Lexapro for anxiety and mild depression. I
didn't notice any side effects at first. I was told by the pharmacist
that there weren't really any. I have been on Lexapro now for about 6
months. I have gained about 15-20 pounds in that time. That is
why I came online looking to see if this was possibly due to the medicine.
I only take 10 mg a day, but I am still eating about the same as I did
before. Yes, it is very frustrating. After reading some of the
postings on this website, I think I am having some other side effects that I
didn't even realize. I am tired a lot. I don't have a lot of
energy. I think it is time to see the doctor again."
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- "I was prescribed Lexapro for anxiety. You know, needed
to get everything done in the world, like yesterday. I was
prescribed 10 mg a day. After the first dose I started feeling
lightheaded, dizzy and had an excruciating pain at the base of my
skull that would sometimes work up and over the top of my head.
I have had this for a month now. I have felt dizzy and
lightheaded and am really tired. I yawn a lot, even when I am
wide awake and at work. Sometimes I don't sleep well at night
either. Loss of libido and loss of appetite are both things that
I have noticed. My husband notices that I don't cry or scream
when things aren't done any more, but I feel after three weeks this
enough. I will not be taking this medication any longer.
Thanks for the opportunity of telling you how Lexapro has worked for
me."
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- "The only
symptom I have experienced so far from Lexapro is drowsiness."
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- **** "My 19 year old
brother was on Lexapro and he couldn't sleep, he hardly ate and he became very
angry at times. He was never suicidal before this medication but after
being on it for 30 days he killed himself. Please make sure you really need this
drug. It may cost you your life."
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- "I have gained about 10 pounds recently,
heart palpitations have returned, and I'm occasionally shaky. I'd like to
stop the drug now and try natural methods -- relaxation techniques, yoga,
breathing exercises -- to deal with my grief-related depression and anxiety."
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- "I hate it. It has done ZERO for my
depression and only made me exhausted all the time. Then I cut back and I'm
just as depressed as before, only less exhausted. Its been a month or two,
and I am quitting as it is useless in my opinion. Also I have no appetite.
No motivation. And I don't care a fig. So much for this med."
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- "I am on Lexapro, have been for about
6 months, have gained a lot of weight, about 35lb and having a lot of trouble
getting it off I am ready to give up don't know what is worse the depression
or the weight gain and being depressed about that and sweating like a man."
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- "I suffered significant memory loss,
impaired judgment, mania then became zombie-like. I think this is a horrible
drug. Needless to say, I got off of it."
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- "I have been taking Lexapro.
Actually, it is more appropriate to say that I used to take this so called
medication. After several years of taking one anti-depressant after the
other, I have finally decided that these pills are nothing more than
legalized poisons!
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"Although my doctor informed that
acne is not a side-effect of Lexapro when I asked, I am certain that this
non-stop break out (and unusual for me weight gain) is directly related to
the drug. Thank you for your website. I went to Lexapro's site
to see if acne or weight gain was listed in small type somewhere, but found
only a small mention of any side-effects, really.
??? Don't know if anyone else has reported acne. The weight gain
is actually something I can live with, but the acne ... high school all over
again ... talk about depression!"
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- "My son, age 15, was recently put on
Lexapro 20mg by a nurse practitioner. this drug was also recommended by my
son's therapist. I am concerned about the side effects of this drug. should
he be monitored by a psychiatrist? should he be taking this medication; he
stays up very late at night, doesn't eat much, and can become irritable. In
fact last week he had a major mood swing that resulted in the police coming
to our home. I am concerned about the effects this medication may be having
on him."
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-
The last four years of my life are nothing more than a distorted blur. I now
realize that I have been "daydreaming" all this time. I cannot
remember what I did two days ago, and I can barely remember what I did the
day after that; today has been nothing short of pointless.
Before Lexapro, there was Effexor, and then Zoloft. But in my lifetime I
have also been on Prozac, Wellbutrin, and at least ten other medications I
don't even remember the names of. And I honestly can't imagine why I allowed
myself to take any of these for such a long time. I have spent the last four
years of my life waning in this very room. I might as well be dead, and to
be honest, I wish I were. But that thought is nothing new or surprising to
me. All the things I used to think I were?--stupid, useless,
overweight--it's all come to pass. And at the moment I am too confused and
weak to even think about what to do. All I could do was simply stop taking
everything.
And it's been hell so far. It's like I am always standing beside a railroad,
and every fifteen seconds a train going 200 MPH passes me by. It's as if
there's a microchip in my brain, and someone's pressing a button to shock me
for their personal amusement! How much longer can this withdrawal last?
All wailing aside, the thing I find most disturbing about this whole ordeal
is--why did my doctor do this? I trusted her. I never wondered why, when one
medication wasn't doing the trick, she would just cheerfully write a
prescription for something else. It's as if she had a long list of new drugs
she wanted to try, and I was her zombified guinea pig. Is there some kind of
pay raise for taking on such a role? I'd really like to know how someone
could have such disregard for another person. I was never told of
side-effects, or consequences. I just did what I was told. And it has turned
me into a weak-minded, mind-wandering idiot. If I weren't so drug-addled, I
could've spent the last four years of my life going to school. I can't even
hold a simple job at Taco Bell in this state.
Anyway, there I go again. I can't help it, though. It's an outrage. I refuse
to take another FDA-approved drug again for as long as I live. I believe it
all just boils down to money, no matter who gets hurt. Who cares, right? I'm
just some loser with Depression.
I know I'm supposed to use this for listing side-effects, right? Well,
there're many. To be direct, this pill does not treat depression, it
ENCOURAGES depression, and throws you into a state in which you can never
escape the very thing it is supposed to relieve.
--Indifference: My uncle, who was more like my father than my actual father,
died a year ago. Did I cry? Did I even attend his funeral? Do I even feel
the pain of losing him at this very moment? No. Most of the time, I do not
feel anything at all. It takes 1) A very extraordinary event to make me
laugh, cry or feel excited, or; 2) A very long time. Eventually, the little
things do add up into one huge explosive outburst. There is only one emotion
that I feel frequently, and that is ANGER.
--Lack of Energy: I used to think I wasn't active before, but this is a
severe case of lethargy. I'm not just talking about a lack of motivation,
but a lack of normal breathing. My breathing is very shallow, and only those
with very good hearing can understand what I say, even if I'm right next to
them when I speak. There have even been times when I have lost the feeling
in my face, mouth, gums, etc., and thought I was dying of a heart attack or
some other trauma.
--Weight Gain: My eating habits never changed, but I somehow managed to gain
90 lbs., from 180 to 270, during the time I've been on Lexapro.
--Inflamed Joints: My right wrist (I am right-handed) constantly burns.
Sometimes the whole hand burns and tingles, and I lose control of it for a
short time.
--Irritability: All the bad things--jealousy, bitterness, etc.--are
seemingly always present. Who wants to be mad at the world for the rest of
their life? It is a miserable way to live!
--Tightness of Scalp: This could just be a weird form of headache, or
perhaps stress. Try to imagine that your day has gone to hell, and you begin
to get frustrated and you think very unpleasant thoughts as a result. You
know that tightness on your forehead as you contort your eyebrows to look
"angry"? Well, that's always there. It's been there for so long, I
can't even imagine what it would be like without it!
--Suicidal Thoughts: Wow, who would've thought that one of the worst results
of Depression--the very disorder that this pill is supposed to combat--is a
side effect? Blows your mind, huh!
--Faulty Memory: Yes, I can honestly say that I am a 28-year-old who feels
like a feebleminded 90-year-old. I'm actually surprised that I am able to
write this. Trust me, it would be more coherent and concise if I had full
use of my brain."
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- "I just took it for the first time
today I have experienced...nausea...dry mouth ..rapid heart
beat...shaking...a feeling of wanting to jump out of my skin.....I will
never take it again! I was taking it for anxiety and mild depression."
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- "Lexapro was prescribed for PMS and
pre menopause symptoms. Side effects include fatigue, constipation,
loss of appetite."
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- "I have been taking Lexapro for 4
months. I was prescribed this drug for major postpartum depression.
I was concerned about weight gain, and my psychiatrist assured me that
weight gain isn't a factor with this medication. I have experienced
severe constipation, total loss of sexual desire, and have gained weight
(about 10 lbs. - can't figure out if it's due to the medicine or increased
appetite, which could be due to the medicine anyhow). I'm going to
taper off and get off medicines completely and start using natural remedies
for depression."
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- "Taking Lexapro for depression.
Stomach pain, sleepy all day, constipation and diarrhea, headache as side
effects."
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- "When I tried to come off of 20 mg of
Lexapro I was thrown in to these huge withdrawal flashings in my head
shaking, sweating, uncontrollable crying. It has been
very difficult to come off of. My Dr. took me off cold turkey like the
morons that they are and I put myself back on and am going to taper off
monthly."
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- "When I was on Lexapro I couldn't
even tell if I felt horrible, or better, or sick...I just couldn't even
think well enough to say what I was feeling. Now I know that I was
rapid cycling through manic and depressive episodes but during the time I
just couldn't keep anything straight. My answers to my parents were always
"I don't know, just leave me alone.""
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- "I took one Lexapro in late January.
It woke me up in the middle of the night with bizarre feelings in the head.
The next day I had ringing in my ears and stopped taking it then and there.
I am still coping with ringing in my ear to this day--as well as occasional
pains on the right side of my head. Even had a CAT scan--which showed
everything "normal", thank God. Doctor says it was just a coincidence
and my Tinnitis is due to some virus or allergy. Yea, I believe it to
be an allergy--one most likely triggered by that one dose of Lexapro.
Now I feel like I have arthritis of the head, if that were possible.
Thank God it usually isn't severe, but I still want it to end."
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- "I began taking 10mg Lexapro for
depression. My Dr. told me of mild side effects that would go away. The
first three days I experienced nausea, fatigue, insomnia, excessive sweating
and my depression got worse. The next two days I had migraine headaches. I
have never been treated for depression before but I do know that this stuff
is terrible. I stopped taking Lexapro and my side effects are subsiding."
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- "I think this should be added to your
site...
I went to the DR and she gave me a few boxes of Lexapro (7 pills to a box)
I didn't even finish 1 box and I was getting all these dry red blotches all
over my face and arms. It looked like the underneath of a sun burn you
peeled off. PLUS I was getting very moody and angry. I don't
think that's very good for someone who was suicidal! Can we say DUH!
Now I'm on Celexa and I have the jitters all the time .. shaky foot etc. and
the Dr gave me oh such a wonderful answer... "All Meds are going to
give you some kind of side affect, we just have to try some different ones
until we find side affects that you can deal with" WHAT??? am I
lab rat now? Jeeeez! I'm not asking for a miracle cure, but I'd
rather have my depression then the shakes or worse."
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- "My experience with Lexapro is
negative. I am experiencing too many side effects, such as muscles
twitching, reduced ability to sleep for prolonged periods of time, dumbed
down emotions, and a occasional suicidal thought-not previously contemplated."
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- "Three hours after my first dose of
Lexapro my blood pressure shot up to 180/120 and my pulse raced to 170.
I was transported to the ER where the ER Doctor said he doubted that the
Lexapro caused the problem. He said the only way to find out was to
take it again. He diagnosed me with an irregular heartbeat.
Three weeks later, I tried another dose of Lexapro, the exact same thing
happened! Beware!!"
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- "Weight gain, somnolence, dizziness and decreased
libido."
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- "I thought something was wrong with
me! I have the worst migraines ever and my brow is constantly furied and my
left eye needs to be shut a lot to ease the pain. I have very disturbing
nightmares and dreams that seem very real. I get hot and cold all the
time and sweat a lot more than usual. My memory is very scary. I can't
remember the most simple things. I can't even hold a conversation because my
thinking is just off."
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- "It was prescribed for me to help me
deal with the pain associated with my recently diagnosed Fibromylgia symptoms
and my weight gain due to newly discovered under active thyroid. I took the
Lexapro only one morning and was nauseated all morning as well as drowsy and
dizzy (this was while I was as work). I was told that if I continued it, I
should probably feel better, but I'm leery about mind-altering medications
so I think I may just tough-it-out. Thanks for having this page
available."
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- "The last medication that I was on
was Lexapro and Celexa. Both made me feel better that other medication
except that I could not walk, that's right, I could not walk. Both medicines
created a feeling of arthritis in my knees. Once I stopped taking the
medication the knees are ok."
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- "I am sure glad that I read about
this drug Lexapro before taking it, I think I can do with out the side
effects that I seen listed, I think I would rather go through the depression
stages then go through the things I just read, thank you people for sharing
the side affects that you had happen to you with this drug, sure help this
person here, to know what can happen taking this drug, Thank God for
speaking out what goes on with others, why are we guinea pigs for testing
drugs, no wonder I got a sample instead of getting from the drug store, hmmm
makes you wonder huh, I know one thing, I'm sure not taking them, got enough
going on with my body and health to add another problem, Thanks again for
speaking out, take care all... God Bless"
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- "Have taken only one pill-side effects are absolutely
UNBELIEVABLE"
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- "I have been taking Lexapro for about
a year. At first, I had no problems adjusting to the drugs and it did
wonders for my anxiety. However, I did try to wean myself off the medicine
and experienced terrible migraines, nausea, and dizziness. It was so
bad, I had to go back on the drug and I have also gained about 15 pounds in
the past year from it. It also makes you extremely tired all of the
time."
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- "I was prescribed Lexapro after
having problems coming off Paxil. Now I'm sleepy all the time, I've
gained 12 lbs., I'm dizzy and have trouble concentrating. The worst
and most frightening this is the tremors I get a few hours after taking the
10mg dose."
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