Lexapro symptoms and conditions

I was on SSRI's for a while (lexapro, zoloft) when I finally couldn't take the tiredness, weight consistency, and NO sex drive. So I tried Wellbutrin SR 150 2x a day. Started off at 150 for a few days and felt like I was given a new life! I had never felt so good. Then it was time to increase my does to the 300mg. I started getting headaches, dizziness, my ears are ringing so bad I can't hear very well anymore. So I went back down to 150mg per day. I don't feel as tired, but it's still there. The ringing won't go away and I am still dizzy. The funny thing is, is that I can almost guarantee it's the same time everyday. I get the dizziness and headaches around 3pm, they go away(most of the time I have to lay down) and by about 5pm they're gone, but by about 10pm they're back. And it happens every day like clockwork. I like the way I feel (minus the headaches and dizziness, and ringing) my brain doesn't feel "numb" like I did on the Zoloft or Lexapro, and I have lost a few pounds which doesn't hurt, but I don't think I should feel like this everyday. I want a medication that I can feel good on without headaches and dizziness. And PLEASE no ringing in the ears. It's good to know that other people are experiencing these side effects, I really thought I was the only one.

Weaning off Lexapro for about 2 months now after taking it for 3 years. Went to every other day with a full pill, now down to every other day with 1/2 pill. I have experienced several unpleasant side effects. Most unusual, my breasts are very sore and barely touching them is painful. Anyone else experiencing this problem as well? How long will this last? Please let me know that I'm not the only one, I haven't read about this side effect.

I was first diagnosed with depression when i was 18 years old. For 9 years i was on all different types of medication but for a majority of the time i was on Effexor xr. I remember when i missed a dose, just feeling so bad i would just want to go to bed but when i took the next dose it wouldn't take long to get back to normal. My memory has been shocking. So bad that i have trouble remembering what happened when my children were babies. I don't know if this is because of the meds or the depression. My father committed suicide during the time i was on effexor and i just could not grieve. I felt that when i cried i was just forcing it. I just didn't feel many emotions at all. My life took a turn after that and i had so much going on that i either didn't have any trouble coming off it or i just don't remember what it was like.
At the start of this year my life was very full and happy and i was so busy until one day i just felt as though i was going to die. For a week i sat in the emergency department at the hospital certain i was going to die and leave my three children without a mother. I was finally diagnosed with a panic disorder. I didn't care what they did i just wanted them to make it stop.(the way i was feeling) I was put lexapro but had a bad reaction to that so they put me back on effexor xr. I can only say thank god! I have been on it now for almost six months and i have decided to come off it again as i feel my life is back in control. The main side effects i have had this time on this medication have been, a definite decrease in sexual function, deep sleep, vivid dreams and my pupils are dilating differently. I have over the last week decreased my dose from 75mls a day to 37.5. I really don't remember going through all these side effects last time. I was on a much higher dose before too. I have had the worst migraines, i am so tired, my eyes sting, i have what i guess others have described as shocks. When i move my head or blink my eyes it feels like i get a shock in my head. I feel like i am looking through a tunnel sometimes too. Although i had this same feeling when i was first put back on the meds. Yes it is tough coming off it this time but i still don't regret taking it in the first place. Without it i may still be feeling the worst feelings i have ever felt in my life and i wouldn't wish it on anyone. The effects i am getting now are not even a glimpse of what i went through before i started.

I have been on anti-depressants for about 10 years now. I've tried Wellbutrin, Lexapro, Prozac, and Effexor (just to name a few). I've been on Effexor (this is my 2nd time) for about 4 years now. I finally decided to get off the effexor and I desperately want to share what's been happening ever since. I slowly weened off of it, starting at my regular 175mg a day for 2 1/2 weeks, then down to 125mg, 75mg, and then 37.5. My doctor suggested I change doses every week, however I went 2 1/2 weeks because of the AWFUL side effects.

I have had the typical head "buzzing" is what I call it and my nerves are a wreck 24/7 but the worse problem I'm having and the one I haven't seen anyone write about yet is my severe stomach problems. I have had diarrhea everyday, all day, since I went off Effexor. It's been over 2 weeks since I've taken my last pill and it's not getting any better. My dr. thinks it could be IBS or bad eating habits, but I've tried changing my diet, etc. and nothing is giving me any relief. It's come to the point where I can't tell if my nerves are what is upsetting my stomach or if my upset stomach is what is setting off my nerves. Anyone else with these issues??

And in case anyone reads this before starting Effexor, please please don't use this medication. Try any and/or all other anti-depressants before using Effexor. It may work for your depression, but the side effects highly out weigh the benefits. I'm finding that out the hard way now. I would have never taken this drug if I knew what I would be in for 4 yrs down the road. And I can't help but be upset with our healthcare system when doctor's would actually prescribe this to their patients.

I stopped taking wellbutrin xl 150 mg and lamictal 200 mg 3 days ago cold turkey because there is no way to cut thewelbutrin tablet in half and take it safely. The first day wasn't bad at all. I felt better than I have felt in years and years. Then yesterday I felt okay, but not as good as I did on the first day. Today I woke up feeling like I have the flu. Every single bone, joint and muscle in my body aches. I feel fine one minute and the next minute the room feels like it's spinning and the body aches return. My psychiatrist started me on all of this poison,,, oops, I mean, medications 2 years ago. I had lost a child and had gone into a deep depression which led to severe anorrhexia. He started me out on Lamictal and Lexapro and after a year of awful side effects from the lexapro(especially sexual side effects=no desire at all) he finally switched me to the wellbutrin xl and told me that it would help better than the lexapro. At my last appointment, 1 week ago, I asked him when and if I would ever be able to go off of these meds. And he told me that I am probably a "lifer". He refused to hear anything about my stopping or weaning off of these meds. So, after my 3 minute office visit and prescription refills written out I left the office. I did not take the prescription to the pharmacy because I decided then and there that the only reason he and a lot of other psychs put people on these outrageously priced prescriptions(the lamictal is $140 a month and the wellbutrin xl is $170 and that is for the generic per moth) is because they get HUGE incentives from the pharmaceutical companies to keep us on them. I will not go back on the meds ever again. I am tired of living in a drugged up state. I want to feel alive again like I felt before I ever started taking this crap.

I have been on Lexapro for a few years now but just until recently have I experienced these side effects that I thought was something serious. But after reading all these comments I feel reassured that its caused from the Lexapro.Head rushes that make me dizzy, and making me sick to my stomach(causing major anxiety) . Another term I have read it head zaps, also true. Hot flashes one time while at work and Im only 30 years old. Major hunger all the time. I rally think my coworkers think Im crazy but not knowing what is making you feel crazy will cause you to panic. My husband has always told me that antidepressants were bad but haven't really notices until now. Im going to try and wein myself off of Lexapro and replace it with exercise. Has anyone else tried to do this?

My doctor took me off metopolol (genericToprol), and my last dosage was a week ago. I suffered weight gain, tiredness, and muscle fatigue during my 18 months on the drug.

I have 2 questions - how long will the drug remain in my system, and has anyone who experienced weight gain while on Toprol or the generic, lost any weight after stopping it?

Thanks, Tony

I've been taking Adderall XR 30mg per day for two years. I've gained 20 pounds and feel terrible. My doctor keeps telling me he doesn't know why I'm gaining weight. That is making me feel even worse!!! Can anyone tell me what's going on??? I also take Wellburtin & Lexapro. Before I took any of these medications, I asked the doctor if I could gain weight from them. He told me that these particular drugs do not cause weight gain. The thing that's so frustrating is, I was put on these drugs for anxiety and depression (results of an abusive marriage). How can I begin to feel better about myself if I'm gaining lots of weight? That just kills it for me. Can anyone out there offer some advice? My doctor won't even let me take an appetite suppressant. I take Adderall in the A.M. If I want, I can go right back to bed and sleep again. I also get hunger pains about 2 hours later!!! Help!!

~I AM SOOO GLAD I CAME ON THIS SITE! SINCE I HAD MY IUD PUT IN I HAVE BEEN HAVING LEG NECK HEAD AND BACK PAIN...EVEN CHEST PAIN! THE DOCTOR TOLD ME TODAY THAT SHE THINKS I HAVE ANXIETY! AND JUST GAVE ME LEXAPRO! I I HAVE EVEN LOST INTEREST IN SEX THOUGHT IT WAS B/C I JUST HAD MY SECOND CHILD....BUT I AM NOT DEPRESSED OR NE THING! I JUST CATCH ANXIETY ATTACKS! AND NOW I WILL REMOVE IT AND SEE IF I CAN GET BACK TO ME!

55 year old female
I have been on Toprol 5 years. 50mg. it works for me but since it went generic,I wonder...I am on 10mg lexapro and December started the vivelle-dot for my hotflashes. It is now June and the last 4 weeks my hair is falling out big time.
It is so thin I have to wear a scarf as not to scare small children at work.!! :)
I have talked to a couple of hairdressers and they have told me many of they're clients with thinning hair were on Toprol.
Anyone heard of this? Please help me figure this out.

i have been on lexapro for a good while.and when i try to get off of them i have funny tellings in my head.and that worry me.should i be concern.

I have taken toprol for seven years. I never had any bad side effects and it controlled my blood pressure most of the time. However, I suffer from anxiety and depression and was recently put on Lexapro. My heart rate dropped into the 40's and I was exhausted all the time. Turns out Lexapro interacts with Toprol in that the drug (Toprol) does not break down in your system and keeps building up! Because the Lexapro was helping my anxiety I decided to lower the Toprol dosage. Down to 12.5 mg and still extremely low heart rate and fatigue. Decided to go off the Toprol and monitor my blood pressure, which has been amazingly good so far. Went off completely six days ago and it has been rough. Anxiety, insomnia, pounding heart, heart palpitations. This stuff is a real B*tch to get off from. Have talked to both the pharmacist and my doctor and both said to NOT start taking it again. There are plenty of newer medications out there. I also experienced weight gain when I first started taking it...I think because it slows your metabolism down. So now I am on xanax to counteract the Toprol until the Lexapro kicks in more. It it isn't one thing, it's another.

I wanted to let all the women who are currently experiencing the horrible side effects of Mirena know that all your symptoms will disappear within one week of having the device removed! I had been off of birth control for 8 years as my body could not tolerate the artificial hormones. My Gyno was excited to tell me all about Mirena, a birth control method that would work with limited "localized" progesterone. I was concerned about taking any hormones, but my Gyno, who I really liked, assured me that I had no reason to be concerned. The procedure was easy enough, with only mild cramping for a couple of days, I was initially excited. Three days later, the emotional side effects began. I had extreme anxiety and depression, my insomnia was so bad I went days without sleeping. At 29 years old, I had never experienced any of these symptoms before, and they came on so abruptly, despite the fact that I had no reason to be feeling this way, on paper my life couldn't be better. At its worst, I had no energy for living and felt as though I couldn't live another day. My boyfriend was so concerned about my total transformation and "dead eyes" that he started doing research and found thousands of posts about the horrors of Mirena. I contacted my GYNO and she told me that there was absolutely no connection and that I should look to go on Lexapro. WHAT! I went from a very even tempered, happy women with no history of emotional distress to a nightmare within 4 days and you want to prescribe me a psychiatric drug over the phone. I declined the 'script and demanded an appointment to have it removed, despite her assertion that it would be a waste of money as Mirena wasn't causing my symptoms. I had it taken out and within one week, I was back to myself 100%!!!! To all the women on this board, don't wait to take it out, whatever you paid for it isn't worth the price you pay for it emotionally and physically. I am sure my former GYNO thinks it was psychosomatic, but I know the truth. MAKE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!

This website has been a blessing for me - a person who seemed to feel crazy for all the symptoms I was having. I had mirena put in place in March 2008 after the birth of my second child in December. I was so excited that I didn't have to worry about birth control - I could focus on taking care of my family and work, etc. I couldn't have been more wrong about it. All was fine at first until April of 08 (two months later). I started to notice a red, bumpy rash on the trunk of my body. It progressively got worse with each passing day. It began to look like hives on my legs (behind my knees) and then on the inside of my arms. It has gone all over my back and finally to my face last night. I looked at the mirena website and it said to call your doctor if you had a rash with hives. So I did and they assured me that mirena WAS NOT systemic and couldn't be the problem. They maintained that it was probably an outside source. Instead they offered an anti-depressant. I needed something to help with what I was going through, so I started on Lexapro. That has been the only positive thing that has kept me from falling apart. What's the use in calling them if they don't listen to you? I have finally decided to have the mirena taken out in two days. I am so ready to get back to feeling normal. I was wondering if there was anyone else out there with similar side effects with the rash. If someone would have told me that this was a possibility, I would never have signed up for this!!!!!!
I will post again once I have it out and give an update!!

I HAVE THESE WEIRDS FEELINGS I CANT EXPLAIN IM ON CITAPROLAM BUT I HAD THEM EVEN WHEN I WAS ON OTHER MEDICINE I THINK IT WAS LEXAPRO.BUT EVERY SO OFTEN I GET THESE FEELINGS THOUGHT THE DAY AND I CANT EXPLAIN IT ITS LIKE I WISH THE DR COULD RECORD HOW IM FEELING WHEN I GET IT.I GET HOT THROUGHOUT MY BODY KINDA LIGHT HEADED AND NERVOUS AND FEEL LIKE I HAVE TO TAKE A CRAP SOMETIMES THEN IT'LL GO AWAY IT LASTS A COUPLE MINS..THEN ILL GET IT AGAIN AFTER A WHILE..AND IT JUST COMES ALLA SUDDEN..LIKE I DON'T GET IT EVERYDAY IT COMES OUT OF THE BLUE..IM SCARED AND I HATE THIS IT MAKES ME NERVOUS AND I HATE HAVING THESE FEELINGS I WISH I COULD BE NORMAL.IF SOME ONE CAN HELP OR RELATE EMAIL ME BACK AT ******
THANK YOU '-/

I am so mad right now. I blindly trusted my doctor and had mirena inserted one year ago, just realized reading the posts that the mess I am in right now, started with this thing. I have gone thru a very bad year of depression, weight gain, aches and pains and no energy. I put on 40 pounds and lay in bed countless days and was also prescribed wellbutriun and lexapro, for severe depression, with suicidal thoughts, no sex drive, mood swings and just feeling I could not move out bed and totally helpless. What is the most scary part is that I was put on these thinking that it was all my brain's fault.
After all, my marriage had not been in so good shape, I got pregnant at 41 and had an abortion due to many complications. Also I had lost my job and when I decided to work for my best friend and got hurt on the job, requiring 3 months of treatment, I discovered I did not have a best friend after all. I finally start therapy and after several months of ups and downs, even with meds and counseling, I feel I have not made much progress at all. Today when I decided to go online to check on my meds side effects and getting terrified with it, I decided to check on mirena. I can tell you that, having this put inside of me put me in soo much risk for depression which in turn led me to the meds that also can course weight gain, confusion,dizziness, liver demage and a bunch of other things. DO NOT EVER TAKE YOUR DOCTOR S WORDS AS THE GOSPEL.

wow, reading these posts made me realize that i'm not alone in this. I was fine the first few months of being on Yaz, but then i started to become depressed, gain weight, have tenderness in my breasts and nipples, and feel like i am constantly bloated. I went to the doctor for a physical and talked to her about the depression, which I thought was a relapse of post partum depression. I am on lexapro now and emotionally feel like myself, but maybe it was the Yaz all along. I'm calling my OB tomorrow to see what else there is.

Our son started taking Singulair when he was 2 for severe allergic rhinitis and cough variant asthma (in addition to Zyrtec, which didn’t control all of his symptoms). He is 5 now. For the last three years, he has been an increasingly violent, difficult, defiant, argumentative, volatile child who has intense mood swings--one minute he’s laughing uncontrollably, the next he’s weeping over nothing. His doctor and therapist recommended that we see a psychiatrist to have him evaluated for bipolar disorder, which used to be unknown in children. Because he has such chronic sleep problems, the doctor also suggested we take him off Singulair (and increase his Zyrtec dose) to see if it improved his sleep issues. Within a week, he was sleeping much better and was a calmer, happier, gentler boy. He suddenly could take “no” for an answer without flipping out and trying to hurt me. We thought that we were just in an unusual, calm window that would shift either to mania or intense sadness or both, any minute. We also thought that his behavior change might be due to sleeping better. We were enjoying the rare reprieve. Over the last weekend, his springtime allergies really flared up. We gave him Singulair on Monday and by noon, he was completely out of control. I had to strap him into his car seat at one point to keep him from hurting either me or himself. It finally occurred to me that Singulair might be causing his “bipolar” disorder. Of course, we stopped the Singulair. After two days he was a new boy. Yesterday, I Googled “Singulair bipolar children” and got a few hits. I am stunned to read how similar other families’ experiences have been to ours and I feel sick that we gave this drug to our child for three years.

Health insurance companies starting to use databases to identify possible adverse drug reactions problems.

Data Mining Prescribed To Ensure Drug Safety

WellPoint's "Safety Sentinel System" may help the FDA and drug makers identify medication safety problems much earlier by analyzing patient clinical and claims data.

By Marianne Kolbasuk McGee
InformationWeek
April 16, 2008 03:58 PM

http://www.informationweek.com/news/business_intelligence/mining/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=207300005

It has been 18 days since my 9 year old daughter has taken Singulair. Our daughter had been taking Singulair for approximately 2 years. It was in the last year that we started to notice some behavior changes and mood swings that were so often unprovoked. We were somewhat concerned and thought like so many other parents that it was a phase. Then in December 2007 she came home from school with a tummy ache and had several episodes of vomiting. She seemed better the following day, but we took her to the pediatrician to be sure that this was a virus. The stomach pains continued, and then anxiety attacks began. Over the next month she began to wake up each day with stomach aches and we began more visits to doctors and more testing. She had abdominal X-rays, CT scan, mekel scan, GI consult and endoscopy. All were ok except she did have some small amounts of acid in her stomach. She was treated with Prevacid with really no significant changes. As weeks passed she missed more and more school, she just could not make it through the day. She had intense separation anxiety, and developed OCD about being sick again and vomiting, fears that she may stop breathing; fear of dying and the list goes on. She was refusing to ride the bus to school, and was having more and more panic attacks that would last for hours. We finally took her to a psychiatrist after we had done every test we could possibly do and all were normal. She woke up with the fear and anxiety, and fell asleep each night the same way. The doctor said she had "OCD" which she believes was triggered by the fear from vomiting. "This was the first time she had vomited since she was an infant.” She was treated with Lexapro, and Klonopin. The symptoms worsened over the next few days even with the new medications. After many calls to the doctor we were finally advised to have her admitted to a children’s psychiatric hospital for closer evaluation where higher doses of medications could be administered. She was there for 4 horrible days with slight improvements. Over the next few weeks the medication did begin to help some and she was able to make it through school each day as long as she was able to call me a few times a day for re-assurance. I thank God each day for her wonderful teacher and staff that have helped us through this. They all have known her for 3 years and knew this was just not her character at all and she was truly struggling. She was always known as "Smiley" to everyone because she always wears a grin. We began therapy with a psychologist as well and she has good and bad days. Then we heard the news about Singulair and I began to trace back other issues she had with focusing in 2nd grade and how things just seemed to progress from there. It all happened so gradually that I would never have put two & two together. She is showing improvements every day with personality, mood, attitude, fears, and the "OCD". She told me today that this was the best day ever!! I have made all the Doctor's involved aware of this information and the progress she has made in the last 2 1/2 weeks. Her doctor did cut her meds in half this week as well. Thanks to everyone that has posted their nightmares as well, and we will pray for you and for full recovery for all those that have suffered.

I am on Lamictal 75mg (down from 150) Lexapro 10mg (down from 20) and Clonazapam (3mg daily) - Here are my side effects

easy bruising, unusual eye movements when my eyes are closed, fatigue, loss of appetite, tingling in lips and all throughout body, daily headaches, grinding teeth - my teeth hurt so bad in the mornings, Loss of memory, shortness of breath.

This all scares me greatly - I am under a phychiatrist only doing NO blood work and he just keeps moving my meds up and down! I am so frustrated and afraid (after doing research and my family medical history) that the problems I was having before going to this dr. is due to a thyroid disorder.

anyone else feeling any of these symptoms?

My son and daughter are both on singular. My son is extremely emotional and prone to "anger fits". He is ADHD and was diagnosed before starting the singular. In December we put him on Lexapro at the age of 8 bc he stated to his class and his brother "What do you want me to do? Just Kill myself?" He has been off the singular for 3 days now and I already have my son back. My daughter was in the hospital last week with a severe ashtma attack and the doctor does not want to take her off the medicine until May, she is not our happy girl while she is on this medicine. I am torn on not following the drs orders.

To answer you concernedcitizen, what a great question,yes after singulair started, within 18mths we were prescribed,an antidepressant began with a c but cant rember, when that failed went on to lexapro,when that failed wellbutrin,when that failed and i was done with the bull chit we were trying bio feed back,cant say i was a big believer but we were giving it a try,of course nothing was going to work as long as we were taking singulair.These were all prescribed by psych docs

I am 33 years old with borderline HBP, but otherwise healthy. I have been on lisinopril for about 2 years. I thought it was a miracle drug as well lowering my BP (110-120/75-80) with no side effects. The pill's appearance changed about 6 or 7 months ago and now is the faint yellow pill that says Watson 408 on them. They did not used to say that, and they used to be a different color. I immediately noticed side effects. For the past 9 months I have gotten stress tests, wore an event monitor for a month, corotid artery scan, been to the ER about 5 times, had bloodwork done etc...
My symptoms have been:
1. When at work the room looks darker, I am a programmer and it's like someone turned down the dimmer switch and I strain to see the screen
2. I have been suffering palpitations and the sharp stabbing pains on my left side and right side of my chest
3. Most recently I have developed headaches and just this week I went to the ER b/c I got dizzy and disoriented at work. The ER said it was a spell of Vertigo.

I never even considered that it could be the lisinopril, I guess that seems pretty silly but I thought that if that was it my doc would have told me. Instead they tried to put me on Lexapro and Zoloft and even gave me some Xanax. Tomorrow I have another doc appointment and will suggest to her (yeah she is pretty hot - looks like Angelina Jolie) that it is the lisinopril. I am going to insist that I get off of it. I will post what happens. Thanks to all of you for the valuable information.
God Bless.

Has anyone had any eye twitching? I had Mirena inserted early December. In addition to the swelling to which I looked like I could burst (eyelids included) I've had an eye twitch for the last 6 weeks.