Lexapro - Does Anyone Take It?

I've been taking Lexapro for several months......I've been thru chemo and surgery, still have to go through radiation and then the Armidex......while seeing my Breast Surgeon yesterday, I told her I had an appt with the onc later that day, and said I was going to see if he could wean me off the Lexapro as I no longer needed it...she asked why, I said I wasn't depressed anymore and really didn't care for taking alot of medicine, I just wanted to take my BP pill and be done with it. She said did you ever stop to think the reason you aren't depressed anymore is because you are taking the Lexapro? Duh!  She advised me to not stop taking it that I might still need it. I'm not having any adverse reactions, just tired of medicine is all. I guess everyone is going through this though...

Shorfli111,

 I have been on Lexapro for 3 years.  I am 53, married and was peri-menopausal until I was diagnosed.  I had my ovaries removed in February.  I believe the Lexapro helps immensely.  Before I had my ovaries removed, I was on Tamixifen.  Lexapro and Tamoxifen are incompatible, so I was off the Lexapro for about 1 1/2 months.  I was a maniac.  When the Obamas were inaugerated, I cried all day at work.  My co-workers were wondering what was wrong with me.  I finally told my gyn-onc "What is the use of surviving if I am divorced, unemployed and in prison?"

I am very happy to be back on it now.  My mom was having a hard time and now she is on Lexapro.  She is doing great.  Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Why feel bad about treating it?  Reduction of hot flashes is a common use for anti-depressants for women who can't take estrogen.  Hang in there and take it one day at a time.

Look at it this way.  It's much safer than hormones.  I've been on 5 mg.  For about five years.  When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I bumped it up to 10mg.  It also helps to control IBS.  In a bit I'll probably go back to 5 mg.  But, I doubt that I'll be able to stop taking it completely.

I started taking it about three months ago.  I really didn't want to take anything, but I got to the point that I had no choice.  I just couldn't function the way I was.  It wasn't just hurting me, but also my family.  I also started going to therapy and was told that I need to change how I think about things.  Easier said than done.  Whenever I try to think positive, my mind seems to come back with negative thoughts all the time.  I'm suppose to work on my self talk, but it sure is harder than it seems to do. 

Hi there:

I took Lexapro, guess it was about one year and a half

actually, I am not in TX, several yrs out

but am dealing with family in a N Home

similar to you, and became v. depressed

with a combination of things.  I found the s/e

were too much for me on a permanent basis

and having taken a # of anti deps during TX

have to say for me personally, I find they diminish

my feelings about things, you know, sometimes

you just could care less.  I like to feel emotion

to some degree. Anyway, I take Vitamin D and make

sure to get all the B Vitamins, and sunshine

lots of sleep.  I hear you on the BP meds as I take one

and it makes me spacy at times

Best to you,

Hugs, Sierra

why do you take lorazapam? I have been on it for a couple years now to help me with insomnia but I'm concerned about being on it so long...

Hi Ivorymom. Glad you're getting good results with your smaller dose of the Lexapro. Some times you just have to keep tweaking it until you find the right balence. I'm glad you mentioned the anti-anxiety benefits of the antidepressant, that's something I'd forgot to mention. Many times depression has anxiety as a symptom, but people recognize the anxiety more because it interferes more with their day to day life. Plus I think when your crying all the time, THAT IS upsetting. Anyway, I found that after I was on the SSRI my anxiety level went way down also. It dosn't work that way for everyone, but it's worth a try. I hope your treatment goes well, I see you were just DX in feb. You gals have a lot of strength and courage.    Lynne

Hi Lena-You're right that breast cancer and treatment would make any one depressed. I suspect many people are on antidepressants and don't tell anyone. That said, some people make it throught without significant depression and don't need meds. But others who may have a familial or physical predisposition to depression may find out that the stress of treatment puts them over their personal theshold. Sometimes the biochemical changes induced by the chemo or sleep deprivation can actually change your brain chemistry towards depression. It is not strickly a psychological issue, there is a lot of biochemistry involved. Taking the Lexapo (or another SSRI) for trial may help you feel better and therefore tolerate your treatment better. They not only help with depression, but also anxiety and sleeplessness. As for SE's, don't go looking for trouble-this is a case where too much information may not be helpful. You'll know if it's something bothersome. But know that the SSRI's generally have the least amount of SE's of all the antidepressants. As your research showed MAOs have quite a few and they also have the dietary problems and other drug interactions. The older tricyclics also have bothersome SE's and can be a problem if you have any cardiac issues. Many of us who are on an SSRI for chronic depression had tried the others in the past and stopped them because of problems with intolerable SE's. I for one am extremely grateful for the newer drugs, because they work and you really don't know your taking them, other than you don't feel depressed!

If the dose is correct you shouldn't have any problems. Keep in mind the reason there are so many SSRI's is because chemically they are each tweaked slightly different, you may find one dosn't work but another does. Sometimes you have to tweak the dosage. There's a litle bit of trial and error involved, but the rewards are definitely worth it. I've been on Prozac for 20 years, and it has been life altering for me-definitely for the better. The only SE I have is a decreased libido, but I'm single and for me it's a non-issue. If it, or any other SE is bothersome, lower the dose or try another med. Also if it makes you sleepy, take it in the evening. Everyone's reponse is a little different and you have to be a little flexible and patient.,as you won't have results for a week or two. Good luck with your trial and I hope it helps. And please don't feel bad about taking the med-it's not a character flaw-it's a real chemical change, and there's no shame in getting help to improve the quality of your life. Let us know how it goes for you.{{{ hugs}}} Lynne

OK, I have to get OFF this stuff. I'm calling the psychiatrist's office in half an hour as soon as he opens to tell him I have to get off and ask about the "how" to get off it. Maybe I haven't been taking it long enough to be "eligible" for withdrawal SE's unless I wean off slowly so I can actually just stop, but I don't know that so I'm going to talk to him and find out.

I was thinking maybe the Lexapro was helping, i.e., I noticed a difference -- what I initially thought was a POSITIVE difference, in fact, this past Thursday and Friday: It seemed my libido was making a small comeback! But then I found not only did it take me longer to have an orgasm (I, um, "played solitaire" once on Thursday and once on Friday, as the urges had hit me), but the orgasms I had weren't "full-bodied" like they used to be (even on chemo, like when my boyfriend was here last and he "inspired" me: I didn't have as much sexual energy as I did pre-chemo but what I had was fully functional!). I questioned the "lite" orgasm on Thursday and thought maybe it was a fluke maybe but when it happened again on Friday I went online and saw sexual dysfunction (including "anorgasmia" listed as an SSRI SE) -- I dunno how to describe it but it just wasn't right.

This is just plain and simply NOT F***ING ACCEPTABLE. No way!! Not even remotely! I'd rather be depressed, by a LONG shot, than have THIS aspect of me messed up. Depression, at least in the situation I'm in (i.e., on chemo), at least seems "normal and natural." My orgasms messed up? NO.

I have to get OFF this crap! I totally will NOT tolerate this in any way shape or form. GRRRRR.

~Lena

Hi,

new to the forum. Take lexapro and wellbutrin and do very well with both. Have been real lifesavers for me. Am having tremendous difficulty with my memory though and have been on Ritalin for that. best of luck,

I am 20 years old. I use lexapro for two months i must say great anxiety and depression are gone. I found Lexapro online on google i must say great medicine also for young people.Lexapro help me

Lexapro
 

Good afternoon Shorfilll, 

Facing the Dx and treatment of BC isn't one of life's pleasures.   I was on Lexapro years ago and from what I can remember it worked wonders for me at that time.  One of the added benefits, which  I experienced, was that the Lexapro help in my coping with chronic pain.  Those close to me loved that aspect for sure.  (I was not as snappy.)  Your new husband sounds wonderful.   Please be careful about stopping Lexapro or any other meds on your own due to the danger.  Enjoy your new husband and married life and laugh daily, it helps. 

I've been on lexapro for several years, well before I was diagnosed with cancer. I, too, went off it several times. Didn't work out for me. My family has a history of depression, so if being on meds for the rest of my life is what it takes to feel normal and productive, so be it.

Hugs to all who suffer from depression and anxiety. It's a tough thing to deal with, especially on top of cancer.