Lexapro or Paxil?

Hi Ladies,



Calico, please try to avoid Paxil. Gosh, if there was one drug I would like to see restricted to specific indications, it is this antidepressant. Mainly, because of a) it's withdrawal effects when stopping: they seem the most severe of all the SSRI's, and true care must be taken to wean yourself off with your doctors supervision b) yes, it causes some weight gain imo, and c) it strongly inhibits our liver's main metabolizing path, CYP2D6, and while this doesn't effect you since you're on an AI, nevertheless, a lot of other meds do use this path in general. So I urge you to avoid it unless your anxiety is OCD type, in which case it's a good drug.



Lexapro is a good drug, and is metabolized by CYP3A4, 2C19, and isn't felt much to run the risk of inhibiting Femera which is low in it's inhibition of CYP3A4. So, many of us on Ai's use it. Take care adding the non steroidal anti-inflammatory agents like Ibuprofen, Advil and the like because you run an increase risk of GI bleeding when adding them regularly to Lexapro. Beta blockers like Metaprolol and Amitryptilene are also inhibited by Lexapro through their use of CYP2D6, so that's not great.



Geez, before you know it, we're all going to have to carry computerized cross reaction gizmos...



Ativan is excellent in low doses for anxiety. It takes the edge off fear very effectively without the headaches, strung out feeling of some of the shorter acting benzodiazepines. In low doses, used judiciously, it's a true help. It works through CYP3A4,5,7, so I'm looking into this a little more, but so far nothing has jumped out as interfering with Femera.



How are you doing by and large Calico? Hope well. I love your quote about lies!



LottaQuilts, nice to meet you. I hope your chemo regimen is close to being done. You look beautiful in your picture. I like to make bed cover quilts, have done a few, but I cheat a little and by the premade squares if I find enough of them and sew them together and then pipe the cover. I've done primarily Holiday ones...hmmm it's getting that time. My sewing machine always jams though.(Sad face).



O.k, hope this helps you. Let me know if I can help you more.

Tender

Hi Calico.  I've been taking Lexapro since shortly after finding my lump (3 months ago).  It has done WONDERS for me!  I was a wreck before going on it and it's really helping me deal with the stress of this illness.  I've really had no negative side effects from it.  I may be a bit more sleepy, but it's not bad enough to stop taking it.  I would definitely avoid Paxil.  There is so much controversy surrounding it--I would be nervous.  If you really think you'll be fine without either, that would probably be your best bet.  With any antidepressant, you have to be weaned off of it when you're ready to stop taking it.  It's never a good idea to quit cold-turkey.  Good luck with whatever you decide--sounds like you've pretty much reached a decision.

Take care.

Hugs,

Karen

Hi,

I am a 5 year Breast Cancer Survivor, I took Tamoxifen for 5 yrs and just started Femara a couple of months ago.  My hair is thinning probably for the Tamoxifen and from the Femara have a lot of joint pain. Also, I am taking Lexapro and sometimes Zanax. It seems to work so far. Is anyone else taking Femara and are you having any problems. I also thank God, I am still here.

Thanks,

Faysie

Hi Calico,

Tried Lexapro and it was bad.  Got feeling more depressed.  My doc gave me Larazapam for test jitters and it worked so good I tried a very low dose .25 mg for anxiety especially before my period and it works wonders.  I don't have to take it everyday for it to work.

Vicki