Lexapro - Interstitial Cystitis Network Support Forum

Pisces228 · 01-31-2004, 08:27 PM

Has anyone tried Lexapro, and if so, what side effects have you experienced? My husband was given a 30-day sample, but after he took the first pill, he said he started to experience a feeling like acid in the stomach mixed with razor blades. Normally, he only talks about a feeling of razor blades when discussing his IC pain.

The doctor said that Lexapro is a really good medication, and my husband has been through so many already with bad side-effect results, that I was really hoping this one would work for him. He has been experiencing such depression that I know he needs SOMETHING to help him. But he only took ONE pill. I was hoping, if anyone else has taken it for at least a few months, you could tell me if this IS a true side effect, and if it goes away after a fews days, weeks, or months. He takes other medications for pain, etc, so I'm not so sure it wasn't an interaction reaction.

The psychiatrist we met with for this first visit, said he could tell my husband wasn't ready to "talk" yet about his depression, so I was hoping to get him started on the road to dealing with it through medication. At least until he feels well enough to start talking. Then, he could wean himself off if he didn't like the side effects of the pill.

Please advise.

Thanks.

YankeeCandle224 · 02-01-2004, 01:44 AM

Hi,

I wanted to share my lexapro story with everyone here.

I take a LOT of meds, but I am very sensitive to SSRI's. After 4 days of taking lexapro, I began having narcoleptic attacks where I would fall asleep in the middle of a sentence, literally.

I also would forget things, I mean MAJOR things, like eating dinner out one night with the husband and kids when we were at the beach. I remembered NOTHING of the whole meal. I was told I got huge plates from the buffet, only to eat two bites, shove the plate away and get more! I was talking off the wall with the waitress, not making any sense.

It scared everyone so much I had to wean myself off of it quickly, and once I was off a few days I was able to finish sentences, and remember events, but that one meal and a few other things still are a mystery to me that I dont think I'll ever remember.

Everyone is different and everyone will have different side effects, or some will have no problems whatsoever.

I asked to be put back on Zoloft and I can tell a difference after almost 2 months of being on it. I am more alert, I cry less, and most importantly, I have less painic attacks, and I really do think it's helping the pain, along with my huge supply of other drugs for pain and muscle relaxers.

I'm so sorry your husband is going through this, but have to offer that Wellbutrin is often a SSRI of choice for men as it has very low sexual side effects and is USUALLY well tolerated. I havent read the other posts so dont know it it's been mentioned or if your husband has tried it before.

Some of the older antidepressants have a huge success rate with men as well, such as Effexor with a combo of Zanax.

I wish I had a better answer for you. ALL drugs have side effects and its mostly trial and error til you find the right combo.

Good luck to you and your husband.

Hugs, Sandy

**ICNJess** · 02-01-2004, 02:54 AM

Hi there,

Lexapro is the only SSRI I could tolerate well. And it works wonders for me. The only side effect I have his drowsiness, so I take it at night before bed time. If your husband is having such bad side effects, you should call the doc and let him know what is happening.

Good luck!

Hugs and love,
Jess

DanaW · 02-01-2004, 04:49 AM

I have been taking Lexapro for 2 months now. I am only experiencing one side affect. I am gaining weight! I am going to go back to the Doctor and see if I can switch to something else.

vm · 02-01-2004, 02:27 PM

I have been on Lexapro since this past summer and it has helped me sooooooo much. It has a VERY low incidence of side effects. I think I had some dry mouth the first few days and then some increased sweating for a few weeks, but that went away. I have gained some weight - but I am also eating like crap! lmao My doc says it does not slow metabolism, but can increase appetite.

Take a peek at the listed side effects here:

http://www.lexapro.com/pdfs/getpdf.asp?p=1

KathleenS · 02-02-2004, 08:40 AM

I started Lexapro 12 days ago, and don't seem to be having any side effects. I have tried every other SSRI - most of them stimulated me too much and really disrupted my already fragile ability to sleep. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will help. The only problem I am having is retention - but I am pretty sure that this is being caused by Seroquel (taking for sleep) which I started right before the Lexapro. I know that it is a difficult battle to find an antidepressant with side effects that you can live with. For me there has been much trial and error. Best wishes to you and your husband. Kathleen

Pisces228 · 02-02-2004, 05:30 PM

Thank you all for sharing your experiences. My husband stopped taking the pill after the first night because of the stomach pain. But I would like him to try it again just to make sure it wasn't a coincidence, with something else actually causing the discomfort.

We are both wondering what "SSRI" stands for. We have never heard that term before. Please enlighten us.

As for the suggestion of Xanax, my husband was put on that a couple of years ago for anxiety, but had a TERRIBLE reaction to it. He had taken it when he was younger without any problems-- before he was on narcotic pain medication--so we think there was a serious drug interaction with his Oxycontin and/or Dilaudid.

For three weeks he bacame increasingly depresses and paranoid, like the whole world hate him, was out to get him. It was very frightening. Luckily I realized that it was probably the Xanax, so I had him stop taking it and within a couple of weeks he was back to his better self.

Drugs are strange animals. You never know how they are going to affect one person vs. another. I guess that's why I've always stayed away from them.

Thanks again,

Pisces228

Susan2 · 02-03-2004, 05:09 AM

My dr., just took me off all the SSRI. He said they were not agreeing with me at all. I was on Effexor and put on alot of weight. I hope he has got me on the right one now.
Hugs
Susan

Iris · 02-03-2004, 01:34 PM

Hi Susan, your post was interesting regarding Effexor and weight gain. I am on that, and Elavil, and was curious if Effexor was also helping my weight gain. Thanks for posting, hugs Iris.

Susan2 · 02-04-2004, 04:53 AM

Iris,
The first thing I want to say, we are all different. My dr., seems to think that is what caused mine, b/c I have been skin and bones until I got on that . He took me off and put me on Pamelor. Have you ever taken that? If the effexor is helping you please don't let me say anything that would upset you.
Hugs
Susan

Iris · 02-04-2004, 09:21 AM

Hi Susan, don't worry I am still on my Effexor, I have not tried Pamelor. I was tried on Lexapro, and that did not work for me. So for now I am doing O.K. on my meds. Thanks for posting, I know we are all so different with our IC, and the meds, and different approaches to handling it. Take care and hugs Iris. hi hat

saraeyates · 02-04-2004, 10:33 AM

I was on Effexor for nearly a year and gained a lot of weight, in the neighborhood of thirty pounds. My doctor told me to try Lexapro, because it is supposed to be better for IC. I talked to my psychiatrist before starting it. He said that most antidepressants cause some weight gain, and that the only one close to being neutral as far as it is Welbutrin. He also told ne to anticipate possible sexual dysfunction with the lexapro - delayed climax. Not that it really matters to me, too much pain for that. I haven't had any other side effects, though.

MakinIT · 02-16-2004, 04:47 PM

After my second daughter was born 8 years ago I had post partum blues, really, really bad. So the doc put me on Zoloft. Did ok...weaned myself off. Started noticing the symptoms coming back (a year later)...My reg doc put me on Well butrin and ritalin...(I'm adult diagnosed adhd) I didn't like either...took my Mojo. (Lost all my creative feelings) so I again took myself off. Then the doc put me on Effexor because I was a blubbering mess. It worked great. However, I was on it for 3 years and despite a very regimented exercise program and diet, gained 60 pounds. I was huge. So, again, due to a diagnoses of diabetes, I weaned myself. Nasty, nasty, nasty side effects on those. Effexor is not an ssri, that class of drug affects the serotin reuptake in your brain. Effexor also affects norepenephrin...another nuerotransmitter. Iwas so sick trying to go off that. (this is all pre IC) Once I finally did, after months of slowly going down on the dosage, migraines started...horrid ones, I dealt with those for a year and a half and went on lexapro which is similar to Effexor but WAY more concentrated so they don't have nearly the side effects and you don't have to take as much to get the relief. It affects the serotonin and norepinephrin also but because it's so concentrated it doesn't make you gain all that wieght and make you freaky. (BTW, lost the wieght too, down to High school wieght of 150)

As far as your hubby....hey, anything can set us off. It sucks, but is true. Have him try prerelief first, then take the pill.

Tracey

ashmc · 02-26-2004, 05:47 AM

I am also on lexapro, and I think that it is the best anti-depressant for me. I never had any side effects from it. I used to be on zoloft and I will definetly say that lexapro is the best.

P.S. There are some sexual side effects though.

MakinIT · 02-26-2004, 06:00 AM

Yeah...the ol' lack o' libido lmao however, IC in and of itself tends to make me gunshy with sex. My Pelvic Floor goes into such spasms that my Physical Therapist can feel muscular knots in my vagina, just like trigger points in your back.

makes any "penatration" owie, owie" instead of oowie, oowie....) so we try to be creative. however those meds don't help the desire button much, do they?

Tracey