Meds take time to be in effect for most people. A week is not long. Don't presure yourself.
If you do feel queasy or other stuff, call the doc. All meds work different for ALL people. It is worth it if this is the first one you tried. I started with Prozac and now, am now on 4th kind.
Yes, theraphy helps always!! meds are just part of it. You can figure out what is best to help YOU cope. There are about 7-10 popular, different methodolgy of helping you to learn about anxiety, etc. I say to seek someone that listens to you and shows they care. If you do not have that trust, you may not feel comfortable.
Several great sites on google give you info. on several drugs. I have heard better things of Lexapro than for others. I took lexapro for awhile, with no prob and no side effect. Do not recall why I changed. Probably to one stronger.
Good Luck!! If I find more links will post. :mellow:
I copied this one for ya. Not sure if it will help.
Forest Labs
LEXAPRO (escitalopram oxalate) is a member of a group of prescription drugs known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). LEXAPRO is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for both major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
LEXAPRO has been prescribed to over 13 million patients in the U.S., where it is the fastest-growing medicine of its type.1,2 With just one 10 mg tablet a day, clinical trials suggest that many patients' depressive and anxiety symptoms begin to improve within a week or two after taking LEXAPRO. Full antidepressant effects may take 4 to 6 weeks.
Lexapro is Well Tolerated with Few Side Effects
LEXAPRO is a powerful medicine that is well tolerated. In studies of patients taking 10 mg a day of LEXAPRO, the number of people who stopped taking LEXAPRO due to side effects was comparable to those who took placebo [sugar pill] in the treatment of depression, and low in the treatment of GAD.3,4,5† If you think you are experiencing side effects, you should talk with your healthcare professional about your concerns. A simple adjustment in dose may be all that is required. The most frequent side effects reported with LEXAPRO are nausea, insomnia, problems with ejaculation, somnolence, increased sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmia.3,6 Patients taking LEXAPRO typically have mild to moderate side effects which tend to go away with continued treatment. One study of patients taking 10 mg of LEXAPRO showed that these side effects usually do not cause patients to stop taking LEXAPRO. In that study, only 4% of patients stopped taking LEXAPRO due to side effects, compared with 3% of the patients taking placebo.3,6
How SSRIs Work
The brain chemistry of depression and anxiety is not fully understood. However, a growing body of evidence supports the view that people with these disorders have an imbalance of the brain's neurotransmitters. These are chemicals in the brain that allow nerve cells to communicate. One of these neurotransmitters is serotonin. An imbalance in serotonin may be an important factor in the development of depression and anxiety. LEXAPRO appears to relieve the symptoms of depression and anxiety by increasing serotonin with minimal effect on many of the other chemicals in the brain.
LEXAPRO Treats Both Depression and GAD
If you suffer from either depression or GAD, you should ask your doctor about LEXAPRO. For most people, one 10 mg tablet a day of LEXAPRO controls the symptoms of either of these disorders.3,6 With a simple dosing schedule of only one tablet daily, LEXAPRO makes it easy for you to take your medicine on schedule and keep your symptoms under control.
References: 1. Wolters Kluwer Health, Estimated Unique Patient Counts, March 2006. 2. IMS National Prescription Audit Weekly Report. December 2005. 3. Burke WJ, Gergel I, Bose A. Fixed-dosed trial of the single isomer SSRI escitalopram in depressed outpatients. J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63:331-336. 4. Lexapro [package insert]. St Louis, MO: Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; 2005. 5. Goodman WK, Bose A, Wang Q. Escitalopram 10 mg/day is effective in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder. Poster presented at: 23rd Annual Conference of the Anxiety Disorders Association of America; March 27-30, 2003; Toronto, Canada. 6. Data on file, Forest Laboratories, Inc.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION – Depression is a serious condition that can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior. Antidepressants increased the risk of suicidal thinking and behavior (2% to 4%) in short-term studies of 9 antidepressant drugs in children and adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) and other psychiatric disorders. Patients started on therapy should be observed closely for clinical worsening, suicidality, or unusual changes in behavior, especially at the beginning of therapy or at the time of dose changes. This risk may persist until significant remission occurs. Families and caregivers should be advised of the need for close observation and communication with the prescriber. Lexapro is not approved for use in pediatric patients.
Lexapro is contraindicated in patients taking monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), pimozide (see DRUG INTERACTIONS – Pimozide and Celexa), or in patients with hypersensitivity to escitalopram oxalate. As with other SSRIs, caution is indicated in the coadministration of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) with Lexapro. As with other psychotropic drugs that interfere with serotonin reuptake, patients should be cautioned regarding the risk of bleeding associated with the concomitant use of Lexapro with NSAIDs, aspirin, or other drugs that affect coagulation. The most common adverse events with Lexapro versus placebo (approximately 5% or greater and approximately 2x placebo) were nausea, insomnia, ejaculation disorder, somnolence, increased sweating, fatigue, decreased libido, and anorgasmia.
Updated: Jun 26th 2006
