This is topic Lexapro and Xanax in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.


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Posted by tricia386 (Member # 29623) on :
 
As many of you know I have been dealing with anxiety.

My LLMD said I Could try Lexapro and then use xanax when I am having a panic attack.

Has anyone had any experience with these pills?
 

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Posted by nonna05 (Member # 33557) on :
 
Hi! I hope you get some good response on this...I've been ill over 5 years. Not on antidepressants right now. tried a few in the beginning cause they said this was all in my head.

Now doctors that know something is wrong say who wouldn't be down. So I tried a couple more.

It just changes who I am to much. So I do low dose Valium for crying jags and muscle spasms and once in a while a Xan ax or 2 for anxiety, low dose,....This also varies during flare ups. FYI Rifampin interferes with all this, it makes several meds and hormone supps. much weaker in system.

So if you get put on Rifampin and notice pain is worse or something like that ,it means you med. is not working as usual.



 

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Posted by TF (Member # 14183) on :
 
I used xanax for a number of years while I had undiagnosed lyme disease. My diagnosis was menopause, and the gyns gave it to me for that--the anxiety of menopause.

It was years later that I found out I had a false menopause from lyme disease. Once I got good lyme treatment, my "menopause" went away and so did the anxiety.

I tried Lexapro once but it overwhelmed me as did many, many other antidepressants.

Finally, when I went into the real menopause, I went to a psychiatrist who started me on "a ridiculously small dose" (his words) of an antidepressant (zoloft), and in this way I was able to work up to a real dose without being overwhelmed.

It worked wonderfully for the racing thoughts, gloom and doom thoughts, fears, etc. of my menopause. It was the lack of estrogen that caused this problem according to the psychiatrist.

I stopped the zoloft after 9 months as statistically, people with no history of depression can stop it after this amount of time without the depression recurring. It worked for me.

My main message is that if you get Lexapro and other antidepressants from PCPs, gyns, etc. just know that they don't know that much about these meds. If you are overwhelmed by the meds (become a zombie, so that you don't even have a life, etc.), they don't know what to do. But, a psychiatrist does. Pay a psychiatrist and you will get a doc who can help you ramp up with these meds and take them successfully.

My psychiatrist didn't require me to keep coming to see him. And, he told me how to ramp down the meds when the time came. So, I was able to do it myself.

You tell the psychiatrist your symptoms and he picks the best med for you. It was well worth the money I spent on the 3 or so visits I had with this psychiatrist. Before the zoloft, my life was totally unbearable. No price can be put on peace of mind.
 

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Posted by Bugg (Member # 8095) on :
 
HI there-

I, too, am struggling with anxiety right now because of landing in the ER a couple of weeks ago from extreme dehydration...

Ugh...I'm trying to take the lowest dose possible of Xanax right now to calm me down when I start feeling faint, weak, shaky, heart racing..

The Xanax is helping with the anxiety but is making me very weak and is increasing my joint pain/stiffness...

I'm not on Lexapro but my sister has tried it...She said it definitely helps her anxiety but also leaves her feeling a bit detached...

I hope you can feel relief soon....Also, magnesium helps some with anxiety....
 

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Posted by BP-Ladybug (Member # 32880) on :
 
Those are excellent possibilities. Give them a chance. I know many people with anxiety/depression on Lexapro and they are quite pleased. I have taken Xanax on occasion for five years. I know you have been suffering, from your other posts, give yourself a break and try these meds. It is not forever.
 

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Posted by joysie (Member # 11063) on :
 
I took Lexapro for a year, during my second year of treatment. I was also entering menopause and the anxiety attacks were joined by depression and feelings of doom.I had been taking xanax for the prior year.

I was very resistant to the idea of an anti-depressant. My PCP pointed out that I was taking xanax and sleep meds and a consistent use of low-dose Lexapro could help alleviate the depression and anxiety and help with sleep.

He was right and the Lexapro was very helpful. I titrated off of it VERY incrementally and the process was fine.

I have had to go back on my sleep meds,and returned to xanax PRN, but nowhere near as frequently as in the past. BTW.

Good luck to you!
 

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Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by joysie:
My PCP pointed out that I was taking xanax and sleep meds and a consistent use of low-dose Lexapro could help alleviate the depression and anxiety and help with sleep.

He was right and the Lexapro was very helpful.

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