Ok. Soi I have no where else to discuss this so here goes. The SWMBO had recently been preescribed Lexapro for general anxiety disorder. She has suffered from this for a LONG time, but it has never gotten so bad as to seek medical help until about a month ago. We have been together for 11± years, have two children, and have been married for 5 years in August. This is the first time I've had to deal with these feellngs. It almost seems like she has almost no feelings for me at all anymore. She will sit on the sofa next to me but will not touch me. She will watch a movie or TV but not really converse with me at all. Let's not even talk about the "sexy time" as that is pretty much non-existant. Previously 3-4 times a week would be the norm. I'm just curious if anyone else out there has a similar situation with this drug, or should I be concerned about another "situatuion"? Any advice would be greatly appreciated, as this is new to me and is REALLY causing some concern. Is it me? Is it the 'script? I'm concerned. She is the love of my life, and it's driving me crazy that it seems she wants nothing to do with me.
Lexapro?
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gratus fermentatio
Well-Known Member
There's a bunch of side FX that go with that drug: http://www.drugs.com/sfx/lexapro-side-effects.html
Good luck, GF.
Good luck, GF.
carrotmalt
Well-Known Member
My wife has told me before:
"I love you. You're my best friend. I'm not mad at you, but you touching me right now makes me want to punch you in the face! Give me some space."
Prayers and best wishes to both of you!
"I love you. You're my best friend. I'm not mad at you, but you touching me right now makes me want to punch you in the face! Give me some space."
No. It's hard not to take it personal, but try to be as understanding and patient as possible.
Maybe. I know a few folks that use depression meds, and getting the right type and dosage may take a few stabs (and may change over time).
Keep telling her that!
Prayers and best wishes to both of you!
I tried another anxiety drug years back and found my drive was gone immediately. I also felt like I was in a surreal life. Like I was living outside my own body.
I stopped after a week or two and got Wellbutrin and all of those side effects are gone. The only thing I feel now when I take it (which is VERY rare) is a slight feeling of excitedness. You know that little butterfly feeling you get in your gut? But that goes away after a few days.
I know a few people taking different meds and they all note the lack of desire. The problem is that while the stuff is lowering the negative feelings, it's doing the same for the positive feelings.
I'm afraid the only possibility is to try other drugs, and not many of them will be much better I think.
I stopped after a week or two and got Wellbutrin and all of those side effects are gone. The only thing I feel now when I take it (which is VERY rare) is a slight feeling of excitedness. You know that little butterfly feeling you get in your gut? But that goes away after a few days.
I know a few people taking different meds and they all note the lack of desire. The problem is that while the stuff is lowering the negative feelings, it's doing the same for the positive feelings.
I'm afraid the only possibility is to try other drugs, and not many of them will be much better I think.
ibbones
Well-Known Member
Give it time to get into the system. A lot of drugs are not put into place right away and build up over time, and take time for the body to adjust.
since you mentioned anxiety, I wonder why they didn't prescribe Xanax over Lexapro. I know some people with xanax scripts and they maintain "normal" life very well.
But I'm not a doctor nor do I know all the specifics. If the lexapro doesn't seem to help she might wanna try xanax. not that it doesn't have its own side-effects...just thinking of options.
But I'm not a doctor nor do I know all the specifics. If the lexapro doesn't seem to help she might wanna try xanax. not that it doesn't have its own side-effects...just thinking of options.
Seems to me that if this isn't something that abates as her body gets used to the med, it's something she should be talking to her doctor about. Could be dosage, maybe another med would work as well without this side effect... but that's a conversation to have with the guy with the fancy degree, more than with us!
Bedlam
Well-Known Member
SHe needs to get back to her doctor...and if it is a primary care provider prescribing the Lexapro, she needs a referral to see a psychiatrist instead. I can think of several problems here.
First, keep in mind that it takes several (4-6) weeks of being on a med like Lexapro for it to work as it should. Meanwhile, there can be some weirdness. It might just be worth waiting it out for another couple of weeks to see if it corrects itself.
On the other hand, she was given the Lexapro due to anxiety, and it sounds like it's working okay for that problem, but she may have had some depressive symptoms covered up by the anxiety itself that are just now becoming evident.
Often for those with a combination of anxiety and depression, it can take a higher dose than you would normally prescribe for someone who just has depression. She might not be at the correct dose yet, and is in a no-man's land where some symptoms are better but others are erupting.
And, yes, Lexapro (along with other SSRI's) are notorious for killing sex drive. Often, that can be easily corrected with a small dose of a medication called Wellbutrin, but Wellbutrin by itself is no good for those with anxiety.
I HATE Xanax. It is just another tranquilizer dressed up in a pretty little pharmacologic package...and one that can lead to terrible addiction. It merely covers up the symptoms, not treating the underlying cause. Not to mention the fact that it has a high street value and puts those who carry it at risk.
Again, she needs to consult with an honest-to-God psychiatrist, who I imagine would likely move her to another class of medications that hit both serotonin and norepinephrine that would be a better fit for her. Folks respond so individually to medications of all types that she needs the attention of a specialist.
And lastly, do you REALLY want to take advice from a psychiatrist who frequents a homebrew forum? That's like trusting Revvy to keep yer drunk ass outta Hell!
First, keep in mind that it takes several (4-6) weeks of being on a med like Lexapro for it to work as it should. Meanwhile, there can be some weirdness. It might just be worth waiting it out for another couple of weeks to see if it corrects itself.
On the other hand, she was given the Lexapro due to anxiety, and it sounds like it's working okay for that problem, but she may have had some depressive symptoms covered up by the anxiety itself that are just now becoming evident.
Often for those with a combination of anxiety and depression, it can take a higher dose than you would normally prescribe for someone who just has depression. She might not be at the correct dose yet, and is in a no-man's land where some symptoms are better but others are erupting.
And, yes, Lexapro (along with other SSRI's) are notorious for killing sex drive. Often, that can be easily corrected with a small dose of a medication called Wellbutrin, but Wellbutrin by itself is no good for those with anxiety.
I HATE Xanax. It is just another tranquilizer dressed up in a pretty little pharmacologic package...and one that can lead to terrible addiction. It merely covers up the symptoms, not treating the underlying cause. Not to mention the fact that it has a high street value and puts those who carry it at risk.
Again, she needs to consult with an honest-to-God psychiatrist, who I imagine would likely move her to another class of medications that hit both serotonin and norepinephrine that would be a better fit for her. Folks respond so individually to medications of all types that she needs the attention of a specialist.
And lastly, do you REALLY want to take advice from a psychiatrist who frequents a homebrew forum? That's like trusting Revvy to keep yer drunk ass outta Hell!
And lastly, do you REALLY want to take advice from a psychiatrist who frequents a homebrew forum? That's like trusting Revvy to keep yer drunk ass outta Hell!
LOL, I'd trust him over someone telling me I'm going to hell for drinking. You know the type... Jesus didn't make wine... he made non-alcoholic wine... yeah....
Good luck to the OP, hope things get better for you real soon.
most knowledgeable Dr's. WILL NOT give you any of the benzodiazapine tranqs except for short term or emergency use. Some GP's (and many dr feelgoods) will. They are addictive
Buspar is a drug that sometimes works for GAD but it was like crank for me and couldn't take it. It does not screw with the sex drive as much.
There are lots of SSRI/SNRI drugs, several of them generic, her dr. should be willing to switch until the right one is found.
Decrease of sex drive is almost a certainty
Many Drs. will not use drugs "off label", only the ones listed for your diagnosis.
Your insurance may not want to pay for psych visits and it may mess things up if you change policies.
If u are not happy with what your GP is doing, go see a specialist.
You can only stand being scared of everything for so long; most normals just don't undrstand it.....
Buspar is a drug that sometimes works for GAD but it was like crank for me and couldn't take it. It does not screw with the sex drive as much.
There are lots of SSRI/SNRI drugs, several of them generic, her dr. should be willing to switch until the right one is found.
Decrease of sex drive is almost a certainty
Many Drs. will not use drugs "off label", only the ones listed for your diagnosis.
Your insurance may not want to pay for psych visits and it may mess things up if you change policies.
If u are not happy with what your GP is doing, go see a specialist.
You can only stand being scared of everything for so long; most normals just don't undrstand it.....
My take on all of this is why you would air your laundry in a brewing forum in the first place. Secondly, if it were me, I would be wondering what the root cause is. Perhaps a stranger in the wood pile?
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