I was on Effexor for many years and it helped me tremendously, but also caused a 20 lb. weight gain, increase insulin dosage and other metabolism issues, but I was fat and happy. My insulin daily usage has dropped from 70 units a day to 50 units.
I have been off the Effexor for one year and the withdrawal was miserable.
Right now I am struggling bigtime and know that I need help. I am going through a rough time and want to feel happy again.
I have a month’s worth a samples of Lexapro that I have had for about 2 months sitting in my dresser drawer and I am really struggling whether to start it tonight.
When I went through an ugly divorce a few years ago, I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t eat, - just got really depressed. Even at the time, I thought my depression was over the top because I wanted the divorce. Still, I just didn’t get better and ended up doing a lot of research on antidepressants. I asked my doctor to prescribe Lexapro and Welbutrin together. The Lexapro helped me get over the depression and the Welbutrin negated the weight gain. I don’t know if this would work for anyone else, but it helped me immensely. I sure hope you feel better soon!
Karen I don’t know what the best advice would be to give to you. Would talking help you through this difficult time, is there someone you can trust whom you could turn to ? I feel so crap when I can’t help people out of misery because I understand what its like. I always try to deal with things by myself but I really think that we all need each other.
I don’t have any advice, but I do know that Lexapro made my mom’s symptoms much worse… she too was looking for an alternative to Effexor.
My thoughts… and I don’t want this to come across the wrong way - I personally would take what you know works. There are other options out there as well… Effexor and Lexapro aren’t the only ones available.
Are you currently doing any sort of workout/fitness program? That could benefit you a lot, not just from the weight aspects, but from a general well-being aspect as well because of the endorphins… I normally feel fabulous after a workout, and pretty bad when I miss one.
I took Lexapro for quite sometime. For me it worked, I didn’t have weight gain, however, I had slightly elevated blood sugars. I was able to sleep through the night and I didn’t have dramatic rollercoaster moodswings.
Karen: I used Lexapro for about a year. It took away the downward mood swings, but seemed to dull my senses in other respects. I made the decision to discontinue it without input frm my therapist, and when I stopped, I did not realize a big difference. Perhaps therapy helped me. Perhaps it was coming to grips with the things that were wrong with my life. I don’t think I have a chemical imbalance, so the Lexapro was prescribed to keep me from doing something rash. I do think that any kind of antidepressant needs input from a professional. A few samples may not be enough. I was told I needed to give it at least a couple of weeks for there to be any impact. Happiness comes from so many different sources, and for each of us it is different, and for some of us, there is no magic potion.Talk to a professional, if you are not already. Then make a decision as to what is right for you. You know that there a lot of people here channeling good karma for you.
Thanks everyone. I did take one last night, and I agree I probably should go back to the Effexor, and of course my MD will do whatever I ask. I have tried a few others but they made me very sick. The Lexapro were samples from the MD before she wrote a full order.
I felt a bit sick to my stomach today, not sure if I will continue taking it.
Today was a really rough day for me, the things going on in my life are overwhelming, but as usual there is always worse and I know that.
Exercise helps me as well, but it is the long stressful days at work that I struggle with until I can do my exercise that makes it rough.
I am trying to avoid telling all as like I said, other people’s struggles are far far worse.
