Hello,

I currently take 1200mg of lithium and my lithium blood level is a .8. My doctor wants to prescribe me an SSRI as well to combat anxiety and panic. Is it safe to take an SSRI and lithium together? Respond via the poll. Post for input/questions.

Thanks.

[Victoria'smom]

I put it's a toss up but people do it all the time.

Originally Posted by Miguel'smom

I put it's a toss up but people do it all the time.

Thanks. Thats the general consensus I've been getting through my research. Its commonly done and not unheard of. I just got worried because the med combo comes up as a severe warning when I look it up online. Worried about getting Serotonin Syndrome.

Going to see my pdoc Monday. I just hope whatever SSRI I go on doesn't mess with my sleep.

It's Monday and I saw my pdoc. We settled on Lexapro 5mg to start out. Hope it helps with my anxiety. Hope I don't have any uncomfortable side effects. So I am about to take lithium and seroquel together. I am keeping a close watch on how it affects me. I was told to watch out for irritability, hypmo mania, sleep issues, and rapid or fast speech. Any commentary on Lexapro for anxiety refief? Or taking the combo of meds I'm on? Thanks everyone.

It was fine for me. I can't recall which SSRI it was ... I was on other meds, too. Bad time then. Needed a lot to get me stable. But yea the SSRI was fine. Take care.

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Oh! Lexapro is great for anxiety. Good choice. I'm type 1 and didn't get manic when I took it. This was recently.

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I haven't taken lithium with an SSRI, but I did take it with a tricyclic (clomipramine/Anafranil).

Guys it's been rough. My first day on Lexapro was yesterday and I had anxiety, felt really out of body or depersonalization, dry mouth, and began feeling a tightness and pain in my chest. I told my doctor and he said to keep hanging in there. Today, my second dose I felt so bad I had to call sick into work. I felt extremely anxious and almost had a panic attack, my chest pain was still there, and I felt extremely uncomfortable. Just really bad. So I called my doctor and he told me to stop taking it. That we would figure something else out. Maybe this med combo with my other meds just isn't a good cocktail for me. I almost went to the ER this morning I was that scared. Felt really aweful.

[zijax]

Im bipolar mostly manic so my Pdoc doesn't prescribe SSRIs. What I wrote wasn't very helpful. Sorry.

Thank you for posting. You're good. I'm have BP II mostly depressed and panic d/o. I'm feel better now but boy did I have some bad side effects to Lexapro. Funny how something that's supposed to help panic and anxiety gave me panic and anxiety. Pdoc wants to try something else. Maybe I will just have to be on klonopin forever. :/

I have been taking Lexapro for a long time. My pdoc rx'd lithium carbonate about 6 weeks ago.

Originally Posted by flowerbells

I have been taking Lexapro for a long time. My pdoc rx'd lithium carbonate about 6 weeks ago.

How much lithium?