[luvtiels]

Well, I saw my rehab doc today (Tuesday), explained about the anxiety, and she prescribed Lexipro 10mg. I took the 1st pill at 5pm PSD. I also took a 2.5mg Methadone at the same time - possible mistake?

About 15 minutes later, I started having Panic Attack symptoms. The freaky head feelings, shortness of breath, feelings of head detached from body, restlessness, agitation, etc. Now mind you, I had been experiencing these very mildly most of the day up to this point. But it wasnt anything I couldnt handle myself. But after I took the Lexipro, the symptoms doubled in intensity. I was in a restaurant, so I was in a safe place (hubby was not home). Has anyone experienced a Panic Attack after their very first dose of meds? Do I need to cut the pills in half to make them 5 mgs and start off there, slowly working up to 10? When isd the best time of day to take Lexipro - morning, afternoon, night? Should I take it with my Methadone or should I wait a few minutes/hours between taking the two meds?

I'm going to copy this post to the Anxiety folder, so I get 2 sets of opinions. I am very new to Anxiety/Panic, and its a little - OK, a LOT scary. This is my first time on Lexipro, so its new to me too.

[T_MD]

Lexapro can occasionally be quite stimulating as you found out. You should take it with food in the morning and probably work up to a full pill by taking half for 1 or 2 weeks. If you ever stop the medicine you will have to taper off very slowly too. Sometimes it is just too stimulating for anxious people and if you don't think you can comfortably take it you should probably ask for Paxil instead. Remeron is another option as well (though Paxil has better anti-anxiety properties). You probably want to try and avoid Prozac and Zoloft since these are typically more stimulating than Lexapro.

[luvtiels]

Thanks T. I cut a few pills in half and took half late last night/early this morning (1am), and so far, so good. No side effects. I think I'll do it this way for a week or so, then try a full 10mg. I don't wanna take it in the morning, 'cuz I need to drive in the afternoons. This way, if there are any side effects, I can sleep right through them.

[CedarS]

I was prescribed Lexapro as possible help with anxiety. I years back had had an extremely bad reaction to Zoloft, the hope was that Lexapro would be milder for me.

I took it for four weeks, then needed to stop, my jaw was very tight and painful, and my usual nightmares were extra bizarre. I knew such meds should always be tapered off slowly, but I convinced myself that since I'd only taken it for four weeks, that since I'm self sufficient, I could just stop.

I admit, I learned my lesson. I was able to ride through the results on my own, but I now know I need to always cut back slowly. I experienced a lot of depersonalization and some anxiety, had Ativan to use as needed, made it through.