[greenfairy]

help! i'm on lexapro and wondering when its going to start working. its only been five days but i'm jumping out of my skin. was taking ativan for panic attacks and pdoc switched me to klonopin to take as needed until the lexapro starts working. i read the list of potential side effects ofthe klonopin and am afraid to take it so its just the lexapro and last night (actually early this morning) i had a horrible panic attack and at the moment my chest feels all hot and my arm is tingling and i'm freaking. any one have an idea how long til the lexapro works? any one take klonopin that can tell me its not going to kill me? i am a mess right now.

[Azalysa]

Hi Greenfairy!

I haven't personally taken any of the meds you listed, but from taking other meds and research on them, the info almost always says it may take up to 4-5 weeks for the meds to get into your system to get the effect from them.

As for how you're feeling and the side effects, I would strongly recommend calling your pdoc and telling him how you're feeling.

Beginning new meds can feel blecky (my own word...lol) but when they finally take hold it's worth it.

Take care!!

[Parker10]

Usually the Lexapro takes awhile . I have taken Klonopin for 16 years - no side effects after the initial drowsieness, and NO panic since it got into my system and started working. If you could take the short acting benzo (Ativan), I think you would be perfectly safe taking the longer acting benzo (Klonopin). No use suffering waiting for the Lexapro to kick in ! Good luck with taking the Klonopin AS NEEDED tho - its not meant to work that way - it needs to build up in your system and stay at a constant level. I dont understand any Doc giving it as needed, but have read on the board some do. I would read up on it, or talk to your PDoc on WHY they gave it as needed. Good luck !

[wi_fighter]

Hang in there. I've been on Lexapro for a couple of months now, and I LOVE it.

I switched from Wellbutrin to Lexapro, so I don't know if it was the Lexapro kicking in fast or the Wellbutrin being out of my system, but I felt lots better pretty quickly. Give it at least a week, even two, to get a feel for how it's going to work for you. It's going to take a month to reach it's full effect. I'm almost 100% certain it was the Wellbutrin being gone that calmed me down so quickly. Raving banshee is an understatement for how that drug left me feeling.

I don't know about klonopin side effects, but I'd at least try one if I didn't have to be alert for the next several hours. Especially since it sounds like your doc is only doing it short term until the Lexapro gets better established in your system.

[greenfairy]

thank you for your response. relieved to hear that you didnt have an adverse reaction. calling pdoc now about how to take it.

[greenfairy]

hey wi_fighter. thanks for the response. i'm really happy to hear something good about the lexapro, though i'm anxious that it will take so long to work.
i called pdoc to see about taking the klonopin and was told not to take it until someone else is around because i have a two year old and it might make me sleepy. counting the hours til h gets home from work so i can have some relief. its been a long night/day.