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New member: See story inside…
Question:
ACT I: I’ve had anxiety since I was a kid. I can remember sitting in grade school and worrying that my parents were going to be robbed or killed. I’ve gone through a lot in my life that I never connected with anxiety because it seemed normal to me. I moved a couple of times because I thought I had AIDS. I’ve parked outside emergency rooms worried that I was about to have a heart attack. I’v also gone through times in my life when I was not particularly anxious, but eventually the anxiety would step in in a way that would put a ceiling on things. For example, I rowed competitively for several years — I loved being out on the water and engaging in the vigorous challenge. But one day I started having concerns about heart disease and said good-bye to an activity that gave me real pleasure. A few years ago my dad died and I went on my first medication — Zoloft. Considering the impact my dad’s death had on me I can honestly say that it feels like Zoloft saved my life. I was doing well on a dose as low as 25mg. I was on it for 18 months then weaned myself. It took about six months to wean even from that low dose. My main withdrawal symptom was an annoying popping in my ears. In retrospect, I do believe Zoloft made me complacent. My employment situation was bad and I wasn’t really doing anything to address it. That might have been situational, I don’t know. In the past, work has always fallen into my lap and in that period of time it did not. I ended up liquidating my IRA for expenses. The past three years without Zoloft have been; so so. I have a lot of trouble focusing and completing things. A LOT. Half-read books, projects that go unfinished. Recently, though, work has been going well as has family, and I have been exercising a lot which on a day to basis makes a HUGE impact in how I feel and behave. HOWEVER: ACT II We have had a rough month. Lots of stressful stuff has come up. A death in the family, a minor but upsetting car accident. I noticed that my mood went downhill quickly. I was very guarded (a little paranoid) about the car accident, about the safety of my family. I grew irritable, started having heart symptoms. I also got a new family doctor who noticed my demeanor was off and she has strongly recommended Lexapro. SHe has worked with around 200 patients and says the results have been great. Here’s why I am considering it: I know that when things get stressful, I can’t ALWAYS exercise every day and when I don’t exercise, as with this month, I go on a downward spiral. Which is where I am now. I feel like I need something to equalize my mood for day-to-day existence. I DON’T want this anxiety to have an impact at home or at work (at work, anxiety has a pronounced impact not only on my mood but also on my level of self-confidence). Simply can’t afford that, and don’t want to put anyone else or myself through that. Here’s why I am hesitant: I am nervous about the side effects — the sexual one, and the "break-in" period. How long will I have weaning on symptoms and will that interfere with my work? (I am asking rhetorically. Of course no one knows the answers.) Also very worried about the complacency aspect. WIll it dull me the way Zoloft did, and will I then not be motivated to exercise and attempt to improve other areas? ACT III I don’t know. I’d like to make a decision. I’m inclined to starting the Lex this weekend. I am interested in others’ thoughts and experiences — particularly the men. PS: Note to the poster named Danni: I read your post from earlier this month. I had a "non-fatal" std in my 20s and had the same concerns as you. My concerns felt overwhelming; sometimes they still do. But I attribute that not to the std but to my anxiety syndrome. Some people can simply laugh off the experience and be thankful nothing worse happened. I’ll tell you this, though: I am married and do have kids! So all the worry and anxiety really were useless in the end. — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
<gently snipped ::I don’t know. I’d like to make a decision. I’m inclined to starting the ::Lex this weekend. :: ::I am interested in others’ thoughts and experiences — particularly the ::men. Dear Jim, Welcome to ASAPM! I`m sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time right now. Hang in there, it will get better. I strongly urge you to go to a psychiatrist to be properly diagnosed and treated. Often times family doctors don`t have the expertise to treat people with anxiety disorders. That`s best left to psych doctors. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you are never trapped into staying on a antidepressant if it is causing unacceptable side-effects. There are many different kinds of antidepressants, a few are sure to help without causing you certain unwanted effects. Unfortunately the only way to find an antidepressant is through trial and error. Again, this is best done with guidance from a psych doctor. Another option is to take a benzodiazepine such as xanax, ativan or klonopin. The pro`s of taking benzos is that they work very quickly, can be taken "as needed", or on a regular basis. ::I am nervous about the side effects — the ::sexual one, Sexual dysfunction is a common side-effects of antidepressants. If this does happen, make sure to let your doctor know about it. There are certain meds that can be added to counteract the sexual side-effects. I do know a few men that experienced sexual dysfunction when first starting an AD, but it disappeared over time. Make your doctor aware that this is an unacceptable side-effect for you. ::and the "break-in" period. How long will I have weaning on ::symptoms and will that interfere with my work? It could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The best way to avoid being very uncomfortable while weaning on antidepressants is to start at a low dose, wean slowly and use a benzo to help tame the side-effects. What dose are you starting at? ::Also very worried about the complacency aspect. WIll it dull me the way ::Zoloft did It may, it may not. Again, if this is an unacceptable side-effect, let your doctor know. I`ve been on paxil since 1998. I had weaned up to 20mgs. A few years ago I weaned down to 10mgs. I didn`t realize until I was on the 10mgs that I had been a bit complacent on the 20 mgs. Lucky for me the 10 mgs controlled my panic as effectively as the 20 mgs. A lower dose may work as well as a higher one, but the side-effects may be less. Good luck to you! Keep us updated as to your progress with the lexapro 
Jackie ~*~I got in touch with my inner child and now my imaginary friend is jealous~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
I noticed that my mood went downhill quickly. Here’s why I am hesitant: I am nervous about the side effects — the sexual one
Consider Remeron. It’s an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. Sexual side effects are rare. Sedation and weight gain is common. Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
I noticed that my mood went downhill quickly. Here’s why I am hesitant: I am nervous about the side effects — the sexual one Consider Remeron. It’s an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. Sexual side effects are rare. Sedation and weight gain is common. Chip
If you want some anecdotal data – I found some degree of sexual side effects of the 10 ADs I had. Lexapro was the friendliest and had no sexual side-effects for me — _TJ_ <TJ_IREL at YAHOO dot IE — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I noticed that my mood went downhill quickly. Here’s why I am hesitant: I am nervous about the side effects — the sexual one Consider Remeron. It’s an antidepressant and anti-anxiety agent. Sexual side effects are rare. Sedation and weight gain is common. Chip If you want some anecdotal data – I found some degree of sexual side effects of the 10 ADs I had. Lexapro was the friendliest and had no sexual side-effects for me
Good, TJ. Were you ever on Remeron, Serzone, or Wellbutrin? Any sexual side effects with any of these? Those three are supposed to have sexual side effects only rarely. Chip — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Good, TJ. Were you ever on Remeron, Serzone, or Wellbutrin? Any sexual side effects with any of these? Those three are supposed to have sexual side effects only rarely. Chip
I’ve never had these, but ask me again in a few weeks – my pdoc is lining up Remeron next. 
— _TJ_ <TJ_IREL at YAHOO dot IE — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
Response:
Thanks for your response and encouragement. When I was on the Zoloft, I was consulting with a pdoc. My new family doctor says that she has specialized in treating anxiety and depression, has 200 patients she treats and has worked with other physicians and pharms both in learning about and training other docs about proper use of anti-anxiety and anti-depressants. I’m inclined to take her at her word, unless it seems I would absolutely be better in the hands of a pdoc. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – <gently snipped ::I don’t know. I’d like to make a decision. I’m inclined to starting the ::Lex this weekend. :: ::I am interested in others’ thoughts and experiences — particularly the ::men. Dear Jim, Welcome to ASAPM! I`m sorry to hear you are going through such a rough time right now. Hang in there, it will get better. I strongly urge you to go to a psychiatrist to be properly diagnosed and treated. Often times family doctors don`t have the expertise to treat people with anxiety disorders. That`s best left to psych doctors. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you are never trapped into staying on a antidepressant if it is causing unacceptable side-effects. There are many different kinds of antidepressants, a few are sure to help without causing you certain unwanted effects. Unfortunately the only way to find an antidepressant is through trial and error. Again, this is best done with guidance from a psych doctor. Another option is to take a benzodiazepine such as xanax, ativan or klonopin. The pro`s of taking benzos is that they work very quickly, can be taken "as needed", or on a regular basis. ::I am nervous about the side effects — the ::sexual one, Sexual dysfunction is a common side-effects of antidepressants. If this does happen, make sure to let your doctor know about it. There are certain meds that can be added to counteract the sexual side-effects. I do know a few men that experienced sexual dysfunction when first starting an AD, but it disappeared over time. Make your doctor aware that this is an unacceptable side-effect for you. ::and the "break-in" period. How long will I have weaning on ::symptoms and will that interfere with my work? It could be anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. The best way to avoid being very uncomfortable while weaning on antidepressants is to start at a low dose, wean slowly and use a benzo to help tame the side-effects. What dose are you starting at? ::Also very worried about the complacency aspect. WIll it dull me the way ::Zoloft did It may, it may not. Again, if this is an unacceptable side-effect, let your doctor know. I`ve been on paxil since 1998. I had weaned up to 20mgs. A few years ago I weaned down to 10mgs. I didn`t realize until I was on the 10mgs that I had been a bit complacent on the 20 mgs. Lucky for me the 10 mgs controlled my panic as effectively as the 20 mgs. A lower dose may work as well as a higher one, but the side-effects may be less. Good luck to you! Keep us updated as to your progress with the lexapro Jackie ~*~I got in touch with my inner child and now my imaginary friend is jealous~*~ — The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm
– The charter is available at: http://readystump.algebra.com/~asapm