12 replies to this topic

[Rain]

Hi,

I have been on lexapro for few weeks as a 20mg dose, and in the last week i have noticed huge negatives with my otherwise really good memory. I have struggled to remember events that have occurred recently, and things that feel like a week ago (happened before) were well over a month, so i have a pretty bad time distortion. I cannot concentrate as well either, and my thinking is a little off - making really stupid spelling errors cos of a mental blank.

If i decrease to 10mg will this help? Or do i have to stop completely to return to normal?
It is really important that my memory is back to normal soon as i have important exams in just over a month..

So how long will it take to return me back to normal memory?

Thanks so much if you can help,

R

[bran319]

If this isn't a starting dose, meaning you haven't been on lower doses with little to no success, then I would reduce the dose down to 10 or even 5mgs. for a couple weeks and reevaluate things. That is a very high dose to start with and it's not surprising you are having some weirdness.

Many people report success at doses 1/2 to 1/4 what you are taking with minimal side effects.

[Logan]

If this isn't a starting dose, meaning you haven't been on lower doses with little to no success, then I would reduce the dose down to 10 or even 5mgs. for a couple weeks and reevaluate things. That is a very high dose to start with and it's not surprising you are having some weirdness.

Many people report success at doses 1/2 to 1/4 what you are taking with minimal side effects.

+ 1

Also, are you getting moderate to intense cardiovascular exercise for 20 to 30 minutes four times a week? I think regular exercise is one of the best ways to ward off these types of potential side effects from antidepressants and other drugs.

[Rain]

Thanks both of you.
I will take 10mg from now on, and speak to my doc next time i see her about 5mg, good to confirm that i can do this as i didn't want to stay on 20 and wait. Will it take time before my side effects lessen? Or could it happen over the next few days?

Oh btw, i started on 10mg, and after 2 weeks my doc said i shouldn't be feeling so numb and my mood should be a bit better, and then increased me to 20mg just for that.

[bran319]

The numbness is actually usually caused by too much serotonin receptor stimulation. That is a sure sign that your dose is too high. A close family member who is also an MD takes only 2.5mgs. a day. Anymore and he gets numb. I would consider dropping your dose even more.

[FunkOdyssey]

Thanks both of you.
I will take 10mg from now on, and speak to my doc next time i see her about 5mg, good to confirm that i can do this as i didn't want to stay on 20 and wait. Will it take time before my side effects lessen? Or could it happen over the next few days?

Oh btw, i started on 10mg, and after 2 weeks my doc said i shouldn't be feeling so numb and my mood should be a bit better, and then increased me to 20mg just for that.

That sounds more than a little backwards to me, as SSRI's CAUSE emotional numbing, so if that was bothering you a dose reduction would have made more sense IMO. It's not clear why she expected your mood to be better at 2 weeks when SSRI's typically don't begin working for about ~4 weeks.

[Rain]

^ Wow this is really interesting to hear!
I'm not sure what she was thinking then, hmm but she is a psychiatrist and should know her stuff.

I guess i'll stay with 10 for now, and ask her about dropping down to 5, but first see if 10 goes okay beforehand.
Will it take awhile before i know if it is a better dose?

Thanks for the replies btw.

[Temp]

^ Wow this is really interesting to hear!
I'm not sure what she was thinking then, hmm but she is a psychiatrist and should know her stuff.

I guess i'll stay with 10 for now, and ask her about dropping down to 5, but first see if 10 goes okay beforehand.
Will it take awhile before i know if it is a better dose?

Thanks for the replies btw.

YES SSRI don't START working for 4 weeks but IF THEY ALREADY WORK then it takes 2 weeks to feel a dose change. Lexapro HalfLife is 27-35 hours so if a dose change occurs it takes between 5 to 7 days in order for it to reach stable levels in your blood stream from that point on it takes about 7 days for your brain to acclimate to the new stable dosage. Any effects you feel within the first 7 days of dose change are just transitory and should not be considered a permanent "you". Also if you have been on 20mg for a week or longer then expect some withdrawal effects when you drop down by 10mg. Some effects can be numbness of extremities, feeling of tingling sensation, sudden panic attacks, anxiousness and boundless energy followed by depression etc. It's best to drop by 2.5mg per 5 days and not the whole 10mg. You have to understand that Lexapro is an isomer of Citalopram so a 10mg reduction of Lexapro is 20mg reduction of Citalopram and considering that 20mg of Lexapro is the max FDA approved dose then you must realize that by taking 10mg you are dropping it by 50% which is a huge huge thing! Also, there is a reason why the doc placed you on 20mg of Lexapro, so DO NOT REDUCE THE DOSAGE WITHOUT CONSULTING WITH YOUR DOCTOR FIRST. A sudden reduction in SSRI dosage can make people suicidal. If you do feel suicidal then make sure to call 18007842433 before doing anything you won't have enough time to regret.
Tread softly.

Edited by Temp, 26 September 2010 - 02:06 AM.

[NR2(x)]

Lower dose, atleasst until exams are over, these must come first. If you start feeling sucidial, im sure you can deal with it responsibly.( assuming you have not experienced sucidial tendancies beforehand). Lexapro may have anti cholinergenic effects that is not connected with serotonin. I would recommend dosing at night, near to bed time. This should improve functionality during the day.

Maybe add something cholinergenic or nootropic

[Rain]

Thank you both ! So helpful..
Ahh i have already taken a few 10mg doses now, so i guess it's too late for the 2.5mg thing, hopefully i wont get those effects those - atleast i've been warned !

NR2(x) - I have had suicidal tendencies before, but i have somewhat irrational phobia of death that would prevent me from ever doing anything stupid. And i already do dose at nighttime.
"Maybe add something cholinergenic or nootropic "
I have a few nootropics, which one should i take, and does it matter what time?
Piracetam, 5-HTP, St Johns Wort, L-Tyrosine, NALT, Alpha Lipoic Acid, SAM-e, Choline Bitartrate, Sulbutaimine and Galantamine

noting i take fish oil every night, modafinil most days and ritalin every few days. (prescribed)

[Logan]

FWIW, I always felt more numb and agitated on 50 mg of Zoloft than on 100 mg. On 100 mg I simply felt great-full range of emotions, plenty of energy, high libido, great cognition, and very little bothersome depression or anxiety. I realize that Zoloft is different than Lexapro. Maybe discuss switching to Zoloft(brand name!) with your doctor in 4 to 6 weeks if you are not feeling better on Lexapro. Have you tried Zoloft?

I realize this contradicts me agreeing that a lower dose of Lexapro may be better. Again, Lexapro is a different drug than Zoloft. It just goes to show that side effects with SSRIs such as emotional numbing and others don't always get worse with dosage increases, In fact, side effects and benefits can improve quite drastically. So, I don't really blame your doctor for thinking that things would improve with a dosage increase. I'm sure your doctor has seen it happen with enough patients to believe the chances of improvement are good enough to give it a try. That said, many people do much better on lower doses of SSRIs, especially one as powerful as Lexapro.

Edited by morganator, 28 September 2010 - 03:23 PM.

[Rain]

Hmm interested that you feel better on a higher dose, i'll keep that in mind if i ever try zoloft. But no, i will not be trying zoloft soon, it too (just researched) is also associated with memory loss, and so i'd prefer to just stay on what i'm on now, assuming the memory effects decrease.
will see what happens soon!

i spoke to her today about it, she isn't that familiar with it but knows about it considering most of her patients aren't actively studying everyday so aren't too bothered. so the lowered dose should be fine, but you are right in that it wil be better for memory but not for my emotional state. i'd prefer the compromise, as memory is really important for me!

[Rain]

Question:

How will piracetam effect me if i take it along with lexapro and modafinil (or ritalin instead of modafinil, not at the same time)?
What is a good dose to start on on these two?
I've tried piracetam before and it had minimal effects, but i'm willing to try again for a month or so.