Brynn - Add and Lexapro

[Guest guest]

Hi ya Brynn ~ ~ So glad you responded !!!! What you wrote has been

very helpful for me and I appreciate your openness and honesty in

trying to help us all *smiles* !!!!!!!

About the Lexapro causing the inability to put sentences together and

wrecking havoc with cognitive abilities, I agree totally !!!! I was

supposed to take a telephone test today for a potential position and

I declined for fear that I could not make myself understood. I do

better with the written word tests, gives me time to think. I feel,

for the most part that my mind is vacant. I am used to a frenzy of

thoughts all at one time and I could organize and think things

through but now......... I am like ......... dumbo the elephant.

I have been creeping down on my Lexapro (against doc's orders) and so

far I am eliminating the daytime sleepiness (YAH) and getting back

some of my cognitive processes (YAH) and feeling like a human being

and not just a giant pill factory and my driving is not soo scary now.

I have been thinking of the Strattera alot and so may approach my doc

about that one. Thank you for your recommendation. If I wasn't

actively looking for a job I might start on the Lamicatl but I can't

tolerate new drugs and a new job all at the same time. That combo, as

I have found in the past, doesn't work. Somedays I can seem to get a

hugh amount of organizational work accomplished but that is one out

of 10 or more days.

Zyprexa and I don't get along, way to sedating for me. The drugs

that did a wonder job for my mind and clears out the cobwebs are:

Risperdol, Lithium, Celexa but I can't tolerate the sides. I know

the Celexa was far better for my mind than the Lexapro. For me, there

is a hugh difference between the Celexa and Lexapro. I would be on

the Celexa for about 3 days and I would get soo much done and them

boom..... the sides would hit me. So, when I felt dis-organized I

would take some Celexa and be able to get alot done. I did this

dance for about 3 years.

Agreed, I have to live on medication, like I have to live in therapy

and all probably for the rest of my life. This has taken a long time

to come to terms with. It would be easier if I had a broken leg and

lived with a limp the rest of my life than to try to mend a broken

mind.

I told my therapist the other day that I was soo tired of being me

and soo tired of all this stuff I have to deal with. It is just not

fair, not fair, not fair, not fair, not fair. After 53 years of

dealing with all this, it get's to ya. It seems I have tried every

medicine known to man and nothing works !!!!!!!! Sigh. What is

depressing is that .... will I have to deal with this for the

remaining days of my life and when will I get a chance to enjoy

life ?????

Dana Rose

[Guest guest]

Hey Dana.. glad to be of help I know i've been through the ringer and i am

only 21 years old.. so i figure might as well share what i have learned so

that others can benefit from it . and i can totally relate 100% with the being

tired of being me statement.. and what sucks is that i've got sooooo long to

go.. it's so hard living in a mind you can't' stand... or is it my mind that

can't stand me? i dunno.. either way it's a poopy way to live and i've got a

wayys to go yet. .haha i'm gonna try and make the best of it.. unfortunately the

brain seems to get worse as the years slip by.. at least that's been the case

for me perhaps it also comes with growing up and having more

responsibilities as well.. enough to drive even a sane person nuts.. haha.. but

yeah, i've

struggled with this stuff since as far back as i can remember... age 5??

enough of my babbling.. haha

It's funny that you should mention tapering off of lex.. and finding

success.. because i have been doing the same.. i am now at 5mg.. and so far so

good..

i am actually functioning again.. leaving the house.. it's weird though cause

i did the same thing this last summer.. i had such a terrible time with lex..

that i just decided to boot it all together and at first i felt ok.. i wasnt

depressed and i wasn't all lethargic... but then i guess when it alll got out

of my system i went loopy again.. like literally loopy (panic attacky and stuff

and crying tons and racing brain).. it was crazy.. so i guess if i just try

and keep a bit in my system at a time i will be okay... I would really like to

try wellbutrin.. it's a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitor it's

for depression, but tends to be better for ADD type people who have cognitive

probs witht he SSRIs.. but i guess you have to be careful cause it causes alot

of people to get really anxious and jittery at first... and my doc told me it

is contraindicated with Strattera.. meaning that taking both of them at the

same time is okay, but not necessarily recommended because they both have

similar

mechanisms... ugh.. so here i am tootin along on my three draiining meds..

haha i think i could use the stimulating action of the wellbutrin right about

now. haha.. like you, i get pretty zonked on the zyprexa... it's interesting

that you like celexa.. i really dont know. i didnt have such a good time with

it.. but i dont have a good time with any of these SSRI's when using them

without something to keep my stabilized.. but anyhow.. you'll have to keep me

updated.. are you planning on just trying to keep a small dosage of lex? or are

you going to taper off completely? what about the stabilizer? are you gonna ask

your doc about lamictal??

sorry for all of the questions. haha i am just curious to know how you are

doing

*Brynn*

In a message dated 03/11/2004 2:49:05 PM Pacific Standard Time,

danarose1950@... writes:

> Hi ya Brynn ~ ~ So glad you responded !!!! What you wrote has been

> very helpful for me and I appreciate your openness and honesty in

> trying to help us all *smiles* !!!!!!!

>

> About the Lexapro causing the inability to put sentences together and

> wrecking havoc with cognitive abilities, I agree totally !!!! I was

> supposed to take a telephone test today for a potential position and

> I declined for fear that I could not make myself understood. I do

> better with the written word tests, gives me time to think. I feel,

> for the most part that my mind is vacant. I am used to a frenzy of

> thoughts all at one time and I could organize and think things

> through but now......... I am like ......... dumbo the elephant.

>

> I have been creeping down on my Lexapro (against doc's orders) and so

> far I am eliminating the daytime sleepiness (YAH) and getting back

> some of my cognitive processes (YAH) and feeling like a human being

> and not just a giant pill factory and my driving is not soo scary now.

>

> I have been thinking of the Strattera alot and so may approach my doc

> about that one. Thank you for your recommendation. If I wasn't

> actively looking for a job I might start on the Lamicatl but I can't

> tolerate new drugs and a new job all at the same time. That combo, as

> I have found in the past, doesn't work. Somedays I can seem to get a

> hugh amount of organizational work accomplished but that is one out

> of 10 or more days.

>

> Zyprexa and I don't get along, way to sedating for me. The drugs

> that did a wonder job for my mind and clears out the cobwebs are:

> Risperdol, Lithium, Celexa but I can't tolerate the sides. I know

> the Celexa was far better for my mind than the Lexapro. For me, there

> is a hugh difference between the Celexa and Lexapro. I would be on

> the Celexa for about 3 days and I would get soo much done and them

> boom..... the sides would hit me. So, when I felt dis-organized I

> would take some Celexa and be able to get alot done. I did this

> dance for about 3 years.

>

> Agreed, I have to live on medication, like I have to live in therapy

> and all probably for the rest of my life. This has taken a long time

> to come to terms with. It would be easier if I had a broken leg and

> lived with a limp the rest of my life than to try to mend a broken

> mind.

>

> I told my therapist the other day that I was soo tired of being me

> and soo tired of all this stuff I have to deal with. It is just not

> fair, not fair, not fair, not fair, not fair. After 53 years of

> dealing with all this, it get's to ya. It seems I have tried every

> medicine known to man and nothing works !!!!!!!! Sigh. What is

> depressing is that .... will I have to deal with this for the

> remaining days of my life and when will I get a chance to enjoy

> life ?????

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Brynn ~ ~ Since my job market is picking up and I feel that I

will be able to go back to work very soon, it is too late to start on

any new meds The two don't mix well - new job and new med. But I

have the prescription of the Lamictal and am going to hold onto it

just in case.

Right now I am down to 1.25 mg of Lex, 1 mg of Pamelor and .25 mg of

Klonopin, plus my asthma meds and Zantac. Since I am ultra sensitive

to any medication my theraputic range is significant low. The

Pamelor was added for control over my panic and anxiety, it works on

norepinephrine and is being considered as part of the new dual

medication for Lexapro which works on serotonin. The combination is

working very nicely right now, no sides at all. Yesterday I was able

to go on a job interview and make myself understood, stay in the

present and not get nervous. I also went grocery shopping without

any problems and felt relaxed which was a first.

I too have had this since I could remember, age 5 ??? LOL. My mom

drank and smoked all the way through her pregnancy but that was back

in the 50's and who didn't back then ?? I grew up with ADHD, OCD,

panic attacks and severe anxiety, migraines, dizzy spells, breathing

difficulties (which later was diagnosed as asthma), seizure activity,

cognitive and learning difficulties. To comment on my learning

difficulties, on one of my report cards, my teacher commented that

when he called on me, I just stared at him as if I was vacant

minded. This, I think was also part of dissociation due to my

childhood trauma and abuse. My grades were D's and F's all the way

through school, lots of summer school and tutoring all year round.

However, when I went to college, I sat in the front row and could

hear and see the board that the teacher wrote on. My grades rose to

B's and some A's. When I was in grade school, my maiden name caused

me to be in the back row. I could not see the board as I had an eye

problem no one picked up on until college, as well as hearing. Also

the smell of books gave me migraines and headaches/nausea. Then I

was always put beside a window and my ADD kept me dreaming all day

long. At home, my ADHD caused my mom to abuse me and I was just

called the weird one and the dumb one and so I accepted that, as how

would I know any different.

The drug of choice back in the 50's was phenobarbitol, in the 60's

was valium, in the 70's was another drug I have forgotten, in the

80's was Pamelor and in the 90's and 2000's are all the drugs I am

currently on. So, psychiatric drugs and myself are no stranger,

sadly.

Dana Rose

> Hey Dana.. glad to be of help I know i've been through the

ringer and i am

> only 21 years old.. so i figure might as well share what i have

learned so

> that others can benefit from it . and i can totally relate 100%

with the being

> tired of being me statement.. and what sucks is that i've got

sooooo long to

> go.. it's so hard living in a mind you can't' stand... or is it my

mind that

> can't stand me? i dunno.. either way it's a poopy way to live and

i've got a

> wayys to go yet. .haha i'm gonna try and make the best of it..

unfortunately the

> brain seems to get worse as the years slip by.. at least that's

been the case

> for me perhaps it also comes with growing up and having more

> responsibilities as well.. enough to drive even a sane person

nuts.. haha.. but yeah, i've

> struggled with this stuff since as far back as i can remember...

age 5??

> enough of my babbling.. haha

>

> It's funny that you should mention tapering off of lex.. and

finding

> success.. because i have been doing the same.. i am now at 5mg..

and so far so good..

> i am actually functioning again.. leaving the house.. it's weird

though cause

> i did the same thing this last summer.. i had such a terrible time

with lex..

> that i just decided to boot it all together and at first i felt

ok.. i wasnt

> depressed and i wasn't all lethargic... but then i guess when it

alll got out

> of my system i went loopy again.. like literally loopy (panic

attacky and stuff

> and crying tons and racing brain).. it was crazy.. so i guess if i

just try

> and keep a bit in my system at a time i will be okay... I would

really like to

> try wellbutrin.. it's a norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake

inhibitor it's

> for depression, but tends to be better for ADD type people who have

cognitive

> probs witht he SSRIs.. but i guess you have to be careful cause it

causes alot

> of people to get really anxious and jittery at first... and my doc

told me it

> is contraindicated with Strattera.. meaning that taking both of

them at the

> same time is okay, but not necessarily recommended because they

both have similar

> mechanisms... ugh.. so here i am tootin along on my three draiining

meds..

> haha i think i could use the stimulating action of the wellbutrin

right about

> now. haha.. like you, i get pretty zonked on the zyprexa...

it's interesting

> that you like celexa.. i really dont know. i didnt have such a good

time with

> it.. but i dont have a good time with any of these SSRI's when

using them

> without something to keep my stabilized.. but anyhow.. you'll have

to keep me

> updated.. are you planning on just trying to keep a small dosage of

lex? or are

> you going to taper off completely? what about the stabilizer? are

you gonna ask

> your doc about lamictal??

>

> sorry for all of the questions. haha i am just curious to know how

you are

> doing

>

> *Brynn*

>

>

> In a message dated 03/11/2004 2:49:05 PM Pacific Standard Time,

> danarose1950@y... writes:

>

>

> > Hi ya Brynn ~ ~ So glad you responded !!!! What you wrote has

been

> > very helpful for me and I appreciate your openness and honesty in

> > trying to help us all *smiles* !!!!!!!

> >

> > About the Lexapro causing the inability to put sentences together

and

> > wrecking havoc with cognitive abilities, I agree totally !!!! I

was

> > supposed to take a telephone test today for a potential position

and

> > I declined for fear that I could not make myself understood. I

do

> > better with the written word tests, gives me time to think. I

feel,

> > for the most part that my mind is vacant. I am used to a frenzy

of

> > thoughts all at one time and I could organize and think things

> > through but now......... I am like ......... dumbo the elephant.

> >

> > I have been creeping down on my Lexapro (against doc's orders)

and so

> > far I am eliminating the daytime sleepiness (YAH) and getting

back

> > some of my cognitive processes (YAH) and feeling like a human

being

> > and not just a giant pill factory and my driving is not soo scary

now.

> >

> > I have been thinking of the Strattera alot and so may approach my

doc

> > about that one. Thank you for your recommendation. If I wasn't

> > actively looking for a job I might start on the Lamicatl but I

can't

> > tolerate new drugs and a new job all at the same time. That

combo, as

> > I have found in the past, doesn't work. Somedays I can seem to

get a

> > hugh amount of organizational work accomplished but that is one

out

> > of 10 or more days.

> >

> > Zyprexa and I don't get along, way to sedating for me. The drugs

> > that did a wonder job for my mind and clears out the cobwebs

are:

> > Risperdol, Lithium, Celexa but I can't tolerate the sides. I

know

> > the Celexa was far better for my mind than the Lexapro. For me,

there

> > is a hugh difference between the Celexa and Lexapro. I would be

on

> > the Celexa for about 3 days and I would get soo much done and

them

> > boom..... the sides would hit me. So, when I felt dis-organized

I

> > would take some Celexa and be able to get alot done. I did this

> > dance for about 3 years.

> >

> > Agreed, I have to live on medication, like I have to live in

therapy

> > and all probably for the rest of my life. This has taken a long

time

> > to come to terms with. It would be easier if I had a broken leg

and

> > lived with a limp the rest of my life than to try to mend a

broken

> > mind.

> >

> > I told my therapist the other day that I was soo tired of being

me

> > and soo tired of all this stuff I have to deal with. It is just

not

> > fair, not fair, not fair, not fair, not fair. After 53 years of

> > dealing with all this, it get's to ya. It seems I have tried

every

> > medicine known to man and nothing works !!!!!!!! Sigh. What is

> > depressing is that .... will I have to deal with this for the

> > remaining days of my life and when will I get a chance to enjoy

> > life ?????

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>