Re: Loss of Drive & Ambition

[Guest guest]

I couldn't agree more ! I've been on the Lex coming up on three years I

think now. I was never a real high energy person in my life, but it's been more

than ridiculous since taking the Lexapro. I used to love to shop lots, don't

have much desire for that anymore. While I was never a clean freak, I kept up

with the house pre-Lex, but now my house is an embarrassing disaster! ugh. and

tired isn't the word. I am exhausted all of the time. It has helped me as well

concerning the depression and anxiety a great deal, though I do get depressed

about the house all the time, it's not the " I just want to curl up in a ball and

wither away " kind of depression that I had before. Lately I am wondering if I

am on the wrong AD or do they all have this effect... what to do, I just don't

know.

~Crystal

Mack <catmac1953@...> wrote: Hi

Everyone,

It's been quite awhile since I have posted.....which means for the most part,

things are going well with my companion of 10mg of lexapro each day. It will

soon be 8 months since I began taking it.

It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety level, which is why I am taking

it. I was having some issues with driving, traveling far away, and closed in

spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those things are much, much better, however....

I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition level since I started taking the

lex....my get up and go, got up and went it seems!

I simply don't do the things I know need/should be done like I used to. For

instance, we are going to have the interior of our whole house painted, and I

have NOT even started looking for the new colors! That is not the me

pre-lexapro! It's things of that nature that I am putting off more and more,

and it is buggin' me to death. I get mad at me.

My question to you....do any of you have the same thing going on, or

something like it?

I really have no depression issues, just anxiety problems. I also LOVE to

take naps when I am able to.....not my old 15 minute naps either.....I am

talking 2 hour ones! Again, that makes me mad!

I hate to get off of it because of the help it has given me, but these other

things are important parts of me I would like to have back.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

from IN

PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro once again, too!

---------------------------------

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check outnew cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

I had the same problem with Celexa and it was one of the reasons I refused to

try Lex. I was eventually put on Effexor XR and it was like the difference

between night and day for me.

What this means is you need to talk to your doctor about trying a different AD.

Barbara

Re: Loss of Drive & Ambition

I couldn't agree more ! I've been on the Lex coming up on three years I

think now. I was never a real high energy person in my life, but it's been more

than ridiculous since taking the Lexapro. I used to love to shop lots, don't

have much desire for that anymore. While I was never a clean freak, I kept up

with the house pre-Lex, but now my house is an embarrassing disaster! ugh. and

tired isn't the word. I am exhausted all of the time. It has helped me as well

concerning the depression and anxiety a great deal, though I do get depressed

about the house all the time, it's not the " I just want to curl up in a ball and

wither away " kind of depression that I had before. Lately I am wondering if I

am on the wrong AD or do they all have this effect... what to do, I just don't

know.

~Crystal

Mack <catmac1953@...> wrote: Hi

Everyone,

It's been quite awhile since I have posted.....which means for the most

part, things are going well with my companion of 10mg of lexapro each day. It

will soon be 8 months since I began taking it.

It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety level, which is why I am

taking it. I was having some issues with driving, traveling far away, and

closed in spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those things are much, much better,

however....

I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition level since I started taking

the lex....my get up and go, got up and went it seems!

I simply don't do the things I know need/should be done like I used to.

For instance, we are going to have the interior of our whole house painted, and

I have NOT even started looking for the new colors! That is not the me

pre-lexapro! It's things of that nature that I am putting off more and more,

and it is buggin' me to death. I get mad at me.

My question to you....do any of you have the same thing going on, or

something like it?

I really have no depression issues, just anxiety problems. I also LOVE to

take naps when I am able to.....not my old 15 minute naps either.....I am

talking 2 hour ones! Again, that makes me mad!

I hate to get off of it because of the help it has given me, but these

other things are important parts of me I would like to have back.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

from IN

PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro once again, too!

---------------------------------

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check outnew cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Hi Barbara,

Thanks for your reply. I was wondering if maybe there might be an AD out

there that might be better for me. Lex is great, except for it's turning

into a slug, and I fight with that everyday. I keep thinking it will get

better, which is why I haven't seriously thought about switching to something

different. Speaking of which.....when you were switched to something else, was

it very difficult to do, or a relatively easy transition? My reason for

requesting lexapro in the first place over some of the others, was because I

have heard time and time again that it is the " cleanest " AD out there today, and

the easiest AD to withdraw from (after tapering down, of course). A little

leary to go to something else, but perhaps it is necessary. It's the lesser of

two evils, I guess. :-)

Barbara <bjarrett@...> wrote:

I had the same problem with Celexa and it was one of the reasons I

refused to try Lex. I was eventually put on Effexor XR and it was like the

difference between night and day for me.

What this means is you need to talk to your doctor about trying a different AD.

Barbara

Re: Loss of Drive & Ambition

I couldn't agree more ! I've been on the Lex coming up on three years I

think now. I was never a real high energy person in my life, but it's been more

than ridiculous since taking the Lexapro. I used to love to shop lots, don't

have much desire for that anymore. While I was never a clean freak, I kept up

with the house pre-Lex, but now my house is an embarrassing disaster! ugh. and

tired isn't the word. I am exhausted all of the time. It has helped me as well

concerning the depression and anxiety a great deal, though I do get depressed

about the house all the time, it's not the " I just want to curl up in a ball and

wither away " kind of depression that I had before. Lately I am wondering if I am

on the wrong AD or do they all have this effect... what to do, I just don't

know.

~Crystal

Mack <catmac1953@...> wrote: Hi Everyone,

It's been quite awhile since I have posted.....which means for the most part,

things are going well with my companion of 10mg of lexapro each day. It will

soon be 8 months since I began taking it.

It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety level, which is why I am taking

it. I was having some issues with driving, traveling far away, and closed in

spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those things are much, much better, however....

I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition level since I started taking the

lex....my get up and go, got up and went it seems!

I simply don't do the things I know need/should be done like I used to. For

instance, we are going to have the interior of our whole house painted, and I

have NOT even started looking for the new colors! That is not the me

pre-lexapro! It's things of that nature that I am putting off more and more, and

it is buggin' me to death. I get mad at me.

My question to you....do any of you have the same thing going on, or something

like it?

I really have no depression issues, just anxiety problems. I also LOVE to take

naps when I am able to.....not my old 15 minute naps either.....I am talking 2

hour ones! Again, that makes me mad!

I hate to get off of it because of the help it has given me, but these other

things are important parts of me I would like to have back.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

from IN

PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro once again, too!

---------------------------------

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check outnew cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

Hi Crystal,

Sorry to hear you are having the same reaction to the lexapro as I am (as far

as the lack of ambition goes) but delighted to hear I wasn't alone! LOL!! I am

so anal when it comes to my home that I am still OK in that department

(operative word " still " ), but it's the little things I have trouble getting

myself to do. Errands, making lunch dates with girlfriends....usually by now I

have my closets switched around from winter to summer, but NOPE, not done! It's

that and the long snoozes that are driving me nuts. I love to nap, don't get me

wrong, but not the ones that waste the whole day! Perhaps a different AD is the

route to go. Have you mentioned anything to your doc about this? It took me

FOREVER to finally allow myself to try an AD....so switching is a huge step for

me. But, something has to happen! :-)

Keep me posted!

Crystal <cmccracken@...> wrote:

I couldn't agree more ! I've been on the Lex coming up on three

years I think now. I was never a real high energy person in my life, but it's

been more than ridiculous since taking the Lexapro. I used to love to shop lots,

don't have much desire for that anymore. While I was never a clean freak, I kept

up with the house pre-Lex, but now my house is an embarrassing disaster! ugh.

and tired isn't the word. I am exhausted all of the time. It has helped me as

well concerning the depression and anxiety a great deal, though I do get

depressed about the house all the time, it's not the " I just want to curl up in

a ball and wither away " kind of depression that I had before. Lately I am

wondering if I am on the wrong AD or do they all have this effect... what to do,

I just don't know.

~Crystal

Mack <catmac1953@...> wrote: Hi Everyone,

It's been quite awhile since I have posted.....which means for the most part,

things are going well with my companion of 10mg of lexapro each day. It will

soon be 8 months since I began taking it.

It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety level, which is why I am taking

it. I was having some issues with driving, traveling far away, and closed in

spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those things are much, much better, however....

I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition level since I started taking the

lex....my get up and go, got up and went it seems!

I simply don't do the things I know need/should be done like I used to. For

instance, we are going to have the interior of our whole house painted, and I

have NOT even started looking for the new colors! That is not the me

pre-lexapro! It's things of that nature that I am putting off more and more, and

it is buggin' me to death. I get mad at me.

My question to you....do any of you have the same thing going on, or something

like it?

I really have no depression issues, just anxiety problems. I also LOVE to take

naps when I am able to.....not my old 15 minute naps either.....I am talking 2

hour ones! Again, that makes me mad!

I hate to get off of it because of the help it has given me, but these other

things are important parts of me I would like to have back.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!

from IN

PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro once again, too!

---------------------------------

Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

Check outnew cars at Autos.

[Guest guest]

I was on Celexa (parent drug of Lex) for 14 months and the sluggish

feelings never went away. I weaned off, which took 6 months, and was

off AD's for about a year before beginning the Effexor. So there

wasn't a transition. Most people I've heard from have never had a

problem with transitioning to another AD though, if that helps.

Yeah, that's what they said about Lex. Unfortunately, that was mostly

hype from the company. That's why this group was started so people

could document how they did on Lex right from the git-go. This group

was started as soon as Lex came out. I joined to see if maybe

switching to Lex would help but from what I was seeing it wasn't all

that much better than Celexa.

The thing with all AD's is each person has a very different reaction

to each drug. Effexor was a miracle for me. Others had bad reactions

to it. Just as Celexa didn't work for me but others have had great

success with it and with the Lex. No single drug will work exactly the

same way for each one of us.

Most of the time people that are new to AD's aren't aware that this is

a trial and error situation. If one doesn't work you try another til

you find one that does what *you* need it to do. Sometimes it takes a

combination of, say, Celexa and adding Wellbutrin to it. Sometimes

people end up on 3 different drugs that seem to work in concert for

them. This all depends on how bad one's depression is, the symptoms

and how long one has been depressed. What the causes seem to be.

There's alot that goes into deciding what AD and for how long as well

as any other types of therapies. For some of us, a chemical imbalance

is the only problem while others have had life experiences that have

led to their depression. Or anxiety. They often go hand in hand.

As for weaning off, it's never done as quickly as most think it is.

Like I said, 6 months for the Celexa for me. That was doing it so I

had no or very minimal withdrawal syndrome. I'm currently weaning off

the Effexor, down to 37.5 now and getting ready to cut that in half.

I've been fine so far. No withdrawal. Some people on Effexor can't

even drop their dose without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms.

In that case, as my doctor told me, they're put on Paxil or Prozac

(can't remember exactly which one it is) while the Effexor is being

cut down and when they're off the Effexor altogether for a few weeks

they begin weaning off the Paxil or Prozac. There are various ways to

wean off of any AD. It all depends on what works to minimize the

symptoms for each person.

Yep, the lesser of two evils. But, if you find something that works as

well as Effexor did for me you won't feel that way. It's like being

given back not only your life, but yourself.

Barbara

>

> Hi Barbara,

>

> Thanks for your reply. I was wondering if maybe there might be an

AD out there that might be better for me. Lex is great, except for

it's turning into a slug, and I fight with that everyday. I

keep thinking it will get better, which is why I haven't seriously

thought about switching to something different. Speaking of

which.....when you were switched to something else, was it very

difficult to do, or a relatively easy transition? My reason for

requesting lexapro in the first place over some of the others, was

because I have heard time and time again that it is the " cleanest " AD

out there today, and the easiest AD to withdraw from (after tapering

down, of course). A little leary to go to something else, but perhaps

it is necessary. It's the lesser of two evils, I guess. :-)

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have been on Lex for about 3 1/2 years now and I

know your frustration. Last summer there was a fire in

the apt. down stairs from us. We suffred a lot of

smoke damage and a hole in the ceiling from the fire

dept. I have yet to put my bed back on the frame or

even clean up the easiest things. I'm blessed that I

have friends that are willing to do the cleaning for

me. I really hate this tiredness all the time. I also

have to deal with sleep apnea which makes sleeping

even harder to do. I don't know what to do about

getting any motivation. OH! wait! I did have one

motivaton-when I found some dead mice at the foot of

my bed. Yep that did it for a little while.

ak

--- Crystal <cmccracken@...> wrote:

> I couldn't agree more ! I've been on the Lex

> coming up on three years I think now. I was never a

> real high energy person in my life, but it's been

> more than ridiculous since taking the Lexapro. I

> used to love to shop lots, don't have much desire

> for that anymore. While I was never a clean freak, I

> kept up with the house pre-Lex, but now my house is

> an embarrassing disaster! ugh. and tired isn't the

> word. I am exhausted all of the time. It has helped

> me as well concerning the depression and anxiety a

> great deal, though I do get depressed about the

> house all the time, it's not the " I just want to

> curl up in a ball and wither away " kind of

> depression that I had before. Lately I am wondering

> if I am on the wrong AD or do they all have this

> effect... what to do, I just don't know.

>

> ~Crystal

>

> Mack <catmac1953@...> wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> It's been quite awhile since I have

> posted.....which means for the most part, things are

> going well with my companion of 10mg of lexapro each

> day. It will soon be 8 months since I began taking

> it.

>

> It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety

> level, which is why I am taking it. I was having

> some issues with driving, traveling far away, and

> closed in spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those things are

> much, much better, however....

>

> I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition

> level since I started taking the lex....my get up

> and go, got up and went it seems!

> I simply don't do the things I know need/should

> be done like I used to. For instance, we are going

> to have the interior of our whole house painted, and

> I have NOT even started looking for the new colors!

> That is not the me pre-lexapro! It's things of that

> nature that I am putting off more and more, and it

> is buggin' me to death. I get mad at me.

>

> My question to you....do any of you have the same

> thing going on, or something like it?

>

> I really have no depression issues, just anxiety

> problems. I also LOVE to take naps when I am able

> to.....not my old 15 minute naps either.....I am

> talking 2 hour ones! Again, that makes me mad!

>

> I hate to get off of it because of the help it

> has given me, but these other things are important

> parts of me I would like to have back.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Thanks!

> from IN

> PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro

> once again, too!

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

> Check outnew cars at Autos.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

[Guest guest]

When I was 17 my Grandmother accidently burned down our farmhouse. We were

homeless for awhile then moved into a double wide mobile home. She felt so bad,

but at least she had an indoor toilet then instead of having to walk out to the

outhouse.

Colleen

AUDREY KOEPKE <audkoe@...> wrote:

I have been on Lex for about 3 1/2 years now and I

know your frustration. Last summer there was a fire in

the apt. down stairs from us. We suffred a lot of

smoke damage and a hole in the ceiling from the fire

dept. I have yet to put my bed back on the frame or

even clean up the easiest things. I'm blessed that I

have friends that are willing to do the cleaning for

me. I really hate this tiredness all the time. I also

have to deal with sleep apnea which makes sleeping

even harder to do. I don't know what to do about

getting any motivation. OH! wait! I did have one

motivaton-when I found some dead mice at the foot of

my bed. Yep that did it for a little while.

ak

--- Crystal wrote:

> I couldn't agree more ! I've been on the Lex

> coming up on three years I think now. I was never a

> real high energy person in my life, but it's been

> more than ridiculous since taking the Lexapro. I

> used to love to shop lots, don't have much desire

> for that anymore. While I was never a clean freak, I

> kept up with the house pre-Lex, but now my house is

> an embarrassing disaster! ugh. and tired isn't the

> word. I am exhausted all of the time. It has helped

> me as well concerning the depression and anxiety a

> great deal, though I do get depressed about the

> house all the time, it's not the " I just want to

> curl up in a ball and wither away " kind of

> depression that I had before. Lately I am wondering

> if I am on the wrong AD or do they all have this

> effect... what to do, I just don't know.

>

> ~Crystal

>

> Mack wrote:

> Hi Everyone,

>

> It's been quite awhile since I have

> posted.....which means for the most part, things are

> going well with my companion of 10mg of lexapro each

> day. It will soon be 8 months since I began taking

> it.

>

> It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety

> level, which is why I am taking it. I was having

> some issues with driving, traveling far away, and

> closed in spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those things are

> much, much better, however....

>

> I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition

> level since I started taking the lex....my get up

> and go, got up and went it seems!

> I simply don't do the things I know need/should

> be done like I used to. For instance, we are going

> to have the interior of our whole house painted, and

> I have NOT even started looking for the new colors!

> That is not the me pre-lexapro! It's things of that

> nature that I am putting off more and more, and it

> is buggin' me to death. I get mad at me.

>

> My question to you....do any of you have the same

> thing going on, or something like it?

>

> I really have no depression issues, just anxiety

> problems. I also LOVE to take naps when I am able

> to.....not my old 15 minute naps either.....I am

> talking 2 hour ones! Again, that makes me mad!

>

> I hate to get off of it because of the help it

> has given me, but these other things are important

> parts of me I would like to have back.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Thanks!

> from IN

> PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro

> once again, too!

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

> Check outnew cars at Autos.

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

>

>

>

>

> [Non-text portions of this message have been

> removed]

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, I am a newbie to this group, but not anti-depressants. I am taking

Lexipro now. I take it at night before bed. I counter act the lack of

motivation with Provigil-one in the morning. Huge, and I mean huge

difference. I was on Celexa before this. Cymbalta. and I was on Effexor

for years. I was great. so i thought, but i was getting more and more

forgetful, it was even dangerous for me to be driving. I still shutter

at the time I almost killed myself and others. I kept telling my doctor

that i thought I had ADD or something. It wasn't until I went to a

group therapy session. Another girl told us what effexor did to her-it

was then that i realised the effexer was why i was like that. effexor

worked so good for so long and this 'add/brain fog' came on a little at

a time so i never put two and two together until that meeting. My doc

was calling it brain fog from my fibromyalgia. the provigil really is

helping with that. I tried ginseng and ginko but i always felt 'brain'

tired.

Cheryl

www.shadowridgedonkeys.com

[Guest guest]

I feel the same loss of ambition. Pre Lex I was scatter brained and

anxiety ridden however I would try to get too much done all at the

same time. First one up in the morning, doing dishes, laundry,

vacuuming, you name it. I loved to study. Now I never study, I have no

desire. My scatterbrainedness & anxiety is sooo much better & I love

that, but it makes me so mellow I have no desire to study. That would

be fine if I did not have to pass a Stateboard test in 10 days.

AHHHHHHH. I can now talk to people better and not feel nervous, but I

am lazy : (

[Guest guest]

LOL, I just signed up at a gym a few weeks ago. I have not gone once

yet. But we have to somehow get some energy because it will become

more depressing if we get bad health from being lazy all the time. You

watched baseball, I actually started watching UFC wrestling, I have

never watched that kind of stuff before : )

[Guest guest]

That would wonderful. You know its great to not have anxiety or be

depressed, but sex and energy was also a plus : ) I am exaggerating,

I do have some energy just alot less, but nooooo sex drive at all

[Guest guest]

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

> It's been quite awhile since I have posted.....which means for

the most part, things are going well with my companion of 10mg of

lexapro each day. It will soon be 8 months since I began taking it.

>

> It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety level, which is

why I am taking it. I was having some issues with driving,

traveling far away, and closed in spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those

things are much, much better, however....

>

> I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition level since I

started taking the lex....my get up and go, got up and went it seems!

> I simply don't do the things I know need/should be done like I

used to. For instance, we are going to have the interior of our

whole house painted, and I have NOT even started looking for the new

colors! That is not the me pre-lexapro! It's things of that nature

that I am putting off more and more, and it is buggin' me to death.

I get mad at me.

>

> My question to you....do any of you have the same thing going

on, or something like it?

>

> I really have no depression issues, just anxiety problems. I

also LOVE to take naps when I am able to.....not my old 15 minute

naps either.....I am talking 2 hour ones! Again, that makes me

mad!

>

> I hate to get off of it because of the help it has given me, but

these other things are important parts of me I would like to have

back.

>

> Any thoughts?

>

> Thanks!

> from IN

> PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro once again, too!

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

> Check outnew cars at Autos.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have had to learn to let go of the " should of, could of, would of "

syndrome..... and just try to enjoy today... yes, my house isnt as

clean as it once was.... and if I feel like taking a nap, and I am

not neglecting something important....then I go take a snooze....and

mostly I find that since I gave myself " permission " to nap....I just

really just rest and when I get up I am renewed...

I know everyone is different, but sometimes, just giving ourselves

permission, and not internally saying to ourselves... " I should of

cleaned the oven, or I could of done so and so......etc etc

just my 2 cents

TD

>

> >

>

> > Hi Everyone,

>

> >

>

> > It's been quite awhile since I have posted.....which means for

>

> the most part, things are going well with my companion of 10mg of

>

> lexapro each day. It will soon be 8 months since I began taking it.

>

> >

>

> > It has helped me tremendously with my anxiety level, which is

>

> why I am taking it. I was having some issues with driving,

>

> traveling far away, and closed in spaces. WHEW! Anyhow, those

>

> things are much, much better, however....

>

> >

>

> > I have noticed a huge decline in my ambition level since I

>

> started taking the lex....my get up and go, got up and went it

seems!

>

> > I simply don't do the things I know need/should be done like I

>

> used to. For instance, we are going to have the interior of our

>

> whole house painted, and I have NOT even started looking for the

new

>

> colors! That is not the me pre-lexapro! It's things of that

nature

>

> that I am putting off more and more, and it is buggin' me to

death.

>

> I get mad at me.

>

> >

>

> > My question to you....do any of you have the same thing going

>

> on, or something like it?

>

> >

>

> > I really have no depression issues, just anxiety problems. I

>

> also LOVE to take naps when I am able to.....not my old 15 minute

>

> naps either.....I am talking 2 hour ones! Again, that makes me

>

> mad!

>

> >

>

> > I hate to get off of it because of the help it has given me,

but

>

> these other things are important parts of me I would like to have

>

> back.

>

> >

>

> > Any thoughts?

>

> >

>

> > Thanks!

>

> > from IN

>

> > PS. So nice to see the topic back to lexapro once again, too!

>

> >

>

> >

>

> >

>

> > ------------ --------- --------- ---

>

> > Ahhh...imagining that irresistible " new car " smell?

>

> > Check outnew cars at Autos.

>

> >

>

> >