Yes or No to Lex...help me...

January 4, 2004

Hello. I am new to the group and I just want to put a quick

question out there to everyone...I was diagnosed with GAD with

Panic almost two years ago...in some ways life became a living

hell. I was told repeatedly to get on Paxil...but wouldn't because

A. I became pharmaphobic and B..I'd read too much about

Withdrawal Syndrome...finally I succumbed to xanax..and take it

sparingly and not on any regular basis. The thing is..I suffer

repeatedly from the same symptoms...chest pain, shakiness,

occasional tingling in limbs, occasional hot/cold flashes..light

headedness...the chest pain bothers me most...my doctors now

no longer encourage Paxil, but are almost certain that I would

benefit from starting Lexapro. I have the pills and and am not as

pharmaphobic as I once was...so I think I could actually pop the

doll into my mouth..my question is...what do you all think?

Overall, have listers had good experience with using Lexapro to

treat Anxiety and Panic? Thanks and please respond to

me...sometime I do feel at wits end...madrid In Chicago

January 5, 2004

Hi Madrid,

I am glad you found our group. I think you should definitely give Lexapro a

try. I switched to it from Paxil and I can tell you, you were wise to avoid

Paxil. Getting off it was a nightmare and not worth it in my opinion. If I

knew that before I started, I would not have started. I also gained weight on

it which I asked about before I started and my doc downplayed it alot. I could

kill her for that.

I think the Paxil stopped working for me too...I was in a very bad slump

before switching to Lex. I feel normal for me again, on the Lex. I am also on

Wellbutrin and together they seem to work well for anxiety and depression.

I also think Lex is the one with the least side effects. I had sleep

disturbance during the adjustment period but it is better now. I don't know

about

the weight issue yet. It is supposed to be weight neutral but some have gained

on it.

Good luck and again, I am glad you found us, because being in touch with

others on Lex has helped me alot.

>>>>Hello. I am new to the group and I just want to put a quick