So, my OB GYN

[redsquirrel]

Wants me to start taking Lexapro...

For the past 2 weeks or so, I have had horrible anxiety & insomnia- especially at night. I finally called the doctor today. Been having some horrible thoughts about something bad happening to Kenley, people trying to break into my house, etc... Said I probably have a little post partum anxiety.

I guess I'm a little upset - it's been 4 1/2 months since she was born, I thought I beat the PPD bug. But, then I talked to my sister who worked in a pharmacy for years, and she said Lexapro is one of the hardest anti- depression meds to come off of...right behind Prozac. Do you think that's mainly reported for people who take it just for depression? Because my doc is only prescribing it for the anxiety that I'm having.

I really don't want to become dependent upon an anti-depressant.

[the art of war]

lexapro was the first SSRi I ever took - 2 weeks of the handouts from the doctors office, didn't notice shit for difference - Paxil is by far the hardest of all SSRIs to come off - I wouldn't recommend use of an SSRI for anxiety at all. If you know personality well enough and have people around you to monitor use, this is when the correct use of a benzodiazepam is appropriate. I would never go first for the long acting anti-depressent EVER. Honestly if you go into an SSRi/SNRi for the use of anxiety it's a crapshoot - most SSRis make you feel either a "serotonin high" until you adjust to the dose or can make you luney tunes like they did with me. Either way this is not helping you, it's completely rewiring your brain to say it's feeling this and that when it's not. How long - far apart are you anxiety attacks , and how many nights out of the week are you not sleeping?

[redsquirrel]

How long - far apart are you anxiety attacks , and how many nights out of the week are you not sleeping?

For the past 2 weeks, I haven't been able to fall asleep before 12:30- and that's after I'm laying there trying to go to sleep for 2 hours. Last night it was 2:30am...it seems that the time spent laying there keeps getting longer and longer.

It's late at night when I have the anxiety attacks...when I'm just laying there, and my mind is going bonkers. Last night I swear I heard someone trying to break in. Last week when we decided to take the baby to the lake the first visual I got was of her in the water drowning...which then put me on a witch hunt to find the very best life jacket.

[redsquirrel]

AND- when I called, I had actually just asked for a script for Ambien. She said it's the anxiety that's causing the insomnia. So, giving me Ambien would just help me sleep- it wouldn't help with the anxiety. Which leads me to my next question- aren't there strictly just anti-anxiety meds out there that aren't anti- depressants? Valium?

[the art of war]

For the past 2 weeks, I haven't been able to fall asleep before 12:30- and that's after I'm laying there trying to go to sleep for 2 hours. Last night it was 2:30am...it seems that the time spent laying there keeps getting longer and longer.

It's late at night when I have the anxiety attacks...when I'm just laying there, and my mind is going bonkers. Last night I swear I heard someone trying to break in. Last week when we decided to take the baby to the lake the first visual I got was of her in the water drowning...which then put me on a witch hunt to find the very best life jacket.

I'll put money on it that this is also affecting the sweating you were talking about. There's no way you can feel sane without solid nights of rest - the tossing and turning + anxiety attacks / night terrors - these symptoms continue to manifest themselves until they are treated: the less rest - the more stress. I don't know if you have any tolerance to benzodiazepam's or not - but I would recommend starting w/ativan (lorazepam) - this is short acting and will not leave you groggy the next day. I know personally even in times of serious stress it's the things like eating / sleeping that get let out and it just adds to the overall problem. I'd start w/working out the nights (something like ambien will make this worse imo - you are dealing with anxiety first it seems, that causing the insomnia) - take it one step at a time during the day. I will say everyone responds totally differently to benzo's some ppl swear on one and toss the other aside - I'm going strictly on what I know to be the most affective for your symptoms and the most mild to start with.

[Mr I]

Sounds like classic post natal depression, nothing strange anout it, supposedly it passes with time so up to you. Sounds like you need time to yourself now and again

[the art of war]

AND- when I called, I had actually just asked for a script for Ambien. She said it's the anxiety that's causing the insomnia. So, giving me Ambien would just help me sleep- it wouldn't help with the anxiety. Which leads me to my next question- aren't there strictly just anti-anxiety meds out there that aren't anti- depressants? Valium?

yeah - valium is mg to mg more potent than ativan, I really can't be in your skin and know how it feels for you - I'd ask for a week worth of ativan for night AND day, try to get the symptoms under control, if you are still having problems during the day, the longer acting bread of benzos would come into play for the time needed. People hype up the addiction to benzo's pretty badly - becoming dependent on a prescribed dose is almost impossible. Unless you go to the candy shop doc.

[redsquirrel]

Well, I would say I have the most problems at night...aside from the increase in sweating... I didn't think they would be related. And, what you said about the anxiety causing the insomnia is EXACTLY what the doctor said.

That being said, I took Celexa several years ago, when I was put on a menopause shot for endometriosis, and came off of it ok. Post partum depression/anxiety is a serious thing (Andrea Yates), and I'm not sure if it's JUST the anxiety that's the problem. I mean, I'm not crying all the time or having suicidal thoughts by any stretch. Maybe my brain DOES need to be rewired...I like my doctor because they usually don't prescribe something just to get me to shut up. And, she said they prescribe this alot for PPD, I just didn't think I had it...

[the art of war]

Well, I would say I have the most problems at night...aside from the increase in sweating... I didn't think they would be related. And, what you said about the anxiety causing the insomnia is EXACTLY what the doctor said.

That being said, I took Celexa several years ago, when I was put on a menopause shot for endometriosis, and came off of it ok. Post partum depression/anxiety is a serious thing (Andrea Yates), and I'm not sure if it's JUST the anxiety that's the problem. I mean, I'm not crying all the time or having suicidal thoughts by any stretch. Maybe my brain DOES need to be rewired...I like my doctor because they usually don't prescribe something just to get me to shut up. And, she said they prescribe this alot for PPD, I just didn't think I had it...

Well me putting two and two together and your doctor knowing your medical background and what not is a totally different ball game. If you have prior use of celexa and it worked fine, why not give that another run? You would know what are you dealing with and the thought of another new medication wouldn't be there in the background.

[FitnessBrat]

I think if you've successfully used celexa before, I'd give it a shot. Lexapro is basically the new celexa, so hopefully you'll have the same reaction to it. Just don't get the mentality that you'll "be fine without it" because as you said, PPD is serious.

[Shibby]

Well, I would say I have the most problems at night...aside from the increase in sweating... I didn't think they would be related. And, what you said about the anxiety causing the insomnia is EXACTLY what the doctor said.

That being said, I took Celexa several years ago, when I was put on a menopause shot for endometriosis, and came off of it ok. Post partum depression/anxiety is a serious thing (Andrea Yates), and I'm not sure if it's JUST the anxiety that's the problem. I mean, I'm not crying all the time or having suicidal thoughts by any stretch. Maybe my brain DOES need to be rewired...I like my doctor because they usually don't prescribe something just to get me to shut up. And, she said they prescribe this alot for PPD, I just didn't think I had it...

It sounds like your doctor is treating the anxiety, but also the cause of the anxiety. Maybe since it's basically pregnancy induced and normal anxiety med isn't the route to go. Just guessing. There are many uses for meds besides the main marketed one. I don't know if you read my adderall thread, but my doc switched me from adderrall to wellbutrin (anti-depressant) for my ADD to see if it works and fits my life better. Since there isn't any lab tests that can done to diagnose the physci it's a lot of best guess work with trial and error.

[redsquirrel]

It sounds like your doctor is treating the anxiety, but also the cause of the anxiety. Maybe since it's basically pregnancy induced and normal anxiety med isn't the route to go. Just guessing. There are many uses for meds besides the main marketed one. I don't know if you read my adderall thread, but my doc switched me from adderrall to wellbutrin (anti-depressant) for my ADD to see if it works and fits my life better. Since there isn't any lab tests that can done to diagnose the physci it's a lot of best guess work with trial and error.

Ahh, ok- so post partum anxiety is different than just regualr old anxiety?

I haven't read the rest of your ADD thread. But, it's funny you mention the Wellbutrin...my mom's psychiatrist actually tried that in combination with the adderall too! But, she's also being treated for depression.

[redsquirrel]

I think if you've successfully used celexa before, I'd give it a shot. Lexapro is basically the new celexa, so hopefully you'll have the same reaction to it. Just don't get the mentality that you'll "be fine without it" because as you said, PPD is serious.

Oh, ok. I didn't know Lexapro is the new Celexa..good to know.

Yeah, I just didn't want the "stigma" attached as someone who suffers from PPD. Just really weird to me that it happened so long after giving birth. But, with the serious panic & anxiety I'm feeling at night, it's just not really worth it to try and go at it myself. I mean, I have to get up for work every day, so I gotta get some sleep.

[Shibby]

Who cares about the stigma. This isn't about what others think. This is about you getting better. As far as thinking you were past the PPD stage... Do you feel your body is back to normal? Boobs, period etc.?

[FitnessBrat]

Oh, ok. I didn't know Lexapro is the new Celexa..good to know.

Yeah, I just didn't want the "stigma" attached as someone who suffers from PPD. Just really weird to me that it happened so long after giving birth. But, with the serious panic & anxiety I'm feeling at night, it's just not really worth it to try and go at it myself. I mean, I have to get up for work every day, so I gotta get some sleep.

Screw the "stigma", nobody is going to know anyway - besides all of us that you just told :whistle

I'm sure it will be short term, especially compared to the long run with what could potentially happen if you don't act on it now that you can recognize it/know what it is.