Lexapro: Smallest dosage for Success?
Question:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan Dear Dan, I have been on Lexapro 10mg since November. For a while I had the extreme sleepiness you described. I had it during the day and then at night insomnia! Anyway, after a couple of months that sleepiness went away and since my doc gave me Klonopin to help at night I am sleeping better. I have noticed I have started having night jerks on Lexapro. Since taking Klonopin at night that has subsided. How long have you taken Lexapro? I feel it is finally helping me or either my outlook on life has changed one! Good luck, Vicki Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan It seems just as I doze off to sleep my arms or legs will jerk, like a muscle spasm. It started after I started taking Lexapro. I wonder if Margrove could help us out here. My husband said sometimes I do that all night but since taking the Klonopin it has gotten better. *Twitching* is a common side effect of SSRI’s. In understand that you don’t have this during the day and that Klonopin helps. This is in keeping with research (as a matter of fact benzos are used for *Restless Legs Syndrome*). Should you develop more involuntary movements and also have them during the day it would be wise to consult your doctor. Philip
It is never during the day, only just as I fall asleep, like when I relax completely it happens. I have found the Klonopin to be very helpful but I may try the vitamin supplement also. Vicki
Response:
Ok I remember what the supplement was but I couldn’t find the page where I saw it. The supplement was lecithin. Never tried it myself. Gabe
LOL. Ok, I was wrong. It’s worth a try, I am sure. vicki
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan It seems just as I doze off to sleep my arms or legs will jerk, like a muscle spasm. It started after I started taking Lexapro. I wonder if Margrove could help us out here. My husband said sometimes I do that all night but since taking the Klonopin it has gotten better. Just popping into this thread to say me too. My legs having been doing this for at least 6 or 7 months now. I think it started somewhere between the Zoloft and Effexor and now has continued into the Wellbutrin. ;-) I remember posting something with the subject line, "twitching legs" and the general consensus here was that I was experiencing something called myoclonic jerks. The following is snipped from this website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/myoclonus_doc.htm What is myoclonus? Myoclonus describes a symptom and generally is not a diagnosis of a disease. It refers to sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles. Myoclonic twitches or jerks usually are caused by sudden muscle contractions, called positive myoclonus, or by muscle relaxation, called negative myoclonus. Myoclonic jerks may occur alone or in sequence, in a pattern or without pattern. They may occur infrequently or many times each minute. Myoclonus sometimes occurs in response to an external event or when a person attempts to make a movement. The twitching cannot be controlled by the person experiencing it. In its simplest form, myoclonus consists of a muscle twitch followed by relaxation. A hiccup is an example of this type of myoclonus. Other familiar examples of myoclonus are the jerks or "sleep starts" that some people experience while drifting off to sleep. These simple forms of myoclonus occur in normal, healthy persons and cause no difficulties. It goes on in the article but then they start to touch upon every scary possible scenario. That’s where an anxiety sufferer should probably stop. <g Thanks Teri, at least now I know what it’s called. It’s annoying to me and my poor hubby. LOL Vicki Hi, I’ve had this problem and heard about it–It’s common. My dad is on Effexor XR and he told his doctor about it and the docter said get a sleep study done. What a rip-off. What’s a neurologist going to tell you? Anyway, I remember doing some research and indirectly finding a site that says a vitamin supplement helps eliminate this. Unfortunately, I don’t remember which one it was. Sorry. It might have been Folic Acid. I’ll try and find the info again but if anyone knows… Gabe
Hmmm, I have heard this too. Maybe it was folic acid, or Calcium and Magnesium. Can’t remember…..
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan It seems just as I doze off to sleep my arms or legs will jerk, like a muscle spasm. It started after I started taking Lexapro. I wonder if Margrove could help us out here. My husband said sometimes I do that all night but since taking the Klonopin it has gotten better. Just popping into this thread to say me too. My legs having been doing this for at least 6 or 7 months now. I think it started somewhere between the Zoloft and Effexor and now has continued into the Wellbutrin. ;-) I remember posting something with the subject line, "twitching legs" and the general consensus here was that I was experiencing something called myoclonic jerks. The following is snipped from this website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/myoclonus_doc.htm What is myoclonus? Myoclonus describes a symptom and generally is not a diagnosis of a disease. It refers to sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles. Myoclonic twitches or jerks usually are caused by sudden muscle contractions, called positive myoclonus, or by muscle relaxation, called negative myoclonus. Myoclonic jerks may occur alone or in sequence, in a pattern or without pattern. They may occur infrequently or many times each minute. Myoclonus sometimes occurs in response to an external event or when a person attempts to make a movement. The twitching cannot be controlled by the person experiencing it. In its simplest form, myoclonus consists of a muscle twitch followed by relaxation. A hiccup is an example of this type of myoclonus. Other familiar examples of myoclonus are the jerks or "sleep starts" that some people experience while drifting off to sleep. These simple forms of myoclonus occur in normal, healthy persons and cause no difficulties. It goes on in the article but then they start to touch upon every scary possible scenario. That’s where an anxiety sufferer should probably stop. <g Thanks Teri, at least now I know what it’s called. It’s annoying to me and my poor hubby. LOL Vicki
Hi, I’ve had this problem and heard about it–It’s common. My dad is on Effexor XR and he told his doctor about it and the docter said get a sleep study done. What a rip-off. What’s a neurologist going to tell you? Anyway, I remember doing some research and indirectly finding a site that says a vitamin supplement helps eliminate this. Unfortunately, I don’t remember which one it was. Sorry. It might have been Folic Acid. I’ll try and find the info again but if anyone knows… Gabe
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan Dear Dan, I have been on Lexapro 10mg since November. For a while I had the extreme sleepiness you described. I had it during the day and then at night insomnia! Anyway, after a couple of months that sleepiness went away and since my doc gave me Klonopin to help at night I am sleeping better. I have noticed I have started having night jerks on Lexapro. Since taking Klonopin at night that has subsided. How long have you taken Lexapro? I feel it is finally helping me or either my outlook on life has changed one! Good luck, Vicki Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan It seems just as I doze off to sleep my arms or legs will jerk, like a muscle spasm. It started after I started taking Lexapro. I wonder if Margrove could help us out here. My husband said sometimes I do that all night but since taking the Klonopin it has gotten better.
*Twitching* is a common side effect of SSRI’s. In understand that you don’t have this during the day and that Klonopin helps. This is in keeping with research (as a matter of fact benzos are used for *Restless Legs Syndrome*). Should you develop more involuntary movements and also have them during the day it would be wise to consult your doctor. Philip – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan It seems just as I doze off to sleep my arms or legs will jerk, like a muscle spasm. It started after I started taking Lexapro. I wonder if Margrove could help us out here. My husband said sometimes I do that all night but since taking the Klonopin it has gotten better. Just popping into this thread to say me too. My legs having been doing this for at least 6 or 7 months now. I think it started somewhere between the Zoloft and Effexor and now has continued into the Wellbutrin. ;-) I remember posting something with the subject line, "twitching legs" and the general consensus here was that I was experiencing something called myoclonic jerks. The following is snipped from this website: http://www.ninds.nih.gov/health_and_medical/pubs/myoclonus_doc.htm What is myoclonus? Myoclonus describes a symptom and generally is not a diagnosis of a disease. It refers to sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of muscles. Myoclonic twitches or jerks usually are caused by sudden muscle contractions, called positive myoclonus, or by muscle relaxation, called negative myoclonus. Myoclonic jerks may occur alone or in sequence, in a pattern or without pattern. They may occur infrequently or many times each minute. Myoclonus sometimes occurs in response to an external event or when a person attempts to make a movement. The twitching cannot be controlled by the person experiencing it. In its simplest form, myoclonus consists of a muscle twitch followed by relaxation. A hiccup is an example of this type of myoclonus. Other familiar examples of myoclonus are the jerks or "sleep starts" that some people experience while drifting off to sleep. These simple forms of myoclonus occur in normal, healthy persons and cause no difficulties. It goes on in the article but then they start to touch upon every scary possible scenario. That’s where an anxiety sufferer should probably stop. <g
Thanks Teri, at least now I know what it’s called. It’s annoying to me and my poor hubby. LOL Vicki
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan Dear Dan, I have been on Lexapro 10mg since November. For a while I had the extreme sleepiness you described. I had it during the day and then at night insomnia! Anyway, after a couple of months that sleepiness went away and since my doc gave me Klonopin to help at night I am sleeping better. I have noticed I have started having night jerks on Lexapro. Since taking Klonopin at night that has subsided. How long have you taken Lexapro? I feel it is finally helping me or either my outlook on life has changed one! Good luck, Vicki Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan It seems just as I doze off to sleep my arms or legs will jerk, like a muscle spasm. It started after I started taking Lexapro. I wonder if Margrove could help us out here. My husband said sometimes I do that all night but since taking the Klonopin it has gotten better.
I like to add that the jerks at night may also be from being paniky all day and it’s your body releasing tension. I had this everyday when my PA’s were at it’s worse. Just a thought…
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan Dear Dan, I have been on Lexapro 10mg since November. For a while I had the extreme sleepiness you described. I had it during the day and then at night insomnia! Anyway, after a couple of months that sleepiness went away and since my doc gave me Klonopin to help at night I am sleeping better. I have noticed I have started having night jerks on Lexapro. Since taking Klonopin at night that has subsided. How long have you taken Lexapro? I feel it is finally helping me or either my outlook on life has changed one! Good luck, Vicki Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan
It seems just as I doze off to sleep my arms or legs will jerk, like a muscle spasm. It started after I started taking Lexapro. I wonder if Margrove could help us out here. My husband said sometimes I do that all night but since taking the Klonopin it has gotten better.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan Dear Dan, I have been on Lexapro 10mg since November. For a while I had the extreme sleepiness you described. I had it during the day and then at night insomnia! Anyway, after a couple of months that sleepiness went away and since my doc gave me Klonopin to help at night I am sleeping better. I have noticed I have started having night jerks on Lexapro. Since taking Klonopin at night that has subsided. How long have you taken Lexapro? I feel it is finally helping me or either my outlook on life has changed one! Good luck, Vicki
Vicki ? What are the night jerks that you are having? Iam having like a muscle spasm or something similiar to what you describe, but I thought it was from what’s called degenerative disc. Now I’m not sure. Hope to hear from you on this. Dan
Response:
I am taking celexa, when I first began I had the same symptoms. I followed advice given here and took it at night. It puts me to sleep and I feel fine during the day.
Response:
- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan Dear Dan, I have been on Lexapro 10mg since November. For a while I had the extreme sleepiness you described. I had it during the day and then at night insomnia! Anyway, after a couple of months that sleepiness went away and since my doc gave me Klonopin to help at night I am sleeping better. I have noticed I have started having night jerks on Lexapro. Since taking Klonopin at night that has subsided. How long have you taken Lexapro? I feel it is finally helping me or either my outlook on life has changed one! Good luck, Vicki
Thanks Vicki I have been on lexapro for one month tomorrow and see my Pdoc also tomorrow. I have been on Celexa and zoloft prior to that. Need to find a medicine to stick with for awhile. I know exactly what you mean about sleepy all day and then insomnia. But my doctor’s to that is to take it at night rather than the morning. (I have xanax to get to sleep. But the doctor doesn’t seem to want me to keep taking that). Guess I’ll ask to stay on lexapro for awhile longer. Take care! dan
Response:
What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan
Response:
What is the smallest dosage that is usually possible to achieve successfull results? I started on only 10mg tablet of lexapro, but was also taking imiramine 25mg daily. I was SO SLEEPY–Yawing etc. that I stopped the imipramine to see if that would relieve the sleepiness, tiredness. It helped but only slightly, so I cut the Leapro pill in-half(now 5mg) and the sleepiness was greatly improved. Today I started back with the full 10 mg to see if I would feel less depressed. So-I guess I’m trying to understand what dosage is recommended (long term) with good results. Thanks. dan
Dear Dan, I have been on Lexapro 10mg since November. For a while I had the extreme sleepiness you described. I had it during the day and then at night insomnia! Anyway, after a couple of months that sleepiness went away and since my doc gave me Klonopin to help at night I am sleeping better. I have noticed I have started having night jerks on Lexapro. Since taking Klonopin at night that has subsided. How long have you taken Lexapro? I feel it is finally helping me or either my outlook on life has changed one! Good luck, Vicki
