PMS & Lexapro?

[Malina]

Went to Dr (ob/gyn) today for checkup and happened to mention for the past 2-3 months my PMS seems to be worse than normal. Temper, frustration etc.

He gave me a prescription for Lexapro (antidepressant) which I don't think I want to take. He said to just take them on the days the PMS seems bad.

I'm thinking I'd like to try, rest/diet/exercise before I start popping pills. My diet is good but could definitely improve on the rest/exercise part.

Does anyone have any opinions, tips or info on this they'd like to share? I'd appreciate it!

[KissMeKate]

:ow:
My sister has suggested cutting down the caffeine the week before my period, but my issue is most the pain from cramping. If you have a call center through your insurance, I would suggest that. Otherwise, I have found that going to a DO instead of an MD allows me to opt for lifestyle changes instead of better living through chemistry.

[MaidenFaeSnow]

I am victim of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (http://www.healthyplace.com/Communities/Depression/pmdd.asp). A doctor I once went to tried to give me zoloft on a whim, told me just to take it one week before my period and during the week of my period. The problem with that is most anti-depressants can take up to 3 or more weeks to reach maximum effectiveness so by the time this drug would have any chance of finally starting to make me feel better it would be time to stop taking it! So I didn't take it.

I also have problems with migraines and through my migraine therapy I am not allowed to have caffeine, (okay so I slip up now and then...darn Starbucks and Caribou..). For me, that didn't change the symptoms of the PDD so I went to a different doctor and now have to be on a daily treatment to head off the monthly symptoms, which at times can be horrendous.

I would get a second opinion, definitely research your alternatives to find what will work best for you, even if you have to try several methods as this may be with you for a long while. Find one that best suits you over the long run and fits into your lifestyle, don't settle for the first thing or two someone tries to throw at you.

[Ysobelle]

I would marry my Lexapro if I could. Seriously.

But MFS is right: it usually takes at least a week or two to take full effect. It could be, however, that taking it during your period will give your body just the right nudge it needs, and that taking it regularly would simply be overkill. It IS a much faster-working SSRI than, say, Zoloft, which is considered quite old-school now.

Do some research, though-- like Wikipedia and some PMS forums. There's ridiculous amounts of info out there, and I'd bet you'll find tons of women who've done it. I'd be very interested to know what you come up with!

[Malina]

Do some research, though-- like Wikipedia and some PMS forums. There's ridiculous amounts of info out there, and I'd bet you'll find tons of women who've done it. I'd be very interested to know what you come up with!

I did look up a little online and that's what made me hesitate. Some of the problems I read were...

short term memory problems
weight gain
loss of energy (or)
super hyper
worse pms (possibly due to on again, off again dosage - which is what Dr. recommended).

I would assume most people that post about things like this are posting because they're having problems so I didn't want to decide just based on those sites. To me there is a big difference in reading posts from strangers and opinions from people (here) that I feel like I know. :-) So thanks!

[Ysobelle]

Lexapro gives you a loss of energy? Is that when you take it long-term? Or just in short doses?

[Malina]

Lexapro gives you a loss of energy? Is that when you take it long-term? Or just in short doses?


Not sure on that one...from what I've read it seems like it makes some people very energetic and others lethargic.

[Ysobelle]

Not sure on that one...from what I've read it seems like it makes some people very energetic and others lethargic.


Wow. Can you tell me where you saw that? That's very interesting.

[Malina]

Talks about side effects (tiredness is mentioned in one paragraph and increased energy in another)
http://www.webmd.com/drugs/drug-63990-Lexapro+Oral.aspx?drugid=63990&drugname=Lexapro+Oral

Discussion board stuff I found...
http://ask.metafilter.com/21848/Experiences-with-Lexapro-antianxiety-medication
http://www.revolutionhealth.com/drugs-treatments/rating/lexapro-for-premenstrual-syndrome
http://www.depressionblog.com/archives/000039.shtml

Several discussion boards on Lexapro at this site-
http://search.medhelp.org/Search/search3.jsp?hitsPerSite=0&lang=en&query=lexapro&search.x=0&search.y=0

The thing I notice is people seem to say some of the side effects seem to level off if you take it steady over a period of time, which doesn't sound like it would do me any good if I'm taking it here and there.

[Mylilpinkpig]

One of the side effects of any anti depressant is that it can make you tired. Most people it doesn't but in some people it can. I have never heard of taking them just on the days you need them. I was told you have to take them for at least two weeks before you even get the benefits from them because they have to build up the level of seratonin in your blood.
If you want to try something non-prescription, have you tried drinking red raspberry leaf tea. It is really good for pms, and supporting female organs in general. I would try first.
But hey if you think you need it, try the lexapro. I am with Ysobelle, I would freaking marry mine if I could.

[Sorcha Griannon]

I'm with the try it crowd.
As for the lethargy/excess energy, it's really your personal body chemistry that will determine which you get, but you won't know till you try it. I tried a pill last year that made me just want to lie on the couch and sleep all the time, but most people had the opposite reaction. Eh, chalk it up to experience on that. You might not get much in the way of side effects just taking it a week out of the month (or however long you need to), but go for it. The short time I was on Wellbutrin (for smoking cessation) I was a much happier camper.

Sorcha

[Lady Laurel]

Nicky, when you started taking Lexapro what kind of side effects did you notice?
My husband has been taking Cymbalta for over five years and it does not work on him anymore, we are trying to find a new anti antidepressant but he has bad side affects to almost all of them. Wellbutrin made him into a mental patient, for instance. I have heard great things about Lexapro and that is one we are asking the doctor about next week.

[KissMeKate]

Not the same issue, but - when I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I was given an antidepressant, a muscle relaxant, and something that was supposed to help me sleep. Even though I took the recommended doses at the correct times of day, I was a drooling zombie until about 2 or 3 pm. I somehow managed to drive myself to work (which in hindsight is very frightening), but I could only sit at my desk and stare at my computer until my brain would click on sometime in the afternoon. I called my doctor and gave him one chance to "fix it". He couldn't, so I found another way to live by watching my diet and monitoring how much sleep I got.

You are going to have to try it and see what works for you.

[Lady Laurel]

I was a drooling zombie until about 2 or 3 pm. I somehow managed to drive myself to work (which in hindsight is very frightening), but I could only sit at my desk and stare at my computer until my brain would click

OMG that is how my husband was on Wellbutrin, it was so awful and I was so afraid some of that was going to be permanent but fortunately it wasn't. Brain meds to me are so scary.

[Mylilpinkpig]

The only side effects I have ever noticed from lexapro were that it bothered my stomache for maybe the first week or so when I started taking it and it makes you have really vivid dreams. Not nightmares but just really vivid dreams. Lexapro completely cured my anxiety attacks so I can live with those minor side effects. You might want to check with your insurance company too about Lexapro some won't cover it only the generic.

[Ysobelle]

On the whole? NO side effects. Zippo. I was on Zoloft and Wellbutrin together some years ago, as they're often prescribed in tandem to offset each other's faults. For the first few weeks, I was incredibly tired and thirsty all the time. Oh, and NO sex drive. At ALL. And one other side effect? As a friend of mine put it, "You can drive all night, and never get there," if you know what I mean.

Now with the Lexapro? Everything's fine. Woo!

I HAVE been very, very tired lately. but I'm not sure if that's from the Lexapro. I have insane sleeping habits, as I'm self employed. So who knows?

[Lady Laurel]

He is thinking about being put back on Prozac but the sexual side effects you described, Nikki, is how Prozac is and I just don't have that much energy. He said that Prozac made him feel, for lack of a better word, smooth. The Cymbalta has been good with pain but the mood swings have swung all the way down and upping the med is just not working. The doctor thinks the med just does not work on him anymore so we have to find something very very soon.

Not to change the subject but has anyone been on Provigil? I am doing research on this pill and it is supposed to boost energy and this is one thing he needs desperately.

[merestelle]

I think if non pharmacuetical methods of dealing with PMS work, start there. Excercise, limit caffiene, limit salt, avoid alcohol.

For many of us the meds are necessary. Though I am leary of the on again off again approach. I've been on Celexa for about 6 years. At one time I joked about having it put directly into the well, (my husband ,my son and I were all on it). There have been a few times when I thought I might not need it anymore and tried living without it. I had severe headaches after a few days. Withdrawal headaches. That passed after a week or so, but I wonder if that would be a problem every month if you only took it a week or two a month.

I have found that while I'm on the celexa I have fewer and less severe migraines. I've had brutal migraines since puberty.
The only side effect I've had has been yawning a lot and that was a temporary thing. I have put on a lot of weight but I'm not sure I could blame the meds.

I hope you find the answer that works for you.

[Catea]

Have you considered Acupuncture? Medical Massage?

I think that Drs often prescribe anti-depressants now in the same way they did back in the "Mother's Little Helpers* days of the 60's and 70's. I would definitely opt for non-traditional medicines. On the other hand, I do believe in anti-depressants for the right needs. My mother takes Lexapro and I see a big difference in her. She is 83 and takes care of my 86 year old father who has dementia. It allows her to be more patient with him on a day to day basis and thus less guilt ridden over being quick tempered.

[Malina]

Thanks to everyone for all the advice, it really helps. I've decided for now to NOT take the meds and try other things to help with the PMS. If I decide to try them I'll post my experience with it but for now I'm not feeling to need to medicate myself just for PMS.

:-)