Interactions with Lexapro

[zor]

I've been fighting a bad depression since 2011 and have recently given in to the idea of taking an antidepressant to help treat me. MJ has helped tremendously with my anxiety and insomnia but nothing for depression. About 3.5 weeks ago I started taking Lexapro and in this time I've had two really major bouts of anxiety (painful knot in my chest, inability to focus, restlessness, sweating, and general distress) and one less severe one, coupled with some sexual dysfunction. I've also been continuing to vape, nightly, as I always did to treat my insomnia.

Environmental factors at work certainly contribute to my anxiety but I wonder if anyone here has experienced any contraindications or side effects from SSRIs or Lexapro in particular. I've cut my dose in half and will probably begin reducing my weed consumption too but any personal anecdotes would be helpful!

 

[mephisto]

I was initially given Lexapro and found very similar side effects as you describe. There is another formulation of Lexapro called Celexa. It is supposedly less likely to have pronounced side effects. I have been fighting depression and anxiety for 25 years. My first experience with SSRI's was Paxil. Although the Paxil was very effective at treating both the anxiety and the depressive symptoms, it does prevent some users from reaching sexual climax?????? However, at the time, I really needed the relief that Paxil brought me.
I am unaware of any cross-reaction with MJ, but I found out the hard way that SSRI's and psychedelic mushrooms work on the same pathways. Its best not to go expanding your horizons while taking any SSRI medication. I hope you can find some relief with or without the Lexapro. Please feel free to contact me anytime and I will be happy to share some other ways I have been able to fight depression and anxiety.

 

[herbivore21]

I've been fighting a bad depression since 2011 and have recently given in to the idea of taking an antidepressant to help treat me. MJ has helped tremendously with my anxiety and insomnia but nothing for depression. About 3.5 weeks ago I started taking Lexapro and in this time I've had two really major bouts of anxiety (painful knot in my chest, inability to focus, restlessness, sweating, and general distress) and one less severe one, coupled with some sexual dysfunction. I've also been continuing to vape, nightly, as I always did to treat my insomnia.

Environmental factors at work certainly contribute to my anxiety but I wonder if anyone here has experienced any contraindications or side effects from SSRIs or Lexapro in particular. I've cut my dose in half and will probably begin reducing my weed consumption too but any personal anecdotes would be helpful!

Guys. You know I'm a man of science, you may or may not know that I've got psychology qualifications. SSRI's are fucking bad news. A growing body of literature is emerging surrounding the publication bias that led us to think that SSRI's were effective in research to begin with. Basically, when considering all rigorous studies of various SSRI's (including those published and those not published), researchers are starting to find that in fact, many are no more effective than a placebo.

I was given lexapro for a couple years. I stopped using it and will never use an SSRI again. I will never take psych medication again without perusing the scholarly literature vigorously.

With Lexapro, I lost all sex drive, I have not bothered initiating a relationship in years. I stopped taking Lexapro over a year ago and still have negligible interest in sex.

It gave me the worst anxiety I've ever experienced (I have had major anxiety problems ever since!), and I experienced unsettling neurological symptoms adjusting to it (these are less common, but enough to drive one to suicidal thoughts and behaviors!).

I have never known anybody whose depression stopped from the use of SSRI's. About half of the people I know are mentally ill and count depression amongst the regular symptoms they experience.

@mestizo Lexapro was actually meant to be one of these 'no sexual side effects, more tolerable' SSRI's. My Doctor sold it to me as the 'no sexual side effects SSRI'. I have heard this claim made by doctors and pharma about various SSRI's from time to time. I suspect (but cannot confirm!) that this may be used in the process of evergreening, to retain patent monopolies on whichever SSRI is in vogue right now.

Remember, evergreening is a practice that is long been held to exist in psych medicines, where pharmaceutical companies concerned about losing a patent or exclusivity period on a given medicine in a given jurisdiction then wheel in almost (or actually) functionally identical substances to start a new exclusivity period and effectively monopolize that field of mental health medication.

I found that Lexapro really put me through the wars. I was profoundly less mentally healthy by the end of my time on Lexapro and I am confident that it was a factor is the worst period of my life. 7 close friends of mine who were put on Lexapro and other SSRI's (Prozac) all have stopped using this stuff now. None of them are MMJ users, they just stopped using SSRI's mostly due to sexual dysfunction and some other nasty side effects.

THC based concentrates (Bubble Hash/Rosin) killed my insomnia. THC based concentrates didn't completely end my depression, but they sure did reduce it more than any other scientifically supported therapeutic intervention (I don't do quackery) I've ever tried. CBD based concentrates have saved me from the worst of the anxiety I experience and without cannabis, I would be an unemployed mentally ruined mess right now, rather than a prolific, interdisciplinary university educator, researcher, professional contractor in another field as well as making my own medicine and always pushing my tek further - with a view to being a part of a legal MMJ industry in order to share what I've discovered with other sick people (many much sicker than I was even).

All the best to you guys here with your symptoms, I wish you the very best of success in treating them!

I do suggest that you ask your doctor if they can suggest something else. Politely raise that you have heard there is a growing body of research citing publication bias as having led to these medications being held to be effective. Then identify that meta-analysis of those less exciting findings that weren't published (alongside the ones that did find a difference between a given SSRI and a placebo) find that there is not a statistically significant difference between the use of an SSRI and a placebo!

 

[Snappo]

Guys. You know I'm a man of science, you may or may not know that I've got psychology qualifications. SSRI's are fucking bad news. A growing body of literature is emerging surrounding the publication bias that led us to think that SSRI's were effective in research to begin with. Basically, when considering all rigorous studies of various SSRI's (including those published and those not published), researchers are starting to find that in fact, many are no more effective than a placebo.

I was given lexapro for a couple years. I stopped using it and will never use an SSRI again. I will never take psych medication again without perusing the scholarly literature vigorously.

With Lexapro, I lost all sex drive, I have not bothered initiating a relationship in years. I stopped taking Lexapro over a year ago and still have negligible interest in sex.

It gave me the worst anxiety I've ever experienced (I have had major anxiety problems ever since!), and I experienced unsettling neurological symptoms adjusting to it (these are less common, but enough to drive one to suicidal thoughts and behaviors!).

I have never known anybody whose depression stopped from the use of SSRI's. About half of the people I know are mentally ill and count depression amongst the regular symptoms they experience.

@mestizo Lexapro was actually meant to be one of these 'no sexual side effects, more tolerable' SSRI's. My Doctor sold it to me as the 'no sexual side effects SSRI'. I have heard this claim made by doctors and pharma about various SSRI's from time to time. I suspect (but cannot confirm!) that this may be used in the process of evergreening, to retain patent monopolies on whichever SSRI is in vogue right now.

Remember, evergreening is a practice that is long been held to exist in psych medicines, where pharmaceutical companies concerned about losing a patent or exclusivity period on a given medicine in a given jurisdiction then wheel in almost (or actually) functionally identical substances to start a new exclusivity period and effectively monopolize that field of mental health medication.

I found that Lexapro really put me through the wars. I was profoundly less mentally healthy by the end of my time on Lexapro and I am confident that it was a factor is the worst period of my life. 7 close friends of mine who were put on Lexapro and other SSRI's (Prozac) all have stopped using this stuff now. None of them are MMJ users, they just stopped using SSRI's mostly due to sexual dysfunction and some other nasty side effects.

THC based concentrates (Bubble Hash/Rosin) killed my insomnia. THC based concentrates didn't completely end my depression, but they sure did reduce it more than any other scientifically supported therapeutic intervention (I don't do quackery) I've ever tried. CBD based concentrates have saved me from the worst of the anxiety I experience and without cannabis, I would be an unemployed mentally ruined mess right now, rather than a prolific, interdisciplinary university educator, researcher, professional contractor in another field as well as making my own medicine and always pushing my tek further - with a view to being a part of a legal MMJ industry in order to share what I've discovered with other sick people (many much sicker than I was even).

All the best to you guys here with your symptoms, I wish you the very best of success in treating them!

I do suggest that you ask your doctor if they can suggest something else. Politely raise that you have heard there is a growing body of research citing publication bias as having led to these medications being held to be effective. Then identify that meta-analysis of those less exciting findings that weren't published (alongside the ones that did find a difference between a given SSRI and a placebo) find that there is not a statistically significant difference between the use of an SSRI and a placebo!

My findings exactly, particularly concerning sexual side effects. I quit SSRI's about 4 years ago and still can't raise the flag full mast, even when feeling my most patriotic. Wish I could sue, but big pharma stacked the deck against patriots like myself with hundreds of volumes of bogus studies to the contrary. Anecdotal evidence carries little weight in court against the deepest pockets on the planet. Buyer beware! As far as interactions between SSRI's and MJ; thank God for MJ which successfully weaned me completely off of the poison and gently eased me into normalcy. Herb was insanely more effective with zero side effects. BTW: I have always been a very light and infrequent of the herb, lest one connoisseur imagine that I substituted one dependency for another. I am dependent on nothing but basically bread, water, and the unconditional love of my pets.

 

[herbivore21]

My findings exactly, particularly concerning sexual side effects. Quit SSRI's about 4 years ago and still can't raise the flag full mast, even when feeling my most patriotic. Wish I could sue, but big pharma stacked the deck against patriots like myself with hundreds of volumes of bogus studies to the contrary. Anecdotal evidence carries little weight in court against the deepest pockets on the planet. Buyer beware!

The scientific evidence is starting to come in now, I suspect that in the years it takes for this kind of knowledge to get out there to practitioners, we will start to see a shift in the use of SSRI's.

Until then, it is absolutely buyer beware as you say my friend. Sexual side effects for SSRI's are very widely known and various. These vary from erectile dysfunction through to reduced libido and various other manifestations. I never had erectile problems from it (although to be honest, during the period I was using this medication the most, opportunities for sex never really arose - pun intended lol - so it is possible that I may have had such symptoms), but I had ridiculous problems with libido which have persisted since.

You'd better believe that once the scholarly literature builds up a bit more on the problems with SSRI's that there will be class actions left and right!

 

[zor]

Interesting perspectives, guys, thanks. SSRIs helped my mother and girlfriend through debilitating depression, although I too am a man of (neuro)science and approach the medication with healthy skepticism. I've studied the mechanisms way back when but many (most) anti-depressants aren't truly understood. Weed has helped with social anxiety and insomnia but it has not helped me progress out of my depression for the past 4 years, it simply does not affect me in that way.

After dealing with this depression for so long, making some progress over the years, I've sought solutions that have worked for others...mindful meditation, therapy, and now pharmaceuticals. What has particularly pissed me off is that my shrink left the practice (he let me know ahead of time) and said a new psychiatrist would take his place...when I called in to report my side effects I find out the new guy isn't taking insurance yet (will take 2-3 months) and I can't get any support without forking over $250/hr. Luckily my sister's a doctor and chemist, we've tapered the dose down by half and that seems to be much better so far. Not sure yet of which direction I'll be going in, but so far no major anxiety again, which is nice.

 

[zor]

Well, I forgot to take my half dose last wed and thurs and just stopped altogether. No negative reactions, no more deep anxiety, and back to vaping! Good riddance to this shit!

 

[herbivore21]

Well, I forgot to take my half dose last wed and thurs and just stopped altogether. No negative reactions, no more deep anxiety, and back to vaping! Good riddance to this shit!

Glad to hear brother

I hope it stays that way to you and you didn't get any of the potential lasting side effects!

 

[mephisto]

Indeed! Great to hear you slipped free.

 

[61reissue]

Well, I forgot to take my half dose last wed and thurs and just stopped altogether. No negative reactions, no more deep anxiety, and back to vaping! Good riddance to this shit!

Good to hear man! Take one day at a time

 

[Monsoon]

My MMJ journey actually started when I bought an SSV back in 2008, started vaping daily and tapered off of Celexa and Wellbutrin on my own over the course of a month or so. I was on a high dose for each and ended up making things worse, plus all the side effects on top of it. With the pharma drugs I felt numb and out of it all of the time and with cannabis I could feel high and out of it just some of the time and still get the benefits. If I remember right I think my worst depressive and anxiety episodes happened when I was on meds so in my case anyway it made it worse.

They do work for some people but anyone considering going on them should do some research first so you can make an informed decision especially for dosing. Some doctors may try to push it up too high, too quickly (sells more pills) when just the minimum dose is enough to provide the effect needed balanced with the side effects. My doctor added Wellbutrin after he wanted to up my Celexa to 40mg and I told him no.

As far as non-cannabis supplements go, I've tried a bunch and surprisingly the ones I've found to help the most for anxiety were a daily Vitamin B (50-100mg) usually in a high potency multi-vitamins and high dose (1g+) of niacinamide. I've noticed a difference when I've gone through periods of not taking them and they're safe, cheap and easy to find which is even better.