Activation syndrome on Lexapro?

[Anonymous]

My older DD tried Lexapro and had terrible side effects. She was to take it for mild anxiety/depression and by the end of week 1 and furthering into week 2 she had feelings of harming herself, not being able to get out of bed or even function well. Very much scared herself and her doctor told her to stop immediately. She tried Prozac prior without much help and then moved to Wellbutrin after Lexapro and that worked well. She is done college and has been off all meds and doing well.

I know meds affect every person differently but my younger DD has a lot more issues and her doctor says Lexapro is the only SSRI that is FDA approved for anxiety in teens and that is what she recommends. Of course I am a little nervous and looking it up online and of course I see others who have had this same side effect (because I am looking for it, I get it.) and it's called activation syndrome I guess. Her doctor said the only side effect she really sees is occasional drowsiness.

I guess my concern is do families tend to have the same genetics that allow them to do well or not on a medication? Because her older sister had such a bad time with it, should I reconsider? Does this happen more on Lexapro than other SRRI's.

Any suggestions welcome

[Anonymous]

Is it really true that only Lexapro is approved for teens? Granted, my teen DS has both anxiety and depression, so maybe it’s different than anxiety alone, but he’s been prescribed Zoloft, Celexa, and finally Cymbalta (which is technically an SNRI, not an SSRI). But to answer your actual question - DS couldn’t handle Zoloft and I do fine on it, so at least in our case it’s a different response.

[Anonymous]

I did well on lexapro as an adult. my DC is as well until they bumped the dose up ( DC was doing well IMO, but was still experiencing some anxiety so the doc wanted to nudge up the dose). when the dose was increased, symptoms kind of like you describe came on over 2-3 days . The doc dropped the dose down and things were fine again within a few days.
I guess I’d say from this experience, start the dose low as a trial and gradually increase, see how it goes over the course of a week or two. Any new negative stuff call right away. really helped my DC so much, but it’s sensitive stuff. Let your doc know about your DD1 experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it really true that only Lexapro is approved for teens? Granted, my teen DS has both anxiety and depression, so maybe it’s different than anxiety alone, but he’s been prescribed Zoloft, Celexa, and finally Cymbalta (which is technically an SNRI, not an SSRI). But to answer your actual question - DS couldn’t handle Zoloft and I do fine on it, so at least in our case it’s a different response.

Lexapo is the only FDA approved med for ANXIETY in teens. Doesn't mean doctors don't use others.

[Anonymous]

I don’t have any idea about the genetic issue. But my son suffered from activation syndrome both Lexapro trials and Zoloft. The reactions were awful. Unbelievable self harm and long hospitalizations each time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is it really true that only Lexapro is approved for teens? Granted, my teen DS has both anxiety and depression, so maybe it’s different than anxiety alone, but he’s been prescribed Zoloft, Celexa, and finally Cymbalta (which is technically an SNRI, not an SSRI). But to answer your actual question - DS couldn’t handle Zoloft and I do fine on it, so at least in our case it’s a different response.

Lexapo is the only FDA approved med for ANXIETY in teens. Doesn't mean doctors don't use others.

Are you sure that's true? I see nothing online that Lexapro is preferred in any way over other SSRIs. My teen is on Zoloft for anxiety.

OP, are you working with a psychiatrist?

[Anonymous]

Try a genesight test. It was very accurate for my niece who started anxiety treatment as a teenager. Thankfully she is thriving. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

I think it’s very naive to not try a medication because another family member did not react well to it. The doctor would monitor and adjust as needed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s very naive to not try a medication because another family member did not react well to it. The doctor would monitor and adjust as needed.

"Very naive"? OP's not asking if Santa brings the medicine. It's a legitimate question considering one of two siblings had a scary reaction to the medicine. OP, if you decide to try it, do a slow ramp up and monitor for reactions. At least you know what signs to look for. Lexapro might work well for DD2.

[Anonymous]

DD was activated on lexapro when young but as a young adult has no issue. We couldnt find another med that worked so she just had to stay on a very low dose of Lexapro. But years later she was able to tolerate a higher dose. My other child was also activated but on Prozac so he switched to Lexapro and had no issue.

[Anonymous]

As an adult, Lexapro had me bouncing off walls, soaring BP, basically manic. Stopped, effects lingered. I will never take SSRI again

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As an adult, Lexapro had me bouncing off walls, soaring BP, basically manic. Stopped, effects lingered. I will never take SSRI again

This can happen if you actually have bipolar. SSRIs can trigger a manic episode. Sometimes you don’t know you have bipolar at the time the SSRI is prescribed.

[Anonymous]

What exactly is the need for Lexapro? Have you tried evidence based therapies?

I have been on and off Lexapro in my 40s for life-long generalized anxiety that morphed into basically nonstop panic during covid and subsequent issues with my kid. It was very effective but the side effects were brutal getting on and off, and extremely unpleasant in between. I hope never to take it again and did a ton of therapy to hopefully make that happen.

My opinion is that these meds are a godsend if you truly NEED them, but many people seem to give them to their kids to deal with much lower level issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it’s very naive to not try a medication because another family member did not react well to it. The doctor would monitor and adjust as needed.

It sounds like you don’t understand activation syndrome. It happens without warning and is deadly for some. It was almost deadly for mine.