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Lexapro - Anyone Had Problems With It?


emcmaster

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emcmaster Collaborator

I know it's gluten-free, but I've just put the pieces together tonight that since I started taking it last Wednesday night, I've been horribly bloated and had lots of stomach pain in the evenings, approx. 20 hours after I take the pill each night.

I just read that common side effects are abdominal bloating (I look like I ate a basketball!) and pain. I'm wondering if anyone else noticed any side effects, seeing as most of us have more sensitive stomachs than the rest of the population.


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celiacgirls Apprentice

I was on it pre-gluten-free and felt very nauseous at first. I had started taking 10 mg so they told me to take 5 mg until I got used to it. Once I went to 5 mg, I was fine and did eventually go to 10 with no problems.

mythreesuns Contributor

The first 4 days I was on it I felt a little nauseous, but not bloated.

Do you take it in the morning or the evening?

I'd give it another day or two to see if it eases up, then call your dr to get another med.

StrongerToday Enthusiast

My dr. started me on Paxil and I had horrible reactions. He switched me Lexapro (half a pill/day for a week, then up to 10 mg) and I did, and am continuing, to do great! But if you really can't tolerate it, please call your dr.

wolfie Enthusiast

I haven't had any issues with it. I take 20 mg and take it before bed at night. I have been taking it for almost a year.

Every now & then I get some bloating & pain, but I think that is b/c somehow I have eaten something that contains soy or soybean oil. :( It isn't happening daily, so I really doubt that in my case it is the Lexapro.

It does take your body 4-6 weeks to adjust to the medication, so hopefully you will feel better soon!

key Contributor

I don't have any bloating or pain with taking it. I just went back on it. I keep getting gluttened so much that I get depressed when it happens, so I am back on it. I haven't seemed to have any side effects from it. Previously I went off it after about 3 months, but was only off for about 6 weeks.

DOes anyone here that has taken it for awhile have weight gain. I started to gain a tiny bit of weight and freaked out that was the reason. Now I think I lose weight everytime I am gluttened badly. I just don't want to gain a significant amount of weight. I do feel it helps me feel better when I am taking it.

Monica

emcmaster Collaborator

Thanks for all the replies!

I just wanted to let you all know that I didn't take it last night, so the last time I took it was approx. 48 hours ago... and I feel fine. No more horrible bloating or pain.

I'm not sure WHY it did that to me, but I'm really glad I figured it out and stopped taking it. I was questioning whether it was just a bunch of random bad days, but it looks like it was the Lexapro.

Thanks again!


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plantime Contributor

I've been on Lexapro for 2 years now, with no side effects. It did not make me bloated or hurt, nor did it make me gain weight. I take it 1/2 hour before I go to bed because it does make me sleepy. I don't think I could handle life without it. If you are on it and want to stop, make absolutely certain that you taper off of it. Stopping cold turkey is terrible!

key Contributor

THanks for answering the weight gain question. I don't really think it has made me gain weight, but I freak out when I read that on websites. My doctor told me it wouldn't make me gain weight, so I was hoping she was right. I think I would be fine if I would quit getting gluttened. It helps me stay regulated though.

Glad you figured out that the Lexapro was making you bloated. If you weren't on it long, that side effect may go away for you. There also may be something that works better for you. Good luck.

Monica

mythreesuns Contributor
DOes anyone here that has taken it for awhile have weight gain.

I've been on it for more than 6 mos and I haven't had any weight gain from it. I'm actually LOSING weight now that I'm free from all the foods that I *think* I'm allergic to because they made me feel hungrier.

AmandaD Community Regular

First week of it I had D...then my body got used to it. I stick to just 5 mg a day to help with IBS-ish type stuff.

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