My Experience with the Drug Lexapro

Lexapro, in my opinion, is a miracle drug. I have taken the drug for 3 years. It has had profound effects on my life for the better. It has worked better than any other drug I have taken for my bipolar and obsessive compulsive disorder conditions.

Lexapro is one drug of a class of serotonin reuptake inhibitors. It increases the amount of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the synapses located between nerve cells. It has similar effects to that of Prozac. It increases mental clarity, short-term memory, and confidence. There are also has substantial differences between other serotonin reuptake inhibitors and Lexapro. Lexapro does not cause the agitation, excessive sweating, and nervousness which others can cause. Its chemical structure allows it to act as an anti-anxiety agent which calms the mind noticeably.

An unwanted effect of all of these serotonin reuptake inhibitors is feelings of increased hostility. This last point is hotly debated among psychologists, but based on my own experience, the serotonin reuptake inhibitors increase feelings of hostility. I have taken the serotonin reuptake inhibitors Prozac, Lexapro, and Zoloft. I found that I felt more hostile on all of these drugs in general. Although, the feelings of hostility are significantly less with Lexapro than the others. Whenever, any drug is taken the benefits have to be measured against the negative effects of the drug. Lexapro's benefits have far outweighed its side effects in my case.

Before, I took Lexapro, I was unfocused and unrelaxed. I had a bad case of obsessive compulsive and bipolar disorder. I had taken numerous other drugs such as Lithium, Prozac, Paxil, and Neurotonin to name a few. These drugs did not work. I could not focus. Lexapro allowed me to focus on anything at hand. It calmed down the obsessive compulsive disorder greatly. My depressive episodes abated, as did my manic episodes.

Lexapro can change feelings. I previously cared about almost everything. Now, my personality is completely different. I care about practically nothing. Obviously, some people will find this a negative effect, but my case, where my mind is generally overactive, it's a desirable effect. I am carefree. All this is due to a drug.

I stopped taking the drug after a slow painful withdrawal which lasted a month. I did not take the drug again for 6 months, and still my personality never reverted back to my former. Serotonin reuptake inhibitors have a long half life, and this could explain the prolonged effects to an extent. It could also sit in the liver, and leak into the blood for some time. In this respect, after taking Lexapro for 2 years, it could remain in my body for years afterward.

I ended up retaking the drug, so far for another year, and probably for the rest of my life.