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SSRI Stories Page 25 Here's a goody to think about. I was prescribed 70 mg of Lexapro (that's right, 70 mg--ten times the labeled dosage) for bipolar II--despite it's failure to help previously at normal dosages. Within two weeks, I became psychotic and suicidal (I've never previously been either), attempting suicide three times, coming too close to success the third time (try a two week coma on for size). While I fault my psychiatrist for the poor judgment in prescribing such an insane dosage, I feel that the drug's ability to control depression while exacerbating hyper mania is a danger at any level. It took four weeks of agony--after the coma--to wean off the drug with the use of Seroquil. SSRI's are not miracle drugs, nor are they understood or prescribed properly. I still suffer from short term memory loss, and I only know of my psychotic behavior through witnessed accounts. Fortunately, my moral code of never causing physical harm held up--but I did a lot of damage with my words and actions and am finishing up a one year restraining order from my family. Sure, I took way too much--but the reactions still show the potential this drug has to backfire. One of the reasons Lexapro carries its new warnings came from my correspondence with the manufacturer. Think twice before you take it. I gained forty pounds while on the drug--by lying in a coma and then vomiting and twitching for another four weeks. Now I take Lamictal and Wellbutrin, and I'm much more stable. But Lexapro? It cost me everything. I've just started taking Lexapro. So far, I feel very tired and fatigued most of the time. I've been told that this should change over time and I will finish the sample. It bothers me, however, that doctors and pharmaceutical companies assume that depression always has physical causes. In my opinion, many cases of depression are caused by unresolved guilt and/or relational issues. Some of these situations could be resolved simply with a prayer or by making a phone call!
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