Lexapro

Mental health
1

Hi I am 25 and suffering uncontrollable panic when leaving the house. I have been prescribed 5mg lexapro. I cut one tab into 3 pieces and took 1 bit for 2 days, however I experienced chest pain and headache with slight nausea. I understand that I must keep taking until side effects are reduced. I am real nervous to take them now after chest pain so gave myself a day break and cut the next tab into 6 pieces is it safe to to consume them in this way? Thanks

2

Hi I've had terrible anxiety for years, heart racing, shaking , dreading leaving the house and much, more . Any mds we take to help with anxiety can take days to kick in and start working properly. They also have sidecaffects when you first take them like you described then our anxiety makes side affects feel even worse. Your anxious and scared to take the meds because of this so your cutting them into tiny amounts which isn't a bad thing . They will be in your system but I go with what my doc told me , I take small amount when needed and they stay in your system quite a while. Know your being cautious as your worried they could be causing the chest pain but could just mine anxious, its natural you don't know how the meds will react for you. Please ask your doctor they know best, I'd think no problem cutting in half, until you speak, he may sujjest changing meds but think it's too soon to say if these are right for you yet,

3

You go to the Dr's for anxiety, he prescribes a treatment, starting on a low dose 5mg is about half the usual adult dose and will probably need increasing to be effective and you cut it into 6. This is a symptom of your anxiety and your effectively preventing it having any effect, what you describe as side effects are just your expectations, a way of confirming that your anxiety about the drugs is right.

There are a lot of drugs that are formulated to control the way the drug is released over time, I don't think that applies to this one but breaking tables isnt usually a good idea. If you think you have side effects try taking the tablet at night, but at this rate you will never get up to a therapeutic dose. If your always going to take the advice of your anxiety no one will be able to help and remember that "fear, lies."

4

Hi Cheryl, Laroxa is bang on with the advise. Take the meds as prescribed and you will be fine. The symptoms are side effects and will pass if you give the meds time to do their job.