Ugh... sorry to hear about all these sucky things you've been experiencing, Tony. I wonder if some of it is caused by the recent major stressors in your life. Antidepressants can't wipe out the grief caused by a death in the family, for example, and grief does have physiological affects.

Lexapro makes me tired, too. But I'm so used to being tired all day long because I've also been on Clonazepam for several years. I'd read that SSRI's increase the effects of benzo's, so I assumed that's what was happening, but if you and Max are feeling tired too, maybe I should start taking mine at night. I've had lifelong insomnia, and pre-Clonazepam an SSRI used to make it impossible for me to sleep at night, and I'd only get more depressed because of the sleep deprivation. So I'm scared to try it at night, and my PA advised me not to.

Now I can sleep at night, altho poorly due to breathing problems, but the Clonazepam sure does help. And I remember too clearly how hopeless and suicidal I felt before Lexapro to go off that.

The sexual side effects you mention are interesting, because I chose Lexapro specifically because my PA told me it was the SSRI with the least amount of sexual side effects. But I have noticed a marked decrease in my ability to orgasm (as well as the quality of the orgasm) - and, only very recently (now that I seem to be able to get sex when I want it) I have a lot less desire than I used to. The less desire is fine with me... I can now concentrate on other things. The timing sucks...because when I had loads of desire I couldn't get laid, and now that I have been getting laid, I find myself putting off sex dates. I thought my diminished ability to orgasm was transition-related, but now I'm wondering if it's the Lexapro. Sucks! I had sex with a transman who came four times while fucking me... and I came - 0. I didn't expect to cum. But now you've got me thinking... I used to be able to cum five times in a day. Maybe it is the Lexapro. I feel it's too risky for me to go off it, though.

At least the side effects are supposed to wear off with time. I have a friend who has been on Prozac for years. It still works for him. Things don't bother him and he's mellow and content. He did experience sexual side effects "for a long time", according to his BF. But apparently they are gone now. Altho I'm not so sure. It seems that they don't have sex hardly at all - but then again, they've been together over 10 years and are totally monogamous.

I'm sure you know to taper the meds if you go off them, Tony... but I just had to mention it. The side effects you're experiencing may make it tempting to just stop altogether. I've never heard of an antidepressant causing physical pain. Do you spend more time in bed than you used to? For myself, whenever I stay in bed longer than 7 or 8 hours, my back hurts when I get up. Yoga helps get rid of the pain.

Sorry I'm a bit rambly tonight. I hope that you find a solution - or that the side effects just magically disappear. You never know. It could be a temporary thing due to the increase in dosage and/or the increased stress in your life.

Best of luck! I feel for you. Please keep us posted!

xo,
dean

<This is because the diagnostic criteria have changed>

wait... is the DSM-V out already?

the only difference I can see between Major Depressive Disorder and Bipolar II in the DSM-IV is the presence of at least one hypomanic episode. One hypomanic episode does not seem like a big deal to me... but I guess the usefulness of the diagnosis would be to be on watch for repeated hypomanic episodes, possibly leading to manic episodes and a diagnosis of Bipolar I.

< and I suspect there may be a bit of a fashion influence in psychiatry.>

Ya think? Surely you jest...

I clearly remember the 80's when repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse was all the rage. There was so much media hype, books, articles, and therapists propagating this idea, that women everywhere became convinced that they'd been sexually abused. Even I wondered if there there things from my youth that I was not remembering...

Thanks for all the great comments and links. Looking through the side effects I'd say the major ones affecting me are horrible nightmares, constant lethargy and hypersomnia, stomach pains, burping and feeling gassy - stomach bloated, lack of motivation, bruxism (now have a dental guard). and back pain.

I definitely haven't stopped cold turkey - just went off experimentally for a day or so to see what would happen. I did sleep better and the back pain subsided. So I've started again but back down to 10mg. I've also experiemented with taking it at different times of day. I've literally spent the last two days in bed expect for a brief foray out to a Bear party which I found to be very boring - my internal experience I hasten to note. I really can't get excited about anything. I skipped a party invite last night because I felt too anxious about meeting new people while I just cant put any effort into smiling and chit-chat etc.

I really do want to give this AD a good try. It started off with such promise - but maybe it did just quit on me. All the others seemed to do the same thing. I am super-sensitive to side-effects. I feel quite despondent over all this. I'm sure you can all relate. My life feels like a car with its wheels turning in the mud. There;s so much I want to achieve or get involved in - and I just don't have the wherewithall to make it happen. I can't even face the washing up.

So the rollercoaster continues. I wonder if it will ever end.