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Suggest Remedy For Worsening Fatigue After Taking Lexapro
Question: My dad was taking lexapro 5 mg for about 3 weeks then started on 10 mg for about a weak and and was too tired, went back to 5mg and started 10 mg at night again for about 4 days. That was again too much so tapered off to 5mg for 4 days and stopped. Now he is having symptoms of weakness in his legs where he is having trouble walking. He uses a rollator because of a chronic back pain for 49 years. He is 88 years old and the weakness in his legs after stopping lexapro 5 days ago has worsened to the point where he has trouble even using the walker. Will this symptom go away? He is also sleeping all the time. His fatigue is like nothing I've ever seen. He has had CT scans, blood work, EKG, EEG, x-rays, and ultra sound . All tests were good. He is suffering from depression. The fatigue has greatly worsened after the Lexapro.
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Brief Answer:
Symptoms are likely to subside in the next few day
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your query.
I understand that you are concerned about your dad's problems after using Lexapro. Lexapro (Escitalopram) is usually well-tolerated, but a very small proportion of people, especially the elderly, can have prominent side effects.
In your dad's case, you have mentioned that there was a clear correlation between the increase in the dose of Lexapro and the worsening of his symptoms. In this case, since he has stopped the medication completely now, is very likely that his symptoms should resolve soon. In the elderly, it may take a little longer for the medication to get metabolized and excreted and that's why the effects of the medication may still be there. However, he should recover from them in the next few days.
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
Symptoms are likely to subside in the next few day
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for your query.
I understand that you are concerned about your dad's problems after using Lexapro. Lexapro (Escitalopram) is usually well-tolerated, but a very small proportion of people, especially the elderly, can have prominent side effects.
In your dad's case, you have mentioned that there was a clear correlation between the increase in the dose of Lexapro and the worsening of his symptoms. In this case, since he has stopped the medication completely now, is very likely that his symptoms should resolve soon. In the elderly, it may take a little longer for the medication to get metabolized and excreted and that's why the effects of the medication may still be there. However, he should recover from them in the next few days.
Regards,
Dr. Jonas Sundarakumar MBBS., DPM., MRCPsych.(U.K.)
Consultant Psychiatrist
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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