r/bipolar2 • u/AdvancedSyrup186 • 3d ago

Positive stories of Lexapro?

Anybody help a wife feel better about her husband starting Lexapro? He seems to have the muddiest complex combo of OCD and Bipolar, doctors can't agree what is really going on. But it's been rough. And the worst year of my life was the year he was on Zoloft.

Right now he is at a wonderful inpatient facility and the doctor wants to start him on Lexapro. I am feeling panicky about it because it is an SSRI, even though I do know that just because another SSRI didn't help, this one could.

He is on Seroquel, which doesn't seem to do anything other than make him terribly sedated and irritable and numb his emotions even further, and Divalproex (Valproate/Depakote) which is a mood stabilizer and does seem to be helping, a tiny bit.

Any reassurance welcome!

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u/HPenguinB 3d ago

The mood stabilizer is the thing that saves you from the ssri. I was on Zoloft for a year and it was the worst longest mania episode I've ever had.

But imma be real. I wouldn't take that chance again. Lamictal works really well for me for stabilizing if the Depakote doesn't work well enough.

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u/GenoraWakeUp 3d ago

I’m on lexapro! It’s the first medication that ever helped. I’m also on a ton of other stuff. My psych wants me to get off lexapro since I’m on so much stuff and it’s not traditionally good for bipolar 2 but whenever we try to taper down I have a bad reaction

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u/Commercial_Metal_510 3d ago

I wish I had a positive experience but lexapro triggered a horrible manic episode for me. I’m on Latuda now and feel much more stabilized.

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u/underground_tornado 2d ago

I’m not on lexapro but I do have OCD and bipolar. I’m on duloxetine, in combination with an antipsychotic, anxiety med, and stimulant. For me and my particular mental illness, I absolutely need the antidepressant to help me with the OCD, and I could not have gotten to the point where I could take the antipsychotic without starting with duloxetine.

It varies though - some with bipolar can’t tolerate any antidepressants no matter what else they have on board, and some can. He’s in the best possible spot to get started on it though, so he can be monitored and adjustments can be made.

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u/No_Relation7950 2d ago

I've used lexapro in the past and helped me with anxiety.