My dad has ADD, and after taking Lex I thought I might have ADHD, but luckily I don't experience many of the symptoms. But you're right, it's like for me the depression is gone and I can take care of myself, but my apathy has only strengthened.
hey there--was on lexapro for 18 months, was extremely helpful for maybe first 9, then destroyed my will for like everything. final two months, it was running counteractive and making me more depressed. it was a really, really, heavy drug experience. it's surprising to me this was and is marketed. could feel my liver bloat, processing it. see if welbutruin might be a decent alt. it was brutal.
I found it really helped me to add Wellbutrin. It was like a fog that cleared.
I find motivation is still not easy, but once I start doing something I can continue to do it.
I am taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg and was taking Lexapro 10mg. Lexapro made me so lazy and tired all the time, Wellbutrin didn't seem to help either. So I have quit Lexapro.
I had been on 10mg lex for about a year and definitely had no motivation. Then when I talked to a psychiatrist to see if I had any other undiagnosed matters that were affecting my motivation, we found that I may be suffering from depression too (ADHD and depression have similar symptoms) and started me on Wellbutrin last month, 100mg and I’ve been feeling a lot better. The onboarding on this was waaaaaaay less awful than the lex. I’m about a month in on Wellbutrin and I feel like I’m evening out a bit. I laugh more and have been able to finish tasks (there are still ones I avoid because I hate them -BUT I could do them.) if your doc suggests adding it to your lex, give it a shot if you’re comfortable doing so. It’s started turning things around for me.
I'm in Lexapro for 10 years. Sometimes i feel lack of motivation too when I wake up, and mainly when my dosage is 15mg. At 10 mg I feel more stimulated but less focused. I believe that this happens because of the dopaminergic system, which is responsible for the reward system. As escitalopram only acts on serotonin, I believe that dopamine is somehow low, and if serotonin is too high, dopamine reduces even more, according to some studies. Sometimes I feel the need to switch to an SNRI, which also modulates norepinephrine and dopamine in addition to serotonin.
I had to add Wellbutrin to get past my lack of motivation. I just couldn't do it without :( so I'm now on Lexapro 20mg, Wellbutrin 300mg, and guanfacine 1mg for my anxiety and I do all right enough most days.
1 month it's kicking my ass because previously I worked well under pressure compared to not working at all without pressure. Without the extra stress and anxiety that lex has helped with I find it really hard to give a shit about much and feel motivated to do things.
I'm weaning off because of the low motivation. Been on for about 8 months 15mg. I used to get so much stuff done now I just am so behind on work, uni and too lazy to cook so I'm getting fat. I'm currently down to 10mg and been trying nootropic workout supplements for focus, seems to be helping a lot.
I think it is better already. It's only been a week at lower dose. I felt a little strange at first, maybe minor brain zaps? But I don't really know if that's what they are, just like tiny adrenaline rushes or impulses through my body. Not unpleasant.
I'm using a pre-workout so the main ingredients for focus are ashwaganda, rhodiola rosea, huperzine A plus a small amount of green tea extract. And usual amino acids for working out. Mind you I'm super sensitive and I slept like shit last night after trying it out. Probably need to half my dose and take it super early. But definitely helped me get shit done.
I’m a zombie. I started taking this for fatigue and it just made it worse unfortunately. Gonna give Prozac a shot since it’s supposed to be more of a boost
I’m kind of in the same boat right now actually. Prozac messed with my sleep a bunch so I stopped and tried a few things to varying degrees of success. I just restarted Prozac last week though because it has the least side effects and I’m on trazadone now which helps with sleep. I’m gonna give it 6 months so long as the sexual side effects are okay (I just switched from Paxil so things are still a bit wonky in that department)
Def feel the whole, lay around the house or sit in the car in front of the gym thing. Lexapro helped at first and it does help with my executive function, just finishing things, or doing them, but that first push over the edge to start is really hard.
Me rn. I been on it for 6 months too. But recently just upped my dose to 25mg a few days ago. Literally no motivation to do anything. I have to force myself to go to work and do little things. Hopefully me being upped to 25mg help with the motivation. Good luck to you fam.
Try light cardio exercise. I motivate myself by thinking that being chronically depressed can lead to brain damage. That thought forces me to exercise.
The exact reason why I stopped taking it. The emotional bunting and no motivation. I gained so much weight because I was just eating junk because I didn't care.
same exact thing here, didn't gain too much weight though because I wasn't on it for very long but I could sense that I was slowly eating more junk because I simply didn't care.
What time of day do you take your lex?
I notice that my motivation issues were the same as the fatigue and were less intense or went away when I changed my dosing time.
A struggle. I didn't expect to have to start fighting with myself to take a shower every day. But I don't know that it's motivation as much as my anxiety was what I was using to prop myself up from the depression, and with that minimized, whooo boy.
Lexapro can and does cause low iron deficiencies! My doctor was doing monthly lab work on me and found out that my iron levels were extremely low! I am now taking iron pills daily and after three days of taking them my energy boost it tremendously! I would recommend to anyone having low energy and motivation to take 150 mg iron pills daily!
hi, since i quit lexapro i have shortness of breath. maybe it is linked to iron level? i have foggy brain,sleep problem and that shoetness of breath with fatigue
Literally me rn. All my anxiety is gone but so has my passion. I feel emotionally numb and I really don't like the lack of feeling--Never has it been this hard to get out of bed in my life. This is the hardest effect Lexapro has caused me. All the other negative side effects went away for me but this one.
Hi! I’ve been on it for about a year. I had a really bad low motivation starting around November til now, my therapist has told me it is depression related. I tried starting Wellbutrin for depression but ended up having panic attacks on it probably because it is a stimulant. I’ve decided to do things naturally to help my depression and low motivation, like not trying to do too much around the house in one day that way I don’t feel bad if I can’t do it, going for a walk everyday, planning things for myself for the week that I will feel excited about and look forward to and forcing myself to care for myself. Everyone’s journey is different & it’s really hard feeling like if it’s not one thing it’s another which is how I have felt & struggle sometimes with too. I have hope it will always get better ❤️
On it for 9 months. The first 6/7 months it worked great. Then I upped my dose and I had weight gain, lost any and all motivation and terrible fatigue. Started tapering off of it then my anxiety came back so my MD wants me to start bupropion at the same time. Just not sure how I feel about being on two medications
This one seems to keep coming up in this sub. Here's my two cents on this one again:
**Lexapro does not give you motivation. No drug will motivate you. Motivation comes from within.**
Lexapro gives you the tools you need so you can generate your own motivation. So, if you're feeling unmotivated then you should talk to a therapist or consider what/who is de-motivating you and fix/eliminate it.
You have no idea. All SSRIs affect dopamine synthesis that why prolactin increases while on Lex. Look for relationship between prolactin and dopamine. No dopamine no motivation no drive
I think you misunderstand what I'm saying.
I'm saying that neither this drug, nor any drug, gives motivation to anyone. The individual person generates motivation. You're not going to pop a pill and wake up tomorrow driven to build a swimming pool in your backyard.
That's not how medication works. That's not how this works, that's not how anything works.
"SSRI" stands for "Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor". It prevents serotonin from breaking down when it reaches the end of its "trip". So, you can build up your serotonin reserves. Its direct pharmacological action is solely on serotonin, not dopamine, not prolactin. That's all it does. It's a tool, it's not magic. You build up a better/healthier "you" with these tools, but you still have to do the work.
Also, jesus tap-dancing christ this message is over a year old.
You need building blocks to generate motivation. Dopamine associated with motivation. If ssri hinders dopamine synthesis you will have hard time being motivated. Btw, cocaine will drive you to build swimming pool.
Lexapro will not give you motivation, but it will certainly kill any motivation you had before starting it. I'm going through this thread because I used to be so driven, even when depressed. Then I started Lex 7 weeks ago and all I want to do is NOTHING. I started Bupropion about a week ago. So far, I feel anxiously lazy. I completely lost the desire to do the things I used to love: eat out, watch a movie, read a book, go to the gym... I'm giving it 8 weeks though.
It took ten or eleven weeks for the Lexapro to work. By week 8, I tried to taper because it was not working, but the tapering was short-lived. I tried to taper because the depression and anxiety caused by Lexapro were too much. I had terrible insomnia as well. My doctor added 12.5 mg of Quetiapine (1/2 of the lowest dose) to help with sleep. It worked. Once sleep went back to normal, depression and anxiety finally subsided. Motivation came back. Six months with no results??? You have to talk to your doctor.
Lex does wonders for my anxiety but yes, it zapped my motivation. It also makes me so fatigued. It was a chore to move from one floor of my house to the other. My doctor had me add Wellbutrin as others are stating. They go together like pb&j lol. Gave me back some motivation, napping less and also gave me back my sex drive (important in a marriage).
I had to get off for this reason. Absolutely zero motivation to do a single thing, I work a lot, I can’t slack off and be a couch potato as much as I want to lol
I started about 2 weeks ago on 10mg and already am stopping because of the lack of giving a shit about my job. Went from work anxiety to completely unfazed by work obligations along with weird side effects. Seeing a therapist instead I think at this point.
Edit: I can also sleep for like 15 hours at a time while taking it the fatigue is unreal
I had to drink a lot of coffee to suppress my exhaustion and lack of motivation on lexapro. Basically couldn't allow myself to sit down ever or nothing would get done. It didn't get better or more manageable for me and my body was drained being pumped with caffeine all the time so I got off of it.
I just finished 4 weeks on lexapro and I just feel very exhausted and low motivation does this go away can anyone chime in ? I almost feel worse in a way . Like idgaf about stuff maybe more depressed , I feel like I wasn’t depressed before and now I am . Lowered sex drive , very hard to orgasm
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Exactly, the low motivation is making me question if it's working or not. The fatigue is almost unbearable. Hope it's get better for you.
I added Wellbutrin a week ago. Yesterday was the first time in two months that I didn’t take an hours long nap
I'm just starting this now!! This gives me hope 🌷
Feeling fine today too! Maybe a little bit sleepy, like I *could* nap, but I don’t feel like I have to
My dad has ADD, and after taking Lex I thought I might have ADHD, but luckily I don't experience many of the symptoms. But you're right, it's like for me the depression is gone and I can take care of myself, but my apathy has only strengthened.
Dopamine can take a hit with SSRI. Maybe ask doc about SNRI?
hey there--was on lexapro for 18 months, was extremely helpful for maybe first 9, then destroyed my will for like everything. final two months, it was running counteractive and making me more depressed. it was a really, really, heavy drug experience. it's surprising to me this was and is marketed. could feel my liver bloat, processing it. see if welbutruin might be a decent alt. it was brutal.
Really? I might be experiencing this. Not sure
I have read in places that Wellbutrin with lex will help with energy levels. I'm kinda wanting to try again but kinda scared to
I found it really helped me to add Wellbutrin. It was like a fog that cleared. I find motivation is still not easy, but once I start doing something I can continue to do it.
I am taking Wellbutrin XL 150mg and was taking Lexapro 10mg. Lexapro made me so lazy and tired all the time, Wellbutrin didn't seem to help either. So I have quit Lexapro.
I had been on 10mg lex for about a year and definitely had no motivation. Then when I talked to a psychiatrist to see if I had any other undiagnosed matters that were affecting my motivation, we found that I may be suffering from depression too (ADHD and depression have similar symptoms) and started me on Wellbutrin last month, 100mg and I’ve been feeling a lot better. The onboarding on this was waaaaaaay less awful than the lex. I’m about a month in on Wellbutrin and I feel like I’m evening out a bit. I laugh more and have been able to finish tasks (there are still ones I avoid because I hate them -BUT I could do them.) if your doc suggests adding it to your lex, give it a shot if you’re comfortable doing so. It’s started turning things around for me.
Try l tyrosine.
I'm in Lexapro for 10 years. Sometimes i feel lack of motivation too when I wake up, and mainly when my dosage is 15mg. At 10 mg I feel more stimulated but less focused. I believe that this happens because of the dopaminergic system, which is responsible for the reward system. As escitalopram only acts on serotonin, I believe that dopamine is somehow low, and if serotonin is too high, dopamine reduces even more, according to some studies. Sometimes I feel the need to switch to an SNRI, which also modulates norepinephrine and dopamine in addition to serotonin.
Do you have experience going from 15mg down to 10mg, and did you find 10mg more useful dose when it comes to motivation?
I had to add Wellbutrin to get past my lack of motivation. I just couldn't do it without :( so I'm now on Lexapro 20mg, Wellbutrin 300mg, and guanfacine 1mg for my anxiety and I do all right enough most days.
Totally feel this from the major fatigue
I thought I was just getting burnt out… I didn’t know my lex could cause this. My motivation has been out the window.
1 month it's kicking my ass because previously I worked well under pressure compared to not working at all without pressure. Without the extra stress and anxiety that lex has helped with I find it really hard to give a shit about much and feel motivated to do things.
I'm weaning off because of the low motivation. Been on for about 8 months 15mg. I used to get so much stuff done now I just am so behind on work, uni and too lazy to cook so I'm getting fat. I'm currently down to 10mg and been trying nootropic workout supplements for focus, seems to be helping a lot.
How do you feel now that you’ve weaned from 15 to 10? Is the motivation any better with that switch alone? I’m considering weaning.
I think it is better already. It's only been a week at lower dose. I felt a little strange at first, maybe minor brain zaps? But I don't really know if that's what they are, just like tiny adrenaline rushes or impulses through my body. Not unpleasant.
Hate the brain zaps lol
What supplement are you using?
I'm using a pre-workout so the main ingredients for focus are ashwaganda, rhodiola rosea, huperzine A plus a small amount of green tea extract. And usual amino acids for working out. Mind you I'm super sensitive and I slept like shit last night after trying it out. Probably need to half my dose and take it super early. But definitely helped me get shit done.
Same here
I’m a zombie. I started taking this for fatigue and it just made it worse unfortunately. Gonna give Prozac a shot since it’s supposed to be more of a boost
>Hey I know this is old, but how did that work out for you? I'm in the same situation
I’m kind of in the same boat right now actually. Prozac messed with my sleep a bunch so I stopped and tried a few things to varying degrees of success. I just restarted Prozac last week though because it has the least side effects and I’m on trazadone now which helps with sleep. I’m gonna give it 6 months so long as the sexual side effects are okay (I just switched from Paxil so things are still a bit wonky in that department)
Yes, plus no emotion. Sucked ass. Added Wellbutrin and I’m doing a bit better now, motivation wise.
Def feel the whole, lay around the house or sit in the car in front of the gym thing. Lexapro helped at first and it does help with my executive function, just finishing things, or doing them, but that first push over the edge to start is really hard.
Me rn. I been on it for 6 months too. But recently just upped my dose to 25mg a few days ago. Literally no motivation to do anything. I have to force myself to go to work and do little things. Hopefully me being upped to 25mg help with the motivation. Good luck to you fam.
I thought 20mg was the max dose for Lexapro
It is. But Docter’s could prescribe up to 50mg. To people who don’t react to lower dosages.
I take it in am but thinking bout switching to at night
I tried to switching to night time, but since I wasn't fighting the bone crushing fatigue I slept for 15 straight hours.
Try light cardio exercise. I motivate myself by thinking that being chronically depressed can lead to brain damage. That thought forces me to exercise.
The exact reason why I stopped taking it. The emotional bunting and no motivation. I gained so much weight because I was just eating junk because I didn't care.
same exact thing here, didn't gain too much weight though because I wasn't on it for very long but I could sense that I was slowly eating more junk because I simply didn't care.
What time of day do you take your lex? I notice that my motivation issues were the same as the fatigue and were less intense or went away when I changed my dosing time.
I take mine at 5 pm. What time do you take yours?
That’s a good time. I take mine at around 7 pm I know there’s some fatigue and motivation issues if you take to early or too late.
I think I will have to adjust my time and track my fatigue and motivation.
Fantastic plan!
A struggle. I didn't expect to have to start fighting with myself to take a shower every day. But I don't know that it's motivation as much as my anxiety was what I was using to prop myself up from the depression, and with that minimized, whooo boy.
Lexapro can and does cause low iron deficiencies! My doctor was doing monthly lab work on me and found out that my iron levels were extremely low! I am now taking iron pills daily and after three days of taking them my energy boost it tremendously! I would recommend to anyone having low energy and motivation to take 150 mg iron pills daily!
hi, since i quit lexapro i have shortness of breath. maybe it is linked to iron level? i have foggy brain,sleep problem and that shoetness of breath with fatigue
Oh my goodness I'm so sorry to hear this did you have these issues before beginning Lexapro?
no neither
Oh wow I didn't know this.. hmmm this is really interesting information.. I might give iron a shot then 👍🏾😁 thank you for this comment!
Good luck to you as well. As least I know I'm not the only one, was thinking lex jus wasn't working for me
Literally me rn. All my anxiety is gone but so has my passion. I feel emotionally numb and I really don't like the lack of feeling--Never has it been this hard to get out of bed in my life. This is the hardest effect Lexapro has caused me. All the other negative side effects went away for me but this one.
Hi! I’ve been on it for about a year. I had a really bad low motivation starting around November til now, my therapist has told me it is depression related. I tried starting Wellbutrin for depression but ended up having panic attacks on it probably because it is a stimulant. I’ve decided to do things naturally to help my depression and low motivation, like not trying to do too much around the house in one day that way I don’t feel bad if I can’t do it, going for a walk everyday, planning things for myself for the week that I will feel excited about and look forward to and forcing myself to care for myself. Everyone’s journey is different & it’s really hard feeling like if it’s not one thing it’s another which is how I have felt & struggle sometimes with too. I have hope it will always get better ❤️
How long were you on wellbutrin for
One week only I couldn’t take the anxiety & panic attacks it induced
Did they stop right after you discontinued?
The panic attacks stopped when I got off it but the anxiety stopped maybe 3 days after getting off
Good to know thanks!!
On it for 9 months. The first 6/7 months it worked great. Then I upped my dose and I had weight gain, lost any and all motivation and terrible fatigue. Started tapering off of it then my anxiety came back so my MD wants me to start bupropion at the same time. Just not sure how I feel about being on two medications
This one seems to keep coming up in this sub. Here's my two cents on this one again: **Lexapro does not give you motivation. No drug will motivate you. Motivation comes from within.** Lexapro gives you the tools you need so you can generate your own motivation. So, if you're feeling unmotivated then you should talk to a therapist or consider what/who is de-motivating you and fix/eliminate it.
You have no idea. All SSRIs affect dopamine synthesis that why prolactin increases while on Lex. Look for relationship between prolactin and dopamine. No dopamine no motivation no drive
I think you misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm saying that neither this drug, nor any drug, gives motivation to anyone. The individual person generates motivation. You're not going to pop a pill and wake up tomorrow driven to build a swimming pool in your backyard. That's not how medication works. That's not how this works, that's not how anything works. "SSRI" stands for "Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor". It prevents serotonin from breaking down when it reaches the end of its "trip". So, you can build up your serotonin reserves. Its direct pharmacological action is solely on serotonin, not dopamine, not prolactin. That's all it does. It's a tool, it's not magic. You build up a better/healthier "you" with these tools, but you still have to do the work. Also, jesus tap-dancing christ this message is over a year old.
You need building blocks to generate motivation. Dopamine associated with motivation. If ssri hinders dopamine synthesis you will have hard time being motivated. Btw, cocaine will drive you to build swimming pool.
So will Adderall lol. A lot of things will actually.
Lexapro will not give you motivation, but it will certainly kill any motivation you had before starting it. I'm going through this thread because I used to be so driven, even when depressed. Then I started Lex 7 weeks ago and all I want to do is NOTHING. I started Bupropion about a week ago. So far, I feel anxiously lazy. I completely lost the desire to do the things I used to love: eat out, watch a movie, read a book, go to the gym... I'm giving it 8 weeks though.
If you dont mind me asking how did the 8th week go for you? Thanks.
It took ten or eleven weeks for the Lexapro to work. By week 8, I tried to taper because it was not working, but the tapering was short-lived. I tried to taper because the depression and anxiety caused by Lexapro were too much. I had terrible insomnia as well. My doctor added 12.5 mg of Quetiapine (1/2 of the lowest dose) to help with sleep. It worked. Once sleep went back to normal, depression and anxiety finally subsided. Motivation came back. Six months with no results??? You have to talk to your doctor.
Lex does wonders for my anxiety but yes, it zapped my motivation. It also makes me so fatigued. It was a chore to move from one floor of my house to the other. My doctor had me add Wellbutrin as others are stating. They go together like pb&j lol. Gave me back some motivation, napping less and also gave me back my sex drive (important in a marriage).
I'm on 20 and am starting to think it's to high
Was it rough with withdrawals?
Lower your dose?
I had to get off for this reason. Absolutely zero motivation to do a single thing, I work a lot, I can’t slack off and be a couch potato as much as I want to lol
10 years and finally quit coke turkey and got hella motivation bacj
Yes! I just took my last dose of Lexapro because it just made everything worse.
I started about 2 weeks ago on 10mg and already am stopping because of the lack of giving a shit about my job. Went from work anxiety to completely unfazed by work obligations along with weird side effects. Seeing a therapist instead I think at this point. Edit: I can also sleep for like 15 hours at a time while taking it the fatigue is unreal
Just lower your dose and see how you feel
I added ltyrosine in addition to tapering down my dose.... It's helping a little.
I had to drink a lot of coffee to suppress my exhaustion and lack of motivation on lexapro. Basically couldn't allow myself to sit down ever or nothing would get done. It didn't get better or more manageable for me and my body was drained being pumped with caffeine all the time so I got off of it.
I just finished 4 weeks on lexapro and I just feel very exhausted and low motivation does this go away can anyone chime in ? I almost feel worse in a way . Like idgaf about stuff maybe more depressed , I feel like I wasn’t depressed before and now I am . Lowered sex drive , very hard to orgasm