by Dan Stelter

Created on: April 19, 2009

It is my personal opinion that the less medication one has, the better off one is. Among the negative aspects of medication are that not all the effects of medication are known, doctors are quick to react to physical symptomology but often fail to address the mental causes of physical disorders, and, the drug companies in the United States make billions of dollars annually and need to keep people dependent on their drugs in order to keep that income. However, on some occasions, the use of medication can be highly beneficial and the side effects very nominal, when medication is used appropriately and when needed.

When first considering the usage of medication, I was not sure whether or not it was right for me. I felt somewhat like a failure for going on it, was afraid of the potential negative side effects, and was also quite concerned with the cost, knowing that a month's supply of common medications can cost anywhere from $100-$300. But, I felt like I was not as relaxed as I wanted to be, and I knew that being relaxed was a better way of life, and I finally rationalized that I could always go off the medication if I did not like its effects on my life. So, I decided to go ahead and take it.

The doctor I saw was one on my local college campus with whom I already had a very solid working relationship based on previous experiences. Good doctors who listen to the patient and weigh his or her reports against professional experience are very hard to find. I gave him a good case for why I wanted to go on to anxiety medication (significant anxiety symptoms in very non-threatening social situations), and we eventually agreed that I would start taking a ten milligram dose of Lexapro, which is the lowest dose a person could take.

The first two weeks or so took some adjusting. I felt a bit "funny," is the best way I could describe it. I am one who is pretty articulate with the written word, but some of the feelings that occurred in the first couple weeks with Lexapro were ones I had never previously experienced, and it's really difficult to put those feelings into words. But, during the initial adjustment phase, which my doctor warned me about, none of these strange feelings felt significant or threatening enough such that they warranted an emergency visit to the doctor. After two or three weeks, I visited the doctor to do a brief follow-up to make sure that everything was going okay. This had been scheduled after I left the first day, per the doctor's request. I reported

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