Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert food into glucose, a sugar that the body uses for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the blood, and can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes and organ damage...

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OrphanAnnie 11/25/2008

Just a quick medication question for any of you who are suffering from both depression and diabetes and are taking Lexapro: Have any of you suffered a rise in blood sugar from the Lexapro? It's not listed as a standard side effect, but when I started it my sugar went up over 100 points after only about 4 days. I found only 2 places online where a rise in BG was mentioned, so I thought I'd ask you guys. I posted this on the depression board as well as the diabetes board to catch as many diabetic Lexapro users as I could. Thanks.

deleted_user 11/26/2008

I worked in a psychiatrist's office fopr 9 years and Lexapro, advertised at first as being free of side FX, is the drug I associate with weird, loopy, test-group-never-displayed-these side FX, like falling hair or green teeth.

ALL the SSRIs, including Lexapro, are associated with funky blood sugars.

deleted_user 11/26/2008

Here's an article on the subject:

http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Diabetics-SSRI-Caution.htm

OrphanAnnie 11/26/2008

Thanks for the link and the info. Aside from the green teeth (LOL), lowered awareness of hypoglycemic episodes is the kind of indirect side effect I wouldn't have foreseen myself. For some reason, tho, my BG has gone the other way, way up. Maybe it's the stress of the last week or so, but stress has never gotten me this bad. I'll have to talk it over with my primary doc. I don't want to go off it because, altho it's only been a few days, I'm already seeing some benefits. Thanks again!

harry3333 12/03/2008

there are several other types of antidepressants that may suit you better but docs often only think of the SSRI or prozac type, of which lexapro is one

deleted_user 04/20/2011

Just saw this and on way out, will add more later

I just moved to another State (Maine/Florida) and new Dr. added Lexapro and Niacin to my daily cereal, my BG gas gone from "pretty consistent" 130-150 to 250-290 with no diet or exercise change

One or both of these are causing havoc, on way to Dr now to try and sort this out

deleted_user 04/21/2011

I take lexapro also and my sugar went up at first with it but no problems now.

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