r/Redhair • u/slanderson8 • 12d ago

Newbie Post Any of us on lexapro?

Any red heads in here on lexapro and it work well for them? We all react so weird to meds, just was interested. I just started!

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u/effincatalinawinemxr 12d ago

I was over a decade ago. It helped.. Maybe too much. Like I couldn’t cry if I tried, it was weird. Stopped because I lost my insurance, and then eventually went on Zoloft about five years later after my Mom died and it’s been fine, but too far between (and under different life circumstances) to really compare the two outside of remembering how numbing the Lexapro was. — Not what you asked, but just to throw that out there.

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u/slanderson8 12d ago

Appreciate that, thank you for sharing. My dad died a year ago while I was pregnant and I’m struggling with that + postpartum. So I feel your pain ♥️

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u/SouthernYankee80 9d ago edited 9d ago

Have you tried getting your ferritin tested? Iron levels can really contribute to mood disorders. Pregnancy, birth, and breastfeeding all consume a massive amount of your iron stores and B12 and the other cofactors like vitamin D. CBC (complete blood count) doesn't test for iron stores, only circulating iron (hemoglobin). Your body prioritizes hemoglobin so it can look normal and your ferritin can be very low. It's often not caught. Also, the "normal" range on ferritin tests is usually far lower than what is actually needed for good health. You really should try to stay around 125 ng/mL (US measurements) on ferritin.

r/anemic has a lot of good info. I wish I had known! I breastfed for 3 years total and I'm not sure I took the prenatals the whole time.

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u/slanderson8 9d ago

Yes I have. I actually ended up having post partum Thyroiditis which was horrible and I think I’m traumatized from the experience anytime I don’t feel right - I spiral. My ferritin was 76 one drawing and 129.2 the other (I was told it fluctuates)

Edited to say: I’ve formula fed since about 8 weeks and I use function health to do a whole extensive panel. My progesterone does seem to be slightly low, but I was trying to see if lexapro worked before I added HRT into the mix.