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Mom is 91 yrs old and recently began Lexapro for her depression and anxiety. She lives in assisted living and really hates it there.
Does anyone have experience with their parent on Lexapro? Benefits/side effects?
Thanks for all input.

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Mom's been in AL for a year. Lexapro is advised by palliative care and I agree. She has had anxiety and depression for a few years, but is getting much, much worse. She cries everyday and "feels like jumping out the window" every night. b complex and magnesium does nothing for her. Can't visit her. She is on Vit D, Vit C and zinc.
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my dad has anxiety and i started B complex and magnesium and he is much better. Sometimes it is worth trying alternatives. It is worth a try to set up a skype screen to be on full time. Get her a large tablet and put skype onto it where she can view her family in their house and you can view her. That helped my dad when he could not return to my home and missed my mom. He would feel secure to see us on skype, There are other non drug alternatives to anxiety and worth a try. My dad is off all meds and 94 doing great . But when he is anxious, it is buffered because he takes some natural supplements. The anxiety is easily managed and can be redirected. The assisted living should bring her out of her room as often as possible like stay in the main lobby and only go into her room to use toilet and sleep. Give antivirals like quercitin, vit C Zing and get vit D levels over 50...this could safeguard against airborn irritants if she gets respiratory issues. Hopefully she can get out of that solitary confinement of being alone isolated in assisted living.
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I took it for a year. Side effects- Nausea and diarrhea. Also a weird “rubbery legs” feeling.

the nausea was pretty bad and was the reason I stopped using it.
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Go to drugs.com for answers.
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91 years old... she is allowed to hate it. If she just moved to AL, then she needs a bit more time to adapt to AL... She is not in control anymore... She is not calling the shots... This is the hard part. She needs the appropriate time to adjust. Sometimes, at a later stage in life, she may be feeling that this is the beginning of the end?
Acclimating to the new living arraignments may be tough. Is Lexapro the answer? i honestly don't know.. It almost sounds like doctor or someone is throwing concoctions to reduce her for real stress.
Perhaps a lil more time and happiness may be okay. Sundowners is real..
When visiting, play her favorite music, dance with her. treats.. Tell her how much you love her.
It must be harder with covid.. any activities in the place where you can join her, like Bingo, or exercises?
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Bumping your question up. Stick around for answers.

Best wishes to you.
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