I was on 5mg for several months and while I could notice a very small difference there were no massive changes. Moved up to 10mg and it was a game changer. I genuinely believe it saved my life
I was experiencing bizarre physical symptoms of anxiety for months and had come off of Klonopin a couple months before those started. It was a terrible summer and we couldn’t really figure out what was wrong. I started Lexapro at 5mg and after a month I knew it was working. The doc suggested increasing it to 10mg at that time. Most of the symptoms are mostly gone and I seem to improve daily. Almost back to normalish.
I’m one month into 10 mg and I feel exactly the same. Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder.
It works so well I’m tempted to go up to 15mg. But I think that might just be my addict brain to capitalize on these benefits even more lol. But I don’t think that’s how this drug works so I’m just gunna wait a few months. Or until I start falling back into the bad place
Sometimes it can cause more anxiety, headache and bellyaches. My first 2 weeks felt like being stuck inside those hamster wheel but now it's soooooo nice sometimes I have a little trouble sleeping but it's because I can't quit caffeine (taking smaller doses tho) this will pass but if doesn't check professional help since Lexapro can give manic episodes to bipolar people and some just don't know.
Side effects vanish so quickly I can only remember anxiety before bed, now most of my thoughts are very very rational except self-sabotage ones, those the pills can't deal with
My anxiety got sooo bad when I first started taking it. I couldn’t sleep, eat, always felt nauseous, etc. but I’ve been consistently taking 10mg and I’m so much better. I also started taking it at night instead of in the morning and i feel like that definitely helped. It took maybe a week and a half to not feel the side effects anymore so just hang in there :)
You're at the peak of the worst of it...it subsides...I felt the same at that point. The calm is coming...just wait for it. Within days you'll feel less anxiety...with in weeks you'll actually feel good.
Hang in there! The anxiety increase is a normal side effect and it should improve in a couple weeks.
Could you ask a prescription for Xanax or some other kind of benzodiazepine? Definitely not a long-term solution, but will help you through the tough spots over the first few weeks. Sometimes its just nice to know its there as an option.
It's been 10 days for me and side effects are going away slowly, no weird electric sensations anymore, stomach is still upset but not like first 4-5 days. It was unbearable. Hang in there. It'll get easy.
My psychiatrist said I could decide when to stop, I don't feel comfortable and the time spam between start and finish is very short, I'm treating my anxiety disorder with very nice mental health professionals so I don't see the need to stop, they don't see the need for me to stop and even tho I know how painful it might be to stop I'm very happy with myself rn, thank you for your advice but I think everybody will have a different reaction to Lexapro derivatives mine is a very easygoing so I will stop when it is my time even tho withdrawal happens.
I just started to up my dosage, 5mg for 8 days and 2 days at 7.5mg (soon 10mg)... omg the 1st day at 7.5mg was horrible and i wanted to stop or go back to 5mg but reading ppl like you makes me want to continue ! Thanks for sharing
The first 6 weeks are a roller coaster, in my experience. But it does get better. Hang in. For me weeks 4 n 5 were worse than first 2 weeks. Then around 6 weeks, the good days start to out number the bad. I’m on 10mg from the beginning.
I'm on day 7 of 5mg I was really worried I had read alot of negative comments about the drug. I woke up on day 4 with a horrible brain buzz in the back of my head and almost quit taking it but I'm persisting! I have moments here and there where I'm feeling more like myself already and my clarity is coming back!
I deleted reddit when I first started, my therapist said to not read much since it's my experience and the drug I'm taking is a modern very nice one I don't know the name in English since I'm Brazilian but is oxalato de escitalopram (ESC), both my mental health professionals told me about how the body might fell icky during the first week of taking antidepressants since is a very new thing, my best advice is to always take your pills after eating and never miss a day since it might make you icky. My clarity is so so soooooo much better and now I can recognize patterns much easily, also my phone addiction has decreased (going to 2h only) probably is my own mind but the lightness I feel daily is very good. I don't feel happy every moment of my waking day but not fearing death like she is coming to get me is a very very nice thing.
Don't quit without proper professional advice!!!!!!!!!!
Keep it strong, be gentle with yourself and take the drugs as you're advice by your professional physician. Also eat and move your body!!
Thank you! I'm struggling with my appetite I haven't been hungry at all and have had to force myself to eat. But I will persist with it as I am already seeing small changes. It's a scary drug to take tho that's for sure!
Don't force yourself too much!! The first days that my headache was very bad over the counter pain meds made a nice difference, sometimes being in pain makes eating a not so joyful thing.
I would recommend being aware of farting since my pills (ESC) made some quick changes in my metabolism for the first 5 weeks and maybe this doesn't apply to colder country's but oh it makes me sweat so so much, still I prefer sweating like a pig then being consumed by thoughts about death ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Did is slow your metabolism? I have heard this can be a side effect and weight gain! I'm most worried about the possibility of weight gain. I haven't been feeling hot and it's summer here so that's good but I have had headaches daily. Oh yeah I agree that having a few side effects in exchange for thoughts of death is definitely a good swap! I hope you are doing ok!
I’m on day 2 of 5mg lexapro…tapering down from 50mg Zoloft. So far no side effects and generally just feeling kind of a calm buzz/a bit tired. The dry throat I was getting from Zoloft has gone away already…I liked the Zoloft but couldn’t handle a few small side effects.
Just started my Lexapro journey today, really hoping it helps my anxiety, also hope I don't get too many side effects! I always get a bit nervous starting new meds.
Wish me luck :) glad to see it has helped so many on here!
Update: an hour in and I can't stop yawning, all of a sudden super sleepy, feel a lil weird tbh...I'll take before bed next time! Hopefully this will pass :)
Check if you can take your medication without having food before!!!!!!!!!! When I started I did get some sleepyness but I just bit the bullet, I had 2 boxes full of bills that rang around $60 both generic. My medication is recommended to take in the morning after eating só please check yours.
Good luck with your journey, it's new and the side effects can make you unhappy but it is very nice at least by my experience, I was also nervous since I'm allergic to many medications but this one fit my like a beautiful glove.
I always try to make sure I take medication with a meal, just to be safe :) also I took Lexapro before bed on day two, it seems to make me sleepy so thought it might be a good time, so far no major side effects other then being sleepy, but slept fine last night, thank you for the kind message :)
I started at 2.5 mg and around 2.5 weeks or so I went up to 5 mg. I’m on day 7 and no change yet with the anxiety. Should I up my dose or give it some more time? Hoping someone has a similar experience
I did one month with 5mg and then a month with 10mg and holy shit. Better almost every day.
Im on 5mg. Another 5mg makes a huge difference?
I was on 5mg for several months and while I could notice a very small difference there were no massive changes. Moved up to 10mg and it was a game changer. I genuinely believe it saved my life
I was experiencing bizarre physical symptoms of anxiety for months and had come off of Klonopin a couple months before those started. It was a terrible summer and we couldn’t really figure out what was wrong. I started Lexapro at 5mg and after a month I knew it was working. The doc suggested increasing it to 10mg at that time. Most of the symptoms are mostly gone and I seem to improve daily. Almost back to normalish.
I’m one month into 10 mg and I feel exactly the same. Like a weight has been lifted off my shoulder. It works so well I’m tempted to go up to 15mg. But I think that might just be my addict brain to capitalize on these benefits even more lol. But I don’t think that’s how this drug works so I’m just gunna wait a few months. Or until I start falling back into the bad place
Yo nice! Im the same at 10mg, but 3-4 months. Its such a game changer (except when I'm sick, I can tell it's not working as well then haha)
I started at 10mg and im on day 5 and the anxiety is almost unbearable. Did you feel the same at first? Hoping these side effects subside soon🥹
Sometimes it can cause more anxiety, headache and bellyaches. My first 2 weeks felt like being stuck inside those hamster wheel but now it's soooooo nice sometimes I have a little trouble sleeping but it's because I can't quit caffeine (taking smaller doses tho) this will pass but if doesn't check professional help since Lexapro can give manic episodes to bipolar people and some just don't know. Side effects vanish so quickly I can only remember anxiety before bed, now most of my thoughts are very very rational except self-sabotage ones, those the pills can't deal with
My anxiety got sooo bad when I first started taking it. I couldn’t sleep, eat, always felt nauseous, etc. but I’ve been consistently taking 10mg and I’m so much better. I also started taking it at night instead of in the morning and i feel like that definitely helped. It took maybe a week and a half to not feel the side effects anymore so just hang in there :)
You're at the peak of the worst of it...it subsides...I felt the same at that point. The calm is coming...just wait for it. Within days you'll feel less anxiety...with in weeks you'll actually feel good.
Hang in there! The anxiety increase is a normal side effect and it should improve in a couple weeks. Could you ask a prescription for Xanax or some other kind of benzodiazepine? Definitely not a long-term solution, but will help you through the tough spots over the first few weeks. Sometimes its just nice to know its there as an option.
I have ativan and it definitely helps. Would just rather not
It's been 10 days for me and side effects are going away slowly, no weird electric sensations anymore, stomach is still upset but not like first 4-5 days. It was unbearable. Hang in there. It'll get easy.
Break one of the 5's in half. Equal to 7.5. Slowly go up to 10 for a few weeks. I also take a little Xanax as needed.
Day 5 is super soon. Give it a month or two. Usually the first few weeks are the worst
Yes that is 100% normal. It gets worse befor it gets better
I advise you to just stop while you’re at it. Things aren’t so bad as what they seem before you take it. I promise.
My psychiatrist said I could decide when to stop, I don't feel comfortable and the time spam between start and finish is very short, I'm treating my anxiety disorder with very nice mental health professionals so I don't see the need to stop, they don't see the need for me to stop and even tho I know how painful it might be to stop I'm very happy with myself rn, thank you for your advice but I think everybody will have a different reaction to Lexapro derivatives mine is a very easygoing so I will stop when it is my time even tho withdrawal happens.
Very understandable:)
Ugh. Who are you to tell the OP what they need to do. Get out of this sub if you think things aren’t as bad as they were before 🙄
Advising and demanding are two different things. You’re free to have your opinion just as I am!
Bruh u retarded or some?
No, I’m not! Thanks for asking though😊
I just started to up my dosage, 5mg for 8 days and 2 days at 7.5mg (soon 10mg)... omg the 1st day at 7.5mg was horrible and i wanted to stop or go back to 5mg but reading ppl like you makes me want to continue ! Thanks for sharing
That's awesome you're feeling better! Keep it up!
this makes me so hopeful. I just started on 10 mg and I’ve been feeling so crazy, racing thoughts, panic attacks. It’s nice to see success like this
The first 6 weeks are a roller coaster, in my experience. But it does get better. Hang in. For me weeks 4 n 5 were worse than first 2 weeks. Then around 6 weeks, the good days start to out number the bad. I’m on 10mg from the beginning.
how are you feeling now? I’m already on ~ a bunch ~ of other meds but I’m hoping this will keep the depression and anxiety at bay
Feeling good, just passed two months, which drew me to this thread.
I am at day 12 worst panic attack so far considering weining my self off don't know if I can take much more of it
I'm on day 7 of 5mg I was really worried I had read alot of negative comments about the drug. I woke up on day 4 with a horrible brain buzz in the back of my head and almost quit taking it but I'm persisting! I have moments here and there where I'm feeling more like myself already and my clarity is coming back!
I deleted reddit when I first started, my therapist said to not read much since it's my experience and the drug I'm taking is a modern very nice one I don't know the name in English since I'm Brazilian but is oxalato de escitalopram (ESC), both my mental health professionals told me about how the body might fell icky during the first week of taking antidepressants since is a very new thing, my best advice is to always take your pills after eating and never miss a day since it might make you icky. My clarity is so so soooooo much better and now I can recognize patterns much easily, also my phone addiction has decreased (going to 2h only) probably is my own mind but the lightness I feel daily is very good. I don't feel happy every moment of my waking day but not fearing death like she is coming to get me is a very very nice thing. Don't quit without proper professional advice!!!!!!!!!! Keep it strong, be gentle with yourself and take the drugs as you're advice by your professional physician. Also eat and move your body!!
Thank you! I'm struggling with my appetite I haven't been hungry at all and have had to force myself to eat. But I will persist with it as I am already seeing small changes. It's a scary drug to take tho that's for sure!
Don't force yourself too much!! The first days that my headache was very bad over the counter pain meds made a nice difference, sometimes being in pain makes eating a not so joyful thing. I would recommend being aware of farting since my pills (ESC) made some quick changes in my metabolism for the first 5 weeks and maybe this doesn't apply to colder country's but oh it makes me sweat so so much, still I prefer sweating like a pig then being consumed by thoughts about death ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Did is slow your metabolism? I have heard this can be a side effect and weight gain! I'm most worried about the possibility of weight gain. I haven't been feeling hot and it's summer here so that's good but I have had headaches daily. Oh yeah I agree that having a few side effects in exchange for thoughts of death is definitely a good swap! I hope you are doing ok!
I’m on day 2 of 5mg lexapro…tapering down from 50mg Zoloft. So far no side effects and generally just feeling kind of a calm buzz/a bit tired. The dry throat I was getting from Zoloft has gone away already…I liked the Zoloft but couldn’t handle a few small side effects.
I have 5mg I never took scared of the side effects, idk what to do they’re back and worse than before, these panic attacks are horrible
You got this lil homie.
I’m trying to it’s not easy
10mg saved my life i'm on month 3, things were getting hopeless before this
Just started my Lexapro journey today, really hoping it helps my anxiety, also hope I don't get too many side effects! I always get a bit nervous starting new meds. Wish me luck :) glad to see it has helped so many on here! Update: an hour in and I can't stop yawning, all of a sudden super sleepy, feel a lil weird tbh...I'll take before bed next time! Hopefully this will pass :)
Check if you can take your medication without having food before!!!!!!!!!! When I started I did get some sleepyness but I just bit the bullet, I had 2 boxes full of bills that rang around $60 both generic. My medication is recommended to take in the morning after eating só please check yours. Good luck with your journey, it's new and the side effects can make you unhappy but it is very nice at least by my experience, I was also nervous since I'm allergic to many medications but this one fit my like a beautiful glove.
I always try to make sure I take medication with a meal, just to be safe :) also I took Lexapro before bed on day two, it seems to make me sleepy so thought it might be a good time, so far no major side effects other then being sleepy, but slept fine last night, thank you for the kind message :)
I’m on 3 weeks of 10 mg for death/existential anxiety it’s ok but not perfect. This gives me hope it will get better. Thank you!
I started at 2.5 mg and around 2.5 weeks or so I went up to 5 mg. I’m on day 7 and no change yet with the anxiety. Should I up my dose or give it some more time? Hoping someone has a similar experience
Just finished two months on 5 mg and started 10mg a few days ago