Lexapro for Anxiety User Reviews (Page 5)

• MommyOf
• March 18, 2019

"Had lots of freak outs the first 3 weeks on lexapro for my anxiety. It was just my anxiety scaring me thinking anything that was happening to me was the medication. I was given this for my anxiety due to postpartum anxiety and also it may coincide with depression from my moms death 2 years ago . Anxiety caused me panic attacks which ceased to exist after about 1 month on it, worked better after 7 weeks . I’m able to get up out of bed , enjoy a movie ,laugh and organize things . I look back at these unrealistic worries I had and laugh at them now . I still have some off days but they’re not nearly as much as before .I was to paranoid to drink caffeine and now I’m drinking coffee again . Yes I had some funny phobias and I’m in a better place now . I give an 8 cause it has a couple minor side effects but nothing I wanna note since I know people with anxiety will be reading this and they’re not big deals. Lexapro 10 mg for 3 months now and yes it really works for anxiety. Generic version Escitalopram"

• Wen
• September 24, 2020

"I was in lexapro for like 4 days and was only taking 5mg and it has made me feel so much worse. I’m having worsening depression and worsening anxiety. I’m done taking and going to flush myself out with lots of water."

• AJGH
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2021

"Had depression and anxiety for years and never dealt with it. Hit a big wall during Covid....panic attacks, suicidal thoughts, just awful stuff. Connected with my Dr and prescribed 10mg daily. First two weeks were awful as expected....should have taken some time off work. But man, I'm in my third month and my edges are softened, I tolerate a lot more, I'm doing things I love again and the bad thoughts are gone!!! The best is the fact my kids noticed that I'm not as angry, sad, unpredictable and unstable. Huge!!! It's tough at first, have your support ready....but wow"

• Avyanna...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2014

"My Anxiety symptoms before Lexapro I was always paranoid of people judging me and just wasn't myself because I always felt panicked. I would socially isolate myself from friends and family, which then drove me into depression. My anxiety inhibited myself from learning and grasping new knowledge because I was too anxious to even learn. Even doing the smallest tasks (paying bills) would cause an overwhelming amount of anxiety. Now (after 4 weeks on 10 mg) - I'm mellow, feel confident. Someone I just met pegged me as an intellect! God knows how long anxiety has made me doubt my intelligence. I'm able to do tasks easier, which has reduced my procrastination. It hasn't completely reduced my depression, but Im thinking of trying 20 mg."

• Anonymous
• August 15, 2008

"Since I was in 10th grade, I've had anxiety and depression. I was placed on Lexapro 10mg, but still had some social anxiety and anxiety about other things. I didn't have as much as before so the doctor increased it to 20mg. I've never felt better. Like others have said, I almost forget I have anxiety. I feel fine everyday and it's the greatest feeling in the world. If anyone is reading this post and is unsure about asking the doctor about help with anxiety, social anxiety, depression, etc, please don't wait. This drug truly saved my life."

• Daisy
• October 5, 2021

"I just wanted to come back onto this site and share my experience with lexapro so far. My anxiety used to be so bad I was in a constant state of panic most days and always had thought of impending doom. I cried at the drop of a dime. It was literally ruining my relationship and friendships. I was constantly tired and angry at the world. I had talked to my Dr and we both decided I should give lexapro a try. I was very hesitant at first but I picked up my prescription of 5 mg. The first couple of days were terrible I'm not going to lie to you. I had intense brain fog, brain zaps, I would fall asleep and wake up with intense anxiety. But you know what got me through that? the reviews on THIS site! Telling me it was going to be okay and give it a chance! I told my Dr my symptoms and she prescribed me a small dose of xanax to take before bed. Fast forward to 4 months later I am a totally different person but still have small bouts of anxiety here and there but its manageable! Good luck:)"

• So...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 25, 2023

"I've suffered health anxiety for years to the point where I was constantly obsessing over my symptoms. I've been on it now for 2 months (first time taking anti-anxiety meds), and I can honestly say it has significantly improved my daily life. The positive impact on my mood and anxiety levels has been remarkable. I had the side effects to begin with, but trust me, they go away once your body adjusts. I appreciate the sense of calm and ease it has provided. I'm not overthinking like before - my sleep has improved, and I have more energy."

• Jenba...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2023

"I am a post-menopausal woman who has a full life, a supportive husband and family, and amazing friends. I have struggled with major hormonal shifts as long as I can remember, and menopause was no different. My doctor started me on 1 mg Lexapro and increased it every week. It took 10 weeks to get to 10 mg, and the ramping up was brutal. The anxiety with the drug was worse than what I was being treated for, but I kept going due to reviews here and years ago the same thing happened when ramping up on Zoloft. Lexapro only started to work 5-6 weeks on 10 mg. Keep going, it will work, it just takes some of our systems longer to realize the effects based on how our body metabolizes. Looking back, I think biting the bullet and starting on 5 mg and ramping up quicker might have gotten me to a good place sooner. I feel like myself again and am so very thankful. I tried to do it all homeopathically, but it just didn't work, and life is too short to feel miserable. I am still taking supplements for overall health."

• munk
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2014

"I was very anti-medication. I think people with anxiety often have a phobia of medication. This is too bad, because it can be a total life saver. After a year of anxiety and agoraphobia with hypochondria, I relented and tried the Lexapro. I had not been able to leave the house which was debilitating. I had very few side effects with the meds-maybe minor headaches. After 2 weeks I was able to travel. After 6 weeks I was able to go back to work. It has been two months and I continue to do better. I still need to work on some of the phobic situations, but have not had a panic attack in 2 months. It is a miracle medicine. I do hope I don't need to be on it forever, but for now I am so very happy I took the plunge."

• Haddy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 15, 2020

"My husband started 5mg of Lexapro about 8 weeks ago. He has anxiety, panic attacks and some OCD tendencies. He had side effects at first, slightly increased panic attacks and anxiety. Started feeling better though after the first week. Not as good as he wanted so he went to 10mg and had a relapse of side effects but to me the panic attack seemed slightly less severe and passed quickly. It has been a month on the 20mg and he has had several bad panic attacks and some increased anxiety. We were really worried about this but then did some more reading and it seems that it was common for people to have this happen after a month but it passed. I am wondering if anyone else has experienced this happen after a month of starting and if they continued. Did it get better and how long until it passed."

• Guy
• September 30, 2019

"The first couple of weeks were very difficult. I had increased anxiety, much worse than the anxiety I was being treated for but that stopped right at the 2 week mark, overnight. I felt a lot better but still not quite where I wanted to be. I went back to the doctor at the 3 week mark and he increased the dose from 10mg to 20mg and immediately I felt a difference. I did not have increased anxiety this time like I did when I started. In fact, the first day I felt very relaxed, almost euphoric. On the second day I felt more like my old self, the anxiety and intrusive thoughts seemed to be very minor. I did have anxiety in the mornings for a while but that has started to get better also. My anxiety is nearly zero at this point and I find that I am better able to handle stressful situations. I 100% recommend Lexapro just stick with it. The bad stuff goes away pretty quickly and after a month or so you will find yourself again. It has been a God send for me and I am so thankful for it."

• DDano
• December 17, 2019

"The first couple of days on Lexapro were terrible and the first couple of weeks were rough. I've been taking 10 mg now for almost a month. After 3 weeks, it feels like my anxiety is 50% less. You start noticing the positive effects w/in a few weeks. Keep taking it - it's worth it. Can't wait to see how I'll feel 6-8 weeks in. :)"

• Anthony
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 3, 2023

"This medication changed my life. I was 30 years old (I am 33 now) and amid an insane amount of life transitions. Parents dying, living on my own, breakups, etc. My mind began living in fight or flight mode all day every day. I could no longer drive on expressways without sweating and being full of fear. The thought of a plane ride would make me sick to my stomach. I felt nervous even being home. I knew something had to change. I was very resistant to medication so I tried everything else I possibly could to tame this unrelenting anxiety. Eventually, I reached my breaking point and caved in. I am SO happy I made that decision. Lexapro soothed and smoothed out the kinks in my brain. It helped slow down the chaos and allowed me to breathe. It allowed me to think with calmness and clarity. I felt like my head was finally up out of the water. If your doctor believes this path is helpful for your condition, I would second that. I am so grateful."

• rehan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2019

"It is a miracle drug!! I'm from india, I have been social anxiety and lack of concentration, low self confident etc. I'm afraid of this world, one day my doctor prescribed me lexapro 10 mg, and you know what??? On my first day I felt a difference and after 6 days I'm more confident, more talkative, have more self esteem, anxiety gone 95 percent, I feel more energy, now I' m not afraid of this world, I enjoy life and making new friends. I think all people on this planet take this drug even if they have any symptoms like I did. This drug make them complete, and side effects? No I don't have any except delayed ejaculation, which I think its ok coz it make my wife happy ;) and thanks to all, I pray for all u guys."

• Getsb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 17, 2018

"I'll share my experience with lexapro so far. I've been on it for a month now, before starting it I couldn't work, had daily panic attacks, social phobia and derealization. It was awful, truly. I started on 10mg and had awful side effects, felt weird, insomnia, nausea, diarrhea, increased anxiety! You name it. So I went down to 5mg, that was fine and no side affects at all. Although my anxiety was better it wasn't gone. I upped to 7.5mg and did that for a bit. No side affects. I have to mention that I do take my lexapro at night time because it still makes me very sleepy. But I sleep through that obviously. I am now on 10mg after the gradual upping and I have to say, my anxiety is nearly completely gone! I feel like myself again and work (I work in emerge at a hospital) has been great. I am only assuming it will get even better in a month. I know when you start the side affects can be hard and you will want to stop. All I can say is hold out!"

• Sailo...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 11, 2020

"Lexapro has been a lifesaver for me. It is the only thing that can quiet my anxiety when it reaches its breaking point and takes over everything in my life. 3 times now I’ve tried to taper off but experienced difficult life circumstances each time that prompted me to go back on it. The difference before and after is unreal. It makes life manageable again"

• Paula
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 15, 2018

"There’s no need to be suffering. This medication is an anxiety GAME CHANGER. I’m on 10mg a day. I work out every day have not gained an ounce. 6 months later my sex life is thriving! When you feel better, you feel sexier. I’m 47 and shocked folks are having sex issues and weight gain. Get out there and grab life!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 19, 2023

"If you are wondering whether to start taking Lexapro or not this is your sign!! Lexapro literally changed my life. For about a year I struggled with bad health anxiety along with panic attacks and intrusive thoughts. I didn't like the person I became and would cry because I just didn’t feel like myself. I was always against taking meds and tried to find other ways to help with my anxiety but nothing ever helped. I finally decided to get on meds. Started off with 5mg and the first week was a little rough. Anxiety was more heightened along with some dizziness. By the second week, I started to feel a lot better and by week 4 I was finally able to feel the full effect of the meds. Lexapro has definitely changed my life for the better. I finally feel like myself again. It’s now been almost a year and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 13, 2023

"I just want to thank everyone for posting their reviews of Lexapro and offer advice for anyone new to taking it. It sucks in the beginning. I would come here to read others' reviews of taking Lexapro and they all said keep going. So I want to continue the encouragement. I felt terrible in the beginning, but then slowly got better. Now two years later I wish I would have started taking Lexapro sooner. You will still feel anxious at times, but it’s much easier to control. I wish everyone the best in their mental health journey. I know how exhausting it can be."

• Nks
• June 4, 2020

"I took Lexapro 2 times over my 21 years of life. 1. 13 y.o. HORRIBLE panic attacks, despersonalization, couldn't breathe, couldn't walk and thinking I'm going to die. Started to take Lexapro. No side effects and it helped me a lot. Took it for 1 year and I started to change my lifestyle to have little to none stress. 2. 19 y.o. Stress came back and so did the anxiety. No panic attacks tho. Begun to take the med, started to enjoy things again. Had side effects this time. Gained 30 pounds over 8 months! Had EXTREME loss of libido. After one year and a half, I really can't say it did more good than bad this last time. I've been off it for 2 months now. I have insomnia and struggle to lose weight. I'm eating healthy on a C.D, exercising 6/w and yet I hardly lose any weight. I still have really dark thoughts when I go to sleep and overthinking are still there. So I have mixed thoughts about this medication. First time it helped, years later it came back and it did little to nothing."

• Beezy
• February 16, 2015

"I had severe panic attacks for 6 months! I developed derealization and was scared of everything. I felt like I was living in a nightmare. I felt relief from Lexapro immediately. I was foggy headed at first but that went away. I feel amazing after 2 months of taking it. I feel like my old self again. The only side effect is dizziness at night sometimes. I only take 5 mg."

• the_bbb
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 18, 2022

"Hi. Entered a very bad space, and after interaction with mental health team, I very reluctantly started escitalopram (lexapro) 10mg. I spent countless hours reading reviews, and heartfelt thanks to all who shared their experiences. Had you not, I may not have tried the medication, and probably would not have been around to post this...... It took about 3 weeks to start having some "better" days, and then just kept getting better still. It has now been 9 months. I have reduced my dose from 10mg to 5 mg, am hoping to taper off completely, as I struggle a bit with motivation while on this med. It has however perhaps been literally a lifesaver for me in what has been my darkest times, and if you are totally freaked out and deliberating about taking this med, then just do it. Give it time, and I hope it will help you as it has helped me. Medications for your brain are no different to medications for anything else, - ...Took me a lot to get over myself and accept this... Stay strong...."

• Work...
• May 20, 2013

"Lexapro saved my life pure and simple. I was 42 years old and worked many years in the financial industry. One night before I went to bed right after X-mas, I had a severe panic attack and for three months I suffered unbelievably. I tried dieting, meditation, vitamins, exercise, you name it. Nothing worked. I first tried Zoloft but the side effects were awful. Next I tried Lexapro. Side effects were bad for 2 weeks and then after a month, anxiety reduced by 80%. Still have some but 100% better than before. Another key is to meditate, eat right, exercise and connect spiritually. Lexapro for the brain and meditation for the soul!"

• Momo
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2014

"I started Lexapro less than 3 weeks ago and I absolutely love it. I was extremely nauseous and threw up several time just hours after taking it my first week, so I started taking it an hour before bed (also makes me very drowsy so it helps me fall asleep). I am no longer feeling sick whatsoever. I have lost more than 10 pounds and have gained TONS of self-confidence. I highly recommend trying Lexapro."

• Tweetie...
• October 3, 2014

"Lexapro saved my life. I was locked into worry, self-recrimination, and rumination. I couldn't let go of the past and see myself in a good light. Within a couple of days the anxiety lifted and I could finally SLEEP! I've been taking it now for 6 weeks. In that time, I got a volunteer job that I love and I'm so upbeat. I'm grateful for this site because I read others' experiences which led me to ask my psychiatrist for Lexapro. Thanks to the posts about taking only the brand name Lexapro (my psychiatrist concurs). It's difficult taking medicines because with emotional/mental problems we feel out of control and taking a medicine that doesn't work makes us feel more out of control. It's worth trying until you find what works. Don't give up."