With a long history of depression, I've been on virtually every SSRI and a couple of different MAOIs at one time or another.
Lexapro has been the only medication that has really helped me.
I took 70mgs a day for over a year and am currently taking 80mgs a day. Initially I had a few side effects, but they wore off after a few weeks.
The important thing with ANY anti-depressant is to give it a few weeks at least before you give up on it. Often you feel the side effects before you feel the benefits. In the long run the side effects go away but the benefits stay.