[Bek]

Hi all,
Thought that I would add my own experience with Lexapro.

I have been on it for about three months and have experienced all of the side effects, yet have remained on it in effort to give it a chance to work. Recently I've had a panic attack in the middle of the night and have not been able to recover from it. I have never had a panic attack, only anxious moments, and was so scared that I went to the hospital. Panic attack symptoms include; fast heart beat, feeling of deep dread and death, going crazy forever, nausea, diarrhea, hot & cold bursts up and down my spine & arms. I have lost, not gained weight, 12 pounds and eating fatty foods to maintain some sort of weight. I am going to my psychiatrist today with hopes that he will start weaning me off this drug, hopefully putting this awful mental state in the past. Has anyone else experienced a lexapro induced panic attack, and if so what did you do? I appreciate hearing about your experience with lexapro.
[?]

[justwhatever]

When I started taking Lexapro, I noticed that I felt calmer and more able to sleep after about three days. I still felt panicky sometimes, but at the time I was convinced I needed to take five different meds every day. I experienced panick attacks and anxiety regardless. I also noticed the sexual side effects. The worst part for me was quitting it. I think it's a very wise idea to wean yourself off of it, because I quit taking it cold turkey and I had some really bad withdrawl symptoms that lasted for a week or two. I experienced really bad chills, insomnia and depression to say the least. My boyfriend at the time was like "Uh, maybe you should get back on the Lexapro," but I stuck it out and that was over two years ago. Today I take no meds and I don't have panic attacks anymore.
If I were experiencing what you are, I would talk to my doctor immediately. It's very likely that this drug isn't for you. If you never had panic attacks before, maybe you should evaluate your life, and ask yourself what is bothering you. From my experience, identifying what is wrong and facing it is the real battle.

amanda

[annaoffmeds]

I agree,
if you've never had panic attacks before being put on lexapro, then you shouldn't be on lexapro. I actually went on lexapro because I had depression/ anxiety/ and panic disorder. The doc thought if my anxiety was under control that the panic would be too...and it worked- I still had some anxiety and depression, but no where near the debilitating experience I had before meds.
Now, I just weaned myself off of it and am experiencing withdrawl symptoms big time (my doc suggested going down by 5mg every week)--- way too fast for me and I even went longer then the doc suggested on each dose.
I would suggest reading the lexapro withdrawl forum just to read about proper ways to go off if thats what you decide cause theres some good insight there(and talk with your doc as well)
hope you're doing well![^]

[missusmadness]

I've been taking lexapro for a couple of days now, and up until an hour ago, I've had no problems. I'm already feeling happier, more energetic, and alive. However, I had my first severe panic attack in 5 years. I don't know if it's a symptom of my funky mental state or if it's a side effect from the drug (my therapist tells me it's probably the former), but it's good to know others are getting similar reactions.

[matewzin]

Lexapro has fewer and milder side-effects than other drugs in the Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor (SSRI) family of drugs used in the treatment of depression and general anxiety disorders. One common side-effect of this however is weight gain which I have experienced.
http://www.myanxietyattacks.com/anxi...anic-disorder/

[Ice_Angel]

I've had panic attacks before, the worst of which occurred a few years back. Said panic attack lasted roughly a week, perhaps a little more. With this panic attack, my body was wracked with twitches, most primarily in my neck, arms, and legs. I would also produce a shiver which seemed to carry all the way through my the sturnum of my chest. It almost felt as though my very heart were shaking with it. Obviously it was a horrifying experience. This experience occured without medication. Since then I was on zoloft, then later the generic, sertreline.
However recently, my mother had felt as though I was slipping into depression as I had been staying up late and sleeping in late. However in truth it was just a matter of not wanting to go to bed when I was supposed to/not having the time to do everything I wanted during the day, so I would work at fitting everything I wanted to do into the night as well.

Regardless, my words were ignored and she talked to my doctor about Lexipro. The drug had been prescribed to a couple aunts and several of my cousins and she'd heard much praise from them over it, them stating "You won't give a ******** about anything". (lucky me, I turned out to be the exception)
Considering these family member also were having trouble with depression and anxiety, my mom and the doctor agreed and I was prescribed Lexipro. This was only a few months ago.

As of now? For the last few days, I've been experiencing a panic attack, most extremely less significant in comparison the the panic attack of before.
Since I'd been on lexipro for a few months now with no problems, and was under the impression that it was supposed to make the paranoia/panic attacks better, I had no reason to suspect it was making the panic attack worse/last longer. However this morning, I woke up at roughly 2 am and promptly slipped into the worst panic attack of them all for this run. I had chills and twitches which seemed to bore straight through my sturnum. It was as if I was reliving that horrible attack which plagued me those few years ago. I did manage to stop twitching, however I am still experiencing discomfort in my chest and, unexpectedly, my nether regions.
I couldn't figure out what could have possibly triggered it, until I remembered something. Yesterday, my lexipro pills had overlapped.

I checked it out online, and sure enough I found people who had panic attacks start, and others, like mine which had gotten worse.
If there's a risk of this happening again, I want nothing to do with Lexipro EVER AGAIN.


As of tomorrow I'm resuming taking sertreline, Who cares if I'm a little underslept from time to time because of it, at least with it my panic attacks will be under control.