Hi guys, I am new to this website and have a couple questions about Lexapro. Let me give you background. I am a 25 year old female (5'3", 120 lbs) I first started Lexapro at age 23 for depression in April 2012. After 8 weeks, my body adjusted, and Lexapro worked amazingly with my chemistry. In April 2013, I experienced a lot of crippling anxiety, so my dosed was up to 20 mg. For severe anxiety, I'd say this dose worked perfectly for me. It has been almost 4 months that I have been completely off Lexapro; however, I am reconsidering going back on Lexapro for mild anxiety. When I had severe depression, 10 mg worked great. When I had crippling anxiety, 20 mg was just the ticket. Now, I would say some stressful life events have left me with "mild" anxiety. I can deal with it, but I sometimes come home from work and find it impossible to relax. (Even after square breathing exercises, anxiety hypnosis, yoga etc). I have reservations about going back on Lexapro because the 8 weeks, before body adjusts to the lexapro, are very exausting, long, and difficult for me to endure. My appetite comes and goes, and I either experience insomnia or hypersomnia. However, I'm not sure if those 8 weeks will be worth it for mild anxiety. Also, I was wondering if 5 mg of Lexapro would make the 8 weeks more tolerable because it is a small dosage. Additionally, how effective you guys think 5 mg would be for my situation? I should include that I am moving to California in the summer time and plan to get a medicinal marijuana card because I find that to be the best treatment for my mild anxiety, but that is almost 5 months away and I do not want to wait that long. I know a lot of you are going to tell me to ask my Dr. and of course, I will. The problem is she tends to agree with whatever I say, so I wanted another opinion. Thank you
Is 5mg of Lexapro enough for "mild anxiety"? Will this low dose make the stabilizing period easier?
Question posted by samantha5657 on 15 March 2014
Last updated on 20 January 2018 by Nikkirex91
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4 Answers
I don’t know how people manage to take these medications. They don’t help my anxiety at all and I experience terrible side effects while taking them and while coming off of them. The only time I’ve ever been suicidal is while taking an antidepressant which is awful because I just need my anxiety treated. I hate doctors. They don’t care about patients anymore.
First time round a severe anxiety state GAD which had developed over 3 months brought me to the edge - lexapro saved me. Bad side effects for 2 weeks but got up to 10 mg and was on the road to recovery. Stayed on lex for 8 years mainly on 5 mg . Came off a year ago but had a nasty relapse 2 weeks ago after a stressful 6 months. First week back on 5mg
then a week on 7.5 and I feel back to normal - lex has been a wonder drug for me. Don't underestimate the need for exercise relaxation meditation etc as well though
What was the relapse that you are referring to? Like, experiencing anxiety again or went back to drugs or started using lexapro again?
You can start at 5 mgs, but really need to at least bump up to 10mgs to be in therapeutic range. Welcome to the site!
Personally, I did not have good results with Lexapro and tapering off of it was quite the experience and ended up in th er where they thought I was having a heart attack and my legs felt so weak like I could not feel them, went to my doctors office and from there transported to th er, I will never take that med again.
Finally, I did not need a med for depression , just for panic attacks, I am doing well on xanax which I only used with onset of a panic attacks, many days I do not even need it, somdtimes many doctors treay you for depression when with me anxiety untrrated made me feel like wow is this depression, sure enough, trials of zoloft, paxil, cymbalta and more, now I feel great, I am not depresssed and tealuze that I could take 20 pills a days and it will not mske problems go away, so a gteat psychologist, meditation and prn anxiety med is petgect, actually what depressed me the most was the weight gain with antidepressants, realizing some people need them but it was not for me, we all go through tough times and losses. And we all need time togrieve over our lost and psychotherapy and a dr helping you put things in proper perspective was a great help,
Related topics
a-25, lexapro, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, dosage, female
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