I am so afraid to use escitalopram!!! I need help :-(?
Question posted by Christopher 14201 on 29 April 2014
Last updated on 21 May 2014
Hi, i am 37 years, my doctor prescribed me 10mg per day (for depression) three months ago and I am so scared to take it. Every time i want to take it i get a panic attack... as well, i do not sleep lately and i am very tired.
I need help, yesterday at night i got a terrible panic attack while trying to sleep and finally i gave up sleeping all together. i know i have to get treatment if i want to get better, but i cant push myself to take it out of fear.
Some of the other members shared their positive experience but talked about some side effects such as panicking and fear, and my question is how long did these symptoms last?
Please help me, i feel that if i stay like this, i might hurt myself...
I will appreciate a very fast response, i feel i am going crazy :-( i have to do something fast.
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4 Answers
ZA
zarak1
3 May 2014
christopher ,, don lose hope i am usind same medicine on and off from last 5 years , but i think it saved my life without it i was so anxious .. i was so depressd , but it takes time , and i thnk u shld tel ur doctor to prescribe u a good benzodiazpam like xanax or laxotan , which u can take during panicikng time there is nothing to woory ecery single drug has sidefcts but ssri sidfcts goes with tym and body wll get used to it , u shld not feel alone ,bro , i have also been through this hell , but at the end i find light , love from me take care and dont be panic we all r wid u bro
Votes: +0
CH
Christopher 14201
6 May 2014
Thank you Zarak for the comment, i have been using it now for 7 days... i still feel that all my body is shaking and i feel the nerves in my head are hot as well i feel my eyes are hot too... but panic attacks are less severe... i know i am still at the beginning of the therapy and sometimes i doubt i will be good again... but i keep hoping... thanks again for your help:-)
ZA
zarak1
6 May 2014
five it atleast 6weeks then u wll be more fit ,, i pray for u bro
AN
angel1662
29 April 2014
Hello Christopher 14201 I am so sorry to hear you are feeling this way! You are not alone in the fact that people are afraid to take meds... don't read the blogs alot of them will scare you to death to the point you won't take your meds... they have to list all these side effects, but that doesn't mean you will get all or even any..and if you do they usually go away fearly quickly once your body gets adjusted to taking it..I use to be like you/ be so afraid and read all the negative blogs of all the side effects people wrote and had to stop it was driving me nuts in itself... I just started a new med over a mth ago..it is new to the market and I was nervous but you no what I took it and am glad I did..you won't no if this med will help if you don't try it!! Also don't be afraid for if you by any chance do get bad side effects the doc will just discontinue and try you on something else...
so please take your meds, you don't want to live like this... also if you do feel as if you r going to hurt yourself please go to the nearest er asap/ get help!!! You will be fine..don't listen to all this negativity... keep us posted we all r here to support you in anyway we can... your new friend..
Votes: +2
CH
Christopher 14201
29 April 2014
Dear Angel, Thank you so much for your answer. today i started to take the medicine. So far i am ok. litte headaches and numbness. The doctor informed me that in few days i will feel better.
I am usually very strong girl, but many factors like marrying a Greek guy and leaving my country, with the crisis i cant find a job, and severe problem in my spine and had to be operated on last month, finishing my doctorate degree last month too... the factors played a big role to reach the depression especially that Back home i have been offered a university vice president offer at the age of 28, with excellent career and financial stability and here i am nothing :-( the emptiness, loneliness made me have very bad and severe ideas and thoughts... at times it took much effort to stay focused...
sorry i talked a lot, but i felt the need to write down what i feel.
have a nice evening :-)
AN
angel1662
30 April 2014
Hi Christopher 14201 Sorry it took a minute to comment on your comment..lol I am sorry for all you are going through..giving up a great career like that and moving to another country would be devistating on anyone..I no it would on me... I hope things get much much better for you/ that you r able to find the type career whatever country you are in now in the very near future... you don't have to apoligize to me for venting..that is part of therapy and getting things out/ helps to make you feel better... I hope you continue to stay aboard for support for I am I am sure all on dc will be here to support you in anyway possible... welcome my friend..feel free to private message me anytime and I will answer if you need a friend to talk to... I added you to my friends list..your friend.. p.s. you r young and can get back all you had in the other country..sounds like you are a very smart, intelligent women..that in itself should make you proud of yourself/ give you strengh to go on...
CH
Christopher 14201
30 April 2014
Dear Angel, Thank you for you supporting words and i try to keep it in my mind.
Yesterday, i took the first doses of the medicine, unfortunately at night my body started to go on fire, it was quite scary... since the morning it is doing the same... i will keep taking the medicine and hope that this feeling goes away soon. Poor mom and mother in law were up all the night because these feelings were all night.
If you know anything about this feeling, please let me know.
Thank you :-)
PI
Pigletsmama
1 May 2014
Hi Chris - you not alone in being afraid to take meds. There is a great book called "The Anxiety Disease" by Dr. David Sheehan - you can get it on Amazon for about $2 used. It includes the story of a girl who had panic attacks and was terrified of taking meds. She finally went to her doctors office and took her meds right there... so don't feel alone. Read the book-it will help, I think. And don't ever hurt yourself or say you're going to hurt yourself to any real person. You might end up in a private psychiatrist hospital which is the WORST PLACE FOR YOU. If you really feel that way, go to a university-affiliated psychiatric hospital, where there's oversight. You should start feeling better soon, I hope. I was afraid in the past, so I know how you feel. Best of luck and keep us posted.
CH
Christopher 14201
1 May 2014
Dear Pigletsmama, thank you so much for your advice, i actually did the same before yesterday and i went to a psychiatrist at the hospital and he encouraged me to take the medication. I was hoping to take it there but the doctor said it is better to take it at home. so I collected my courage and started it. As you said, i dont want to hurt myself and i do understand how dangerous these thoughts are and that is why i seaked help.
The first night i felt like fire going through my body... and i could not sleep all night. yesterday this sensation also came but it was on and off and i had shorter episodes.
I really want to feel better, i never imagined i will reach such a point where i have such a problem because i am usually a person who laughs a lot...
I am sincerely hoping the medicine kicks in soon... because the panic attacks still hurt me.
Thank you once again and i will keep you posted :-) Chris
Hi, Escitalopram (Lexapro) is a good anti-anxiety medication, and i know friends who have used this and have benefit greatly from it. There is always the potential for side effects when taking any medication, and although you should be aware of the possibilities, the long list of symptoms can be very daunting. I take Citalopram, the sister to Escitalopram, which carries many similar potential side effects, and although i did suffer at first, i have now been taking it for several years with very good results. It is 'normal', when taking an antidepressant/anti-anxiety medication, for it to take 4 weeks (give or take) to work most effectively. It can be scary at first, and you can feel worse before you feel better, but if you can hold on, the chances are you will feel your mood lift and things will feel more positive in general. Are you seeing a psychiatrist at the moment? Do you have a professional person you can discuss your fears with?
Votes: +2
CH
Christopher 14201
29 April 2014
Dear Delila, Thanks for your help and advice, i was at the psychiatrist today and i explained to him my fear but he agreed with my other psychiatrist that I should take this medicine in addition to another medicine called lyrica 25mg/3times a day which is used for nevropathia,i was given this medicine because i just underwent an operation in the the neck disks :-( and all these issues came after surgery.
How many days did it take you to start to get better?
Thanks you once again. Chris
CH
Christopher 14201
29 April 2014
Wawww you are fast. I took the first pill of lyrica at 3 afternoon and in 1 hour i will take Escitalopram and 9:30 the last pill of lyrica.
I wont lie to you i am very stressed and scared!!! but i hope everything will go well.
CH
Christopher 14201
29 April 2014
Hi Delila, may you please answer my question when you are free: How many days did it take you to start to get better? Thank you in advance, chris
DE
Delila
21 May 2014
Hi Christopher, so sorry for the late response! I've been off the site for a little while... When i first started taking Citalopram, i felt pretty rough for the first 3 weeks, my doctor ordered an increase at this point (from 20mg to 40mg) and i felt better almost immediately. With the Lyrica, I think i started to notice a difference much quicker, it's difficult to remember exactly, but i think within the first week i felt less anxious. I know this information is a bit late now, sorry for that. How are you getting on?
Hi, Chris! I think you're in a very self-defeating situation because Celexa is an excellent and very frequently prescribed medication for depression and the whole spectrum of anxiety disorders ~ GAD, SAD, panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, etc.
What you have to remember is that, although you may hear a few *horror* stories, only about <5% of Celexa users report side effects ~ and most side effects are not severe enough to stop the medication and most only last a couple days while your body adjusts.
Think of it this way: You read a handful of reports of bad experiences, but you don't read about the 30 million people who are now happily and productively living their lives ~ while they're taking their medication.
Chris, I'd like to ask that you reconsider and also that you let your doctor know how distraught you are at the moment. I think you're in a much more dangerous situation right now than you would be if you started your medication.
Best wishes and please stay in touch!! WCV
Votes: +4
CH
Christopher 14201
29 April 2014
Dear WCV,
Thank so much for your response, I know that you are right, but unfortunately i was unable to control my fear. Two minutes ago i came back from the psychiatrist and he informed me that i should take both this medicine in addition to another medicine called Lyrica 25mg/3times a day which is for nevropathia (due to surgery that i underwent last month in my neck)...
I am still frightened from getting panic attacks, mine is already so bad... but i have to push myself...
Once again thanks for the help, if you have anymore advice, please feel free to send me. Otherwise i will let u know what happens...
Many greetings from Athens, Greece :-)
DE
Delila
29 April 2014
Hi Christopher, i just posted my response as you were writing so have only just seen your comment. Funnily enough, i also take Lyrica (Pregabalin) alongside Citalopram, and the combination works well for me. The Lyrica helps reduce my anxiety further and helps me sleep.
DE
Delila
29 April 2014
Hi WCV, just wanted to advise you that Celexa is aka Citalopram, not Escitalopram, just didn't want you to be confused between the 2 : )
WI
WildcatVet
29 April 2014
Thanks for the reminder, Del ~ I typed that comment about 4:30am! Pre-caffeine. LOL!
PI
Pigletsmama
1 May 2014
Chris - WildcatVet is giving you excellent advice, she she's right.
