... anxiety that never went away. I started feeling really good at day 6 and most of 7 but then had another panic attack. I am feeling discouraged now, as I thought I was over it. Is this normal? Do I need to give it more time?
I have been on lexapro for 8 days now. I started taking it after waking up from a surgery with?
Question posted by Gigioverton on 23 Feb 2016
Last updated on 24 July 2018
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
5 Answers
wrekee
2 March 2016
So I have been on lexapro for about a month for panic disorder and severe anxiety. I am on 10mg. I don't think lexapro totally takes annxiety away, you will need therapy also to deal with that but the panic attacks are less common. Take me for example. My worst fear is getting stuck in an elevator... and guess what, I got stuck in one today for about 30 minutes on the 9th floor. Did I have a panic attack... almost but not one of my major ones. Did I have severe anxiety... definitely. I definitely think the lexapro did help me deal with the situation.
Dan11111
2 March 2016
Hey Gigi. Just checking on your progress.
Gigioverton
2 March 2016
Hi Dan. The anxiety seems to almost be completely gone. I was sweating at night and that seems to have also gone away. I do feel a tad cloudy at times... Have you experienced that? And I have nightmares. How are you doing?
Dan11111
2 March 2016
Im on day 17. I still have this over the top nervious energy. I do feel cloudy but only in the mornings. I would really like to see this stuff kick in, but I know it's a handle it game until it does. Most days I feel less anxiety.
Gigioverton
2 March 2016
I go see my PCP Friday so I'll ask him and let you know what he says. I have heard its 4-6 sometimes 8 weeks... Is that what you've heard also?
Dan11111
2 March 2016
Yeah thats exactly what I have been told, 4-8 weeks. Either way right now I'm still better off then before I started Lexipro. Well, now that hell week is over.
Gigioverton
3 March 2016
Yes, me too. What time of day do you take your medicine?
Dan11111
3 March 2016
Glad we're both on our way. I take it at night. Its a little too strong on making my head weird to take before work.
Gigioverton
3 March 2016
I do the same. I take it at 9pm... Yes, we are well on our way.
Dan11111
27 Feb 2016
Just checking to see how you're doing. Any progress? Im on day 14 now. Most the side effects seem to be gone. Thank God
Gigioverton
27 Feb 2016
Hi Dan! I'm on day 12 today and seem to be doing much better. I had a great day yesterday and today seems good so far. I'm SO glad you are doing well. When did you notice the difference?
Dan11111
27 Feb 2016
Hi! I pretty much was just like you around day 10 it started getting better but I could still hsve like a bad hour but not a bad entire day. I'm seriously glad that first week is over. Day 14 and I am noticing being calmer in situations that I am normally not. Still waiting to see what month two will be like.
Gigioverton
27 Feb 2016
Yes, I had the same exact experience. Bad hours but not days. This is all new for me. I've never had anxiety in my 37 years so I lost it. My mind went nuts. The good news is we seem to be getting better! And I'm off coffee and wine lol so that's a plus! How are you sleeping? I was having really bad nightmares but didn't last night. I don't want to be on this forever though... Have you thought the same?
Dan11111
27 Feb 2016
My sleep has been normal. Getting going on the morning though is hard. As for staying on it forever, I have lived almost 20 years with anxiety and it gets worse each year. At this point if Lexapro ends up giving me a normal life I would stay on it. We'll see after the first few months how good it may get. Glad you are over the initial shock.
Gigioverton
28 Feb 2016
I'm so glad you are seeing some relief. It's not easy to deal with. Let's keep in touch on this journey of ours. Tomorrow is a new day! We got this!
Gigioverton
9 March 2016
Hi Dan! Just checking in to see how you are feeling??
Dan11111
9 March 2016
Hi Gigi. I'm on day 25, and today at work has been insane. Surprise inspections from the VP. I have to say that before when that happened my anxiety would have gone thru the roof. I handled it pretty well though. This stuff is working I just wonder if it gets better. Fays off are hard because my mind can wonder. How are you?
Gigioverton
9 March 2016
If you're on day 25 I'm day 23. I think I'm two days behind you. I have felt great the last 5 days. No anxiety at all. A little tired in the am but that may be because I stopped coffee :(( I loved my coffee but I'm afraid to drink it after what happened. Aside from being a little tired I'm good!
Dan11111
10 March 2016
That's awesome news! And we both proved it; "just get thru it" for that first week ot two. I started mine Feb 14th. I still get shaky leg. I wonder if it will get better the longer I go or if Im gonna have to increase dosage, meaning hell week again :( I'm still not where I want to be with anxiety but it's better. I'm really glad you are 100% It eas really hard for me to realize that this is an actual medical condition and that I have it.
Gigioverton
10 March 2016
I started Feb. 18th so I'm 4 days behind you. Yes, we got past the hard part. From what I hear, it takes 6-8 weeks to get the max benefits so don't worry. You'll get there. I'm so happy with it so far.
Gigioverton
14 March 2016
Hi Dan! Just checking in on you. How are you doing?
Dan11111
14 March 2016
I'm hanging in there. The Lexapro is working but I'm not where I need to be. Now that I can actually think again I have realized how far down I let my life go. I think I need some serious major life changes. My career has also become insane so if I stay with it I'll likely never be better. Doctors appointment tomorrow to discuss further
Gigi how are you?
Gigioverton
14 March 2016
I've felt really good. No anxiety for the last 2 weeks or so. I've stopped all caffeine and slowing getting off sugars also. Trying to see if that helps things. I find myself overthinking when I feel sick or some form of pain. It always comes back to the anxiety and I overthink it. The lexapro is definitely working - I feel much better. I'm still cloudy at times but I think I just have to give it some more time. My dr said therapy helps also but that sounds so crazy to me... Therapy?! lol.
Dan11111
14 March 2016
I think we're at about the same place. The night sweats have stopped. I feel better but not there yet. I'm really glad you are doing well. Its weird how our own thoughts and not real world can affect us so much.
Gigioverton
14 March 2016
Yes, it is very crazy... It seems like such an easy thing to control but so hard to do. Hope you get to a good spot with things at work. I know that can be stressful. Hope it goes well with your dr.
Gigioverton
1 July 2016
Hi there. Thought about you today. How are you doing??
Gigioverton
25 July 2018
Hi Dan!! Checking in on your journey. How are you feeling???
WildcatVet
23 Feb 2016
Hi, Gigio! The bad news (or good if you want to take it that way) is that what you're feeling is completely *normal* for some users. It's just a part of the start-up while your body is adjusting to the drug. The good news is these effects are generally transient and will resolve on their own shortly. The main thing is that you're feeling better overall and that will happen more and more frequently. By about 4 weeks the side effects should have subsided and the good feelings taken over, Then at around 6 ~ 8 weeks your blood levels should peak and you'll feel the maximum benefits.
It seems a long time to wait it out, but it will be worth it!
Best wishes to you,
Gigioverton
23 Feb 2016
Thank you so much WildcatVet! I'm going to stick it out and pray for better days. God bless you. You have really been helpful and I cannot thank you enough!
WildcatVet
23 Feb 2016
You're more than welcome! None of us here are mental health professionals ~ just folks who are willing to support and comfort fellow travelers on the path we're on too. Please feel free to post with any concerns or questions you may have. If we can we'll be happy to help even if it's just to give encouragement and support.
Gigioverton
28 Feb 2016
WildcatVet, today is day 13 - I'm feeling kinda out of it if that makes sense. Like a cloudy feeling. Did you also experience this? Will it go away?
WildcatVet
29 Feb 2016
Yes, it's probably *normal* but side effects can persist for several weeks, Hang in the and give it a little more time ~ you're only 2 weeks in and this stuff should start to fade very soon. How are you feeling in general?
WildcatVet
29 Feb 2016
Yes, it's probably *normal* but side effects can persist for several weeks, Hang in the and give it a little more time ~ you're only 2 weeks in and this stuff should start to fade very soon. How are you feeling in general?
Gigioverton
29 Feb 2016
I feel MUCH better. The anxiety is almost completely gone. I have bad moments but I am able to recover. I think it's me... As in, me anticipating something, because I'm nervous about it. Overthinking it is a good way to put it. I'm hanging in there WildcatVet! Your support is God sent, I just know it is. Tomorrow will be day 14!!!
WildcatVet
29 Feb 2016
HOOOray! Good to hear that you're doing well. Yes, we do tend to make ourselves sicker by fitzing and futzing constantly over every little detail, but we human right? Now that wasn't aimed at you ~ you did right by reaching out instead of internalizing your anxiety. That's what we're here for!
Gigioverton
29 Feb 2016
Yes, we are all human. It just feels good to know I'm not alone. After this cloudy feeling wears off, I should be back to my normal self again. I pray for that... I was able to go back to the gym today! Felt great.
WildcatVet
29 Feb 2016
To the gym!! Are you finding that each *milestone* like this just helps restore your self-confidence and invigorates you to take another step?
Gigioverton
29 Feb 2016
Absolutely! I'm starting to feel like my old self again. Such a bizarre thing that happened to me but thank God I'm getting better!
Gigioverton
1 July 2016
Hi there!! I thought of you today and how thankful I am to have had your support as I went through a hard time in my life. I weaned off the lexapro Friday! No issues during that process at all. Today I do feel a little anxiety and "off" but I think that comes with it. Just wanted to thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Hope you are doing well.
Dan11111
23 Feb 2016
I have been on Lexapro for ten days now. I can say that the first week was bad but around day 7 it started getting better. Yet still I can have a good day and then out of nowhere panic can set in. I know that it is supposed to take at least 4 weeks before we start to actually feel the benefits. Best thing for us is likely to just get thru these days to get to the good effects.
Gigioverton
23 Feb 2016
Thank you Dan... I agree, the first 7 days were not good at all. Are you doing 10mg daily? I am to get some relief each day. This is all new to me. I have never struggled with anxiety so it is very scary.
Dan11111
23 Feb 2016
This is the first time I have ever gone on medication for it but I have had anxiety for many years. I read a lot before going on it. I know that 4 weeks is the minimum and likely it is more like 6 to 8 weeks. Just hang in there. You're not alone. Yes, I am on 10 mgs. These forums have a ton of info and conversion about this as well. Good luck, you are in my prayers.
Gigioverton
23 Feb 2016
I will be counting down the days... Hoping to see more results as the days pass by. I work full time and have a 12 year old so this almost feels crippling... :( Thank you for your support - it adds comfort. God bless you.
Related topics
lexapro, anxiety, panic disorder, surgery
Further information
- Lexapro uses and safety info
- Lexapro prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lexapro (detailed)
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