How do I prevent headaches while waiting for Lexapro 5mg to kick in?

Hello Beecrow. Sorry you are having headaches. Have you had these before or are they simply a side effect of the Lexapro? I believe that up to 3,000 mg of Acetaminophen is considered safe for short term pain therapy. Some people get good pain relief By rotating 650mg of acetaminophen and 400 mg of ibuprofen every 6 hours as a form of short term therapy (while you await the effects of Lexapro). Otherwise, many people get relief from tension through the use of Kava Kava and Valerian root (available at supplement shops) as a short term therapy.

Finally, I have second hand knowledge of the effectiveness of 5 mg of Lexapro as a therapy for stress. My wife's doctor prescribed her 5 mg of Lexapro and she was a lot more pleasant to be around. She became less irritable and more relaxed and it seemed to work fairly quickly - within 2 or 3 weeks. Of course, your experience may be different.

Good luck and all the best.

Hi, Bee! If the headaches are a side effect of initiating treatment with Lexapro they should only last a week or two:
"Very common (10% or more of users): Headache (up to 24%), somnolence (up to 13%)"
"Side effects have been reported to be generally mild and transient. They are most common during the first 2 weeks of treatment and decrease in intensity and frequency with continued treatment. They generally do not lead to treatment cessation."
If, like me, your headaches are a result of anxiety/tension it may take several weeks for the medication to become fully effective:
"Sleep, energy, or appetite may show some improvement within the first 1-2 weeks. Improvement in these physical symptoms can be an important early signal that the medication is working. Depressed mood, anxiety, and lack of interest in activities may need up to 6-8 weeks to fully improve.
Escitalopram (Lexapro) | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness"
Try to be patient... this type of medication doesn't begin working quickly but the wait is well worth it. Lexapro is considered one of the top three antidepressant/anxiolytics for the treatment of anxiety/depression by user reviews and clinical studies.