I started Lexapro three weeks ago. I was on 5 mg for one week and then 10 mg for the last two weeks. I’ve had maybe three good-ish days in the past three weeks but that’s it. I have depression and GAD at the severe end. I’m still experiencing horrendous morning anxiety when I wake up. I don’t feel like doing any of the things I used to enjoy and have to really push myself.
I’ve never been on an SSRI before, only an SNRI (Effexor XR) for many years. I weaned off that drug to start Lexapro in November. I had a terrible time withdrawing from the Effexor and ended up stopping that and the Lexapro until three weeks ago when I realized I needed to start meds again.
My concern is that maybe this drug won’t work for me. Shouldn’t I be feeling better by now? I could really use some advice and some positive stories. The thought that it may not work is really causing me a lot of anxiety.
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4 Answers
NE
New2AllThis
23 March 2021
I can totally relate! It took until about week 4-5 for me to consistently feel better. My psychiatrist prescribed Mirtazapine for me to take in small dosages at night to help me fall asleep. I'm at the 7 week mark and things are much better than when I was at week 3! Reading some of the success stories on this site helped for sure...
Votes: +0
TW
Tweenie333
23 March 2021
Thanks for your comment. I think I should have had something to help me through the worst of the side effects in the first three weeks. I’ve read so much about a short term add on. I just wish my doctor would have done this for me. Oh well! Hopefully, the night time panic attacks will stop soon. Wishing you well!
TR
Trallyn
24 March 2021
Yesss for sure!! This my 23rd day and my appetite has picked up today, praise God!! It is so true your 1st for me 3weeks are the hardest. My doctor told me to don't stop taking it, that it would help me in 2 weeks. Well that was not true in my case. I'm am starting to feel something so maybe my body is trying to react to the escitalopram. My therapist told me not yo stop and if I need the xanax for me to take it. I've been told xanax is not your Friend. I figured if I started back taking it as needed I won't be able to stop. That's the whole reason I was giving escitalopram. You are right this sites and other people journey can help others find answers to their own travel. I was given sleep aid too cause you do loose sleep, but like Wildcat said... It will get better, in God's good grace. Stay strong and stay safe.
KR
Kruege1
21 March 2021
Hi! Omg I can do relate to you right now. It takes time. I’ve been on antidepressants most of my adult life and they’ve all worked! I was on Prozac for years then it just wasn’t giving me full coverage for depression and anxiety. I switched to Zoloft which was awesome for 5 years. Then, it just stopped. Depressive symptoms came back. Soooooo, Dr switched me to Paxil since my sister, mom and daughter all had great response with it. So now, I’m having some acute anxiety with my old depression symptoms, and geez you’d think I’d know it takes time for the therapeutic response, up to 6-8 weeks! But noooo. It’s the nature of the illness—I want to feel better NOW! But, we have to wait it out to see and feel results. I have EVERY confidence it’ll get much better, but it’s hard to feel that when you’re in the throes of anxiety... but it will! Give it some more time... I’m right there with you. We will soon feel relief-it WILL come!
Votes: +0
TW
Tweenie333
21 March 2021
Hi Kruege1:
It makes me feel better to know that I’m not alone. I’ve been reading comments about how some meds just won’t work for people and that’s now stuck in my mind. The thought of weaning and starting something else terrifies me. I know I need to think positively but it’s so hard when all you want is to feel better. Thank you so much for offering your experience. I hope you’re feeling great soon!
TY
TyreseTl
20 March 2021
SSRI’s such as Lexapro take a while to reach it therapeutic level to become fully effective. It may take 6-8 weeks. These medications work by altering brain chemistry, so it’s a process that takes weeks to months. Therefore, giving up during the 3 weeks mark won’t consider a fair trial, so ill suggest you give it more time to work. Lexapro is a good choice for depression and GAD. Also, Lexapro tend to improve depression symptoms a little fast than anxiety. Don’t let your anxiety control you or the medication won’t work. Try to stay positive. You can try to distract yourself by reading, listening to music, taking walks etc. I have my fingers crossed for you. You will get better soon. Tyrese
Votes: +2
TW
Tweenie333
20 March 2021
Thank you so much for your comment. I’m praying this drug will be a good one for me. I’m so ready to feel “normal” again.
TY
TyreseTl
21 March 2021
Keep us updated on how your feeling, okay?
TW
Tweenie333
21 March 2021
I will, thank you so much. I do have a question. I did have nausea when I started this drug but it let up fairly quickly. I was getting it off and on. Today, out of the blue, I felt nausea again for half the day. Is it possible that the meds could still be causing me to feel nauseous again?
TY
TyreseTl
21 March 2021
Nausea is a common side effect and yes it “may” be the medication still causing you to feel nauseous. Since you recently up to 10mg your body may take a little while to get adjusted. Moreover, a dose increase may cause some new side effects temporarily. If the nausea do persist you can ask your doctor to prescribe or recommend an OTC medication to relief the nausea.
TW
Tweenie333
21 March 2021
Thank you. I’m also still experiencing night time panic attacks. I thought they would have stopped by now but they haven’t. They’re so unpleasant! I get up in the morning feeling full of dread.
TY
TyreseTl
21 March 2021
These are stuff you should discuss with your doctor, okay? He/she can maybe prescribe a short-term medication to help relieve your symptoms. Panic attacks are the worst to experience. Also, you can try self-treatment such as: take deep breaths, picture a happy place in your mind, listen to relaxing music etc.
TR
Trallyn
21 March 2021
Tyrese, I so needed to read these remarks because I am at the 3week mark to and I'm praying for it to get better. I feel just like the 1st person and the fact that it effects your appetite gives you anxiety among other side effects bothers me. I feel like other things are wrong with me. This part of this site helps others get an understanding of this medication and I'm so trying not to give up on this pill.
TY
TyreseTl
21 March 2021
If you give the medication time, I promise you the wait will be worth it. I am taking Paxil and it took 12 weeks to become fully effective and I am happy I stuck with it... Importantly, These medications are highly effective when they start working. So Just be patient, okay?
TR
Trallyn
21 March 2021
Tyrese, I so needed to read these remarks because I am at the 3week mark to and I'm praying for it to get better. I feel just like the 1st person and the fact that it effects your appetite gives you anxiety among other side effects bothers me. I feel like other things are wrong with me. This part of this site helps others get an understanding of this medication and I'm so trying not to give up on this pill.
TY
TyreseTl
21 March 2021
The recent comment was meant for you :). You will get better soon.
Hey, there! Many people will start to see some improvement in the first 1-2 weeks for for some it takes a little longer. I'm wondering if the low initial dose wasn't enough to really be therapeutic for you and you may not have been on the 10mg long enough to see significant improvement. Remember that it can take 6-8 for most people to feel the full benefit. I took Lexapro for over 7 years and it truly was life changing for me. I loved how it worked for me! Unfortunately after all those years it "pooped out" on me which happens quite often with antidepressant/anxiolytics. If it hadn't stopped working I'd still be on it for sure. Ironically, I switched to Effexor and took that for many years too. Try to be patient and see if you don't start feeling better soon but don't expect an overnight miracle to happen. And don't let your anxiety prevent you from seeing the positives in the near future. Try not to dwell on only the negative times. Take care and hang in there. The best is probably yet to come!
Votes: +3
TW
Tweenie333
20 March 2021
Thank you, Wildcat. I’ll hang in there. I guess I’m hoping for the magic wand to make me feel better fast. I want so badly to feel well.
WI
WildcatVet
20 March 2021
We all do! I used to tell myself I was sick for a long time so a month or two wasn't that big a deal in the scheme of things. What you've gone through is not going to last forever... you will feel better!
TW
Tweenie333
20 March 2021
WC, I’ve been through this so many times in my life, you’d think I would have learned something. I had to stop the Effexor because it wasn’t working as well at 75 mg anymore. I couldn’t up the dose because it caused high blood pressure for me. Otherwise, I likely would have still been on it. Just praying for relief.
TR
Trallyn
21 March 2021
Wildcatvet, can you help me understand this? I started on 5mg escitalopram (Lexapro) and seems like alot of the side effects attacked me! Loss of appetite is scary, diarrhea, anxiety, panic attacks, 2,4hours of sleep w/waking up alot and being tried. I'm on day 21 and day 5 of tapering off alprazolam. My tongue has this like scorch feeling at the tip and late in the evening it stops. I didn't have any of these problems until my doctor gave me this medication and told me to don't stop taking it that it will help me. I also suffer with GAD! It's scaring me and I'm trying not to panic! I feel you can learn from other people's experiences, but the part with it messing with my appetite bothers me. I've lost like 19, 20 pounds. During this time some days it lightens up then here we go. The nausea be crazy so I drink ginger tea and peppermint tea to even get thru breakfast. Can you please shed so light for me? I feel like I'm wondering around in the dark! Thank you in advance... Trallyn
WI
WildcatVet
21 March 2021
Hi, Trallyn! I'm sorry you're having such a tough go of this... I understand how frustrated and anxious you must be. The side effects you mention are all common and relatively mild when you initially start the medication but generally resolve within a few weeks and should lessen some each day. You must be extremely sensitive to this drug. How slowly are you discontinuing the alprazolam and how long were you taking it? I wonder if some withdrawal symptoms are part of the problem. Have you talked to your doctor about the problems you're having? The options I might suggest are using the liquid form of the medication so you can start at an extremely low dose and increase the dose very gradually. Otherwise it may be that this isn't the best medication for you. It's an excellent choice for both depression and/or anxiety disorders but everyone responds differently to this type of drug and your side effects seem a bit extreme.
Call your doctor, okay? You really need to discuss your options and get their professional advice. Best regards and I truly hope you're feeling better soon.
