Escitalopram for Anxiety User Reviews

• oks...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 4, 2020

"I want to thank the people here that have shared their experiences with Lexapro. In my darkest hours whilst waiting for the drug to kick in, I would read all the positive reviews on this website, and they gave me confidence that everything would be okay. Without you, I don't know what I would have done. A couple of years later, and my life is on track, and the future is looking rosy!"

• Max...
• March 26, 2021

"This is my 1-year update. I started on 2.5 and went up to 5. Let me just tell you this. I got my life back. I was in a point in my life where my brain chemicals reworked themselves into being in CONSTANT fight or flight mode; even when NOTHING was wrong. I couldn’t go into a grocery store without fearing a panic attack. Fast forward one year later - I have traveled on a plane [was my biggest fear] alone and HAPPY. Let me say that I do have a therapist. I eat healthy. Work out 2-3 times and have a good support system. It’s not a magic pill but it does help your chemicals in your brain. I have read the same scary reviews you have. I have overthought myself to death. Trust in the process. You will be okay. (Not a doctor. Personal experience)"

• LCa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 6, 2021

"Currently 10 days into my second time on Lexapro. I’ve been on 10 mg since 2013 for chronic anxiety. Last year, I started to taper off on my own, and I pushed it too far. A severe breakdown over the holidays showed me that I’m more myself with my medication. Oh boy, the first week was horrible. I would read these reviews for encouragement in my darkest moments. Go for walks, talk with your loved ones, allow yourself to lay low, and give the medication a chance to work. My appetite is still missing, and I'm still having racing/disturbing thoughts, but I feel better each day! My insomnia has subsided and the muscle twitches. Lexapro has saved my life once before, and I know it will again. If you’re reading this - hang in there, you’re not alone in this struggle. You can do hard things!"

• Rut...
• March 30, 2021

"I have suffered from extreme anxiety for years now. I would awake at 3:00 am every morning, gripped with thrashing, unreasonable thoughts that led into a panic. I stayed disoriented, dizzy, glassy-eyed, heart-pounding, crying myself to sleep at night, wanting to be 'normal' again. The first week of taking 5 mg of Lexapro, everything got worse. I was more anxious and very tired. Two weeks into taking Lexapro, the darkness began to lift! I was finally coming alive. I was feeling much better than I had been in years. After two months on 5 mg, I increased to 10 mg. The initial side effects returned, and my anxiety and tiredness came back. I fought through the first week. WOW! The outcome is more than I could have hoped for! I am calm, happy, laughing, silly, and ever so grateful! I would encourage you to try Lexapro and be prepared for a possible adjustment stage, but after the storm, oh what beauty! Be good to yourself, fight for your happy place."

• Han...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 24, 2020

"Started taking Lexapro for my anxiety attacks which were almost every day. I was really struggling. I've had mild depression in my life as well. I've always just gone with the flow, but the anxiety attacks were just too much for me. I was miserable. I am now a couple of months into my treatment, and I can honestly say it's helped me a lot. I feel as normal as I ever have. It keeps my mind relaxed, and I sleep so much better, the thoughts and anxiety don't swarm me like they used to. I still feel anxiety sometimes, but it's not nearly as bad. My depression has, for the most part, gone away. I am way more even now and in control of my feelings. The weeks getting on it were horrible, I'm not gonna lie, but it is worth it. Stay strong, it may not be the med for you, but if it is and you stick it out, it's worth it. Remember you are not alone, don't give up."

• Pic...
• January 5, 2021

"I am a firm believer that everyone has a specific medication that works for their brain chemistry. Lexapro just happens to be my miracle drug! If I could rate it higher than 10, I would. I see that a lot of people have low libido on this medication, but that is not the case with me. My sex drive has actually improved massively when anxiety & depression aren't in the picture. I've been on 10mg Lexapro for 2 years, and it has taken the very dark lows out of my life without any side effects. My emotions are more controlled, my anxiety is calmer, and my life is much more manageable. The only con to Lexapro is night sweats & brain zaps (only if I forget a dose - if I don't forget a dose, that doesn't happen). Other than that, I cannot recommend Lexapro enough. It has improved my life tenfold & given my happiness back. Lexapro doesn't make you feel like a zombie; I feel more myself than I have my whole life. Take negative reviews with a grain of salt. It could be your miracle drug too."

• Epe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 13, 2021

"Lexapro has been literally life-changing. I didn’t realize how bad my anxiety was until it was gone, but WOW what a difference. I was paralyzed with anxiety, had panic attacks regularly, etc, and now that I don’t, it blows my mind that I used to live like that. I’ve always been against meds of any kind and had tried every supplement I could research, but nothing ever worked like Lexapro has. (Only take 10mg and have had no side effects.)"

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• December 19, 2019

"I developed sleep anxiety, which is absolutely awful. After experiencing insomnia, I developed an anxiety at the thought of sleep. Even the approaching evening would trigger it. I felt hopeless. It led to depression and suicidal thoughts. I was put on Lexapro and eventually went up to 15 mg. It helped me reclaim my life. It put my anxiety at bay so I could change my life. It took about 6 weeks for the drug to really start working along with minimal side effects. It has been a year and I am currently tapering off the medication because I feel I do not need it anymore. It is a good drug! Allow some time for it to kick in. Also, use the medication as a tool. Mental health is about balance. Find ways to change your life/mentality. Lexapro is a tool to help with the big picture. There is light on the other side of the storm! Never lose hope and FIGHT for your life!"

• Tim...
• January 30, 2020

"I've been on 10mg of Lexapro for 3+ weeks and still having side effects or anxiety attacks. Shaking hands, burning feet, and mouth. Seems to get worse 2 hours after I take a dose. Did anyone have these issues and when, oh when, does it start to go away? Thanks!"

• Ari...
• May 7, 2021

"I'm on day two of taking Lexapro. After starting college remotely full-time for nursing and finishing up my first semester, one night out of nowhere I had my first anxiety attack since childhood. The attacks intensified, I was constantly anxious, convinced I was deathly ill, afraid to be around anyone but my husband. I felt like my personality had been ripped away. After about two weeks of not being able to get it under control, I set up an appointment with my doctor and was put on Lexapro. I'm only two days in, but so far, it has helped. I still feel anxious at times, but I'm able to calm myself down. I still don't feel quite like myself, but I figure it will come in time. A few things I've noticed since taking the medication are dry mouth, sluggishness, a bit foggy at times, still a little anxious but it's manageable, and a bit dizzy. My appetite has started to come back, but my stomach is still a little off. I will update at my 1-month mark. Hang in there, everyone. We will overcome."

• Mel...
• June 23, 2021

"Anyone going through the reviews, please understand that this medication takes 6 to 8 weeks before you get any sort of relief. I started having very bad panic attacks. I was waking up at 3 in the morning having a full-on anxiety attack, and it would go on all day long. I couldn't go back to sleep or eat or function. I tried to be strong and deal with it at home for 3 months, and I just couldn't do it anymore, so I signed myself into the acute unit. I was bawling. I honestly felt I was never gonna get better, that I was better off dead because the panic and anxiety would not stop. If it wasn't for my kids or my partner, I wouldn't be here. I started on Lexapro and Olanzapine about 8 weeks ago now. You do get worse before you get better, and the last few days I've actually slept and been able to eat and even have coffee, shower, and took the kids on a day out. Please don't give up. It takes time."

• Non...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 16, 2025

"First two weeks was on 5 mg Lexapro generic while weaning off a Benzo, but my doc says I’m to keep a few Benzos on hand for emergencies (like flying or anything that causes instant anxiety). I’m still weaning, by the way, so it’s been rocky to say the least. I’m now up to 10 mg as of a few days ago—my body had adjusted to 5 mg, but I wasn’t getting much relief. Now I’m in bed and letting my body adjust again. It’s very nice to read other comments so I kind of know what to expect. I will hang on and keep trying because, like so many of you, my life is not where it needs to be. I’ve got much faith in God, and I know He will continue to hold me in His hands as I navigate all of this. I’ll be back with an update. Oh, and as far as side effects, it’s hard to say. I haven’t slept great since I had COVID in 2020, but I do know Lexapro upsets my tummy a little, but nothing I can’t manage."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2025

"I was terrified to take medication. It took me close to ten years to work up the courage to take an SSRI, and to allow myself the grace and understanding that my mental health was not going to be fully resolved with just meditation and therapy alone. I have a very supportive psychiatrist who helped me find the right med. We decided to go all in on Lexapro. I asked to be prescribed the liquid generic format. I started at 1.25 mg for 2 weeks and slowly moved up to 10 mg. It took 2 months to get there. The only side effects I had were mild nausea, loss of appetite, mild brain fog, and sleepiness, which went away. I will say that although I’m still struggling, the change I have seen is massive. I no longer am completely debilitated day to day, I can function. Please do not hold off any longer. You can do this."

• Mic...
• July 5, 2021

"I am grateful for those who have posted on this site, as it was so helpful to read your comments. I began taking Lexapro 7 days ago for anxiety. For years I have had feelings of anxiety, racing pulse, fight or flight feeling, palpitations, adrenaline with some depression. My doctor started me out on 5 mg, and I believe that is the right dose for me. By day 3, I actually started feeling a bit better. This does give me some dry mouth, but I have no trouble sleeping. I feel slightly 'off' or different but does not hamper me in any way. My evening glass of wine tastes different. By day 7, today, I dealt with some dating/relationship issues and pandemic dread and instead of it being as debilitating as it could have been in the past, I felt a lot calmer. I'm feeling SO MUCH BETTER. Of course we must do the internal work (therapy, changing past habits that do not serve us) but I truly believe this is a miracle drug. I wish you all the best in your wellness journey!"

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2020

"I just started Lexapro, and so far so good. I’m on day 4 of 5mg. I had some dizziness and nausea, but very slight. Eating helps, and now I have some tightness in my chest. I’m not sure if that’s normal. I also felt energetic yesterday (I know it’s too soon to tell), but today I have no energy and haven’t gotten out of bed. Everyone has said to keep pushing through, but today has been rough. How do I know if it’s just not for me or if I just need to keep pushing through?"

• Kim...
• January 22, 2016

"I am a 24-year-old female. I've been taking Lexapro 10mg for almost 4 months now, and I can confidently say the only scary thing about this medication is people's negative reviews on it. First and foremost, EVERYONE is different, so everyone will react to it differently. I was prescribed it by my primary doctor due to my severe anxiety and mild depression. Before this medication, I was prescribed Celexa, but hated it. My anxiety and depression got so much worse I decided to do something about it. It came to the point where my anxiety and depression affected everyone around me, and I just wasn't happy anymore. At first, taking this medication gave me some side effects. My side effects were really dry mouth, some intense dreams, and some loss of appetite. The only thing that has stuck for these few months has been the dreams. They seem SO REAL! But I can say I would rather have some dreams than those scary anxiety attacks I used to get, and those depressed bed sobs. Lexapro has changed my life! Before this medication, my life was hitting rock bottom. My anxiety was so severe it took over my life. I obsessed over everything, overthought everything, felt like at any moment, I was going to die. I was on edge every second. My blood pressure was always high, and I'm only 24! I had this obsession with dying in a car accident, it came to a point I couldn't ride in a car with anyone else unless I was driving. If I did, I would get panic attacks. My depression was also bad, and I also had an eating disorder. I felt like I was never going to be happy, never going to be happy in a relationship, or in my job, or even able to hug my own mother again. I'm happy the people in my life noticed how much my disorders were taking over my life and helped me make a change. Lexapro helped my life. I hope my review will change yours."

• Yod...
• July 4, 2021

"I started taking Lexapro 5 weeks ago, and I can't say enough good about it. I was seriously depressed, and my anxiety of just going to work, dealing with everyday life, and staying positive was difficult at best. I broke down and went to the doctors - I'm the kinda dude that doesn't go to the doctors unless it's serious! Anyways, very few side effects, I had a headache for about a week, it wasn't bad, just kind of annoying. But I felt that this side effect was manageable. After 5 weeks, I am seriously affected positively. My life has changed much. No more bad feelings, no more fear, no more panic attack feelings, no more tight chest. I feel more confident with where life is going, and I owe it all to Lexapro and support from my family! Don't give up, I almost did, and I'm so glad I didn't. I have a way more positive outlook on my life now!"

• Tia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 15, 2020

"Lexapro has changed my life. I suffer from OCD and major anxiety. Originally, when I first came on this review page, there weren't many reviews for people with OCD. With having OCD, I thought it was a bad idea to start this medication, but it honestly has changed everything for me. I still have it, minor, nowhere near as bad as what it used to be. I used to think of my life ending, now I am so much happier!"

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2020

"Was feeling terrible anxiety, it got really bad. I couldn’t stay asleep, was forgetting stuff, couldn’t concentrate, was losing my appetite and losing weight. I didn’t know what was wrong, so I went to the doctor for anxiety. She gave me Xanax, then I asked her to put me on something with it, and she gave me Lexapro 10mg. The first week was holy moly as it made the anxiety 10 times worse and I got depressed too. I read these posts, and they said to stick with it, as it gets better. It’s super slow, and I’m on week 7, and finally, I feel a lot better. It’s working, feel almost normal, and pretty much no more Xanax as I don’t need it. So anyway, it does take a lot of time, just stick it out."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2025

"I am 73 and have been taking 10 mg of Lexapro for 18 months. It has been a game changer in my life. I wouldn’t stop taking it for a million bucks. I wish I had started taking it years ago. It has helped so much with my anxiety and minor depression. I thought everyone felt like me, so I refused to face up to my mental problems, and I also didn’t want to “take pills.” My own mental condition fought against taking the drug. Boy, was I wrong! I actually tried it out of desperation and after reading many reviews. Two to three weeks after starting Lexapro, I was feeling much better. At two months, symptoms of anxiety and depression lifted. I now have a happy retirement, sleep better, and laugh more, thanks to Lexapro."

• Tam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 7, 2021

"Lexapro gave me my life back. Brought me back to the feeling and experiences of my happiest times of my life. After postpartum depression, losing my husband at a young age, and a year later losing my mom. Lexapro saved me. I was able to graduate with my master’s degree and now raise my two small children effectively. I wake up every day with gratitude."

• mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 25, 2024

"When I started Lexapro a few years ago, I would read the comments looking for a glimmer of hope that it would work and I’d feel better. Well, to whoever is out there doing the same right now, this comment is for you. You WILL get better. Give the medication time. It gave me my life back. I am now weaning and still feeling good. Keep looking up. One foot in front of the other. Someday life won’t be so hard! So much love!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2025

"If you’ve come here like I have in the past, please know that this drug is certainly worth trying! I have had panic attacks and severe generalized anxiety for over 35 years. My doctor and I have tried 10 different medications and none worked. After my parents died, my anxiety was through the roof, and Klonopin no longer was helping. I was hesitant to try this medication but figured, oh well, you never know, and I prayed very hard that it would work. We started out at 1 mg liquid and then slowly moved up milligrams. I noticed a huge difference at 5 mg and we are going to 10. I really didn’t think that anything was going to work for me, but this medication has! I can’t be more grateful. Just know slow is better and there is hope! I think I have had some of the worst anxiety ever, and this medication took that free-floating edge away that I’ve lived with for so long, and now hopefully I will be dropping the Klonopin."

• Ner...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 2, 2022

"I don’t know who needs to hear this but this drug saved my life. I have suffered with anxiety since childhood but never knew what it was till my twenties. By the time I was 27, I was virtually an agoraphobic that was afraid to go anywhere and had panic attacks at the grocery store and at my job, it was debilitating. When my ex and I split and I moved into my apartment, I was a mess. I could literally not eat or sleep and never left my house. It got so bad that I told my mother I thought I would either commit myself into a hospital or kill myself. She talked me into seeing my doc. He prescribed me 5mg of Lexapro and I had my mom stay the night in case I had a bad reaction. Within a week, I felt much better and my only side effect was that I was sleepy in the morning. Within the year of this drug, I have become a completely different person. I have no anxiety and I don’t worry about anything. I run every morning, I got a new job, and a new relationship! I finally feel normal and starting to live life!"

• One...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2020

"Am I the only one with panic attacks feeling this off-and-on headache? I have been on Lexapro for 8 days now. Please someone tell me if it’s normal. This first week has never been easy but I’m not giving up on Lexapro just yet."