Escitalopram for Bipolar Disorder User Reviews (Page 2)

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2020

"I took this medication, escitalopram, for 2 days. The first day was fine, I began to overanalyze everything, which is how I was before, without medication in general. I started Lamotrigine 6 months prior, which helped. The second day, I went into a mania, and I was unable to make out sentences for a few hours, and my heart rate went up to 121 bpm, basically a panic attack that I have not experienced since 2 years ago. Just not for me."

• Anonymous
• September 30, 2010

Escitalopram "I have been on Lexapro for almost two weeks now. My depression has gotten better, but unfortunately, it causes me to have problems in bed. I am male, 26 years old. My libido is the same, for some reason, shortly after starting this medication, I cannot climax sexually. Paxil was similar, but I could still finish. I am planning on getting off this medication as fast as I can."

• Jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 18, 2022

"I have managed manic depression (now called bipolar disorder) for 25 years with diet, exercise, yoga, meditation, blah, blah... but when menopause kicked in, my situation became steadily worse. For the last 6 years, I was gradually getting more and more unstable, and then my daughter sent me a link for a podcast talking about menopause. Suddenly, everything made sense. The top and bottom of it is that with a small dose of HRT and 10 mg of Escitalopram, I have myself back for the first time in 25 years. My husband has his wife back, and my twin girls have their fun mom back. I have a lot to be grateful for!"

• Ogr...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 25, 2018

"I don't rapid cycle, really. I have been on lithium for 7 years, and it has done wonders for my mania and insomnia issues. I do go through short bouts of depression, but not something I can't power through. However, I was hit with a very long-lasting depression that severely hampered my work attendance and aspects of my family life. My psychiatrist put me on Lexapro, and it did wonders for me. However, it really cut into my lithium's ability to control my insomnia and mania. I was really only getting 1 to 2 hours a day of sleep, if that. The doctor had me halve my dose, and it helped a lot. After a few months, I left the Lexapro and feel pretty good. I can see that this is not for all. We all have different needs, that is why there are different medications. Hopefully, everyone can find their balance."

• Anonymous
• April 10, 2009

Escitalopram "I used Lexapro for a short time because after about a week, I found that I lost all sensation of touch. I could stick my hand under hot running water, and I couldn't tell you just by touch its general temperature. Obviously, the rising steam gave a clue. But I immediately requested to be taken off of it. When I told my doctor, she thought I was lying. Wish I could have tried it longer, but I prefer not being physically numb."

• Amb...
• May 18, 2016

"My experience with Lexapro has been a very rocky one, to say the least. The beginning symptoms for me were terrible: extreme nausea and vomiting, restless leg syndrome, jaw clenching, and vivid nightmares. After the first day, the nausea and vomiting were gone, and after two weeks, my symptoms were manageable. I felt like this medication really helped me with my depression in some ways. I was much more motivated, more sociable, and it helped my anger issues. However, I decided after six months I would like to stop to see if my depression was better. Bad choice. I hurt all over my body so badly, I felt like I was coming down with the flu. I was so dizzy and disoriented I couldn't even function in my daily life. It was a nightmare."

• Mag...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 24, 2022

"Bipolar 2: Lexapro 20 mg combined with Lamotrigine and an AP are helping me tremendously. Lexapro lifts the depression and eases my anxiety. Can't go any higher than 20 mg though. I found Lexapro to be an easy SSRI to start so long as I had anxiety meds to keep me calm."

• 101...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 29, 2021

"I had this medication prescribed for me for more than one reason, such as bipolar, depression, anxiety, and other anxiety disorders. Honestly, I'm sure this works for some people, but for me, it knocked me out (put me to sleep) for 16-20 hours a day. I almost failed my semester. I was on the lowest dosage they allow in Canada."

• Tec...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 31, 2022

"This has been a huge transformation for me and my family. I was always irritated and would lash out at my family, to the point they were sometimes afraid. My wife finally had enough. I made a doctor appointment, and he agreed I wasn’t depressed but that he could probably help me with what I’m dealing with. Let me tell you, two weeks on 10 mg, and it was a whole new world. I was calm and hardly irritated, and 2 am insomnia is almost gone. For twenty years, my family had to put up with me, and I thought that’s just the way I am! What a waste! Not that I was intolerable but… As for side effects: more lethargic but not at all crippling; less libido but that's okay for now as my wife doesn’t want much to do with me (hopefully that will change). I adjusted when I take the pill, so I’m not so tired in the morning and at work."

• coo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2015

"I just started taking Lexapro, well, the generic brand escitalopram. This is the first dose I have taken tonight with my Lamictal, Ambien, and Neurontin. I have been feeling extreme anxiety, nervousness, depression, basically, I am completely overwhelmed because of stuff going on in my life right now. I've been having a lot of nausea, dizziness, racing thoughts, shaking, and headaches. I can't feel a difference yet, but it is my first dose. I have not had an appetite for days now and was hoping this would at least help with the nausea and kind of sick feeling because I'm feeling quite weak. It's even hard for me to get upstairs, I can get up them, but feel like I have been working out. I hope it will be better soon :-)"

• GGR...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 27, 2023

"Took 5 mg/day for about 2 months, and it really worked well for my mood! Side effects, unfortunately, didn’t go away. I had constant headaches every day, which didn’t even respond fully to paracetamol, and this medication made me sluggish and drowsy (which is already an issue with depression!). I also noticed it increased my appetite, sex drive, and distractibility. I am bipolar II and also take lamotrigine 200 mg/day, which also lifts my mood and is good at stopping hypomania, but I needed an extra kick for the winter blues and fatigue/overeating/binge drinking, which this unfortunately didn’t give me. I also think the escitalopram gave me some dizziness and constipation, although it’s possible that this interacted with the lamotrigine to cause hyponatremia, which is a known side effect to look out for! Good luck to everyone out there, and I hope this helps!!"

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 22, 2021

"This has so far changed my life. I took 10 mg and felt a great difference in bipolar anxiety and depression. I was anxious to take it since I don’t always react well to meds, but so far no bad side effects. Helped with hypersexuality too, which is so relieving. I am no longer fighting that. However, I just upped my dose to 15 mg as some anxiety did return after a few weeks."

• kol...
• September 11, 2009

Escitalopram "I've been on Lexapro for 1 year now, and to be honest, as a pill to fill the gap for my anxiety, it really doesn't work. I intend to tell the doctor on my next visit; there must be another drug that works better."

• Hat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2022

"Nightmare horror for bipolar 1 depression/GAD. Took 10 mg generic escitalopram and within 24 hours was shaking, nauseous, racing thoughts, panic attacks. Felt much worse than before starting med, which was a 1.5-month stay in bed depression episode. Dr. told me to stick with med for 2 weeks, could only stay on it for 5 days as it became intolerable. Like I was stuck in the pangs of right before a panic attack starts, triggered to tears at any moment, difficult to communicate, waking up multiple times a night with my jaw clenched, feeling stuck and major chest palpitations. Back on Abilify, which worked wonders before."

• Jon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 14, 2014

"Have been on escitalopram for 4 years, and it's saved me from anxiety and depression. Take 15 mg, and in the summer, come down to 10 mg. This medicine is one of the best on the market."

• Ano...
• January 28, 2009

Escitalopram "Very helpful to me. It made me stop the rage outbursts of anger and depressive outbreaks and crying spells and controls my eating habits. Now I eat healthy and eat to live, not what's eating me."

• Blo...
• March 30, 2012

"I'm diagnosed with bipolar II. So far, I am on it for 9 days, and I'm starting to feel somewhat hypomanic (10 mg). Helped me a lot with anxiety."

• fre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2013

Escitalopram "Caused mania, but otherwise no other symptoms. Did help with depression, but had to stop taking it."

• Aus...
• April 8, 2009

Escitalopram "My son's father suffered for years with bipolar, he now takes Lexapro and has held down a real job for over a month now. This medication has been so great for him and for the family members."

• mis...
• January 27, 2009

Escitalopram "When I was on Lexapro, I felt really good and could handle things a lot better. My mood swings were a lot better."

• Vig...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 8, 2015

"Lexapro was very effective in reducing obsessive thoughts, but my manias and depression are still there, almost no improvement."

• chu...
• December 15, 2008

Escitalopram "It was great. As soon as I took it, I felt a huge difference. Now I can function in everyday life."

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

"Made my mood cycle and got sick so often that I got vocal paralysis in one of my vocal cords due to nerve damage. Please don’t take SSRIs or SNRIs if you’re bipolar."

• h3l...
• July 6, 2009

Escitalopram "I've had migraines my whole life, and the week after I took this medication, they stopped immediately. I used to get them 2-3 times a week, now never."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2017

"Caused severe insomnia and restlessness."