Escitalopram for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Jus...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 30, 2016

"Have been on this medication (between 10-20 mg) for around 3 years now. I have literally tried all SSRIs, as well as Wellbutrin, TCA, and a few others. Escitalopram is the only one so far that can keep me stable enough to function. I still have emotions (not zombie-like), and I can cry and feel sad when I need to. Sometimes I have a hard time sleeping, but I take melatonin, and it helps a lot. When I am not on this medication, I am on the floor curled into a ball, a crying, terrified mess. It helps me function well enough to keep a job and raise my children. Sometimes my thoughts start to run, but then I just try and rationalize them (can't do this without med), and I can usually get my mind back under control fairly quickly."

• Dr ...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• January 16, 2018

"I have OCD from my childhood. By the time it gets worse, especially in traveling and university. I tried paroxetine, it didn't help a lot. Sertraline helps a little. I combined Cymbalta with paroxetine, the symptoms were zero, but unfortunately, I gained 25 kg. I switched to escitalopram 20 mg, it's amazing. Low sex drive, but it's okay for me. Guys, I’m a very successful professional. I want to tell you that OCD needs high doses, so don't give up. Good luck."

• DTr...
• August 24, 2017

"I have had relationship-centered OCD as long as I can remember, centering around the most important people in my life. I finally made the steps to seek out help and was prescribed 10 mg of escitalopram about a month ago. I was worried about taking a medication that I feared would alter the way I think (but that's the point, I guess!) but figured that I had been living with obsessive and intrusive thoughts for about 15 years, so I might as well try it. Wow. I feel so wonderful all the time. When I get intrusive thoughts, it is much easier to brush off because I don't feel crippling anxiety; I feel like I can think more clearly about what is rational and what isn't. I had no side effects and feel like now I can enjoy life better."

• Ash...
• March 10, 2016

"I have been taking Lexapro since May of 2014 for OCD and mild depression. It has helped me leaps and bounds! I was able to get my moods leveled again and regain control over my life. Started out taking 20 mg but have been down to 10 mg for about a year. Currently tapering off. The one downside, the only reason I can't give it a rating of 10, is because I've gained 25 lbs while taking it. I am/have always been very active and eat primarily healthy, yet continued to gain weight. No matter how active or strictly I stuck to a meal plan, the weight would not budge. But it was still worth it to get me out of the dark place I was in."

• fee...
• August 17, 2014

"I have been taking Lexapro for years with fairly good results and low side effects, usually between 10 to 15 mg. I am a 44 y/o woman, mother and wife of middle school children. My anxiety/depression has gotten worse, and I was recently diagnosed with OCD. I tried to increase to 20 mg, but after 4 weeks, I felt lousy, tired a lot, poor sleep, gaining some weight, not much. I'm going back to 15 mg. Does anyone really think there is a difference between the 2 doses? I just want to feel happy again."

• Anonymous
• April 28, 2019

"Have been on this medication for a little under a year. I started at 10 mg. The only side effects I had were sleepiness for a few days and a lack of appetite for one. I started taking it at night for a change, and it made a world of difference. I wake up feeling well rested and calm throughout the day. When I would take it in the morning, I would feel like I slept on a rock all night. This medication is awesome. Most people I’ve talked to that are my friends take it."

• Anonymous
• June 13, 2018

"I remember when OCD began to ruin my entire life last year. I was graduating nursing school when the symptoms began, and I just remember thinking that I would never, ever be able to live a normal life. Once I was diagnosed and started receiving treatment, in addition to starting this drug, I began to gain my life back. All the things that I loved and had passions for started to return. You have to let this drug give time to work, however. It takes time, and acceptance is always the biggest step in managing OCD. After about two months on it, the side effects dwindled away. Everybody's body is different, but I would definitely recommend this!"

• Rui...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2022

"I took this pill for 6 months, the starting dose was 5 mg, and I went up to 15 mg. I took it when my rumination got too difficult to handle. Initially, I felt so relieved after all my internal excessive critical monologue stopped, but soon I realized how my memory and work life were getting ruined. I would sleep all day and still remain fatigued. I lost all my reward mechanisms. I didn't really get the high of accomplishments anymore. I also felt a weird sensation over my forehead all the time. I slowly tapered off the medication, and now it's been 6 months since I stopped. The excessive sleepiness has reduced, but I've been suffering from PTSD, and now the apathy has made my life hell. I was on a great academic trajectory, all that is reduced to dust now. I pray every day that some solution is found for people like us who are suffering so much due to this medication."

• New...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 19, 2017

"I tried every supplement/natural remedy under the sun to help relieve my OCD to no avail. I suffered from horrible intrusive thoughts and daily panic attacks that were driving me nearly insane. Then a friend recommended Lexapro. I'll admit the first two weeks were hell, and I had every side effect under the sun. But after about 5 weeks, and an increase in dosage to 20 mg, I felt back to my old self. Now I hardly have any intrusive thoughts, and when I do, they are much easier to control. I'm so thankful for Lexapro, it gave me my life and happiness back. I'm now at 30 mg and find this to be an effective dose for my OCD and anxiety. I hope it continues to work wonders for me!"

• alo...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 11, 2018

"49 y.o. male, have been on Prozac for 19 years, and moved to Escitalopram (Cipralex) 15 mg two years ago. The medicine is perfect for the OCD and the anxiety I had. No side effects at all, the medicine is like invisible, only good effects. Before I moved to Escitalopram, I used to have some night movements or could suddenly kick while sleeping, this was stopped immediately as I began Escitalopram. I recommend this medicine, Cipralex, Escitalopram generic substitute."

• Den...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 7, 2017

"I never realized I had OCD until I saw a therapist after having my baby. My whole life I was labeled as 'high strung,' and to be honest, I didn't believe the therapist when she diagnosed me. After a long and agonizing series of events, I reluctantly started Lexapro 10 mg (didn't believe in taking meds). After 3 weeks, I could not believe how much more relaxed I felt. I never realized how severe my panic and anxiety was until I got to experience life without it. My rituals even subsided (never knew I had rituals until I stopped doing them). In the end, I am glad I started the meds. The only side effect has been decreased sex drive, but it's manageable, and both myself and my husband are much happier now that I can function better and enjoy daily life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2023

"I've been dealing with intrusive thoughts, severe and irrational guilt, and constant doubt for the last 3-4 years. My life was completely falling apart. I began to worry about things I had never worried about before, including my food and driving. Currently on 10 mg and things feel so much better. The intrusive thoughts do come but I'm able to let them go like water falling off my back. It was initially subtle but I absolutely feel more calm and measured now. I would highly recommend giving it a try. I too was terrified of taking medication but looking back now I wish I would've taken it sooner."

• jrm...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 13, 2013

Escitalopram "I'm a hoarder. Depressed all my life. My doctor said Lexapro would work. I tried it and took 20 mg then 40 mg. I don't go garbage dumping anymore, gained weight and sleeping problems. I don't know if it's working very well. I know I get a little angry without it. I'm taking Wellbutrin too. I wish everyone luck."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 25, 2024

"I was on Lexapro for 3.5 years. When I say it was life-changing, I can’t put it into words. I took 10 mg for my OCD. I was diagnosed with OCD and PTSD after my son. I dealt with a lot of my intrusive thoughts on my own. It was not good. I lived a life with OCD that in my mind was manageable, which was false. I didn’t want to try any drug out of fear. During my postpartum, it got worse so I knew I had to get on something. I’m not going to lie, I experienced a few symptoms: racing thoughts, OCD worse, racing heartbeat, and hot flashes. These were for the first week or so. By week 6, I can’t tell you how much it changed me. I had less and less as the weeks went on. I really can’t say this enough, just try it. Do therapy at the same time to talk about the symptoms with. Symptoms will be there. But they don’t last forever."

• how...
• May 30, 2017

"I had my first 'panic attack' about 20 years ago, hellish paranoia in the middle of the night that lasted a few hours the first time. Over the years, I tried to self-diagnose, thinking my attacks happened when I was living wrong. I always felt it was somehow my conscience trying to get me to live differently. I always felt guilty and paranoid about how I was living. It is only in the last year or so that it occurred to me that I actually might have a more severe case of OCD than I thought. It is not anything obvious, but I know that I spend hours a day with my lists of things. I don't have friends, although I am very friendly. I can't 'waste my time.' I don't get out a lot. I usually notice my 'panic attacks' occurred after having had some alcohol, although often not a lot. I have become afraid of the night coming because then if I get an attack, I cannot talk to people, I cannot drive places, or do stuff to distract my brain. The main thing is that I cannot sleep or even try to lay my head down because if I do not distract my brain, the terrifying feeling overcomes me. I will be exhausted but afraid to lie down. My attacks have started to last throughout the day because I sense that total, unbearable fear of things I cannot control or are futile. For example, never speaking to my ex again, the unbearable thought of my mother passing away, even little stuff like where I lost a pair of glasses. Terrifying! I never thought my panic attack symptoms were like the classic ones I’ve been reading about-no racing heart, just absolute paranoia-and NOW I HAVE concluded that my problem is related to my OCD. It is only in reading all of your comments that I begin to really understand that this is biochemical. Is this something that is best treated through a psychiatrist? I tried a therapist once a week, but that was useless. It feels so wonderful knowing that I am not alone in my craziness."

• col...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 14, 2018

"It took a much longer time than I thought to kick in. At the 1-month mark, the side effects were gone, but it felt like nothing had really changed. Now, at the 2-month mark, I'm seeing real reductions in obsessive thoughts and behaviors, as well as anxiety in general. Taking 15 mg currently, although I will probably go up to 20."

• For...
• May 26, 2010

"I recently started taking Ciprolex (escitalopram) 2 months ago, starting with 5 mg and the doctor increasing it slowly. Now I'm on 30 mg as I have impulsive behavior, OCD, anorexia, and not sure what else yet. I have filled out a 7-page question test, yes/no, to help determine other issues I'm experiencing. For many years, I have been on Prozac and clonazepam, but now off Prozac completely as of lately. I have tried many others, such as Zoloft, Paxil, Effexor, etc.... with little success. I really hope that I do get benefits from this one, and so far, little side effects and seem to be on a more even state, where I can cope a bit better day to day. Hope I have helped others with my experiences, and I'm trying to still study more on it and if dosage is too much, etc."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2022

"I have always had a very mild form of OCD, which was inconvenient at times but nothing too alarming or life-altering. The problem started a year ago when I had a bad episode of contamination OCD that lasted for around two months. I could not drive out of fear that I would run someone over. I was afraid I would hurt people and push them over a bridge, etc. I also developed severe contamination (rabies) OCD so bad that I feared leaving the house in case a bat flew into me and bit me. I started Exposure and Preventive Response Therapy, but that has made my anxiety skyrocket. My doctor suggested I go on Lexapro to lower my anxiety/paranoia threshold so that I would be able to do exposure as part of my EPR therapy. The first week I was on 5 mg and had no side effects. I'm in my second week now (10 mg), and my anxiety is as bad as it has ever been (almost paranoid), but I am sticking to it and hoping things will improve in the coming weeks. I will keep you posted."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 27, 2018

"Been on it for 3 months and noticed around a 70-80% reduction in symptoms. I spend about 2 hours per week in obsession or compulsion, whereas before I spent about 10-15 hours. Huge difference! It's like I gained 10 hours of my life back every week. That being said, my sex drive is fairly low. As opposed to every day, I'm at more of a 2-3x/week thing now. The weird thing that I noticed and don't like is that if I stop taking it, even for two days, my symptoms start to come back, and it takes another 3 days to get back into the symptom reduction. For instance, if I forget on Saturday and Sunday, it'll be Thursday before I'm back to normal after recontinuing the medication. All in all, good drug, solid results, reasonable side effects, but you've really got to take it every day - or at least I do."

• Its...
• June 5, 2021

"One day I was with my friend and smoked weed. I started having thoughts, but it wasn’t pleasant, it was anxiety provoking. I never had experienced a panic attack before this experience. I looked up escitalopram and started on it. The first months are tough, but after 2 months, my symptoms and thoughts became lesser to a point of having a normal life again. I have been on it for two years, and anxiety thoughts are almost non-existing. My happiness is back. My girlfriend has been with me way before I experienced these intrusive thoughts, and she helped me seek help, so please do seek help."

• ABB...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2023

"Lexapro has really been life-changing for me. I've been someone that has suffered from anxiety/OCD for about as long as I can remember. Unfortunately, that OCD went from simple thought looping to pure OCD, and for close to two full years, it haunted me. I had tried Lexapro about two years ago, but it was my first time on an SSRI, so when the increased OCD/anxiety initially got worse, I bailed. I wish I hadn't. I tried meditation, reading books on the subject, etc., and after giving Zoloft a shot for a bit, I thought I could do without medication. As anyone with pure OCD knows, the thoughts always return --- and they did. I decided to give Lexapro a chance again as the Zoloft took forever to work, and it made me feel out of body. I was on 5mg for three weeks, 10mg for 7 days. Now I'm on 15 mg. I've been on 15mg for about 3 weeks, and I'm really starting to feel like myself. Meditation and understanding that thoughts are not real have really helped. Try it, stick with it, and you'll see."

• KKa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 7, 2019

"For me, Lexapro was a lifesaver, however, I experience night terrors and low libido, along with fibromyalgia, which led me to consider switching to Cymbalta, which I tried to no avail as I couldn't function on it. Switched back to Lexapro 20 mg, reduced to 10 mg, and then began experiencing severe intrusive thoughts and crippling panic again. Talking to my doctor about switching back to 20 mg because, honestly, the night terrors are better than the intrusive thoughts and panic for me. Fingers crossed that after the transition period, it’ll be better. OCD is a hard experience to walk and try to manage. I thought I had conquered it years back the first time I got on meds, but it turns out stress and triggers can bring you back any time, especially mid-dosage transition."

• ren...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 2, 2020

"Escitalopram seemed to work very quickly, felt on top of the world. So happy! But...within two weeks, the effects were all gone! Even increasing to 20 mg didn't do anything. Waited a few months to see if the effects would be better, but no. Only good thing was that for the first time, I did not have the side effect of excessive sweating and feeling warm all the time (like Paxil and fluvoxamine). When I started having panic attacks while on this medicine, I decided this was not the right medicine for me. Now recently on Prozac, fingers crossed..."

• For...
• July 22, 2022

"I started this for Pure O (obsession) OCD. I would repeat songs and phrases in my head often. I felt like I was going insane, but I couldn’t stop it. It was very distracting in conversations and trying to watch TV. I noticed a difference in about 2 weeks on 10 mg. After 4 weeks, it was just bliss. My doctor started me on 5 mg, and it didn’t do anything, so they increased it to 10 mg. Today, my doctor increased it to 15 mg because I still have areas I obsess over, but overall my OCD is much better and less bothersome. My anxiety is a lot lower, and panic attacks are gone."

• Hea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 26, 2022

"I hesitated for a couple of years on taking escitalopram, but after a second doctor recommended it, I thought I should at least try it. How glad I am that I did! Having tried many other SSRIs, I've dealt with many unwanted side effects. So far, the side effects have been minimal to none. I had some digestive discomfort the first week or so, but that went away. I also dealt with insomnia. I noticed that the insomnia had a delayed effect for me. So taking it in the morning, like my doctor had prescribed, caused the insomnia to kick in right at bedtime. So I started taking it right at bedtime, and I fall fast asleep and sleep all through the night. I'm the type of person that can't fall asleep easily, so it has been amazing that it helps me fall right to sleep and stay asleep. And then by morning, I'm ready to go for the day. I deal with bad intrusive thoughts and OCD, specifically relationship OCD and retroactive jealousy OCD. It has helped so much. I highly recommend!"