Lexapro and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Mau...
• May 26, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started with a 10 mg dose, and I’m still on 10 mg. The first 3 weeks, I felt so bad and almost gave Lexapro up. I got to a point where I felt overly calmed (for 3 hours), drugged, and mostly had anxiety. On a single day, I had the most intense panic attack of my life. But after 1.5 months on Lexapro, I started to feel so much better, I didn’t have any derealization and the fog was gone. I started to feel better and calmer, no more night anxiety, no more sleep problems. I had the strength to start working out, I easily started to connect with people and find friends. Before taking this, I had such severe anxiety, I had 50% of the day derealization, and I know that taking antidepressants was the first of many steps. After some time, I worked on myself, and 95% of everything is gone, and I’m just happy. Please never read too much on the internet, like Reddit, Quora, or YouTube. I honestly thought that being on AD was like being drugged 24/7 and that I would lose myself, but the truth is that I just felt normal."

• Use...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2024

For Anxiety "I was on Lexapro for 2 years for anxiety and depression and decided I wanted to try something new. Christmas time I switched to 50mg of Zoloft and was fine until I had a traumatic experience around a month and a half ago. The anxiety that was absent for my entire 2 years on Lexapro finally hit me again and came right back. It was a horrid month dealing with tapering off the Zoloft and switching back to Lexapro. Constant anxiety and panic attacks all day. I thought that taking Lexapro the first day would cure everything, but that was not the case. Let me tell you, the first 2 weeks were pretty rough. Extreme anxiety, nausea, insomnia, extreme dizziness. It was hard, but I kept my head up high and realized this is my body's response to adjusting to the medication. I am now about 3 weeks in, and let me tell you, I feel a lot better than before. I'm starting to build my confidence again, do things I feared doing for the past month. Much less anxiety day by day. Push through, and it will all be okay!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 6, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Had major depression and anxiety for the last few years. Started Lexapro 5mg and went up to 10 mg in a week. Initially had nausea, profuse sweating, daytime sleepiness, twitching, frequent urination, and anxiety was out of control. The first time I noticed a change was two weeks in, felt 40% better. Then the side effects got the better of me, and I wanted to stop taking Lexapro. My psychiatrist asked me to persevere. Now, 10 weeks later, the grey veil has lifted from my eyes, and I feel like life is worth living. I’m back to my old self again. I can drive, I can leave the house, I’m motivated, and enjoying life again. I’m so happy with Lexapro, it’s been a life-changer, and I’m always so happy. Persevere, it’s worth the effort."

• Dse...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "My doctor started me on Effexor and changed me to Lexapro due to my body not tolerating the medication well. I started Lexapro on a 5mg dose at night. The first week was rough as my body adjusted between the two medications. I had heightened anxiety, trouble sleeping, stomach pain, nausea, dry heaving, and loose stools. I switched to taking the medication in the morning and it seemed to help my inability to sleep. I found taking the medication on a full stomach made the nausea go away. After four weeks, my doctor upped the dose to 10mg. I am finally starting to feel like my old self again. Lexapro has saved my life! My anxiety is better, my appetite has come back, and I feel like I can truly enjoy living again. I am not crying all the time, staying in bed all day, or hiding from the world. Be patient with this medication and give it a chance! Once you get past the first 10 days, things get so much better, and it is worth it."

• Bee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2016

For Anxiety "I am updating my last 8-star review of a week or 2 ago below in thread. Update: The sleep disruption/insomnia (oftentimes waking 2-4 am and not getting back to sleep) subsided after 3 weeks of starting the generic form of Lexapro (on 10 mg for almost a month). I am sleeping well again without assistance from Xanax. I haven't taken X in 5 nights and sleeping my usual 7 hours. It's wonderful. No anxiety either. Give this drug a chance if you can stick out the sleep problems. It works. I feel myself again and am not worrying over worrying about anxiety. Not afraid to go anywhere, for fear I'd get that old sense of dread and unease. I don't even think about it. It doesn't matter the time of day you take it, by the way."

• Sky...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

For Depression "I was prescribed Lexapro 10 mg daily for severe depression. Within an hour after taking it, I felt incredibly drowsy and proceeded to fall into a fake sleep-not sleeping yet not quite awake. The next 24 hours were a pure nightmare. Insomnia, severe nausea, brain fog, shaking, dizziness, headache, and stomach ache. I also felt an increase in anxiety and paranoia and kept telling my husband I felt sick and that something bad was going to happen. All this after only ONE 10 mg dose! This stuff is toxic. Never again."

• Jil...
• December 31, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was put on Lexapro by my family doctor in May after experiencing chest pain and elevated blood pressure. Tests were done to make sure I wasn't experiencing a heart attack before my doctor determined that stress was my issue. For the first several weeks, I had increased anxiety, loss of appetite, and vivid dreams. I was quite sure this medicine wasn't for me. My doctor encouraged me to keep taking it and prescribed Ativan to help me get through some rough days. After being on Lexapro for 8 months now, I can honestly say I feel better than I have for years! I had no idea how much anxiety I had until it went away. I'm so thankful for this medicine and for my doctor who encouraged me to try it."

• Unk...
• November 22, 2019

For Depression "My experience, unfortunately, was very unsettling. The first few days were okay, although I instantly noticed a decrease in concentration. Then I started to notice my depression becoming worse, and anxiety went through the roof. I started to become consumed by negative thoughts and couldn’t seem to come down from being angry or sad about some things I couldn’t even pinpoint. I thought maybe I could handle it for a week, but then, as symptoms increased, I decided I had had enough because it started to interfere with my relationship and made certain feelings I had more exaggerated and uncontrollable. I instantly called my psychiatrist, and I was told to ease off the medication. It’s been about a week, and I thought I was okay but had another breakdown last night over something minuscule and reacted in a way I normally wouldn’t. The ability to bring yourself out of depression or consumed negative thoughts on this product is impossible."

• Net...
• September 1, 2014

For Anxiety "I've found a lot of these posts quite encouraging. I started taking Lexapro 6 to 8 years ago - 20mg and definitely felt it was a miracle for that entire 6 to 8 years. I was really stressed and couldn't concentrate at work. Sure, I still had stresses, but they didn't seem to be unmanageable. I was probably doing a little 'too' fine because I tried to get off of it about 3 months ago because I want to see if I could actually go without medicines. BIG MISTAKE!! A couple of life stressors recently popped up and sent my anxiety into overdrive. I immediately called my Dr. to get my prescription refilled. Currently on day 4 and battling anxiety and insomnia, but hopeful that the magic will return soon! I think I'm a lifer on this medicine!"

• KH4...
• November 30, 2014

For Major Depressive Disorder "After suffering with slight anxiety and what I now look back and recognize as mild depression for years, my anxiety 'blew up' one year ago. It manifested itself in severe panic attacks about diseases, life, intrusive thoughts, and thinking that I was going crazy. It got worse for 8 months until I figured I was going to die or find a med that worked. I tried 2 prior to Lexapro and they were awful. I had no quality of life and honestly thought I'd be dead by now. Lexapro SAVED my life. It kicked in in about 5 weeks and I had some rough patches for a few more. At week 8 I was me again. At times, I still have severe anxiety with intrusive thoughts but they are easy to push away. I have a life again!"

• Mic...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 19, 2023

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've been on Lexapro for almost a year now. I was having terrible panic attacks and living in a constant state of anxiety. There were a lot of external factors, but the ruminating became irrational and started impacting my life. My relationship and job suffered. It was a spiral that led to more anxiety. When I started taking Lexapro, I was unbelievably scared. I had never taken medication (aside from common ailments), and it was hard to accept the help. The first week was not easy. I was more anxious than I had ever been, struggling to eat, suffering from insomnia... It all ran its course. It took about a month for these effects to subside. I would read these reviews and hope that it would work eventually. It did, and I'm certain it will help you too. Hang in there. You're stronger than you think."

• KN...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 22, 2014

For Anxiety "I have had anxiety all my life, and I am now 63 years old. About 3 years ago, my life spun out of control with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and I was not functional as a human being. I tried Buspar to start, and it did nothing to help me. Then I tried Zoloft, and I could not handle the side effects. Finally, I got on brand name Lexapro, which started helping me. Once I leveled off at 40 mg per day, I resumed being my normal self. About a month ago, I switched to generic escitalopram, and now I am noticing I am not as happy, and I am having anxiety symptoms again. I am going back to brand name immediately. I don't care what anyone says, brand is better than generic, and there is a difference."

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2013

For Anxiety "I never comment on these, but I feel this website sharing positive experiences helped me a lot. I had my first panic attack two months ago after a night out. Weeks of having 3-4 panic attacks a day and massive levels of anxiety followed. I tried to carry on with life as normal, going to work, etc., and started CBT, which helped me establish it had started due to increased stress from work. I struggled to get on trains, tubes, eating in restaurants, shopping...pretty much every day-to-day task. When I was put onto Cipralex and for the first four weeks I had high levels of anxiety, headaches, disassociation, tight chest, chest pains. Now on week 5 on Lexapro I am feeling much better and can do everything I did before with only low levels of anxiety."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I just took 5 mg. Today is my first day on it. I’m 4 hours in. I have had a few side effects. The nausea I’m experiencing feels like slight burning. Almost like I swallowed a little bit of mouthwash, it’s tolerable but just like a weird feeling. I also have had on and off dry mouth. It usually helps to eat something even though my appetite is also crap at the moment. I’ve just been nibbling on a burrito. So far, my worst symptom is I keep getting these weird waves of emotions where I feel really good and okay, and then I feel anxious, hot, and disconnected. I can tell you that even on the low wave it’s not nearly as bad as a panic attack. Just heightened anxiety and a little uncomfortable and not a great time. Hoping it will improve over time. I will absolutely keep everyone posted. I do feel really hopeful about this medication and really do think it can help."

• Nin...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Last winter, a number of extremely stressful events sent me into an emotional and psychological tailspin. I began having anxiety attacks and intrusive thoughts, which were hellish. I awoke every morning with a feeling of utter horror. Finally, I saw a psychiatrist who prescribed Lexapro. He warned me that the side effects could be awful and to start slowly. I began with 2.5mg and increased by 2.5 every 5 days, or after side effects subsided. They included: WORSE anxiety, WORSE intrusive thoughts, extreme drowsiness during the day, and a 'caffeinated' feeling at night. But, slowly this went away. 1 month later, the terrible thoughts are GONE. Anxiety almost vanished. I am coping and sleeping well. So, so grateful. LIFE-CHANGING!"

• Rac...
• June 20, 2015

For Anxiety "I love Lexapro. I started taking it when I was 14 for severe anxiety and OCD. My doctor basically begged my parents to put me on medication because I could not leave the house. I'm now 20 years old and about 6 months ago I thought I no longer needed the Lexapro because I was feeling better. WHAT A MISTAKE. After the taper, my OCD came back just as bad as it was when I was 14. So my Pdoc put me on Prozac. It made me manic. I then tried Brintellix, again, it made me feel crazy. So I went back to the Lexapro, and yes, the start-up side effects suck: headache, dizziness (that whoosh feeling in your brain), upset stomach, and brain fog. Every time I bumped up the dose, I had an increase in anxiety, but after 5 weeks, I finally have my life back. Stick it out!"

• Sad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 1, 2022

For Major Depressive Disorder "Okay, so I know everyone has different experiences, but mine was terrible. I started on 5 mg and moved up to 10 mg. At 5 mg, I had almost every side effect (dizziness, anxiety, nausea, headaches, severe exhaustion). The worst was the sexual side effects (which never went away) and initial insomnia. After one week, I went up to 10 mg and started to see some decent results. The insomnia went away after a few weeks. The depression was still there, but the anxiety was nonexistent. Sure, I was completely numb and couldn't feel anything at all, but that meant my anxiety was gone. But the feeling of being numb got worse and worse over time. After a couple of months, it got to the point where I lost all motivation and was tired all the time. I could barely stay awake and was sleeping 12 hours a night most nights. Eventually, the exhaustion and lack of motivation made my depression even worse until I started having passive suicidal ideation. That's when I got off Lexapro and switched to Prozac."

• Tam...
• June 8, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have suffered with anxiety, panic most of my young life. By age 45, panic was pretty much gone, but anxiety continued and mild depression came on. I have also suffered with agoraphobia all my life. By 2009, I wanted more of a life. My doctor of 30 years in 2009 put me on Lexapro. (I have a fear of side effects, hence the fact I never took meds). I started at 2.5, then 5 mg, then 10 mg, which gave me inner shakes and anxiety, which can happen when you up the med, so I went back to 5 mg. Weeks later, I was making a reservation for a beach holiday I hadn't been to since I was 14, an hour and a half away. I made it! Have had a few sad things occur since last December and upped to 7.5. They want me to up it to 10 mg, which I did 2 days ago. Hoping to continue and get to a dose where I can live again. I do recommend this med highly."

• Jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 7, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Commenting again as I’m now just over a month of taking Lexapro for health anxiety and postpartum anxiety. I’m panic-free! I’m so much happier now and can leave the house without worrying I’ll have a panic attack. I can finally enjoy my baby’s newborn stage (almost 4 months postpartum). If you’re wondering if you should give Lexapro a try, definitely do it! It started working for me 4 days after taking it. I still got anxiety attacks but not panic attacks up until 2 weeks. Then nothing. If you’re like me and can’t take tablets, it comes in a liquid form. I’m on 20mg, which is just 1ml in a syringe. I put it in a glass and add about an inch of apple juice; can’t taste it at all :)"

• sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 3, 2024

For Anxiety "Ok, so initially, 2 years ago, I started on Zoloft, which was terrible for me, so I went on Prozac, which took a while to work, but eventually was good, or so I thought. I was getting too excitable and overstimulated, which then triggers vertigo, so I stopped it, and now I'm on Lexapro. I started on 5 mg, which after 3 days I found that I was much calmer and didn't care what people thought of me or certain situations, which usually led to my anxiety and panic attacks no longer rearing their ugly heads. So, doc said, ok, you're doing well, so let's go to 10 mg. It's been 2 weeks, and I don't feel calm, I feel excitable and weird again. So my question to anyone who may have experienced this change: do you think I just need to go with it or go back to 5 mg? Love to hear from someone. Thanks. Take care."

• Mav...
• October 8, 2014

For Anxiety "I've had anxiety and panic attacks for many years. I've tried diet and exercise, meditation, herbs, and when I finally realized how many things I was missing out on with my family and friends, I knew I needed to try medicine. First, I tried Buspar, which offered no help and made me really dizzy. Next was Lexapro. The first couple of days on Lexapro, I noticed nothing. By day 4, I was really tired and had a headache. Day 5-6 was the same, and I was very anxious and couldn't sleep. By this point, I am so tired I have to sleep late, sleep at lunch, and go to bed early. On day 8-10, my ears rang, and I almost gave up. On day 11, I FINALLY started to feel better. Waiting for 4 weeks to see full benefits, but the side effects DO go away."

• Mar...
• November 20, 2015

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "When I first started taking this medication, I was determined to end it all. Four years later, I'm the happiest person I know. I still have a high sex drive, although I've known people to say that Lexapro takes it away for them. I didn't gain any weight, and I've learned through meditation and breathing techniques to handle what small anxiety attacks I may get in my hectic life (two jobs, an apartment, school, long-distance boyfriend) and at 20 years old, I'm better off than most of my friends and feel like I can accomplish anything. Lexapro saved my life."

• Luc...
• October 17, 2017

For Depression "I have been on Lexapro for about 6 months. I started on 5 mg, then 10 mg, then 15 mg, which is what I am on now. For the first few weeks, it lowered my mood, but now I am a whole new person, and it was completely worth it. I am so focused on work, enjoy socializing so much more now, appreciate music, it has really lifted my mood from a 4/10 to a 10/10. I still have bad days every now and then, but nothing compared to before. My social anxiety has also almost completely gone, and people at work comment on how confident I am. I started my job after about 6 weeks of taking it, so they never knew me before. I think it's really good how it has made me so focused and goal motivated too, at work and in life. I am really happy I started this medication."

• RHS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 8, 2013

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Male, late 40s. Earlier summer events created extended stress that eventually broke me. Every morning I'd wake with sweat rolling down my neck, lost my appetite, and the worst-case scenario of everything played in my mind. I'm normally the 'rock' that everyone turns to. Started with Wellbutrin for 2 weeks, but that left me with heightened anxiety. Spent a couple of weeks on Propranolol/Klonopin, but that's not a long-term solution. Started 10 mg Lexapro (generic) and after 5 1/2 weeks, nothing but crazy emotional swings. Switched to 20 mg, and after about 2 weeks, noticed a distinct change. Greatly reduced symptoms so far. Skeptical as I was, this stuff actually works."

• sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2017

For Depression "I had been on Lexapro 20 mg for years and was tired of the weight gain and thought I was okay enough to be off of it. I weaned myself off of it over a long time and went through all of the brain zaps, confusion, exhaustion, etc. But, finally, I was off it. I was starting to get depressed again and not have very clear thoughts, but I thought I could handle it. Then, I got the flu and was on Tamiflu (never again), and all of the depression and anxiety raised their ugly head again. I could not shake it. The horrible thoughts, depression, hopelessness, insomnia, etc. I started back on Lexapro 5 mg a week ago and already feel much better. I am starting to get more tired during the day, but I do not care. I may bump up to 10 mg. If you need it, you need it."