Lexapro and Depression: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Lex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 21, 2019

For Anxiety "Decided to stop Lexapro tomorrow with my pharmacist's nod. I have been a shell of myself the last 8 days I've been on this drug. Can't eat, can't sleep. Anxiety is a million times worse. I even feel depressed and literally have to force myself to do anything. This drug has debilitated me completely. These side effects were immediate, I gave it a week to see if there were any changes, but no. I wouldn't wish this feeling on my worst enemy. I'll be dealing with my anxiety naturally from now on."

• kcu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2023

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I took Lexapro for 25 days, and I was so tired, crying, and depressed, and my head was overthinking all day. I felt light-headed. I kept waiting for all these side effects to go away, but they were getting worse. Went back to my doctor, and he took me off of them and put me back on Prozac. It's been two days, and I'm feeling better already. I did give Lexapro a try, but it is not for me."

• Kit...
• March 16, 2021

For Depression "It helped to read everyone's comments about Lexapro. I have an autoimmune disease and react strongly to any medication. I tried 5 mg yesterday and felt horrible. Difficulty concentrating, spacey, forgetful, so I decided not to take it today. I felt better off it until I started to get depressed and worried. I worry a lot and overreact to medical problems. My doctor said to now take 2 1/2 after dinner, and if I get any side effects, go lay down. I am scared that I will get those side effects, but I felt better after I read everyone's comments and hope I will do well on it, because I cannot function like this. Keep fingers crossed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 9, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "OK, so I started taking Lexapro (5 mg) after a horrible experience with Zoloft. When I started taking Lexapro, it was to treat anxiety mainly, but also depression. But as my life changed, I got more and more depressed and went to a new therapist. She bumped me up to 25 mg. It was a high jump, and I just switched one day. Aside from the first month of the up in dosage, which consisted of more depression than usual, headaches, body aches, and fatigue-since then, I haven’t had any problem with it. Lexapro has helped both my MDD (major depressive disorder) and anxiety a lot. The only thing I’ve noticed is weight loss, fatigue, and hand trembling, but none of it is like miserable (on Zoloft, I was throwing up and passing out sooo). I have been switched for a while and don’t plan on messing with it. May up my dosage eventually. I hope everyone finds what they need!"

• Chr...
• July 27, 2019

For Anxiety "I'm 51 and have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for about 18 years, and it has done wonders. I've been feeling some uptick in my anxiety and depression, so the doctor upped my dosage to 15 mg. It's been a week now, and the side effects are awful. I feel lethargic, sad, unmotivated, terrible headache, and have 0 appetite - I've lost about 10 lbs. in a week. I'm going to cut back to 10 mg and hope these wicked side effects go away quickly and deal with my anxiety differently."

• koo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Lexapro is very successful in decreasing my anxiety levels from moderately high to almost nonexistent. Before Lex, any kind of public speaking would give me high anxiety (lots of physical and mental anxiety symptoms), whereas after Lex I felt close to nothing right before giving a very important presentation. Same with social anxiety - if you have it, symptoms will largely go away with Lex. It is really cool but also kind of scary how effectively this med takes away anxiety, to the point where sometimes I wonder, maybe I should be feeling anxiety in this situation? Cons: I feel emotionally numb, fat, and constantly sleepy. Caffeine will be your best friend!"

• Hop...
• August 19, 2019

For Anxiety "I've had anxiety since I was 12, where I would have episodes of panic, but never realized it was anxiety until about 5 months ago. Panic and anxiousness came suddenly but stuck this time rather than a couple of days like in the past. I suffered about 3 months where I couldn't even wake up without having an attack. I couldn't sit, stand, or sleep, I thought I was going crazy. The doctor prescribed me Lexapro (escitalopram). I've been on it for 6 weeks, 10 mg. The first 2-3 weeks only made everything worse, but I stuck it out. Week 6, I'm starting to feel things calm down a bit. I hope it gets better every day. I started Trazodone 3 days ago, and I haven't woken up as panicky as I usually do. The first couple of weeks on Lexapro made me nauseous, more anxious, weak, and it felt like my skin was on fire. But all of that subsided. I did go to the ER, and that's when they gave me Ativan, which made it possible for a couple of days. But I don't take that anymore, as it increased depression for me. Hang in there. I finally see some hope."

• Adi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2018

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was once you, reading drug reviews online, trying to find reassurance. Before you read this, I want you to know that my experience is not your experience or anyone else’s for that matter. For me, this drug did not work. It seemed to create incredibly obsessive and unwanted thoughts, which in turn led to more anxiety. I also became pretty depressed and felt drugged. I took myself off of it, and now I’m returning to normal. If you can, try the natural route first and use benzos for short-term acute anxiety if you can. If it’s still bad, give Lexapro a try. I know it works for plenty of people, just not me."

• SHM...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2020

For Anxiety "Took this awful med for three months until I could stand it no more. I have regular bouts of anxiety, which I kept at bay for 15 years using Ativan carefully as needed. Unfortunately, after this time, I lost control and had the worst rebound anxiety of my life and had to back out, using Valium. I was put on Lexapro to take its place. After 3 months, I was battling to get out of bed. If I did, it was to the couch. Lost all sex drive and ability. Had no motivation for anything and just laid around all day. Have been off it for a week now, and despite some discomfort with head spins, I feel I have my life back."

• Ron...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2019

For Depression "Was on Lexapro for 6 years before switching to something else as I was feeling mild depression and ongoing lethargy. After a few other meds, I'm back on the Lexapro for 2 weeks. Since my first dose, something has changed. My anxiety got worse, and my depression has gone to a really dark place, including suicidal thoughts. I also need Klonopin to sleep and wonder if that's countering the effects of the Lexapro. Either way, I'm not sure if I should just stop it altogether or stick it out another week or two to see if there's a change. So far, I've had maybe one good day out of the past 15 since I started back at 10 mg."

• Jan...
• January 15, 2018

For Depression "For 8 years, I had depression, which I did not realize I had. Tired after waking up, low motivation, lazy, crying for nothing, stressed easily, gained weight, low libido, insomnia, no social contacts, etc. Until I asked for help from a doctor. I started with 10 mg for 1.5 months and, from today, 15 mg. I am very happy now as I see huge improvement - tiredness is gone, I cannot cry actually anymore (just cannot), I enjoy cleaning and organizing my home, playing with children, I am patient with children's mistakes and loudness now again, motivated to improve life, social contacts are a pleasure. The first 3 weeks were awful - felt sick, panic, depression, worthlessness, insomnia, but now after 1.5 months, I feel back in my skin! Happy. Libido is back again."

• Jan...
• January 15, 2018

For Depression "For 8 years, I had depression, which I did not realize I had. Tired after waking up, low motivation, lazy, crying for nothing, stressed easily, gained weight, low libido, insomnia, no social contacts, etc. Until I asked for help from a doctor. I started with 10 mg for 1.5 months and, from today, 15 mg. I am very happy now as I see huge improvement - tiredness is gone, I cannot cry actually anymore (just cannot), I enjoy cleaning and organizing my home, playing with children, I am patient with children's mistakes and loudness now again, motivated to improve life, social contacts are a pleasure. The first 3 weeks were awful - felt sick, panic, depression, worthlessness, insomnia, but now after 1.5 months, I feel back in my skin! Happy. Libido is back again."

• sud...
• December 13, 2015

For Anxiety "I just started Lexapro 3 days ago, 5 mg for anxiety, and I must say I think I feel worse than I did before I took it. I feel all shaky and feel a bit down, and I have gone off my food. Is this normal? Has anyone else felt like this?"

• bam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2017

For Depression "I like this med! I had severe anxiety and moderate depression. I'm only on 5 mg to start, but in 2-3 weeks, I noticed a big change in balance, mood, less anxiety, and depression. I'm still a little depressed and would like to go up to 10 mg. Perhaps 25-30 mg is too much, but in smaller doses, gradually increased, is greatly changing my quality of life. PS Take in the morning. I wish you all well."

• Jac...
• August 26, 2015

For Anxiety "So basically, since I was around 20 (I'm 36 now), I've suffered from general anxiety and horrible panic attacks, really bad hypochondria. I've gone to the hospital thinking I was dying of everything. I graduated from an Ivy League college and suffered the entire time. Finally, I decided to bite the bullet and try Lexapro (brand name, not generic). I started at 10 mg and had a week of terrible side effects including: depression, couldn't cry, weird feelings hard to describe, insomnia, increased anxiety, fatigue, and an all-around shaky feeling. I couldn't deal with it, so I started to cut the pills in half to 5 mg, side effects went away, except I have increased libido (it gets annoying). No panic attacks. Still have anxiety a little tiny bit."

• Jul...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2019

For Anxiety "Stay away from Lexapro!! I started taking 5 mg Lexapro 4 months ago. Starting the medication was rough, I experienced every terrible side effect it could offer. The worst was depression. I began Lexapro because of panic and anxiety, I’d never had a depressed thought in my life before taking this. After 3 weeks, I started to feel a little better, and my anxiety was under control. Fast forward to now - I am absolutely miserable! I’ve never had an issue sleeping, and now I have extreme insomnia. My anxiety and panic attacks are back and worse than before. My head hurts to the point of almost feeling like I have a brain tumor. I have zero motivation for life, which has made me a completely different person than I was before taking this medication. Taking Lexapro was the worst decision I’ve ever made. Don’t risk it."

• sha...
• June 2, 2009

For Anxiety "I was on Paxil and switched to Lexapro a few years back (3) and have not had many side effects. It really does calm me down, so I have become a nicer person and shrug off things that I would normally go crazy about, less shouting, etc. I take 20 mg. I do feel it has made me lazier and as a result, I have been putting on some weight as I exercise less. It does affect orgasms, which are much harder to pull off and take incredible effort. I tried 3 times to go off the drug cold turkey, with terrible results. I just became depressed. After a few days, I just went back on it again and after 15 minutes felt the glow of calm come into my body and I was 'normal' again. It is addictive, to quit, definitely need to decrease dose gradually."

• Bri...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 28, 2019

For Depression "I have depression and anxiety with OCD. I was on Lexapro for a year. I didn't notice much in terms of lessening my depression. I was much more tired, and I still had loss of interest in my usual activities. I also gained about 28 lbs during the year while on this medicine. All I wanted to do was sleep, I never could get enough. I combated the leftover anxiety with my as-needed benzos. I was on 20 mg Lexapro. The pills also gave me heartburn. I'm now on Prozac awaiting to see if there's a difference. It's worked for me in the past, so here's to hoping!"

• Anx...
• May 11, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've suffered with social anxiety for around 2 years. I wouldn't leave my house or my bedroom, it was so, so bad. I even had to drop out of school over it. A year passed, and my anxiety got much worse. I felt like I was going crazy. Social anxiety turned into anxiety altogether. I felt like I was losing my mind. I looked in the mirror and didn't know who I was. I was hallucinating when I closed my eyes, seeing pictures and objects. I would even talk to myself, like a mini conversation going into my head. I got so, so depressed over it, where I would cry every single day and stay in bed. I became so suicidal. I started taking 5 mg Lexapro, and it changed my life. I still suffer with the thoughts, but not so bad anymore. I can get out of bed and enjoy life."

• tit...
• August 29, 2018

For Anxiety "I started the medication due to panic attacks and anxiety. Initially, I had much worsening anxiety and depression. I had improvement in anxiety symptoms after about 3 weeks. However, I was very ill and bedridden. My mind was calm, but also I did not want to do anything. I didn't care about anything. I lost my car, my home, my job - everything because I didn't care! I was always sleepy and could sleep 14 hours straight. I had major sexual dysfunction at 26 years. I tapered off slowly after about 8 weeks. I was left with constant dizziness weeks after to the point that I fell down the stairs. Over a month after stopping, I'm doing well. No meds. Just making positive changes and counseling and trying to get back everything I lost in a couple of months on this med. I still have a little anxiety, but I'm learning to control it. Gotta control it or it'll control you! I've learned that anxiety is like a bully. You have to confront it and not try to ignore it. Move toward your fear! Slowly it will get better!"

• Bun...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 23, 2016

For Depression "I've been taking 10 mg for about 8 months. About a month ago, I went through some tough times that sent me to the mental hospital. After I got out, I told the psych to cut the Lexapro because it was making me fat and it didn't keep me from going to the hospital. Within a week of starting it, I felt overwhelming sadness that progressed to the point that I couldn't get out of bed and I would draw the blinds in the day and just sob. My psych is on vacation right now, but I couldn't take the sadness anymore, so I restarted my Lexapro and within 2 days, I was feeling so much better. I'm grateful for it now."

• myl...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 1, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been taking Lexapro for about 2 months now. I started taking it to treat my worsening anxiety due to stress, school, family, etc. After a few weeks of taking it, my anxiety was a lot better, I was more calm, peaceful, etc. But I started becoming tired all the time and super unmotivated and lacking enjoyment in the things I once loved. Then I started realizing how much more depressed I was becoming. I am still taking Lexapro, but now my depression is worsening. I have suffered from depression in the past, and while Lexapro has helped my anxiety, it has made me extremely depressed."

• NoO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2016

For Depression "I was prescribed this drug for major depression and C-PTSD. I only took it for one week, 5 mg. It was awful. I was exhausted all of the time, had trouble falling asleep, and my sleep was disturbed by very vivid and bizarre dreams. I woke up every morning shaking, dizzy, and disoriented. During the day, my legs hurt so bad it made walking difficult. It made me so hungry, craving carbs, I gained 9 lbs of belly fat in one week! It left me with zero motivation and unable to feel any joy, excitement, or pleasure. I felt detached, empty, I felt dead. I stopped taking it, and while I'm still struggling with depression, I do feel like me again. I feel alive and have lost all of the weight gained while taking it."

• NoO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2016

For Depression "I was prescribed this drug for major depression and C-PTSD. I only took it for one week, 5 mg. It was awful. I was exhausted all of the time, had trouble falling asleep, and my sleep was disturbed by very vivid and bizarre dreams. I woke up every morning shaking, dizzy, and disoriented. During the day, my legs hurt so bad it made walking difficult. It made me so hungry, craving carbs, I gained 9 lbs of belly fat in one week! It left me with zero motivation and unable to feel any joy, excitement, or pleasure. I felt detached, empty, I felt dead. I stopped taking it, and while I'm still struggling with depression, I do feel like me again. I feel alive and have lost all of the weight gained while taking it."

• MAS...
• January 10, 2013

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Prescribed for anxiety, GAD, MDD. After being on Zoloft for several years, when my depression and anxiety spectrum returned, we decided to try Lexapro. It just never felt 'right' from day one. After several months, I noticed the feelings did not improve, and I figured I would need to live with it. Now almost a year since starting, I've made the switch back to a low dose of Zoloft. Within weeks, I again feel 'normal,' and I am not plagued by the overall unease I felt on Lexapro (specifically increased anxiety, developing agoraphobia, EXTREME laziness and no motivation, obsessive thoughts, and headaches). Being mindful now, everyone is different. We all are wired uniquely. I know many people who love Lexapro. Not for me, though."