Lexapro and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2010

For Depression "I've only been on Lexapro (10 mg) for 4 days, and already I'm a little worried. I am experiencing extreme dizziness and nausea to where I think I'm going to pass out. The good news is I'm not as depressed. The bad news? I'm not exactly happy either. I am a complete zombie. I don't care about anything. I cannot concentrate. I find myself 'zoning out' during the day, like I've mentally checked out. The second night I took my medicine, I had an anxiety attack as well, and my depression slammed me pretty hard. My suicidal thoughts were worse during the attack, and I did some serious damage to myself. I'm sure this works for some people, but I'm going to give it a month, and if there is no improvement with these side effects, I'm switching."

• CWM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am on day five of 10 mg Lexapro. The first day I experienced dizziness and sleepiness. I also had surges of higher than normal anxiety. Days two through today, the dizziness has completely gone away. The surges of anxiety have decreased significantly. I'm sleeping great. I have to say I feel much better already. I'm not full of doom and gloom. I'm not ruminating on negative thoughts. I feel I am experiencing healthy amounts of stress as my wife and I go through the home buying process, but I'm not thinking the worst about situations. I am much better able to concentrate, especially when doing my REBT exercises. I have to say, I'm really impressed with the results so far. I can't remember when I have felt this peace of mind. I'm hoping to continue to improve. So far, so good."

• Fig...
• January 25, 2010

For Depression "I have had depression since 2007 and already have had three relapses until now. For my first treatment, I was given Lexapro, and as with most antidepressants, it took around 3-4 weeks for this drug to fully take effect. Side effects for me were minor, e.g., dizziness, loss of appetite. With a combination of exercise, I did recover, although not fully, after 1 year. On my 2nd relapse (failed biz investment), I was again given Lexapro, nothing new to me, and the drug itself took effect fast, and I felt better after around 3 weeks and moved on to a new job. Recently, due to some persistent health problems (stomach ache), my depression again came back. I saw my doctor and was again given Lexapro. The effect was good, and I felt better within 2 weeks, and now I try to exercise 4 times a week."

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2010

For Depression "I'm a 19-year-old girl, and I've been suffering from major depression and social anxiety for the past 5 years. I finally went to the doctor and was prescribed Lexapro 10 mg. I've been on it for 4 days now. I had side effects the first day I took it: nausea, slight headache, slight dizziness, sleepy, and yawning a lot, and most annoyingly, INSOMNIA! I even felt a little confused at bedtime while trying to sleep. The side effects lasted for the first 3 days, now they're slowly going away. The first day, I was really hyper, and the next I was so tired, but now it's starting to balance out and I can sleep better. I haven't had a depressing day since I've been taking Lexapro, so let's hope it stays that way."

• Lub...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Stick with it is the best advice I was given. I was started on 20 mg 3 weeks ago, and the side effects and changes were difficult, and I missed a couple of days of work. (Mine were/are tiredness, dizziness, no sex drive, nausea, diarrhea-1st week only, constant yawning) but this week I feel amazing! I had quite a bit going on, as you can tell by the high dose. I still have some of my anxieties and spurts of depression, but I haven't been on it very long. It has really taken the edge off and helped me feel calm. I felt like I was at my breaking point. Seeing a doctor was the best thing I did. Feeling like I did was no way to live, and I did for many years. I started out taking Lexapro in the mornings, but the pharmacy called and said I should try at night. But I may switch back to mornings because I can't fall asleep now. Overall, it was worth the wait, and the side effects, I'm feeling much better than I did."

• Anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2019

For Anxiety "I am two weeks in. Started 2.5 mg for a week and 5 mg the second. Not sure how much it's helping yet, but haven't had a whole lot of side effects yet, besides mild nausea and dizziness. Will keep taking it, as it may take a few more weeks to work, so let's see."

• mma...
• July 16, 2019

For Major Depressive Disorder "My doctor prescribed me Wellbutrin XL at 150 mg, and I was on it (currently) for a few months. He wanted to pair 5 mg of Lexapro with my Wellbutrin to see if it would stabilize things. I gave this medication a whole thirty-day cycle. I’m unsure if it was the pairing of the two or just the Lexapro itself. But it caused me physical and emotional distress. Physical: extreme nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, dizziness, I had a ton of vivid dreams. I felt consistently even more fatigue, but could never fall asleep. Emotional side: I felt a bit foggy, had some really dark thoughts, was more sensitive than usual, and had no motivation to work out, so activities I enjoy, etc. It intensified some of my old depression symptoms instead of aiding them. I’m unsure if it helped the anxiety portion. This medication is clearly not the right one for me. Currently slowly weaning off of it. I hope it works better for others."

• Alm...
• September 15, 2019

For Anxiety "I took Lexapro 5 mg for 5 months for anxiety. I had no problem except the first week of being tired. The doctor then prescribed 10 mg, and I developed restless leg syndrome. I tapered off with no problem, and the RLS disappeared. The doctor told me the problem was not from the Lexapro. Also, the weight gain was horrible. He also stated it was NOT from Lexapro. It is now two years later, and I had an incident in the family and developed anxiety again. Back on the Lexapro 5 mg. Well, let me tell you. I took it six days and stopped. I had a racing heart, numbness in my leg, and I was so dizzy I almost hit the floor. Once again, the doctor said this is not from Lexapro. I talked him into prescribing clonazepam for the short term. He was reluctant, but I am responsible and have done clonazepam in the past for the short term. It is 0.5 daily for two weeks and then a short taper. We will see what happens. I will not do Lexapro again. Also, my blood pressure was too high at 144/88. I am checking it every day now. The latest reading was 117/78."

• Nan...
• December 1, 2016

For Anxiety "I was taking Xanax, 0.25 mg three times every day for over 13 years. My doctor wanted me to wean off of it, so to help through the process, she had me take 5 mg per day of Lexapro (escitalopram). I kept taking the Lexapro for 1 and 1/2 years. During this time, my doctor raised the dosage to 10 mg daily. Lexapro wasn't the medicine for me. It caused more anxiety, mood swings, and weight gain, along with not feeling like myself. With the help of my doctor, I weaned off Lexapro over a period of 3 weeks. After the 2nd day of not taking Lexapro, I started with constant brain zaps, fatigue, dizziness with vertigo, and felt overall awful. This continued for the next 7 weeks, but the withdrawal symptoms lessened each week. I am now at the 8th week and feel wonderful!"

• Nan...
• December 1, 2016

For Anxiety "I was taking Xanax, 0.25 mg three times every day for over 13 years. My doctor wanted me to wean off of it, so to help through the process, she had me take 5 mg per day of Lexapro (escitalopram). I kept taking the Lexapro for 1 and 1/2 years. During this time, my doctor raised the dosage to 10 mg daily. Lexapro wasn't the medicine for me. It caused more anxiety, mood swings, and weight gain, along with not feeling like myself. With the help of my doctor, I weaned off Lexapro over a period of 3 weeks. After the 2nd day of not taking Lexapro, I started with constant brain zaps, fatigue, dizziness with vertigo, and felt overall awful. This continued for the next 7 weeks, but the withdrawal symptoms lessened each week. I am now at the 8th week and feel wonderful!"

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2022

For Anxiety "I got diagnosed with panic disorder when I was 18, and I had gotten on Lexapro, slowly moving up to 10 mg. Also, I would take half a .5 Xanax every day until the Lexapro kicked in. I couldn’t even leave the house and would have severe anxiety all day long. I think it took 4 weeks for the Lexapro to kick in, and it literally saved my life. I was able to do anything without the fear of having a panic attack. I was on it until 21. The reason I got off it was that I gained a lot of weight. Fast forward to 25, and about a month ago, my panic disorder had returned to the point where I’m having panic attacks every day that last for several hours. So, I decided to go back on Lexapro. The first 4 days, I was taking 2.5 mg, and these last 2 days, I upped it to 5 mg. I don’t remember my anxiety being this bad when I first got on Lexapro last time. I get these headaches in the back of my head, dizziness, still having panic attacks every day. Also on .5 Ativan."

• Kin...
• October 16, 2009

For Depression "I am a 38-year-old mother of two teenage boys. Depression has plagued me, with thoughts of suicide a constant companion. This drug really helped (10 mg for me), I am not so worried or bothered by things. I can handle just about anything. I love it. I have been on it for 8 months, and I want to wean off because of the weight gain (10 lbs) and loss of libido. I tried to wean off before, and the withdrawals were so bad. If you decide to stop taking it, see your doctor. I recommend at least a 2-month withdrawal, if not more. Seriously, it is so bad. The nausea, dizziness, and head zaps are debilitating."

• Jai...
• March 11, 2015

For Anxiety "Started this medication, Cipro, 2.5 years ago, only 5 mg. I had side effects to start, including joint pain, brain zaps, dizziness, but it passed after 4-7 days, and I have been back to myself, working a full-time job, driving again, and living my life. Recommend it for sure."

• nun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2019

For Anxiety "Lexapro is terrible for me. I have been switched from Celexa after many years and at the high end of the scale, 60 mg daily. Having no problems at all, doctors changed me to Lexapro, I hate it. Agitation increased, dizziness that was so bad I could not move my head, anxiety increased, moody, snappy, not good. Called the doctor immediately, put back on Celexa. They claim they are the same medication, not in my experience."

• Tes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2019

For Depression "Worse med I’ve ever taken. I started with 20 mg. The first day, I felt like I was high. I was super anxious and paranoid. I was super shaky. Randomly crying. When I say crying, I was sobbing, I couldn’t stop. I felt tense, and I couldn’t stand up because I was dizzy. I was scared to go through a doorway because I felt like the room got small. I felt really suicidal, I took myself to the hospital because I didn’t feel like myself. I have major depression, and this caused me to feel like I hit rock bottom. I discontinued after the first dose. Scared to try anything else."

• Anonymous
• April 5, 2012

For Anxiety "Been on and off antidepressants for 10 years (still can't believe it). Tried Paxil and currently take 10 mg of Lexapro. Still do not feel well. I find running helps me more than anything, but I fear the day the running is too much. I'm 40 and in otherwise good health, but I feel pretty lousy almost every single day. I am happy to read about people doing well on medication, but all I get from it is dizziness/lightheaded. Still optimistic about one day looking back at this nightmare in disbelief. Until then."

• Anonymous
• April 21, 2009

For Anxiety "I have only been taking this medication for 2 weeks. It has been pretty up and down for me each and every day. I requested help for anxiety made worse by PMS. I started on 2.5 mg and had scary anxiety, worse than what I was even taking it for, mild dry mouth, dizziness, and head sensations that were not quite painful but annoying. Just when I thought it was getting better, side effects seem to come and go as they please. I know that 2 weeks is not a fair amount of time to evaluate the drug completely, and while my PMS was improved this month, I feel different, and not in a good way. I don't know how much longer I will give it a go."

• Jet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2021

For Anxiety "After being on Ativan for over 20 years for anxiety and panic attacks, I'm working with my new PCP to transition to another med. Buspar didn't work, so I'm now on day 2 with Lexapro. I rushed to read the reviews because I have a nervous, odd emotional feeling. I sit staring blankly into space and feel uneasy. I took my 2nd pill after being up for an hour this morning and immediately went back to bed and slept for 2 hours. Am on 10 mg. I might cut back to 5 mg tomorrow. I'm hopeful based on the long-term outcomes many have had, but I had planned to go grocery shopping today and don't think I have the emotional strength to do it... afraid of a panic attack and am feeling too unbalanced. Just took an Ativan, so am hoping that evens me out to at least get through the day. I'm hopeful, but this is difficult, and it's only day 2! Thank you for your reviews. I hope to reach the level of calm that many have described, but it's obviously going to be a bumpy ride. I'll fasten my seatbelt."

• Nan...
• August 22, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've had anxiety for many years, and my doctor had me on Xanax for about 12 years... three times a day (0.25 mg). She weaned me off to only taking one at night. While weaning, she put me on 5 mg of Lexapro to ease the process, which was over a year ago, and I still take the Lexapro. However, lately, I have been experiencing more frequent panic/anxiety attacks, which causes major dizziness, more so than before. I'm not sure if Lexapro is for me or if the mg is too low. I'll be making an appointment to see my doctor, but I want to see if anyone out there has had or is having this problem. It's pretty scary."

• Bye...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2015

For Anxiety "I was put on this for my panic disorder because I was suffering from panic attacks while driving because of a bad car wreck I had. Anyways, my doctor put me on 10 mgs. When I took it in the day, I was so drowsy and out of it I couldn't function. So I switched to taking it before bed, and I would wake up every night with dizzy spells and heart beating out of my chest. It would take an hour for those symptoms to go away and for me to continue my sleep. Then during the day, I would have extreme anxiety. I couldn't be behind the wheel of a car without panicking, I couldn't go out to the store without panicking. I was only on it for 10 days, the worst 10 days of my life, and honestly, I feel better now that I'm off this horrible drug."

• Suz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 18, 2021

For Anxiety "I have been on just 2.5 mg Lexapro for 7 weeks. I was terrified to go on this medication because I’m so sensitive to side effects. I went on it for panic attacks and an off-balance feeling that my doctor says it’s caused by anxiety! I have these feelings from the minute I open my eyes till the minute I go to bed at night. After four days of starting the medication, I began having terrible side effects. I was more off-balance than before, dizzy, and a little nauseous, my anxiety was so bad I was getting so scared that it was not going to work for me. At four weeks, I started having some good days in between the bad days. I just went to see my doctor again, and he wants me to go up to 5 mg, as that is more of a therapeutic dose. I started it for three days now, and I'm getting the same start-up side effects again. I guess I just have to give it time to work. I’ve heard great things about it and hope it works for me. I just want my life back."

• Vic...
• January 25, 2012

For Anxiety "I started taking Lexapro for anxiety associated with overanalyzing everything. Parents separating and getting engaged. The side effects the first couple of weeks included nausea, dizziness, headaches, and a wide awake feeling at night. The pros: took away the thoughts running through my mind, blushing, helped even out all of my emotions. The cons: I stopped Lexapro in December before I wanted to get pregnant, and one week later I had a massive migraine (never had one) and lost my ability to speak. See, it was awful. Rushed to the ER thinking I had a stroke. Everything came back fine. Just remember, if you plan on getting off before pregnancy, give yourself a good few months. The withdrawals are a nightmare! Dizziness, nausea, headaches."

• Lau...
• May 2, 2010

For Anxiety "I was prescribed 10 mg Lexapro in March of 2009 for anxiety. It worked well as far as the anxiety was concerned, but I decided to stop taking it in April 2010 because of the side effects-weight gain (I gained about 10 pounds even though I was a consistent gym rat and my diet did not change) and a pretty much non-existent libido. This is NOT A MEDICINE YOU CAN JUST STOP TAKING. My doctor weaned me off by having me take 5 mg every day for 2 weeks and then 5 mg every other day for a week. The withdrawal symptoms were not bad until I stopped taking it altogether. I've noticed I've been easily fatigued and have constant dizziness, which seems to be worse in the mornings-hopefully it will subside soon."

• kie...
• November 4, 2011

For Anxiety "It's not for me at all. Last night was the worst night of my life, it started about two weeks into taking Lexapro. My friends and family said that they noticed changes, but I felt more depressed than I have ever felt. The next two weeks into it, I started feeling really off balance and trembly. Then last night happened, without warning, without a trigger. As I was trying to fall asleep, I started getting lost in my head. I was forgetting how to think, and I was forgetting words. It terrified me."

• Gui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2019

For Anxiety "First day, heart racing all day. I have a splitting headache, my dosage, chest feels numb. I have a dry mouth, dizziness, but all these symptoms can be caused by anxiety. By day four, feel side effects less. Hopefully, in two weeks, it will start working. 20 years ago, I was on Cipramil for a few months... felt similar."