Lexapro and Panic Attacks: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Jac...
• July 1, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I'm a 40-year-old male who started Lexapro just over three weeks ago for GAD. The psychiatrist advised 5mg for the first 2 weeks to adjust to side effects, then to 10mg. The first 2 weeks I barely noticed any effect, maybe a little less stressed than usual, but then moving up to 10mg really hit me hard - fatigue, sweats, confusion, nausea, panic attacks. Honestly, 5 days in I was at the point of calling my doctor to say I couldn't take it anymore. But then on day 6, I woke up feeling a whole lot better. It's hard to describe, but I just feel focused and relaxed in a way that I'd forgotten how, or maybe never knew. I'm now on day 8 at 10mg and am so glad I stuck with it. Talk to your doctor if you're feeling terrible, but know it can get better."

• mel...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 15, 2019

For Depression "I have been on Lexapro since January (so 9 months now), and my life has really changed. I was officially diagnosed with generalized anxiety and unspecified depression and was having panic attacks daily. Not to mention, I was only sleeping about 2 hours in the morning and crying for pretty much every little thing. My condition worsened during the winter, so I finally agreed to start medication. After a few weeks, I felt like a new person! I’m far less emotional, I sleep better, and I haven’t had a panic episode since starting the medication! Then again, I was also prescribed Xanax whenever I feel super anxious. I wouldn’t think of ever switching to a different antidepressant."

• Bar...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 24, 2016

For Anxiety "Lexapro is the best medication. I had no life before Lexapro. I used to suffer for 8 years from anxiety and panic attacks. I was always scared of anything. The doctor asked me to try Lexapro, I was so afraid of medications, I thought medications would never help me. I used to think that I would help myself to stop thinking about it. I thought they were all thoughts in my mind and I had to change them. I used to get panic attacks every day when I was sleeping. I would recommend anyone to try this medication because it will save your life if you have anxiety. I have been taking 10 mg for months, then 15 mg for 2 months, and 20 mg for 4 months, and I am still taking it. I will never stop taking it."

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

For Depression "Second time on Lexapro (escitalopram). First time 5 years ago (2019), it worked within 12 weeks for my GAD. Quit cold turkey after 2 years with ZERO side effects. Back on it for depression. It’s been 4 weeks now, and I can see it’s helping with the depression. But the side effects were so severe I ended up in the ER twice. Extreme panic attacks (never had one before in my life), my body felt like it was vibrating for a week, weak, no appetite, adrenaline rushes. So I got on for depression, but now I have anxiety. Dr. had to prescribe Klonopin twice a day to help me sleep and relax. I’m not sure where this is going, but I’m gonna keep fighting. Anxiety is starting to subside, but now I have a fear of panic attacks. So I don’t know. I’ll update again. Just take the benzo if you need it in the beginning if you have side effects so they don’t traumatize you like they did me."

• Mis...
• May 19, 2015

For Anxiety "This medication was a game changer for me. After trying Prozac, Zoloft, and Celexa with no effect, I thought I was destined to have panic attacks for the rest of my life. Celexa even worsened my anxiety, causing me to go to the emergency room twice. At the time I started Lexapro, I was having debilitating symptoms, at least 1 to 2 panic attacks a day with a racing heart, racing thoughts, and generally feeling like I was losing my goddamn mind. After a month of Lexapro, my anxiety began to calm. I have now been on it for 3 years and am relatively symptom-free. I still experience heightened anxiety and the occasionally panic attack, but it is so much more manageable, and I am able to apply coping skills successfully."

• Mum...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 6, 2016

For Anxiety "I've always been an anxious person. Usually, I find my anxiety serves me well to stay on top of a busy household, but occasionally the anxiety is destructive instead, like after the birth of a child or during difficult times. I'd had a horrid couple of years, nursing my mum to the end from cancer, and eventually, it caught up with me: panic attacks, health anxiety, obsession with breathing, palpitations constantly. I went straight onto 20 mg as I had been on this drug briefly a decade ago. The first 24 hours were weird, dizzy, disoriented, mildly nauseous, and a huge panic attack. I only slept 3 hours a night for the first 2-3 days. By week 3, I sleep 8 hours a night, have energy during the day, and zero anxiety. I feel great! Lexapro is great, but be patient."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2025

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "If it weren’t for all the positive reviews, I’d have quit by now. I’m on 10 mg, and the nights are difficult sometimes. At times, I get fortunate to sleep six hours straight, wake up, go back to sleep. Other nights, I panic, and my heart starts racing (feel like I can’t breathe), so I take Valium to help me sleep. Only slept four hours last night, then had to power through today. I’m so hoping to leave a fantastic review in a very short time! I read one review, and the person said they preferred Klonopin over Lexapro, but I prefer to take a benzodiazepine only occasionally as they’re not for long-term use. Actually, I take the generic of Lexapro, but I suppose it’s the same. Anyone starting out, please tell your experience unless it’s TOO bad because you never really know unless it has been given time to kick in."

• Gir...
• May 24, 2021

For Anxiety "I was very hopeful about this, taking it for severe anxiety and agoraphobia. But I am quitting after 3 weeks of taking the bare minimum amount. This was a mental and physical torture that I wish I never had to experience. I tried to push through, but it's just unbearable, even with daily Xanax. I had side effects from Lexapro, including horrible constant nausea, shivers, terrible GERD/gut issues, genital numbness, insomnia, memory problems, panic attacks, and suicidal thoughts. The more bizarre ones are sweating a lot, bad body odor, ear ringing, muscle twitches, and jittery hands. Mind you, I am a young woman with no medical condition. And only a couple of mgs of this medication left me with terrific physical problems, and I'm just hoping they will heal with time. I felt a little ease in my anxiety at the beginning, but I'm pretty sure that was just the brain fog numbing my ability to think anxiously (and to think at all). I didn't feel like myself. Horrible side effects even on a quarter of a dose, it's honestly horrifying."

• Bra...
• May 28, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "After I gave birth to my son almost 3 years ago, I suffered from GAD and had 3-4 panic attacks, negative thoughts, sweating, tightening of my chest, can't breathe, restlessness, name it... to the point I can't function and can't even take care of my son. I've started taking Lexapro 5 mg for 1 week. I had the worst side effects to the point I don't want to eat and take a bath... it worsened my anxiety symptoms 10 times, but after a couple of weeks, Lexapro began to kick in but not that optimal effect. After 6 months of taking Lexapro 10 mg, signs and symptoms started to subside. This medicine really helps me. Lifesaver! Just be patient. I took it for 1 year and 5 months. I was cured."

• Jum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been on other SSRIs, which were ineffective, however, I found Lexapro to be intolerable. Other SSRIs had their minor side effects for the first couple of weeks, such as strange dreams and nausea, however, Lexapro wreaked havoc on me from day one. Just four hours after taking my first 10 mg dose (at 8 am), I wanted to vomit, was very dizzy, and felt confused and disoriented. I also had an extremely dry mouth. By 5 pm that evening, my anxiety had gotten ten times worse, and I suffered the absolutely WORST panic attack I have ever had in my life. My panic was so bad I briefly passed out. Everyone reacts differently to different drugs, so this is just my experience. However, I personally find this to be the worst SSRI in terms of side effects, which are intolerable."

• Jay...
• September 8, 2017

For Depression "Have been taking for over 10 years, mixed in with a period of about 2 years when my doctor took me off because of depression symptoms subsiding. The majority of the time, I have been on 10 mg, the last 2 years have had the dose raised to 20 mg. The drug has worked great for me. Terrific improvement from when I started and a 99% reduction in panic attacks. Reduction in OCD symptoms as well. Well tolerated for me at least, but I realize with these medications everyone is different. It’s not perfect, but the relief I got was real and changed my life. For that, I am thankful."

• Deb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2019

For Anxiety "My doctor insisted that I take Lexapro for my anxiety. After only 27 days of 5 mg doses, I felt like I was going insane. The disgusting side effects were numerous, including excessive sweating, stomach cramps, dark thoughts, diarrhea, sleeplessness, decreased sexual drive, confusion, and irregular heartbeat. The withdrawal process has left me having scary panic attacks and paranoia. I wish I’d never heard of the drug, and I will never go back to that doctor again. My life feels totally ruined from this drug, and I have slurred speech and increased anxiety. Please avoid this."

• jay...
• April 13, 2018

For Anxiety "I've been on escitalopram for about 12 weeks now. I was a 'normal' person my whole entire 20 years of life, and when anxiety hit me out of absolutely nowhere, I had severe derealization symptoms that basically drove my anxiety through the roof. All of a sudden, I was a completely different person; once an outgoing, lively, fearless girl to someone who couldn't even look up. Because of this, I spiraled into a horrible depression. I think one of the scariest feelings was I would panic and a wave of helplessness would just hit me, and I felt like my whole world was falling apart. After taking Lexapro, I started to very gradually feel better. It was never like an on and off switch, but as the weeks went by, I just slowly started feeling better/mood lift/less tense/etc. Now, I feel great and like myself again and am doing more for myself in the past few weeks than I have the past few years. Give it a shot, it will be rough in the beginning like everybody says, but it will be worth it."

• Djb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2021

For Anxiety "I have had anxiety my entire life, but for the most part, I have managed it on my own. My therapist prescribed Lexapro 5mg and then worked up to 10mg. The side effects I experienced at first were nausea, headaches, and absolutely terrible restless insomnia. Then, after increasing my dose a month into taking it, I had an absolutely terrible experience. I had terrible intrusive thoughts that were completely against who I am. I had panic attacks that went on for days. I couldn’t sleep or eat. I was a different person, I felt like I had lost my mind and myself completely. It was the most terrifying experience I’ve ever had. I immediately stopped taking it, and then the withdrawal began. The intense brain-zapping feeling, the dizziness, the continuing anxiety attacks, the nightmares, the insomnia…. I feel like I was just pumping my body with poison. I will never take another medication again."

• Rea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2022

For Anxiety "I had taken Lexapro for 20 years but got really lax with it. I would take a quarter of 10 mg every other day, sometimes every 3 days. Then I had some post-Covid tachycardia that sent me into several panic attacks and horrible anxiety. I switched to Celexa, which made me really sick and gave me more tachycardia. I went back on Lexapro. I started at 2.5 and worked my way up to 5 mg, (I’m super sensitive to meds). It took exactly 4-5 weeks before the anxiety has gone away completely. The panic attacks stopped about week 2 or 3. I’m very thankful to God for this medicine. I did not want to drive or work, but I pushed so hard because I knew I had to. I also have 2 littles that need their mommy. If it doesn’t work at first, do stick with it. You can live anxiety-free."

• jpa...
• November 16, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Lexapro 10 mg helped me so much. In June of 2016, my dad passed away unexpectedly. I'm 24 and a female. My life was turned upside down, and I could not deal. I was a 'normal' person without anxiety before this, now I was experiencing chronic anxiety, panic attacks, mind racing, feelings of derealization, etc. It was chronic. I couldn't go to work and could barely even leave the house without having crippling anxiety. I tapered up from 5 mg to 10 mg over a few months, and it literally saved me. I still had a few symptoms, but nothing any different than just everyday mild anxiety. It felt liberating. Lexapro 10 mg saved my life."

• Pan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Was taking Lexapro for 7 years, and then after 5 years off the med, I got really bad anxiety and 24/7 panic attacks. Back on Lexapro (5 mg) for 6 days now. Day 5 was like a dream-completely anxiety-free. Today is a bit worse, and I know I gotta be strong and make it through the first few weeks. Lexapro literally gives you your life back, the few side effects outweigh the wonders this drug does. I have been anxious my whole life, and my time on Lexapro was the best time of my life. Don't get discouraged by anti-AD opinions and side effects of the first weeks, just like someone here wrote, 'gotta make it over the hump.' Be strong! It pays off."

• Dre...
• August 22, 2019

For Anxiety "I took a single 10 mg Lexapro dosage at around 9 a.m. on a weekend. Immediately, I noticed a loss of appetite, but it was manageable. It wasn’t until about 7 hours later that I noticed my throat felt like it was partially closed. After another 7 hours, I had one of the worst panic attacks of my life. I was sweating, had chest pain, my heart was beating out of my chest, and I felt nauseous. I seriously considered going to the ER. I eventually fell asleep around 5 a.m. and woke up around 9 a.m. with the exact same symptoms. Truly awful. The only good that came from it was that I was exhausted by nighttime, which led to some solid sleep over the span of 2 nights. Still, it took me at least a week to feel ‘normal’ again, and that’s after only a single dose! The half-life of this medication is extremely long. My advice to anyone reading this with similar symptoms: Stay hydrated, get sleep (I know it’s tough, but it’s a must), and try to eat! I will never take it again."

• Aid...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 24, 2019

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Lexapro after a transitive event in my life that caused anxiety and panic attacks. I started on 10 mg, after a few weeks, it was increased to 15 mg, and then after another two months, it was increased to 20 mg. I had suicidal thoughts and called my doc right away... my dosage was lowered... I didn’t notice that the panic attacks came back and the breakdowns started. I was increased back to the 20 mg under doc's supervision. The breakdowns are less frequent, but I noticed they are worse during my period. These breakdowns are intense. I have panic attacks, and the crying is hard to stop. Has anyone else noticed the effects are worse during their cycle?"

• Bug...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 23, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro (generic version) since 2012. It has helped me a great deal. I was prescribed the med for generalized anxiety, which used to impair my ability to function - I could not sleep at all; an extended period of sleep deprivation would trigger depression, which was hell. I experienced panic attacks just as I would start to fall asleep; it would jolt me up, and I was never able to fall back to sleep. I could not eat and lost a lot of weight. I got a very good doctor, and he prescribed a sleeping aid with Lexapro until Lexapro's anti-anxiety effects kicked in. I took the sleeping aid for about 5-6 weeks until I started to sleep 4-5 hours. One big adverse side effect is weight gain; I gained 25 pounds in 3 years."

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2008

For Depression "I'd never experienced depression until I was getting a divorce. Depression is frightening. Talking didn't relieve my despair. Then came new, nightmarish experiences: panic attacks. My doctor put me on Lexapro, and I went to therapy. I felt immediately better physically, which paved the way for my eventual and complete emotional healing. I went off the drug once, crashed (don't quit suddenly, taper off if you have to). Now I take it again (low dose) with the same wonderful results."

• Anonymous
• April 19, 2012

For Depression "I've been battling depression for 5 years. It got really bad right after I gave birth to my son, who is now turning 5. I would cry for no reason and get really upset over the little things. My depression got really bad last year, and it affected my relationship. My confidence got really low, and I would constantly put myself down. I had several bad panic attacks while at a restaurant, which caused us to immediately leave. I have a great support system with my boyfriend and started Lexapro two months ago. I feel so great about everything! I'm currently taking 10 mg, and I finally feel a better me and truly see life. Thanks, Lexapro!"

• Xux...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 29, 2016

For Anxiety "Feeling alive again but still having panic attacks. I've been on 10 mg for the past month, but I noticed every time I have drinks, the next day I have nasty panic attacks. They are awful. It's been only a month. Does it get better after 2 months? I like this medicine, I feel alive again. I want to jump out of my bed and go to the gym at 6 a.m. like before! I haven't felt like this in a year! Before, all I wanted to do was sleep and stay attached to my bed. I love this med, but I think I'll need to up the dose for my anxiety. :("

• Iri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started taking this medication at only 5 mg, and the side effects were torture. I took this medication for 2-3 weeks, and I had so many panic attacks, cold sweats, nausea, and it made me cry a lot, as the panic attacks were horrible."

• Joe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 20, 2019

For Anxiety "I was prescribed Lexapro 10 mg for anxiety. I took the pill for two days, and what followed was the worst week of my life. I would describe my anxiety as a little more than mild. It was never debilitating. I shouldn't have been prescribed it. I took one pill in the morning and woke up in the middle of the night with a full-blown panic attack. I had never experienced anything like that in my life. For three full days, I couldn't sleep or eat. I had no desire to do anything but was incapable of sitting or lying down. I was constantly in a panic because I thought my life was over. I would start crying, again something that never happened to me before. On the third day after I had stopped the drug, I finally felt normal again. The feelings did come back overnight, and I'm still feeling effects this morning. Please use this drug with extreme caution. I know it can be a help to a lot of people, but make sure to do your research."