Lexapro and Panic Attacks: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Whi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Lexapro gave me my life back! I was struggling with GAD for some months and tried other medications before my psychiatrist prescribed Lexapro. I was dealing with panic attacks every day and literally didn’t know what to do with my life anymore. The first day I felt a difference, it was like a breath of fresh air. The next couple of weeks I still had some “off days,” but by the end of week 4, I was able to live regularly again. If you’re just starting Lexapro, just remember it’s not a miracle drug. It takes time. Give it 4-6 weeks and try not to give up while waiting to see results. I still suffer from panic attacks and anxiety, but it is so much easier to bear. Don’t let all of the negative reviews scare you. What may not work for someone else may work for you!"

• Pmr...
• January 22, 2018

For Depression "I started on Lexapro 1 month ago, and within the first few days, I felt that my mood was stable. I started on Lexapro because I felt sad all the time. I am on 5 mg, and I have just finished my first month. Week 2.5, I was out and I had my very first full-blown panic attack. I have never had this before. After a few hours in the emergency unit at the hospital, they said they couldn’t tell whether the Lexapro had started to work or the huge adrenaline state I had been in for some time had come crashing down, and as a result, I had my first major panic attack. The week following, I am still experiencing small attacks. My mood is stable and hoping that the panic attack won’t happen again."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was trialing Zoloft for 7 weeks, couldn't handle the diarrhea (TMI - like yellow baby poo kind) and barely eating for weeks. My doc advised my body probably isn't absorbing the 100 mg I was on, still having panic attacks rarely also. I am currently tapering off Zoloft to 50 mg for 2 weeks, while taking 10 mg of Lexapro. It's only day one, and I don't know if it was the reassurance from my doc (I had a lump in my hand near a vein and I convinced myself it was a blood clot after Astra vaccination, doc thinks it's a ganglion cyst) that made me relax, but I don't feel the need to overthink random muscle twitches to the point it becomes a panic attack. Only day 1, so not expecting every day to be jolly, but fingers crossed they are, update to come. I do have Valium in the meantime and shower during a panic attack, only place I feel safe when it comes on (plus listening to panic attack guided music, reassurance)"

• Mdu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 17, 2021

For Anxiety "First, I started using sertraline 4 years back, and this last May, it stopped working, so my doctor thought switching meds might be worth a go. Plus, I had heard great things about Lexapro. First, I had to cross-taper from sertraline and started on 5 mg of Lexapro. I was feeling okay, increased anxiety, and was beyond exhausted, but remembered it was like this for me before, and that med worked for me for a while, so I kept going. My doctor had me up to 10 mg, and that’s where things went from okay to bad to worse. I was waking up at 5 am every morning in full panic attack. My husband would have to give me a 0.5 Xanax and lay with me until I went back to sleep. The days got worse: no concentration, motivation, and my mood was generally “don’t care” about everything. After two weeks, I went back to my doctor sobbing, and he agreed we needed to get back down to 5 mg to see if that was a better dosage for me, and if it’s not, I’ll titrate down off that. Will update again in 2 weeks."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2016

For Major Depressive Disorder "Was absolutely awful for me. After 1 pill at the lowest starting dose, I experienced horrible anxiety, insomnia, and panic attacks in the morning, so bad I was worried I'd have to go to the ER for my heart. The prescriber told me to halve the dosage, and this only somewhat lessened the effects. I could not tolerate this med at all."

• JML...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2021

For Anxiety "Current on day 12 of 10 mg Lexapro, after being on 5 mg for 2 weeks while tapering off Effexor. Around the 8th day on 10 mg, I started to have awful side effects: headaches, nausea, emotions all over the place, stomach upset, diarrhea, loss of appetite, anxiety, and panic. Just an overall sense of fear and hopelessness. Now at day 12, I am still feeling nauseous, loss of appetite, anxious, and emotional. Stomach isn’t as upset and my headache is gone. I am hoping that I start to feel a bit better each day. I am grateful for all the reviews on here that tell me to stick with it and keep going; without reading these, I may have given up by now. I will write another review in a few weeks to update how I’m feeling. Thanks, everyone, for your reviews!"

• cap...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 29, 2017

For Major Depressive Disorder "Started at 17 for MDD and GAD. I'm almost 20 and recently diagnosed with BPD now (comorbid with the above). 5mg first week, 10mg for 2 years, 20mg for 5 months. First week side effects included but not limited to: yawning, sweating (especially at night), brain fog, nausea, hypomania, lack of focus. These only came back with cold turkey withdrawals (2 or more missed doses). Brain zaps, muscles seizing up, and panic were common for withdrawal for me too. Lexy helped me minimize/blunt emotional responses and therefore improve cognition (could still cry, etc. though), also boosted my mood noticeably but not intensely. This lasted a year before this med completely stopped working at all, the eventual 20mg bump did nothing. Gentle first antidepressant... tapering off now, probably going for SNRI next."

• Jay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2021

For Anxiety "Had to stop Lexapro. The first two weeks were rough, the third and fourth week my anxiety/OCD symptoms alleviated, but on the fifth week I had immense panic attacks and anxiety for almost two weeks before leveling off. I wanted to push myself to see how far I could go. By two months, my OCD intrusive thoughts became much more recurring and frequent, and I was getting very disturbing thoughts which I never had before, really. I had to quit because although it did kind of alleviate anxiety, it gave me more obsessions and intrusive thoughts that I’ve never experienced before. TLDR, the first three weeks were fine, the rest, up until 2.5 months, have not worked and have had anxiety spikes and worse intrusive thoughts."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "My doctor prescribed me 10 mg of Lexapro. Knowing my body, I’m very, very sensitive to medication, and I cut the pills in half so I could take 5 mg instead. Let me tell you, the first night I took this, I woke up panicking, and my heart was racing, and I was throwing up all night. I wanted to start this because I have anxiety so bad that I get panic attacks pretty often. This just made my anxiety 10 times worse, and I can’t deal with that for a week. I have things I need to do. Don’t let this deter you from taking it, though, everyone is different, and I’ve heard so many good things about Lexapro. I’m just very sensitive to actual medications. I prefer natural coping methods."

• MMK...
• August 10, 2016

For Anxiety "I have had exhaustion, stress, and anxiety for a few months now, and recently the anxiety got worse. For the first time in my life, I had a panic attack twice in one day. I went to the hospital, and the doc prescribed the meds, but I was afraid to start taking them. I also saw a therapist who thought I could get past this without meds. After I had a bad panic attack at night, I decided to start taking them. It's been 3 days, and I have hardly slept and have nausea, especially in the evenings and at night. I'm feeling less anxious, but I really need to sleep because I have to go back to work tomorrow. Please tell me this gets better because my doc said she is only putting me on these for 2 weeks, then we will review and see if I can go off them."

• Nen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started Lexapro a little over a week ago. The first few nights, I had night sweats, waking up at 4 a.m. every morning, increased anxiety, numbness, and a sensation in my face at times when stressed, thinking the worst was going to happen, and I even had a mild panic attack. I find comfort in my bed and am afraid if I leave the house I'm going to have a panic attack, which just increases my anxiety. I'm still taking 5 mg at night, and reading the reviews is helping me stick with it. I'm trusting the process and can't wait to get my life back. When should I feel relief?"

• Den...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 16, 2018

For Depression "Was suffering from depression. I started taking 10 mg of Lexapro 2 months ago and now I have major anxiety and panic attacks 24/7. Also feeling very foggy minded and not to mention the 20 lb weight gain! I do not like Lexapro one bit."

• aug...
• August 17, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Took this medication a little over a year ago. Terrible, terrible experience. Slept almost all day, and when I wasn't asleep, I was in constant panic to the point of tears. It's hard to remember a time in my life (even with anxiety and depression) when I cried more. I have found, however, that I am very sensitive to meds, and so I'm sure this was part of it. Would not touch it with a 10-foot pole."

• Des...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2017

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I first went on Lexapro 10 mg in 2010. I was previously on Paxil and Klonopin, and while they weren't too bad, I wasn't myself. I switched to Lexapro 10 mg, and it immediately helped me. I felt great except for some weight gain. In 2012, I began to get depressed, and then due to some high-stress situations, I had a small panic attack, which was then followed by the return of GAD. My doctor increased the dosage to 20 mg and also added Klonopin. This only made me feel worse. I finally switched to Effexor and Remeron, which was better but not great. Last year, I decided to give Lexapro another shot, and it's been 5 months that I've been on it. Unfortunately, I have also had to take Ativan, and the experience has been horrible. This week, I will switch to Zoloft."

• Anonymous
• August 11, 2010

For Anxiety "I'm 21 and have been taking Lexapro for over 4 years and have seen good results and bad. I had a panic attack after taking Zoloft and was hospitalized after a few days and began taking Lexapro afterwards and have had a few episodes. The biggest thing I think that has affected me was going off for a few days because it messed my system up. I am on 200 mg in the morning and 100 mg at night. I'm still struggling at times with public anxiety and depression, but still feel good after I take it. Next time I think I am going to ask for another medicine. For new users, I recommend it, but take it how you are prescribed and let your doctor know if it's not working."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2016

For Anxiety "Last summer, I was prescribed Lexapro under the name Liberium for my anxiety and depression. I was told to take 10 mg once a day, but to wean myself onto it by taking half a pill a day for a week or two. Most of my time on Lexapro was blurry; I couldn't remember a lot. People around me could tell that I wasn't right. I stumbled a lot, slurred my words, and generally felt very irritable. My anxiety was through the roof, but I had absolutely no depression. When coming down from the med, about 3 hours before the next dose, I literally couldn't move. Coming off of the med one day gave me a panic attack and what was diagnosed as a pseudo-seizure: non-epileptic seizing while remaining completely conscious. I was taken away by force by ambulance."

• Fro...
• July 11, 2019

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was having panic attacks every time I saw someone I knew on the street to the point I believed I would die from one of these episodes and then completely started hiding in the house. I started on Lexapro with a quarter or 0.25, then 0.5 the next. I took Xanax, half a pill of the 0.25 dose with it to not have side effects. Day 1 and 2, Xanax made it possible. The 3rd day was a disaster, I took the 0.5 without Xanax, wanted to see what would happen. Half an hour and I'm in the ER. At the beginning, my heart started racing a little like in the 80s, then up to 90s, then to 100s. I made sure I only took the pill while relaxed so I don't get anxious. I Googled 'Cipralex and palpitation', and Google did its job by intensifying my anxiety, 'contact your physician immediately.' Went to the ER, and my heart rate was 125, down to 110, up again, down to 95, up to 130. Dear God, they rushed me to the special care area for an ECG, but it turned normal. Before I left home, I threw in a 0.125mg Xanax, it calmed me down and eventually my heart."

• jd7...
• February 17, 2011

For Anxiety "These glowing reviews are comical to me. I have had anxiety most of my life, not all the time, but it has come and gone since I was a little girl. At the urging of family members who have been on one happy pill or another trying to be happy (with no success, I might add), I went to my MD, and he gave me Lexapro. I took it for about 6 days, and on the 7th day, I was taken off by ambulance with a 3-day panic attack that I could do nothing about. It scared my husband so bad, he was beside himself. My blood pressure was extremely high, heart palpitations, a feeling of hypothermia, ice cold all over, could not urinate, etc. Once in the hospital, the doctor had to give me a downer to counteract the Lexapro (an upper)."

• Bro...
• August 2, 2014

For Depression "Sorry, but this medicine made me very sick. I had thrown up from it, it made me have really bad panic attacks and made me very dizzy and lightheaded."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 8, 2021

For Major Depressive Disorder "It was terrible, it made me have panic attacks all the time and made me mad at everything and made me even more depressed."

• jea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2018

For Major Depressive Disorder "I have been taking Lexapro for over 3 months. There had been no change in my moods, and I can’t sleep at night. I am having more panic attacks lately. I need something that is going to help me."

• Nck...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This medicine gave me a panic attack shortly after I took it. Never took it again."