Escitalopram and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• 50 ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 3, 2022

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Started with 10 mg Lexapro 12 weeks ago and feel completely back to normal. The first week was rough, increased anxiety and a few side effects, but every week things improved and side effects subsided. By week 4, things got better by leaps and bounds. By week 10, no side effects and zero anxiety. I had insomnia in the beginning, and it is improving weekly. Highly recommend being on Ativan in the beginning to help with increased anxiety and sleep issues if you experience that. Worked great for me, and I'm a huge fan of Lexapro. Suffered really bad G.A.D."

• 8an...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2024

For Anxiety "I was reading reviews for hope too. That feeling of dread is truly horrendous. That belief that it won't work for you, that you are stuck like this forever - I remember it. The side effects of anxiety and depression did worsen for 4 weeks for me. But at the 4.5 week mark, I started waking up with less adrenaline. My body started to feel calm. It's been a week feeling the benefits now, and, just wow! It's hard to fully believe these reviews, but they are right. The hardest climbs have the best views. Hang in there x"

• Mac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2022

Escitalopram for Anxiety "Terrifying reaction to this drug. I was suffering with anxiety and panic attacks. Got 10 mg of Lexapro prescribed. I take my first dose at 10:50 PM. I am violently woken up at 1:30 AM with a feeling of severe burning in my head and all over my body. My entire body was shaking uncontrollably. I was dizzy and nauseous. I had diarrhea. When I closed my eyes, it got worse! Seeing a million colors and patterns (beautiful, but terrifying), so obviously I can’t sleep at all. The anxiety worsened x100, and I thought several times, “I’d rather be dead than live like this.” These symptoms worsen at night, and they’ve lasted for 2 days. I’m on day 3 today. In short: I’ll take my unmedicated anxiety any day. I don’t care if I have to be doing breathing exercises and praying the entire day. I’ll take my normal anxiety any day compared to what I felt on Lexapro."

• Ana...
• June 10, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I had a severe migraine and anxiety. My doctor prescribed Lexapro, and the first two weeks were so bad. My anxiety got worse, and I suffered from many side effects, but after two weeks, my anxiety disappeared. I was more motivated, headaches gone, and my OCD was 50% better. After two months, all side effects were gone. Now I'm on Lexapro for 6 months, and my OCD is 70% better and I'm a happy person, also, my libido is good. So thankful for Lexapro."

• tae...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 14, 2024

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This is my second time being on Lexapro. The first time I got on it, it was hard. The first 2 weeks were tough, I had more anxiety and bad depression. I was scared, but after 4 weeks, I felt good. I could go out, I forgot what it felt like. I thought I was cured until I stopped taking it. The withdrawals were bad. I got back on it, but had to start over. I don't know if this is a forever drug, but it saved me. It saved me a lot. I know your anxiety is bad and you just started, hold on. I'm telling you, it will help."

• RL2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2019

For Anxiety "I started taking this drug at the end of May, and let me just say that it has saved me. I used to be so riddled with anxiety that I seriously didn't know what else to do. The constant tightness in my chest I experienced 24/7 is now gone. The 24/7 feeling of utter dread is now gone. The panicky feeling I had constantly is now gone. I feel so much more like myself now. My mind is clear and calm, and I can enjoy things now. Please, whoever is suffering from terrible anxiety, give this drug a chance. You won't regret it!"

• RL2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2019

For Anxiety "I started taking this drug at the end of May, and let me just say that it has saved me. I used to be so riddled with anxiety that I seriously didn't know what else to do. The constant tightness in my chest I experienced 24/7 is now gone. The 24/7 feeling of utter dread is now gone. The panicky feeling I had constantly is now gone. I feel so much more like myself now. My mind is clear and calm, and I can enjoy things now. Please, whoever is suffering from terrible anxiety, give this drug a chance. You won't regret it!"

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

Escitalopram 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."

• Jes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 23, 2022

Escitalopram for Anxiety "Want to share my experience, because reading these reviews helped me go through the darkest moments. GAD + insomnia, now on Lexapro 20 mg (started from 10 mg), take it in the morning, cognitive-behavioral therapy, 1.2 months. I finally feel good and sleep without sleeping pills (still waking up several times per night, but I’m able to fall asleep again). So for everyone who just started: it may be better! The first couple of weeks I had diarrhea, headache, fatigue, dizziness, and weeks 2 and 3 drove me insane - I had constant anxiety, fears, panic, painful muscle tension in the whole body, my vision was blurred, I couldn’t focus at all, was restless, couldn’t sleep (sometimes even with pills), had the darkest thoughts, felt hopeless, had to quit my job, couldn’t communicate with people. But week 4 brought me a breath of fresh air, my mind step by step cleared, I’m almost calm and feel more confident that I can manage anxiety, starting to search for a new job soon."

• Mau...
• May 26, 2021

Escitalopram 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."

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

Escitalopram 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."

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

Escitalopram 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."

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

Escitalopram 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."

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

Escitalopram 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!"

• Jil...
• December 31, 2015

Escitalopram 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."

• Net...
• September 1, 2014

Escitalopram 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!"

• Unk...
• November 22, 2019

Escitalopram 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."

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

Escitalopram 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."

• KH4...
• November 30, 2014

Escitalopram 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!"

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

Escitalopram 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."

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

Escitalopram 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."

• bun...
• November 17, 2019

For Anxiety "I used this site as therapy while taking this drug. Here's my experience: My starting dose was on 2.5 mg escitalopram for 5 days, 5 mg for 5, then 10 mg. You HAVE to start slow. No side effects until 10 mg, then they were the worst. The anxiety was 10x worse. I had pins and needles and a complete loss of appetite for 2 weeks after starting 10 mg. I knew I was getting better when one day I actually wanted to eat food instead of force-feeding myself. So, now you are over the worst of it, but guess what? You are just back at the beginning-not feeling a lot better or worse than when you started. YOU HAVE TO WAIT ANOTHER 3 weeks for it to actually start making you feel better! It's slow-one day you feel pretty decent, then there will be 2 days in a row, then 3 days, etc. If you are going into this medication, you have to go slow and give yourself at least 6 weeks. Anything sooner, and you may be disappointed. But, like most say here, it does work, and for me, it's a lifesaver. I will be on this for many, many years."

• ibs...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 21, 2017

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "My life before this godsend medicine was awful-agitated, stressed with no reason, and lightly depressed. I couldn't think straight. After 2 months of taking this drug, I felt it relieved all my symptoms. I take only 10 mg of Cipralex. Please, all IBS sufferers, I know how painful and embarrassing IBS can be. Please don't give up, try this. You might not feel relieved right away-maybe in 1, 2, or 3 months-but it will work. Don't give up. I hope IBS sufferers find this helpful. Thank you all."

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

Escitalopram 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!"

• Anonymous
• July 19, 2013

Escitalopram 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."