Escitalopram and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• fun...
• April 3, 2019

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "For the past year or so, my anxiety has been at an all-time high. I couldn't sleep at night. I couldn't eat a full meal. I felt lost and hopeless. A few weeks into my new job, I went to a new physician's assistant. She prescribed 10 mg of Lexapro daily for anxiety and 50 mg of hydroxyzine as needed for anxiety and insomnia. She also suggested I look into therapy. The two days of Lexapro were a nightmare. I was foggy, dizzy, nauseous, and not able to stay awake for more than a few hours. I went onto this website and read testimonials that inspired me to keep going. Now that I am 4 weeks in, I am so happy I decided to stay on Lexapro. I am able to tackle stressors more effectively. I feel more content and happy in my everyday interactions, and am leaning more into my support system of close friends and family. My appetite is normal, and food actually tastes good again. I am looking into counseling/therapy options. I feel hopeful for the first time in a long time."

• Anonymous
• July 30, 2014

Escitalopram for Anxiety "Lexapro is amazing. I was blindsided by a panic attack when I was 22. This panic led to being anxious which led to obsessive thoughts about feeling poorly, ultimately causing male depression (not sad but lack of lust for life). It was a vicious cycle, I'd obsess over being anxious and this caused me to be more anxious. I had a dozen symptoms ranging from dizziness to blurry vision to stomach discomfort. It just made no sense to me how all this was related. Long story short, started Lexapro, first 2 weeks made everything worse then just as quickly as it came, the anxiety and obsessive thoughts were gone. Wow, woke up one day and my mind wasn't racing! Would recommend and encourage people not to get discouraged if it doesn't work immediately."

• lgr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2020

For Anxiety "I was on 5mg of Lexapro (generic) last year and felt much improved and went off of it after about 8 months. My anxiety returned, and my doctor and I decided to restart the medication at the same dosage, but this time, I am having side effects. It's only been a few days, but I have a headache, nausea, and dizziness. I've tried taking it at night versus in the morning, but there is no difference. I have read that side effects can improve over time but am wondering if anyone has cut their dose to 2.5mg. I'm thinking a lower dose to start may be more tolerable, but I can't find good information as to whether the lowest dose can be halved."

• HeI...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2020

For Anxiety "I held off on the medication for a very long time, even after being diagnosed with anxiety and depression at the age of 12. I am now 24, and after countless attempts at therapy sessions and coming to the realization that it is indeed genetic, I’m here. My doctor prescribed me 5 mg but suggested I start on 2.5 mg. I did so for four days and began to feel really good. I’m talking, like, really good. Besides the drowsiness, I felt focused. My anxiety was subtle. I ended up having a lot of energy. I then started taking 5 mg, and all those good feelings have now diminished. I’m feeling dizzy, nauseous, anxious, heart racing, loss of appetite, and tired. To be honest, I feel a little depressed. I think I may go back to 2.5 mg and hope it takes the same effect as it first did. I’m very sensitive to medication. I will update in a couple more weeks."

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 9, 2015

Escitalopram for Depression "I just started this medicine 3 days ago and I cannot express how much of an effect it has had on me already. I just graduated high school and became depressed soon after, severe anxiety where I couldn't go out to eat without having to vomit. I also couldn't keep focus on anything, especially when trying to talk to people, and overall was in the worst state of my life. Thought I was hopefully, constantly having break downs, etc. the doctor prescribed this medicine to me a few months before graduation due to anxiety and overall not feeling myself, I was definitely skeptical and taking medicine in my eyes was a sign of weakness so, I put off the treatment hoping I could cure myself out of this funk. I went to ct and it helped but it was mainly focused on anxiety. I stopped going because it seemed a waste of my time. Graduation rolls around, my best friend leaves for college really early and my life falls apart. A week was about all I could take of the constant emptiness, headaches, and nausea I got from being so depressed so I decided to start Lexapro. The doctor prescribed me 10 mg and the first day I took it (in the morning) I was in a state of euphoria. Just a little background on myself, I was never that outgoing but constantly happy. Never the one to be outgoing in front of strangers and was very conscious of people around me. Not on this pill. I was loopy, could not stop laughing and would not shut up. Although this was great, it did not feel normal and I had very bad dizziness and insomnia that night as the drug began to wear off. But I wasn't laying in bed miserably like I did countless nights before, I kind of sat there with a smile so it was actually kind of creepy. That morning I called my physician and asked if this was a normal or okay reaction considering I've been told you shouldn't feel anything for 4-6 weeks. He mentioned that it was 'weird' that I had this response but it was a negative one. He recommended I cut my dosage in half and stick with taking 5 kg a day since the 10 obviously overtook my body. Within hours of hanging up I popped half a tablet and can honestly say I felt happy without many side effects. I continued this the following day and my relationship with my boyfriend, family, and friends has greatly improved, I sleep better, I can laugh and actually mean it and I can go in public places without constantly being self-conscious. I've heard it can have bad results in week 1 and 2 but after taking this medicine for only 3 days, whether it's the placebo effect or not, has saved me and helped me to return to my normal self."

• Anonymous
• July 9, 2016

Escitalopram for Depression "I was prescribed Lexapro 5 mg for perimenopausal rages and major depressive disorder. Considering this is my first antidepressant, I cautiously started with half a tablet (2.5 mg). The side effects were horrible: severe dizziness, headaches, nausea, and confusion. I could not function at work. Over time, my depression, angry outbursts, rumination worsened and started to affect my interaction with coworkers. I decided to give Lexapro another try and start with 1/4 of a tablet (1.25 mg). I took the Lexapro at bedtime, and in the morning, I was the happiest I've been in months, no anxiety, no negative repetitive thoughts. This is a strong drug. My recommendation is to start slowly to avoid severe side effects and then increase if needed."

• 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."

• dre...
• February 14, 2018

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I've been suffering from anxiety and depression since 2017. I found myself not leaving the house, in and out of hospitals, going to so many doctors for answers, not being able to drive, or even be by myself and having panic attacks every day. I was giving up. I found a therapist who helped me tremendously! He advised me to get on Lexapro. I was scared, I didn't want to take it, and I felt like I was weak. I can honestly tell you I am beyond thankful that I made myself get on this medication. It has totally changed my life in such a positive way. I do have to say the first couple of weeks were rough for me. I was dizzy, nauseous, just all the way felt like rubbish. BUT STICK IT OUT. I am so thankful. Give this medicine a try but always remember you have to change the way you live your life and your thoughts, always be positive and always remember you will get out of this and you can live a happy and healthy life."

• 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."

• Hap...
• November 19, 2017

Escitalopram for Anxiety "So I have been taking Prozac for a long time, but I was always taking naps and feeling tired. I didn’t want to do anything or go anywhere. I decided to look into Lexapro reviews, some of them really scared me. I thought, why not give it a shot since one of my cousins takes Lexapro. The doctor switched me from Prozac to Lexapro, and I’m going on three weeks. I feel so much better, I have more energy, and I’m not sleeping all the time. I’m noticing more things that make me happy. I did have side effects in the beginning, but they were very mild - constipation, dizziness, and tingly feelings - but those are starting to go away. I’m so glad I tried this medication, I hope it continues to work for me. The doctor started me on 5 mg, and I’m slowly working my way up to 10 mg. Write your reviews because people actually do read them."

• 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!"

• ccb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 11, 2014

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "It was not fun for the first couple of weeks. I was dizzy, couldn't sleep, nauseous, and couldn't eat. I lost 6 pounds, which doesn't seem like a lot, but I'm already a thin 5'8" female who went from 120 to 114 lbs in a matter of days. Moving past this, Lexapro has helped me so much. I'm also on Lamictal, so the combination is working well for me. I actually feel like I can talk to people, whereas before I was so scared of being judged that I couldn't even talk to customers at work. I can now ask people to hang out. I'm still very self-conscious (I won't pretend it's a miracle medicine that fixes everything), but it has gotten me to a place where I can actually start working on improvement, whereas before I was so paralyzed I couldn't even begin."

• 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."

• Kar...
• September 13, 2019

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been prescribed Escitalopram 10 mg by my GP. I started off with 10 mg. I suffer from PTSD, extreme anxiety, brain fog, lack of concentration, memory loss, and low self-esteem. First 0-18 hours after taking it, I felt very awake, my pupils changed like I had sniffed a line of cocaine. It gave me a huge energy boost. Then it turned to abdominal discomfort, but nothing bad. My whole body felt weird and very uncomfortable with dizziness and shaking. Hours 18-24, I started to feel better. I took Lemsip Max to help with the discomfort a little bit, and it got better. I still couldn't sleep and was very awake, but yawned at the same time. I only slept 4 hours in the first day, yet felt energized and very irritated. The symptoms eased after the first day but continued to be mild until day 5. It is totally worth it in the long run. Anxiety is a lot worse than a few days of Lexapro side effects. If you suffer, don't think twice. Take it and you will get better in 2-4 weeks."

• cla...
• June 16, 2009

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "This drug is an absolute miracle. I have/had severe anxiety from menopause and was losing time at work as well as my general interest in life. Heart palpitations, chest pains, dizziness, and shortness of breath. I thought I was losing my mind. I'm taking only 5mg a day and have no side effects. I'm even losing weight. I'm back to normal. What a HUGE relief! I would recommend this drug to anyone suffering as I did."

• For...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 25, 2025

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I've been on Lexapro for 8 years, it's the only SSRI that I can tolerate. I don't have any side effects that I know of from taking it, but I did get bad withdrawals if I missed a dose: brain zaps, dizziness, and headache. Also, just a fair warning, as someone who has 3 autoimmune diseases and takes a lot of medication. Lexapro interacts with quite a few in my experience, so just be cautious when combining it with new meds (which your doctor should advise you of anyway). Overall, my experience has been okay, not as depressed as I used to be."

• Cru...
• August 30, 2019

Escitalopram for Depression "I have had depression for as long as I can remember, but anxiety only started about 3 years ago. I’ve tried antidepressants in the past and hated the side effects, so I stopped them altogether until recently when my psychiatrist said I should try Lexapro. I’ve been on it for 2 weeks, and the side effects are in the extremities for me: migraines, nausea, loud ringing in my ears, fatigue, lack of sleep, blurred vision, and dizziness. Pretty much as horribly as you can imagine. BUT after the first week, I stopped being paranoid. I could take a shower without thinking I’m going to drown. It’s all mental issues that I ignored for a long time, which eventually turned into something out of my control. After 2 weeks on Lexapro, I can honestly say it’s helping me. I don’t expect it to cure or fix my problem, but I know it will help me manage my thoughts and help me get control of my emotions, which will eventually make me understand what I’m doing wrong in life so I can fix it myself."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 2, 2019

For Irritable Bowel Syndrome "After getting IBS suddenly out of nowhere. And then trying every “natural” treatment under the sun, I knew I had to try something new, especially since I work in a field where I can’t just go to the bathroom when I need urgently. I started taking escitalopram at 10 mg and felt a little dizzy for the first few weeks, but it has been amazing, it has dramatically decreased my IBS symptoms and I feel so much more at ease!"

• JPa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 17, 2019

Escitalopram for Depression "I am a 50-year-old mother who was depressed. I cried constantly and was miserable to be around - I couldn't even remember how to laugh. My doctor prescribed 10 mg escitalopram. I was so eager to feel better that I took the first pill in the middle of the day. Within 2 hours, I had heart palpitations, was shaking, couldn't focus, and was very dizzy. I was sure I was going to die. I spent my day googling 'Lexapro side effects,' which said the side effects would lessen in 2 weeks. My doctor suggested a half pill, but within 4 days, I went back to 10 mg since I was eager to feel better. The side effects continued but lessened. I can't say that most of them were gone in less than 3 weeks, and even now, I still get some flushing in my chest (at 8-1/2 weeks). I would have quit, but at the same time, I found myself singing along with songs on the radio and even laughed. My crying bouts became less frequent. For now, I am content to relearn how to enjoy life and am happy I persevered."

• Rac...
• June 20, 2015

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I love Lexapro. I started taking it when I was 14 for severe anxiety and OCD. My doctor basically begged my parents to put me on medication because I could not leave the house. I'm now 20 years old and about 6 months ago I thought I no longer needed the Lexapro because I was feeling better. WHAT A MISTAKE. After the taper, my OCD came back just as bad as it was when I was 14. So my Pdoc put me on Prozac. It made me manic. I then tried Brintellix, again, it made me feel crazy. So I went back to the Lexapro, and yes, the start-up side effects suck: headache, dizziness (that whoosh feeling in your brain), upset stomach, and brain fog. Every time I bumped up the dose, I had an increase in anxiety, but after 5 weeks, I finally have my life back. Stick it out!"

• Sad...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 1, 2022

Escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder "Okay, so I know everyone has different experiences, but mine was terrible. I started on 5 mg and moved up to 10 mg. At 5 mg, I had almost every side effect (dizziness, anxiety, nausea, headaches, severe exhaustion). The worst was the sexual side effects (which never went away) and initial insomnia. After one week, I went up to 10 mg and started to see some decent results. The insomnia went away after a few weeks. The depression was still there, but the anxiety was nonexistent. Sure, I was completely numb and couldn't feel anything at all, but that meant my anxiety was gone. But the feeling of being numb got worse and worse over time. After a couple of months, it got to the point where I lost all motivation and was tired all the time. I could barely stay awake and was sleeping 12 hours a night most nights. Eventually, the exhaustion and lack of motivation made my depression even worse until I started having passive suicidal ideation. That's when I got off Lexapro and switched to Prozac."

• Bum...
• January 30, 2016

For Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder "This drug has changed my life. I take 5mg only in the luteal phase and it has completely cured my severe PMT symptoms. I was anxious, paranoid, angry, and tearful. I was pushing my family and husband away and falling out with friends. At the point of suicidal thoughts, I couldn't take it anymore and contacted my GP. My only regret is not doing it earlier. I began on 10 mg but it was too strong for me, I was dizzy and hyper. After halving the dose, it was like a magic switch being turned on, and I immediately felt like my own self. I have no side effects coming off the drug at the end of my two weeks, just a headache for an hour when I restart them. No weight gain either, I've actually lost 10 lbs because I'm energetic enough for the gym!"

• Anonymous
• June 16, 2008

Escitalopram for Depression "I have been taking this drug for 6 months. I started after a very sad time in our family, and some months after this, I had days where I would just break down and cry for no reason. I found out that depression is in our family and has made me more aware of this disease. I feel generally better and don't have the days of sadness that I used to but have side effects of insomnia, low sex drive, dizziness, and sometimes fatigue. Overall, I feel this drug has been helpful and would recommend it to others."

• N89...
• August 6, 2015

Escitalopram for Anxiety "On my fourth day now taking this and I feel so much better. The first 2 days were hell for me. Side effects just like everybody else says. I felt like I was dizzy, nauseous, and had diarrhea. It just made me feel strange. But by the third day I felt amazing. I still felt a little weird at first but the side effects wore off quickly and then and began to stop overthinking things so much. It's almost as if I just started to feel at peace with everything like I was just laid back which is not how I ever was. No more of that chest pain or heavy breathing or sickening nervous feeling. Even my girlfriend could notice a difference in me as I was not so wound up about everything. just happy I can feel normal again"

• 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."