Escitalopram and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Mav...
• October 8, 2014

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I've had anxiety and panic attacks for many years. I've tried diet and exercise, meditation, herbs, and when I finally realized how many things I was missing out on with my family and friends, I knew I needed to try medicine. First, I tried Buspar, which offered no help and made me really dizzy. Next was Lexapro. The first couple of days on Lexapro, I noticed nothing. By day 4, I was really tired and had a headache. Day 5-6 was the same, and I was very anxious and couldn't sleep. By this point, I am so tired I have to sleep late, sleep at lunch, and go to bed early. On day 8-10, my ears rang, and I almost gave up. On day 11, I FINALLY started to feel better. Waiting for 4 weeks to see full benefits, but the side effects DO go away."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 16, 2024

Escitalopram for Anxiety "Started Lexapro in Aug 2019 for racing heart, sleep/nighttime anxiety, insomnia, and depression to follow. I couldn’t even drive. Started the meds, and the first month was worse. I thought I was gonna die. Ended up in the hospital begging them to pump it out of me. Instead, they sent me home with an Ativan, and I ended up pushing through the medication. I would cry all night with chest pain, and my mornings I was so weak my mother had to carry me out of bed and put my shoes on. She forced me to walk every morning and forced me to clean and exercise. I was in boot camp. Come Oct 2019, I started to get out of bed on my own. I still felt chest tightness and dread, but I was doing it on my own. Around November, I didn’t feel so afraid anymore and “accepted” my anxiety. I FORCED myself to get up and DO THINGS. Eventually, by the following summer, I was 100% back to normal. I’m sure the pill helped me. But you have to put in the work! You CAN heal."

• 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."

• Ry-...
• December 10, 2016

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I have been on 20 mg of Lexapro for over a year now. After a bumpy first couple of weeks-mainly insomnia and nausea-Lexapro has been extremely effective in reducing my anxiety in everyday situations that used to cause me much angst. It has also put a stop to ruminating and obsessive thoughts."

• sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2017

Escitalopram for Depression "I had been on Lexapro 20 mg for years and was tired of the weight gain and thought I was okay enough to be off of it. I weaned myself off of it over a long time and went through all of the brain zaps, confusion, exhaustion, etc. But, finally, I was off it. I was starting to get depressed again and not have very clear thoughts, but I thought I could handle it. Then, I got the flu and was on Tamiflu (never again), and all of the depression and anxiety raised their ugly head again. I could not shake it. The horrible thoughts, depression, hopelessness, insomnia, etc. I started back on Lexapro 5 mg a week ago and already feel much better. I am starting to get more tired during the day, but I do not care. I may bump up to 10 mg. If you need it, you need it."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2015

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am 49 1/2, and today I can tell you I am happy, positive, and full of hope. I am on 10mg of Lexapro, just finishing up my 8th week. I also have Ativan for emergencies, and I still need Ambien to sleep. Before taking Lexapro, I was always anxious and easily overwhelmed. Then I had too many things happen in a short time period that caused me to have a meltdown. Three trips to the ER, with one of them a short stay in a unit, after Celexa caused me to have suicidal thoughts. I was constantly worrying about everything. I couldn't eat or sleep, but with Lexapro, my appetite came back in just the first 3 days. I was very scared to try another drug after Celexa, but I can't tell you how happy I am to be back, better than new. Take a chance."

• T4a...
• December 5, 2016

Escitalopram for Depression "I have taken Lexapro on and off for about 20 years. My advice is to give it a go. The first 3 weeks, the side effects made life pretty miserable: insomnia, nausea, no appetite, or sex drive. After week 4, I started feeling really good (normal) and enjoying life again."

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2023

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I’m a 57-year-old woman who had a very hard time with Lexapro. For two weeks, I tried 3/4 of a tablet of a 5 mg dose. Every day, within 1-3 hours after taking it, my anxiety went sky-high, and all I could do was cry all day long. I also had passive thoughts of suicide every day. I thought the 150 mg of Seroquel I was also on would help quell the Lexapro agitation, but it did nothing. I also had chest pain, a fast heart rate, tremors, insomnia, and worsened anxiety. I kept waiting for it to pass, but it never did. Day 14 was my last day of Lexapro, I couldn’t take the all-day/night crying anymore. Cymbalta was better for me afterwards."

• Nic...
• April 10, 2013

Escitalopram for Bipolar Disorder "I wanted to give this medication a go, but was pretty scared at the same time. The reason for that was because I had used Zoloft (another antidepressant medication in the same class) before with severe anxious mixed manic psychosis. Me and my doctor agreed to be very careful and increase the dosage in small steps. What happens? It brings me complete depression relief and improves all of my anxiety (social anxiety in particular). In the beginning, there were some sleep disturbances and initial anxiety, but it subsided quickly. It began to work very fast for me, but maybe it took about 6 months before full effects had come into play. I've never had any episode since then, and no sign of overstimulation either. Great experience!"

• MIK...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 6, 2025

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started escitalopram at 10 mg once daily. I will say the first 2 weeks are brutal getting your body to adjust to the pill. I had no appetite, nauseous, extremely tired, increased anxiety, and insomnia. I would say at about day 18 I started to feel better (I am on day 20 now). My appetite is still not perfect, but my anxiety has calmed down to almost nothing. I would read the reviews on here during the first two weeks, and it would push me to keep going. It will get better, just stick with it! YOU CAN DO THIS!!! Remember it has to get worse before it gets better!!"

• I...
• November 13, 2019

For Anxiety "I have an administrative job. Very stressful, but I am confident and handle it well... or so I thought. I all of a sudden started getting dizzy spells, tension headaches, eyesight was funky, feeling of dread, constantly tired. Diagnosed with generalized anxiety. I was prescribed 5 mg escitalopram last year. I could not bring myself to start it. I finally reached a point this year when I said enough was enough. I was terrified of the side effects but decided I needed to get better. I am not going to lie... the first week was awful! I had every side effect: insomnia, the first week was terrible with increased anxiety in the a.m. and through the night, my RLS was really amped up at night, I was nauseous the first 3 days, no appetite for about 8-10 days, very sleepy, lack of motivation, etc. By day 10, I could tell the medicine was starting to work because I was having moments of feeling normal. By day 22, I was 100%. The only side effect now is vivid weird dreams. Stick it out!"

• rgi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 24, 2013

Escitalopram for Anxiety "My doctor prescribed 10mg Lexapro for severe anxiety about 5 months ago. The first 4 weeks were really rough as the side effects almost caused me to discontinue the medicine. By the 4th week, I had insomnia. I couldn't sleep for several days. I felt like I was on speed. So, I cut the pill in half, and the next day I felt a difference. I've been on 5mg for the last 4 months. And, I must say that it has changed my life for the better. I no longer have those negative thoughts or bouts of anxiety. It's amazing. The only side effects that continue are: clenching of the jaw and weight gain due to an increase in appetite. If you take Lexapro, give it 4 to 5 weeks to work before giving up. Best of luck."

• c9a...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2016

Escitalopram for Anxiety "Escitalopram has helped me tremendously with panic and anxiety! I want to give hope to others who've been combing forums as I have. I started having panic attacks 6 months ago for no apparent reason. I waited it out, hoping they would stop, but they only worsened, and my life went downhill fast. The doctor gave me Escitalopram 10 mg with Clonazepam to help with startup effects. The first 10 days were difficult: insomnia, loss of appetite, increased anxiety. These effects disappeared as I hoped, and each day I noticed subtle improvements. I am now panic-free! I still have small anxiety, but that is human and 'normal'. I'm so happy that I took action, as I was very afraid. Give this medication a chance and give it time to work. I'm sure glad that I did!"

• hon...
• September 8, 2016

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I am on day 6 of taking Lexapro, and I must say that I am very pleased with the results so far. My husband is deploying, and I began experiencing panic attacks and anxiety back in May. I thought it was just me and I could brush it off or 'get over it.' As time went on, I noticed that my symptoms became worse. I was crying every day, worrying, panic attacks, anxiety attacks, and having intrusive thoughts, which began to make me extremely depressed. I had no energy, insomnia, was crying, mentally exhausted, and had no appetite. I finally broke down and went to my GP and told him what was going on. He recommended several different anti-depressants. I had been reading about the different anti-depressants and found that Lexapro got the best reviews. I was reluctant to begin taking meds but thought I had no choice. I know it might be premature, but I feel 100% better than I did a week ago. The only side effect that I experienced was insomnia for the first 3 nights, loss of appetite, and no libido. I didn't have much of a libido to begin with, so it doesn't bother me. I didn't experience nausea like I read in other reviews. I am slowly getting my appetite back and sleep so good at night. It makes me a little groggy first thing in the morning, but once I get up and get going, I'm good. I take 10 mg every morning. My doctor wants me to increase my dosage to 20 mg after 2 weeks, but I will wait and see how I feel. I highly recommend this medication. It has really helped me. I feel so much better!!!"

• Var...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 3, 2013

Escitalopram for Depression "I am a 43-year-old, otherwise healthy male, with reactive depression due to extreme financial stress over the last 2 years. Couldn't stop obsessive, negative thoughts, to the point I was nearly at the breaking point. Was placed on 10mg Lexapro for one week, and then increased to 20mg. Initial side effects were sweating and insomnia. The sweating passes quickly, and the insomnia has now all but disappeared. The first week, my anxiety and depression may actually have increased, but after that, had steady improvement, until after 6 weeks, felt completely back to my old self. The only ongoing side effect is difficulty achieving orgasm, but I am completely prepared to live with that, considering how I was feeling beforehand. Has been a lifesaver."

• wal...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 24, 2023

Escitalopram for Depression "I have been taking Lexapro for about two years now. It has helped to relieve some of my terrible anxiety around people, places, and things. I started medication after my diagnosis of PTSD. I would say the couple of side effects for me have been trouble sleeping and just feeling kind of bleh. But overall, I seem to do better when I take it. I know how it feels to be sad and afraid. I also know what it feels like to be a victim of some pretty horrific abuse. It gets better, but only with the help of acceptance and understanding that you are not a weak person because you need medication."

• Nan...
• September 25, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I developed a chemical imbalance 6 years ago, producing anxiety, depression, and OCD. I experienced horrible intrusive thoughts, insomnia, and fear. I was prescribed Lexapro. After 2 weeks, I noticed significant relief. However, I began to gain weight, experience sexual side effects, and hair loss. Yet, the intrusive thoughts faded along with the anxiety and depression, making it a worthwhile trade-off. Due to weight gain, I switched to Zoloft. Gradually, I tapered off the Zoloft, but my symptoms returned. I tried using vitamins and amino acids (result of Y-tube and online research...beware) to no avail. I began taking Zoloft again, but experienced terrible side effects, increased anxiety, insomnia, nervousness, and panic. I kept reading, 'it gets worse before it gets better.' But after weeks of pure torture, I switched back to Lexapro. After one week, my anxiety level decreased. I have now been on Lexapro for 4 weeks and noticed increased improvement each week."

• sfo...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 31, 2014

Escitalopram for Anxiety "Life-changing medicine for panic disorder and anxiety. Zero side effects, save for slight insomnia on days 1-3 and a bit of muscle weirdness and stomach pain (similar to ibuprofen) in week 1. Most days I am a normal person now. Still supplement with clonazepam for trigger situations on occasion, but most of the time I can focus on life without panic distracting me."

• Pat...
• November 10, 2019

For Depression "I've been on 10 mg Lexapro for almost 2 weeks. Had tried 3 other meds with no relief. This trial has been going on for the past 2 years. I don’t feel a huge difference yet at this point even though I read that it might take 2 to 4 weeks to kick in. My sleep is not the best either, I wake up 3 to 4 times a night. Like, go see my doctor tomorrow, so I will see what she recommends at this point. I read all the positive comments about hanging in there, which I’m doing, but I sure wish and hope this is the med for me. Depression runs in my family, my dad committed suicide, and 2 of my brothers suffer as well but are on meds. I never thought I would need to be on anything, but I went through multiple stressful events: relationship ended after 20 years, death of mother, dog died, lack of sleep, and retirement. I could use some words of encouragement. I’m hanging in there, but still have crying spells. Thanks for listening."

• AJ2...
• July 9, 2013

Escitalopram for Anxiety "When I first started this on 10mg, I had bad sides. Insomnia, crawling skin, heart palpitations and shallow breathing. I think a lot of it was in my head and from reading too much about side effects. My doctor wanted me to go back on Celexa but I had already been on Lexapro for 3.5 weeks so I asked my doctor if I could stick with it. He bumped my dose up to 15mg and it's now been 2 weeks on 15 mg and it has helped A LOT with my anxiety and panic attacks. I can now actually function at work. Give it a chance. I'm no doctor, but for me it took over 4 weeks. It worked! Hang in there."

• Oli...
• June 10, 2017

Escitalopram for Anxiety "A year ago, I had a major health scare that turned out to be fine in the end, but I ended up crashing, developing severe insomnia, severe anxiety, muscle twitches all over, major joint pain, brain fog, and finally, depression. I resisted taking drugs as I thought I was going to get lots of side effects. I tried everything under the sun: yoga, meditation, acupuncture, tinctures, craniosacral therapy, psychotherapy, kinesiology, etc. My psychiatrist and GP both strongly recommended I should take Lexapro. When I started pondering why I was living, I started taking the meds. I started sleeping better, and after some weeks, the worst dread was gone and so was the anxiety. After 2 months, I feel MUCH better, and I hardly had any side effects at all!:)"

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 25, 2019

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "To start, I have always been anxious to start a medication. However, Lexapro (10 mg) has been great for me. The first 2-3 weeks are full of mild-to-moderate side effects, BUT they will go away. It can be hard for people to realize the first few weeks can be bad, but they do go away - such as heightened anxiety/depression, poor sleep, digestive problems, etc. As of now (12+ weeks in), I have no side effects. My anxiety, worsened by my job, is much more tolerable. My sleep problems I had due to my stress are now gone. My overall mood is much more stable. Do I still have anxiety? Of course, it isn't a miracle pill, but it makes living with an anxiety disorder a lot easier. Consistent and long-term usage is going to make my life happier and less anxious, and I'm happy for that. I haven't noticed a huge weight gain, which is a bonus, but I think I gained a pound or two, which is common for people who were thin prior to taking the medication due to lessened anxiety."

• Ann...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 17, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I have been on 15 mg of this generic version of Lexapro for the last 4 years. It has changed my life. I still have moments of the month that make me more vulnerable to anxiety because of hormonal ups and downs, but overall, I feel like I’ve found myself again. For the first year, I noticed some numbness in emotions. It was manageable and almost welcomed since I’d spent so much time overthinking and feeling things. I feel like this has balanced out over time. I also take it in the morning because it would cause me some insomnia at first. Please talk to a doctor prior to attempting to wean off this medication because it can be difficult. I feel like this medication has really changed my life for the better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 10, 2017

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Before you read everyone's comments, understand that mental illness is not all the same and isn't fully understood. (With your doctor) you have to experiment which works best for you. All medications take a few months to work for their full potential. Take them exactly how your doctor recommends them and take them exactly on time. I know it's hard, but be patient, you'll get there and it'll change your life. I've been taking Lexapro (escitalopram) for a few years now. Before taking it, I tried everything in the book. I went from sweaty palms, forgetful thoughts, sweaty armpits, loss of sleep, overwhelmed with anxiety, stomach issues, etc., to feeling sharp, happy, and not depressed. I take it exactly within 24 hours every day."

• Hel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2020

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am on day 9 of Lexapro. I started it to deal with anxiety from insomnia, and the main side effect has been waking up at the same time in the middle of the night. I have never taken any anti-anxiety medication. I am a very fit and healthy 54-year-old male, but experienced insomnia for the last 3 months, so decided to take Lexapro to help with anxiety. I know it is early to tell if sleeplessness in the middle of the night will resolve in a few weeks, but this is so far the major side effect, along with some hot flushes. I will update after 2-3 weeks of treatment."