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

• QCa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 24, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I am a 33-year-old male, and I have been taking 10 mg Lexapro for about 5 weeks now. I started on 5 mg for the first week after switching from sertraline for anxiety. I have had at least one panic attack every day for the past week. I have been to the ER twice in the past 2 weeks for what I thought was a heart attack or stroke. My blood work is normal, my EKG is normal. I was given Valium or lorazepam and told to 'relax, it was just a bad panic attack.' Today is the first day of tapering off of Lexapro, I can't wait to get it out of my system."

• Kra...
• May 20, 2021

For Anxiety "I am finally breathing and feel alive due to this wonderful drug. It is difficult for the first few weeks, but it gets so much better over time. I started having sudden panic attacks any time of day or in deep sleep almost every day, or I'd say more than once a day. Every part of my body was feeling off balance, even my eyes. It felt so bad that I cannot imagine anything worse even exists in the universe. Thanks to my doc and family support, I am back to 100% normal. I never thought I was getting myself back ever."

• Wno...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 22, 2022

Escitalopram for Depression "I am 62 years old, and until the last few months, I had never, ever had a panic attack. I would say I am a situational worrier and get anxious about loss and health issues, but I have never had to take anything for it. In my early 20s, after marrying and getting a home and my parents splitting, I had some anxiety and depression, and I dealt with it, but all these years have passed, and now this. There have been many life events the past 5 years, and perhaps that is what has brought me to this place. My father passing, my brother divorcing my favorite sister-in-law, our teenage son challenging us, a thyroid condition, and a pandemic and more. Our bodies and minds do break down. I started on Lexapro, generic version, two weeks ago, 5 mg. I dreaded it. I am a health freak, ugh! I had tried everything natural before. I feel like crap. All I do is stay in bed and sleep. Anxiety and panic seemed to go the first week, but went to 10 mg (per doctor), and it came back. Scary! Depression not gone. Early!"

• Kat...
• September 25, 2017

Escitalopram for Depression "I had a terrible experience on this drug. It resulted in me having regular panic attacks, heart palpitations, caused me to become trapped in a negative state and paranoid. I'm not one who reviews meds very often, but this medication proved to be very dangerous for me. I spent a lot of time in a state of paranoia. My doctor did not listen to me when I kept stating it wasn't right for me. In the end, I reduced my dose (I don't condone this though) and have been off it for around 4 months now. I can honestly say I'm doing much better, able to function, don't stay in states of paranoia, etc. I'm also able to make clear choices, etc."

• Jew...
• July 23, 2019

For Anxiety "I’m in my late 50s and started experiencing anxiety attacks and obsessive depressive thoughts. I had panic attacks back in my 30s but thought I was over them. Went to the ER and never felt so terrified. Five full days of outpatient mental health support and the doctor prescribed escitalopram. The first few weeks, I didn’t think it was going to work. They told me sometimes it takes up to six weeks. While it took a while and I took lorazepam when I had a breathing episode, it kicked in and has been a lifesaver. I’m going to therapy and feel like myself again. Still working on depressive thoughts and overthinking. There was some emotional numbness at first, but that went away."

• Ant...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2022

For Anxiety "Turned me into a shell of my former self. Lost all motivation, actually gained more social anxiety, the dreams you get are also just too much; not to mention the absolute brain fog you have every day. I also continued to have worsening panic attacks. Maybe the drug wasn’t for me, and I should’ve been treated with more of something that helps with my panic disorder, but the effects it had on my brain and body the 6 months I took it (and the incessant nature of my doctor telling me to continue taking it because it’ll “eventually work”) caused me to switch doctors and taper off of it on my own. I’ve been off of it for about 2 months now, and I can still feel lasting effects, but this drug truly did nothing but harm my lifestyle and everything about me as a person. Like I said at the start, while I was on this drug I was literally a “shell of my former self.”"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2019

For Anxiety "Started right to 10 mg about a week ago (last Friday). I have been on escitalopram before and had cut the dose to 5 mg. My doctor recently tried different drugs on me for my food phobia and anxiety/panic (Abilify was one), but we returned to escitalopram. The first week has been awful. Insomnia and waking up with full-on panic attacks, pins and needles, ringing in my ears, worse AM panic, afraid to be alone during the day. Please tell me it gets better because right now I am hating this drug but need to control my panic and anxiety."

• May...
• July 28, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am a 25-year-old female. Took it after I got bad postpartum anxiety after my 2nd son. I couldn't do everyday things. My husband worked 3rd shift, and I was terrified of him leaving, which never happened since he's always worked that shift. Went to the doc after almost losing my mind. Got there, and my BP was sky high, and I was a nervous wreck. I kept feeling faint, etc., so she gave me an EKG to make sure my heart patterns were at least normal because my BP was outrageous, then prescribed me Prozac. I took the Prozac for about a month, and it made me an emotional mess. It made my panic attacks and anxiety 10 million times worse. So she gave me Lexapro. I've never felt better. I am confident and do everything, and I'm actually excited to live again!!"

• Eva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2019

For Anxiety "STICK WITH IT. Been on escitalopram for 3 weeks now for depression and anxiety. I had increased anxiety, worsening depression, and several panic attacks, which were so bad I begged for admission. My GP advised me to try and continue, and I did do. The panic attacks have stopped, I do have episodes of increased anxiety, but it's easier to manage. After 10 days, I started with severe nausea, but this is slowly improving. I take it after my evening meal, and most nights I sleep till about 6 am. The first few hours awake are a struggle with the nausea, but I'm hoping this will pass. I'm not tired throughout the day, and my mood is improving day by day. Fingers crossed the next few weeks will prove positive."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 20, 2023

For Anxiety "Suffered from anxiety and depression. Have previously been on sertraline, which worked well, but when I went back on it, I had severe side effects of vomiting and panic attacks. Started on 5 mg of escitalopram, gradually up to 20 mg over 3 months. It has stopped the big panic attacks. I wasn't able to get out of bed or even go for a walk outside my house, and now I am working and went for a night away recently. It hasn't made me feel perfect, but definitely better. Even better is that I have had 0 side effects from day one."

• NLS...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I was diagnosed with mild anxiety and IBS and put on Lexapro 6 weeks ago. I had low levels of anxiety and IBS. I started on 5 mg for 6 weeks, moved to 10 mg 6 days ago, and shortly after moving to the higher dose, had 2 severe panic attacks. In the last 5 days on 10 mg, I went into a state of hysteria with symptoms including blurred vision, hypertension, high anxiety, difficulty focusing, trouble with basic motor function, 4 panic attacks, and many other severe symptoms. It's been a life of pure hell, which resulted in me taking 2 days off work. I saw my GP yesterday, and she has asked that I reduce back to 5 mg for 3 days, then stop. The belief is that I have had a severe reaction to Lexapro and that I need to stop. I have been recommended to stop, return to baseline, and then see a psychiatrist."

• Roz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2014

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Completely numbed me, gave me horrible panic attacks. Even when I'd gotten used to the medication, my panic attacks turned into a deep depression and felt completely lifeless. 5 weeks in, I couldn't do it anymore."

• Ste...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 23, 2021

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Hope all doing well and getting there? I was on Lexapro for just over 7 months. It never really worked for me, but I gave it a good go to work. I stopped at the beginning of June, now off for 4.5 months. I tapered down from 10mg to 10mg, then to 5mg, no problems. From 5mg to 2.5mg, very little issues. From 2.5mg to 1.25mg, I really started to have issues. I stayed on 1.25mg for 6 weeks before stopping, and all I can say is it has been a brutal journey. The first 4 weeks: total confusion, ringing ears through low-level anxiety and panic attacks. From week 8 to 12, having different symptoms every day, all very uncomfortable and difficult to function with. After 3.5 months, I went private to a consultant, as I was very concerned about how I was feeling after such a long period. He advised it is common from Lexapro, he advised I was about to enter the final phase of withdrawal. Symptoms included severe anxiety, panic attacks, low mood, etc. I didn’t expect what happened to me after about 10 days into this."

• Ben...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 26, 2022

For Anxiety "I tried this for three months for anxiety, but got progressively more anxious and had panic attacks. I felt worse when on these tablets than before. Went back on duloxetine, and anxiety went within the first day."

• Apr...
• August 26, 2017

Escitalopram for Depression "I took 1 pill and had a rapid heartbeat and elevated blood pressure hours after taking. I did not take another, but on day 2, I had a horrible headache and nausea, and I was also seeing things. I felt like I was going crazy, and I wanted to do anything to get it to stop. It has given me four panic attacks in three days, whereas I only ever had 2 in my whole life. This isn't worth it, and I'd take depression over this nuttiness any day."

• Rev...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 12, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "Unfortunately, Lexapro did not work for me. Been on it for three years and switching to Effexor. I still felt anxious for no reason, felt down a lot, and had panic attacks. I hope this new medication works better for me."

• C d...
• March 30, 2016

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I took Lexapro for almost 4 weeks and quit because it was pure hell. I tried to push through the side effects, but they never went away. Insomnia, couldn't eat, anxiety hit the roof, panic attacks every night, and crazy thoughts. Was not for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 6, 2021

For Anxiety "What a rollercoaster! The beginning was tough, I’m not going to lie. I had every imaginable side effect. I was prescribed 10 mg but took 5 mg for about 2 weeks. It was awful, I had heightened anxiety, panic attacks, irritability, tiredness, etc. I wanted to quit every day, but continued to persevere. I upped the dose to 10 mg and had heightened anxiety and the symptoms all over again. After 3 weeks and a total of 5 weeks using Lexapro, I feel AMAZING! Completely worth the uphill battle. My brain is thinking clearly, I have little to no anxiety, and I am jumping out of bed each morning. Don’t pay attention to the negative, keep going! You got this!"

• dk2...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 29, 2016

For Anxiety "I had on and off again panic attacks for weeks, thinking I was dying and was at the ER every week. I have been on this for 4 days now, and the first day I was full of energy, and day 2 was okay, had a little panic attack, and on day 3 I slept a lot. Today was a great day all day, a little anxious tonight, but I can already start feeling a difference. Gonna stick with it, because I know if it is working this good, I'll be back to myself again soon."

• Max...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2019

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I got prescribed Lexapro for GAD (just been diagnosed). If it would be possible, I'd give this drug a negative rating. It made my anxiety and insomnia 10x worse. I started from a tiny dose - 5 mg, and I became overly stimulated and happy at first - it almost felt like cocaine, and then I was unable to sleep and got extremely anxious to the point of experiencing mild psychosis. I knew those side effects might last for a while, so I continued for almost two weeks, hoping it would get better, but it made me completely wrecked - I couldn't sleep for longer than 4 hours, I started having severe panic attacks, and I was hardly able to work. Now I take only 50 mg of trazodone for sleep, and I take large doses of inositol (flat tablespoon) if I experience panic attacks, and it works. Maybe this drug works for some people, but for me, it was the worst 2 weeks of my life."

• Lan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 4, 2016

Escitalopram for Depression "I went to my OB/GYN to ask about Lexapro for some major depression and anxiety I was experiencing. Lexapro had worked quite well for a friend of mine. I had previously taken Zoloft a few years prior, and it made my postpartum depression worse. I had great hopes for this drug, but it unfortunately did NOT work well for me. I felt like a zombie. I believe it gave me psychosis. I also experienced my first panic attack after being on 10 mg for 3 days. I then took 5 mg for two more days and stopped taking it altogether. Still, 3 months after stopping, I am having panic attacks with some psychotic features. I've pulled myself out of that deep depression, though. Still have bad days occasionally, but I'm only taking Xanax as needed."

• Lil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2019

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "The first time I was on it for a year, and it made absolutely no difference. When I got off it, no withdrawal side effects or mood change, basically a sugar pill. This time I was on for 1.5 years. Again, no help for OCD, depression, or anxiety at 20 mg. AND I developed panic disorder on this. I've always had panic attacks, but usually only a few per year. With this med, there were times that for 2 weeks at a time, daily I'd wake up and have a panic attack lasting 1-8 hours. Yes, 8 hours in a full-blown panic attack with all the classic symptoms. Getting off the meds over 6 weeks: the first 2 dose decreases, my OCD actually improved 3%, but once I got down to 5 mg and 0 mg, the withdrawal hit me: Daily panic attacks, headache, nausea, stomach issues, floating head, insomnia, short-tempered, lack of cognition, suicidal ideation. Gene testing like GeneSight: you can't rely on the info they give you. This was in my column of meds that should work along with others I had bad reactions to."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2016

For Obsessive Compulsive Disorder "I have severe anxiety. Constantly thinking bad things are going to happen also worries, and I get panic attacks at least once a day and automatically in the heat. I was on 25 mg of amitriptyline for six months. I thought it worked okay for sleep, but then I stopped because I thought I didn't need it anymore. Now I have never had such bad anxiety. I feel like my muscles are always tense. I started Lexapro 3 weeks ago on 10 mg, recently went up to fifteen. I'm so tired, and my panic attacks are still there. The only good thing so far is I am sleeping like a log. I tried it at night, and I had insomnia, so now I take it in the morning. My doctor told me if my anxiety is still there, go up to twenty. Sometimes I feel I will never feel myself again."

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2017

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed this med for GAD/anxiety. Worst 10 days of my life. Nausea, retching, dilated pupils, insomnia, and vivid dreams, but worse yet, near-constant panic attacks. Coming off it now. I understand this drug helps many people. Unfortunately, I was not one of them."

• pyr...
• January 30, 2021

For Depression "In the first two weeks on escitalopram, I felt like throwing up all the time, with some occasional panic attacks at night, which scared me because they never happened before. But I’ve been on escitalopram for 2 months now, and I feel good! I don’t have nausea, and the panic attacks stopped. I experience way less anxiety than before. Since I am stuck at home due to the pandemic, I cannot say that my life is all bright now, and I still spend some of my days lying in bed with no motivation, but when I get sad, it’s not overwhelming. When I think about how things currently suck, I don’t feel suicidal, and I can say to myself that there will be better times. Also, I feel some delay in my sexual responses, and overall my sex drive is a tiny bit lower, but it’s not really a problem. This med did not turn me into a ray of sunshine, and I sometimes still come across as a negative person, but I am able to do the things that I must. Waking up is not a battle anymore, and I look forward to brighter times!"