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

• ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2018

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I have been on Lexapro 5 mg (7 days at the beginning) and upped to 10 mg almost two weeks ago (for depression and anxiety). Straight away I had very vivid dreams and a dry mouth. When I upped to 10 mg, I became increasingly anxious and emotionally unstable. I am not able to stop crying and panicking at every situation. My paranoid racing thoughts were uncontrollable and disturbing, making me think all my close friends and family were turning against me (prior to medication, my anxious thoughts often surrounded the idea that nobody loved me and were only pretending). Just wondering how long this side effect will last as it’s really negatively impacting my life and overwhelming me and ruining my relationship and self-esteem."

• Tma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2019

For Anxiety "I’m scared about these reviews. I started the Lexapro yesterday, and today is my second day, and I’m feeling very, very anxious and panicked. I don’t know if it is the effects from the first week, but I’m afraid, and I don’t know if I should keep taking the medicine, whether it will work, or whether I should stop. I took 5 mg, and after the first week, 10 mg. I’m afraid."

• ash...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 10, 2013

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I suffer from hypochondria and panic disorder. I was so afraid to take medication. After 2 years, I finally took Cipralex. It has made my anxiety a lot more tolerable. I've had a few major panic attacks, but overall, a good experience. I've been on 20 mg for 2 years."

• 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."

• 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."

• Rv8...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2021

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I thought I would pay it forward because the reviews on here kept me going during the first week of absolute torture it was to take this medication. I have a panic disorder, and the first week it was absolutely the worst it has ever been. I chose to tough it out because of what I read. I am now on day 10 and feel good! No panic, manageable anxiety. I feel normal for the first time in a long time."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• Ove...
• November 22, 2008

Escitalopram for Anxiety "My mom died when I was 4, and last semester I always had anxiety in the background. Now, at 15, spring semester of '08, I had some mild panic attacks and worry, nervousness, sadness, and excessive shyness all day long. This medication is a lifesaver, and I love it. They say 8 weeks for the full effect, and sure, it might rebalance your chemicals in 8 weeks, but give it a chance as it still takes a while after that for you to break out of your shell."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2022

Escitalopram for Anxiety "HORRIBLE! I was on 75 mg of Zoloft, but I decided to ask for Lexapro since I thought I was depressed. Turns out I just had symptoms of depression due to GAD. Well, I started on 10 mg of Lexapro. Withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft were horrible because I had been on Zoloft for a couple of years. Lexapro turned me into a nervous wreck. I had panic attacks, stress out of this world, I could not cope. I signed up for an outpatient psychiatric hospital because of this. I got out because I found out it was because I was going downhill due to Lexapro. Well, I was about to be put on 20 mg of Lexapro, but I made sure I wasn’t. Life was a living hell on Lexapro. I upped the Zoloft. I’m still anxious, and I was on Lexapro for a month. Honestly, don’t try it. Get Zoloft or something that actually works."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• JJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2021

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Lexapro is much stronger than I was led to believe. The side effects were so strong for me, it was only 10 mg, but I would not do it again as it gave me a panic attack and I felt worse than what I was trying to fix. So keep in touch with your doctor for any side effect symptoms that bother you!"

• 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."