Escitalopram and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Ahm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 17, 2018

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I have been suffering with severe OCD, it had severely impacted almost every single aspect of my life, which led to severe anxiety that was utterly crippling, social anxiety, panic disorder, and mild depression. I tried numerous types of medication, even the BIG ONE - Anafranil. I remained on this medication for several months on a high dosage, it assisted with the OCD (not so much with anxiety). However, the side effects were utterly terrible, so I decided to give it up. My psychiatrist suggested Lexapro. I began on 5 mg and slowly worked my way up to 30 mg (currently on this dosage for the last three months). Pros: Anxiety has GREATLY REDUCED, very few panic attacks, it hasn't stopped the thoughts, however, they have become much easier to brush off. I am able to think more rationally, and I feel somewhat more hopeful and optimistic. Cons: Constantly tired, extremely sleepy (I could sleep all day if I wanted to), I feel somewhat emotionally numb."

• Som...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 24, 2013

Escitalopram for Depression "I loved Lexapro. I had been on it for approximately 5 years. It worked wonders, made me feel close to 'normal.' Recently, in the past 6 months, I had gone through some life-altering events and had noticed my depression was coming back more and more. I finally broke down and told my doctor (I thought the problem would correct itself). So, he changed me to Pristiq. I had a slight yawn while on Lexapro and some sexual side effects, but they were less than any other medication I had ever taken. So, when Lexapro works, it works GREAT! When it's run its course, time to move on."

• Dob...
• January 15, 2021

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder. Was afraid of being alone, had insomnia, body aches, nervous stomach. I was only treating it with Xanax prescribed by my PCP. My psychiatrist switched me from Xanax to 3 mg Klonopin. Then he started me on Lexapro 10 mg, which I took for 5 weeks. The first couple of weeks on 10 mg made me feel increased anxiety, but did help me to sleep at night. It did not really help with general fear or anxiety, so my psych increased it to 20 mg on week 5. This was helpful to a point, but I still felt anxious every day, albeit less intense than before. After another 2 weeks with limited results, my psychiatrist upped me to 30 mg/day on week 8. He says some people just require higher doses to get the same effect. I've been on 30 mg for a week (9 total weeks into Lexapro) and starting to feel MUCH better, like my old self. Stick in there, your doctor may have to increase your dosage to achieve the desired results. I am now weaning off the Klonopin, which makes me tired."

• j12...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2015

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I suffered from every type of anxiety in the book. I could barely go to the grocery store. I got started on 5 mg a few weeks ago. The first week I took this, I felt amazing -- more energy, more motivation, happier, etc. The second week, I felt horrific. So depressed and borderline suicidal (which I never dealt with before). I got scared that the meds would not work. DON'T GIVE UP. Now, on the third week, I feel much better. I feel like I used to, mostly, and normalized. Not super peppy like the first week, maybe a little more tired and slightly foggy, but nothing compared to how I felt with anxiety. Most importantly, I have ZERO obsessive thoughts. Mind you, I am still eating well, no caffeine, no alcohol, and exercising daily."

• kcu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 28, 2023

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I took Lexapro for 25 days, and I was so tired, crying, and depressed, and my head was overthinking all day. I felt light-headed. I kept waiting for all these side effects to go away, but they were getting worse. Went back to my doctor, and he took me off of them and put me back on Prozac. It's been two days, and I'm feeling better already. I did give Lexapro a try, but it is not for me."

• Tee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2019

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am a 34-year-old female with a diagnosis of depression and panic/anxiety disorder in the past [10+ years ago], which was resolved with Remeron. Now, I have been suffering from anxiety and moderate depression, which has been very frustrating due to a stressful job, school, and a lot of tragic events happening. Started Lexapro 3 days ago. Side effects are dry mouth, pelvic pain, the first day I felt a little dazed, insomnia the first day, then on the third day I am very tired and able to fall asleep but not able to sleep through the night. My anxiety has decreased from a 10 to a 2, and my depression is barely there. Will keep you updated."

• Pat...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 18, 2021

Escitalopram for Anxiety "My problem started 5 years ago. After some struggling in my career, my anxiety started to get worse (I’m a perfectionist, so I have anxiety quite often). I first started with Paxil. It went well for about 6 months, but the side effects of sex drive were really bad, so the doctor changed it to Lexapro. After 3 months, my sex problem was getting better, not perfect, but better. I had Lexapro for 4 years, and it worked pretty well on my emotions. I see the world in a positive way. I care less about things that I shouldn’t care about. I focus more on things and people I love. Still, there are some side effects that remain, such as drowsiness, weight gain, or tiredness, but they’re all bearable compared to the anxiety I have suffered. I tried to wean off 2 times, but it lasted only 2-3 months before relapsing. So I guess it’s my long-time companion, and it’s a true friend. Tips: You can feel worse after taking any antidepressants for the first week (or two), but trust me, it will be better."

• lau...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2017

Escitalopram for Depression "Lexapro made me very tired all the time. I needed a daily midday nap. I'm a college student, so I was able to sleep at odd periods of the day, but it was ridiculous. I could get a solid 10 hours of sleep at night, but by 1 pm, I'd be dead tired. One time, I was late picking up a kid I used to babysit from her elementary school because I fell asleep and slept through my alarm in the middle of the afternoon! I was never the type who could take naps until I started Lexapro. I didn't stay on it for more than 6 months because being that tired all the time was ruining my social life, grades, work life, the list goes on."

• Pra...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 21, 2021

Escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder "I thought this worked great, but after 12 years or so, I find myself extremely reclusive, apathetic, and lonely. I take this with bupropion for major depression and anxiety (GAD), along with Buspar, trazodone at night for sleep, and 0.5 mg clonazepam as needed. I find myself drinking or vaping cannabis to feel happier or more numb and less anxious. I feel alone but often content always being alone. I'm usually very tired and often sad."

• Ale...
• November 14, 2016

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I rarely-if ever?-review medications or pharmaceuticals. Spurred on by a comment regarding 'those who take antidepressants,' I've started speaking out on not only my depression and anxiety but also on the benefits of physician-prescribed medications for the same. (Just like we would treat diabetes and HBP, we can and should feel comfortable seeking treatment for anxiety and depression.) So, about Lexapro: I'm on 5 mg now, have taken 10 mg in the past. Five mg is just about the right dose for me, and YES, it does work at that low of a dose. I have not experienced weight gain, nor lethargy, and I have gained what can only be described as peace of mind. I feel like there was a microchip missing, and now, that my brain is whole."

• Kat...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 9, 2021

Escitalopram for Depression "I've been on quite a few medications in the past for depression and anxiety. I've been on Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac, and Celexa. Celexa is in the same medicine family as Lexapro, but is milder. I maxed out the highest dosage on Celexa for a while, and was still feeling pretty bad and stressed out about different situations going on in my personal life. Lexapro has been the medicine that works for me. I found that Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate) made me feel a little weird at first, for a few weeks, like tired and drowsy. I figured out to take my pill at bedtime since it made me tired. By the third to fourth week, I was feeling like a new person. I felt happier, like I wanted to do the things that I used to avoid, even more. Lexapro actually helps me sleep and wakes me up too, after 7 to 8 hours of sleep. I feel that it has been a great fit for me. I've been on Lexapro for 6 and a half years now. It has helped my anxiety and depression dramatically."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I have to say that in the last two months I have experienced terrible anxiety. I wasn’t sleeping good or eating well. My weight was very low, so my doctor prescribed me Lexapro. I had never taken anxiety medicine at all, so I didn’t know what to expect. The first four to five days on it were rough. I was very, very exhausted and unmotivated, but I kept taking it, and I’m on day 7 now, and I feel more alert, more focused. My friends have told me that they have seen a difference in my face, and I seem more relaxed. I up my dose tomorrow night, so I will see what that does, but if I feel this great, I can’t imagine how well I will feel when I’m at 10 mg."

• Anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2015

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I am on day 16 of 10 mg. The first 6 days I was very tired, excessively. But the majority of my anxiety was gone by then. Days 6-8 I had severe insomnia, it passed, and by day 9 I had no racing thoughts before going to sleep. Today is day 16. I feel better about my life circumstances. I have a 9-year-old with Asperger's. I am no longer spending every waking moment obsessing over what will become of his future. My cognitive functioning seems clearer. I have been able to keep up more with home chores. Still not as energized as I would like to be. Coffee makes me more jittery since starting the meds. I can now tell the difference between caffeine jitters and my real anxiety, though. I am hoping that by week 6-8 I have even more clarity."

• Chr...
• June 18, 2017

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I was having horrible anxiety attacks, panic attacks, and was borderline manic. I was going through a lot of stress and hit my limit. My family urged me to see a doctor who started me on 2.5 Lexapro for a week, then up to 5 mg the week after. I stayed on 5 mg for 1 month, seeing improvements. Eventually, I decided to bump up to 7.5, which I'm currently on. I still get anxiety, but I am able to feel in control. I don't have attacks anymore. I'm sleeping better and eating again. Side effects only lasted the first month. I got really tired 20 minutes after taking it, drowsy, night sweats. Make sure to take it with a snack, I find it hits the stomach like a rock. Overall, it has given me my life back, and I don't feel like I'm on medication."

• Ber...
• September 23, 2013

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I've been taking Lexapro for 2 months now for depression and panic attacks, which seem to come from nowhere (and I've never truly understood how scary a panic attack could be until that moment). It has helped me tremendously! Suddenly, this last week, the side effects, which had seemed to taper, have returned. I have the addition of a headache (which I did not have in the beginning) and irritability. I'm also noticeably more tired than I was before. I am now taking the Lexapro in the evening instead of in the morning to help with sleep - but am curious if it is normal to have the side effects go in waves? It seemed as if they were mostly gone except for the lethargy, now they are increasing."

• Ber...
• September 23, 2013

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I've been taking Lexapro for 2 months now for depression and panic attacks, which seem to come from nowhere (and I've never truly understood how scary a panic attack could be until that moment). It has helped me tremendously! Suddenly, this last week, the side effects, which had seemed to taper, have returned. I have the addition of a headache (which I did not have in the beginning) and irritability. I'm also noticeably more tired than I was before. I am now taking the Lexapro in the evening instead of in the morning to help with sleep - but am curious if it is normal to have the side effects go in waves? It seemed as if they were mostly gone except for the lethargy, now they are increasing."

• ade...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I've had bad anxiety (mostly social anxiety) for as long as I can remember, and taking this medication has finally allowed me to function. I started on 5 mg, I think, and the only annoying thing when I started was I was tired and yawning all the time, but once my body got used to it, it didn't make me tired anymore. I now take 10 milligrams, and I did try taking 15 because I still had depression, but at 15, it seemed like I was just getting side effects without added effectiveness. I'm going to be trying a different medication just because my depression has been kicking my butt, but this did work for my anxiety."

• ade...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 22, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I've had bad anxiety (mostly social anxiety) for as long as I can remember, and taking this medication has finally allowed me to function. I started on 5 mg, I think, and the only annoying thing when I started was I was tired and yawning all the time, but once my body got used to it, it didn't make me tired anymore. I now take 10 milligrams, and I did try taking 15 because I still had depression, but at 15, it seemed like I was just getting side effects without added effectiveness. I'm going to be trying a different medication just because my depression has been kicking my butt, but this did work for my anxiety."

• The...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 20, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I took Lexapro for a couple of years. It basically numbed me out emotionally, which was better than being distressed, but it made me tired, took away my sex drive, and made me very apathetic towards life. Overall, the negatives outweighed the positives. I call these the 'I don't give a damn pills.'"

• kam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2019

Escitalopram for Anxiety "I’m on day four of Lexapro, and I feel like I’m going insane. I can hardly concentrate enough to write this review. I read up on the symptoms and was aware of all side effects before starting the med, but I had no idea it could be this bad. Feels like all the symptoms I was having prior to starting the med increased x 10. I haven’t slept but 4 hours the past two days, I can’t complete my sentences, yawning like crazy, and I feel paranoid. Way worse than before. IDK if I should stick it out feeling like this or quit before it gets worse. Following up with my psychiatrist tomorrow."

• Joh...
• June 1, 2016

Escitalopram for Generalized Anxiety Disorder "My anxiety got to the point where treatment wasn't an option, I had to try something. I gave Lexapro a chance. It's been good for me. The drug has slowed down my anxiety. I feel less anxious around people, and in general, I feel like my internal monologue has slowed down a bit. I've noticed when I'm around people, I'm less reactive, whereas before I was jumpy and unsettled. I am on 10 mg. About a decade ago, I tried Zoloft and Effexor, both with mixed results. Currently, I take Lexapro and Adderall. It seems to be a good combo for me. There have been some side effects. My sleep is disrupted at times, I have trouble reaching orgasm, and sometimes I feel a bit lethargic. This drug is working well for me, I hope it continues to be effective."

• RL2...
• June 8, 2019

For Anxiety "After losing 2 long-term friendships 1 year ago, I went into a downward spiral with my anxiety and depression. I had more anxiety than depression, though. My head was constantly stuck in negative thoughts, and I didn't know where else to turn, so I started taking 10 mg of escitalopram 12 days ago. I have to say, for the first week or so, I felt super weird. I have also been super tired to the point where I can sleep for hours, but that's okay. I also had a little bit of nausea, but not too bad, my anxiety also increased like crazy to the point where I almost stopped taking it. But I'm glad I didn't. I pushed through, and now I'm on day 12, and my anxiety is almost non-existent (I still have some, but it's not as bad). I can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel. The only reason I didn't give this a 10 is because I haven't been taking it very long, so I don't know the medication's full potential yet, but I am very excited to see!"

• Lif...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 22, 2013

For Anxiety "Escitalopram, stick with it. I went on 10 mg for my anxiety. I'm 47 years old, and I have never taken anything before, but it was time to live my life without anxiety. I felt tired, really weird for about 3-4 weeks. I didn't know if I could live feeling like this on escitalopram. Needless to say, after a couple of months, all the kinks worked themselves out. I wake up feeling like I have never felt before. Relaxed, happy, and ready for anything. I cannot believe I lived so long with the anxiety because now I feel great. My advice is to keep with escitalopram because it takes a while, but when your body chemistry accepts it, your life will change."

• Lup...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 7, 2019

For Anxiety "I wanted to write a review, as these reviews kept me going in the first horrible weeks of taking escitalopram. I had been suffering with anxiety for nearly a year but managed to get by, and it was bearable. All of a sudden, I wasn’t sleeping a wink at night, having panic attacks 24/7, and thought I was going crazy! The lack of sleep made me depressed. Was put on escitalopram and clonazepam to cover the initial side effects for two weeks. The first few weeks were really tough, started on 5 mg and after a week up to 10 mg. I had increased anxiety, extreme tiredness, could sleep all day, nausea and diarrhea, terrible night sweats, and headaches. Took 4 weeks to start working for me, and 3 weeks for the side effects to subside. Stick with it! All the side effects go away after time. No longer anxious, sleeping better, and feeling myself again. It’s amazing!"

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 1, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I started taking this 2 months ago, and the results are life-changing. The first two weeks were hard. I was tired all the time, woke up at weird times, and had bad night sweats. Now I finally feel like I’m myself again. I don’t worry constantly, and I can rationally think about issues. I am happy and enjoy work and have so much more energy. Would definitely recommend this medication to anyone suffering from GAD."