Lexapro for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• HKJ
• January 10, 2015

"I wanted to share my experience because when I first started taking Lexapro, I read these boards daily searching for hope. I have always had anxiety, but it was not until this summer that I started experiencing physical symptoms. I was constantly nauseous, often felt dizzy, and my heart would flutter in my chest nonstop. I thought I was losing my mind and going crazy. This led to depression and a feeling of hopelessness. I went to the doctor and had every test in the book done, and nothing was wrong. I was then prescribed Lexapro, and the first couple of weeks were rough. I started on 5mg for two weeks, and during that time, I was also taking 0.25 Xanax a day while I got used to the Lexapro. I am now two months into 10mg and have never felt better!"

• Posit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2018

"Hi guys, As others, I wanted to share my experience. I've been on this Lexapro for more than 4 years in the past. Then last spring, when I've been noticing I sometimes forgot my 5 mg dose, I tapered down on the medicine. In the summer, no real issues, but the winter came in hard and one bad trigger had me right back on the anxious side. I re-started to take 10 mg for 2 weeks and now 1 week at 15 mg. The first weeks, I suffered increased anxiety, panic attacks, and didn't see any hope. And then BAM, it starts working. I'm still not at the full benefits, but I feel it kicked in. Now I'm back to having interest in stuff, people, etc. So I have three major advices: 1. Please give the medicine time, it might be rough but when it starts working you're gonna have the real benefits. 2. It's not a shame to take a little pill. People with high blood sugar levels do it too. 3. Don't see this medication as the only solution... See therapists, do some cardio, mindfulness. I pray for all you guys!"

• leelou
• April 3, 2022

"I said I would come back in a few weeks. It’s been about 3 weeks and oh my god! This medicine has completely changed my life for the better! I have not had one panic attack since the medicine has adjusted! I eat more than I did before and I'm getting healthier I am also driving again and doing things on my own! This medication gave me the confidence to start a new career and I feel like the main character in my life now instead of a prisoner in my own body! Give this medication a full try it’s hard at first but if this is right for you. The results are life changing!"

• Tess
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2019

"After being off of Lexapro for about 3 yrs & trying natural remedies I met my breaking point. All areas of my life were suffering. I restarted 5mg the 1st week, then 10mg the next 2 1/2 wks. The side effects during those 1st 3wks were horrible. Nausea, extreme fatigue, dizziness, & no appetite. I knew I would go back to square one if I stopped. I increased my dose to 20mg as I done very well on it in the past. The side effects were still there but not bad. 1 1/2 wks on 20mg. I feel great. More energy, feeling social w/ family & friends. Before I hated being around people. I still have a little longer 2 feel normal but I'll continue this med. Regardless of the horror stories u've heard, remember everyone is different & your body will most likely respond differently. I know it's hard not 2 get discouraged & question whether it's working the 1st few weeks, but don't give up & DON'T stop taking it. Give your body the chance 2 get used 2 it. Trust me, u will be glad u did."

• Johno...
• May 2, 2013

"Hello to everyone reading this. In the summer of 2012, I had the worst panic attack. I thought I was having a heart attack and immediately rushed to the hospital. Long story short, I was prescribed Lexapro since I was not progressing and had lost 40 lbs in less than a month. I spent nights crying, asking why me. Within two weeks of taking 20 mg, I felt like my old self again. I was no longer socially anxious when it came to conversing with people and was thankful to be alive. The depressed and anxious me stayed home all day and lay in bed, but not anymore. I've been off it for 3 months now, but my advice to others is not to research 100 different sites for side effects."

• 41M...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 29, 2023

"I started having anxiety at church and in meetings for work. I think the stress from work brought them on. They slowly started getting more often so my family doctor suggested I take Lexapro. I did a week and a half on 5 mg and then went up to 10 mg. My anxiety increased tenfold during the first seven weeks. I had a severe panic attack and didn’t feel comfortable leaving my house or driving. By week 3-4, I started feeling better and it got better every week after. I now feel great at week 9, I just went to a work conference full of meetings and dinners and I had very little anxious feelings. I am back to being able to go to church and eat at busy restaurants with no issues. I moved my medicine to night time and it helps me sleep great and feel great during the day. My advice is when you start this medication stay home for a couple weeks if possible. I thought I was going crazy, emotional all the time, and queasy stomach but I am so glad I kept going. I now feel like I am back to my old self!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 10, 2023

"I’m a healthy 32-year-old female. I started to experience SEVERE panic attacks, and insomnia and had no appetite. The anxiety got so bad that it turned into derealization basically 24/7. I was dizzy all the time, and had heart palpitations, chest pains, and shaking. I couldn’t even leave my house. Then started the depression. I was crying on and off most days. I couldn’t function and didn’t feel like myself at all. I have always been against medication and did everything the natural way. None of that helped. I finally decided to try Lexapro 5mg and it honestly saved me. I was so scared of feeling like a zombie or having no emotions but it’s not like that at all. I feel like me just no anxiety or depression. I had some nausea in the beginning and slightly increased anxiety but Ativan helped with the side effects. I’ve been on it for a little over 2 months now and I don’t regret anything. I sleep and eat great now. I live a normal happy life. Please give it a try if you’re suffering."

• nichole
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2013

"I started taking Lexapro 10 mg 4 days ago. I already feel less anxious and panicky. I haven't been experiencing heart flutters and palpitations like I usually would from stress and anxiety. I feel more energized, outgoing, happy, and less stressed. It helps me sleep better at night. The only side effect that I have noticed thus far is that the medicine makes me yawn a lot, which I have heard tapers off after a few weeks of being on the medicine. Other than that, I have not noticed any other issues. I think Lexapro is great!"

• Works...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 20, 2023

"I have struggled with GAD for years. Constant anxiety and fight or flight mode. After being on Zoloft for years without noticing any anxiety relief I made the switch to Lexapro and my anxiety is significantly better. It is worth a shot!"

• Terry
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2014

"I have suffered with anxiety and agoraphobia since I was 6. Since the age of 19, I never went more than 45 mins from home. I started on Lexapro and an anti-anxiety medicine in 2009. I have made it to a beach that I hadn't seen since I was 14. I am now 60 and have been 7 times since 2009. The drive is 1 hr 30 mins from home. I go every summer, more than once, and sometimes stay a few days, one time staying 6 days! This medicine is a Godsend. I wish they had it 20 years ago."

• Gin
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 1, 2019

"Lexapro has given me my life back! Before taking Lexapro I couldn't drive, felt like I had someone sitting on my chest, couldn't eat at restaurants...now I look back at those times and cant imagine living like that again!"

• god...
• August 25, 2013

"I had suffered from anxiety disorder for at least 11 years. Worrying, palpitations, shortness of breath, basically all the popular anxiety symptoms. I am on Lexapro because it works. Side effects like lower sex drive, difficulty reaching orgasm, and insomnia all go away. I find myself fearless, my life is active, no more 'what ifs,' and no anxiety attacks. It's a miracle pill. BUT, I was 135 pounds and skinny. I'm 5'5, and I had an amazing metabolism; my body was rock solid. After 3 years of Lexapro, I am now 165 pounds. I have to try to work out and eat healthy, I know. Please don't wait as long as I did to change your life and get back to your wonderfully made self!"

• Pam
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 29, 2019

"I have been medications for anxiety since 18. I am now 64. Effexor was the best, but severe side effects when I had to stop taking it, weaned off over 6 weeks, thought I was going crazy. Had to stop taking it because of no insurance. Too expensive. But now I started taking Lexapro since January this year (now 8 months, and I got to say it has helped me so much with my anxiety. Affordable, only side effect is my vision is more blurred. No weight gain, no insomnia, no feeling weird. It has allowed me to deal with the issues that cause my anxiety (my job) while not feeling the physical symptoms of the anxiety. I hope this continues to work for a very long time. It took a couple of weeks to level off in my system."

• TOano
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2020

"Life and work progressively got worse over the last 18 months, withdrawn, moody, insomnia, short with family, lack of concentration, anxiety and suicidal thoughts and plans. Had major panic attack ended up in hospital the symptoms similar to heart attack, even had a angiogram. Started cocktail of meds and ended with 10mg of Lexapro and now on 20mg. It has really settled me however still struggle to complete tasks and off work. Counselling also assisting. I have a review this week but diarrhea, insomnia slight nausea have continued. If can fix the diarrhea be very happy. I take meds in the am"

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2010

"Lexapro has been incredible for me. I am a 37-year-old man. It has now been 5 1/2 weeks on 10 mg and I feel amazing. For the first three weeks, it was not effective, and I did have some side effects: loss of appetite, fatigue, no sex drive (although I could still perform), trouble sleeping, and I would wake up with a very uneasy feeling, basically anxious. But at week four, it all seemed to turn around. My sex drive came back, I started eating normally, I had more energy during the day. It is sometimes still hard to sleep at night, but not too bad. I am truly amazed at how I feel. I am a very successful person, have my own business, a beautiful family, but have always felt close to worthless inside, always feeling less than everyone else."

• Justme
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 5, 2023

"Went on it in 2019 and never looked back. Severe panic disorder and major depression are gone. I've since gone back to college and am in my third year plus working full time. Before I couldn't leave the house. Took about 2 months for the full effect but it was worth it."

• SBS
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 8, 2023

"Lexapro absolutely changed my life. I've suffered from debilitating anxiety for a very long time, and I was very stubborn and refused to take any form of medication until I hit rock bottom. I couldn't function anymore. I was anxious all day long and couldn't get anything done. I ended up failing a very important exam, and it was a wake-up call. I finally took the decision to get my life together, went to a psychiatrist, and got prescribed Lexapro. The first few weeks were hell. I had no appetite, my anxiety got worse, and my brain was really foggy. But I was informed that those were normal side effects when starting Lexapro and that they would go away. Indeed, after about a week, it all went away. Then, I didn't really notice any change for a couple of weeks and thought that it didn't work and considered stopping. But thankfully, I continued. After about 8 weeks, I started noticing differences. My anxiety went away, and I got my life back. (There is so much more, but word limits :( )"

• Lucy
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 4, 2023

"I'm a 37-year-old female. I've had Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) since I was 17, and thanks to life experiences, I now have Complex PTSD, GAD, and Health Anxiety. I changed SSRIs to 20mg Lexapro at age 33 - safer for pregnancy. It worked fast and well. I experienced a few weeks of sleepiness, dry mouth, a heavy head, and general worrying that the Lexapro wouldn't work. But it did! So if you're just starting out, definitely stick with it! You'll find that after 2 weeks, you're feeling much better, safer, and less terrified of triggers and life. And by 3 months, you will feel the full positive effects. I recently had a relapse in my anxiety due to huge life stress. My psychiatrist bumped me up to a 30mg per day dose (which is common for Complex PTSD). I'm on day 2 of increasing the Lexapro, and I feel tired and have a heavy head. I'm worrying again about whether it will help. However, I know from my past experiences that these meds are lifesavers. It usually takes a few weeks to feel the therapeutic effects. Remember to be kind to yourself during your recovery journey."

• London...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 5, 2020

"Been on 10 mg Lexaprofor 8 months and overall it’s been an excellent medication. The first two weeks were tough - I don’t think one is warned sufficiently by the medics that you’re likely going to feel worse than before you started - but gradually I started to see the benefits kick in. No longer sweating the small stuff or waking up with a feeling of dread. The only thing that stops me giving this full marks is the reduction in libido and the feeling of slightly ‘can’t be bothered’ but the upside of no longer having nightmares or being filled with dread every morning is hugely appreciated."

• Changed...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 9, 2015

"Before Lexapro, I couldn't get out of bed. I was stuck in my room for 6 months straight. I didn't go anywhere. I had social anxiety. I never went to school. I cried all the time. Had anxiety with breathing problems. I was suicidal daily. NOW I'm a totally different person! I'm so happy. I never have a terrible day. Got a job, have friends, and thinking positively about my future. I now love myself. I don't obsess over pointless things now. I'm more awake and have energy. No more depression or anxiety. 20 mg right away, I love it. It's never disappointed me."

• Little...
• July 15, 2021

"Day 11 on lexapro. Began on 2.5mg no side effects helped me sleep. Increased to 5mg and currently on day 4 taking a whole pill. Will increase after a week. Taking this for generalized anxiety, panic disorder which induced agoraphobia, and derealization. So far only side effects I’ve noticed is small and short bouts of increased anxiety after increasing to 5mg but nothing major. My side effects have been minimal and close to none and I cannot wait to reap the benefits once it starts kicking in since I’ve tolerated it very well. So far it has given me hope. Will be back to update after 6 weeks."

• Tetta
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 4, 2013

"Just wanted to thank everyone who took their time to write these reviews. I was adamant I was going to overcome anxiety by myself, but I lost more and more control. Lived in constant fear of it and was obsessed. My life has been literally on hold for the last 8 weeks, and my husband and children have suffered from it too. After reading your reviews yesterday, I took my first Lexapro, didn't think it would work for a few weeks, but actually the effect was pretty immediate. About an hour after taking it, I went out and suddenly realized the world, the color, the people, everything looked like it used to! Very little side effects so far, only dry mouth and poor appetite. So far so good."

• TDee
• May 21, 2019

"All I can say is WOW! I never write reviews on anything, but this Lexapro drug well and truly deserves a review! This has been my third medication I’ve been on in the last 4 years for GAD which I recently came off my previous medication which I was on for four months as it wasn't doing anything and then once I started mirtazapine I felt better in the space of 2 days within taking it My physical symptoms of anxiety like nausea, rapid heart rate have completely gone. I was waking up everyday with anxiety - completely gone! I’ve been on lexapro for only a week or maybe less... and I can’t wait to see what I’m going to be like in a month or two down the track... I was at my wits end with this horrible rut I’ve been in for 6 months, and within the space of two days I’m myself again. I honestly can’t comprehend it. Hands down the best medication out there for anxiety and depression. Thank you so much lexapro"

• Debs
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2023

"I just started Lexapro 5mg today for GAD. This website has been beneficial for me. Having previously tried Lustral 50mg for one week and having awful side effects, I stopped taking them. I got scared. So far, I just have nausea. I will report back."

• AmyC
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2024

"I started on Zoloft on my GAD journey back in 2020 just after Covid began.... it didn't agree with me after 3 weeks of trying my hardest. Lexapro was next, started on 10 mg and increased 5 mg 4 weeks later then up to 20 mg after that. Wow, Lexapro helped me. I still battled panic attacks on it but wasn't looking after myself/learning to cope with them through meditation, exercise, etc. I can gladly say it's been 6 months since I've had a panic attack and have almost tapered off. Luckily, it hasn't been too rough. Going from 10 mg to 5 mg has caused headaches, trouble sleeping, just feeling WEIRD (dizzy, a bit erratic) but I know it's my body getting used to going back to normal. I will continue to exercise/eat healthy. I also want to fall pregnant in 2025, so that's why I planned this in advance alongside the absence of panic attacks for ages. I would take it again if necessary. Personally, it really helped me."