3.5 weeks into escitalopram
Posted , 9 users are following.
Hello, i just wanted to start a new discussion for some support. A lot of the discussions are a couple months old so im hoping to get some input with a new discussion. I am a about half way through week 3 of escitalopram and still experiencing loss of appetite and increased anxiety. In some ways I feel worse than when I started it, i have developed social anxiety which if i don't believe I had before. also, I had to take a leave from work yet it is so hard to be alone all day. I have a wonderful understanding husband but he has got to be getting tired of riding this roller coaster with me. i was on citalopram for the better part of 3 years and I had breakthrough anxiety so my gp upped me from 20 to 30 mg. I tried that for 4 weeks but I progressively got worse, so he decided i should try escitalopram. there have been a couple ups but mostly downs over the past 3 weeks. I had my first appointment with a physiatrist last week, she said to give it 8 - 10 weeks which feels forever in my current state. I have also started seeing a therapist who is going to start emdr this Wednesday. I know 3 weeks is still fairly early but it is hard when you hear people who are feeling back to themselves in a couple weeks. does anyone have any feedback on how long it took you to start seeing the light at the end of the tunnel?
0 likes, 15 replies
pete25453 Brandi2010
Posted
Hey I'm not a doctor or anything like that just a patient like you.
I have been on escitalopram on and off for good 10 years and I'm back on it now. Everything you going thru is normal some people feel better sooner some need extra time. With me it took about 6 months to really feel good, until then I had ups and downs and increased anxiety. All that is normal just don't worry about it, talk to your doc and just go back to work , or just do something this way your are busy and you will feel better sooner.
matts4912 Brandi2010
Posted
Dont like to break it to you, but three weeks is early days. No point in anyone telling you what you want to hear as it will only disappoint you. A lot of patience is required with these drugs. A LOT. I would argue that a lot of people who miraculously feel better within a week or two are subject to some sort of placebo because the drugs simply do not work in the way that would result in such a quick turnaround. These drugs have to alter neurological pathways in the front of the brain - this does not happen overnight. Once the drugs have targeted the correct receptors, it takes time for them to be blocked up the drugs, then yet more time for the level of serotonin to build up.
Understanding the process helps a lot of people and I wish you well in your change of meds and hope that it works out for you, but be prepared to give it at minimum 10 weeks, but ideally longer.
I switched from Citalopram to Escitalopram and it took around 6 weeks for things to settle, and then another 2 weeks to stabalise. Unfortunately, I had the shakes almost 24/7, which went on for 3 months - yes - I suffered it for that long, so I am now back on Citalopram and enjoying the withdrawal/start-up effects all over again!
Brandi2010 matts4912
Posted
Thank you for the reply. I am sorry that lexapro did not work out for you. can I ask though... after the 6 weeks on lexapro did it help your anxiety/depression? I get the shakes sometimes but it is not 24/7 like you explained. I actually had a decent day on Friday, but yesterday and today I have been back down. i know nobody can give me the answers i seek in knowing if lex will work for me or not, but it helps to find people who understand. I actually contemplated on going back to work this week but the thoughts of it send me into panic. I know this is nothing to be ashamed of but I am nervous about people asking me how I am. I have tried to keep this to myself other than my immediate family and a couple close friends. I don't think people understand how crippling this can be. I would love to go back to work to get my mind busy but I feel like I am not strong enough yet and it will send me deeper into this hole.
matts4912 Brandi2010
Posted
Brandi,
I completely understand your situation, and if you are able to take to time off work and get yourself together, then do so. Looking back over my notes, I would say that it worked no better than everything else I have tried insomuch that it took a slight edge off, but not to the point that I would have a decent quality of life back. But difficult to say for sure when I had all the physical symptoms - much like you, I wanted them to go away so I could have a good ground on which to base my decision on how good it was. But alas. Same with cymbalta. Could have been better than I was getting from it, but when you are back and forth to the can 6 times a day, it is very difficult!!
Is there a pattern to your shakes? Same time each day? Do they get worse when you are anxious? Or do they just come out of nowhere? Have you tried a benzo to see if this calms them down?
Really hope we can get somewhere with this for you...
Matt
Brandi2010 matts4912
Posted
Hello, the shakes seem to come more so when I get anxious. it almost feels more internal but my hands will be shaky as well. I have taken a couple valium over the past 2 weeks that were prescribed to me when I went through this 3 years ago. it did seem to call me down somewhat but I don't know if it is in my head but the come down always seems to be hard. I have a prescription for xanax that my gp prescribed me but I guess i have a fear of getting addicted. my physiatrist told me I could take them but she would not prescribe them to me, which scared me. so, if you don't mind me asking, what all meds have you tried? are you currently on one that is helping? I am so scared thinking this will not work and I will eventually have to start a new one and the start up is no fun, which I know you already know.
Brandi2010 matts4912
Posted
Sorry just realized you already told me you were back on celexa. I hope it works out for you. what made you decide to go back to it?
matts4912 Brandi2010
Posted
Internal shakes are also very common - I still have them after 3 weeks off, but they are much less than they were.
When you say about the valium prescribed to you 3 years ago - you mean you have had them for 3 years? If so, then their effect will be very very weak. Valium has a shelf life of around 18 months, so if they were 3 years old, they will not be working as they should. Check the use-by date and see what it says. Xanax is very similar but doesn't hold the effect for quite so long as Valium. Addiction for these benzos will typically occur after 2/3 months of use. Short term use of 2/3 per day for a couple of months will not cause addiction or any serious withdrawal problems.
I have been from Celexa, Sertraline, Cymbalta and Venlafaxine... and then Lexapro. All except the Celexa gave me horrible side effects. So whilst the Celexa didn't quite do it for me, it at least didn't cause any additional problems. I am waiting for the Celexa to kick back in and will be trying a supplement of Dopa like Wellbutrin. Research has shown complimenting an ssri works better than keep chopping and changing as people can then end up getting problems from this game. I started out with health anxiety 2 years ago when I went on the Celexa, but now I have all sorts of issues courtesy of the other pills I have been given until I decided to go it alone and sort myself out. So you are right, it is not fun, and can be very dangerous to keep changing these drugs.
I do use other non-drug medicinal aids, such as CBD oil, damiana tea and kratom. Despite the bad press, all are very safe and zero side effects. Far better than any meds I have used, but it still doesn't treat the underlying issue. I just need to be stable for a few weeks to get confidence back... It's been a long road so far!
andrea08357 Brandi2010
Posted
I wish i had good news for you. i was on citalopram for 19 years with great success. I ran out of them for less then a week and was already in withdrawl when i started back on them.
After 6 long months with no help or improvement my psychiatrist finally decided to switch me to TRINTELLIX.
I take ativan to help with the anxiety but the stuff is poison though it helps.
I am currently trying to get off of that and replace with CBD products for the anxiety.
All i do is cry, panic and obsess over death.
I seriously think getting off meds all together amd taking a natural approach may be the answer for me.
I honestly cant take it anymore. CONSTANT crying anxiety exhaustion fatigue stomache cramps and head ache are truly driving me insane.
Hope you get relief soon!
ann55375 andrea08357
Posted
i have suffered at the hands of anti depressants for too long trying different ones. i am also willing to try the natural approach, i think we need to rid our bodies ofmthese awful drugs if we can. i would be very interested in your regime on natural ways. i have tried CBD but unfortunately it made me unwell. the anxiety, nausea and fatigue is really unbearable just now. i havent tried trintillex, would you not recommend it?
lori77951 Brandi2010
Posted
Hi Brandi
Hope I can help, I WAS on Cit for 6 months, as I HAD some good days it was not consistent, my dr decided to have me take Lexapro, I'm on 20 mg. currently, it was at 11 to 12 weeks before I Actually could feel relief, I'm on my 13 th week and I'm finding I'm going longer days w/o feeling anxious. THE struggle was real, I WAS bad really bad, I DID work thru all of the bad anxiety, but it was very very hard. I WAS DETERMINED not to stop my life due to the anxious feelings. THESE meds do work, it takes lots and lots of patience. I KNOW of a dr that stated give the LEX 3- 4 months to start seeing good effects, and could take up to 8 months to be totally effective
SO hang in there , i know how you feel, I would google daily endlessly looking for a cure, now I DON'T do that , b/c I'm starting to feel myself again . HANG IN THERE!
ann55375 lori77951
Posted
i never seem to get past five weeks with my trials of anti deps, the side effects are so bad. you are fortunate you have found lexapro. i struggle on, my psych says i have anxiety and not to use anti deps but im finding it hard. he has tried many to help my anxiety and none worked. i am struggling on with anxiety meds alone but i wish younluck, you have found the right help now.
Brandi2010 lori77951
Posted
thanks for the reply. did you start out at 20 mg? I appreciate the words of encouragement, it gives me some hope. anxiety has really taken over my life at the moment. I can barely function daily.
lori77951 Brandi2010
Posted
BRANDI
I started out on 10 mg for 4 weeks, then my dr upped my dose to 20 mg, at my 11th week I started to get some relief, but still had blips, lasting from 3-4 days of non stop anxiety, now on my 13 th week I'm feeling much more calm. I KNOW the lex is still working , each night I take my med I KNOW I'm one step closer to recovery, it takes so long for any SSRI to take effect. I'm not an expert by any means, just sharing my experience, but know you will recover, I PERSONALLY believe that we sometimes never get to the correct dosage thats what happen to me in my case on my past two SsRi's. I ALWAYS HAD THE FEAR OF BEING ON A HIGHER DOSE, but with LEX I knew 10 mg would not be effective for me and I WOULD NEED THE HIGHER DOSE
HANG IN THERE and give it time, you will find that sense of calm once the med adjusts.
Lolita40 lori77951
Posted
Hi Lori!
Im also on lexapro since almost 6 months. I started at 10 and then 15mg.
I used to take lex in the past at 15mg. I was functionnal but never completly anxiety free. Always worse in pms . Im med sensitive and anxious about med or dose changes.
I have a burn out and anxiety disorder. I have been off work since 2 years now. The past 2 years, my doctor changed my mes too many times. He tried stopp ing my antidepressant in october (I take them since 12 years). It wasnt a good idea. I went into by withdrawal and major depression with panic attacks. So back on med.
my anxiety is not settle. and I am always tired. Probably due To anxiety I guess.
I just saw my doc and she suggest upping to 20mg or adding abilify To my lex. I prefer going to 20mg. I dont know why but abilify kind of scare me.
I just increase my dose today but tried going to 17.5mg. Dont know if its okay.
Its a pretty long process isnt it ?!
I really hope 20mg Will make a difference since its only 5mg more. And hope it can give me my energy back.
Brandi2010 lori77951
Posted
Thank you so much for the encouragement. It helps to hear from someone who has gone through this also. I want so bad to feel better but I think this is only making it worse. I wish you well on your journey and I am glad the lexapro is working for you!