4 weeks on 5mg

Posted , 7 users are following.

Hi guys today marks 4 weeks-on 5mg of lexapro. I been feeling in and off anxiety mostly in the morning. How long does it take to kick in? Should I ask my doctor to increase my dosage? Some days I feel good then some days I get that little anxiety feelings. Hope this gets better 

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi, I’m three weeks on 10mg Esci. I’m finally feeling better. I had been feeling like I’d keel over every day. That happens when you’re older and overweight (me). I still have some anxious days but saw someone post here once ‘just hang in there,  it will get better.’  I remembered those words...and talking to the dr is never a bad idea. 
  • Posted

    Hi there. You're going to feel better. The morning anxiety seems to be the worst for most people here. It's not how we want to start the day. I would measure how many good days in a row you're starting to have. As long as those days increase and the bad ones decrease, you're on the right track. Four weeks seems to be enough time for Lexapro to start having some kind of positive effect. If you're days are the opposite of what I mentioned above, maybe an increase would be wise. But talk with your doctor. Don't increase on your own!

    Also, it usually takes a bit longer than 4 weeks for the medicine to completely do its thing. But again, if your bad days outnumber your good, then definitely talk to your doctor,!!!! Keep moving forward,! You'll be okay!!

  • Posted

    Sean... Is 5mg. the max. Mg. your Dr. Is leaving u on? Normally u will start off on that and work your way up to 10mg. R more..I started on 2.5 then 5mg. Then 7.5 mg. Then 10 mg. I've been on Lexapro for 9 weeks total and doing well .. I have a little aniexty on rare occasion but it's ok...Did your aniexty come out of the blue r have u had it for sometime.. I've suffered most of my life with it but never could get the right meds. Until now...I would CK. With your Dr. About increase.. Good Luck and keep posting when u need to..😊

    • Posted

      Hey nick thanks for the reply, I had anxiety before and it came on out of the blue then I took sertraline and I was ok got off of it and was anxiety free for 4yrs then again out of no where it came back so I told my doc I wanted to try something different as sertraline gave me bad side effects in the beginning. So he suggested lexapro the side effects weren’t to bad.  So today I went back to see him and he told me 5mg is a small dose?!? I was like ummm didn’t you proscribe me this dose lol so he said try the 10mg tomorrow. I really hope it works out I’m better but not there just yet hopefully this increase to 10mg will work. Thanks again nick 
    • Posted

      Seanb702... I know when I went up each time I had some side effects but they tapper off after a few days.. Just b prepared at first that u may have some aniexty but Please give it a few days to a week r so to kick in.. That's just how Lexapro works.. It is a Fabulous drug for GAD and Panic issues.. Take Care and feel free to post again and I'll b as much help as possible...😊

    • Posted

      I have been in Effexor xr for about 8 years and it is not working as well, the doc put me on 5mg of Lexapro along with my Effexor.  I have been on Lexapro for 6 days and I am feeling not centered, kind of dizzy especially in the evening and when I go to bed, but I do sleep.  I wake not feeling very well, as I move around I feel a little better.  I still go to work, but this a hard journey.  I have been on meds for a total of  17 years and I am 63.  Have never had this much trouble getting used to a medication.  I hope everyone is right about give it time. 
    • Posted

      Hi Susan,

      i have been on Effexsor for 5 months it  hasn’t worked well for me got up to 150 for a week and my anxiety and blood pressure went wild. I weened back down to 75XL and my psychiatrist also added 5mg of Lexapro on that for a week then raised to 10 of Lexapro for 2 weeks. My anxiety is easing but getting headaches from Lexapro. Want to go down again on the Effexsor but withdrawals are awful tried to go down to 37 but it was too big a drop. I see my doctor on Wednesday and I might have to go to a compound pharmacy and reduce the Effexsor by 15% instead of 50% .i wish I never started on Effexsor.

    • Posted

      Hello Ladies... Sorry you are having such a hard time... Why don't your DR. Just put you on Lexapro and take you off of the Effexsor.. The combination of the 2 drugs may be the issue.. But I'm no Dr. But have heard Effexsor can do as well for some as Lexapro... Just take your time and try to do as your Dr. Says ... Sometimes it's very hard to change from one med to another.. I just think it would b easier to stop one and do the other.. Lexapro is Great for GAD and Aniexty and Panic disorders...Take Care and post when you need to we will answer.. We have all been where you ladies are.. Nickie

    • Posted

      Hi 

      Effexsor is the hardest antidepressant to withdraw from because it is completely out of your system in three days which causes major discontinuation problems. The shortest half life of all of them. If I had known I would never have taken the first one. Luckily I have only been on them for five months and am on the lowest therapeutic dose. When the Lexapro kicks in more in two or 3 more weeks I will go down to 37.5 below therapeutic dose and up to 15Lexapro if I need to.

    • Posted

      Lynn... Sounds like you have a Good plan in place... Take Care..you will be there b4 you know it... 🤗💞😇

    • Posted

      Lynn.. Well we r all different.. So to answer your question .. It was almost as soon as I started the Lexapro that I started seeing and feeling some good change but I was not on and had not been on anything so that in its self is different than what u r dealing with.. You are mixing the drugs and trying to come off of one and adding another.. That's the tricky situation u have... I would speak to my Dr. About just stopping the Effexor and just use the Lexapro.. U might have some bad days but u would get thru it in a week r so and the way you are going now sounds like u r pretty much having bad days.. I'm in no way tellig u to stop your Effexor but I am encouraging u to talk with your Dr. About cutting loose of the Effexor and using Lexapro only.. U may b pleasantly surprised as to how much better and the progress may b a lot faster...just my own input.. Please do not do anything unless u speak to your Dr. But we live in our bodies not the Dr.. It has to b for our best interest not what the Dr. Thinks ..we have our own thoughts and we endure the pain and suffering.. I would talk to my Dr. And just ask him if u could try to cut loose from Effexor... U can always add it back if it becomes to bad... Stay in touch... 🤗💞😇

  • Posted

    Hi Sean,  The mornings are the worst for me also, but as the day goes on I feel better, at least I can go to work.

    This is my 4th week on 5mg Lexapro, and I think things are getting better.  I have never had side effects, I have taken Celexsa with not side effects and am also on 225 mg of Effexor with the Lexapro. I keep reading give it time  4 to 6 weeks before it completely is effective.  So I wait.  Reading all these posts makes me feel better knowing I am not the only one going through this.

    • Posted

      Hi Susan I was on Effexsor for 5months but did not help me at all. I have weened down from 112.5 to 37. I am also taking 10 Lexapro for 26 days and one .25 of Klonipin a day.

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