Escitalopram - How Long? Positive experiences please.

Hi Kris,

I can only say what I've experienced on escitalopram. Been on it a year now. I have found it very good for OCD, panic attacks and phobias but not so much for depression and anxiety.

Apparently it isn't so much for depression so I also have to take valdoxan for the anxiety and depression side.. small doses of each. I currently take 10mg of escitalopram and 25mg of valdoxan..

I should have added that I'm suppose to be on 20mg of escitalopram but suffered terrible side effects so can't get above 10mg..

Usually takes between 4-6 weeks to kick in.. some people quicker but if you don't feel any better soon I'd say it's the wrong med for what you have.. we are all different and what works for one, won't for another.. but check on whether it's the right thing for depression.😊

Hi Kris, I know exactly how you feel and I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression with no trigger or so I thought. If you can get some counselling it may help!

I’m on  15mg escitalopram and have been for a year and half and I think it’s a great med so please stick with it as by week 6 you should notice some difference and I know in my experience it took a bit longer but it was worth the wait!

I know every day feels like a week but things should get better

Take care and keep us posted 😊

Hi Kris,

I developed anxiety out of nowhere. No obvious reason.  

Started at 5 m.g.  then 7.5 then at 12 days up to 10 m.g.

I really had no bad side effects except a bit of increased anxiety on days 4-6.

?On day 16 I noticed I felt a bit better, and was a surprised that it had an effect so soon.

?I'm now on day 27 and feel exactly like my normal self and anxiety seems to have disappeared.

It has worked very well for me and I wish the same for you.

 

Hi Kris,

You should start seeing someone results after 6 weeks, for some people takes 8 weeks or longer,just don’t give up medication , because it takes longer time to see benefit , and I know waiting period is the worst , you and including myself thinking this doesn’t  work but it does, you will start feeling better and time will come that you are going to move on with your life and leave this painful experience behind... Good luck..

I agree with miso, just hang in there and I’m sure you will be pleased you did! 

At week 6 I felt loads better than week 3, you will gradually see a difference! 

The trouble with thinking about when I’m going to feel right is the anxiety feeding the anxiety but until you experience this you don’t realise what it’s like to feel this way, it feels like a vicious circle but please don’t give up, I’m sure you will feel better and when the anxiety goes so will the depression! 

Take care 😊

Kris... Sorry to hear u r having such a hard time... I've been on Lexapro for 5 weeks but started out really slow because of being Sooo sensitive to meds.. 2.5 for 1 week then 5.0 for 2 weeks and 7.5 for about 2 weeks now and I'm getting there but it does take time... I've had panic and aniexty all my life and I'm 63 years young...its been a long hard journey but I'm praying Lexapro is the med. for me so I'm hanging on to that thought for a few more weeks and yes there is improvement but it takes time and your body is different than anyone else so u can read post but u will improve on your own time frame...Take Care and keep posting about your journey.. 😊😇🤗

Hi Guys,

Managed to be a bit more productive yesterday and cleaned the house and visited some very understanding friends on the evening. I guess I'll take that as a bit of a positive.

Tried to do some more tasks today but concentration is terrible, and can't seem to shake the extreme feelings of severe depression and anxiety and had to take a diazepam to take the edge off.

I worry a lot about the fact the I can't sleep at all without zopliclone which my pdoc says I should stay on until the depression and anxiety has lifted first.

A couple of months ago I was a worry free, relaxed and extremely sociable person, now it feels like my whole life has been turned upside down. I've been off work for over a month, and don't feel anywhere near close to going back.

I know I need to be patient and give the ecitalopram time to work as it's still only been just over 3 weeks, but I'm feeling so desperate at times for it to work!

Kris

Hi Kris, I remember feeling exactly how you felt but there will be a light at the end of the tunnel! 

See the positive of the productive day you had and perhaps make a little diary of your day and I reckon you will see the positives happening more often. You may still get off days but they will lessen off when the meds are properly in your system. My doctor gave me an additional tablet til the escitalopram worked properly so don’t worry about that as that’s feeding your anxiety and might hinder your recovery!  I know it’s hard as sometimes it doesn’t matter what you’re told it’s hard to be positive but it WILL come, keep us posted x

I had  the same experience as you, sudden severe anxiety and depression at age 37 with no past history of that. I did a lot of lab test and found my blood calcium was  elevated above 10 mg. Please check your calcium level and your parathyroid hormone.

 

HI Kris,  you’re story sounds a lot like mine. How are you feeling now? I’m just about to 5 weeks but feeling pretty bad this week. I never actually felt depressed until starting this medicine but now I definitely am. I started having anxiety attacks out of nowhere, 32 years old. That quickly led to starting this medicine but I often question if this is right for me. I’m trying to tough it out until that so called magical 6-8 week period but it’s tough.