Escitalopram - How Long? Positive experiences please.
Posted , 14 users are following.
Hi Guys,
I'm 35 years old and until recently had never experienced any depression or anxiety in my entire life. Nothing happened to set it off, I jut woke up one day and felt deeply depressed and borderline suicidal. I have no motivation to do anything and am also currently off work.
Ended up referred to the mental health team and have been on Escitalopram for 3 weeks today (1 week at 10mg, 2 weeks at 20mg). I guess i'm lucky that I haven't experienced any major side effects other than perhaps increased anxiety and fatigue, but I dont feel any better depression wise and feel like I am losing all hope as i'm at rock bottom!
I have read online that it can take more time than 3 weeks to feel any sort of benefit at all and I guess what i'm looking for are positive stories from people that were feeling terrible still after a few weeks, but then later it kicked in, just to give me some hope!
Any positive feedback much appreciated!
Kris
1 like, 27 replies
ria57147 kris4615
Posted
I’d be very keen to know how you are feeling now? I’m on Lexapro 20mg. Was on 10 for a week and have been on 20 for 3 weeks. Well I feel terrible! My anxiety is through the roof and I seemed to have developed pretty awful depression which definitely was not this bad before! I’ve also started having trouble sleeping. I really can’t see myself feeling miraculously better than this in a few weeks. I have 3 kids and I am really struggling. I don’t want to live like this.
kelly58470 ria57147
Posted
Your experience sounds similar to mine, when I first started Citalopram (generic for Celexa). I started at 20 mg., and after about a week started having insomnia as a side effect. When I went in to the doctor, for some reason she decided to up my Citalopram to 40 mg. I realize now it was too fast of an increase. The side effects were awful!
?I wonder (strongly suspect) that your dosage was increased too quickly. I'd give the doctor a call, and get the okay to go back down to 10 mg. Usually, (unless you have a doctor like mine, ha ha) they like you to stay at the same dosage for at least 6 weeks to see if the lower dose is effective.
ria57147 kelly58470
Posted
My Dr wanted me at that dose because I have been on it before and 20 was the dose that worked the best.
I am feeling a bit better. Well my mood has improved but I still have anxiety.
I do think the increase was probably quite fast though as I’ve only been on a month now.
How are you feeling now?
X
leahxx kris4615
Posted
Hi, I no this was 6 months ago but can you tell me how long this took to work for you & did you stay on it? I’m on week 4 on 5mg & I feel absolutely awful
the first 2 weeks was bad the 2nd two weeks was to bad now it’s got really bad again looking for some hope & advice thanks
leahxx kris4615
Posted
Hi, I no this was 6 months ago but can you tell me how long this took to work for you & did you stay on it? I’m on week 4 on 5mg & I feel absolutely awful
the first 2 weeks was bad the 2nd two weeks was to bad now it’s got really bad again looking for some hope & advice thanks
vic57664 leahxx
Posted
When you say ‘bad’ do you mean anxiety or side effects? My GP kept me on a long time before advice from a psychiatrist who took me off straight away. I got up to 20mg and had constant nausea & insomnia. I’m on a different drug now and still struggling every day.
leahxx vic57664
Posted
Anxiety is bad & it’s peaked again
why did they take you off? & I assume the new ones are not working for you either? Sorry to hear this 
vic57664 leahxx
Posted
jim55850 kris4615
Posted
Hey kris4615. I just did a reply to someone else on the same subject. I post it here too.
My experience. My father was diagnosed with n-stage lung cancer the end of January this year. He died February 28th. I was with him every day in February, yes it was difficult. It obviously pushed me over an edge. He was having problems for a couple months beforehand and I had problems with insomnia at one point had been up 76 hours so my doc prescribed ambien, which got me to sleep . But nights were tense, anxious. Once Dad was gone, the anxiety started earlier each day and it got to where it started every day about 2:00pm. Painfull, dripping sweat, extreme hot flashes, not enough air, closed in. One night in April I was in the backyard, standing in the dark in the rain throwing up. I'll tell you I was going crazy and as far as I was concerned, I was dying. Then I connected with a new doc, was pretty open with him and let him know I was in trouble. I was. He put me on 20mg lexapro per day and prescribed 1mg Xanax as needed. The next 4 days were difficult, as is the case with many getting on lexapro. Then things calmed down. A week later I felt at ease and for 4 weeks I took both the lexapro and a xanax every day. I don't think I have been that calm in years. Knowing the addiction issues with xanax, over the next 6 weeks I wound myself off it. I have a bottle, and once in a while I will take a half of one. Maybe once every couple weeks. I'm sticking to the 20mg, I tried once dropping to 15mg but the sweats came back quickly. So I'm sticking with 20mg. I do have some side effects. Dry mouth, big time yawning after taking it so I now take after dinner. And it does make getting to orgasm difficult. At least for me and is a common side effect. But I am confident with myself and at ease. Seriously, I was dying. Today I enjoy every day. It's only been thee months, but I'm a thankful patient so far. We are all different and each of these mind changing drugs work differently for each of us. I do drink more than I should, no issues so far with the lexapro and wine. For me, lexapro was life saving for now. A year from now maybe different. My best thoughts for you, keep working with a doc and hope you find the same. Best regards.