Escitalopram, what's your experience?

Posted , 5 users are following.

Hi All, 

I've had a problem with anxiety for as long as I can remember, but about a week and a half ago, it hit the big time, I freaked out on a way bigger scale and for far longer than I have ever done before. Anxiety meltdown central. 

The doctor put me on Escitalopram, 10mg, and it's a drug I know well, my dad has been on it for years. 

I've been on it since the 16th, and in some respects it has worked, I do get periods where I don't feel so anxious. However, the rest of the time it sends me up the wall, I become a completely different person with no ability to reason with myself about the anxiety, I shake, sweat, vomit, it's a mess. It makes me feel really sick all day, I'm not coping well with food. 

I went to the doctor yesterday to see if I was doing anything wrong with it or whether I needed a higher dose, and they simply just told me I had to persevere, I hadn't been on them long enough to make any changes yet, despite many people I'd spoken to/read about saying that by the time a week is up they felt better.

My question is, what's your experience with escitalopram, how were your first few weeks, does it pick up, is this normal? Just like to hear your thoughts!

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • Posted

    I was on Lexapro, same , 10mg a few years back

    I called my happy pill because I felt great on it AFTER two solid weeks of not sleeping when I started it. Had to go off it when I got married and tried to conceive .

    • Posted

      Yes I loved it!!! I'm not sure why when I got back on an AD she chose , Zoloft (during pregnancy) then Cymbalta, and then Effexor before sticking with that one sad

  • Posted

    Hi, I'm sorry you are having a bad time but it often makes you feel worse before you feel better!

    I started on 5 then 10 and now I have settled on 15mg and your doctor is right it's too early to show a significant difference!

    Unfortunately it's a slow ride and just remember to take baby steps and you will get there!

    I think this is a good antidepressant for anxiety which is my main problem and I'm doing well as I'm sure you will! Take care and good luck.

    • Posted

      Hi Susan, 

      Thank you so much for the encouragement, it's going to help! How long would you say it took before it stopped feeling 'worse' and you levelled out, even without improvement? 

    • Posted

      When I started and with every increase I suppose between 2 and 4 weeks! You will see small improvements but don't expect everything at once!

      For me the shaky feeling was the last to go! I also had a really poor appetite at first with nausea and that just gradually got better!

      For some people improve quicker than others but everyone is different! Just don't be too hard on yourself and you will get there!

  • Posted

    Escitalopreon was God awful for me. Zoloft was ok but the best was Prozac . Least amount of side effects and no withdrawal symptoms .
  • Posted

    Hello, just thought i would share my own experience with escitalopram with you..

    I started escitalopram about a year ago due to severe anxiety that seemed to come out of no wheres. I was put escitapram 20mg and found it did make me worse before i got better. I was having more a nic attacks, wierd frightening thoughts and symptoms.. Just to name some!! After about a month i did start to feel a little better and with everyday my anxiety lessened a little it took a good month or two to see a change or shall i say feel. You may not notice anything big you may just start to do small things that you usually do and that's a sign there working. Hold on in there.

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