how long for medication to work

Posted , 4 users are following.

OLA GUYS HOPE ALL IS WELL I STARTED ON 5MG OF ESCITALOPRAM 4 WEEKS AGO AND THEN PUT IT UP TO 10 MG OF AFTER TWO WEEKS THE TOTAL OF BEING ON THIS DRUG 4 WEEKS IM NOT AS EDGEY AS I WAS BUT I DO HAVE GOOD AND BAD DAYS WHEN WILL IT START TO WORK FULLY LIKE I THINK I PAY WAY TO MUCH ATTENTION ON HOW IM FEELING SOMETIMES IM ALWAYS WAITING FOR DISASTER TO STRIKE HAS ANYONE CBT TIPS TO TRY AND CONTROL MY TAUGHT LIKE I LAUF SOMETIMES AT MYSELF IL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE THIS MORNING I WAS SCARED TO GO TO THE BANK BUT I MADE MYSELF GO CAUSE I WOULD HAVE THESE TAUGHTS WHAT IF I FAINT OR SOMETHING REALLY BAD HAPPENS TO ME I GET LIKE THIS IN WORK ASWEL LIKE WHAT IF I COLLAPSE ON THE TUBE OR LOSE CONTROL AND NO ONE CAN HELP ME LIKE SOMETIMES I DONT WANT TO LEAVE THE HOUSE BUT I MAKE MYSELF AS I DONT WANT TO GIVE INTO MY TAUGHTS AS THEY ARE TOTALLY IRRATIONAL I ALSO THINK IM GOING TO HAVE A BREAKDOWN THATS ANOTHER ONE OF MY OCCURING TAUGHTS HAS ANYONE ELSE THESE TAUGHTS AND HOW DO THEY HANDLE THEM.XXcheesygrin

2 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    I've heard good things about escitalopram(lexapro).  It takes some time to work as you titrate up the dose.  You should definitely pursude cbt to help with your thoughts and anxieties.  The worst stumbling block with all this is our tendency to focus a lot on how we're feeling and whether we feel the meds are working  or not.  It's hard to get away from that frustrating thinking but diversion in activities may help.
    • Posted

      hey jim yes i think your right im feeding my taughts way to much and their sticking like glue as i read in book i taught was good saying im waiting for the nhs to see me with the cbt yes i need to start doing my activities and get a life IF I COULD CONTROL THE WAY I REACT TO MY TAUGHTS IT WOULD BE FABULOUS I ALSO HAVE TO STOP CONCENTRATING SO MUCH ON THIS I am not a dumb girl i just need to push myself i dont want this to take my years as it already has hence it is interfering with the quality of my life have you overcome your anxiety or what you suffer from i feel i need to do something with this bout of anxiety like i could write a book of all symthoms etc but i need a really good treatment on stratgies how to control it .lol
    • Posted

      I haven't overcome anxiety.  My antidepressant stopped working.  I don't enjoy anything and feel dead inside.  I'm trying new meds.  I try to divert myself from consciously waiting to see if they kick in.  I feel the more I begin to expect something the less it seems to happen.  I realize activity is difficult or impossible to pursue because of the way you feel so try something easy like watching television or movies.
  • Posted

    Anxiety is a terrible thing and can totally take over your life if you let it. You seem to be pretty brave about it though. You do however try and change the negtive for positive though when you can. For instance tell yourself bad things aren't going to happen only good things.  For instance if you do something that scares you or you worries you like going to the bank or going to work give yourself a reward. It can be a magazine or a new lipstick some kind of treat and you will start to feel better. As for the medication it should be kicking in now but everyone is different. Give yourself another 4 weeks but if you feel things aren't getting any better then return to your doctor and voice your concerns. Good luck.
    • Posted

      Hey gwen hope all is well yes sometimes id love to give my anxiety a kick up the ass and say leave me alone yes so with the taught ive started to read this book and its basically turn your taughts into cartoon characters for example im scared to go out in case i faint so im turning the taught into a cartoon such as mickey mouse with big feet and funny vioce so it changes my reaction to my taught i just started so hopefully it works but i would like to go more in dept with this do you suffer with these taughts.x
  • Posted

    hey there i dont take the same medication as you, but i take a slow release beta blocker and the medication only helps with the physical side of my anxiety, i would look into CBT to try and help with your thought process. Tht might help you day to day
  • Posted

    Difficult to read when a post is all capital letters. 😭 Still, no matter. Antidepressants generally take 4-6 weeks to be effective. Gwen is right. After each time you make it to the bank/shop for groceries etc and get through it, give yourself a small treat. Good luck.

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