Lexapro and morning anxiety
Posted , 66 users are following.
Hi does anyone find their anxiety is significantly higher in the mornings? Have been on Lexapro for 2 weeks now (1 week @5mg then 1 week @10mg.)
I find the morning anxiety awful upon waking, with racing thoughts and every problem even small ones seem overwhelming to the point of feeling nauseous. Will this subside? Dr has given me Diazepam which I find I'm taking every morning. Im new to Lexapro after previously being on Prozac and Mirtazapine (which I hated and asked Dr to change) although I still take 7.5mg at.night for sleep. Just want to feel normal again and wake up looking forward to the day and feeling positive about things rather than the dread I have now 
2 likes, 180 replies
petermichael alex10154
Posted
Update to my last reply. Blessings to Leigh for responding to my last post what an angel.
3 1/2 weeks now on 10 mg just had a big attack not sure if is panic or afib going to new cardiologist on Friday. Probably anxiety I just can't tell w heartbeat so irregular jumping super fast then skipping beats started feeling nauseous and like was going to faint couple min before it hit Lexapro I think cut it off but now feel like am hit by a truck still breathing super fast whaling headache is so weird you feel like your heart is racing then take pulse feels slow to normal but definitely have that impending doom and like nothing is real don't know where I am I read that is more anxiety than afib. Anyway this is prob the strongest attack have had since starting 10 mg. I reluctantly take 1/2 Xanax and it helps but feel scared to take it even though nurse and doctor both say take it don't suffer by myself but I feel scared I'll get addicted I never take pain meds or mood alterers. So I'm praying a lot part of me does trust of course that panic "this may be the one" sense comes over me it is ever so slightly less. Just really feel worn out like wrung out dish rag after episode. Sat will be one month on 10 mg have to see with doctor are you supposed to have any attacks? a couple? I don't know. I know everyone is different but how does one know that up-ing the dose is the right thing to do?
petermichael alex10154
Posted
Wow update to my post of two hours ago:
1:15 am Still having attack resisting taking 1/2 Xanax. Just prayed asking for God's will. Tried to meditate but my heart and mind are going crazy. My heart is majorly skipping beats I'm sweating my breathing is really fast. I've been to the ER so many times recently they have run every test the only thing is that these skipped heart episodes like am having tonight haven't happened while there that's why am hoping cardiologist on Friday gives me 30 day halter monitor bc this is going on for hours. My heart beats really strongly and then stops and then catches up after it skips and it makes me feel totally nauseous and dizzy. I do feel like I'm not really here. I just don't want it to be afib like if it is, I'm some sort of failure. This is the 1st time this skipping thing is going on this long. My chest aches and I have a lump in my throat. I just took half a Xanax and left messages for a couple people. I don't have family or true friends. I have more acquaintance friends who I don't feel are really there. They do their best but basically I'm on my own w this stuff. And I know my emotional state plays into the panic disorder. But between the side effects and these weird skipping beat episodes and my emotional state I am just really scared. I'm also super depressed mentally these last couple days that's new. I have energy physically but mentally I can barely get out of bed. I have spiritual family but not physical. Anyway it helps some to be able to write this. I'm just lost and confused this whole thing is so weird and strange. I'm going to hang in there with the Lexapro for sure. Anyway I'm grateful to be able to share what's going on.
leigh79986 petermichael
Posted
OK, first of all you have got to realize that this is your mind doing this to you . I am a former CCU nurse in your heart rhythm sounds a lot like atrial fibrillation . it’s OK it is not a deadly arrhythmia but it is very important that you listen to what I say . first of all if this continues on you need to be seen in emergency room and EKG done. The only thing serious about atrial fibrillation is you can develop clots that you can throw . if you take your pulse and it is irregular with positives and bounding please seek out medical attention . don’t wait for your cardiology appointment . Second take your Xanax. If you take your Xanax that may be enough to slow your heart rate down and put you back into normal sinus rhythm .
I know you feel like you are hell on earth right now but you are going to be OK . if you believe what it says in the Bible God tells us he never leaves us and never forsakes us. place your hand on your heart and asked the Lord to slow your heart rate down take deep breath’s and concentrate on trusting him and not on your heartbeat . I am a runner and have experience bouts of afib on and off for many years. taking something to relax me and taking deep breath’s was enough sometimes to convert me. Recently I had an ablation to stop the atrial fib. This is suggested for people who are athletic and do not want to suffer side effects of medications . there are many Olympic athletes and hard-core athletes who have had oblations to stop there a fib . it can be controlled but it must be diagnosed quickly to prevent complications but remember it is not lethal ! as you take your Lexapro have confidence that it will work for you as you take your Xanax have confidence that it will work for you if you take both with trepidation that will not help your anxiety . i’m so sorry you don’t have a close support system or friends around you. Do you belong to a church, if you do I would fine friends they are to become close with those if you could call and talk to when you were starting to panic or needed somebody to comfort you . Believe me during my anxiety episodes I pray a lot I memorize scripture also so I can pull that into my mind. Fear will just make all of your symptoms worse so learn to be at peace and trust God knowing he is there with you all the time . you will be OK it will be OK it will pass. You are in a valley but as it says in the Bible as I walk through the valley which means that valleys are not permanent we are walking through them . take care and have confidence that you are being watched over .. so remember you are never alone
petermichael leigh79986
Posted
Hi Leigh God bless you thank you for all your time and care. Yes I've had so many EKGs they are ALWAYS super abnormal they do every test NMR stress test, reg stress test, ultra sound MRI CT all of it only to say my heart is in great shape. I too believe this could be afib although I'm not a Dr for sure. I've told my doctor complaining and on Sat it will be one month on 10 mg Lexapro. If I am still having side effects and attacks he wants to start me on 20 mg which I know should stir up a whole other batch of side effects from what I've read. I see the new cardiologist on Fri hopefully to get a 30 day halter monitor. As I said I've gone to the ER for this stuff probably about 10 times including being admitted 6 times over the last 18 months. I doubt this is only anxiety as the last attack before I started meds I literally turned around and my heart started beating so fast I could not find my pulse and it would not slow down I'm talking it was probably going 200 BPM or something around that really scary and it would not stop of course until I got to the ER then it stopped ha ha thanks God 😃 I ran right to the emergency room where they admitted me for observations but said again, my heart is great. As I've ready so many times unless the attack happens while you're hooked up to telemetry all those tests aren't going to necessarily pick up on an electrical issue. I'm going to the new cardiologist because I believe until proven wrong that it's also afib. It's great to hear many active people have it and deal with it, get ablations etc. I am very active and practically vegan so my system can use any extra help it can get. 😃 The only way we will know for sure is this is afib is to get a longer term monitor. That being said, I read so many people with anxiety talking about irregular heartbeat as well. Side note I had a big attack two days ago and stayed up all night (on Xanax) finally getting to bed around 5 am. I now am clear like today I was relatively fine albeit absolutely exhausted but I just took 10 mg and 45 min later I am having major heart palpitations my heart is thudding and then seemingly stopping and then catching up and the fear is starting to take me over. They also say usually with afib that dread doesn't necessarily take the person over. I have major dread right now but I'm a little bit more calm. I have also surrendered to taking Xanax. Screw it I'm not going to worry about it my doctor says to take it so I am. And yes at the heart/root of all of this it's to get me closer to God I do know this very well. It's just hard to meditate when my heart mind and body are spazzing out. I will take your advice and pray even harder during the attacks. A friend mentioning doing the same. I'm getting better at it. It is amazing that with each attack the mind tells you it's the first and the fatal one. Anyway I hope you're well. Thanks for those typing fingers. Best, 😃
doris83302 petermichael
Posted
I appreciate everyones comments on this thread. I too have anxiety and one attack landed me in the hospital with irregular heartbeat. The heart docs there put me on Carizem and Eliquis to protect my heart. Since then I learned about Metoprolol so I asked my heart doctor what it does. It blocks adrenaline from hitting the heart and causing the afib and racing heartbeat. It's working great for me. Now when my anxiety ramps up, I don't get that racing heart and skip beats that causes the anxiety to just go higher. You should ask your heart doc about it. Just keep reading and learning about anxiety and the treatments available. I find that to be comforting as well as blogs like this that lets us all share our experiences. Best of health to everyone.
doris83302 petermichael
Edited
Well what ever you do, don't take Buspar, especially with Lexapro. It will make you think of suicide. My doctor put me on both at the same time and it took me a while to figure out which one was causing all the problems. Then I read that Buspar is not supposed to be given with Lexapro. So much for doctors. Hard for me to trust any of them. Most of them never had anxiety and have not experience the drugs they put us on so be your best doctor and read, read, read. Learn and then ask many questions of all your doctors.
jenn41295 alex10154
Posted
i've been having the worst morning anxiety, i dont even feel like myself. from what everyone seems to be saying it is typical side effect. mine has been crippling for me, i can barely get out of bed. i can tell something is not right but not sure if it is the meds as they try to adjust to my body
mrmal alex10154
Posted
I've been reading this thread with interest. I've started last week on lexipro (escitalopram) first on 5mg and now on 10mg for anxiety/panic.
I've also been given propranolol 10mg to take as and when required (max 3 times a day)
Having read previous posts it seems that it takes several weeks to feel any difference with symptoms, and if no difference is felt, then an increase in the medication is needed and then another wait for several weeks to see the outcome of the new Dosage.
Each time there's an increase in Dosage there's the risk of side effects for a few days to a week...
I was first put on AD about 10 years ago (citralopram) and came off them in February '19 over a few months. In hindsight I shouldn't have come off them.
This time I think I might be on them for life, but that's a small price to pay for my wellbeing. (pay about $14 a month for my prescription (I'm in the UK)
There doesn't seem to be much in the pipe line for new drugs to treat anxiety/depression.. Nothing has changed from what I can see in the last 10 years when I first started taking meds.. I guess its not a priority in the drug world 😦
I suggested lexipro to my doc as I heard it has better anxiety results than citralopram.
How's everyone getting on?
lisa57346 alex10154
Posted
This thread seemed to end and i dint aee evidence that staying in lexapro helped. I already have morning anxiety and many of the symptoms mentioned here, including heart palpitations, butterflies, nausea and tightness in throat and chest. if lexapro makes this worse not sure how i''ll stay in it. Afraid oi start on even low dose as I'm not seeing evidence this helps and symptoms ease over time. Does anyone have positive experiences with staying on this medication?
lisa57346
Posted
(Many typos in reply above, but I think it still makes sense.)
darlene36535 alex10154
Posted
Yes, definitely worse and i also experienced a panic attack in the middle of the night.
yolanda121212 alex10154
Posted
hi everyone i was taking 5 mg lexapro for 2 weeks then i got covid for 2 weeks in a half and i think that messed up more my emotions and medication . so my doctor put it up to 10 mg lexapro i been on it for 2 weeks and 3 days i wake up so anxious and nervous and sad sometimes i cry . i want to say its getting better not sure . And also how long does it take for body get use to new dose. And will i feel any better later will the crying of sadness and anxiety and nervousness . ?
joni56291 yolanda121212
Posted
YOLANDA how are you now? im on day 25 still crazy morning anxiety.
brian14904 alex10154
Posted
Hi I'm on day 9 yes anxiety is bad eases up a little late day I'm on 10 mg
kalisa alex10154
Posted
Yes, I increased my dose about 5 weeks ago from 10mg to 15mg, and then decided to go up a 5 days later to 20mg. I am on my 4 or 5th week at 20mg and my anxiety attacks are horrible. I mainly get them an hour or two after I wake up and they last for hours. Evenings I feel so much better, that I am able to enjoy my evening with my fiance. Please someone tell me this is normal and I will be better soon. I have been on this medication before and my GAD is such that I will never be able to get off it, but please tell me this is normal and I will start to feel better soon. I am so worried that this medication is not a good fit for me and that I will be like this forever.
😦