My journey so far on Escitalipram
Posted , 7 users are following.
Hello, I’m new to the site my name is William (or Bill), I’m 61 years old. This site has been very helpful for me in this journey. Thought I’d post my story to see if it helps anyone or if anyone has help or comments. I was on Paxil 10 mg for 10 years for anxiety and it kinda pooped out back in March. Weaned off by May and then later got withdrawal anxiety, panic attacks, high sensitivity to stress in July so I decided I needed to try Lexapro. I had very little problem when I started Paxil so I thought Lexapro would be similar. So far I was very wrong.
I started on Lexapro in August and titrated up in dose from 5, 7.5, 10, to 12.5 mg where I am now. At first I had the typical starting side effects that went away in a couple weeks. Then after I was at 10 mg in October I got a series of (to me) very disturbing side effects including severe heat sensitivity with panic, severe vertigo, then nocturnal panic attacks, not being able to fall asleep or even lie down without anxiety, and strong anxiety. I can’t communicate how horrible the feelings were. Most of these side effects have now faded away, even tho at the time I was sure they would never go away.
My doctor told me to again go up in dose from 10 mg. In retrospect this was a big mistake given I hadn’t even begun to stabilize on it. Anyway, I have now been stable at 12.5 mg for 5 weeks. I had one last disturbing side effect where even minor exertion seems to trigger intense anxiety. This has started to fade I believe, but is still there to some degree; I hate it and hope it goes away, it keeps me from doing everyday activities. Has anyone had this kind of reaction?
I have had 2 weeks of intense anxiety right before this week. I’ve had to take 1 mg Ativan daily since mid November to function. This week I started to get good days and then bad days, so I feel like I’m turning a corner, but still on the Ativan and still having some issues with even minor exertion. Today was a bit of a down day again with more anxiety, but overall things get better gradually day by day.
I’m wondering how many others take benzos every day like this and for how long? I feel like it could still be some weeks where I need Ativan and then will need enough to do a taper at some point. I actually feel at least a part of my anxiety now is dependence on Ativan.
I find myself wondering if part of the difficulties adjusting to Lexapro is made worse since I may still be withdrawing from Paxil. Ive heard the Paxil withdrawals are a nightmare.
Anyway my journey continues. Maybe some can gather some benefit from this. Any comments and suggestions are welcome, and I will post progress.
0 likes, 14 replies
andrea08357 william48229
Posted
Hi William
I am currently on 20 escitalopram but I haven't taken the 20 the last twos days.
Ive been on it for four weeks and did 3 weeks of regular citalopram before that. My dr swapped me to Escitalopram due to developing the severe side effects of panic and anxiety when i went back on the citalopram. However the escitalopram does not help me at all. Everything i read says it gets worse before better but I cant handle this much worse. I was on Citalopram for 19 years with no issues until I ran out of my cit for one week.
I wake up everyday in panick and have anxiety. I usually cry 3-4 times a day due to wanting this to be over.
I am going to my gyno on monday to see about a second opinion. These meds should not be doing this s**t to us. It's so bad.
william48229 andrea08357
Posted
hi Andrea,
I'm sorry you're going through this. I'm not a doctor, but i agree with some of Brian's posts. if you're going to try SSRI s they can be tough for many of us. i believe it's best to try a lower dose and stick with it until the side effects go away. i messed around on multiple doses, and that is delaying my progress . our brains need stability to adjust. I'm not there yet but i can feel slow progress at 5 weeks on a stable dose. it is so hard sometimes, especially when anxious you imagine the worst.
kris1214 william48229
Posted
Hi Bill,
Have you looked into magnesium? I have weaned off Lexapro completely because I don't want to be on a drug forever. Magnesium calms my nerves , which calms my thoughts. I also meditate. I would try an Epsom salt bath first because it has lots of magnesium. I would not be surprised if you would find it useful. If getting off the medication is not an option, you can take the magnesium until the medication kicks in. Just speak to your dr first to make sure it is ok for you to take. Good luck to you!
andrea08357 kris1214
Posted
Hi Kris
how long were you on the lexapro?
I really want to get off this crap and go natural. I currently take CALCIUM MAGNESIUM AND ZINC blend.
I also drink Calm sleep at night which has magnesium to help me sleep.
pam30642 kris1214
Posted
Hi Kris, how much magnesium do you take? Did it help and can you take the magnesium while on lexapro? Thank you for this information.
andrea08357 pam30642
Posted
I take 750mg of magnesium in tablet form and then an additional 220mg inmmy nightly cup of sleep calm.
I have been doing that for two weeks now. Its the only way i can sleep through the night!
My dr approved it.
kris1214 andrea08357
Posted
hello!
I was on it for a few months because I hated the way I felt. I take magnesium at night ( Doctor's Best) because it does make me sleepy. I also take Adrenal Health by Gaia Herbs daily to keep my stress and cortisol down. I have found out that the combination of herbs really calms me down and lowers the depression that can come with anxiety. I also take a multivitamin because I found out I was low in vitamin d and b12 and those are important for treating anxiety.
kris1214 pam30642
Posted
I did take it while I was on the Lexapro and I decided that the magnesium helped me more than the drug did, so I weaned off. I take 200 mg at night. Try taking an Epsom salt bath. The first time I took a bubble bath with Epsom salt, I was hooked. I became calm immediately.
andrea08357 kris1214
Posted
so you completely weaned off lexapro and only take magnesium now?
What were you on lexapro for?
kris1214 andrea08357
Posted
I am completely off of Lexapro. I take magnesium, an herbal supplement called Adrenal Health, and a multivitamin. Meditation is a life saver too. I was prescribed the drug because I had a terrible anxiety attack at work. I stopped sleeping and eating and my primary Dr thought it would be best for me. I have always been an anxious person, but it was manageable.
I started seeing an integrative dr and she helped me find natural ways to heal my body which is healing my mind.
pam30642 william48229
Posted
Hi William, I am taken lexapro 20 mg for 5 months and it has very slowly definitly helped with my anxiety. My psych dr. also started me on a (benzo) klonopin .5 mg twice a day but that was too much for me,so I take .25mg at night for sleep and .125mg at mid morning,to help until the lexapro is stabilized. My own GP says not to worry about the benzo because it is such a small amount. After lexapro for 6 months and all is improving( if we all agree), my psych dr will start to wean me from the benzo. Hope this has helped alittle .Keep me posted and God Bless.
albert_99155 william48229
Posted
i am sorry ro hear this, i had very good luck with the lexapro. i did use TRINTELLIX and that had bad side effects, similar to what you described but the LEXAPRO was successful. you may want to try PROZAC .
andrea08357 albert_99155
Posted
Albert how long did the side effects last? Did you have side effects?
mine are so bad heightened anxiety and panic as well as no emotions and constant crying.
4 weeks on escitalopram and 3 weeks on celexa before that.
Rattahk william48229
Posted
hi,
the same happened to me in the past and it came out that it was interacting with another meds I was taking! Check out interactions between escitalopram and any other meds you're taking!
Best Wishes!