Starting Escitalopram

Hi...

I too started on 10 mg.. was suppose to start at 20 but had such bad reaction to swapping from Mirt that I cut it back.. i had terrible flushes and sickness which lasted for about 3 months .. I did have trouble from day one though so you will probably get over yours faster.. I too had odd hot flushes with menapausem but it was definately Lexapro that caused the really bad ones.. and about 15 a day. I think you will settle down after a while.. I wasn't too bad re flushing but I couldn't stand the dizzy doped out feeling.. I stuck it out for 6 months and am now cutting back to 5 mg to see if that helps.. if it wasn't for that, I would have kept going as it was really good for my anxiety, general worrying, panic attacks etc.. probably the best I've had...and it doesn't make you gain weight which is a big plus..since I've started tapering, i've had the hot flushes and nausea again.. not as bad though thank goodness.. I'm sure if you have gone 3 weeks without too much trouble, you will settle down again.. my doc says it's my anxiety, not the Lexapro too but he's wrong.. never had these symptoms before taking it. Hope this helps, I know it's not a nice feeling but apart from my troubles with it, I can see why others like it..

I have been on lexapro for 9 weeks at 15mg. I started on 10 mg for 4 weeks then to 15mg. I too had the hot flashes and sweating. It does go away. The only thing I have noticed is today when I stand up the room is spinning. I hope this goes away. I do still notice when I go to the store I get anxious. My heart races and I feel like everything is closing in on me. I am fine when my boyfriend is with me. I never had any problems till I moved and not having a car I literally did not leave my house for 2 months. That is when the anxiety started. I am feeling a little bit better than I was. Maybe I am going to have to go to 20mg

It was so so awful for me, the physical illness for 2 weeks, the worst being "shock" feelings in my heart..talk about scary..but then the 3rd I feel slightly ok and I mean slightly to where I could get off the couch..but then had no emotions, or reactions!! I literally just shrugged my shoulders if someone asked me something!! I have 3 kids, a job, etc, I can't live like that! So I was up to 10 mg by then and I tapered to 5 then approximately 2mg for a couple days then done! Much better trying to consistently walk and eat more healthy foods..it's hard to do when the anxiety tries to take over but I remind myself it's likely perimenopause (I'm 46) and this too shall pass. 

Thanks for your reply Amy, how long ago did you stop the meds? 

Do you think that since I've only taken one 5mg tablet I shouldn't have to ween off it? Just stop? Or should I take a 2.5mg tonight then stop?

These side effects are just awful and I'm not strong enough to keep going as I'd do anything to stop feeling nauseated. As it is unknown to how long these side effects would last I just can't continue with these tablets. 

My anxiety is moderate and it does control my life. But I'm just scared to continue feeling so ill. 😥

I think if it was just one I would stop it without taking more...it was truly awful for me and I wish I had never started..I was on it a total of 20 days and it was terrible..this was about 8 months ago..I also would add it took my stomach a good month to return to normal ..my Dr said it was not the meds, it was anxiety, but I've never had such a bad episode ever or since..I'm sorry I'm just replying now, but I hope you are feeling better..some people have gone as far to say the med is evil, and while I wouldn't go that far, I'd say it's prescribed far too often and does not do what it should. For those it helps, its fine but for so many it's awful. Take care and respond anytime and I'll answer back as soon as possible. Let me know how you're feeling 🌻

Thanks again for replying.

Yes I stopped after one tablet and the next day (after a day of nausea) I woke up feeling back to "normal" however I didn't really have my appetite back and the following day (2 days after taking the tablet) I had the worst nausea I've ever had so much so I felt like I was going to vomit constantly for hours on end and I couldn't sleep or even sit down to rest, I also had diarrhoea. I almost ended up in emergency it was that awful but my neighbour gave me some of her left over zofran zydis (meds for servere nausea) and it took about an hour and it finally numbed the nausea feeling and I could finally rest after about 10 hours suffering 😩. Oh my I hope my stomach doesn't suffer for a month like yours did, I have gut issues as it is but my gosh that episode was the worst! The next day I feel better but still not 100% in the belly. So can I ask Amy did you go on different meds or just stopped all and if so how you doing?

Hi- well after that whole awful episode, I didn't try any other meds, but I did add a probiotic and walking 20 mins a day and that has really helped..I still have really depressing days but I just try to remind myself it's hormones and that it will be better tomorrow. At times I still wish I could find something that works to lift the anxiety a bit with NO side effects but realize that probably won't happen. I guess I'd like to stay off medication for anything for as long as possible. It just doesn't seem worth it. 

Hi Amy,

Walking helped me too. I don't know why.  I know what you mean about not wanting to take meds at all. I feel exactly the same way. After so long of putting up with the anxiety and panic, I just can't imagine why I should live like that when I have a chance not to. I mean if I needed glasses to correct my vision then I get glasses. It's that simple for me. I hope one day not to need glasses of course lol. 

  I have now been on 20mg for about 6 weeks and I haven't felt better. I do have some anxiety but it's regular worrying and not paralysis or racing thoughts. I can get out of bed and work. I can take care of my family. I can enjoy life. Yes I still go to bed a little earlier and yes I still have weird dreams. So what. Worth it!!!!

  I have noticed that my sexual appetite is almost nil though (( That's not fun. I suspect it will come back and it better! 

Hi rr7775,

I was pleasantly surprised when I went to a higher dosage and didnt experience a huge difference in side effects. It sounds like I didn’t tolerated the introduction of  lexapro as well as you so perhaps you’re good to go!? 

Anxiety stinks! I am so grateful for this medicine to get rid of it! I still worry sometimes but it’s normal worrying not the bad kind or the panicky kind. 

Please let us know how it goes! Sometimes it helps to write about it during your journey. 

Dear Rr7775,

Firstly I’m sorry to hear that you’ve just started suffering with anxiety. You’ve probably discovered that you’re by no means alone in this and we can all completely empathise with how you’re feeling. When you increase the dose of Escitalopram, many people experience the same side effects they had when starting out, but not quite as severe and they don’t last as long. But everyone is different and you may not really notice anything at all. I am on Escitalopram for the third time - this time up to the max 20mg for eight weeks now. The first couple of times I only ever needed 10mg before I felt it really kick in, so much so in fact, that although my anxiety went away and I felt great, I was also concerned that I was a bit too laid back and eventually came down to 7.5mg and then 5mg as a maintenance dose. I was on them for over two years before coming off last summer. While I was on them, I felt so well and ‘normal’. They gave me my life back and I really wish I’d just stayed on them. If you’re concerned about the side effects, you could try going up to 7.5mg (although a bit fiddly cutting tablets in half, assuming you have 5mg tablets!), but it only draws out your recovery. I was a coward and have taken many months to get to 20mg and am still not there yet. I may need to try something else which is worrying , because Escitalopram was so effective last time and it has the fewest side effects. Best wishes for a speedy recovery - it sounds as though it’s going to work for you. God bless.

I stopped at the 3 week mark because I was feeling so away..i tried going from 10 to 5 mg and still no relief from the horrible dizziness and nausea, and no better  at all emotionally or mentally either..I wish I could have kept trying but the “heart shocks “ like electrical zaps through my chest made me so scared. I may try something else but just couldn’t keep up the escitalopram. Please let us know how you do. 

Isn't it scary .every one keeps telling me stick at it for a least 4/6 weeks im not sure if I can with such horrible affects .sorry u to are having awful time on it too so many people I know have sailed through with this med to be patient 🤔😑

I know..people told me it was good and relatively harmless but my symptoms were just not getting any less (sick stomach, dizzy, just wanted to sleep) My thought was that even if it finally started to help me mentally , it wouldn’t matter bc I would not be able to get off the couch! Ugh..I hope you find something that helps. I’ve been off of it 6 months , maybe more and I feel ok emotionally, mentally so I’m trying to avoid meds if possible . But if I get bad again, which I imagine will happen, I’ll look into some options. Take care and reach out anytime! 😊

How are you feeling now? I've been taking it for 2 days And I'm miserable. I don't think I'll be able to go to work if this keeps up for the next few weeks. I can't decide what to do...

Hi how are you doing now? I am not on this yet but would appreciate your views on whether its tolerable