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Starting Escitalopram

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justine12414
justine12414

I am due to start taking Escitalopram 10mg,but thinking of halving these for the first week,as scared of side effects. Any advice on how good these tablets are for anxiety,also any initial side effects to look out for,would be gratefully received. I was on Citalopram for 19 years,but changed to Sertraline this summer as Citalopram had seemed to stop working. Unfortunately after 5 weeks the Sertraline caused chronic,debilitating diarrhoea,so came off that two weeks ago. I would love to be well for Christmas,but at the moment the thought of it just panics me :-( x

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  • karina39245
    karina39245 justine12414

    Posted

    Hi everyone! i just started taking lexapro 10 mg again after 3 years without it. The side effects are horrible. I have zero appetite and my anxiety is more than it was before. I also get numb in either my hands, feet, or face. I know its probably just because the lexapro and it made my anxiety worse. Should I just do the 5 mg first?
    • holly97679
      holly97679 karina39245

      Posted

      Your experience sounds very similar to mine. I was on it and went off then about a year and a half later I was back on it but I had side effects for the first time. You nailed it when you said sleepiness and zero appetite. I was fuzzy almost. And I had hot panic attacks like my blood was on fire or my chest was on fire. It was worse than not being on the medicine. But on the 4th day for me it got a lot better but not 100%. I had tenseness in my jaw which came kind of after the other side effects. I had numbness in a couple of my fingers and I forgot about that till you mentioned it. 

      I don’t know about changing the dose, I hope your doctor would be reachable for that question, but I would recommend naps and walking if you feel safe enough to do it and I hope it will pass quickly for you like it did for me. 

      When I went up in dosage from 5 to 10mg I had a couple more panic attacks in the middle of the night and strange dreams but nothing horrible and that passes quickly also. 

      Please keep posting updates if you have time and try not to read too much on the internet! Maybe a funny book? Or call someone who doesn’t judge and will chatter away so you can sort of get your mind off?

      I found that ice cubes on my wrists helped cool me down but I thought I was treating premenopausal symptoms so I don’t know if it will work for this but hey if it works...

    • karina39245
      karina39245 holly97679

      Posted

      I feel so relieved about your story keeps me positive and yes the first time when I took it I was just sleepy but now   WoW!! Its really taking a toll on me . You are so right since I worry so much I’ve been on the internet researching and thats no help at all makes it worse. Thank you so much its so nice to see a forum that understands 
    • goldie38977
      goldie38977 holly97679

      Posted

      Hearing your side effects gives me some hope. I started taking Lexapro 2 nights ago. Today while at work i started having these tingling all over feelings accompanied by feeling like i was on fire on the inside and the heat was the worst in my chest. This sent my anxiety through the roof. This happened on and off for hours and i ended up having to leave work. I have also been very jittery and shaky. I have felt so strange today that i was considering stopping taking it all together. I am on 5mg and this is my first time to ever take this type of medication. Seeing that other people have had these type reactions but got through it and are having success, does give me hope

  • mara52261
    mara52261 justine12414

    Posted

    Hi Everyone-new to this thread and found some comfort reading all the responses. I just started taking escitalopram last night (5mg) and will eventually go up to 10mg. I took it 2 years ago for about 5 months and then got pregnant so weened off. I did not have terrible side effects but last night after taking my first dose I woke up a few hours after going to bed with terrible tingles and burning sensation in my arms and hands which almost led me to the ER. I have suffered anxiety and hypochondria for many many years and I am praying the medicine will help. When I was on it two years ago it slightly helped but had to try 20mg and was only on that dose a month before getting pregnant. I am so scared to continue the medicine due to the side effects of just 5 mg 1 time! Anyone have these same side effects with just a few days on being on it? So scared but I am willing to try anything to get myself better and thoughts in check. Thank you!
    • Jea912
      Jea912 mara52261

      Posted

      Hi Mara! I also just started taking 5mg Escitalopram last night for my anxiety and I'm also here because of the side effects. Within 30 minutes of taking it, I had a brain zap. Followed by the clenched teeth, insomnia and now nausea and just a weird feeling in my head. It sucks so bad, but I'm going to try to stick it out. I keep reading the positive reviews of how it was the life-changing medicine for so many people. Hope you're feeling better soon!

    • amy341731
      amy341731 Jea912

      Posted

      Hi there- I don’t want  to discourage you from making a change in your life… I just want to let you know my experience with it. I started out at 10mg  and it made me awfully nauseous and dizzy to the point where I couldn’t get off the couch… I dealt with it for two weeks and called the doctor and said I can’t take it anymore and he said to drop it to 5 mg.That didn’t really help and the worst side effect was the heart zaps . I see you mentioned brains zaps, and I had those in my chest all the time especially when I was trying to fall asleep and it was just awful… It didn’t really seem to help and the physical symptoms were just awful so I decided to discontinue it after almost a month. I thought that would’ve been adequate time to start feeling better and have some of the physical symptoms decrease… Since being off of it about six months I have felt better… I try to take at least a 20 minute walk every other day and staying  hydrated has actually helped me a lot… I’ve been taking B vitamins and Tumeric and that has been helpful as well. Again I’m not trying to discourage anyone from something that helps, I just didn’t feel any good effects and the physical symptoms were just too much for me… I just wanted you to know that you’re not alone. Take care 😊

    • mara52261
      mara52261 Jea912

      Posted

      Hi Jea! I have continued taking but switched to the mornings instead of before bed. Tomorrow will be a week of taking 5mg. I have not had the same sensation I did on the first night which is good but I have noticed I am getting some hot flashes! I have not ever had these before and they come on pretty suddenly-has anyone else had these? Also, every night this week I have woken up sweating. It's not too bothersome but just so odd and a side effect I definitely notice. Hoping that goes away soon and that the anxiety will start getting better. It's so bizarre to me that the first time I took this medicine I did not have these side effects and it wasn't that long ago. 

    • Chickish
      Chickish Jea912

      Posted

      Hi there, I am so glad I have joined this chat to investigate some of the side effects. I actually thought I was overthinking and imagining it. What do you mean by a brain zap? Can you try explain that feeling? Has anyone experienced flashes across your eyes when you have your eyes shut? When your going to sleep? The only way I can explain it is like someone has flashed a torch in your face while your trying to sleep? Or lightning like-  

       Also I thought I must have had a bad wisdom tooth as I woke up with the most painful jaw... but reading all your replies I have noticed that some have experienced a sore jaw /cheek?? Mine is right at the top of my jaw infront of my ear??  And the scariest is that my tongue is numb!! Just before bed my tongue has been going tingly and by the middle of the night it is numb... should I be worried??? Because these side effects are something I have never experienced as this is the first time I have had medication I’m a little worried, is this normal? Help! Because other than these side effects I really do think it is working. I feel so much more relaxed and stress free. My anxiety has resided and I’m feeling more clarity. 

    • gina01020
      gina01020 Chickish

      Posted

      Hi all,

      Its interesting to read all the symptoms on here as I had a terrible time when starting Escitalopram... unfortunately, the doc in his wisdom, changed me from 7 years of Mirt straight to Escitalopram..no withdrawal or taper or washout....so I didn't know what was Escitalopram side effects and what was Mirt withdrawals.

      So hearing much the same symptoms, which started within 8 hours of the first dose, makes me think it was Escitalopram mainly.

      I had brain Zaps, odd dizzy feeling, pain in the cheek and nose bones, loud tinnitus, nausea, hot flushes all day and night, burning tongue and stomach pain, tingling on the end of my tongue and left ear. I couldn't think at all even to make breakfast, I couldn't drive for months, or go out by myself. I lost at least half a year last year because of all this...I also had so many rashes and itching and lumps pop up that I got removed but I am pretty sure that was definately the Mirt withdrawals.

      I am still on Escitalapam but only 10 mg...it has taken a while to get to this amount too...I stuck with it as I couldn't stand the thought of changing and possibly going through all this again.

      Having said that, I do find this has been the best med for my anxiety and panic attacks...I do still take another med as well for the anxiety but although I can still get a panic attack, it is over quickly..before I had to take a sedative to cope.

      I am still worried by the fact that I find it hard to remember things, before this,. Could paint 3 paintings or do 4 things at once, no trouble...also driving was no problem...now I am flat out getting one job done at a time...

      If this works for you without ongoing symptoms, I'd stick with it...I would also recommend it to someone to try as I think it works wonders...just wish I didn't have the extra side effects myself.

      Chickish, I do know what you mean about the tongue thing, it worried the hell out of me. It seems to have settled but I still get odd sensations like i've bitten my tongue and the odd burning sensation.

      Cheers all,

      G

  • tiffany44020
    tiffany44020 justine12414

    Posted

    I just started escitalopram 5mg 2days ago I took it at 11pm and it's now 6:02 I am tired but it didn't let me sleep! I've been hypertensive all night, my mind started racing before bed which led to being hypertensive. Periodically out the day I had diarrhea, yawning, some dry mouth, mild headaches but by bed time I was shivering quite nervous tense! Is this normal? When should I adjust? How long will this last? By the way I deal with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia so my body lacking sleep like this is really not good for me can anyone help me?

  • annamarie46245
    annamarie46245 justine12414

    Posted

    Hey there, I am on day 4 of 5mg escitalopram and so far haven’t had terrible side affects however I have felt spacey at times, loss of appetite and also a few headaches and flu like feelings of weakness and runny nose. It seems like my anxiety is down but I still don’t want to get out of my house or do things. Reassurance that things are going to get better would be amazing. I just started a new Nanny job last week so that’s been a little scary too. 
    • holly97679
      holly97679 annamarie46245

      Posted

      Hi Annamarie-

      Totally normal! You’re doing great. Starting a new job can always be a little hard but being distracted is good. I’d be careful in whatever ways you can. If you mean you feel spacey like you can’t focus, you should be fine but if you feel spacey like off balance or something you may want to rethink driving with the kids or something! I recommend having a friend to check in with every hour (yes that often) just for a couple days since you’ll be with children alone if I’m reading that right. But I wouldn’t be worried about the side effects you’re experiencing. They will subside. 

  • bst1208
    bst1208 justine12414

    Posted

    Justine, I think it's awesome that this thread was started 4 years ago and you are still replying biggrin   I too have started Escitalopram four days ago and have experienced side effects such as brain fog, sleepiness/tiredness, tingling in my arms and increased anxiety.  The anxiety however comes on in the morning as I wake up but starts to taper down in the late afternoon and gone by the evening.  I wonder if you have experienced this?

    My psychiatrist prescribed 5mg for a week and then increase the dose to 10mg on the second week.  I am wondering if this could be too much of an increase and too soon.

    So far, today I feel better earlier during the day (anxiety wise) since it is on 12PM and I feel it has already subsided instead of the usual 3-4PM.  The brain fog, tingling in my arms are still there, but not as much.  I hope these are signs that it is starting to kick in.

    I am a constant worrier and I overthink everything negative that happens in my life.  Even things that might happen and could happen, this just eats me up.  

    • lynn67615
      lynn67615 bst1208

      Posted

      I am on Escitalopram 10mgs for 18 days. Do you have terrible anxiety most days. I am wondering how long it takes to kick in. Yesterday I was much better.
    • Guest
      Guest bst1208

      Posted

      Hello,  wondering if you ever increased to 10mg?  Did it help or make things worse?  I am coming up on week 5 of 5mg.  (I was supposed to have increased it after 1st week, but the side effects were horrible).  I too wake up in panic mode some mornings, sweaty, nervous for no reason other than the escitalopram.  I am on it for anxiety, which is perimenopause related.  I am not sure if this med is helping me or not, I get tired easy, no energy, dizzy every so often.  Going back to dr, but he is probably going to say it is because I should have increased it 😊Ugh!

    • Rr7775
      Rr7775 Guest

      Posted

       Hang in there. I increased from 5 to 10 mg after a few weeks and I have to say that it made a huge difference for me. When you first increase, it is really tough as all of the reasons you are taking this drug to begin with seem to feel worse. However when you settle in it really helps and I have been on it For months now with no intention of stopping. Panic and anxiety are the worst and nobody can understand what you’re going through if they have not gone through it themselves. Hang in there!
    • bst1208
      bst1208 Guest

      Posted

      Hello Lou,

      Yes, I increased it to 10mg after a couple of weeks and I can feel it's making a difference. The side effects on the increase only lasted about 2-3 days and now on my fourth week, I am feeling better most of the day.  I still  get dizzy, lightheaded from the morning until around early afternoon.  If you are on 5mg, I think maybe an increase to 10mg would make a difference (ask your doctor).  At first I thought that I would just stay on 5mg and see, but after two weeks of feeling bleh, I gathered my courage and increased to 10mg (as prescribed).  Since I already know there will be side effects, it was not as bad, and it only lasted 2-3 days. Now on my 25th day, I am just going to ride it out and see after 6-8 weeks, which I hope all these side effects go away.

      I've read somewhere that 10mg is the minimum therapeutic dose. 5mg is just to ramp you up and will be just a placebo effect once it settles in your body.

      Good luck to all of us, and hang in there!

    • mrs_susan74280
      mrs_susan74280 bst1208

      Posted

      HI I got terrible sweating on it, use to wake up slimey and hot , was on it 5 weeks , never felt well till about 5 pm night, now on prozac , not much better,
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