Scared to start Lexapro

[Anonymous]

I just picked up my first Lexapro prescription today and am feeling scared to start (the irony, I know). I know the first few weeks can be difficult. Reading about the many possible side effects isn’t helping. But beyond the initial period, I’m also scared I won’t feel like myself. I don’t want to be flat. Anyone able to give me a pep talk with positive experiences?

[Anonymous]

You know you’re ready when the alternative is unbearable. You don’t have to take the meds.

[Anonymous]

Lexapro has never made me feel flat. You are still you, but the anxiety either gets much better or goes away. It's like your head is clear.

[Anonymous]

I’ve been taking lexapro for 3 years now. Best decision ever. I wish I could have started it 30 years ago. I had very few side effects when I first started it. But one weird thing I noticed (which could have been placebo effect) was a feeling of euphoria. But this only lasted a few days.

[Anonymous]

My 20 year old brother started taking it last year. He felt the same at first, scared to take it (that reaction is common assuming you are taking it for anxiety). He started on a low dose and gradually ramped up, had to get to 20 mg before he really felt the positive effect, but is much happier on it now. His only main side effect is sleep issues.

[Anonymous]

Does the person who prescribed it know your mental health history? Like have you ever been very agitated for multiple days? Lots of insomnia? But depressed too?
Reason I ask is I had all that but my PCP who gave me the sample pack didn't know SSRIs can trigger mania if people are Bipolar. It used to be called Bipolar III. Messed me up totally and I ended up on lithium and quitting work.

[Anonymous]

I tried it last year & didn't like the initial side effects. I am the *only* person that I know who didn't love it. I stopped taking it within 2 weeks, which is too early to have results but I felt like I made the best decision. If the side effects are horrible, remember that there are other anti-anxiety meds out there that you can try. You get to choose to continue it or not. You might also take your first dose on a Friday night/on a day that you have a couple of nonwork days just to give yourself some leeway. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

If you have anxiety make sure you also take an anti anxiety in the beginning.
I didn't have any weird side effects form lexapro, but I know someone who did. Not good. It's also hard to come off of.

[Anonymous]

I decided to take Zoloft for postpartum anxiety (prescribed by my midwife) and had an extreme reaction - severe panic attacks (which I'd never had before) and all-night (literally) insomnia. I quit after two weeks in consultation with a psychiatrist. He switched me to Celexa and that worked perfectly. I just went on it again after having another baby and so far, so good. I know neither is Lexapro - my point is that you should work with a psychiatrist in case you have unbearable side effects. Mine were horrific. He also prescribed me Klonopin to deal with the increased anxiety, which I took very sparingly.

[Anonymous]

First two weeks can be a roller coaster for some people (but not everyone). if you feel “flat” after the trial period then absolutely switch to another SSRI. Lexapro was okay for me but made me a little drowsy. But Zoloft has been great. Even with the crappy initial side effects I felt better right away even though they say you don’t. I just had this little voice saying to keep going. That little voice has stayed with me and makes me feel much more like myself than without medication (where I’m a stressed out, irritable, angry person).

My pro tip is to quarter the pills to start. Take a quarter for however long you need to for the side effects to go away. Then go up to half. And take that amount until you feel ready to go up again. Just keep doing that until you’re at the full dose. (Each time you ramp up the side effects will be less or nonexistent, I’ve found. It’s that initial one that’s the hardest. But again, some people do great right away.)

When I went to a psychiatrist, that’s what she had me do. But every other doctor has been much less conservative with starting dosage. I’ve tried it that way too—but the side effects are just too much for me if I don’t ramp up super slowly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You know you’re ready when the alternative is unbearable. You don’t have to take the meds.

+1 changed my life. Only side effects were vivid dreams, which I found fascinating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First two weeks can be a roller coaster for some people (but not everyone). if you feel “flat” after the trial period then absolutely switch to another SSRI. Lexapro was okay for me but made me a little drowsy. But Zoloft has been great. Even with the crappy initial side effects I felt better right away even though they say you don’t. I just had this little voice saying to keep going. That little voice has stayed with me and makes me feel much more like myself than without medication (where I’m a stressed out, irritable, angry person).

My pro tip is to quarter the pills to start. Take a quarter for however long you need to for the side effects to go away. Then go up to half. And take that amount until you feel ready to go up again. Just keep doing that until you’re at the full dose. (Each time you ramp up the side effects will be less or nonexistent, I’ve found. It’s that initial one that’s the hardest. But again, some people do great right away.)

When I went to a psychiatrist, that’s what she had me do. But every other doctor has been much less conservative with starting dosage. I’ve tried it that way too—but the side effects are just too much for me if I don’t ramp up super slowly.

This is good advice but no one should fool around with doses unless under the supervision and approval of a psychiatrist.

[Anonymous]

Life changing for my daughter. Had reservations but has made her life so much better. I did not realize how much better she could be. Started slow with like 10 mg and is now at 20. I suggest you try it and as others have said - you can stop it and try something else.

[Anonymous]

Lexapro was like Windex for my brain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:First two weeks can be a roller coaster for some people (but not everyone). if you feel “flat” after the trial period then absolutely switch to another SSRI. Lexapro was okay for me but made me a little drowsy. But Zoloft has been great. Even with the crappy initial side effects I felt better right away even though they say you don’t. I just had this little voice saying to keep going. That little voice has stayed with me and makes me feel much more like myself than without medication (where I’m a stressed out, irritable, angry person).

My pro tip is to quarter the pills to start. Take a quarter for however long you need to for the side effects to go away. Then go up to half. And take that amount until you feel ready to go up again. Just keep doing that until you’re at the full dose. (Each time you ramp up the side effects will be less or nonexistent, I’ve found. It’s that initial one that’s the hardest. But again, some people do great right away.)

When I went to a psychiatrist, that’s what she had me do. But every other doctor has been much less conservative with starting dosage. I’ve tried it that way too—but the side effects are just too much for me if I don’t ramp up super slowly.

Great advice here - start low and ramp up incrementally. Get the ok from your prescriber, though. I needed to take Lexapro in the evening when I began taking it 3 years ago although dosage said a.m. A function of my anxiety is that I’d awake with a horrible upset stomach, nervous, jittery feeling so got the ok to take in the evening. Generally my anxiety lessens as the day goes on and is lowest in the evening.

I got a short term rx for Xanax from my prescriber to counteract my anxiety about taking a medication to treat my anxiety (hilarious, right?) and that helped tremendously.

I’ll also plug EMDR therapy! EMDR has been a huge help in addressing some phobias, fears and traumatic experiences that likely led to my panic and anxiety disorder.

Daily exercise is key! Try yoga or meditation. You also need to get your heart rate up a bit - even walking on a treadmill for 15 min helps to get the jitters out.