Lexapro? Pros and cons, please.

I was not able to take it, it made me sick with diarrhea.

Changed my life. I started taking Lexapro 2006 and never looked back. My depression is gone and anxiety is gone. Also I stopped biting my finger nails and shaking my leg.

What dose are you on? My son takes it for anxiety and in my opinion, it doesn't help him. I'm not sure what dose he is on but I know it's a low dose. If I'm correct it may only be 10mg. He is 37 yrs old.

I have written about this before in this Mayo Clinic category. Lexapro changed my life for the worse. A small dose, only two months, and a savage onset of what can only be called a waking coma. It occurred daily for about five hours: could not move yet was totally awake, absolutely no will power even to life an arm, dissociative (my own identity was complete erased... I became little more than a camcorder), and suicidal. You just can't envision it ending or that you will escape. That was in 2019. Naturally I tapered off, using the advice my PCP told me. But the affects are still present. I measure them in percentages. For a month, maybe no onset. Then one comes on at about 40% of the full incapacity, or maybe 25%. I can function at 25%, if higher than 40%, I have to yield and lie down. I've had nearly every test conceivable. There is only disbelief and no explanation, no cure. I understand I'm an outlier. The drug has helped many. But here is at least one person who found it very dangerous.

I am a huge fan of Lexapro. I have been taking 10 mg for 3 months. Has completely stopped my panic attacks and anxiety.

I am happy Lexapro is working for you. I have a friend that it helped immensely.

Like all the rx you don’t know know till you tried them . As many Drs have told me . Side effects are so scarry, even at low doses.
What are they doing to the liver long term????
For me hot sweats , felt like my skin was on fire when out in heat, couldn’t sleep , fatique, in a fog … horrible . I weaned off.
Even taking the Geno testing didn’t prove the right drug.
Do all what you can naturally first walking, water, little sugars, yoga, mediation, therapy first!!

While it worked for my anxiety and depression, I was unable to feel emotions, could not tolerate alcohol, and gained weight. It felt good to go off of it after about 18 months.

The only true answer is that the experience varies by person. Unfortunately, that means trial and error 🙁 I know, it sucks and its an annoying process.

For example, I could not handle the side effects and discontinued the medication before it could give me full relief.

However, I have a family friend who has used the medication for 20+ years and it changed their life.

10 mg daily of Lexapro lowered my sodium blood concentration causing headaches and lightheadedness. Those effects showed six months after starting with the drug.