Lexapro? Pros and cons, please.

Posted by lonestarinitaly @lonestarinitaly, Mar 5, 2024

Need feedback on pros and cons of Lexapro antidepressant.

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Profile picture for kleelibby @kleelibby

I’ve been taking lexapro 5mg for three weeks with no improvement. Yesterday my doctor doubled the dose, and said if no better in another week to double it again. I’m a little leery but will comply.

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I was on 10 mg for awhile and it stopped working optimally. My doctor took it up to 20 mg and it's doing a much better job. But antidepressants are a crap shoot. Some work for one person and not another. If it isn't working (or you are having intolerable side effects) tell your doctor you want to try something else. There are bunches of choices and it may take a while to find one that works for you. I've been on antidepressants for years, and my experience is it works until it doesn't - all of sudden your body says, "Nope, done with this one." and you have to find something else. Good luck.

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Profile picture for thisfatoldlady @thisfatoldlady

I was on 10 mg for awhile and it stopped working optimally. My doctor took it up to 20 mg and it's doing a much better job. But antidepressants are a crap shoot. Some work for one person and not another. If it isn't working (or you are having intolerable side effects) tell your doctor you want to try something else. There are bunches of choices and it may take a while to find one that works for you. I've been on antidepressants for years, and my experience is it works until it doesn't - all of sudden your body says, "Nope, done with this one." and you have to find something else. Good luck.

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Hello , yes I've been on something for depression/anxiety for since 1992 when I first got sober. This is the first time Lexapro was added in. I take 50 mg Welbutrin am & 10 mg Lexapro pm. It's doing better for the merry go round I was on.
So far... So good. I know nothing is permanent.
Thanks

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I was on Wellbutrin for years. It caused me to have sores inside my mouth (which my doctor told me could not be caused by the drug - but which I found out later is a known side effect - ugh). It worked pretty well for a while, and then stopped working for me. I went on to citalopram, which again worked for years and then stopped working. Now I'm on Lexapro (escitalopram) and it's working for however long it works.

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Profile picture for meingan @meingan

Has anyone had good success in using escitalopram for anxiety disorder? If so, how long did you take the drug before it started to work? I’m skeptical about SSRIs for anxiety.

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Starting Lexapro Monday after failing on several antidepressants due to side effects. Looking for success stories.

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Profile picture for mlpbob @mlpbob

Starting Lexapro Monday after failing on several antidepressants due to side effects. Looking for success stories.

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@mipbob
I had to look up the generic for Lexapro. It is escitalopram. I take this medication since 2015. It worked wonders for me. I had developed PTSD anxiety/panic disorder or past Vietnam Service, Police Officer, and then 5 shocks of ICD over just several hours.

I saw a pyschiatric specialist at Mayo and went through a loto of tests. The pyschiatric medication specialist worked with my other care givers and prescribed escitalopram. It really helped lesson my depression over the episodes and slowy came out of not going into public at all.

I don't recall any side affects other than positive ones. I have read on MCC others that have though. I do know I recently was under tremendous stress over my wife's medical condition and my Mayo psychiatric specialist suggested rasing my dosage from 10 mg to 15 mg per day. I said let me try to work out of it with my exercise program and get back to you. I was able to not go on it and I think the medication itself allow that and the positive feeling you get to overcome.

I have heart failure and have a ICD/Pacemaker and the Lexapro does have an impact on certain electrical waves in heart. This is where pyschiatric worked with other providers where it was deemed not a problem.

About a year ago I had lost a nephew, two brother in laws and a sister. I thought I would be devastated and a wreck. I was not and though really sad I was able to handle it. I talked to my psychiatric specialist about this and was told it was the escitilopram. The only negative thing I can post is I was told I would need to stay on the drug for the rest of my life.
Good luck hoped I helped.

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Profile picture for jc76 @jc76

@mipbob
I had to look up the generic for Lexapro. It is escitalopram. I take this medication since 2015. It worked wonders for me. I had developed PTSD anxiety/panic disorder or past Vietnam Service, Police Officer, and then 5 shocks of ICD over just several hours.

I saw a pyschiatric specialist at Mayo and went through a loto of tests. The pyschiatric medication specialist worked with my other care givers and prescribed escitalopram. It really helped lesson my depression over the episodes and slowy came out of not going into public at all.

I don't recall any side affects other than positive ones. I have read on MCC others that have though. I do know I recently was under tremendous stress over my wife's medical condition and my Mayo psychiatric specialist suggested rasing my dosage from 10 mg to 15 mg per day. I said let me try to work out of it with my exercise program and get back to you. I was able to not go on it and I think the medication itself allow that and the positive feeling you get to overcome.

I have heart failure and have a ICD/Pacemaker and the Lexapro does have an impact on certain electrical waves in heart. This is where pyschiatric worked with other providers where it was deemed not a problem.

About a year ago I had lost a nephew, two brother in laws and a sister. I thought I would be devastated and a wreck. I was not and though really sad I was able to handle it. I talked to my psychiatric specialist about this and was told it was the escitilopram. The only negative thing I can post is I was told I would need to stay on the drug for the rest of my life.
Good luck hoped I helped.

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Thank you so much for your response.
I’m sorry for all you have gone through! I’m so happy Lexapro has worked for you! I am hopeful!

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Profile picture for mlpbob @mlpbob

Starting Lexapro Monday after failing on several antidepressants due to side effects. Looking for success stories.

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Lexapro has been a great addition for me and was prescribed after my terminal cancer diagnosis almost 4 years ago. I am very careful about adding meds, but this is one of the few anti depression meds that is not addictive! I started on 5mg and now take 10mg per day. I take it every am. It has made my days so much easier. I would recommend it!

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Profile picture for dbamos1945 @dbamos1945

Lexapro has been a great addition for me and was prescribed after my terminal cancer diagnosis almost 4 years ago. I am very careful about adding meds, but this is one of the few anti depression meds that is not addictive! I started on 5mg and now take 10mg per day. I take it every am. It has made my days so much easier. I would recommend it!

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Thank you so much!!!!!

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Profile picture for mlpbob @mlpbob

Starting Lexapro Monday after failing on several antidepressants due to side effects. Looking for success stories.

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I took 5 mg Lexapro for years and about a year ago, upped it to 10mg. No side effects here. Good luck.

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Profile picture for hopenr @hopenr

I took 5 mg Lexapro for years and about a year ago, upped it to 10mg. No side effects here. Good luck.

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Thank you so much!

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