@kathyoung: I was prescribed 5 mg and it helped with recurrent anxiety immediately; Dr increased it to 10mg in a couple months and I have taken this drug for a several years (since cancer diagnosis). My grandson has taken it off &on for many years - only when in very stressful situations and had no effects when he stopped each time. I researched many anti-depressants and Escitalopram was reported as being not physically addictive. My health situation hit me hard and I was feeling sad all the time - normal reaction. My PCP talked to me about this drug and its safe effectiveness. It has helped me stay positive during treatments and just everyday - my disease is terminal, but I have had good response with tumor shrinkage. Some days I forget to take it and I feel ok all day, so in my case I don’t believe it is physically addictive (but anything can be physiologically addictive).
However, upon awakening I have experienced some weird effects. Sometimes I see things that look real but after a few seconds disappear! Now that I am aware of this I just blink several times and the illusion fades away. Kathy, Everyone has different chemical make-up, so I can only report that this drug works for me with one side-effect that I am willing to handle. dbamos1945

@kathyoung
I go to Mayo Jacksonville Psychiatric Division after being diagnosed with PTSD anxiety/panic disorder in 2015.

I was put on Escitalopram 10 mg in 2015. For me it took several weeks to help but it certainly did for me. Lexapro is brand name escitalopram is generic.

When I lost my two brothers-in-laws, my sister and both my nephews all in one year I was really worried I would go into depression or suffer anxiety/panic attack. I did not. I talked to my psychiatric medication specialist I see at Mayo clinic along with consultations. She advised me I did not go into significant depression because of the escitalopram.

I am sharing my experience with the drug with you. Like any drug it may or may not work the same for you as it worked for me. Be open to waiting for your body to react to any new medication.

Thank you so much. It’s comforting to know this drug works for others. I may need to change the dosage, however, once I’m up and get on with my day I am better than I was. The thoughts when wakening were concerning me, so good to know someone has had similar experience (and I’m not going crazy) 😉. I wish I could lose the feeling of dread when I wake up, maybe in time. Thanks again

I’ve been on lexapro for many years. I was taking 40 mg for severe depression and anxiety and it worked wonderfully. This summer I had to come off of it because I wasn’t able to take pills and I actually didn’t experience any withdrawal effects. I was on it at 20 mg since August angain and it stopped working so I’m getting off at the moment.