1. < Depression & Anxiety
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Lexapro? Pros and cons, please.

Posted by lonestarinitaly @lonestarinitaly, Mar 5, 2024

Need feedback on pros and cons of Lexapro antidepressant.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Depression & Anxiety Support Group.

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meingan | @meingan | May 12 11:34am
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi @cooper1990 - glad you're here at Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your post to this..." + (show)
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Hi @cooper1990 - glad you're here at Mayo Clinic Connect.

I moved your post to this discussion where others are discussing escitalopram (Lexapro):

- Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Anxiety https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/escitalopram-lexapro-for-anxiety/

I'm hoping members in this discussion such as @meingan @njed @dbamos1945 will offer input on whether they have been through increases of this medication before and how that went.

Are you and/or your doctor feeling like you need a higher dosage at this point, cooper1990? What have you experienced as far as your anxiety at the 5mg dose?

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@lisalucier I have been on 20mg for 9 weeks and haven’t experienced any improvement. Apparently it can take up to 12 weeks. I’m suffering terribly daily.

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cooper1990 | @cooper1990 | May 12 4:58pm
In reply to @lisalucier "Hi @cooper1990 - glad you're here at Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your post to this..." + (show)
Profile picture for Lisa Lucier, Moderator @lisalucier

Hi @cooper1990 - glad you're here at Mayo Clinic Connect.

I moved your post to this discussion where others are discussing escitalopram (Lexapro):

- Escitalopram (Lexapro) for Anxiety https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/escitalopram-lexapro-for-anxiety/

I'm hoping members in this discussion such as @meingan @njed @dbamos1945 will offer input on whether they have been through increases of this medication before and how that went.

Are you and/or your doctor feeling like you need a higher dosage at this point, cooper1990? What have you experienced as far as your anxiety at the 5mg dose?

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@lisalucier
Hello and thank-you for your response. Appears I am quite sensitive to Lexapro. At 5mg I am experiencing high anxiety, Tinitus, waking multiple times in the night with high anxiety. Not pleasant. Hoping it is transitional - adjustment phase.
Thanks for reaching out! Appreciated.

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cooper1990 | @cooper1990 | May 12 5:08pm
In reply to @meingan "@lisalucier I have been on 20mg for 9 weeks and haven’t experienced any improvement. Apparently it..." + (show)
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@lisalucier I have been on 20mg for 9 weeks and haven’t experienced any improvement. Apparently it can take up to 12 weeks. I’m suffering terribly daily.

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@lisalucier so sorry to hear this! I hope it gets better for you soon. You are getting close to 12 weeks. Reach out anytime if you want to chat or vent. Sending you a big virtual hug!

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cooper1990 | @cooper1990 | May 12 5:11pm
In reply to @njed "I have been on 10 mg per day due to unexpected death of wife as mentioned..." + (show)
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I have been on 10 mg per day due to unexpected death of wife as mentioned back in March and I am still on this dosage. At this point, no interest is discontinuing and doing OK. Ed

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@njed How long did it take for you to adapt and get past the side effects?
Thank-you so much!

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gzzer | @gzzer | May 12 5:36pm
In reply to @cooper1990 "Hi, can I increase from 5mg of Lexapro to 10 mg after 3 weeks? Will I..." + (show)
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Hi, can I increase from 5mg of Lexapro to 10 mg after 3 weeks? Will I have intense anxiety if I up the dose?
Any thoughts, suggestions most appreciated.

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@cooper1990
Lexapro is a life changer for the good...10 must for 5 years now and only wonderful!!!!!

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NJ Ed | @njed | May 12 6:53pm
In reply to @cooper1990 "@njed How long did it take for you to adapt and get past the side effects?..." + (show)
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@njed How long did it take for you to adapt and get past the side effects?
Thank-you so much!

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@cooper1990 I would say about 10 days, considering what I was going through due to her sudden death, I'd say that I likely experienced a little tiredness for about 10 to 14 days.

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cooper1990 | @cooper1990 | May 12 7:26pm
In reply to @meingan "Has anyone had good success in using escitalopram for anxiety disorder? If so, how long did..." + (show)
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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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Thank-you for your response. So sorry for your loss. Hope you are doing ok.

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cooper1990 | @cooper1990 | May 12 7:28pm
In reply to @gzzer "@cooper1990 Lexapro is a life changer for the good...10 must for 5 years now and only..." + (show)
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@cooper1990
Lexapro is a life changer for the good...10 must for 5 years now and only wonderful!!!!!

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@gzzer Thanks appreciate your quick reply,!

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mullejo | @mullejo | May 18 1:13pm
In reply to @meingan "Has anyone had good success in using escitalopram for anxiety disorder? If so, how long did..." + (show)
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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I just started Escitalopram last week and am wondering when the side effects wear off. Currently I feel like I'm in a fog, have a low grade headache and am nauseous. Plus my sleep is not great. I'm still anxious. I know that it takes time for the anxiousness to get better, but wondering when the side effects go away.

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frouke | @frouke | May 18 4:02pm
In reply to @mullejo "I just started Escitalopram last week and am wondering when the side effects wear off. Currently..." + (show)
Profile picture for mullejo @mullejo

I just started Escitalopram last week and am wondering when the side effects wear off. Currently I feel like I'm in a fog, have a low grade headache and am nauseous. Plus my sleep is not great. I'm still anxious. I know that it takes time for the anxiousness to get better, but wondering when the side effects go away.

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I’m probably not the best person for you when it comes to these medications but I do know that it can take some people up to 4-6 weeks to level out and start feeling the good benefits from it. My youngest son went on this medication years ago and it helped him a lot with anxiety and depression, in fact he still takes them.

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