Lexapro? Pros and cons, please.

@frouke thank you. I really appreciate the response.
Most of my reactions are in the morning so I’m feeling better now.

It helped from the first dose ! Low dose. Amazing ! Wonderful improvement !

I am on buspirone and Lexapro since Covid for Anxiety and some depression.5 mg, Lexapro (10 made me sick)
On 12and1/2 Buspirone from5 start. Still experimenting with dosage for anxiety.
I'm real sensitive to meds so there are side effects.

@dederickve Happy for you! Unless I get lucky in 2 weeks, I'll have to taper off it because it's not working for me.

Hi @mullejo - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I moved your post here so that you could chat with others already discussing escitalopram (Lexapro):

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

Hoping that members here such as @cooper1990 @njed @gzzer and others in this discussion will have some thoughts for you as far as how long you can expect to deal with side effects as you are starting the escitalopram. They can also tell you if they have had similar side effects before, such as feeling like they are in a fog, low grade headache, nausea. anxiety and poor sleep. Glad to see you've already connected with @frouke @dederickve @djg3012 @meingan.

I have not taken this medication for anxiety. I have taken fluoxetine (Prozac). But I have found and been counselled by a pharmacist that for anxiety and depression medications you have to be very patient and deal with potential side effects for a while till your body levels out and you can get to see the medication's maximum effectiveness. For bupropion (Wellbutrin), I had this bumpy kind of ride emotionally for more than a couple of months, but it ended up being a good antidepressant for me that I've taken for probably 15 years.

How did your sleep go last night, mullejo?

@mullejo Hi I started 5mg Lexapro 3 weeks ago. Most physical side effects have resolved, however my anxiety is still intense, sleeplessness and Tinitus. Not fun. I am hoping for anxiety relief soon.
Hope you are feeling a bit of relief soon! Reach out anytime you want to chat.

@cooper1990
Thanks for the feedback. I’m 10 days in on 5 mg and the symptoms are slowly getting better, but not quite yet.
Is there a time you recall that the physical symptoms went away? Mine are worse in the morning. I take my medication in the morning.

I’m 20 days into taking generic Lexapro and still wake up feeling nauseous. On 5 mg. Please tell me this will go away soon.

@mullejo, You mentioned that your symptoms are in the morning, this is probably because that’s when you take your medicine, it’s withdrawal you’re feeling due to the medication getting low in your system.

I’m taking my dose in the evening. Does this make a difference? Usually the nausea gets better by mid-afternoon but the mornings are bummers. I’m also dizzy in the morning. I just need someone to assure me that this is normal as I ramp up my resistance. Hopefully this doesn’t last as long as I take the drug.