Lexapro? Pros and cons, please.

@etedesco07 - welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm sorry your first several days on escitalopram (Lexapro) have produced side effects you don't feel you can handle.

What side effects have you experienced so far? How long did the doctor and/or the pharmacist indicate it would take for your body to adjust to this medication and level out?

@lisalucier extreme weakness, nausea, anxiety, sweaty hands. My dr. said it should be better after 2 weeks. Instead, it got worse, so I have decided to come off of it by going to 5mg a day. I started that last night.
My dr. is not returning my calls and I am searching for another to find out how to proceed. How long will I have to be on 5mg? Any advice you can give me will be greatly appreciated.
Esther Tedesco

@etedesco07 - I'm sorry to hear your doctor is not returning your calls.

Since this is a lay person support community, I'm tagging other members in this discussion who may have had experiences with escitalopram (Lexapro).

Hoping they can share how it's gone for them, any side effects they dealt with while their dosage was increased, and if they had to go back off the medication, how their doctor had them do that. Please meet @cooper1990 @jc76 @lonestarinitaly @mullejo and others here who may have some thoughts for you.

Have you gotten to check with your pharmacist who filled the prescription about any input on the effects you've been experiencing and anything they might suggest? If so, what did they say?

@etedesco07
I see the moderator has asked those with experience with this drug to help. Be glad to.

First in any medical treatment if you doctors do not get back to you or do not provide you with the care you need, suggest you go to another.

Escitalopram is most of the time given for depression and anxiety. I have been on 10 mg for over 10 years. I have not had any side affects you mentioned. Having said that we are all individuals and how someone reacts to a drug another will not.

I was put on escitalopram back in 2105. I had 5 shocks of ICD and developed PTSD, anxiety/panic disorder. I went to Mayo Jacksonville Psychiatric Department and took a test for PTSD. I scored at the top and the medical specialist at psychiatry department put me on Escitalopram and have been on it since.

I did lose a family member several years ago and was able to handle. But in January 2026 lost my PTSD service dog suddenly and went into depression. Psychiatry wanted to up my escitalopram but I said let me try to get back to exercising and see if I get better. I did.

I was told my escitalopram would be a life long drug. Honestly there are a lot of medications to help with depression and anxiety and your doctors should be trying to find one that you tolerate and helps.

Are you close to any major medical institutions like Mayo, Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, etc. If so try to get a referral there even if you have to drive. Before I moved to the Jacksonville area I drove for 9 years to/from Mayo Clinic which was a 3 hour trip one way.

I now live in area and my commute is 25 minutes. Let me know if can help but you need to have quality medical and mental health care.

@etedesco07 what are your side effects? I just started taking it about 1 month or so ago and have not had any real problems although it's only 5 mg, which seems to have quit working some and I probably will have to go to 10 mg thank you. Good luck

@lisalucier
My doctor finally got back to me and said I could just stop taking Lexapro. Today’s my first day without it I still feel very weak and nauseous, but it’s early in the day. How long do these symptoms usually take to go away when off of the drug?

@etedesco07
I was placed on Lexapro and was on it for several months. I was also coming off of Paxil. I stopped Paxil and it was frightening, Lexapro. I could not handle the anxiety and it was overactive for me. I really got scared feeling my body could not handle it. I tapered off with the help of my psychiatrist and am back on Paxil which worked for me in the past. They call a clean antidepressant, I call it very scary.
Mjdennis

@etedesco07 I cannot handle Lexapro ! Listen to your body Z
I’m back on Paxil that worked for me many Years. GOODLUCK
Mjdennis

@lisalucier l
A Dr of Pharmacy is an excellent idea. I myself use them often. They are helpful.
Mjdennis