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Side effects of Escitalopram (Lexapro) after initial 6-week period
Hello! I recently started treatment for anxiety and was prescribed 10 mg escitalopram (known as Lexapro, depending where you are located) for a 6-month period to start.
I adjusted to the medication pretty well and the commonly known side effects, such as difficulty concentrating, dizziness, etc. passed by around my 10th day of taking the medication. I'm about 7 weeks in now (1.5 months). Between the 2nd week to 5th week I believe I was feeling pretty good, I felt noticeably less anxious and was generally super upbeat, but the last two weeks, my head has been feeling strange, it's hard to describe. It's not quite dizziness, or vertigo, not headaches. It might be closer to a lightheaded feeling, but it isn't that either.
This is really the purpose of my post, to find out is others have experienced similar sensations after 6 weeks of taking escitalopram, and how long it lasts. The reason this has come to my attention, is because a lof of side effects are reported to subside within the first two weeks of use, which initially was the case for me, and apparently it can take between 4 to 6 weeks for patients to feel the full therapeutic effects, so I'm a bit concerned now as to why this head sensation has come on.
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I’m always having trouble with side effects when I try to start a new medication, the symptoms are sometimes the same as mentioned with the medication but then the symptoms start to change and that’s usually when I either call the pharmacy or doctor to be sure that all is well. I think that you should get another opinion to make sure that your symptoms are normal, it really doesn’t sound to me like you have a problem but I’m not a doctor and I always believe in the saying, if in doubt check it out, best wishes.
@brimc1
I experienced similar symptoms and they were due to lower sodium levels in my blood.
My personal doctor initially didn’t think that it was possible, because - as in your case - the effects appeared later than expected, but the blood test results convinced him.
After I weaned off the medicine, I felt normal again.
By the way, I read about the possible effects of Lexapro on sodium in the blood, in the information leaflet that was given by the pharmacy. So it’s not something obscure.
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4 ReactionsProb brain fog.
I had the same exact feeling with nausea, constipation and feeling like a "zombie" with increased depression glued to my sofa total loss of "willingness or interest, loss of enthusiasm" more like a vegetable state of being. I am not sure if I trust any drug that could repair depression nor anxiety and regret starting on Wellbutrin although wellbutrin or Buproprion never created any of these discomfort. However after taking Buproprion for 10 + years and finding myself at difficult times living with anxiety dosage was increased to 450mg. With my HMO i could not find any doctor to work with to lower this dosage until now. So my Buproprion was decreased to 300mg with a prescription of Lexapro escitalopram 10mg. resulting in no energy and the helplessness feeling not wanting to do anything, loss of enthusiasm and lack of focus, mental sharpness with the other discomforts such as constipation nausea is what I am encountering...I am hoping this will not last since I need help to accomplish real changes in my life not face more obstacles...
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1 ReactionI had a really tough time with Lexapro and couldn't get past two weeks, too many side effects and two more weeks of withdrawal. I went on Paxil afterwards only to go through more problems, I really just wanted to feel better from anxiety and depression but I can't get through the rough beginning to hopefully start feeling better. I have read many times that my situation isn't so unique but we're all different and what works for one doesn't always help someone else, I hope to get through the ups and downs without medication although I still take Ativan. I hope that you get help with the Lexapro, perhaps you might need to add something else or try another medication.
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1 ReactionI started Lexapro and my anxiety went through the roof. I could not tolerate it and Benczos did not really alleviate the anxiety feeling which kept me in hiding. I could not sleep . I’m restating Paxil and am hopeful it works as I was on it for many years. I want my life back. It was fight or flight. My body could not handle that drug. For me it was a nightmare.
Mary Jean Dennis
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1 ReactionI believe restructuring our lives doing our best to have more positive control is the best. the drug industry sure would rather keep the business going. Each individual case has always an underlying cause for being anxious mine could be different than another and our body also reacts different. For sure not depending on any form of drug/meds is best.