Lexapro 30 mg , but still having anxi... - Anxiety and Depre...

Anxiety and Depression Support

87,587 members • 82,269 posts

Lexapro 30 mg , but still having anxiety / panic

foxglove_pnw profile image
•25 Replies

Hi everyone !! 😉

I have a question , I have been on Lexapro since the second week of January and my anxiety and panic attacks are still very present !

I tried Zoloft at last November because I was having the same problem with Lexapro but Zoloft ended up not working out for me !

I started taking Lexapro almost 8 years ago but last year my panic attacks and anxiety came back !

Anyone has had a similar situation ?

Written by
foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
25 Replies
•
crazychkinwa59 profile image
crazychkinwa59

Lexapro made me feel like the walking DEAD! Went back old school to fluoxetine 60 mg. Make sure you get a pharmacy that carries the correct drug manufacturer as THIS does Matter! best luck to you. jewels

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to crazychkinwa59

That is old school but I know it works ! Thanks ;)

Timmypliskin profile image
Timmypliskin in reply to foxglove_pnw

So you have had good luck with Prozac? I've tried several ssri s and have only felt worse...

Thanks and have a good day.

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to Timmypliskin

I tried Prozac for only a few months 18 years ago and it was irked great !

Timmypliskin profile image
Timmypliskin in reply to crazychkinwa59

Is there really that much difference in ssri meds? I've tried several ssri s and have only felt worse...

Thanks for your time.

AntiSocialSocialClub profile image
AntiSocialSocialClub in reply to Timmypliskin

I'm on Prozac for anxiety and depression. I think it helps but it's not like I feel suddenly ten times better. It's like on bad days it keeps me in line. I guess it works differently on everyone though. I hope you find something.

3wooddriver profile image
3wooddriver

Hi there,

Im in a similar situation. Have tried several SSRIs and none went well. Either they werent effective or the side effects were unbearable. Im on Cymbalta now and its ok. I think the only thing that really helps me are Ativan or Klonopin, that I take as needed...which is too often!

Good luck and hang in there!

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to 3wooddriver

Thanks !!!

Hey there! Well, I have some good and bad news. The good news is it's absolutely normal for the medication not to work for you personally. The bad news, and what doctors and pharma companies won't tell you is SSRIs are only about 33% effective. This is right up there with the effectiveness level of placebo sugar pills. While they may work, you might be in the other portion that it just doesn't work on. Keep in mind the whole idea of SSRI medicines is to balance the imbalance in your head to normalize brain function (anxiety, panic, depression). The problem with that theory is....there is no way to know what chemical you are deficient or have too much of to "balance" you without cracking your head open to find out. So, yep, it's absolutely normal and I think it drives doctors bonkers when we all don't miraculously recover while on [insert med here].

But let's focus on the positives...there are medicines that work. The problem is most of them are older and thus cheaper since a specific company no longer owns the patent to be the only distributor. Medicines like trazodone, hydroxyzine HCl/pamoate, benzos (which we need to tread carefully with) and many other classes show better or more promise. One of the most important things a psychiatrist said to me was that CBT as a therapy done properly by a therapist/psychologist was JUST AS IF NOT MORE effective as medications. The problem is many doctors believe they need to go up and down the entire ladder of SSRI/SNRI medications like a shotgun bullet....hoping one BB lands and works. Some will even try to combo things like Prozac and Cymbalta to use synergy or as a boost. All told, I have never truly felt much or anything on most. The things that told me they were working were things I didn't want: weight gain, lethargy, and erectile dysfunction. As if we weren't feeling bad already....here's some more fun stuff, ya know?

I recently had a post about a supplement recommended to me by my acupuncturist who is by no means a medical doctor, but she recommended Min-Chex. If you look at the active ingredients, the main one is iodine. It turns out iodine has a lot to do with brain function. The problem with it and having too much of it is hyperthyroidism. I'm waiting to hear back from my doctor before proceeding, but it sounded like the iodine promised much of the same things SSRIs do.....except without all the side stuff....and the fact that it's a natural thing our body needs. I'll let you know if I get the okay to use it and if it improves me. It's available on Amazon and the reviews seem promising, but I take them with a grain of salt (with iodine, I suppose ;) ).

guynfl2chat profile image
guynfl2chat

SSRIs , in my experience, do not work for my anxiety. They just seem to make me numb to the reality around me and sometimes make the anxiety even worse. I have tried Zoloft and Prozac. I now just take a xanax as needed. My therapist agrees with me that SSRIs are not going to help me. I wish you luck in finding something that will work for your symptoms. Dont give up as you might find the right rx.

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to guynfl2chat

Thanks !! I haven’t tried Xanax but I sometimes take Lorazepam ! I just don’t like the feeling of it ! I feel too relaxed lol

gutierrezk67 profile image
gutierrezk67

Yes I have tried those as well and have had anxiety attacks in the first couple of days taking them. The only thing I take is xanax. That's the only thing that has worked for me.

Wayne15 profile image
Wayne15 in reply to gutierrezk67

I also found Xanax is the only drug that works. Unfortunately The d.e.a. has made getting Xanax almost impossible.have you had trouble getting it?

DaisyDexterMom profile image
DaisyDexterMom

I used to take only Lexapro for years, but then it lost a lot of its effectiveness. Now I am on Lexapro, Wellbutrin and Latuda. It took quite the journey to find the right combination that worked best for me, but I am lucky that I have a psychiatrist who refused to give up!

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to DaisyDexterMom

Thanks ! I feel like my Lexapro has lost a lot of its effectiveness! I have been on and off for 8 years

DaisyDexterMom profile image
DaisyDexterMom in reply to foxglove_pnw

Just don't give up. Even if it takes a while ok?

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to DaisyDexterMom

I am not ! Thank you 😊

Coralrose5 profile image
Coralrose5 in reply to foxglove_pnw

How is it working now? I’m on Lexapro for a little over a month.

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to Coralrose5

I am still on 30 mg !!! I am doing good . Ups and downs but I am happy that I got back on Lexapro .

I have no side effects and I know it works with my body !!. I don’t think there is a “ perfect medication “ !!

I added other things to my life : yoga , weekly support group , weekly meeting with a Christian mentor and I just found out I have sleep apnea ( even though I am not a middle age man With a beer belly ). My energy has increased 100% since using the CPAp !!! I am hoping it will help with my anxiety . I still want to try CBT since I have some OCD and health anxiety .

How are you doing on Lexapro ? Is this your first time taking medication? What is your dosage ?

Coralrose5 profile image
Coralrose5 in reply to foxglove_pnw

Yes it’s my first time taking medication. I’m on 10mg I just increased from 7.5 (one week) and 5 (1 month). I am also doing cbt in group therapy 2x a week it’s more of a class learning coping skills. It’s helping me so far! I feel happier and more calm than I have in months even today I was a homebody and I was ok with it. I’m able to think through problems better. I’m also doing physical exercise 3x a week, gratitude journaling and I’ve started cooking again which I never enjoyed much but now appreciate it because it gives me something to do.

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to Coralrose5

You are doing amazing !!! Love everything you are doing ! It is great that 10 mg is working for you 😊

I also found CBT in group by my house but I haven’t try it yet !

Yoga was never a thing for me but it has been amazing ! I used to Zumba a lot but I started having panic attacks when my heart rate went up . As our mood gets better we find new fun things to do 😉

Coralrose5 profile image
Coralrose5 in reply to foxglove_pnw

Thank you! I’m excited for you to try out cbt it’s going to help so much. At first you might be resistant but once you start the journaling and work you’ll realize how much control you have!

jocie609 profile image
jocie609 in reply to foxglove_pnw

Thank you so much. I have sleep apnea too and getting rest does make you feel better however I have to ask my therapist to really help me work on some CBT strategies.

Tetelatia profile image
Tetelatia

Yes I take 20mgs of lexapro and been taking it for years. It doesn't work like it did at first. I'm presently trying Medical Marijuana. I have a Card. It has been helping taking the edge off. You don't have to smoke. You can get gummies which seem to help me. I so relate to your situation.

foxglove_pnw profile image
foxglove_pnw in reply to Tetelatia

Thanks, did your psychiatrist approve Lexapro with medical marijuana ?

You may also like...

Lexapro 5 mg

guys 👋I’m on Lexapro 5mg starting today due to severe panic attacks and generalized anxiety. It’s...

Anxiety and Panic - What are some coping mechanisms

Now suffering massive anxiety and panic attacks, taking Xanax and Lexapro, but literally going out...

Anxiety and Panic Disorder

Hello! My experience with panic/anxiety started 3 years ago and caught me off guard as I had no idea

Lexapro and anxiety

did the side effect last. I took lexapro for 13 years before I went off last year but decided to go...

Severe anxiety ,panic attacks and social anxiety

Hello everyone ive been having the worst summer ever. My anxiety is through the roof , i can barely...