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Anxiety

Craftykat profile image
19 Replies

I want to get a better understanding of anxiety and taking lexapro 10mg.

What are you're thoughts?

How do you deal with anxiety?

When taking lexapro does all the symptoms go away (heart palpitations,nausea, and etc) ?

I would love the feedback :)

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Craftykat profile image
Craftykat
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19 Replies
Tetelatia profile image
Tetelatia

Hey I take lexapro 20mgs. 0.25 is probably not enough. Talk to your Doctor about increasing dosage. It helped me when I first started taking it years ago, but now I'm trying medical marijuana to help with the lexapro. If you just started taking lexapro it will probably help you if your Doctor increases the dose

Craftykat profile image
Craftykat in reply toTetelatia

I meant to put 10mg of lexapro, i havent took them cause im scared of how it would change my body and mind so i take valium as needed but the symptoms always seem to come back once the pill is done so ive been thinking of taking the lexapro but im not sure im in the beginning stages of anxiety i seem to have have this sensation in my heart in the a.m and p.m where its fluttering (what I believe) and that's what bothers me the most idk if it is cause of my anxiety or something else..

Thank you for replying:)

Tetelatia profile image
Tetelatia in reply toCraftykat

My advice take your lexapro and take the valium when needed. One thing, know that lexapro takes 3-5 weeks to kick in so don't get discouraged.

Agora1 profile image
Agora1

Hi Crafykat, that dose of 0.25mg sounds more like a Xanax dosage which I had been

on for many years. I was later switched to 15mg Lexapro and more recently upped

to 20. Lexapro handles anxiety quite well along with using other tools. I use

meditation and deep breathing. Imagery, Visualization, Mindfulness, Self Hypnosis

and on and on. Anything and everything that will work for you is a benefit to the

medication you take.

Getting relief is all about trial and error in finding the right med, the right dose and

the right time of day to take it. Wishing you my best. :) xx

Craftykat profile image
Craftykat in reply toAgora1

I meant to put 10mg

How was it when you first got on lexapro?

Were you sick or didn't have any side effects?

Did you feel better?

Did all you're symptoms go away and made you feel like you again?

I feel like i have mild anxiety when i worry or overthink

Thanks for replying

Agora1 profile image
Agora1 in reply toCraftykat

Hi Crafykat, I did start on 10mg as well. I don't remember any disturbing

side effects at the time other than my anxiety which started to come down

after being upped to 15mg. It took about 6-8 weeks. From the start it felt

good to feel like myself once more. It wasn't long after that that I weaned

off benzos and Lexapro alone has carried me. For me it's been a good med

for the last 7 years. I wish you the same. :) xx

Tetelatia profile image
Tetelatia in reply toCraftykat

No sickness and yes I felt better for years however after many years lexapro wasn't as effective as it was when I first started. Sometimes change of meds or adding something on should help

Strong42 profile image
Strong42

Yes I take 20 mg. Not trying to shoot you down but that probably will not help with all of your symptoms

Craftykat profile image
Craftykat in reply toStrong42

Sorry meant to put 10mg

Im on valium "as needed"

How was you're experiencing with lexapro when you first started?

How did it make you feel?

Are you happy with the results with lexapro?

Thanks for replying:)

Scootersdad profile image
Scootersdad

Hello. I have suffered with anxiety for decades. Finally, Xanax took care of it, until the Xanax my body needed and wanted...more and more...more and more often, started mimicking the symptoms of the anxiety. A terrible roller coaster. Finally, my Dr. And I weaned me off of xanax, and started me on .25mg lexapro/day, and CBT therapy, as well as exercise daily. I am currently xanax free, and anxiety free..I even go to sleep without aids. First time in 20 years. I just fall asleep. Good luck to you. This is not easy. BTW..I also stopped being silent about it. I opened the closet and turned on the light.

Craftykat profile image
Craftykat in reply toScootersdad

Wow,congratulation! I hope one day i will be anxiety free

But im just in the beginning stages i know it's going to be a battle but im ready to be who i always meant to be.

I'm thinking going to therapy will help as well.

But im just kind of like hmm idk about lexapro then my body will be dependent on it if i go for a long period of time then weaning off of it (thinking ill get side effects)

I've gone to two doctors and they say lexapro is what i need but i feel that's not what i need maybe it just me saying it but my body needs it .

But I'm on valium as needed right now and it reliefs me for a bit then couple hours later the symptoms come back or later in the day.

Thanks for replying :)

rebecca3455 profile image
rebecca3455

I have never heard of .25 of lexapro. Usually start with 5mg and titrate up depending on response. Lexapro is great for anxiety. The only issue I had on it was insomnia so I took in morning instead. Hope this helps

Craftykat profile image
Craftykat in reply torebecca3455

Sorry meant to put 10mg,

I heard to take it after breakfast

How long have you been on lexapro,how was it for you when you started out?

Did it help you with all the symptoms anxiety come with?

Thanks for replying:)

Sad2Bme profile image
Sad2Bme

Lexapro is an anti-depressant. For anxiety, you need an anti-anxiety med. Don't listen to any doctor who tells you otherwise. All benzo's are NOT bad, as they would want you to believe..Xanax is actually the only one I wouldn't recommend. Clonazapam has always been non-addictive for me because I take "as-needed."Keeps me from having a panic attack when I feel one coming on. Lexapro didn't help my depression, either.

Craftykat profile image
Craftykat in reply toSad2Bme

I take valium "as needed"when i feel my anxiety is getting really bad but i feel my heart flutters everyday in the a.m and p.m idk if that is just anxiety or something else.

I was told by two doctors to take lexapro but im just not sure i want to go that route.i feel I just need more insight or a better doctor that will understand me.i don't feel depressed I feel like events in my life cause me to have anxiety and im just trying to move pass this and get back to my self.

They give me xanax as needed as well but I didn't take it so they give me valium

How has you're experience been with anxiety?

Thanks for replying:)

I want to get a better understanding of anxiety and taking Lexapro 0.25mg.

*This dose is probably for something else. I am just starting Lexapro myself and I broke my medication into 2.5 mg doses to work up towards 10 mg (10 to 20 mg is fairly normal). Technically speaking, Lexapro is an antidepressant but it can be used for anxiety as both are blamed on chemical imbalances in your brain. The thought is the medication corrects this imbalance. As others mention, anti-anxiety medication is available such as Buspar. Benzos (Xanax, Ativan, Klonpin, Valium, and more) are quicker medications usually given to help qualm anxiety until the long-term medication works. For some of us, we need both. All up to your doctor for the best route for treatment.

What are you're thoughts?

* I have taken Lexapro before. The first, I didn't like the male side effects. But...this is most SSRI/SNRI antidepressants. They usually cause most of the same ones: dizziness, insomnia, tiredness, sexual side effects - libido and more, weight gain or loss. Most or some of these go away with prolonged use. The second time, I blame less on Lexapro, but I was on other medications that in combination made the side effects worse. I am on Day 3 of starting out on a very low dose (2.5 mg...moving 2.5 mg a week until I hit 10), I haven't had the same problems that I did before.

How do you deal with anxiety?

* Tons and tons of different ways. CBT via a therapist is popular because it involves no medication and it's about confronting what makes you anxious and why....and then using exposure to see that there isn't a danger. It's working through and for the deep down answers. I'd suggest this alongside a good medication. I've used bi-lateral stimulation apps, a lot of mindfulness/meditation/breathing exercise apps (the breathing used in all can help your body naturally calm down from the hormones released that amp up anxiety), acupuncture, and even music. One of the biggest things I've gotten out of it is this...stop resisting your anxiety attacks. Resisting is what makes them feel so horrendous. Allow them to come and go and be mindful and kind to yourself during. The second is to be willing to be comfortable while feeling uncomfortable. It's a mindfulness practice that allows you to be easier on yourself while dealing with these uncomfortable feelings. There are a lot of options out there, but if you're able to supply your anxiety tool box with solutions like this, you will be super prepared for when it hits.

When taking lexapro does all the symptoms go away (heart palpitations,nausea, and etc) ?

*Maybe....some of these are also side effects of the medication....and they may also go away. In terms of anxiety, again, that's a maybe. This medication isn't going to alleviate everything. I think it will make you more functional. Maybe the palpitations are easier to deal with and you're able to calm yourself down. Or they could absolutely go away. We all respond to medication differently. I will say overall, it should make living with anxiety a lot better which then makes those symptoms less prominent or problematic. But, it also helps to practice other things that lessen anxiety naturally alongside.

Hope this all helped and I will say it's worth giving it a try. Some people are better on different medications than other people. This is to say if Lexapro doesn't improve your situation, it doesn't mean all medications in the class won't work. Keep trying, don't give up, and allow yourself kindness and patience while you work on it. It's definitely a marathon instead of a sprint. I wish you the best and hope all is well.

LetgoLetGod profile image
LetgoLetGod

Hi craftykat , I am going through exactly what you’re going through with palpitations. I am currently on lexapro 10mg and the side effects I have are headache, muscle stiffness, shaking, heart palpitations, sweating, and insomnia I have been on this for a week now. Others haven’t experienced the side effects I have however, each person is different. Wishing you the best with this and I’m always here if you need someone to talk to

LetgoLetGod profile image
LetgoLetGod

I actually have an appointment with the cardiologist this week to make sure everything is fine as well. Honestly, I take it day by day and I am meditating now and stretches

LetgoLetGod profile image
LetgoLetGod

Thank you ; I sent you a private message

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