Lexapro 5 mg

[kokkoo]

Hi guys 👋I’m on Lexapro 5mg starting today due to severe panic attacks and generalized anxiety. It’s weird but I already feel very calm and my brain used to be as ocean with crazy waves. Now it feels like a calm ocean. Very nice feeling. But it seems that I have some craving of sweets. Can someone please write about how Lexapro worked for them and what were ups or downs. It will be very helpful, many thanks and hugs 🙏

[Agora1]

Hi kokkoo, I'm on Lexapro and have found it a good med for me. I've always

craved sweets so can't really say it's because of the drug. Good Luck on it xx

[kokkoo in reply to Agora1]

Thanks for reply xx, have you experienced any side effects?

[Agora1 in reply to kokkoo]

No side effects. xx

[Mike7777]

It did not work for me, did not help anxiety gave me symptoms

[MissStruggling123]

Hi Kokkoo,

I've currently been on Lexapro for over two years for my generalized anxiety disorder. I was on Zoloft previously, but I noticed I was exhausted all of the time. Lexapro seems to work similar, but it didn't make me as tired. It's known to give people energy, but I don't see that. I haven't had any adverse side effects, but I do crave sweets often. Is that because of the drug, though? Probably not. I also noticed I was not able to take the medication at night because I wouldn't fall asleep at all! So, I did have to change that.

Now comparing Zoloft with Lexapro, I feel that they worked pretty similar, but I did notice I was MUCH less anxious with the Zoloft. But the problem with that medication was that I could sleep for seventeen hours plus in a day.

[kokkoo in reply to MissStruggling123]

Thanks for sharing! I hope it will work for you in long term. Do you plan to come out of it at all? Or you want to keep taking it?

[Lm92]

Currently on Lexapro. It's been about 4 years now. No side effects other than minor nausea when first starting. Started at 5 mg for one week, then up to 10 mg. The 10 mg dosage worked very well for me for about a year and then I went up to 12.5 mg (1 10 mg pill and 1/2 a 5mg pill). I finally had to go up to 15 mg about 6 months ago. Really, that's the only thing about it I have to complain about is having to once in a blue moon up the dosage. It's the mildest, but most effective antidepressant I've ever been on and I've been through quite a few other SSRIs (Zoloft, Celexa, Prozac, Paxil). I hope it keeps working well for you! It really is a wonderful medication for anxiety and depression.

[kokkoo in reply to Lm92]

Thanks for sharing! If you don’t mind me asking why did you switch all the other ones and how do you know that the antidepressant doesn’t work well for you? Thanks

[Lm92 in reply to kokkoo]

Paxil was the first I ever tried and it didn't help my anxiety at all. Zoloft was the 2nd and it helped right away, but for some reason it stopped working well, plus I became pregnant and my doctor and OB agreed that I should change to Celexa. I was on it for 5 years and weaned off slowly under psychiatrist supervision to see how I did. I did great with no meds for several years until my husband and I went through a rough patch and separation, and my doctor started me on Prozac which made me have suicidal thoughts (that was a first for me) and my anxiety was way worse. After that, I was put on Lexapro and have been on it ever since. It really does have everything to do with your body's chemistry.

[Momwhocooks]

Here’s a theory— when you were having severe panic and anxiety, did you lose your appetite or experience nausea? Maybe regaining an appetite brings on cravings.

This happened to me, where I went on Zoloft after 2 months of barely eating from severe anxiety symptoms, and suddenly I wanted to bake and eat sweets. I am trying to make sure I don’t give in to it too much!

[kokkoo in reply to Momwhocooks]

Yup! At some point of my panic disorder I lost all the appetite and wasn’t feeling like sting at all. I lost lots of weight which is the food part. When I was taking the medication in about 2-3 hours I would feel sudden cravings of sweets or when I’d see someone is having food I’d think of sweets. Yes, this does mean that the medication is kicking in as I read online and I’m trying my best to eat a salad or Smth like that to cover those cravings. Because lots of people say that people gain weight when on Lexapro

[Momwhocooks in reply to kokkoo]

Yeah, i think it kind of means the meds are working, as opposed to being a side effect, and we just need to take care of ourselves in other ways as well, like healthy diet and exercise.

But better to eat some sweets with cheer than eating nothing with anxiety!

[Simpsons]

Hi Kokoo. I've just been taken off Venlafaxine and put on Lexapro and the difference is amazing. I have found that occasionally I get a craving for something sweet, so its interestingly you get the same. I started on 5mg then went up to 10mg about ten days ago. I have far less anxiety and more interest in doing stuff, which is great. The only symptom I have at the moment is feeling quite tired but am sure that will get better once my body get used to it. Lexapro is my ninth antidepressant and I really feel this one is working great. As far as cravings I just don't have sweets etc at home and make sure I eat healthily. Good luck and hope all goes well for you!

[kokkoo in reply to Simpsons]

Thanks for sharing! Wow why did you change so many antidepressants if you don’t mind me asking? I am glad you finally found something that helps! I do have cravings for sweets and i try to eat something g like dry mango or lots of favorite fruits such as pineapple. It helps me to not to binge and yes the trick with not having any bad sweets at home helps.

[Simpsons in reply to kokkoo]

Hi Kokkoo. Of course I don't mind you asking☺. It was a couple of things. Firstly I seem to be very pron to quite bad side effect from antidepressant. Secondly I didn't really get the support from my GP practice which i think is vital. Finally i got to see an amazing GP who has been wonderful and really supportive. I think Lexapro is finally go to do it for me and i do hope it does the same for you! ♥

[Hidden]

Hi Kokkoo. I’m taking 10 mg of Escitalopram (Lexapro). Started on 5 mg first 2 weeks and then 10 mg which I have now been on since June. It is very early days for you so you may still get some less than great side effects (read the leaflet). I felt rotten between days 4 - 11 but you may not of course, as everyone is different. If you do feel rough, know that it won’t last. It generally takes at least 4 weeks until the changes in your brain properly kick in. It took me a good 8 weeks until I really knew it was going to be a good drug for me. It has been pretty life changing in a positive way. Feel so much more levelled out. Still myself but a calmer and happier person. I don’t perceive stopping taking them as my GAD was a long term thing and I reckon it’d come back if I stopped. I hope this is helpful. Keep me informed and best wishes😊

[kokkoo in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for sharing! How would I know that it’s working for me?

[Hidden in reply to kokkoo]

You’ll only know properly once you’re a bit further down the road. It really will be by small upticks in your calmness. Good luck and stay with it. Don’t keep thinking about taking them. If possible try to keep active and out and about so you don’t overthink how your feeling! Music helps! 😊

[Hisue]

I read a comparative study on Lexapro v other antidepressants and Lexapro is highly rated. Started it & stopped- got terrible diarrhea after each dose.

[Hidden in reply to Hisue]

Hisue. I also had this problem first few weeks but it went away. The early days’ side effects really do turn people off lexapro because you certainly can feel a lot worse than before you started initially. If it had not been for the support I got on this site, I definitely would have given up on lexapro. So glad that I pushed on through as all the negative side effects have gone. But it definitely took a good 8 weeks before I got to peak benefits. I don’t think there is enough warning given by the medical profession to prepare you for the fact that they don’t work immediately. I thought it’d be like taking an antibiotic- that I’d start getting better immediately rather than being warned that it takes time for your brain to ‘rebuild’. Best regards 😊

[kokkoo in reply to Hidden]

This is very helpful to know. How do you feel on it. Could you please write what symptoms you had before you went on it and did it help with those symptoms?

I was prescribed due to severe panic attacks and generalized anxiety and was feeling it kick in the first day. It seemed like all the thought process slowed down for me and I was abke to think clear. I felt so great, but it keeps bothering me lots of people are talking about side effects so I’m kind of expecting it to hit me too and monitoring myself and any changes in the body.

[Hidden in reply to kokkoo]

Before starting my life was pretty miserable with GAD. I woke up most mornings with a heaviness in my stomach, poor sleep, horrible nightmares and didn’t really get much pleasure out of anything. I overthought everything and always expected the worst outcomes. I now feel very good. Still myself but I’m much more relaxed version! Do be prepared for the side-effects as mine definitely kicked in the first week and lasted a couple of weeks. I couldn’t really think straight, yawning a lot and had brain-fog. Felt spaced out. I’m not saying that you will get any side-effects, some people don’t, but just know that these won’t last if you do get them. You should start feeling better and better once any side-effects (which you may or may not get) go away. You just have to give medication time to start making your brain works differently. You should read some of the reviews on the website. The negative reviews generally are because people don’t stick with Lexapro through The side-effects period. Good luck and keep me informed! 😊

[kokkoo in reply to Hidden]

Thank you so much for your reply! It is very helpful! I will keep you informed and will gladly keep in touch I’m glad Lexapro is working well for you and we seem to have pretty similar symptoms. I’m excited to see what it can do for me.

[Hisue in reply to Hidden]

TY so much for your reply. How did you manage to stay on Lexapro while experiencing terrible diarrhea as a side effect? The first few days I thought I had a stomach issue; then looked up side effects & saw diarrhea listed.

[Hidden in reply to Hisue]

Try Imodium? Sure it will pass. Just keep hydrated!😊

[Hidden in reply to Hisue]

If you follow me, I have written a few posts about my experiences which maybe will prove useful. Have a great day!

[kokkoo in reply to Hisue]

The first day I took it I had similar problem. Today is my day 3 it seems that it is much more better.

[Hidden in reply to kokkoo]

Pleased to hear that Kokkoo! This site has been a great help as definitely unexpected ups and downs when taking this medication in the early days. Stick with it! 😊

[Coralrose5]

I’ve taken it for about 7 months and I have had sweets cravings that I gave into and gained about 15lbs but when I was anxious I wasn’t eating much. It has helped my anxiety in so many ways. Things what would be devastating to me before don’t bother me as much (getting embarrassed, eating in public) and I’m much calmer and confident in myself and not worried what everyone is thinking about me like I used to be. Things roll of my back now.