Need medication but scared to take it.

[Cher1]

Hi everyone. My Dr has prescribed me medication for my anxiety and depression. I've had the Escitalopram (lexapro) 10mg for two weeks now and still haven't started it out of fear of side effects. Just wondering if anyone has taken this before and your experiences. I know everyone is different and may not have the same experience but I just need some opinions. I don't know what I should do.

[maggie91]

Everyone is different so you may not have side effects. Even if you do, you know they will go away when your body adjusts to the meds. What is worse, side effects for few weeks and then feeling better or no meds and feeling bad all the time. You may be lucky and have no side effects or mild side effects. Don't over think this and don't Google. Let your body be the judge. Good luck. God bless

[LaceyTiel]

Hi Cher, I am taking lexapro . My doctor started me on 10mg and just increased it to 25mg on Thurrsday. The tough thing about side effects is what I might have and you may have might be totally different just because people have different physiologies. When I first took Lexapro I felt dizzy if I stood up too quickly but that went away after about a week. Another tough thing is it takes a fairly long time to find out if the medication is working for you. You likely won't notice any results of feeling better before the third week.

I really feel for you in your situation. I have been there myself. Afraid of side effects and also just afraid of being a person on medication. That social stigma that really is just that. I remember my life before medication and I see my life now. And for me medication helped me a lot. My job and my relationship with my partner are also better for me taking care of my health. But even tonight I was thinking of what side effects the increase of 10mg to 25mg of Lexpro might cause. So I do understand!

I also am on two other medications on top of that. And when I was given the Lexpro the doctor and pharmacist told me 10mg was a very low dose. Just enough to see if it would work okay for me. And then after evaluating me again the doctor decided to increase it.

My opinion is to do whatever makes you feel comfortable. You could go back to your doctor or ring your pharmacy and tell them how you are feeling. People with anxiety or without anxiety will be a bit nervous trying new medications. I just wrote a post last week on here about how my doctor increased my medications and I was nervous about it and asked for others help and opinions too. So you definately are on the right track of trying to figure out what is best for you. The 10mg is a very low dose because my doctor and pharmacy both told me that when I was first prescribed it. Do you think you'll try it and see if it helps you?

Any questions at all I would be happy to answer here or in a Private Message if you have a question that you are shy about asking. With my own illness and medications I find it so helpful to be open and talk about things with others in the same boat