Escitalopram side effects? : started 5mg... - Anxiety Support

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Escitalopram side effects?

Boubou64 profile image
10 Replies

started 5mg Escitalopram yesterday. I've never been on meds before. I've tried Therapy for a year, meditation and yoga but anxiety and panic attack out of control when I don't have control of certain aspects of my life.

I was really worried about side effects. Supposed to be taking 5mg for three days and increase to 10mg. Day 2 and no side effects yet. When do people feel side effects? I don't want them but want to know what other's experiences where. Especially good ones.

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Boubou64 profile image
Boubou64
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10 Replies
JAYnLA profile image
JAYnLA

I'm glad that you've decided to try medication. It took me a long time to make this decision - I'm using Zoloft. There were some side effects in the first few weeks but they were manageable through the help of my psych doc. When the anxiety takes over our lives I think trying medication is a smart move.

Boubou64 profile image
Boubou64 in reply to JAYnLA

thanks, it was a huge decision. Actually, all decisions are hard to make. This one especially.

Day two, not sure I have any side effects, maybe mild nausea like I would feel if I haven't eaten yet in the morning and it's noon so it's very mild.

Do side effects get worse as time goes by?

JAYnLA profile image
JAYnLA in reply to Boubou64

Everyone seriously has their own experience - I can't guess what yours will be. Often, some side effects pop up around the beginning and after dose adjustments. A little nausea is a normal side effect. Just take it one day at a time and if anything gets too uncomfortable let your doc know right away.

valachia-t profile image
valachia-t

Hi B.......64, from my understanding, side effects happens closely in a day are two after taking the meds. Stop worrying, especially if you have made it this far without having any side effects. I take escitalopram also, and I been taking it for 5 years now. I was told Escitalopram is highly know to make you have low sex drive, not that I do have. I dont know if its the Escitalopram, my age, my illness, are just me. Other wise, I am doing ok with it. I am the kid if person that hates taking meds too. You will be fine.

Boubou64 profile image
Boubou64 in reply to valachia-t

Great! I think I’ll be ok. Today was a great day! No anxiety and I felt better and sociable. Thanks for the reply and reassurance.

sandizuck profile image
sandizuck

Hi. I started with 10mg and went to 20 after a week. Ive been on it for a month now. The first 2 weeks, i had waves of nausea and feeling weird but it passed in 5 minutes. It took 3 weeks for my body to fully adjust. My eye sight is a little blurry and i have vivid dreams. Sometimes i can feel my heartbeat race but i take a chip of xanax and it slows down. It used to race before meds when i got anxious....now with this medication, i am anxiety free. Hope this helps👍😀

Boubou64 profile image
Boubou64

Had a little anxiety this morning 30 min after 5mg (day 3). I was overthink while walking. Trying too hard to be in the moment. It passed. Thanks for reply it helps alleviate my anxiety about medication.

4fishylady profile image
4fishylady

I have been on Lexapro 2 times now, and never had any side effects from it when going onto it. When I was extremely depressed, it did take 3 weeks for it to take full effect, in that time I was able to add some Xanax to tide me over. When I decided to come off of it, I did that slowly, breaking the pill into half for a while, then quarters for a while. When I completely stopped, there was little to no side effects, except I may have teared up a little more easily for a few days. If I had to go on something again, this would be my choice antidepressant, since it causes few problems for me.

Boubou64 profile image
Boubou64

well, into day 3 and no negative side effects yet.

I have IBS as well as C-PTSD and Major Depressive disorder which I've been using medical cannabis to alleviate symptoms but that wasn't enough for anxiety/panic attacks that just returned full fledged after totalling our car. I didn't use cannabis for two days to make sure I knew how Escitalopram was affecting me. That's (stools) have been a positive change so far.

I found myself cleaning the house and cooking and being happy today, I haven't felt that way in over 2 years. It's really great to have this energy.

I find myself so much more forgiving to noise, chaos, or anything around me.

Tomorrow going up to 10 mg, nervous again about this but will follow Dr's orders.

I started 10 days ago and started getting some side-effects after 4 days. Yawning excessively and feeling out of it. Yawning now gone but still feeling a bit drowsy/weird, especially in the morning a couple of hours after taking. Starting on 5mgs and going onto 10 mgs after 2 weeks. Some people don’t seem to get any side effects. But I’m sticking with it, certainly until I review with doc in a few weeks. Good luck!

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