I’m on 5 mgs taking in the morning, supposed to increase to 10 mgs in 3 days. Diagnosed with GAD. Not sure how I’m feeling is still side-effects or whether this is how the drugs will always make me feel! I would describe this as feeling lackadaisical and woolly-headed. Also mouth is dry and eyes heavy. Slept 12 hours last night - I’m taking tablet in the morning. I certainly feel chilled out but too chilled out to concentrate, brain doesn’t feel sharp. I’m keen to know if I’m still in the side-effect stage and if anyone else had this sort of start and gone on to feel normal but without excess anxiety?
Dry mouth feeling foggy headed will pass with time. Escitalopram is a very powerful SSRI, try not to drink alcohol as you will be slurring your words after a couple.
Been on it for 8 years on and off it’s a life saver
Said I’d keep you informed! Now 3 months and I am fully adapted! No side effects and I feel as I never have! Still ‘me’ but a calmer version and cheerful. After a very long time of feeling over anxious and stressing about unimportant things I now have a much better mindset. Only slight thing is that I have a bit of a struggle getting up in the morning! Honestly thankful for this website as I definitely would have given up due to the side effects! Have a good day and hope to still doing well 😊
5mg is a relatively low dose so expect milder side effects. Once you're in, you're likely to feel most or all:
More energetic.
Alert, sharp and totally focussed in your day to day activities(i would listen to a lecture once and remember enough of it to write a short answer 6 months later).
Increased levels of concentration.
Positive attitude towards everything.
Increased self esteem.
Exuding in confidence and feeling the world is your oyster.
Hardly any negative thoughts coming in.
Increase in appetite
At times even euphoric.
Any suicidal thoughts would have disappeared completely.
Motivated and start seeing yourself as an achiever ready to go places.👼
P.S. i experienced all of the above myself as well.😉
I started on 5 mgs for 14 days, now been on 10 mgs for 5 days and feeling very much better. Side effects such as you mention have now gone. Changed to taking tablet after lunch 2pm. I would say hang on in there. I’m sleeping better and no feeling of dread when I wake up. Good luck. Everyone reacts differently. Keep us informed!
I was on 10mg for 7 months. 5 mg will probably(?) not make you feel euphoric, its probably been prescribed to take the edge off. In any case, you should start getting better in 2-3 weeks maximum.
Those were my start up side effects as well, it took close to 3 weeks for them to subside
in reply to
Hi lynnalice
Thanks for your reply. So may I ask, after 3 weeks did you go on to feel ‘normal’ - less anxiety but with no brain fog?
in reply to
Yes, much more normal. Still a little less energy but that could also be because I’m used to being anxious
I have been taking Lexapro on and off for 8 years ! I take 30 mg and I only experienced nausea when I started taking it . Everything else was my anxiety !
Each person is different! 5 mg would not do anything for my anxiety !
Is this your first time taking antidepressant ?
My starting dose was 10 mg and then we had to increase to 20 mg and then to 30 mg !
Thanks, yes first time taking. I think I am quite sensitive to medication. I have a quite technical job, requires a lot of concentration. Just hoping side effects will disappear sufficiently to be able to make me function. The anxiety & depression made me feel pretty dreadful especially in the mornings but tailed off as the day went on. At the moment I feel super sensitive and anxious after taking meds. Waiting to see whether I am getting less brain fog!
Day 15. I upped dose from 5 to 10 mgs today and I’m feeling very much better. No real side effects, still a bit anxious first thing in the morning as I am worrying about how I am going to feel/any side effects! Changed timing of meds to early afternoon. See how it goes... Thanks for your interest. I hope you’re doing okay too!
Day 8 for me on 5mg.. I don't know if it side effect of meds or the anxiety. I feel wooly headed too, sometime almost dizzy. Everyone say hang in there, it will get better I hope they are right. If I feel this way on 5mg, I am concerned about going up to 10mg. I understand what you are going thru. Take care of yourself.
Hi how you doing? I think the brain fog is probably the side effects and should pass as mine did by day 12. As I said, increase to 10 mg didn’t really affect me, but everyone different. By 3 weeks you’ll feel better if not before x
I think I am doing better today but you know with anxiety it is hard to say. I thought Sat was my 11th day, but today is day 11. I am not at work today so I may be feeling better because I am not at work. I work in small claustophopic office and at a job that is not very challenging, so I think that add to my anxiety, however I am grateful to have a job. It is hard to know what is side effect from meds or anxiety. I thank you for asking, and you are giving me hope.
I’m pleased you are feeling a bit better. I am still a bit anxious in the morning but am fine after an hour or so. Probably a combination of anxiety & meds. Glad that you seem to be turning the corner. It’s hard but you have to stick with it. Keep me updated and best wishes
Yesterday was bad..i came back to work..i work in 10x10 ofc at computer all day..also thought meds may be messing with my balance...dr told me to start taking at nite..i had also been taking blood pressure meds in morning, a half hour before anxiety meds..did not take anxiety med this morning..so i will see..thank yu fir asking..how are you
Sorry you had a bad day. I had one on Monday (feeling foggy headed and flu-like) but have been really good since Tuesday. Have you given up on the anxiety meds or just taking it a bit later? Try and stick with it. They say you get the full effect after 4 weeks. Take it easy!
Hi ! Reading your comments I feel quite worried I’ve been taking escitalopram for 17 days (10mg) and no changes so far .. it’s even worse with my anxiety. I wake up every morning very stressed and scared and I can’t cope.. usually I have to support myself with alprazolam but then I feel more like a zombie. I feel very depressed and losing my hope to feel better. I suffer from a typical anxiety with panic attacks. I feel fear almost all the time. My doc said to wait for 4 weeks but it’s very difficult. Years ago I was on Paroxetine and it kicked in after 3 weeks and was amazing for me - I felt completely normal and anxiety free..
Escitalopram was supposed to be better and giving less side effects but it doesn’t look like that
I am getting off this, just don't feel right. I tried for 3 weeks, i changed to taking it night. But feel bad next day, headache, muscle weakness, balance off. Blood presssure spikes. NOt sure if all of this is from this meds, but only way of finding out is getting off of it. Dr going to prescribe something else.
I understand that as the side effects and no positives are terrible tomorrow is 3 weeks for me I’ve been taking Escitalopram and also no benefits so far.. I’m anxious every day and no appetite, I’m very weak and depressed.. I’m gonna wait till next Friday as I’m seeing my psychiatrist and then if it’s still like now I’d like to change it as well. My doc wrote me lately that we will see what next and that maybe we’ll increase the dose.. but I’m not sure if I want to Paroxetine started working after around 3 weeks and then was only better and better..
On the other hand when I read all the stories about people who waited 4-5 or even 6 weeks and then felt good finally I feel like I wanna try and check if I’ll be the same. I guess different pills can have different influence on you and different time to start working...
I’ll let you know how is it going in a week time.
I hope you’ll make a good decision with your psychiatrist about new pills. Fingers crossed.
I would say that at 5 weeks I’m extremely positive! Feeling calm, sleeping better. Think it’s working but was a slow start. Haven’t had any bad days for a week now. I’m feeling better each day. Saw my doc yesterday and that also gave me reassurance. 😊
Hi x you’ve been on 10mg still? This is why I wanna give it a go for a little bit longer but I’d really like to see some positive effect even a little one.
Yes 10 mg is what I’ve been on since 3 weeks ago when I increased from 5 mgs which I was on for first 2 weeks. I don’t expect to increase above this - my doc doesn’t think it’s necessary but will keep under review. In the morning I make myself get up and shower immediately. This helps! I take my med at lunchtime when I’m less stressed about taking the pills. Fingers crossed 🤞 all will work out. I think it’s a good med x
Sorry you are still having a rough time. I know that everyone’s physiology is different so meds can have varying outcomes. I think try and stick with it for 4 weeks to see if escitalopram will make you feel better. Feeling like a zombie is not fun. Some people seem to have no side effects whereas others have loads. Keep me informed but if no better in a week or so you should see the doc. Good luck and sending you positive thoughts x
Thank you for the reply. Yea I’ll try to stick with it for 4 weeks or so and we’ll see. I’m seeing my doc next Friday anyway.
That’s true with the side effects how different they’re for different people. I’ve read some people don’t have side effects at all or they feel better after 1 week and the other struggle for even 5-6 weeks :/ not fair.
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Happy Days s_l_f xx
I’ve been taking escitalopram for 17 days (10mg) and no changes so far .. it’s even worse with my anxiety. I wake up every morning very stressed and scared and I can’t cope.. usually I have to support myself with alprazolam but then I feel more like a zombie. I feel very depressed and losing my hope to feel better. I suffer from a typical anxiety with panic attacks. I feel fear almost all the time. My doc said to wait for 4 weeks but it’s very difficult. Years ago I was on Paroxetine and it kicked in after 3 weeks and was amazing for me - I felt completely normal and anxiety free.. 
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