Help with anxiety

[SOPHIA24]

I have such bad anxiety is anyone know if the anxiety gets worse before it gets better I started Lexapro 5 mg 13 days ago after two days I started shaking and we thought it was the Lexapro but when I figured it out it actually was the anxiety but my doctor had me cut it in half for a week and take it that way but the shaking continue so now this is my third day back on a whole 5 mg I know that this is a small dose but I’m very sensitive to meds and I was on 5 mg years ago and it did help I just want to know if anyone else is on Lexapro and how long it takesTo get some relief I felt like I was getting better there and now I have the shaking again and I’m stopping me from sleeping please someone advise me

[Agora1]

Hi SOPHIA24, Any SSRI such as Lexapro can take from 4-6 weeks to reach full efficacy.. andthat depends on the dosage increase during that time. It may be a matter of your doctor finding the therapeutic dosage for you as well as the time of day you take it.

I too am on Lexapro and found it worked well in taking it with lunch. It never interferes with my sleep. Any medication is a trial and error effort. Trust in your doctor, give it time and you will succeed. I wish you well xx

[Gretat]

Yes it may get worse, it did for me! I have been on lexapro for a whopping 18 years. I was perscribed it for panic attacks and the resulting anxiety disorder that came out of no where when i was 46 years old....too much stress from work and three young children. After being on lexapro for 2 years of being clear, i so caringly and gradually weaned myself off and was good for six months until WHAM the panic and anxiety returned with a vengeance. So I went back on lexapro with the uncomfortable but temporary increase in anxiety. Now completely clear for another 16 years and still on 10 mg. So for me, both times starting lexapro i had horrible increases in anxiety (nervousness, shakey, etc) for a few weeks at 10mg. My dr urged me to hang in there which i skeptically did. After a few weeks this increase in axiety dissipated but disappointingly i still had my original and seemingly hopeless symptoms. However, slowly i would have a good day, than two good days in a row. I got to a week of good days with no sign of anxiety and the associated depression and then the anxiety would be back in full force for a few days but would retreat for longer periods before sporadically showing up for only a day or two . After a few months of this the anxiety and depression was gone and i wonder if the whole traumatic episodes were real. Trying unsucessfully to get off lexapro twice proves my anxiety was real and given time lexapro works but it can be more uncomfortable in the begining like many/ most ssris. Many have sucessfully discontinued ssris including lexaro but for me i gladly accept it is life-long. Btw, if i take lexapro at night, i could not sleep making my anxiety worse. Switching to first thing in the morning worked and i was so exhausted from anxiety during the day that i slept quite well which helped my recovery. Hang in there, meditate, poisitive affirmations, challenge negative thoughts, and u WILL get back to normal and if u r like me, you will be better than your old normal (stronger, smarter, happier). Hope this lengthy reply helps!

[LiveandLetLive42]

It can take a few weeks to really kick in. And if you are good with 5mg you should definitely tell your doctor instead of cutting them in half. Maybe have him add something for anxiety too. I know Clonopin works really well for me. I hope you feel better!!

[mydog56]

it takes worst 300 days, and you can not even sleep

[alphaind]

Hi Sophia24... I am on lexapro10mg for about 1 and half year. As mentioned by other members, it took a good 6-8 weeks time to take effect. for the first 2 weeks, it was horrible, increased anxiety, cold sweating, no hunger, no sleeping..etc. But after 3 weeks, I was feeling better and finally after 8 weeks, I was living a normal life.After one and half years, I slowly tried to wean off by taking one tablet for 3 days and finally one for a week. But recently due to some family issue, I was back on Anxiety and decided to start again the 10mg dose. As expected, initial 2 weeks are real nightmare again and then slowly it got resolved. So I have decided to continue the dose for some more months...

So..Keep up the hope and Everything will be ok.. Good Luck

[Gretat in reply to alphaind]

Yeah, i did a similar protocal after 2 years at 10mg. Had to go back to 10mg after 6 mons off (relapse sucks) and had the same intial side effects....yuk! After another 15 years my dr suggested i try again to get off lexapro. I dropped to 5 mg for a month but i started mildly getting the obsessive negative thinking. I told my dr it was manageable but he said no it would only get worse and i would totally relapse. Not wanting to go through the dread and hopeless feelings of despair for a few months, only to go back to 10mg, we both decided I'm on for life. Im glad i did because after anothet 2 years (last month) i relapsed while on 10mg....triggered by my last son moving away to college after being with him daily because of my retirement and covid 19 on-line learning for him. After suffering for over a month now, i just decided (yesterday) to up my lexapro dose to 15mg. I hope it works and expect it will. Good luck to u.