escitalopram

[bellaLove09]

is anyone on escitalopram? How is working for you? I know it's a generic for Lexapro but I've newer been on it before. I have heard some people complain about the generic but they have been on Lexapro for years. I want to you your experience being on escitalopram.

[alankay]

I was on it for about a year starting at 5 mg and then up to 20 mg and It didn't help as much as prozac so resumed prozac. You have to try these as the response you get a from a given molecule in the same class(ssri's) often varies and sometimes greatly. Alankay

[bellaLove09]

How did you feel when you first started? I feel a little anxious and irritable.

[becki]

I started the same drug as you early November. I started at .10 and saw an improvement but I wasn't where I wanted to be so I now take .15. I'm feeling so much better and very little anxiety. Side effects weren't bad. I'm also doing CBT today I got a pedicure something I would have never done before!!! I feel so much better.

[nickaepi]

I guess I should have posted here. I had the same exact question. My problem is fear to take the 1st dose. I read all the possible side effects (scared the heck out of me) and I have a constant fear of taking new medicines. Becki- Would 1 pill even do anything to me? I know if I can just gather the courage to take 1/2 a pill (5mg) and make it thru, I should be fine. I just can't do it. I know it sounds irrational but I guess that's why I joined this forum. I have anxiety and excessive worry about EVERYTHING. Lol.

[Ahlstrom]

I've been taking it since I was 13 or so, I'm 19 now. When I developed my anxiety disorder around my 18th birthday it feels like it lost a lot of it's effect. I tried going off of it and onto another med but would up in a mental hospital for suicidal attempts and constant panic attacks. I started to retake it about 4 weeks ago along with Klonopin and feel much better.

Every medicine is going to work differently for people, for me it works, but I don't think it's my perfect medicine yet. Best way to know is to try it yourself. Goodluck.

[nickaepi]

I've been taking it since I was 13 or so, I'm 19 now. When I developed my anxiety disorder around my 18th birthday it feels like it lost a lot of it's effect. I tried going off of it and onto another med but would up in a mental hospital for suicidal attempts and constant panic attacks. I started to retake it about 4 weeks ago along with Klonopin and feel much better.

Every medicine is going to work differently for people, for me it works, but I don't think it's my perfect medicine yet. Best way to know is to try it yourself. Goodluck. Thanks Ahlstrom. Ironically, I take Klonapin right now but I don't think it's working as well as before. I don't take any other meds for anxiety. The Klonapin helps subside the anxiety symptons but I can tell I'm still "edgy" and I have much deeper issues that I need to address. Your reply makes me feel a little more comfortable since you also take Klonapin. I was worried about that, also, in how those 2 medicines would interact with each other. Hopefully just drowsy? How are the side effects with the combo of lexapro and klonapin? I appreciate it.

[Ahlstrom]

Thanks Ahlstrom. Ironically, I take Klonapin right now but I don't think it's working as well as before. I don't take any other meds for anxiety. The Klonapin helps subside the anxiety symptons but I can tell I'm still "edgy" and I have much deeper issues that I need to address. Your reply makes me feel a little more comfortable since you also take Klonapin. I was worried about that, also, in how those 2 medicines would interact with each other. Hopefully just drowsy? How are the side effects with the combo of lexapro and klonapin? I appreciate it.

Yes, I've noticed the Klonopin not working as well as it did when I first started, it's because you eventually build up a sort of tolerence to it, I eventually did start to get edgy feelings and small flashes of depression back (and still have them), around the afternoon.

I take 40mg of Lexapro a day and three .5mg of Klonopin spaced through the day. I don't feel like the interact with each other at all, I only seem to have side effects to the Klonopin which is drowsiness when I take my morning pill. During the day when I'm awake the other 2 pills keep my off my edge but don't make me drowsy. Something to keep in mind is that I have to wake up at 6am as opposed to my usual 11am and go to bed at 2am. It may just be the lack of sleep.

[becki]

I guess I should have posted here. I had the same exact question. My problem is fear to take the 1st dose. I read all the possible side effects (scared the heck out of me) and I have a constant fear of taking new medicines. Becki- Would 1 pill even do anything to me? I know if I can just gather the courage to take 1/2 a pill (5mg) and make it thru, I should be fine. I just can't do it. I know it sounds irrational but I guess that's why I joined this forum. I have anxiety and excessive worry about EVERYTHING. Lol.

I think if you wanna start out at 5mg and give yourself a week or two to adjust and then take the full pill. I started at 10mg did ok but was still having more anxiety then I wanted. My dr said to up my dose to 20 but I'm doing 15 and am pleased. After you are on it a while you'll worry less and less about the pill. I think most of us taking a pill for anxiety gets anxiety over taking the pill!!

[nickaepi]

I think if you wanna start out at 5mg and give yourself a week or two to adjust and then take the full pill. I started at 10mg did ok but was still having more anxiety then I wanted. My dr said to up my dose to 20 but I'm doing 15 and am pleased. After you are on it a while you'll worry less and less about the pill. I think most of us taking a pill for anxiety gets anxiety over taking the pill!!
Well said. That's me! Thanks to you guys I am going to start my Lexapro today...errrr..let's make it Monday :)

I feel much more relieved now that I can talk to people going thru the same stuff and taking the same meds. Appreciate it.

[becki]

Well said. That's me! Thanks to you guys I am going to start my Lexapro today...errrr..let's make it Monday :)

I feel much more relieved now that I can talk to people going thru the same stuff and taking the same meds. Appreciate it.

You'll be fine!!!!! Keep us posted on your positive progress.

[bellaLove09]

Update: I finally had the courage to start my pill 1 week ago. I started 5mg and now I just increased it to 10mg as of yesterday. It was hard the first time for me to take it since I read a lot of neg. things on google using generic (please don't do that) but I can honestly say it was done a complete 360 for me. I know it'll still take more time to battle everything I was up against with anxiety. But I feel so much better. I am so much more relaxed and I don't fear taking my med at night. I am going places before that I used to be held back before because of anxiety. Please to anyone that's scared to take it like me just know you will get and feel better. Wish you all the best of luck :)

[nickaepi]

I am scared because of the potential side effects listed on the prescription. I have read and heard about FDA saying links between Lexapro & irregular heart rhythms (it's even on the possible side effects page). If I wouldn't have seen that, I would probably be okay starting this med but that stuff scares me. I can handle nausea, headaches or whatever but when I see warnings about heart stuff, totally freaked me out. This is the only thing keeping me from starting this stuff now.

[bellaLove09]

I am scared because of the potential side effects listed on the prescription. I have read and heard about FDA saying links between Lexapro & irregular heart rhythms (it's even on the possible side effects page). If I wouldn't have seen that, I would probably be okay starting this med but that stuff scares me. I can handle nausea, headaches or whatever but when I see warnings about heart stuff, totally freaked me out. This is the only thing keeping me from starting this stuff now.

Before I took the pill I was so worried about this too but that could happen in any medication you take. I sure you'll be fine. Just stay positive and know it'll help you more then it'll hurt you. Talk to someone while you take it the first time it'll help.

[Mariesa00]

I've been on escitalopram 10mg for almost 6 weeks now and feel about 90-95% recovered from panic attacks. The only couple things I've found annoying are insomnia at times and muscle twitches. Keep taking your meds and I promise you'll feel better!

[bellaLove09]

I've been on escitalopram 10mg for almost 6 weeks now and feel about 90-95% recovered from panic attacks. The only couple things I've found annoying are insomnia at times and muscle twitches. Keep taking your meds and I promise you'll feel better!

What side effects did you have when you started on the 10mg?

[Mariesa00]

What side effects did you have when you started on the 10mg?

Insomnia for the first 2 weeks (it did get better), muscle twitches, headaches, some nausea at times, not hungry. Around week 3 I noticed a HUGE improvement in these symptoms and in my overall anxiety levels.

[bellaLove09]

Insomnia for the first 2 weeks (it did get better), muscle twitches, headaches, some nausea at times, not hungry. Around week 3 I noticed a HUGE improvement in these symptoms and in my overall anxiety levels.

Ok I started at 5mg and didn't have much symptoms except not being very hungry... And some headaches. But I just recently started at the 10mg. I feel a little lightheaded like foggy... Blahh feeling. Did you experience that in the beginning too?

[Mariesa00]

Ok I started at 5mg and didn't have much symptoms except not being very hungry... And some headaches. But I just recently started at the 10mg. I feel a little lightheaded like foggy... Blahh feeling. Did you experience that in the beginning too?

Ya a little bit. Side effects go away after the first two weeks of starting or upping a medication. I wouldn't worry about it. It's totally normal and any doctor or counselor would tell you that side effects go away after a couple weeks.

[nickaepi]

You'll be fine!!!!! Keep us posted on your positive progress.

Well, I started my Escitalopram this morning. Made a "deal" with my doctor to take 2.5mg for 5 days, then go to 5mg for 7 days then eventually to 10mg. I felt more comfortable starting slowly and he understood my reasoning.
It literally took me 2 weeks to gain the courage to take the 1st pill but I did it this morning and 6 hours later I am still alive :) It's amazing how powerful the mind is. Now that I made it through the 1st half of the day, I'm in such a good mood, probably because I finally got that giant weight off my back.
I appreciate all that helped and gave support. It's nice being to able to talk to people that go thru similar stuff. I still get to keep my Klonapin for at least another couple months, also, which will help keep anxiety levels down for me.

Yay!