Lexapro - Increased heart rate elevated blood pressure first time taking?

Thank you. You guys have been very helpful. What time of day should lexapro be taken? I'm doing it at bedtime but have a hard time sleeping. I wake-up with rapid heart rate. Someone said to take at bedtime to possibly help sleep through side effects but I find myself waking up with anxiety. Even in my dreams I'm experiencing anxiety. Very frustrating.

You could change it to the morning but I am afraid then you are going to have to deal with the rapid heart beat most the day.But it is worth a try or Contact your doctor Monday and see what the doctor thinks.but this side effect should be letting up very soon now give it another week if you can handle it. But when you find out which is best am, or pm make sure you leave it at that so your body gets used to it at the same time each day. enjoy your evening

I started it off at night as well with the same intentions is sleeping through some of the side effects. I almost instantly became an insomniac. I could fall asleep but not stay asleep. How does the racing heart feel to you? Is it bearable or does it cause more anxiety. I had the same thing. I ended up starting to take it first thing in the morning. I also take Xanax though and that has been helpful. Everyone here is going through something or another. Myself included. So we are all here for support. How have you been doing he last few days?

Part of helping each other because we are all different is it's best not to say what all went wrong when you try it at bedtime.for many that is the best time but if you focus to much on the symptoms like heart beats that is when you have to get those thoughts out of your head and do something so your not sucked in to each beat of your heart etc. This alone well put you on edge if I jumped every time my heart raced or skips a few beats I would have to take more and more Xanax You have to learn to work on the way you look at things so that you are not so focused on the panic more like reverse of what you are doing for your own sake.

All brilliant, rational comments, Chuck! My doctor always told me not to panic over panic or even what were actually minor events. It's hard to do that though when your *head's not on straight*. It's hard to learn to stop and deal with things as they come along. But once you do, well... then you can get on with your life.

WildcatVet; Can't agree more I just keep working at different things because once we let like a skipped heartbeat get to us then it's one thing after another the ball starts rolling. All we can do is try. And keep taking baby steps forward. easier said than done on some days. hang in there

I can relate to all of this. I feel the only thing that truly helps me is Xanax. The anti depressants give such awful side effects. Isn't there another class of medicines that are strictly for anxiety and don't raise serotonin, and are not habit forming?

Benzodiazepines are only meant for short-term use because prolonged use can cause habituation, memory loss, increased anxiety, new or increased depression, dementia, etc.
Buspirone is prescribed specifically to treat anxiety disorders and is neither a benzo or an antidepressant.
I have had NO side effects through four years of use although it can sometimes take several weeks to become fully effective.

So sorry about having all these problems I have been through more than my share and the hard part is many of these medications work great but we are all different and it's like a hit and miss so then after trying to get settled down.The doctor may have to change it to something else and you can't just stop these medications you have to go down slow like you do when you go on them while the doctor adds a different medication or if you're lucky it may just need an increase in dose or they just add something with what were taking which is not as hard to have to fight our way to the 8 week dose again. Just know you're not alone and you're not nuts most of these medications like the serotonin meds like Lexapro it is just adding more serotonin to us which our brains are not making enough. Hope I am not confusing you more but I hope this helps a little. Chuck1957 try and be patience and you well feel a lot better. CEW1957

Yes continuing to take 2.5 mg at night but have really hard time sleeping. Anxiety kicks in. Is 2.5 mg even noticeable? Maybe it's just me. I'm 38 yrs old and first time this has happened to me. I'm surprised people can function. Has anyone ever tried accupuncture? Willing to try anything.

Yes, I have tried acupuncture, hypnosis, Biofeedback, and other things with no luck.

To be honest, I did notice at every step up I took. Even at 2.5mgs. It slowly changes over time and it is starting to help me. I actually have had the best results at 5 mg and at the beginning of 7.5 mgs. I am not at the therapeutic state for 10mgs yet, but I am really hoping it helps. I have tried acupuncture. Did not help me, but might for you. We are all different. Stay on this site it is helpful talking with people like ourselves. I am 35 and have been battling for years. I will be as much help as I can. I do agree with Chuck, it sounds like a panic attack. I have had some that landed me in the ER as well. They are horrible and seem absolutely real. What have you been diagnosed with and by who?

Well I went back to work yesterday took my xanax with me just in case I had and episode. Which I had twice. I tried holding off taking my xanax just to see if I could control it which made things worse. I've noticed my little anxiety episode start with a feeling of immense pressure in my head even my ears feel plugged. Then rapid heart rate kicks in which is the worst part. I do have moments when I feel normal for awhile. Then I get slight dizzy spells. But for the most part I'm up out of bed, working and appetite is starting to come back. Now driving home today was a different story thought I was going to have a panic attack at a stop light but luckily it turned green quick. Anyway hopefully things are starting to slowly get better hard to be optimistic when the anxiety kicks in.

Not kidding you. I still have some of those exact same side effects still. They are just not near as intense as they were at first. It definitely sounds like panic attacks. I have one thing that I have noticed and it has actually helped a lot as far as calming down goes. When you feel your heart race, take your pulse. You should notice that more than likely your heart rate isn't that high. I also have Wolfe Parkinson White Syndrome that can actually cause your heart rate to reach in the 300's, so I really know a thing or two about the heart racing. I had my WPW a blared a few years back, but still find that I have horrible panic attacks that feel like those episodes. Then I actually take my pulse and it is like 60-70 bpm. I also get the quick dizzy spells. Almost definitely panic attacks. Also, take the Xanax. I have for two years. There is no reason to suffer, that is what the doc gave it to you for. Don't you think?

Update. I have been on lexapro 10 mg for almost two months about 4 weeks into it I was finally starting to feel about 75% better. The dizzy spells were gone and so was the weird pressure and plugged feeling in my ears. Also the borderline feeling of possibly having a panic attack all the time. Then about two weeks ago I started having that weird pressure in my head but no dizziness. Anyone else have that? Also been having a dull ache in my right upper back that feels like it goes deep in my chest of course my mind went straight away to thinking of all the what ifs of what it could be. Saw my doctor did xray listened to heart and lungs all normal. Also I only took xanax for the first 3 weeks of starting lexapro on and off. Then took myself completely off because anxiety was bearable and I didn't want to depend on it so much. My doctor told me to restart xanax 0.5 mg which I only take half once a day. Seems to do the trick and increased my lexapro to 20 mg. Hopefully this works because I can't bare to go back to the beginning.