I will have been Lexapro four weeks tomorrow. It has definitely increased my anxiety. The first two and a half weeks were the absolute worst. Started seeing small improvements at week three. The doctor increased from 10mg to 20mg right at the end of week 4. Will the increase start make the anxiety worse again?
Lexapro - Increasing from 10mg to 20mg. Will this increase the anxiety again?
Question posted by Anonymous on 16 Sep 2021
Last updated on 27 September 2021
Answers
Rhonleigh1965
17 Sep 2021
Hey Randy
First of all, do you have GAD? And, did a psychiatrist prescribe you Lexapro to treat GAD? I've never heard of that. Is this the only medicine that you take for anxiety? Because, that wouldn't make much sense. Please let me know
Rhonda
WildcatVet
17 Sep 2021
"NYSE:FRX) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Lexapro (escitalopram oxalate), a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), a condition that affects approximately four million Americans annually."
"Lexapro (escitalopram) is an antidepressant belonging to a group of drugs called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Escitalopram affects the levels of certain chemicals in the brain that may be altered in people suffering from depression or anxiety
Lexapro is also used to treat anxiety in adults."
WildcatVet
17 Sep 2021
The first excerpt was dated 18 Dec, 2003.
Inactive
17 Sep 2021
Treating for GAD and mild depression.
WildcatVet
17 Sep 2021
Once you get through these early weeks I hope it works as well for you as it did for me. :>)
WildcatVet
16 Sep 2021
Hi, randy!
Glad to hear you're seeing improvement and this should continue faster and faster now. To be honest an increase in dosage... and you're doubling your dose... can occasionally cause new or recurrent side effects but they're usually milder and subside more quickly.
If you do experience them and they're disrupting your life let your doctor know because there are options to make the transition easier. There's no need to suffer through this.
Best regards,
Wildcat
PS, I took Lexapro for over 7 years with a very good result!
Inactive
16 Sep 2021
Thank you for your response! The first few weeks have been really tough with the increased anxiety. I hope I turn the corner sooner than later.
Katie L
27 Sep 2021
Hey Wildcat, please may I ask what dosage you took during those 7 years? I like Randy have been on Lexapro for just over 4 weeks and have just upped to 15mg. I have severe GAD and definitely feel it finally helping. But due to my perfectionism I am desperately trying to work out what the best dosage is for GAD although I know full well that we all respond differently! Haha.
Thanks
Katie
WildcatVet
27 Sep 2021
@Katie.
As you say, we're all different but you want to find the lowest dose that controls your symptoms.
I'm very resistant to medications and have been maxed out on the dosage of most of the meds I've been/am on. I took Lexapro 20mg/day and that worked well for me.
Give the 15mg a couple of weeks and see how you're doing at that point.
Related topics
lexapro, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder
Further information
- Lexapro uses and safety info
- Lexapro prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lexapro (detailed)
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