On lexapro 19 days no relief so far please help
What do you feel like when an antidepressant starts to work I have major depression anxiety ptsd?
Question posted by theresa06 on 7 July 2013
Last updated on 12 March 2021 by goved6
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
38 Answers
goved6
8 Oct 2019
It feels like the sun has starting shining again, I have major depressive disorder and PTSD, along with a few other mental illness's, when I was prescribed my meds for the first time they didn't do much to help, it took almost a year to get the right meds, dosages and work, I was about to give up when they all started to kick in and it was like coming out of a black hole for me, it was a difference of night and day.
indianangel1232
25 Aug 2019
How are u doing now...
Riab1
27 Aug 2018
I’m sorry your feeling that way. You should starting feeling better in 2-4 weeks, but if you don’t, let your doctor know. It may not be working and you’ll probably have to try something else.
sbblack
23 Aug 2018
*THERESA06****
It usually takes about 2-3wks for a new medicine to fully get in your system. If you've been on this medicine longer than that I would contact your Dr bc if you haven't noticed a difference yet the medicine may need to be changed to something else or they need to increase the dosage.
Nadethi
22 June 2018
I was lucky and found that Paxil (paroxetine) worked for me and it was the first one I tried at 20 years old (I am now 36)- it helped with my anxiety, obsessive thoughts, depression, and self-esteem. It changed my life. Throughout the years I have weaned off of it several times but whenever I faced great change or disappointment my symptoms would come back full force, so I would go back on it and sure enough in a couple months I was back to my happy self. I have learned to just stay on it because I feel I can endure anything without spiraling into obsessive thinking and worry. I have been on it six years constantly now ( have bought & sold house, had two kids, and finished Master's degree in that time) and all of a sudden two months ago my symptoms came back full force for no reason at all. I love everything in my life then suddenly BAM I feel no happiness or love for anything anymore. My anxiety was through the roof.
So I went to the doctor and tried Wellbutrin in addition to Ativan for the anxiety. I tried for two weeks but my anxiety was so bad, which can be caused by Wellbutrin. So talked with doctor again and decided to just up my Paxil dose to 60(max dose) along with a better long term option for anxiety, Bupronian. It has been two weeks and I can tell a big difference in the anxiety, so much better. I am feeling less depressed and able to function better with daily activities so I hope this dose increase will do the trick for me and I am my happy, upbeat self again in a few weeks. BTW I once tried Celexa for a few days and I felt I was going to bolt out of my skin- that one was not for me. So really everyone is different bbut if you can stand the medication long enough to get throbthe first few weeks it will probably do you well in the long run.
Riab1
28 March 2018
I was on antidepressants for the longest time until I got diagnosed with bipolar 2 then I was placed on a mood stabilizer and an antidepressant. Now both have worked very well and I am myself again.
juliecarlstan
28 March 2018
Honestly, I can't tell. I ask my close friends and family. Then really listen to their feedback. I've been on and off anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds for @20 years. And it's hard to tell without their help.
Slhallen
26 Jan 2018
I really hate to burst your bubble and remember everyone is different but I’ve been dealing with severe clinical depression for 33 years and I have yet to find something to give me relief or make the “I live in a black hole with a black soul” torture go away. There have been times when I found a combination of meds that helped but my family, who all got their Phd’s at the University of never never land college thought I was on too much and had way too much control over my life and made me stop. Unfortunately I don’t remember the combo but it’s different for everyone so get with your dr and just make sure you take as prescribed, also it’s best if you take them at the same time everyday, and be very consistent. Follow those three things and remember it can take up to a month to start to feel any effects so TRY your best to be patient and I’ll keep ya in my prayers. Much love to ya and best of luck!
WildcatVet
29 Oct 2017
Four to six weeks to feel real relief and six to eight weeks to reach steady state therapeutic levels in your bloodstream/brain.
Riab1
16 Jan 2018
I have been on Zoloft 150 mg and Buspar now 20 mg daily as well as xanax as needed, however, I tend to take it daily. I had been on a variety of different medications over the past 18 years. I started out on paxil, then after a few years I took prozac, then was switched to Zoloft. During the last 18 years I have been on and off meds. It is my fault because I take them and then when I suffer a bout of depression/anxiety, then I have to restart the whole process again. For the most part, when I have done that, they have worked within a few weeks. However, this time it has been almost 9 weeks of retaking them and I still feel depressed.
I do not want to do anything anymore. I do not enjoy the things I once enjoyed and my relationship with my husband is deteriorating. My doctor said that if I still feel the same the next time I go see him, he will place me on a mood stabilizer to see if that helps. I am a graduate student and have no motivation in doing school work or anything that is involved with school. I just restarted the quarter a couple of weeks ago. I am afraid most of the time and have a hard time sleeping at night. I have constant pressure headaches and feel as I am in a fog. I have lost close to 15 lbs in the last 9 weeks, and I just turned down a part time job that was offered to me from my old job which I loved, but because of how I am feeling, I can barely make it out of bed each morning.
Any one have experience with mood stabilizers? I am in the process of switching doctors to because I am currently on medicaid and I have to pay out of pocket to see the doctor I am seeing now because I could not get an appointment with a medicaid covered psychiatrist until two months out.
Thank you for any advice.
Kat4959
29 Oct 2017
I have similiar diagnoses, Major Depressive Disorder, Panic & Anxiety PTSD. When your antidepressant works sometimes takes a month or so to see full benefits. You have more energy & begin to take enjoyment in everyday tasks & hobbies. Hope this helps living with this diagnoses is rough but new strides in medications. Always be hopeful & patient.
WildcatVet
2 Oct 2017
Theresa, in simple language... you start feeling better. Antidepressants do not work for you quickly though... they can take 4-6 weeks to become fully effective, 6-8 for your blood levels to reach steady state therapeutic levels, and several months of steady therapy.
If your doctor started you on a low loading dose it might be time for an increase. Please ask for her/his professional advice, okay?
Silentsufferer
2 Oct 2017
Hello, I am new to this whole "online support group" thing however I'm looking for answers just as much as the next, but have come across a few questions I'd like to respond to based on my personal experience. In regards to your question, I see that it was posted back in 2013. If you haven't found any resolution, I'd be happy to try and help give you some ideas. I was on lexapro for about a year a while back for major depressive disorder and it took almost a month for me to feel any difference in my mood. You mentioned you suffer from PSTD as well. I also have a form of it caused by mental abuse and found that therapy was the most effective approach. As far as the depression, have you tried Prozac? I've tried almost everything you can imagine when it comes to SSRI's and most gave me horrible side effects in which caused me to get very discouraged at one point.
Prozac was one of the only anti-depressants I was tolerant to and experiences little side effects from. If you are still seeking help in regards to a medication for depression, I would suggest trying a low dose of Prozac and giving it a good 3 to 4 weeks to take affect. Best of wishes to you. Hope you find something that works for you.
janieboing
10 April 2017
hi ive had anxiety and major depression for about 25 years ive been on so many pills from benzo ( which i would never touch again ) i feel they are the reason im still they way i am years later .
since then ive tried about 5 different anti d without any really working , ive also been on lithium and now ive been put on quinitapine xl 100mg at night they also aint working at all ive read about them and it says these drugs are used as an add on with an anti depressant for depression( ive never been on more than 1 pill at a time ) i just dont know which way to turn i feel so deep into a black hole for so many years with no way out i dont enjoy or live life i just some how hold on each and every day does anyone know about quinitepine for depression or any other ssri i could try ive only ever been on 1 ssri which was sertraline and ive heard about maois which ive never tried im just so desperate to feel abit better i know theres no magic pill to take all your depression and worries away im just constantly searching for abit of relief is that too much to ask i wouldnt know what it felt like to feel any different but id love for some day to have that feeling im going to my psyhcoastrist on wednesday im terrified but i know ive got to go maybe she can add something to the quietapine im not sure sorry to go on im just out of all ideas im in the uk i was thinking about something like wellbruitin but heard they only give that out here for ppl trying to quit smoking
thankyou in advance for any replies x
Ruby26
28 March 2017
Hey Guys,
Very interesting to read through this feed and see what peoples experiences have been. I have been suffering with severe depression and anxiety for 6 years now. I have been on and off prob 10 diff meds if not more. Some worked great, some were horrible. However, Im still looking for one to work for a prolonged period of time. The closest I've gotten was Lexapro worked well for 3 months and then I started declining again. Im now on Lexapro and Buspar, when I started taking Buspar I was feeling good for like a month and then declined again. And now Im feeling clouded and confused all the time and not even sure if it's the meds side effects or my depression at this point. Im just getting very tired of going on and off meds and not finding something that sticks and works for me. Im an artist and it has been nearly impossible for me to conduct my business and do my work dealing with both the depression and the cloudiness.
Im thinking of weening off all meds and seeing what my baseline is and then adding something new, but of course worried about how Im going to react to all that and how i might fall back into a deeper depression while weening off..Im not really sure what Im looking for on here. Just feeling defeated and wanted to speak to people who were in like situations with like minds because no one I deal with daily really understands where my heads at never having this experience themselves.
Thanks in advance for any feedback.
Shorty98
10 March 2017
For me it felt like a huge weight had been lifted off of me. I could walk faster and smile for real, instead of forcing it. My mind was clearer, not so foggy. I had less anxiety and was able to sleep at night and be awake during the day. Sometimes it can take a month or so for the med to work, but you can go back to your doctor and ask for something else if you believe it's not working. Paxil and Prozac I've heard are great for ptsd sufferers. Hope this has been if some help.
Related topics
lexapro, depression, post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, antidepressant
Further information
- Lexapro uses and safety info
- Lexapro prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lexapro (detailed)
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