Escitalopram for Major Depressive Disorder User Reviews (Page 4)

• Keeks
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2020

"I felt the side effects for the first few days which was brain fog, haziness, and tiredness. I then continued to feel fatigued but better through the next month. I used to be crying every day for two months straight, and the first month was so much better. I got into my second month of Cipralex and everything started to go downhill. I started crying again, having thoughts of terror, self-harm, just awful torture feelings. I now feel extremely detached from reality and I am very scared. I cry everyday, maybe twice a day with a full blown mental breakdown. I’m seeing a clinical therapist and a psychiatrist to help! I’ll keep this updated because I would love to help someone if they have this same issue."

• gabri...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2019

Lexapro (escitalopram) "was on Lexapro for 8 months. It didn't work at all. It seems it accentuated the depression even more. I was sleeping too much and eating too much. I couldn't socialize. After I got off of it, I had an euphoric episode."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 14, 2019

"I'm a 34 year old female who has suffered with major depression/anxiety and PTSD for over 10 years. I've been taking escitalopram 10mg since July 1, 2019. I had minor side effects for the first two weeks while taking this (migraines, slight dizziness, and excessive tiredness) but now I'm feeling like my old self again. I still get bouts of anxiety from time to time but it goes away as easy as it comes on. It's not nagging nor is it debilitating anymore. My relationship with my husband has improved as well. I have not had a panic attack since taking this. The odd thing I've noticed is that I have not cried since I've been taking this medication. It's an odd feeling to have emotion but not cry."

• Grimace...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 16, 2017

Lexapro (escitalopram) "This is a wonder drug. If you suffer from any type of anxiety, especially PTSD, and depression, especially major depression, this drug will ease your symptoms to a minimal. This is a "clean" feeling drugs and works great. Now the bad side: this drug has way too many side effects to recommend to anyone that is not retired or hospitalized. Without adjunctive therapy with an atypical antipsychotic this drug will make you numb and turn you into the walking dead. Cloudy, foggy, and lethargic with memory issues are the main side effects associated with this drug. Further side effects include but are not limited to erectile dysfunction and the libido of a 90 year old man. Aside from these effects this is a super SSRI!"

• Janelle
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 22, 2021

Lexapro (escitalopram) "Lexapro has definitely helped me. I don't dread or worry as much. I'm not a numb vessel coasting through life anymore. I actually enjoy my life - the good and the not-so-good! I'm on a low dose and take it once in the morning. No profound side effects EXCEPT I have trouble initiating an orgasm; however I still feel pleasure during sex so it's not end of the world."

• Kobstar
• January 4, 2019

"I have been on this for about 4 years now I suffered from severe depression plus panic attacks and severe anxiety. I didn't believe in pills especially ones that could help how bad I was feeling. I was having about 4-5 anxiety attacks per day before I started on this. I didn't sleep (I suffer from insomnia but was so bad I would maybe get 2 hours solid sleep a night. I got sleep paralysis a lot, literally gave up on life. I started taking half a pill then a full one 10mg , first week hated every minute I got worse and sick, was suicidal, more depressed, didn't get out of bed. But I stuck with them because got told it got better but it took 4 weeks to start not feeling sick and I upped my dosage to 20mg. If you can't stick with it for at least 4 weeks then yes you will hate it but coming from someone who was dead against tablets and gave up any hope of my anxiety ever stopping and my depression ever getting easier to deal with.....this medication has SAVED MY LIFE..."

• ptsd
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 31, 2023

Lexapro (escitalopram) "Started to feel gradually better over the course of a couple of weeks. The drug does take time to adjust your body's chemistry. Taking it in the afternoon is the best, as it helps with easing into sleep at night. I do feel a lot better on Lexapro than before. Because of this medication, I can live a normal life, including working, being with friends and family, and completing daily tasks. I struggled severely with anxiety, depression, panic disorders, and social phobia to the point where I couldn't hold a job. It takes time to work. It's not an instant fix. Take it as prescribed and talk to your psychiatrist."

• Momof
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 10, 2019

Lexapro (escitalopram) "Lexapro didn't fully resolve my depression. It took the edge off but my doctor had to add Wellbutrin because alone it wasn't doing enough even on 20mgs. I discontinued Lexapro because I was gaining too much weight from increased appetite and lethargy. It also messed with my libido and made it difficult to orgasm as well as made me super forgetful and flighty. After taking a gene sight test I found that Lexapro was in moderate category so it never would have worked for me anyway."

• Anony...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 30, 2019

"Escitalopram has changed my life. I know it might not be for everyone and it definitely took time (2 years) to find the right medication for me. After trying Wellbutrin, Prozac, Xanax, Abilify, Trazodone, and Seroquel, it was a simple SSRI that brought my most severe MDD symptoms to a halt. It took time and patience to find the right drug, but I have been stable on it for 8 months and am in full remission from depression. All this said, I know others that have success with Prozac or other medications listed above. Trust your doctors, trust the process, and be honest with any symptoms you experience. Don't lose hope."

• Maksy...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 9, 2015

"I was hospitalized on November 26, 2014 for Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. I honestly thought my life had come to an end. They gave me Lexapro 20mg. It took 2-3 months for me to really feel the effects of the drug, but it works. As far as levels of anxiety is concerned, I am very doubtful the level of anxiety I had is one easily surpassed. It was nonstop, 24/7, perpetual burning sensation in my chest, ears, and extremities which had no underlying physiological cause. For anyone who is suffering from severe depression and anxiety who think there is no where left to turn, I URGE you to try this drug. Escitalopram may SAVE your life."

• Emano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

Lexapro (escitalopram) "This medicine made me so sick. I tried taking it in the morning, I got sick. I tried taking it at night, I got sick. I tried with and without food and I kept getting sick. I was on 25mg and after a week I couldn’t take it anymore. All it did was stress me out and made me feel weak."

• Barb...
• August 26, 2016

Lexapro (escitalopram) "I've been on this med for over a month and the side effects do not out weigh my symptoms . The withdrawal sucks and the hyperness and the tiredness sucks. I'm 31 and haven't been on a depressant since I was 15. I lost my sister 5 months ago and it set me into anxiety, panic and depression."

• Babyg...
• September 12, 2019

"I first started on the generic Lexapro in 2018. I went to the doctor because I was so depressed I didn't want to comb my hair or get out of bed. I just wanted to cry. I started with 10mg. The first week I had diarrhea. After 8 weeks I was outgoing, had lots of energy, I had so much energy I was the life of the party and I didn't even drink. Then I started hanging out more everyone loved my energy. With that I started drinking which was a BIG NO NO. I stopped the medication and slipped right back into a depression. Now 2019 I am on 20mg I'm at week 5 . I love this medicine please don't drink and take it in the morning. I'm so ready for week 8❤"

• RyanB
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• July 15, 2022

Lexapro (escitalopram) "Started this drug in November of 2021.I wanted to try something that could get me through some difficult grieving I was experiencing from losing my dad. Had a few shorts stints with it over the years but never made it through the side effects in the beginning so I stopped. My primary started me on 10MG for about 1 month and a half and then moved me up to 20MG. The side effects were brutal. Panic attacks, extreme nausea, fatigue, and some lightheadedness. After the effects subsided, I have felt nothing. I am on constant auto pilot. I can't cry or even feel emotions. I'm just stuck in a fog and feel so disorientated every day. My anxiety is through the roof and can't hardly get through the day without having a panic attack. I know this isn't supposed to primarily help with anxiety, but some have said it has done something for them. I quit cold turkey in June 2022 and since then have been able to feel things. Sadly, the feelings are so heightened that it's hard to manage sometimes."

• irrit...
• August 3, 2016

"I waited way too long to get treated for Anxiety & Depression. I wish I would have sought medical help sooner. After 20 years of battling with both A/D and moving and living as if I were in slow motion, I finally went on an SSRI. Before the Escitalopram, i was constantly irritable, jumpy, quick to anger, and downright raging at times. I took a lot of my bad moods out on my kids and husband and I feel horrible. I am calm now. Things that normally would upset me and set me off, don't even bother me now. I can function normally and not like a crazy person. I started out with 10mg and was increased to 20mg. Some sexual side effects, but I will take it ANY DAY over what I was living with."

• mmano
• July 16, 2019

Lexapro (escitalopram) "My Dr. prescribed me Wellbutrin Xl at 150 mg, and was on ( currently) for a few months. He wanted to pair 5mg of lexapro with my Wellbutrin to see if it would stabilize things. I gave this med a whole thirty days cycle. I’m unsure if it was the pairing of the two or just the lexapro itself. But it caused me to physical and emotional distress. Physical: extreme nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, dizziness, I had a ton of vivid dreams. I felt consistently even more fatigue, but could never fall asleep. Emotional side: I felt a bit foggy, had some really dark thoughts, more sensitive than usual, and had no motivation to workout, so activities I enjoy, etc. it intensified some of my old depression symptoms, instead of aiding it. I’m unsure if it helped the anxiety portion. This med is clearly not the right for me. Currently slowly weaning off of it. I hope it works better for others"

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2021

Lexapro (escitalopram) "I've been taking Paxil for 6 years now, 40mg daily. It was my miracle drug it seemed. Kept my migraines at bay, my depression curbed down, I felt myself. My daughter passed away in 2009. Every year near her bday I'd always get low, this year 2021, I must of met my breaking point. About a week before her bday I had the worst panic attack I've had in 6 years. I had to pull over, dad had to come and rescue me and drive me home, for 30+ minutes I couldn't see straight, heart pounding, even had a stranger come and talk to me, he couldn't believe I was having an attack because to him I seemed totally fine. Come to find out he was a priest, he prayed for me. Well I met with my Dr fee days later, he said paxil probably stopped working and he put me on Lexapro 20mg. Tuesday I took my paxil, Wednesday morning I stopped it and started Lexapro. Immediately switched, he said I'd be fine. Of course like yall I had to look it up, wish I wouldn't. Each day I'm getting better, today is day 7 on lexapro"

• the...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 28, 2015

Lexapro (escitalopram) "I've had depression since my teenage years but never spoke to anyone about it and didn't take anything for it until 2 and a half years ago when I had a bad run of luck with a few big things close together, it all got too much and I took a massive amount of prescription medication to try and end my life, 16 hours later I was woken up by my mum and taken to hospital. The Drs said most people wouldn't of woken up or at least had severe organ damage but I was ok, no damage. That's when I had to speak to Drs, psychs, family and some friends. They put me on lexapro and it worked fairly well for 2 years but when a few bad, stressful situations happened again it failed the test, I'm now trying venlafaxin, not sure yet but hopefully I get better results"

• bshank
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 9, 2021

Lexapro (escitalopram) "I was on it for about a year. Even pushed it to 60 Mg with my doctor. Never could quite help me. For me it was better for Anxiety than Depression. I think there are some people that are never introduced to any drugs except SSRI's - but I can tell you none of the SSRI's helped me. Getting some help from another Drug in another class right now. Praying it works."

• Itz
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2023

Lexapro (escitalopram) "Completing week 5. It has been hell. The first medication Mirtazapine seemed to have made my already severe depression worse. I felt extremely suicidal without space for any other thought. So far I had my period a few days ago and for the last two days the suicidal plan hasn't been up and running. I am taking it as a good sign. Starting week 5…. We’ll see. I'll try to come back."

• abdul
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 9, 2019

Lexapro (escitalopram) "For the first few days, it felt like it is not working but after a week it makes me become better. Plus I do not have sexual dysfunction like it said there might be for side effects, it gives me more erection and I'm worried"

• Peten...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 7, 2021

Lexapro (escitalopram) "This is one of many antidepressants I have tried - it worked for my depression to an extent, but I went off it after 4-5 months because I felt like a zombie. It also removed my ability to enjoy sex (anorgasmia). I'm grateful I took it when I did, because it numbed me to the loss of a beloved family member to a horrible form of cancer, but that was exactly the problem - I was numb all the time. I had no lows, but I also had no highs; my personality felt like a constant flat line. In the end , I wanted my personality back, so I stopped taking it. It also caused me to gain weight (5-10 lbs). I probably would have overlooked that if not for the other issues."

• BeeRe...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2020

Lexapro (escitalopram) "This antidepressant Lexapro actually helped my depression a lot. But it made my bipolar disorder worse. I rearranged my whole apartment, furniture and all 4 to 5 times in a month. Anything was misplaced by someone living there I would start yelling at them."

• It...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 27, 2022

Lexapro (escitalopram) "I’m very glad I stuck it out with lexapro. I take the generic version but the first few weeks are going to be ROUGH. I was feeling nauseous 24/7, getting daily headaches, anxiety, and insomnia. It’s worth it. If you can stick out the first couple of weeks it is awesome. I’ve never felt better about myself and I can actually focus on my tasks and get out of bed. Been through a couple of different anti-depressants but this one is definitely the one that works the best for me."

• Super...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 26, 2022

"I have been using this medication for about a year, starting at 2.5 mg and ending up on 15 mg. I was prescribed it for CPTSD/GAD/MDD. Prescribed to me by my awesome GP. Amazing med but it can take a long time to find the right dose and to work, which requires quite a lot of patience. There are uncomfortable side effects in the beginning (nausea, headache, constipation). These are manageable. Also, around 20 lb weight gain for me, but I was pretty thin to begin with so I didn’t mind. I had to go up a size. This med has given me enough motivation to go to therapy, exercise, eat healthy and practice daily CBT and DBT, as well as mindfulness, all of which help me manage my illnesses. Escitalopram is life saving for me- the reason I’m taking it is for mental illness after sexual assault. I highly recommend it. Work with your doctor or psych to figure out the best dose and approach for you. Very easy to use. I take the med in the morning, it doesn’t affect my sleep that way."