Lexapro for Generalized Anxiety Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2024

"Never experienced life so quiet before, nothing to worry about, no anger outburst, did not notice any seasonal depression this winter as well??, being able to look at things before reacting instead of going from one mood to another and having high mood swings all day. 'What if...' thoughts are gone. No overthinking. I can actually think clearly now. I am able to read because it's so quiet, normally I had no focus.. I actually went on ADHD meds before this because I thought I had ADHD because my mind couldn't stop. Turned out it was not ADHD, it was anxiety. ADHD meds just made me worse, but this.. I feel finally free. Free from worry, overthinking, health anxiety has gone away, OCD completely went away and social anxiety as well. I have my moments when I might think of something embarrassing but I do not feel disgust from it. I accept it. I am so much more talkative without repeating convo in my head afterwards. I've been taking this for 4 months now, I am still not used to it. I love it."

• You...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 8, 2017

"I just wanted to share my experience for those who are out there scared to death to take something that may help them, something your brain may need. Long story short, I was diagnosed with GAD/Panic seven years ago at the age of 19 when my brother was diagnosed with a severe psychiatric mental illness - one that changed his life as well as my family's. I began having full-blown nocturnal panic attacks, depersonalization, along with extreme anxiety/panic. I tried CBT, changing my diet, doing meditation/yoga, journaling, deep breathing, etc. Nothing worked & nothing helped me overcome this except Lexapro. I am currently an RN and believe my brain needs this medication. Please don't be scared or ashamed if you need to take something to help."

• Kma...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 29, 2021

"I promised I would come here & write a review if I experienced any form of relief on Lexapro. When at my absolute rock bottom, I would spend hours reading reviews begging & pleading for any semblance of hope during such a horrifically dark time. I was POSITIVE with every fiber of my being that it wouldn’t work for me & that I would be a shell of myself - anxious, panicky with doom dread & hopelessness forever. I was certain of it. The first 4 weeks were absolutely brutal. I held on by a thread as my body adjusted to the medication. I had morning dread, nausea, zero appetite, anxiety, hopelessness + more. I started feeling relief at 4 weeks almost exactly. I had to use lorazepam to sleep during this time and am weaning slowly off now, but at 8 weeks on Lexapro I feel 10000x better. I cope now. I get through the day with little to no anxiety, and little to no depression. It took around 6 weeks to get what I would say is relief & I am SO grateful. I am so much better now!!"

• Anonymous
• December 22, 2013

"I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder with intrusive thoughts. This came out of nowhere, and I ended up having to take time off work. One week of sitting on the sofa, crying my eyes out, and having repeated panic attacks and thinking I was going crazy. I then saw my doctor. She referred me to a psychologist and put me on Lexapro 5mg for 4 days and then up to 10mg. She also gave me Valium to use sparingly initially till my anxiety dropped. No change week 1 except day 1 where I felt a feeling of euphoria. Week 2 had an increase in anxiety, even a panic attack. End of week 3, and I'm back to my old self. No more anxiety or intrusive thoughts. I am doing all the things I used to do. I feel normal again. Lexapro and seeing a psychologist have done wonders. Super happy."

• Sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2021

"I started on Lexapro 2 years ago because of illness and family issues. It worked really well for me. No side effects whatsoever. I began with drops of 2 mg and slowly reached one tablet of 10 mg after 2 weeks. After 2 weeks, I began to feel like myself again. 6 months ago, feeling well, I weaned myself off. No side effects again. I got sick again this year and my anxiety rose. I have put myself back on Lexapro and I am just starting week 2. I'm ok so far again. This time, I started on 5 mg and today have just started 10 mg. I feel guilty for having to resort to Lexapro again but if taking a pill gets me back to myself, I will take it. Just be aware that it takes a couple of weeks to start feeling the effects. I start feeling better after a week. I'm hoping it helps me as it's done before. It sort of gives you a floor when you feel your anxiety rising and stops the spiraling effect. I will take it as long as I need it. I'm so grateful it is available. Highly recommended!"

• Anonymous
• July 15, 2024

"Like others, I wanted to report back on my experience with Lexapro. Seemingly out of nowhere, I came down with a case of GAD. One day I was perfectly normal and the next I had crippling anxiety all day long, along with brain fog and exhaustion. My doctor prescribed lorazepam and Lexapro 10 mg. I refused to take the Lexapro thinking if this came on suddenly it would go away suddenly, but it didn’t. After about a month I finally had enough and started Lexapro. I cut the pills and tapered from 2.5mg to 10mg over a month or so. My side effects were similar to others, dry mouth, trouble sleeping, night sweats and increased anxiety. Approximately three days after starting my 10 mg dosage I really started seeing consistent benefits. Two weeks after that I was anxiety free all day every day. Now it’s been a month and I am still anxiety free. All sides are gone and I feel completely normal again. For me this drug is a miracle. Hope this is helpful to others"

• Giv...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 20, 2018

"I had great luck with this medication for many years and then got off of it when I got pregnant. About 6 weeks postpartum, I became very depressed and my anxiety spiked. My doctor put me on Zoloft, and after giving it 8 weeks and only feeling worse and worse, my doctor switched me to Lexapro. I started at 10mg for 3 weeks, experienced a little diarrhea but nothing too awful. However, it wasn’t taking away my anxiety issues. By that point, I had become agoraphobic, couldn’t drive, had to take some time off work. Doctor upped me to 20mg, and 2 weeks later I started driving again, working out again, feeling like a normal human being. I read through the positive reviews on this page over and over to get me through. Please, please give the medication 4-8 weeks to feel the full benefits. And only read positive reviews. You’ll make it through this and know you are not alone!"

• Mad...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 27, 2019

"This medicine has been life-altering. I have been taking it for over 3 years and cannot imagine where I would be without it. I experience no negative side effects with this medication and am able to conduct a normal life. I used to stay up for hours before bed with my mind racing and vomit from social apprehension. I have only had 2-3 anxiety attacks since I began the medication and while I still experience anxiety and nerves, it is a healthy amount. I am so happy to have found a drug that allows me to conduct a normal life and still feel like myself!"

• BE2...
• April 13, 2015

"I suffered from anxiety with significant episodes of depression since I was 19 (I'm 26 now). My anxiety manifested itself as hypochondria mostly. I constantly thought I had cancer, MS, or some other debilitating disease. I feared my loved ones would die or get sick as well. The worry would consume my thoughts, and I would spend hours online researching these illnesses, convinced I had something. Started taking Lexapro 20 MG, and I've never looked back. My hypochondria is completely gone. 'Sad' moods are no longer full-blown depressive episodes. My life seems so much lighter and more manageable. There's no shame in taking medicine if you need it. I only wish I had started it sooner."

• Ano...
• November 24, 2013

"I suffered from anxiety, obsessive thoughts due to anxiety, and depression as a result. I had thoughts in my head that I tried to suppress, and the thoughts just came back stronger. I thought that I was completely helpless and began to have suicidal thoughts. I started on Zoloft (first on 25mg, then 50mg), and it helped with my depression and anxiety, except it made me really sleepy. My doctor suggested Lexapro at 10mg, and I have been on it for about 5 weeks now. My condition has improved tremendously! I am happier, and my thoughts aren't overpowering my life. I started CBT, and that has helped as well. DO NOT GIVE UP. Things will get better, I promise. I thought the medicine wouldn't work for me, but it does."

• ang...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 30, 2016

"I was terrified of taking Lexapro after having horrible side effects with every single antidepressant known in the market. I am a 52-year-old female, and after reading all the negative reviews, I quit taking it for a period of 2 weeks. I finally decided I was so miserable I would try it again, and 3 months later I am doing great! No more fear of leaving the house, negative self-talk, constant anxiety, and worry! I may have gained 1-2 pounds, but if you take it, you will be more likely to go out for walks, gym, and get moving again, which I have. Please don't let the negative reviews influence if the med will work for you or not. I'm obsessive about weight gain, and I am not gaining! I'm really liking my new calm self. Give it 6 weeks, big difference!"

• snj...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 31, 2016

"I was suffering with panic disorder with agoraphobia for 10 years. It started off pretty innocuous, a few trips to the ER, calling out of work... As my symptoms got worse, I became more and more housebound. Going ANYWHERE, even a trip to the supermarket was miserable. I couldn't take my kids to the park. I had to quit my job because of the distance and panic attacks. I loved to travel but I could no longer get on a plane, forget getting to the airport. I literally tried everything. Finally, I cracked. My doc prescribed me Lexapro. I was so scared but so desperate. It has completely given me my life back. Slowly, surely, persistently, I began to drive again. 2 years later I am me again. Fight through the side effects. Don't waste your life."

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 25, 2019

"I am a 20-year-old female and recently my anxiety had gotten to the point where I was scared to leave my house. I had bad health anxiety, so I couldn't go anywhere or drive my car without fear of a stroke or seizure. My doctor prescribed me Lexapro, and I have only been on it for exactly a week, but I started seeing significant changes after day 3. This medication completely changed my life. I am now able to go and do things, work out, and drive wherever I please without my anxiety and OCD telling me I can't. The only side effect I have encountered is drowsiness, which is nice because I take it at night and am finally able to get a full night's rest without my thoughts keeping me up. I HIGHLY recommend this medication because it gave me my life back."

• s22...
• February 12, 2019

"This is week 3 on Lexapro, and I truly am amazed and so glad I gave it a shot. For the past 2 years, I’ve been struggling with non-stop cycles of anxiety, from my health to my relationship, racing and intrusive thoughts with a bit of an obsessive tendency added. I eventually got to my breaking point and decided that it was time to do something. Therapy just wasn't doing enough for me, and I didn’t want it to take over my life. I have to admit the first 2 weeks were rough. I didn’t have any major side effects, but I was very, very anxious and panicky. I was so convinced this medicine wouldn’t work for me, I read just about every review on this site. I’m now on week 3, and just about 90% of my anxiety is gone just like that, and it’s truly crazy that a pill can make this all better. I’ve never felt so positive and confident in myself in a very, very long time. This pill works, and if it doesn’t, there’s always another option. But stick with it and give it time - at least for a month!"

• Joh...
• May 2, 2013

"In the summer of 2012, I had the worst panic attack. I thought I was having a heart attack and immediately rushed to the hospital. Long story short, I was prescribed Lexapro since I was not progressing and had lost 40 lbs in less than a month. I spent nights crying, asking why me. Within two weeks of taking 20 mg, I felt like my old self again. I was no longer socially anxious when it came to conversing with people and was thankful to be alive. The depressed and anxious me stayed home all day and lay in bed, but not anymore. I've been off it for 3 months now, but my advice to others is not to research 100 different sites for side effects."

• Squ...
• May 16, 2019

"Lexapro is a lifesaver! I’ve always been an anxious person but didn’t see anxiety as a problem. Then at 39, after a minor health scare, I became crippled by anxiety. I lost weight, couldn’t eat, and could hardly mother my children. After a couple ER visits and many tests, I had a clean bill of health and started Lexapro. In just a couple of weeks, I was feeling great! I realized I actually had lots of anxiety prior to my health scare but thought it was normal. I’d wake up every morning hot, nauseated, lightheaded and with a racing heart. Sometimes I had to force myself out of bed because of a sense of dread I had no explanation for. I’m so happy I don’t have to live like that now. My only complaint is that it takes some extra effort to orgasm; that’s a small price to pay to enjoy life. If you’re scared like I was, start at 2.5mg, if that feels okay, increase it by 2.5mg each time. I’m so happy to have my life back. Don’t give up and don’t wait to treat yourself. Why suffer?"

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 17, 2023

"I took Lexapro back in 2018 (age 38). I was on it for about a year and decided to come off of it to see how I would do. No major withdrawal symptoms tapering off 10mg. Fast forward to a little over 2 weeks ago (now age 43). I started Lexapro 5mg again for GAD due to recent anxiety attacks. I had horrible side effects for 6 days. It peaked on day 4 with severe anxiety, sweating, extreme nausea, etc. I had to take a Valium. Not sure why I had such bad side effects the second time taking it, other than 5 years had passed and I was also on oral birth control before. I might be perimenopausal now. I have slowly started feeling better since day 7 and now on day 15 I feel amazing! I feel like a huge weight is lifted and I can work, socialize, exercise, eat, do all the things. HANG IN THERE! You got this!"

• Pos...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 27, 2018

"As others, I wanted to share my experience. I've been on this Lexapro for more than 4 years in the past. Then last spring, when I've been noticing I sometimes forgot my 5 mg dose, I tapered down on the medicine. In the summer, no real issues, but the winter came in hard and one bad trigger had me right back on the anxious side. I re-started to take 10 mg for 2 weeks and now 1 week at 15 mg. The first weeks, I suffered increased anxiety, panic attacks, and didn't see any hope. And then BAM, it starts working. I'm still not at the full benefits, but I feel it kicked in. Now I'm back to having interest in stuff, people, etc. So I have three major advices: 1. Please give the medicine time, it might be rough but when it starts working you're gonna have the real benefits. 2. It's not a shame to take a little pill. People with high blood sugar levels do it too. 3. Don't see this medication as the only solution... See therapists, do some cardio, mindfulness. I pray for all you guys!"

• Tif...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 7, 2023

"Let me start off by saying this! DO NOT GIVE UP! I have always been a worrywart, but last February, I went through a lot of stress. In March, I was having horrible panic attacks. My chest would feel icy hot, legs and arms would go weak, lost my appetite to the point where I couldn’t physically eat. My heart would pound, and I would be dizzy. Went to the doctor's, and he said I have anxiety. He started me off with 5mg of Lexapro for 2 weeks. The side effects made me worse. I wanted to give up. I was dizzy, extremely anxious, nausea, retching all day, couldn't eat, couldn’t sleep, night sweats, and I missed my period. Now I’m 6 weeks in on 10mg, and I feel amazing!! My period came back, I can eat again, and no anxiety!! God blessed me with a great doctor and this medicine."

• HKJ...
• January 10, 2015

"I wanted to share my experience because when I first started taking Lexapro, I read these boards daily searching for hope. I have always had anxiety, but it was not until this summer that I started experiencing physical symptoms. I was constantly nauseous, often felt dizzy, and my heart would flutter in my chest nonstop. I thought I was losing my mind and going crazy. This led to depression and a feeling of hopelessness. I went to the doctor and had every test in the book done, and nothing was wrong. I was then prescribed Lexapro, and the first couple of weeks were rough. I started on 5mg for two weeks, and during that time, I was also taking 0.25 Xanax a day while I got used to the Lexapro. I am now two months into 10mg and have never felt better!"

• Cop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 31, 2019

"So after 9 months of bullying/harassment at work from 3 different bosses, I was at breaking point. I was even having massive anxiety attacks at people taking too long in the self-checkout at the supermarket. So I went to the GP who prescribed Zoloft 50mg, tried for a week, horrendous, threw them in the bin. Went to another GP who prescribed Lexapro 10mg, along with Zopiclone 7.5mg for sleep. As he said, Lexapro will take a week or two to acclimatize. Started Sunday morning, felt weird after a few hours, dizzy, peripheral hallucinations, slept like a log. Monday morning, same deal, almost whited out at the supermarket, slept well. Tuesday morning, feel good, little dizzy, energetic in the afternoon. But the dizziness has gone. Had kind of a dry mouth all 3 days, but just kept the liquids up. Lexapro seems heaps more tolerable than Zoloft, not even a hint of anxiety the last 2 days. Hope this keeps up, good luck to everyone on the same journey X"

• Sug...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 21, 2020

"Lexapro was the first meds I took to help with my anxiety and panic attacks and worked great. I did get side effects for only the first week, I had nausea and headaches, the side effects were tolerable though. Little by little, I felt like I was able to get my life back. The only side effect that made me want to stop was a decrease in my sex drive. If it weren't for that, it would be a 10/10 for me."

• god...
• August 25, 2013

"I had suffered from anxiety disorder for at least 11 years. Worrying, palpitations, shortness of breath, basically all the popular anxiety symptoms. I am on Lexapro because it works. Side effects like lower sex drive, difficulty reaching orgasm, and insomnia all go away. I find myself fearless, my life is active, no more 'what ifs,' and no anxiety attacks. It's a miracle pill. BUT, I was 135 pounds and skinny. I'm 5'5, and I had an amazing metabolism, my body was rock solid. After 3 years of Lexapro, I am now 165 pounds. I have to try to work out and eat healthy, I know. Please don't wait as long as I did to change your life and get back to your wonderfully made self!"

• Anonymous
• October 20, 2010

"Lexapro has been incredible for me. I am a 37-year-old man. It has now been 5 1/2 weeks on 10 mg and I feel amazing. For the first three weeks, it was not effective, and I did have some side effects: loss of appetite, fatigue, no sex drive (although I could still perform), trouble sleeping, and I would wake up with a very uneasy feeling, basically anxious. But at week four, it all seemed to turn around. My sex drive came back, I started eating normally, I had more energy during the day. It is sometimes still hard to sleep at night, but not too bad. I am truly amazed at how I feel. I am a very successful person, have my own business, a beautiful family, but have always felt close to worthless inside, always feeling less than everyone else."

• Tes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 25, 2019

"After being off of Lexapro for about 3 years and trying natural remedies, I met my breaking point. All areas of my life were suffering. I restarted 5mg the first week, then 10mg the next 2 and a half weeks. The side effects during those first 3 weeks were horrible: nausea, extreme fatigue, dizziness, and no appetite. I knew I would go back to square one if I stopped. I increased my dose to 20mg as I had done very well on it in the past. The side effects were still there but not as bad. One and a half weeks on 20mg, I feel great. More energy, feeling social with family and friends. Before, I hated being around people. I still have a little longer to feel normal, but I'll continue this medication. Regardless of the horror stories you've heard, remember everyone is different and your body will most likely respond differently. I know it's hard not to get discouraged and question whether it's working the first few weeks, but don't give up and don't stop taking it. Give your body the chance to get used to it. Trust me, you will be glad you did."