Escitalopram and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Rut...
• March 30, 2021

For Anxiety "I have suffered from extreme anxiety for years now. I would awake at 3:00 am every morning, gripped with thrashing, unreasonable thoughts that led into a panic. I stayed disoriented, dizzy, glassy-eyed, heart-pounding, crying myself to sleep at night, wanting to be 'normal' again. The first week of taking 5 mg of Lexapro, everything got worse. I was more anxious and very tired. Two weeks into taking Lexapro, the darkness began to lift! I was finally coming alive. I was feeling much better than I had been in years. After two months on 5 mg, I increased to 10 mg. The initial side effects returned, and my anxiety and tiredness came back. I fought through the first week. WOW! The outcome is more than I could have hoped for! I am calm, happy, laughing, silly, and ever so grateful! I would encourage you to try Lexapro and be prepared for a possible adjustment stage, but after the storm, oh what beauty! Be good to yourself, fight for your happy place."

• KAa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 6, 2021

For Depression "This pill changed my life. I was very skeptical to take it after reading about the terrible side effects. Indeed, I had awful side effects within the first weeks including waking up shaking, increased anxiety, and an increase in suicidal thoughts. In fact, I begged the doctor to change me onto something else, but he told me to stick with it. After 4 weeks, I was absolutely transformed and I still honestly can’t believe the change it made to me. I’m no longer crying every day, I’ve started enjoying all the things I used to, and rediscovering myself. I’m no longer angry or unable to contain my emotions. I was in the position you were reading reviews and asking myself if this can really help me. It can! My advice is stick with it because the side effects can be heavy, but for me, it has changed everything - so much so that I felt I had to come back to write this in the hope of helping others that were in my position!"

• Tri...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 16, 2022

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I began taking this drug 10 years ago when I thought I was seriously ill. I had numerous medical tests done, but in the end, my doctor was right, and it was just anxiety and panic attacks. I don’t say 'just' lightly. I know you are reading this post because you are miserable with suffering and struggling so much right now. Please know that you are in good company, and so many people are suffering just as you are. I highly encourage you to give this medication a solid chance. I’m not gonna lie, the first 2 to 3 weeks were pretty brutal. Increased anxiety at times, then better at times. Then one day, I had an entire afternoon where I felt perfectly normal. The next day I had a little anxiety, but those good days grew longer and longer until I realized I wasn’t constantly keeping score about my anxiety. Back and forth for a while, just like the tide. My ideal dose is 20 mg, but I usually take 10 when things are relatively calm and 20 when things get really bad. YOU’VE GOT THIS! Hugs"

• Ari...
• May 7, 2021

For Anxiety "I'm on day two of taking Lexapro. After starting college remotely full-time for nursing and finishing up my first semester, one night out of nowhere I had my first anxiety attack since childhood. The attacks intensified, I was constantly anxious, convinced I was deathly ill, afraid to be around anyone but my husband. I felt like my personality had been ripped away. After about two weeks of not being able to get it under control, I set up an appointment with my doctor and was put on Lexapro. I'm only two days in, but so far, it has helped. I still feel anxious at times, but I'm able to calm myself down. I still don't feel quite like myself, but I figure it will come in time. A few things I've noticed since taking the medication are dry mouth, sluggishness, a bit foggy at times, still a little anxious but it's manageable, and a bit dizzy. My appetite has started to come back, but my stomach is still a little off. I will update at my 1-month mark. Hang in there, everyone. We will overcome."

• Dml...
• November 22, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I am 2 weeks into my 10mg Lexapro. I will say, every day for the first 7 days, I wanted to quit! I was tired, so, so, so tired, felt so much anxiety, and had panic attacks almost every morning. Like I said, I'm 2 weeks in and I literally feel like a new person, a new happy person who again wants to go outside, wants to talk to friends again. I spent so long not wanting to be around my family, friends, didn't want to do my job, didn't want to shop, didn't want to cook or eat. I finally told my doctor I don't feel like a person anymore at all, I had no drive to do anything at all. If you're struggling, please don't stop taking it... I promise, life starts in roughly 10 days!!! I get up now, I'm not tired, I can eat, my stomach doesn't stay in knots, and I'm not living in my head worried about everything possible, and no panic attacks, thank goodness! Stay strong, you got this!!! These posts are the reason I'm at this point... thank you everyone for your stories."

• des...
• June 19, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I said I’d come back and write a review after a few weeks, so here I am!! I’m not going to lie to you, the first few weeks of this medication were hard (terrible thoughts, increased anxiety, insane amounts of sleeping). But I am so very glad I stuck with it. For 7 months, I could barely go 5 minutes from my house without getting a panic attack. I was terrified of everything and developed really bad agoraphobia. My anxiety controlled every aspect of my life and I wasn’t sure if I was ever going to get over it. This medication is slowly starting to give me my life back after just almost 4 weeks on it. All the side effects have cleared up and I have done more this week than I was able to do in the past 7 months. I did everything I was once terrified of doing, and I had not a lot of anxiety doing it. If you are having side effects and they are getting to you right now, I am BEGGING YOU to stick with it. I almost stopped taking this medication, and I am so happy that I didn’t stop."

• Tom...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 24, 2025

For Anxiety "I am 73 and have been taking 10 mg of Lexapro for 18 months. It has been a game changer in my life. I wouldn’t stop taking it for a million bucks. I wish I had started taking it years ago. It has helped so much with my anxiety and minor depression. I thought everyone felt like me, so I refused to face up to my mental problems, and I also didn’t want to “take pills.” My own mental condition fought against taking the drug. Boy, was I wrong! I actually tried it out of desperation and after reading many reviews. Two to three weeks after starting Lexapro, I was feeling much better. At two months, symptoms of anxiety and depression lifted. I now have a happy retirement, sleep better, and laugh more, thanks to Lexapro."

• Che...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 20, 2020

For Anxiety "Was feeling terrible anxiety, it got really bad. I couldn’t stay asleep, was forgetting stuff, couldn’t concentrate, was losing my appetite and losing weight. I didn’t know what was wrong, so I went to the doctor for anxiety. She gave me Xanax, then I asked her to put me on something with it, and she gave me Lexapro 10mg. The first week was holy moly as it made the anxiety 10 times worse and I got depressed too. I read these posts, and they said to stick with it, as it gets better. It’s super slow, and I’m on week 7, and finally, I feel a lot better. It’s working, feel almost normal, and pretty much no more Xanax as I don’t need it. So anyway, it does take a lot of time, just stick it out."

• Max...
• March 9, 2020

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "Just a disclaimer, I am NOT a doctor, nor do I specialize in anything beyond my own experience. This is my perspective that I want to share for those who were just like me. I take 2.5 mg of Lexapro. The first aspect I'd like to clarify is that taking a pill is not magic. I work out 2-3 times a week, I eat healthy, and I make a conscious effort to do skills my therapist teaches me like grounding, CBT, and balance. My anxiety is still there. However, the crippling act of having anxiety that would physically make me drop to my knees and ruminate in my brain for days in a row has subsided. Side effects of weird dreams, icy-hot feeling, and anxiousness did happen in the first week. This may not work for everyone, as everyone is different. I have read those same crazy reviews that scare you. I have circled on the act of why, when, how, and what if. I still have fears. I still get anxious. However, the place I was at, I wish for no one in the world to have to go through."

• Her...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 7, 2021

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "I was prescribed escitalopram for GAD with panic attacks after trying 2 other medicines (tricyclic antidepressants). Along with 20 mg Lexapro, I was taking 2 mg of clonazepam daily, 25 mg of quetiapine in the evening, and melatonin for sleep. At that time, I was experiencing all possible symptoms of severe anxiety, breathlessness, rapid heart rate, low mood. I felt overwhelmed and was crying all day. I had upset stomach, fear of dying. I wasn't going out at all. My family was worried and I thought I was dying. When I started the medicine, I experienced side effects: excessive yawning, insomnia, increased anxiety, nausea, sweating which lasted about 2 weeks. After 3-4 weeks of taking escitalopram, I started feeling better. I started therapy, and applied yoga, meditation, etc. Now I feel great. I can enjoy life again, and you can do it as well."

• Tri...
• January 26, 2021

For Anxiety "Omg, Lexapro has seriously saved my life. I had tried Effexor before it, and the side effects were so bad that I had a mini seizure. I was so afraid to try another drug that I almost didn't take the Lexapro. I'm so glad I did though. I have never felt this free of anxiety. I used to get literally paralyzing panic attacks and endless days of crying over anxiety sparked by freakin' nothing. I can live my life now, and I feel so inspired to be creative again. I will never go back. Don't get me wrong, I still have anxiety at times, but it doesn't just sit all day with me or trigger depression anymore."

• CCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2019

For Anxiety "Lexapro has saved me! I didn’t want to take any medication, but heightened anxiety and a couple panic attacks made it difficult for me to enjoy life — so much that I was becoming depressed. The first week on Lexapro was awful! Increased anxiety, a clouded feeling, and tiredness! And at the end of week 2, I had a day of high anxiety. But I’d read other reviews that encouraged me to push through! I’m so glad I did! I’m at week 4 on a dose of 5mg Lexapro and I’ve had no more panic attacks and anxiety is greatly reduced/manageable. I’m looking forward to how I’ll feel in another 4 weeks! No side effects have remained after the initial week or two. I did find it made me sleepy taking it in the morning, so I just changed to taking it at night which solved that problem. Hang in there if you’re just starting it and it’s rough. It will get better!"

• Dee...
• August 22, 2020

For Anxiety "Lexapro has worked great for me in the past, for my panic disorder and anxiety. I start at 5mg dose, do that for 1 week, and then I increase to 10mg dose. I take it at night to avoid daytime drowsiness. I always make sure I eat with it. I take 1 mg of Ativan for the first two weeks on it. All that combined really helps with side effects and anxiety when your brain is trying to get used to it. Hang in there!"

• Kca...
• December 30, 2020

For Anxiety "The first 3-4 weeks are tough. I knew it would take some time, but I felt a bit like a zombie or a sloth those first few weeks. My anxiety fueled me before, and I suddenly had an “I don’t care” attitude about everything. Around week 3, I suddenly felt “CLEAR”. I was able to do things like go into my laundry room and do one load of laundry without feeling overwhelmed by the other 5 loads that needed to be done. My anxiety was an all or nothing situation - I either could do it all at one time or could NEVER get it done in my brain. Lexapro allowed me to realize that it’s ok to do part of a task and finish it later - and helped me remember to finish it later. I feel so much better!"

• Kca...
• December 30, 2020

For Anxiety "The first 3-4 weeks are tough. I knew it would take some time, but I felt a bit like a zombie or a sloth those first few weeks. My anxiety fueled me before, and I suddenly had an “I don’t care” attitude about everything. Around week 3, I suddenly felt “CLEAR”. I was able to do things like go into my laundry room and do one load of laundry without feeling overwhelmed by the other 5 loads that needed to be done. My anxiety was an all or nothing situation - I either could do it all at one time or could NEVER get it done in my brain. Lexapro allowed me to realize that it’s ok to do part of a task and finish it later - and helped me remember to finish it later. I feel so much better!"

• Tan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 1, 2014

For Depression "Been off and on Lexapro for 4 years now. I dread having to go back on it as the side effects make me feel lousy - headaches, nausea, jittery, insomnia, lightheaded, and anxious. After a week though, I feel back to normal and my energy and love for life return. Being a person who prefers not to take medication, I know that sometimes you can fight too long before you need a helping hand - Lexapro helped me. If you do get side effects at the beginning, I advise you to go with the flow, understand that it's the medication working & think positive - take care to you all."

• Tan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 1, 2014

For Depression "Been off and on Lexapro for 4 years now. I dread having to go back on it as the side effects make me feel lousy - headaches, nausea, jittery, insomnia, lightheaded, and anxious. After a week though, I feel back to normal and my energy and love for life return. Being a person who prefers not to take medication, I know that sometimes you can fight too long before you need a helping hand - Lexapro helped me. If you do get side effects at the beginning, I advise you to go with the flow, understand that it's the medication working & think positive - take care to you all."

• Jus...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 13, 2018

For Anxiety "People!! It takes about 4-6 weeks to work! Don’t write a review when the drug has not settled and begun to give you the therapeutic benefits yet! 2-3 weeks into taking it, I felt rubbish, worst anxiety of my life, then pop, after about 4-5 weeks I feel the best I have felt in YEARS. I feel relaxed, calm, and ready to take on the world, live my life like a normal person. I’ve suffered extremely bad anxiety, stress, and panic attacks for over a decade, finally decided to try regular medication, not just take a Xanax when I feel it coming on. This medication I understand may not work for everyone, but at LEAST if you can, give it 6 weeks and commit to it if you’re going to try it. Changed my life. I will say though, the first month was bad anxiety, headaches, naps in the afternoon, and just horrible. Prescribed Xanax to deal with the side effects for the first few weeks, then once it settles, no side effects, just a calm and peaceful mind. Thank you."

• Nur...
• July 31, 2019

For Anxiety "I have been on Lexapro 10mg 3x - most recently was Jan-May and then weaned myself off (under doctor's supervision) over 6 weeks and had no problems with withdrawal. I have recently started back because of recent stress in my life (nasty divorce) which left me worrying constantly, debilitating anxiety, unable to sleep and/or eat. For me it’s the panic that’s horrible. So I started back on Lexapro 10mg 3 weeks ago today. The first 2 weeks were tough... it seemed to take longer to kick in this time and I actually referred to this site a dozen times to reassure myself that it would indeed start to work, and it did! I did have the increased anxiety, loss of appetite (lost 10 lbs in 2 weeks), the “internal shakes”, morning dread, and insomnia for the first 2 weeks. I would say around day 10-14 I started to feel the meds taking the edge off, and by day 18 I had almost no anxiety at all. Literally none. It’s so worth the wait if you can just hang in there through the first few weeks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 27, 2024

For Generalized Anxiety Disorder "It works! I've used this medicine on and off for 3 years, and it works. You just have to be consistent and patient. If you are alone, come to this site and read positive reviews of other people's experiences. If you have loved ones, rely on them. Just remember this is a MOMENT, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I've used different strengths of this medicine, 5mg to 20mg, and it does come with some side effects, like increased anxiety, dry mouth, fogginess, but it will pass. I'm starting on day 8 of my medicine today, and the side effects are there but trying to remain positive and busy. It affects everyone here differently, but remember to stay positive. Based on my experience, it takes about 2-4 weeks to get the full effects of the medicine. Hang in there and be strong. Write a review if you need to, no need to internalize."

• Ora...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 7, 2021

For Anxiety "(Male/24) Initially Lexapro made my anxiety worse, quite significantly. I experienced both anxiety & panic attacks at a greater frequency compared to prior to starting. Despite this, I have continued to take the medication with the hope that this side effect would lessen, despite most of my thoughts begging me to stop this medication. After about 12 days, I felt my body adjusting to the dosage. The last two days I have felt really great, no anxiety or racing heart rate (another initial side effect), no panic attacks and improved mood and enjoyment in things. I wanted to share just in case others are experiencing initial worsening anxiety and are unsure if this improves over time. Although my one experience is anecdotal, I am glad I stuck with it. I experienced headaches, nausea, jitteriness and trouble sleeping the first week as well, those too have gone away. My appetite has improved, and I have had no complications with sexual dysfunction. I hope this helps"

• And...
• December 21, 2019

For Anxiety "Life saver. First week on Lexapro ain't easy. I felt every single emotion within five minutes. All day long. But once you're through with that, life starts being bright again. I experienced few side effects, which are nothing compared to the anxiety I had. If you’re just starting and you feel like it's getting worse, push through it, it gets better!"

• sna...
• November 26, 2018

For Anxiety "Please give it a try! It works! Here are some recommendations based on my experience. It won't 'fix' you, but it'll make it so you can actually breathe again. I used to cry constantly, isolate myself, have panic attacks so frequently I couldn't even sleep, and have horrible intrusive violent thoughts. 1. Be proactive when it comes to the nausea side effect. Eat BEFORE you take the pill, and don't let yourself get hungry during the first 3-4 hours after you take the pill. Because once you get nausea, it becomes harder to eat, which only makes you more nauseous. It's a vicious cycle that can be prevented. 2. Ignore the negative reviews that are like 'I took this pill for 1 day and it caused *terrifying side effects*.' They only cause more anxiety and they're highly unlikely. 3. From my personal experience, the first things to get better were the physical symptoms of anxiety. Less panic attacks, more hunger, less crying, etc. Keeping a journal is helpful to see the progression."

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

For Anxiety "On this for depression and anxiety. I started having suicidal thoughts and felt so hopelessly sad. I started therapy but didn't notice much difference. I was against taking meds, but eventually I gave up and asked the doctor to prescribe SSRIs for me. She had me start on 5 mg a day of escitalopram generic. The first week, I felt good with some weird dreams, a bit of euphoria, and some nausea. Week 2, I started having vivid and horrible nightmares, and my anxiety got worse. Week 3 was also not fun, very similar to week 2, I felt a bit more sad. Week 4, I started feeling a bit better. Week 5, the doctor upped the dose to 10 mg. I felt good for 4 days, then my body started adjusting to the new dose, and it took 2 weeks of lower mood again. Nausea came back for the first 4 days of 10 mg in week 6. I started to feel much better. Now in week 8, no anxiety, no depression - I feel great. I've been exercising, cutting caffeine, eating healthy, no weight gain, no sexual problems. Life is beautiful again. Give it time."

• Mon...
• May 28, 2019

For Anxiety "I've been suffering from an extreme health anxiety for the last few years. I've tried a lot of different medications and nothing really helped. I've visited the ER so many times...I thought that something was wrong with me. Psychosomatic symptoms felt super real. I'd checked my cardiovascular health with a cardiologist multiple times. After a check-up, I felt OK for a couple of weeks, and then I'd started to feel bad again and went back for another check-up. I've stopped drinking coffee and exercising because I was scared of a heart attack! I was put on Lexapro. The first week was unbearable, anxiety worse than ever, but after that, I started getting better and better, and two weeks later I was feeling amazing! No more obsessive thoughts about health, I became sociable and fun again, got my life back... I definitely recommend Lexapro. It's going to be bad for a week or so, but it is absolutely worth it."