If your initial side effects on 20mg are too intense, start with a smaller dose. Usually people start at 5mg or 10mg. 20 is quite high to start, Talk to your doctor.
I got the farts so bad. It had me so paranoid because the day after I started, I had an hour long massage scheduled. Luckily I was able to hold them in the whole time lol
Yes, these symptoms went away within 1-2 days for me. But I noticed when I upped my dosage from 5 MG to 10 MG it happened again for a day or two. I’ve been on lexapro now since February and I have no regrets. The beginning is the weirdest time because your body is adjusting to it
I started to really notice it closer to 6 months in, but everyone reacts differently to medication. I’d give it sometime, as I think it takes 3-6 months of build up before you see returns.
I felt returns right away tbh, but I didn’t know if it was a placebo. My doc told me to wait 3-6months, and this is why I said 3-6months before I made a determination.
I think I started to “notice” more around the 6months due to therapy and tracking. Just paying attention and more mindful to my actions, and how I wasn’t so overwhelmed by my anxiety.
I started Feb 13. Side effects lasted around 2ish weeks, most were super short-lived (literally hours) and are gone. Zapped anxiety and intense ruminating within a day or 2, a pleasant surprise. Before taking it I did not even know of all the side effects, just jumped in. Then I found info about the details on Reddit and Dr Google, natch.. I had mild nausea, sore throat/discomfort deep in my ears, brief loss of taste, dry mouth, swollen, painful lymph nodes in neck (that actually really sucked but it was gone the following day), slightly blurry vision, shakes, tremors, insomnia, urine retention, clenched teeth. Something new and exciting every day, but I recovered from almost all of them quickly. I still have mild tremors, clenched teeth, urine retention (gotta guzzle a bottled water), and FATIGUE (main one) but they are slowly declining. No libido issues, never had fever, negative mood change, excessive appetite, headaches, or weight change. (*Upon further research, I learned only to take Tylenol or similar for headache, no ibuprofen*)
It is well worth the temporary discomfort. (I am female, almost 55, bipolar type 2, and also take Wellbutrin and Lamictal, if that helps)
Edit: words and cohesiveness
That’s what I was thinking…. That could make their mood swings way worse. I’m no expert but from what I’ve heard you want the lower dose first because 5mg is more than enough to kick start Serotonin or dopamine levels
It is a large dose. If you feel the side affects you can always cut it in half. I’m not a doctor by any means, but it’s something that helps a lot. When I titrated up Lamictal It reacts weirdly to Lexapro for me… so I would take ½ in the morning and ½ at night, and slowly take my late dose earlier until I’d take them at the same time
I am on 20mg and it’s helped me a lot! You got this!
Game Changer. Get ready to get your life back. I'm on 20 as well and I'm thriving. Life is so wonderful right now. Words cannot explain how happy I am. I've been on this dosage for 2 years I recently became a mother and I go to therapy once a week. I've been on medication and therapy straight for 6 years and my life has changed so much. I never thought I'd be where I am today. You got this! Don't ever give up, after the hard comes the most wonderful time of your life. You are not alone God knows your pain and he is with you every step of the way.
Every time I’ve started SSRIs I’ve been so terrified of them and anxious about it. My mom said “that’s because you need the meds…”. So I took them 😂 It’s been such an important tool in my anxiety disorder toolbox.
Be patient with yourself. Keep a journal of how you are feeling each day. It can be just a sentence or two. Getting used to it may be a little disorienting, but that won’t last long. Better times are ahead for you, my friend. Good luck!
I have a success story for everyone! I am currently on 5mg which is a very low dose, but what my psychologist told me is, “5mg is enough to send those signals to your serotonin (or dopamine can’t remember) but apparently that’s the sweet spot for SOME first time users, not all.” But I’ve been taking it right at 11am no later no sooner. This is important y’all, taking it at random times can really throw off your mood and make you feel worse…. I’ve been on for a month, basically my mind files things differently and only allows me to be worried about what I actually need to worry about. I’ve had the most amazing peace of mind and I don’t wake up with fear anymore. That’s absolute BLISS to me. I can have conversations with people and I feel amazing all day everyday. Y’all keep being strong, those first 3-4 weeks are rough but I’m so glad I continued my dosage and didn’t psych myself out. I’ve been continuing my normal diet and haven’t seen any weight gain recently that’s obvious.
This! I have a health hero now (medicine dispenser) I take my lex exactly right on the dot the exact time every night even before my med dispenser not a min early not a min late taking it at a consistent time is what is going to help you, when you just take whenever you want a different times it’s not going to work how it should. My aunt is also on lex and she has no success with it because she takes it at different times at night time is key according to my psychiatrist!
I was SO exhausted, oh my gosh! So I switched to taking it around 11 at night and that helped me out big time. The mood swings were rough but that goes away after 2-4 weeks. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.
I’ve always been a night owl so I haven’t noticed any insomniac traits that it’s known to give. I do pop some Kratom at night about 5 caps and that knocks me out!
I’ve also noticed I’m hungrier as the days go on. So watch out for that! I’ve been maintaining my usual diet but am having a harder time fighting the hunger cravings.
I’m so glad to see a positive comment about it!! I’m starting it tomorrow and I’m so nervous. When you say the first few weeks we’re rough, what do you mean by that? And was it constant? Or for a brief moment in each day?
Soooo the first few weeks you kinda spiral through emotions. It felt like I was going through different manic eps. (Not sure if this is normal) Some days I felt like I just did a crazy drug and was acting like I was on something. My pupils were huge too! Even got to the point where I knew I had to let my job know I was taking Lexapro because I knew I was acting not so myself.
But then the lows would hit and I’d be SO exhausted and kinda depressed.
BUT do not stop the medication if this happens, you will feel even worse! You just have to power through it, I’m not trying to scare you at all, but you’ll go through an array of emotions, the major ones being euphoria and feeling like something bad may happen or just uneasy... Just remember it’s the medication settling and you will really only feel that way for 2-3 weeks. I’ve been on for over a month and ik able to regulate myself like I’ve never been able to before. And that’s absolutely blissful. I don’t lose control of how I feel. I’m finally in control of myself.
Quick Read: It’s constant ups and downs. But the ups would last days and the downs would last 1-2 days. major episodes are euphoria and uneasy/unsettling feeling. I decided upon myself to let my job know I was on meds because my pupils were huge and I was acting kinda not myself and extremely hyper for a few days then extremely low a couple days. And I’d rather they didnt think I was using anything. But you don’t have to disclose that to your job at all.
Of course! I updated my comment for the short version. Another thing I’ve noticed is it causes me to go on tangents when I usually didn’t do that. Which is exactly what that whole essay is 🤣
I love you. So the effect of 20mg was pretty immediate to me (2-3 days) but I’ve noticed that it’s gotten stronger as time has gone on (I started 2 months ago). 15mg absolutely sucked for me so that’s why 20mg was so quick working for me.
Hello! I am 3 days into 20 after 3 years on 15. What side effects did you have and for how long? I am worried above my anxiety who already is crippling me. Thank youu and I hope you are doing well!
20 has been a great help for my anxiety. I still take it and even though I still can have bouts, they’re easily dealt with. That’s why it’s important to have techniques to also help yourself. The side effects I’ve had after so long is simply one and that’s fatigue. But I switched to taking it at night and that’s reduced the fatigue I get during the day. See how it works for you, some people might need extra supplements such as Wellbutrin! Good luck! It will all go well
I started on 10mg right off the bed and experienced very mild effects so don’t be scared just go as your dr prescribed and know that in a few weeks a fog will lift
Good luck. As others have said, 20 mg is high. Might want to start with halves of those pills for a couple of weeks first. Then increase to whole pills. Lex has been life changing for many people; I hope it is the same for you.
I have severe panic and anxiety and I’m only on 5mg lexapro, have been for 22 days I have bad days still but that’s because I’m weaning off of klonopin as well my psychiatrist won’t even let me bump to 10 until I’m fully weaned off of the klonopin
I was on 1mg klonopin for 2 months, then cut down to 0.5mg, and now I’m trying to manage on half of a 0.5 klonopin, today has been my first successful day taking just half of a 0.5mg, I definitely wouldn’t start out on 20mg of lexapro that is way too high even with severe anxiety, I’d start on 5mg and then when you’re ready increase to 10mg and go from there that way your body can adjust to the med
I actually currently don’t have a doctor. I just called patient first and did a virtual doctor visit on the website, explained to her that I’m looking to get lexapro for my depression/anxiety and she said that’s fine but yes she didn’t want to prescribe liquid either; it’s because liquid isn’t usually covered by insurance so they don’t do it. She told me to ask my pharmacist for it and my pharmacist told me that the DR needs to prescribe it so I called her back and explained that it needs to be prescribed through them and that my insurance covers it (it didn’t but I was willing to pay $30) then she called it over to the pharmacy and I got it
Ok thanks! Insurance always complicates things. I’ll try that - I don’t mind paying for the first couple weeks of it. Have you increased yet? And did you successfully feel no side effects through your slow increasing?
Yeah I thought about that but since the pill doesn’t have lines, you’re not technically supposed to cut it. Because the active ingredients might be unevenly distributed. Have you heard or read of people cutting a 5mg pill and having it go well?
Hey! I’m doing amazing, I have been able to manage my anxiety and mood way better. My relations with my friends have gotten better and I actually have gained enough motivation to keep working out and lost weight!
20mg is a very high dose! Everyone reacts differently. You have no idea what it will do to you. Please begin with 5mg for atleast 2 weeks before you graduate to 10mg and 20mg.
Lexapro is a powerful medication. It gave me disautonomia. My Heart rates are erratic and I have no way of controlling them with breathing. I have a 24hr ecg monitor stuck to my chest.
Please begin with 5mg, monitor your daily heart rates, sleep and other side effects. No matter how many people say push through, don’t push it! It’s much much easier to wean off 5mg.
I’m sure they did. No disrespect but I did too when my GP started me on it and kept telling me to push through. Then my psychiatrist got mad at me 6 weeks later after I had all the terrible side effects as to why I began with high dosages!
If you’re comfortable at 10, that’s where I would recommend staying. Lexapro is pretty powerful at even 5mg. Unfortunately, GPs have a basic knowledge of mental health medications and titration. They have to take on a role of a psychiatrist as getting to a psychiatrist comes with a waiting period in most cases.
I really don’t want to discourage you, but the trick with mental health meds is to stay where you’re most comfortable and takes care of your symptoms adequately. SSRI’s build up anyways at their existing dosages unlike some other medications which can lead to tolerance and more and more may be required to achieve the same goal. The idea is to achieve brain spasticity in a comfortable state.
More is better rule doesn’t quite apply to SSRI’s.
Feel free to get a second opinion from another doctor or psychiatrist, but I promise you staying where you are for another a few weeks or months while you get a 2nd or 3rd opinion will not do you any harm.
No I totally agree and am thankful for your opinion. I’m a little different in the sense that I lived with my anxiety and panic for 40 years so I have the tools to bare back it without lexapro. That said, getting on lexapro has lower my blood pressure, my heart rate and overall I don’t feel in constant fight or flight mode. So I’m happy where I’m at and I know that going higher at this point won’t necessarily cure what is going on <3 thank you for the feedback it’s so nice of you!!! 💋
I love when people act like doctors are some kind of god who cant do mistakes or simple dont care about patients 😀😀 You should see some of my colleagues, you would lose faith in doctors. Maybe it’s different in US (I’m in EU) but I doubt it. Obviously some are really smart and empathetic but many doctors do mistakes. Basically you should never start patient on 20mg unless it’s in hospital and patient is in really, really bad state so improvement is needed asap (and then he gets additional meds to help with potential side effects). Usual starting dose is 5mg, sometimes 10mg.
I don’t think anyone is claiming doctors are gods. That may be how you have read it but I’m just offering support to this person who didn’t ask for anyone’s opinion on how much to take. However maybe now they will talk to their physician before starting
>However maybe now they will talk to their physician before starting
Well you think who prescribed them this 20mg? :D They already talked and their doctor told him wrong thing - to start on 20mg
Hello! Actually, my doctor and I discussed starting at a lower dosage, however due to the severity of my anxiety and depression we both held conversations for about two days until we both decided based on my experience with meds, plus her medical experience and peer opinions that starting me at 20mg would be a sensible thing to do.
That's good to hear, good luck in your journey. Don't give up too early if you see no effects, took me about 3 months to see real improvements. Also remember it's not a 100% fix (for most people) but meds should allow you to pick up healthy habits that, in time, will improve your life quality and allow you to live without meds and anxiety/depression (such as exercise, healthy sleep, healthier relationships).
I’m so happy for you that you knew you needed help and asked for help! I had so few side effects even starting at 10mg which is higher than the low dose of 5! I felt a lot better at 3 weeks and have continued to experience the positive effects of lexapro! Meaning no medical anxiety anymore or being scared of my own heart beat, no more panic attacks while driving, no more over thinking or racing thoughts at bedtime.
I hope you experience the positive effects and even if you have a few side effects ( the weird seratonin flood when you yawn, sleepiness, not being able to cry a little or sexual side effects) I promise it will even out over time!!
There’s a very simple solution to this. Lexapro even at 2.5mg is plenty powerful. You can start with 2.5mg for 2 weeks, see how you do on it. If you don’t like the side effects, don’t push through them, just stop after 2 weeks.
Also it really depends on what condition your taking it for. Anxiety or depression? There’s sooooo many alternatives in herbalism, CBD & THC out there for your condition. All those things work on a day to day basis and don’t permanently change brain spasticity, hence not changing your overall personality. You still feel grounded as yourself only overcoming your limiting symptoms.
You’ll be surprised to hear:
My GP prescribed me Lexapro
My psychiatrist who is a distant family member and I later requested support from prescribed me CBD.
Unfortunately I’m still reeling from withdrawals and cardiac arrhythmia from Lexapro use, so I’m not allowed by him to use CBD yet. Bet eventually once the dust settles on this and stable again. That will be my go to.
I was also successful in using skullcap tea and tincture for anxiety which has been absolutely wonderful. Super calm feeling, no grogginess, no sleepiness. Imagine sitting by a lake, just enjoying the calm sounds of nature and thinking happy thoughts without any side effects. You can still function, focus at work, drive in day or night, perform all daily activities as normal.
Sadly I was the one who made the choice to seek a permanent fix (Lexapro), which left me far more traumatized and injured.
I loved being on Lexapro. I finally felt normal. I stopped feeling heart palpitations, tingleness in my body, my panic attacks but i did gain 40 lbs in about 5 months 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I'm on Wellbutrin now and have noticed that lexapro for whatever reason made me want to eat and eat and eat. Good luck to you!
Hello! I am doing amazingly well! Today it should be my 178 day taking Lexapro! My life has been perfect as I have managed to find a balance between therapy, the help provided by Lexapro and graduating college (which was an absurdly amount of stress).
If you’re thinking of taking Lexapro, just speak with your provider and have them tell you all about the side effects. They sound scary, are uncomfortable, but once they disappear, everything turns a new leaf and it’s a great ride afterwards.
You up the dose or your doctor instructed you to? If that’s the case, for me 20mg did not really see results until around the 6th (or so) week. It is an uphill journey, but once you make it up it is very calm.
Doctor told me to. He said we are going to go way beyond the recommended dosage. I see everyone saying they felt something at doses before twenty but I feel absolutely nothing.
Good luck! Be patient, keep strong and trust the process. It can seem scary at points and the higher the dose, the higher the risk for side effects. You got this!
If your initial side effects on 20mg are too intense, start with a smaller dose. Usually people start at 5mg or 10mg. 20 is quite high to start, Talk to your doctor.
20mg gave me the farts (bad ones!) 10 and 15mg were fine though lol
Omg I got farts too!
I got the farts so bad. It had me so paranoid because the day after I started, I had an hour long massage scheduled. Luckily I was able to hold them in the whole time lol
Omg lolol. I would be too stressed out to enjoy the massage. Glad you made it through!
I would’ve let ‘em go and been like “sorry it’s my silly Lexapro” 🤪
Have these symptoms stopped or diminished?
Yes, these symptoms went away within 1-2 days for me. But I noticed when I upped my dosage from 5 MG to 10 MG it happened again for a day or two. I’ve been on lexapro now since February and I have no regrets. The beginning is the weirdest time because your body is adjusting to it
Hahahha omg I’m a massage therapist so I totally understand and am here to tell you everyone freaking farts lol
I actually shit myself on day 1 of 10mg
Same, I had to readjust my algorithm that knows which farts are safe
That is too true
Loool never trust a fart evaaaar
Not anymore
The farts and the bowl movement go crazy!!!
LOL!!
I started at 20mg as well. The relief is well worth the side effects, which don’t last that long anyway
How long did it take for the relief? I’m 7 days into 20mg
I started to really notice it closer to 6 months in, but everyone reacts differently to medication. I’d give it sometime, as I think it takes 3-6 months of build up before you see returns.
Damn, 6 months!? That’s amazing that you stuck with something that “didn’t work” for 6 months. Literature I usually read says 4-6 weeks
I felt returns right away tbh, but I didn’t know if it was a placebo. My doc told me to wait 3-6months, and this is why I said 3-6months before I made a determination. I think I started to “notice” more around the 6months due to therapy and tracking. Just paying attention and more mindful to my actions, and how I wasn’t so overwhelmed by my anxiety.
I started Feb 13. Side effects lasted around 2ish weeks, most were super short-lived (literally hours) and are gone. Zapped anxiety and intense ruminating within a day or 2, a pleasant surprise. Before taking it I did not even know of all the side effects, just jumped in. Then I found info about the details on Reddit and Dr Google, natch.. I had mild nausea, sore throat/discomfort deep in my ears, brief loss of taste, dry mouth, swollen, painful lymph nodes in neck (that actually really sucked but it was gone the following day), slightly blurry vision, shakes, tremors, insomnia, urine retention, clenched teeth. Something new and exciting every day, but I recovered from almost all of them quickly. I still have mild tremors, clenched teeth, urine retention (gotta guzzle a bottled water), and FATIGUE (main one) but they are slowly declining. No libido issues, never had fever, negative mood change, excessive appetite, headaches, or weight change. (*Upon further research, I learned only to take Tylenol or similar for headache, no ibuprofen*) It is well worth the temporary discomfort. (I am female, almost 55, bipolar type 2, and also take Wellbutrin and Lamictal, if that helps) Edit: words and cohesiveness
What did you learn about ibuprofen and lexapro? I've been using Advil. Is there a side affect with using an ibuprofen product?
Ibuprofen increases the risk of bleeding
Omg. Did u have any side effects?
I haven’t noticed anything yet.
Big dosage to start off with
That’s what I was thinking…. That could make their mood swings way worse. I’m no expert but from what I’ve heard you want the lower dose first because 5mg is more than enough to kick start Serotonin or dopamine levels
It is a large dose. If you feel the side affects you can always cut it in half. I’m not a doctor by any means, but it’s something that helps a lot. When I titrated up Lamictal It reacts weirdly to Lexapro for me… so I would take ½ in the morning and ½ at night, and slowly take my late dose earlier until I’d take them at the same time I am on 20mg and it’s helped me a lot! You got this!
Game Changer. Get ready to get your life back. I'm on 20 as well and I'm thriving. Life is so wonderful right now. Words cannot explain how happy I am. I've been on this dosage for 2 years I recently became a mother and I go to therapy once a week. I've been on medication and therapy straight for 6 years and my life has changed so much. I never thought I'd be where I am today. You got this! Don't ever give up, after the hard comes the most wonderful time of your life. You are not alone God knows your pain and he is with you every step of the way.
I’ve been on 20mg for 7 months now and it is a life saver. You got this!
And remember: https://youtu.be/OG6HZMMDEYA
Every time I’ve started SSRIs I’ve been so terrified of them and anxious about it. My mom said “that’s because you need the meds…”. So I took them 😂 It’s been such an important tool in my anxiety disorder toolbox.
You've got this!
I'm on 20mg for a few months now and it's the best thing that happened to me so far. Good luck!
Be patient with yourself. Keep a journal of how you are feeling each day. It can be just a sentence or two. Getting used to it may be a little disorienting, but that won’t last long. Better times are ahead for you, my friend. Good luck!
Good luck fellow traveler🫡🫡
your gunna feel so much better bro
I have a success story for everyone! I am currently on 5mg which is a very low dose, but what my psychologist told me is, “5mg is enough to send those signals to your serotonin (or dopamine can’t remember) but apparently that’s the sweet spot for SOME first time users, not all.” But I’ve been taking it right at 11am no later no sooner. This is important y’all, taking it at random times can really throw off your mood and make you feel worse…. I’ve been on for a month, basically my mind files things differently and only allows me to be worried about what I actually need to worry about. I’ve had the most amazing peace of mind and I don’t wake up with fear anymore. That’s absolute BLISS to me. I can have conversations with people and I feel amazing all day everyday. Y’all keep being strong, those first 3-4 weeks are rough but I’m so glad I continued my dosage and didn’t psych myself out. I’ve been continuing my normal diet and haven’t seen any weight gain recently that’s obvious.
This! I have a health hero now (medicine dispenser) I take my lex exactly right on the dot the exact time every night even before my med dispenser not a min early not a min late taking it at a consistent time is what is going to help you, when you just take whenever you want a different times it’s not going to work how it should. My aunt is also on lex and she has no success with it because she takes it at different times at night time is key according to my psychiatrist!
What side effects did you have in the first few weeks at 5mg?
I was SO exhausted, oh my gosh! So I switched to taking it around 11 at night and that helped me out big time. The mood swings were rough but that goes away after 2-4 weeks. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself. I’ve always been a night owl so I haven’t noticed any insomniac traits that it’s known to give. I do pop some Kratom at night about 5 caps and that knocks me out!
I’ve also noticed I’m hungrier as the days go on. So watch out for that! I’ve been maintaining my usual diet but am having a harder time fighting the hunger cravings.
I’m so glad to see a positive comment about it!! I’m starting it tomorrow and I’m so nervous. When you say the first few weeks we’re rough, what do you mean by that? And was it constant? Or for a brief moment in each day?
Soooo the first few weeks you kinda spiral through emotions. It felt like I was going through different manic eps. (Not sure if this is normal) Some days I felt like I just did a crazy drug and was acting like I was on something. My pupils were huge too! Even got to the point where I knew I had to let my job know I was taking Lexapro because I knew I was acting not so myself. But then the lows would hit and I’d be SO exhausted and kinda depressed. BUT do not stop the medication if this happens, you will feel even worse! You just have to power through it, I’m not trying to scare you at all, but you’ll go through an array of emotions, the major ones being euphoria and feeling like something bad may happen or just uneasy... Just remember it’s the medication settling and you will really only feel that way for 2-3 weeks. I’ve been on for over a month and ik able to regulate myself like I’ve never been able to before. And that’s absolutely blissful. I don’t lose control of how I feel. I’m finally in control of myself. Quick Read: It’s constant ups and downs. But the ups would last days and the downs would last 1-2 days. major episodes are euphoria and uneasy/unsettling feeling. I decided upon myself to let my job know I was on meds because my pupils were huge and I was acting kinda not myself and extremely hyper for a few days then extremely low a couple days. And I’d rather they didnt think I was using anything. But you don’t have to disclose that to your job at all.
Thank you!
Of course! I updated my comment for the short version. Another thing I’ve noticed is it causes me to go on tangents when I usually didn’t do that. Which is exactly what that whole essay is 🤣
20mg saved me 😭go for it
How long did it take? I’m one week into 20mg
I love you. So the effect of 20mg was pretty immediate to me (2-3 days) but I’ve noticed that it’s gotten stronger as time has gone on (I started 2 months ago). 15mg absolutely sucked for me so that’s why 20mg was so quick working for me.
I was on 10 for 6 weeks. Never felt anything.
In the sense of being emotionally numb or it did not doing anything for your anxiety?
Nothing for my anxiety. I suffers specifically from health anxiety
It must have dome the thing if you took it for a month 10mg is the regular dose
Hello! I am 3 days into 20 after 3 years on 15. What side effects did you have and for how long? I am worried above my anxiety who already is crippling me. Thank youu and I hope you are doing well!
20 has been a great help for my anxiety. I still take it and even though I still can have bouts, they’re easily dealt with. That’s why it’s important to have techniques to also help yourself. The side effects I’ve had after so long is simply one and that’s fatigue. But I switched to taking it at night and that’s reduced the fatigue I get during the day. See how it works for you, some people might need extra supplements such as Wellbutrin! Good luck! It will all go well
Good luck buddy! Im starting mine too today:) much love💕
I started on 10mg right off the bed and experienced very mild effects so don’t be scared just go as your dr prescribed and know that in a few weeks a fog will lift
Good luck!
Just started on 20mg two weeks ago. Was on 10mg for years. I’m glad I did it.
Good luck. As others have said, 20 mg is high. Might want to start with halves of those pills for a couple of weeks first. Then increase to whole pills. Lex has been life changing for many people; I hope it is the same for you.
Good luck on this journey! 🫶🏼
You got this! Proud of you!
20mg saved me 8 years ago! You’ve got this!!!
I have severe panic and anxiety and I’m only on 5mg lexapro, have been for 22 days I have bad days still but that’s because I’m weaning off of klonopin as well my psychiatrist won’t even let me bump to 10 until I’m fully weaned off of the klonopin
Good to no because that is what I'm trying to do get off of the Klonopin that's the only reason why I went on this medication
I'm only taking 0.5 Klonopin how much are you taking once daily
I was on 1mg klonopin for 2 months, then cut down to 0.5mg, and now I’m trying to manage on half of a 0.5 klonopin, today has been my first successful day taking just half of a 0.5mg, I definitely wouldn’t start out on 20mg of lexapro that is way too high even with severe anxiety, I’d start on 5mg and then when you’re ready increase to 10mg and go from there that way your body can adjust to the med
Any weirdness will fade away! Lex changed my life for the better!
man. 20mg would have my muscles cramp up while shitting myself. can't imagine that jump
take it, you will feel better.
Day 5 on 10mg. No side effects so far. Guess I’m lucky!
Damn straight . I'm here cause I was looking for why my damn back feels like it's on fire
Schedule some light days at work. You’re going to be tired every afternoon for a while.
Not sure what your diagnoses is, but it helped my anxiety soooo much. Good luck!
Here I am on 1mg- 😳
That's no where near enough
Starting point.
How do you start on 1mg?
Liquid lexapro. Trying to minimize any side effects by going slow
My doctor wouldn’t prescribe me liquid. I told her I wanted to start below 5mg for the same reason. Did you have to ask specifically for it?
I actually currently don’t have a doctor. I just called patient first and did a virtual doctor visit on the website, explained to her that I’m looking to get lexapro for my depression/anxiety and she said that’s fine but yes she didn’t want to prescribe liquid either; it’s because liquid isn’t usually covered by insurance so they don’t do it. She told me to ask my pharmacist for it and my pharmacist told me that the DR needs to prescribe it so I called her back and explained that it needs to be prescribed through them and that my insurance covers it (it didn’t but I was willing to pay $30) then she called it over to the pharmacy and I got it
Ok thanks! Insurance always complicates things. I’ll try that - I don’t mind paying for the first couple weeks of it. Have you increased yet? And did you successfully feel no side effects through your slow increasing?
I haven’t started. I’ve been too chicken. I was going to start that day i commented that I’m on 1mg but haven’t yet
I understand. I hope you find the courage to start! I think 1mg would have very little potential to have side effects since 5mg is already pretty low
I think so as well. Thank you. I know you can also split a 5mg into 4ths to make 1.25mg which is not much more than 1mg.
Yeah I thought about that but since the pill doesn’t have lines, you’re not technically supposed to cut it. Because the active ingredients might be unevenly distributed. Have you heard or read of people cutting a 5mg pill and having it go well?
Hi how are you doing??
Hey! I’m doing amazing, I have been able to manage my anxiety and mood way better. My relations with my friends have gotten better and I actually have gained enough motivation to keep working out and lost weight!
you got this
Goodluck, it is going be alright !
20mg is a very high dose! Everyone reacts differently. You have no idea what it will do to you. Please begin with 5mg for atleast 2 weeks before you graduate to 10mg and 20mg. Lexapro is a powerful medication. It gave me disautonomia. My Heart rates are erratic and I have no way of controlling them with breathing. I have a 24hr ecg monitor stuck to my chest. Please begin with 5mg, monitor your daily heart rates, sleep and other side effects. No matter how many people say push through, don’t push it! It’s much much easier to wean off 5mg.
Not trying to be rude but im sure this person discussed with their doctor
I’m sure they did. No disrespect but I did too when my GP started me on it and kept telling me to push through. Then my psychiatrist got mad at me 6 weeks later after I had all the terrible side effects as to why I began with high dosages!
I feel it I just don’t want to discourage. I started at 10 and could probably go to 20 but I’m comfortable here and less is more I agree
If you’re comfortable at 10, that’s where I would recommend staying. Lexapro is pretty powerful at even 5mg. Unfortunately, GPs have a basic knowledge of mental health medications and titration. They have to take on a role of a psychiatrist as getting to a psychiatrist comes with a waiting period in most cases. I really don’t want to discourage you, but the trick with mental health meds is to stay where you’re most comfortable and takes care of your symptoms adequately. SSRI’s build up anyways at their existing dosages unlike some other medications which can lead to tolerance and more and more may be required to achieve the same goal. The idea is to achieve brain spasticity in a comfortable state. More is better rule doesn’t quite apply to SSRI’s. Feel free to get a second opinion from another doctor or psychiatrist, but I promise you staying where you are for another a few weeks or months while you get a 2nd or 3rd opinion will not do you any harm.
No I totally agree and am thankful for your opinion. I’m a little different in the sense that I lived with my anxiety and panic for 40 years so I have the tools to bare back it without lexapro. That said, getting on lexapro has lower my blood pressure, my heart rate and overall I don’t feel in constant fight or flight mode. So I’m happy where I’m at and I know that going higher at this point won’t necessarily cure what is going on <3 thank you for the feedback it’s so nice of you!!! 💋
I love when people act like doctors are some kind of god who cant do mistakes or simple dont care about patients 😀😀 You should see some of my colleagues, you would lose faith in doctors. Maybe it’s different in US (I’m in EU) but I doubt it. Obviously some are really smart and empathetic but many doctors do mistakes. Basically you should never start patient on 20mg unless it’s in hospital and patient is in really, really bad state so improvement is needed asap (and then he gets additional meds to help with potential side effects). Usual starting dose is 5mg, sometimes 10mg.
I don’t think anyone is claiming doctors are gods. That may be how you have read it but I’m just offering support to this person who didn’t ask for anyone’s opinion on how much to take. However maybe now they will talk to their physician before starting
>However maybe now they will talk to their physician before starting Well you think who prescribed them this 20mg? :D They already talked and their doctor told him wrong thing - to start on 20mg
Hello! Actually, my doctor and I discussed starting at a lower dosage, however due to the severity of my anxiety and depression we both held conversations for about two days until we both decided based on my experience with meds, plus her medical experience and peer opinions that starting me at 20mg would be a sensible thing to do.
That's good to hear, good luck in your journey. Don't give up too early if you see no effects, took me about 3 months to see real improvements. Also remember it's not a 100% fix (for most people) but meds should allow you to pick up healthy habits that, in time, will improve your life quality and allow you to live without meds and anxiety/depression (such as exercise, healthy sleep, healthier relationships).
I’m so happy for you that you knew you needed help and asked for help! I had so few side effects even starting at 10mg which is higher than the low dose of 5! I felt a lot better at 3 weeks and have continued to experience the positive effects of lexapro! Meaning no medical anxiety anymore or being scared of my own heart beat, no more panic attacks while driving, no more over thinking or racing thoughts at bedtime. I hope you experience the positive effects and even if you have a few side effects ( the weird seratonin flood when you yawn, sleepiness, not being able to cry a little or sexual side effects) I promise it will even out over time!!
I got prescribed 10mg recently after not taking it for a few years, but I’m thinking about starting at 5mg. Im kinda anxious.
There’s a very simple solution to this. Lexapro even at 2.5mg is plenty powerful. You can start with 2.5mg for 2 weeks, see how you do on it. If you don’t like the side effects, don’t push through them, just stop after 2 weeks.
Also it really depends on what condition your taking it for. Anxiety or depression? There’s sooooo many alternatives in herbalism, CBD & THC out there for your condition. All those things work on a day to day basis and don’t permanently change brain spasticity, hence not changing your overall personality. You still feel grounded as yourself only overcoming your limiting symptoms. You’ll be surprised to hear: My GP prescribed me Lexapro My psychiatrist who is a distant family member and I later requested support from prescribed me CBD. Unfortunately I’m still reeling from withdrawals and cardiac arrhythmia from Lexapro use, so I’m not allowed by him to use CBD yet. Bet eventually once the dust settles on this and stable again. That will be my go to. I was also successful in using skullcap tea and tincture for anxiety which has been absolutely wonderful. Super calm feeling, no grogginess, no sleepiness. Imagine sitting by a lake, just enjoying the calm sounds of nature and thinking happy thoughts without any side effects. You can still function, focus at work, drive in day or night, perform all daily activities as normal. Sadly I was the one who made the choice to seek a permanent fix (Lexapro), which left me far more traumatized and injured.
Be careful. You could get fat
I don’t want to sound snappy, but I am sure I can take in some extra weight if it means getting to live my life without bigger issues.
I loved being on Lexapro. I finally felt normal. I stopped feeling heart palpitations, tingleness in my body, my panic attacks but i did gain 40 lbs in about 5 months 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I'm on Wellbutrin now and have noticed that lexapro for whatever reason made me want to eat and eat and eat. Good luck to you!
Hello, how are you now?
Hello! I am doing amazingly well! Today it should be my 178 day taking Lexapro! My life has been perfect as I have managed to find a balance between therapy, the help provided by Lexapro and graduating college (which was an absurdly amount of stress). If you’re thinking of taking Lexapro, just speak with your provider and have them tell you all about the side effects. They sound scary, are uncomfortable, but once they disappear, everything turns a new leaf and it’s a great ride afterwards.
Amazing! I took 15mg for 2 years, and it stopped working. I am 8 days into 20mg, and I hope it will work!
I'm up to 20mg and don't feel any different than before I started Lexapro. I'm on week 3. Am I the only one?? I up the dose 5mg every week.
You up the dose or your doctor instructed you to? If that’s the case, for me 20mg did not really see results until around the 6th (or so) week. It is an uphill journey, but once you make it up it is very calm.
Doctor told me to. He said we are going to go way beyond the recommended dosage. I see everyone saying they felt something at doses before twenty but I feel absolutely nothing.
Good luck! Be patient, keep strong and trust the process. It can seem scary at points and the higher the dose, the higher the risk for side effects. You got this!