Lexapro 20mg for panic attack?

Question

I have been taking 10mg of Lexapro for almost 4 weeks now. It had been helping tremendously until 3 days ago. I had a horrible panic attack and xanax is the only thing that will take the feelings away. Today I am experiencing another attack and was told by my doctor to up my dosage starting tomorrow to 20mg of Lexapro a day for the panic attacks. Does anyone know if this is normal? Does it help or is it possible to make the symptoms of a panic attack worse? Thanks to all who answer.

Answer 1

It is a normal dosage....I am taking 20mg of Lexapro. Like you, I started off with 10mg a day....my anxieties got a little better but I experienced some ups and downs. I too had a few panic attacks while taking 10mgs a day. I've been on 20mg a day for a three or four months now and I feel soooooo much better. I actually feel normal. I haven't felt normal for years. Things that used to fester in my mind, things that I used to obsess about don't bother my anymore. I have little to no anxieties and I haven't had a panic attack since upping my dosage. I think it's normal to start off with smaller dosages of meds and build up to figure out what is right for you. If I were you, I would try the higher dosage of Lexapro, give it a month or so.....I did and it's has worked great! Hang in there, you will get better.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

You will need to follow your doctors' advice and wait and see. Normally, Lexapro is used for bi-polar and depression. It is not always effective for panic attack. If the panic attacks are coming for frequently, or are more severe, it is an indication that Lexapro isn't working for you for that particular problem. Doctors are reluctant to prescibe Xanax due to it's addictive nature, but I need to take it as a preventative rather than wait until a full blown attack..it takes too long to get under control again. I take .5 milligrams, but I take it four times a day. I also take 200mg Zoloft, which is an ssri like Lexapro. Zoloft alone actually made my anxiety worse! If you pay close attention to the precursors of a panic attack, you MAY be able to 'head it off at the pass' so to speak by taking Xanax just at it's onset. Sometimes you don't know you are having one until you are already well into it, so this strategy isn't for everyone. I wish you success and peace of mind. ..............G

Answer 4

I too used Lexapro and I can identify with this feeling. I took just 5 mg which was more than enough for me. One day I accidentally took a 20 mg pill (I had been cutting them in quarters). The next 24 hours were terrible, I felt very nervous and anxious, I could not sit still or relax. My mind was racing and I was paranoid about everyything. So while this wasn't a panic attack, it wasn't far away. I have no history of panic attacks, so this response was serious enough. Additionally, a friend of mine upped her dose from 10 to 20 mg and had major behavorial changes including emotional outbursts and frequent crying. The drug is very serious and can have many effects, so take great caution and observe carefully if you do up the dosage. Good luck to you.

Answer 5

I took Lexapro for a year. It helped reduce the amount of panic and anxiety I had but it turned me into a zombie. I didn't have the full range of emotion I normally had. Then when I decided to go off of Lexapro the panic attacks came back stronger than when I started Lexapro. I would recommend learning yoga, tai chi or any other type of meditative practice that helps reduce stress rather than take a medication for it. Also make sure you keep your caffeine intake low.

Answer 6

In clinical studies, many patients treated with Lexapro began to feel better within 1 or 2 weeks, although the full effect may take 4 to 6 weeks. You should follow up with your healthcare professional and report your progress. Sometimes adjusting the doses help.Sometimes you need more to helpwith symptoms. Once you become stablized your doctor will keep you on a regular dosage.You should take your medicine for as long as your healthcare professional advises, even if you start feeling better; otherwise your symptoms could return or worsen. Your healthcare professional may ask you to keep taking Lexapro even if you are feeling better.

Answer 7

I also have panic attacks. Lexapro did not work for me. Neither did paxil. If your dr won't give you any xanax, then maybe you just became too use to them.. They took me off for 3 years, and I just got back on them a month ago. They can be VERY addictive. Good luck!

Answer 8

I haven't tried Lexapro, and probably never will after hearing that Anna Nicole's son died from it and xanax.
I use Kolonapin, it's like xanax, but better in my opinion. My Dr. told me it's like a "sister" to Valium. I don't like having to take something everyday, I would rather have something to take just when I need it.

Answer 9

The doctor did the same for my wife after 2 weeks at 10mg.

She upped it to 20mg.

Best of luck.

Answer 10

ok, ive suffered from panic attacks for 3 years now, and they are the worst thing god ever created and i would not wish them on my worst enemy, well, maybe. But i know where you are coming from. I took paxil for 2 months and it seemed to barely help, but i decided to quit becuz you will have panic attacks for the rest of your life and i wasnt about to take these damn pills forever. But in referecne to your meds. Yes you will just have to keep uping the dose over and over and over and over again for years and years. becuz your body will build up a tolerance to the dose you are taking after so many months. Really, i know this is hard to do, but i would litteraly try getting off the meds. I do natural things and got help from a "natural healer" I was told to eat incredible amounts of protein. And i do, i try and get 90 g's a day, and the amount a normal person is supposed to get is 50g. Find high protein bars in the weight loss section, those really helped me. Also exercise and even saint johns wort has been helping me, ALso caffeine and weed are major triggers. So i had to quit both. And i used to suffer from panic attacks several times a day and now im barely even getting one every other week. and my xanex gets me thru the few i have. Also, meds worsen your condtion for several months after you stop them. so i just suggest getting off them now. and do these things, i swear they work, ive had many people who have had the same prob advise me to do this, and its worked for them and for me. so just try it. meds suck . PROTEIN IS KEY!!! I PROMISE!