How will I know when my Lexapro kicks in??

Question

I heard that it makes you dont care about anything, or have no feelings and such. I have been on 10mg for a week and I still have anxiety.

And I hope I dont stop careing about things, I dont want it to change my whole personality.

Answer 1

Lexapro (and most other similar antidepressants) take between 4-6 weeks to reach maximum effectiveness. Please don't be discouraged after only one week! Also, Lexapro is generally prescribed between 10-20 mg/day, so your dr is starting you off at the low end, which is the right thing to do. Once he knows that your body handles the drug well, and/or if you don't respond to it after 4-6 wks, he may up the dosage or try a different antidepressant.

Lexapro will not make you have "no feelings". However, if you have been depressed or anxious for a long time, you may have forgotten how it feels NOT to have those things overwhelming your emotions! Anxiety is a feeling -- but wouldn't it be good to get rid of it?? And once it's gone, you can start enjoying the positive emotions and experiences again that were previously suppressed by the bad ones. You will learn how to feel different, but you will still feel.

You may also notice that things bother you less. People are less irritating, traffic jams are less frustrating, work problems are less overwhelming. I suppose you could also call this a "loss of feeling," but again, it's a positive thing!

Answer 2

Been on lex for 10 wks,still anxious and weepy,does that mean its not going to work?. dr.just lowered the dose back to 10mg after being on 20mg for 4wks.....need your opinion..

Answer 3

It does not make you not care about things,it just makes you calmer in stressful situations.It usually takes about a month for it to build up in your system.