Lexapro - side effects and starting dosage ?

Question

I am curious from ppl who have used it , what negative side effects you had and what dosage you would recommend to start on (and if you worked up to a higher one).
My doc had started me on 20mg and it _seemed_ like it made me have some heart palpitations so I quit taking it after 3 days.. but I was already getting some of these missed beats because of my anxiety/panic condition, which is the main problem, not depression.

So Im curious if it likely did or did not effect my heartbeat and if maybe I could try it again at a smaller dosage initially. Just after other ppls experiences with it really I guess.
Thanks!

Answer 1

The normal prescribed dose is 10mg once a day. It gave me a headache and insomnia. Sounds like it's giving you anxiety issues. Tell him to put you on Effexor XR.

Answer 2

I was started off on 10mgs/day and told that was the 'normal' starting dose. It wasn't until about 6 weeks later that I was raised to 20mgs because I felt NOTHING from the 10mgs. I still felt pretty depressed on the 20mgs so I was eventually raised to 30mgs about a month or two after that. I finally began to feel better. I still have problems with depression sometimes so my doc is considering raising me up to 40mgs in the future. For me, the Lexapro was prescribed mostly for my severe clinical depression/suicidal thoughts/total hopelessness.

My anxiety/panic attacks were so severe that I was unable to leave my house most days. I was extremely paranoid and having delusional thoughts. For that, my doctor prescribed Ativan. I became addicted and was switched to Klonopin. I take the Klonopin and the Lexapro every day and they work pretty well together.

My only side effects took place for the first day or two after starting a new dosage of Lexapro. At 10mgs, when I was switched to 20 and then again when I went up to 30. I'll have pretty bad nausea and 'bathroom problems' for a few days but then I'm totally fine. I didn't notice any heart problems.

Answer 3

These are listed side-effects. Certainly, they are ones it would be sensible to contact a doctor about, and discuss. I've linked you to a lexapro sheet below: Paresthesia (2%) - tingling, prickling, numbness of the skin; Some people feel it in the hands and face, but it can be anywhere on the body; Lexapro paresthesia has occurred in the knees, for example. Infrequent - taste alteration, metallic taste

Answer 4

First of all, you shouldn't fool around and adjust your medications yourself...it should always be done with your Dr's approval. Once you start a depression medication you need to stay on it a full year before being weened off of it, or your depression can worsen.

I was on Lexapro and so is my husband. Neither of us experienced any negative side effects, but I went off of it because Lexapro only targets two areas in your brain and I needed a medication that targeted the three areas of my brain that were affected by the lack of serotonin.

If anxiety is your problem (and not depression) than maybe you should talk with your Dr. about a medication for just anxiety, like Ativan. I use that, and along with counseling with a Cognitive Behavior Therapist, I am able to manage my anxiety with a low dosage of the medication.

I would strongly suggest that you talk with your doctor and not depend on the advice given here on this message board. Good luck.

Answer 5

i am also taking lexapro for anxiety. i've been on it for about 6 months. i've been on 10 mg since i started taking it. the first week i felt very out of it, sort of like everything was fuzzy. when i began taking it i also had stomach problems for about 2 weeks (eating was the worst). but after that all ended i felt great, and still do, i havent had a full panic attack yet, but sometimes i feel like i'm having a slight one (which is a lot better than it used to be) if you think that your dosage is too high at 20 mg, i would call your dr. and maybe they can have you start out at 5 or 10 mg and then work your way up after a month or two

Answer 6

I started out on 5mg and stopped taking it after a month because It gave me nausea all day. While I was on it I also relentlessly teased my friends untill they cried or couldn't stand to be around me anymore, and I didn't even care that I was hurting their feelings.