Lexapro 10mg side effects

Hello- Today is my 10th day taking 10mg of generic Lexapro.... I have been through quite the rollercoaster of emotions and side effects over the last 10 days.
The first 2 days were fine... Felt a little bit of a buzzing feeling all over and a bit of nausea and dry mouth but nothing that wasn't manageable.
Then came day 3...Day 3-4-5 all were the very worst days of my life hands down. I woke up in the middle of the night on day 3 with the worst panic attack I have ever had. Took almost 2 hours to come down from it and was almost ready to head straight to the ER. I called my dr that day and she told me that its not uncommon for side effects to get worse before they get better and to take the Xanax she prescribed when feeling anxious or feeling a panic attack coming on.
I have had to take the Xanax every day still because the anxiousness is still very present but am only taking 1/2 of a 0.25 tablet maybe twice a day. I have had about 3 days of feeling like myself again for bits of time but don't know if that's because im taking the Xanax and its masking the nasty side effects of Lexapro or if the Lexapro is really working. Yesterday(Day 9) I went to the grocery store with my husband after taking 1/4 of a 0.25 Xanax and felt ok while we were there. I did have to take the other 1/4 once we returned home because I was feeling anxious. Most days now are ok during the day but the night is the absolute worst... Cant fall asleep even though exhausted, wake up in a pool of sweat which I never experienced before, ball of nerves in my stomach upon waking and bad anxiousness and that's with MAYBE getting 4 hrs of sleep and most of the time not solid hours of sleep.
I have really been on the fence about if I should stop the medication or not. I have even looked into cognitive behavioral therapy to try instead of these meds.
Before I started taking anything I was having social anxiety that seemed to be getting increasingly worse but I could still get a full nights sleep, focus, no headaches, no racing thoughts or very minimum,only if I was having anxiety. I plan on calling the dr tomorrow to see how she wants to proceed. She wanted to switch me to Wellbutrin after my side effects got so bad but nothing I have found online shows support that it really helps with anxiety. I totally hear all of you when you say that you search google and these forums to try and find just something to make you feel like your a not alone and that someone that experienced the same things as you has come out on the other side with a positive experience after these awful side effects. I firmly believe that pdocs prescribe these medications all to frequently without seeing if there is an underlying cause such as thyroid or hormonal imbalance. As of right now I cant say wheather I will continue on with this 10mg of Lexapro or go off but I will keep this updated as I hope it helps someone in the process of going through starting these medications.

Hi Everyone, wanted to check in too see how everyone us doing. My nasesu is gone but still feeling nervous at times. Friday will he 2 weeks. By what i am reading about 3-4 weeks in. Dr said to take Xanxax inbetween but i feel i shouldnt, most days the most I take of X is one and a 1/2 throughout the day. Dr said thats fine its a liw dose and i break it in 1/2 to take it?? Thoughts??

How was everyones weekend?
Looking forward to hearing from you all

Hi everyone... I am in the same boat as Bananas.
A lot of my symptoms have mellowed out except I do still have the anxious/nervous feeling at times. I am also trying very hard to not take the Xanax very often but yesterday in effort to try and cut it out all together, I made myself miserable last night.
The previous two nights I had decent 2-3 hours sleeping periods at a time twice (which I consider great after not sleeping but maybe an hour all night when first starting these) but last night I started feeling very anxious so I took the 1/2 of the 0.25mg Xanax and it seemed to mellow me after 20-30 min but I just could not sleep again. Toss and turn , anxious feeling. Finally fell asleep around 5 or 6am. I do feel overall a lot better than I did when starting these up but don't know when or if the anxious feelings subside throughout the day. My dr told me the same about the benzo... They are safe and effective to use during the start up process but how long is the "start up process"? I really don't want to battle being hooked to those. Is 1/2 of a 0.25mg Xanax still safe to take here for the next few weeks even if its daily? Yesterday was the longest I had gone without it and it was about 18 hrs without having one.
I think another part that plays into the whole situation with all of us starting these is the constant mind evaluation of how you are feeling... I know that eventually goes away once things even out but throughout the day I am doing it all the time of thinking of if I feel ok or am I anxious or should I be taking something... Pretty annoying actually.
To those of you who are still struggling with the morning anxiousness before getting out of bed I have found deep breathing exercise (which I never truly believed help until I tried one morning)help take the edge off and then I have just been going straight to get into the shower. It helps relax you and takes your mind off the feeling and gives you a fresh start and a clean slate that today is a new day, even if yesterday was horrible.

I also am off work for two weeks thank goodness during this period and have been trying to reintroduce myself to things little by little to ease myself into things. First was grocery store with my husband, second was a family get together at sisters house and yesterday we drove further than I have been going. I need to go to work here and there between the next few weeks just to reassure myself I am ok even if its going to sit in the parking lot.

Two questions to others out there starting these meds-
1. Is the anxiety/nervousness a DIFFERENT type of anxiety you were experiencing before starting these meds?
2. Has anyone done Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with success with or without meds?

Post Edited (kela2014) : 5/28/2014 11:48:11 AM (GMT-6)

Thanks for replying Bananas-
I to have yet to take a full 3 tablets in a days time so I guess we are doing good? I just worry about it. It doesn't help that I am not a medicine taker to begin with before all of this so its a HUGE stretch for me to take the Lexapro much less the Xanax. I think the most I have taken in one day is maybe 1 1/2 but that would have been over a 24 time period not 12 hour period. My dr even told me to take 2 FULL TABLETS to be able to sleep at night. I think shes crazy at times lol.
When I get up and having that anxious feeling or that yucky ball of nerves in my stomach I do a deep breath in through my nose until your stomach is full of air, hold it for a few seconds and out through the mouth. I do that 3-4 times and then usually get up and move around. Laying there just makes it worse in my case.
The past few days I just try to find things to occupy my mind and not think of the situation.
My husband and I are supposed to go on a overnight mini get away tomorrow night to celebrate my mother in laws birthday but I have told them I don't intend on going based on the situation but my husband keeps telling me he thinks that I should still come and it will keep my mind off of things. Its only an hour away but being so far out of my comfort zone I worry. He assures me as long as I have my Xanax its not any different than being here at home. Its so hard to explain to someone who isn't experiencing these feelings.

Today will be day 12 for me on 10mg of Lexapro. Are you taking generic brand or Lexapro brand? I am on generic and heard there are more side effects.

That's funny.... I bet that is why we are experiencing the same symptoms... Maybe someone who is further along can tell us if they experienced the same thing if and when the anxiousness starts to subside more.
I talked to my Dr. last week when I was still feeling pretty lousy and was almost ready to just stop all together and she wanted to switch me to Wellbutrin but after I researched that I saw nothing that showed that it really helped with anxiety so I have just been riding it out.
See my anxiety/anxiousness I get while taking this is different from the anxiety I experienced before I started.
Before starting I would have panic type attacks in social settings... If we were in a restaurant, large crowd, shopping and then it got to be driving even if I had to sit at a stop light and then it started happening at work (I work with infants-12 months) and that's when I knew I had to see the dr because I could not handle being like that at work. The way it would feel though is that it was almost like a falling feeling, I felt like I would have to grip the ground with my toes because I didn't feel steady, and almost light headed/dizzy. Now when I get it, its more in my stomach just feeling like I cant sit still, maybe somewhat lightheaded but in a different way and more just racing thoughts.
I really don't intend on tiering up any on the mg on the Lexapro though.... Either it works at 10mg or nothing because I have read such horror stories of coming off it and I don't intend on being on it long term. I really would like 3 months or less but my dr says 6 months.
What is your plan??
I am in the US... Are you?

How many years were you on it before you went off and how did you wean yourself? Like from 10 to 7.5 to 5 to 2.5??
Im in Texas :)

Has it always been anxiety that you have taken in for or depression and anxiety?? From stuff I have read online about anxiety being a chemical imbalance in your brain , I kind of thought that once it got back where it was supposed to be that you could get off of it? I guess everyone is different but was really hoping to not have to be on it long term.
How many hours do you go in between taking the X? Or do you just go more on how you feel?? I try to wait at least 12hrs before taking it and I am usually doing good still at 12 hrs. Its once I hit 14-16hrs I start to feel more of the anxiousness. I made more progress today- Went shopping to two stores with my hubby (thank goodness he took a week of vaca. to) and have felt pretty good. I can kind of at times feel my body trying to go into panic but I guess with the X it just doesn't let your body get there which is good. I just don't want to have to up my dose on the X either to get the same effect.
I am glad that I have someone to talk to that understands the situation better than a lot of those around me!
Hopefully week 3 will be awesome for both of us!

Hello Everyone, wondering if anyone is feeling what I am feeling. I just started week 3 yesterday of lexapro 10mg and my anixety is down but my stomach get this nervous feeling and feels like my heart is racing. I have Xanxax and I am trying not to take. Anyone else feeling this? Looking forward to hearing from someone. Thanks

I to just started week 3 and I am still having to take the Xanax pretty consistently. I do feel the anxiety is a little better but I still moments where I feel panicked. Hoping that this week will get better and better although I turned the wrong way getting out of bed this morning and pulled a muscle in my lower back :/ just can't win!!
I go back to work next Tuesday and I'm hoping to be off the Xanax and feeling a lot better by then

Hey Bananas,

I am really glad to hear you are feeling better :) I get that waking up in the night anxiety too so I know what you mean dont worry, its such a crappy feeling isnt it. How did you feel taking the Lexapro in the afternoon?

I usually take mine early hours of the morning because I am normally awake then, I actually have a doctors appointment at 1240 pm UK time today because I am near the end of my first lot of tablets and I need to see if they want me to stay on this dose or go up to 20 mg.

I hope you have a great day.

Sean

Hey Sean, I wonder when u up it do u get all the beginnings of the side effects again? I can feel mine working hope they kick in after a full 3 week. I go back to Dr on the 12th. I woke up at 5:15 maybe it'd just my new wake up time? Cuz it's summer and the birds r chirping already. I didn't wake up with panic last night so that was a good sign? From around 10/11 am til night I feel ok.

Did u take the 15mg already? Do u take Xanxax too? Take cars let me know who u feel with 15

Hey Sean and Bananas-

@Sean- I cant believe you have gone through this start up without ANYTHING like Xanax. I would have stopped the Lexapro at the beginning when I felt so crappy if I didn't have the Xanax.
Today is the first day I haven't taken it yet... I took it around 6pm last night and so far today I feel great. I drove again for the first time today and went and ran some errands and I am feeling good. I hope this continues. I am on 10mg of the Lexapro but don't want to go up any on the mg.
@Bananas- It sounds like you are making progress if you are sleeping better and not waking up with the panic. Have you tried just turning on the TV for a few minutes at 5 am when you wake up and trying to zone out into that and fall back asleep? That's what I have been doing and its been working for me.
Do either of you have an issue with jaw clenching? That is a new symptom that has shown up the past 3-4 days and its quite annoying. I looked it up and it does say it can be a symptom of Lexapro.
I go back to the dr. on the 18th of this month and she will evaluate how its going for me.