new lexapro - scared to take

Hi all,

I have had fairly bad anxiety for ~6 years now. my GP treated it with 0.5 mg klonopin and it worked great up until 2 weeks ago. He pushed me to see psych. I didn't want to so he treated me anyway as a favor to me. So few nights ago, panic attack so bad with the 0.5 klonopin i wound up in the ER thinking i was dying. new symptoms accompanied this as well. extreme shaking, light headed and severe weakness. Usually it would just be the racing heart, pressure in head, nervousness thinking you are going to die any minute deal.

So the ER gave me ativan 1 mg and i was totally fine in 30 mins. miracle! i thanked them and left. they kindly gave me a script for a weeks worth so i can be ok until i can see someone.

Now i agree to see psych today because i just cant take it anymore. psych dr was nice and truly wants to help me. she offered lexapro 10 mg 1x per day plus klonopin 1 mg 2x per day. I accepted this and asked about side effects. she said maybe some light nausea/stomach issues in first few days. I said ok and left.

Now i go ahead like i always do and research the new drug, and what do i see.... brain zaps! this sounds scary as all get out to me. I think if i had a brain zap i would be in the ER in 0 seconds flat with the panic attack of a lifetime.

I have filled the script but i havent taken it yet. I know the upped klonopin dose will take care of this by itself. Any advice? it sounds like the zaps only come when you try and get off the lexapro, or run out or taper down.

Many have posted they wished they never took their first lexapro pill ever. also some here are currently on it and like it. I was a normal life and to feel good and do normal things but not at the price of brain zappage and whooshing sounds when i move my eyes etc.

I am a family man with a great job, wonderful wife, awesome dog and decent house. I have relatively no health issues except a nasty panic attack problem.

why is life so complicated?

Hi P.D. and welcome!

I am really sorry to hear of the increase in symptoms you're currently dealing with. I know how frustrating that is...to just get a handle on the status quo...only to get hit all over again with something new and scary.

I too applaud your pro-active approach to getting the help that you need, and encourage you to take that step of faith, and to give your new Rx a chance.

You many not experience any side effects at all...or even if you do, I believe you will find that it is by far preferable to the panic episodes that are plaguing you.

You really should not take a benzodiazepine as anything more than a rescue/PRN med...so a daily Rx (A/D) is going to be your best long term choice.

Try not to get discouraged with what you read on line about other's experiences. It is human nature for people to report only the negative...and for every bad review you see...there are literally dozens and dozens of others who did well...but just never made a review about their positive story. (and you have a great one written by one of our awesome long time members right there above!^^^)

Please be sure to check out our Resources at the top of the main forum page here for great self help material that you can use during your start up and beyond...

...and post with us anytime for anxiety support! We will be here to encourage you, in any direction you ultimately choose.

Talk soon,

Scaredy Cat

I put off going on lex for years and years. I Was super worried about the side effects that I had read about, but finally decided to put my fears aside and try it. I actually started out on 2.5 mgs (just cutting my 5 mg tablet in half). I had zero start up effects. By the time I worked up to 5mg, that was enough for me. I’ve stayed at 5 for about a year and a half now.

I have been on Lexapro for going on my 4th week, last week was pretty good felt I was adjusting pretty good. Then, on Sunday got dizzy again and have been off since then, hopefully this will pass, a lot of people say you go back and forth for at least 4 to 6 weeks, so I hope this to will pass. Has been quit a journey getting used to this medication, never had this before.