Lexapo Day #3 w/ questions

I woke up early this morning around 4:30am and I was in a bit of a panic state. I was thinking of taking a Xanax but I was able to fall back asleep with some breathing exercises. After waking back up around 7:30am I was having anxiety and I started having thoughts of myself going crazy or these pills aren't going to work. I know that the side effects can heighten anxiety but will a lot of these things settle down after a while?

List of symptoms
-Body Ache
-Fatigue
-Intrusive thoughts (I can't stand this)
-Panic (These seem to come in waves and almost bring to a point of an attack)

So far I haven't taken a Xanax yet and have been trying to deal with things without the aid of a benzo but I feel like I deserve some relief because I'm so mentally exhausted. I'm feeling a little down at the moment and I was a little excited for the weekend to come but now all I feel like I want to do is sleep through it.

Sorry guys I know I've been posting a lot and maybe its my OCD that keeps making me post and confirm with you folks over and over and over again but I appreciate everything from everyone!

Stay strong and hold fast,

-AK

AK,

It's hard to say as everyone is different...and it is better to take it day by day, and stay in the moment...so try not to assign a time to how long the start up effects last.

Great use of your coping skills!! Keep that up...use your benzo when you really need it...

...and stay positive and keep pushing towards your recovery. You are doing great!

S.C.

Hey AK,

I have the obsessive thoughts part of OCD but not the compulsions. I think a lot of anxiety sufferers have the thoughts because when you are in a state of fear you think something is wrong, so your brain goes out looking for what's wrong and (yikes) bad thoughts happen. Then that makes us more anxious, and it's a cycle. Marian's suggestion of reminding yourself it's a thought, not an action is a good tip.

As far as your waking, you sound exactly like me a few months ago when I started on 100mg Sertraline. I woke up between 4:30am and 5am every morning with anxiety, no matter what time I went to bed. I was usually able to get back to sleep for at least another hour or two. I started going to bed super early so I could get enough sleep... one time I think I went to bed at 6:30pm. lol

After 10 days, my side effects went away. I still had trouble with the morning waking for awhile longer, but as soon as I got on the 150mg dose, that stopped immediately (the morning after I took my first dose). Everyone is different, so hopefully you won't be suffering much longer. It's nice to know you have a benzo to take in case you need it, too. It's like a security blanket.

Hi bluecat,
I was wondering if you take the gabapentin for pain or for anxiety. Also, did you get anxiety when you went on sertraline and when it was increase? I am on 100 of sertraline, plus I take pregabalin. Anyway, just looking to hear some success stories. I am experiencing heightened anxiety since the increase.
Regards,
Canada123]