Lexapro update

Hi everyone, I thought I'd update how Lexapro is working out for me. It's now been 2 weeks on 10mg once a day in the mornings, 2 weeks of 5mg before that. For anyone reading this who is thinking of taking Lexapro or on a trial dose, I just want to say it has been helping me. You do have to take it on faith for a while, which is really hard. But if you can hang in there, I think there's a good chance it can help. A lot of stuff you read online, especially reviews, either say it's horrible or it's some kind of miracle cure. It's not a miracle cure. It does help me with the fear and racing thoughts, but it's an aid, not a cure. I'm not saying it can't be great for some people, but please, don't assume it's not going to work if you don't feel that "miracle cure" effect. If I had believed those big claims I'd be so disappointed now I'd be tempted to give up.

Anyway my side effects are a bit better. They've changed, I feel nausea when I wake up to take my pill, but it's not so bad and goes away during the day. But I have been getting REALLY drowsy in the afternoons. It's been very hard not to take naps. I know it's better for me to try to stay awake so I don't end up awake all night, but it's hard to get anything done during those times. On the other hand, that was also true because of my anxiety and racing thoughts before I started Lexapro. So I guess I'm not exactly worse off. It worries me though, I hope that side effect goes away. Also still yawning like crazy. Really strange.

Anxiety is a bit better. I had a panic attack during the day today, but I think I recovered faster than I normally do. By maybe half an hour, but it's something. It's already about 11pm on NYE where I live. I'm very close to a big city so fireworks have been going for a few hours. I can hear them but I haven't been out to look. Sudden loud noises are not good for my PTSD or anxiety... Woah, there they go again. Even expecting them, I'm still extra on edge tonight.

I'm still kind of carrying out most of my anxiety behaviours, like hypervigilance, checking on possible dangers etc. But it's now a bit easier for me to force myself to delay a behaviour, like carrying out a safety check and instead spend that time thinking it through and talking myself down. But this is something I need to work on with a counselor. It's still exhausting, but if I had to choose, I'd rather be exhausted than terrified. My current counselor is good with PTSD and trauma but doesn't know as much about OCD, so I'm looking for one who is trauma informed and an OCD expert.

So overall Lexapro is better than I expected, but like I said, not a miracle cure. Not allowing myself to get my hopes up is either a symptom of my depression or a sensible coping mechanism, I don't know... but yeah, I think it's helping.

Two questions if anyone has time to answer, not urgent

1] Does anyone know if the 6-8 week period we get told to wait for the full effect starts from taking 10mg or could it start from the initial 5mg? I suspect it's the later, 10mg. I was just hoping it could be sooner for me. I probably have to wait another 4-6 weeks to get to the therapeutic dose. I've just been telling myself to keep giving it another week, then another week... Whatever, in 2 weeks I'll maybe be halfway there.

2] What are people's views of drinking alcohol on Lexapro? My pdoc said it was good for me to cut down, but I don't have to go completely cold turkey, I can have a glass of wine now and then. I'm not a big drinker really, but I don't want to have weird side effects. A few weeks ago I had one beer and felt more tipsy than I would expect, but I hadn't been on the 10mg for long at that point. I'm a woman about 58kg (~128 pounds) and blood pressure a little on the low side anyway, so I am going to be careful because I don't have a high tolerance. I just want to know what I can expect.

Thanks for the post HWNM, glad to see you're tolerating it better. I went through a similar experience with having big doubts at first, but stuck through those early days and even upped the dose like you did.

I agree it's not a miracle drug or an evil one, rather it's supportive. I still get anxious at times, just not as bad...still have depression on occasion, but it's minor in comparison to before.

I've been on it for over 2 years now and right now can't see myself off it...been really good at keeping my mood on an even keel.

As for as your questions:

1. I think it's gradual. Sounds like you are already feeling the beneficial effects, but it might take up to 10-12 to really get dialed in. With me it was a gradual movement towards feeling better, although about the time where you are now I was feeling a lot better.

2. You can drink with Lexapro. It affects serotonin and generally alcohol hits GABA. However, alcohol acts as a depressant, so it might make the Lexapro not as effective if you drink a lot. I think it can also make you more drowsy and, like SC said, more anxious, especially the next day when GABA levels have plummetted from coming off alcohol. GABA is the main inhibitory (calming) neurotransmitter in mamals, including us humans! When GABA levels are low, you can feel really anxious. That's why alcoholics coming off hardcore drinking can feel very panicky...their GABA levels hit rock bottom when going cold turkey and it takes a while to build them back up. It doesn't sound like you drink much, so shouldn't be a problem.

HWnm,

I am so glad to hear that you are feeling better!! This is wonderful news!

May you continue to mark improvement. ..and reach your recovery goals.

Sending positive thoughts for the yawning and insomnia to phase out soon ...but all in all, what a good report!

Keep us posted, so we can continue to cheer you on.

S.C.

Hey, so here's another update after about a month on 10mg a day, 2 weeks of 5mg before that. I almost can't believe it but most of the side effects got better. The only ones that didn't are insomnia (which I already had because of anxiety) and a feeling of being drowsy or difficulty focusing, mostly in the afternoons. Sometimes this is scary and I hope it goes away, but if I had to choose between that and my previous level of anxiety... it wouldn't even be a choice. Also a few weird sleep symptoms, like suddenly waking up in fear. This happened sometimes before lexapro, so I don't know. Maybe once or twice a month before, now once or twice a week. I still feel better with the lexapro though.

I feel like my anxiety has gone down from a 9-10 everyday to about a 7-8 most days. I know this doesn't sound like much, it's still debilitating, but to me it really is a big difference. This week it was a little higher, closer to what it was before lexapro, but I just keep telling myself that's temporary. I know it can take up to 12 weeks to feel the full effect, and I hope I can get it down another few points when I switch to a counselor who can see me on an ongoing basis.

Thanks again for all your support. It's been really helpful to write it all out here.

Hi

Thanks for the update I am pleased things are heading the right way for you I think Lexapro is a good medication.

Keep us posted.

Hibee