Just Started on Lexapro

I started taking it when I was going through my divorce. It really did help me. It seemed to balance me out. I was not as quick to react and snap even though there was so much stress. I don't remember much about the side effects except being a bit tired the first few days. I remember calling it my "happy pill" because it improved my mood so much and put me on such an even keel. It was a great help getting through such a horrible time in my life. Good luck to you.

First, I'm glad you decided to seek help. I think as women we sometimes feel like our well being is last on the list. I've been on Lexapro for about 2 years. I started taking it after my daughter's birth when I had a surge in my "normal" anxiety. I don't remember how long it took to really help but I think once I was on it for about a month I could feel the difference. I didn't and continue not to have any side effects.

I also started meditating again and working on other calming tools and techniques to help. It takes a bit before this becomes second nature but it has really been an asset to me. Exercise is also supposed to be a really good way to help at least with anxiety issues. I also limit my caffeine.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

It worked okay for me but I was switched to Zoloft after I finished nursing and that was a much better fit. I just wish that I had been more open with my doctor earlier, I may have upped the dosage faster and had more relief. It took about 2 weeks before I really noticed a difference but was a full month before I was ready to say I felt better. Don't get discouraged if it takes a while to kick in. I also noticed that it really diminished sex drive, although having a newborn at the time contributed for me also.

Be willing to consider different options with meds if this doesn't start working for you at least a little within 2 weeks. Don't be afraid to ask for a better dosage as they start you out very low.

Hope this works for you!

I took it two days and had to stop because it caused extreme anxiety as well as suicidal ideation, things that weren't happening to me before I started it. By extreme anxiety, I mean pacing and feeling unable to be alone. Anyway, my daughter had a sever reaction to prozac, and if they went up to fast on her Zoloft. The docs think we are just very sensitive to meds.
Make sure you are also in counseling to help deal with the probs.
Good luck,

First of all, congrats on starting on it...many people are out there who don't want to admit that they have depression and get help.
I've been on it for a long time. First off, it, you won't feel a difference for a few days at least. I'm sure your doc told you at least 2 weeks and for the full effect 4-6 weeks, but I began feeling better in a week or so. I think part of it may be the 'placebo' effect a little...knowing u're taking something that will help you feel better.
However, a lot of people stop Lexapro or other similar class drugs because of the side effects. Don't!!!! The biggest one I had was nausea all day and trouble sleeping at night. The nausea was relieved by chewing gum or keeping mints in my mouth. I also took 1/2 the dose the first few days so the side effects was not as profound. The nighttime anxiety was relieved by taking my medication first thing in the morning. Sometimes people get diarrhea but I didn't.
All in all, it's the nausea that annoyed me, but it passed after a few days. It has really, really helped change the way I deal with everyday things. I tend to be overemotional and oversensitive, so this helped me deal with those issues. Good luck!

Lexapro is in a class of drugs called SSRI's - Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors. There are several drugs in the class from Prozac to Zoloft, Effexor XR, etc.

Lexapro is a next generation drug of an older medication called Celexa. Both are generally weaker than some of the others.

Every person will respond differently to different medications. The FDA requires the manufacturer (Forest Labs) to include all side effects that occur in more than 2% of the population in their package insert. But, it doesn't mean you'll experience any of them or that you won't have one that's unique to you. Here's their full prescribing information (clinical document intended for pharmacists/physicians): http://www.frx.com/pi/lexapro_pi.pdf

Adverse reactions (side effects) are on page 10

The reason people recommend not stopping cold turkey is that your body has an adjustment period to build up a therapeutic dose of the active ingredient. If you stop cold turkey, your body will basically go into withdrawal and will be dependent on the dose you take. You'll need to titrate down meaning you slowly wean yourself from it. The longest-acting of the products, Prozac, doesn't appear to need this as much.

If you have any questions, ask your pharmacist. They're likely to have had thousands of patients to whom they've dispensed medications in this class and can give you a more accurate idea of what to expect.

Good luck getting through this rough spot. I hope it's only temporary.

Hi, not a mom, but a dad, and I was on the Lexapro for a short while of about 6 months. Worked well for me, help to balance me out, didn't seem to get low about things I too was going through a rough patch as well and needed something to help the anxiety, very good for that. Be careful if you come off of it as it will mess with you if you don't do it slowly.

I was on it for a couple years. I never wanted to be on a medication for the rest of my life. I noticed the first couple weeks I was horribly "in the mood" all the time and didn't sleep well. This is odd because it says it usually stops your libido. It worked well for me. It got me through a real tough time. BUT, when and if you are going to stop taking it DON'T GO COLD TURKEY!!!! I had a mental breakdown for no good reason 3 days after I stopped taking it. I thought I was going out of my mind. Now when I am having a rough patch I use Paxil. I can take it as needed and don't have any withdrawal.

I am interested in knowing too and whether men have different side effects than women.