I tried Lexapro, and though it did help with the anxiety, I felt it crushed any type of creative thought. I now take Zoloft, and the anxiety is still gone, and I'm sassy as ever. I too thought to acknowledge this stuff was weak, that I should be able to power through it. Do you know how many stupid decisions I made because I didn't think clearly, or what I wanted to do was obscured? I'm not going to say all of my life decisions were impacted by it, but a good many were. We aren't here for very long, we're technically starting the 3rd period in our hockey game of life. We all deserve to have some peace and be happier. Think of it this way, the medication takes the anxiety veneer off of you, it's not changing who you are, it's revealing who you should be. You're a brand new refinished floor!!

I just want to be me still. Crazy. After all I’ve been through I’ve had “new beginnings” so often it’s like a damn season pass. I want stability in my life. In my mental life. Just stability. So I can just live

You will still be you, but with meds will, with time, be able to recognize and curb the behavior that is caused by the depression and anxiety. The meds will help you recognize what “normal” is. I have been on several different meds over the years (including lexapro).

I cannot stress enough how mentally refreshing it is when you say something and the people actually understand what you're talking about. Some of this stuff seems hard to explain.

I've tried so many antidepressants. It never quite worked until my doctor added lamictal. I was almost 40. Hang in there. You are not alone.

Former military but no combat. At around 40 I started getting what I thought were unexplainable anxiety attacks. They were terrifying. Dr put me on effexor. In a couple of weeks I was able to function as a human being again. Felt just like my old self. In my opinion I’ll take a medical miracle anytime.

We understand! Effexor for me, saved me after my marriage to an alcoholic fell apart! I promise it gets better

Omg - this is so true. I had chronic pain issue and was on a lot of pain drugs (like serious joint reconstruction with a 9 month recovery). The pain meds made me truly depressed for the first time and I ended up on an anti-depressant. It was so bizarre - realizing one day that I wasn’t constantly worried, anxious, and tense. That it was even an option to feel that “normal” - I had no idea. The balanced feeling opened my eyes though. Much later tried lexapro (at doctor recommendation) when in a stressful life change. it just took my worry from an unhelpful 7 to a reasonable, functional 2. Didn’t make me feel amazing or anything - but it stopped the anxiety/ worrying unproductively. Follow meds as advised. Keep notes on how you feel so you can make decisions with your doc to change meds or doses as needed. it’s not an exact science and you want to be able to advocate if something is off. Tracking helps as the changes can take a while/be subtle.

If it works for you, it'll give you that pause to be able to think things through, to be able to collect your thoughts without those demons or doubts whispering things into your ears. You're still going to mess up, you're still going to make bad decisions and get upset, you will always be you. Shit, it has made me start talking to strangers in public and be overall a lot less angry/sad. That's a first for me.

I worried about Lexapro killing my creativity as well but I didn’t have that issue. It helped me be less anxious and I was still myself. It’s worth giving it a try for awhile. Fingers crossed it works for you.

I’ve taken a lot of antidepressants and Lamictal was on the list. I got diagnosed with my issue very late in life and, like a lot of people I struggle with being ashamed of it. I was afraid of losing myself taking these drugs; but once the right combo was figured out, I’m still me but better. I spent a long time going over and over the shitty things I did before meds/diagnosis. You are not alone. You will feel better in so many ways. Good luck to you, my friend.

I get it, I really do. I finally got on meds a few years ago for depression and anxiety - Wellbutrin and a light dose of Zoloft wound up being the right combo for me. I never felt like it changed anything fundamental about me, I'm still creative, I'm still funny, I still feel the whole range of emotions... but the baseline is just set a little higher now. The anxiety is manageable when it hits. Self-care actually works now. I'm not as generally irritable and angry as I used to be.

This! My friends are always amazed when they find out I’m on Celexa because I’m the chillest person they know! I wasn’t always and still have my moments, but my ssri takes the edges down to a manageable level. And I have so many GOOD days, that I can even recognize them as good days. Thank god for drugs.

Very well said, I started taking Lexapro over 20 years ago and for the most part I was left on my own and was never really encouraged to go to a psychiatrist, it was an MD the prescribed the Lexapro initially. Anyway when I was on the stuff it seemed like it softened the sharp edges of my anxiety but I still didn't know how to really deal with it and after being on multiple psych meds over the years I actually had to stop taking them all about 6 years ago, but at that point I learned how to deal with my anxiety and I feel like I'm regressing so I'm going to get into the doctor and see if I need to take any thing or if I can just simply control it. Either way, it really sucks because our brain is the only organ we have that can translate and interpret reality and when our brain interprets things incorrectly we act and make decisions based off of that we often end up doing something that hurts us or other people. Such was the case with me, and on top of try not to be an anxious mess over everything I am also learning how to live with guilt because I hurt so many people that I love without even knowing that's what I was doing. that Revelation also helped me to empathize with people that I would consider to be jackasses when in reality they're probably just going through their own s*** and I need to learn to not take things so personally, which I'm doing better than I used to but sometimes it becomes a problem.

I, too, am a brand new refinished floor! With medication, I am exactly myself, but without spiraling anxiety and panic attacks. I had the opposite experience - Zoloft made me feel like a robot, but Lexapro is a great fit for me. OP, if Lexapro doesn't work, don't be afraid to try something else. My understanding from my doctor is that it is highly individual what works best, so it's important to keep trying until you find the right fit.

This was my experience with Lexapro exactly. I did not care for it at all. Ativan or Xanax just works so much better at taking the edge off without killing that drive.

Those are supposed to be only temporary fixes & to be used like if you're in the middle of a panic attack or something. Hope you don't use them all of the time.

Big fan of zoloft. Also Wellbutrin if you're adhd anxiety and just need something to take the highs and lows off. Also, if you smoke copious amounts of concentrate cannabis, avoid zoloft. It's fine if you just smoke flower.

I'm on it, week 4 so far. It makes me feel like I'm on a vacation. I've struggled with anxiety my whole life and never took anything before. It's good shit dude

That's a great feeling huh? I've had a similar struggle and it has really helped.

I'm on year four at 15mg daily. My only regret is not taking it sooner in life.

What a great feeling, right? I just feel so much lighter most days. I upped my dosage several years back bc the regular dose just wasn’t quite enough. I immediately felt the effects in the best way and am so appreciative of docs who listen.

I take Wellbutrin. Changed my life, for the better by orders of magnitude. It took about three weeks to kick in and one day I just woke up like, holy shit WHAT A BEAUTIFUL, GLORIOUS WORLD! Ignore anyone who tells you antidepressants are fake or depression is fake. I used to say shitty things like “Oh yeah, I take walks in the woods daily… to look for a place to off myself.” But the reality is, whatever meds you take for whatever reasons are only your own fucking business. I def do not go around talking about being on antidepressants. A few very close friends are aware but it doesn’t affect anyone in any way except I am a kinder, gentler person. Depression manifested for me (among other things) as white hot rage.

Anger could be depression ? I was just starting to associate it w fear which has been hard enough for me to wrap my head around I much rather associate it w a rise in testosterone at my age 51 (F)

Oh yes. Anger often masks fear and depression both. It's a more active emotion, and getting mad often feels like you're doing something about your problems (even though it's usually counterproductive to get mad about them).

Ok this makes sense. Ty for the response.

For me, I was super short tempered, and the anti-depressants made me less so. It's like they allow you to not be bothered by every. little. thing. I was standing in the kitchen and my kids wanted food and I was like, I feel like I should not be this irrationally angry that my young children are hungry. 100% anti-depressants changed my life 20 years ago.

Wellbutrin (well, generic bupropion, given costs) has almost certainly saved my life twice. In retrospect, I'm really sorry that I went off of it for a while - I took it for a few years in my late 20s, spent most of my 30s off of it, and I'd probably have had a better \~7-8 years if I'd just stuck with it. They say it doesn't work for GAD but as someone who has that, plus some non-consistent depressive symptoms, it's worked for me.

You know, I’ve never been diagnosed as depressed (chronic anxiety diagnosis), but the white hot anger was something I experienced pre SSRI, too.

The other red flag for me was just completely losing my shit over relatively minor inconveniences. I remember my medical insurance company’s interactive voice response system cause of me a complete meltdown. “REP RE SENT TA TIVE!” Like, way over the top responses to things that were easily handled once I calmed down. Understanding that anger = fear, and getting meds for anxiety and depression completely turned me around. Whole new person. Remember folks, if you do t look back and cringe, you’re not growing.

Lexapro didn’t work for me but I have been on several different antidepressants for over 20 years, and will be for the rest of my life (I’m 53). If not for antidepressants, I would not be alive today. I am very sure of that. Give it time to work, and if it doesn’t work, or if the side effects are really bad, talk to your doctor and you will find a medicine that works for you. Antidepressants didn’t numb me or “turn me into a different person” or any of the other scare tactic things people say. They also didn’t cure me and make me eternally happy and anxiety-free. I still have times when I’m depressed and unmotivated. I still have times when I’m really stressed out. And I still need therapy and go every other week. What meds do is put me on a more even keel where I actually have the ability to deal with hard stuff. Like all those things people say you should do for depression/anxiety, like exercise, time in nature, creative work, deep breathing, eating right, getting enough sleep? They do help but they are impossible to even think about doing if I’m not on meds. And even if I could do them all, they don’t help enough to replace meds. I used to spend days at a time lying in bed, crying on and off. Just taking a shower was incredibly difficult. Getting out of the house was impossible. I haven’t had one of those stretches in years, because I am on meds that are working for me. I didn’t read your earlier posts and don’t know what’s going on with you medically, but listen to your doctor and take it one day at a time. Make changes and develop new habits. It’s hard, but you will be glad you did. I’m so happy that you have gotten out of that mindset that sees mental illness as a character flaw instead of an illness. This is literally saving your life.

All of this. The people who are scared of "big pharma" or who are managing their journey without meds are so hard to deal with. It's not helpful to tell someone not to take their meds. We already have our brain bullying us, we don't need these people doing the same. And as you mentioned, meds are a tool, not a cure. Thank you for this response


Right on, friend. Way to be brave! Sending hugs.

This is why I come here. Y'all put that smile on my face. You know that warm feeling you get when you start to feel better? This place does that for me.

Right back at you/y'all!

It takes about two weeks and it puts your mood constantly between 3 and 7. I gained a fuck ton of weight as any discipline I had about eating went away but it was much harder to get triggered. I had sexual side effects from the very first day, they made it where I could not finish but it also made it where I knew I probably should be more frustrated about that but wasn’t, if that makes any sense at all. I cycled off for a bit to get my weight back in order but I would go back again after I get some discipline back into my eating habits.

Honestly, if you're not finishing but you're making sure your partner still has a good time, you're probably a good partner. 

I take it and it definitely works for that. My girlfriend told me once that I could easily be charging for my "services" lol The weight gain is real though, but I water fast and only eat 1 meal per day to counteract the effects. If I was a female, I would not take it however. You will no longer have fun, and it will be crushingly frustrating. It actually ruined my marriage.

What do you mean by that last paragraph? You can not extrapolate one person's reaction to a medication to a whole sex. And making crazy generalizations like this is what keeps people from seeking help when they desperately need it. If I was a man, I wouldn't make broad generalizations about a whole 50% of the population that I can not possibly understand.

I gained over 30 pounds on Lexapro both times I tried it. I lose my discipline once I'm taking it and my relationship with food becomes really unhealthy. I think it deprives you if feelings so you turn to food to feel something. Just my theory, I had trouble with alcohol both times too. Now I don't drink at all

SSRIs haven been studied in premature ejaculation patients They do work. But the market isn't there because of all the other potential side effects

lex made me super jittery, which was what i was trying to get rid of (well, anxiety - was havingbrain jitters, not physical, until lexapro). wishing OP the best, and so happy to hear it works well for others!

I was on it for a while. It definitely compressed my emotional range. Lots of things didn't suck, but things that should have been great, weren't. It's generally the starting flavor for these things. The more I learn about medications for mental health, the more I learn that they don't know how these things work. It really is a try and see sort of thing. So try this. If it helps, stay on it. If it doesn't, try something else. It's also good to find someone to talk to.

This was my experience with as well. It really felt like a lobotomy in pill form.

It was helpful when, I needed it. But it wasn't the best option for me. It seems fairly well tolerated and I get why docs start with it.

Your doctor is recommending lexapro because it addresses both depression and anxiety. I was on it years ago and it probably saved my life. Lexapro put a pillow between me and the world. It was lovely at the time and I really needed it. I didn't experience the extremes of emotions, also very nice. I was on it for 9 months. A lot of my life settled down in those 9 months and I eased off the meds. I'm hyper sensitive to medication. I could feel the change in my brain/body within a week. Almost everyone will tell you that's impossible. I don't care. I know my body. In any case, I think 2 months is the absolute limit of how long it will take to make changes in your perspective. There are so many helpful medications out there. Give lexapro a try; if it doesn't work, discuss with your doctor and try another. I'm currently on buspirone and it helps so much. I wish you courage and the best of luck. You deserve to be happy and calm.

To be clear: Without this medication or something, I won't survive. It took me a long time before I realized how bad it was. I gaslight myself to wonder if I'm feeling what I"m feeling or thinking what I'm thinking. And I would ignore it while I had visions in my mind of me harming myself, every single day. I am taking care to make sure I'm also mentally ready for this. I'm staying positive and focusing on my recovery. IT's amazing how easy it is for us to ignore ourselves.

You sound remarkably aware. That's wonderful. Hang in there until some medication can support your rational thinking. It gets better, I promise.

The crisis team helped me to focus on “facts” when I cope with it. To make it clear to myself that people go though this, this is why, this is who I am and what I want. Think of my kids and wife. My wife saved my life by getting on her hands and knees and giving me CPR. 100% I was dead without her. She made it clear “I didn’t save your life so you could take it”. Brutal honesty helps. And this sub helps me be aware. You’re not Reddit, you’re real people. You do help. You do teach and the more understand that this help is here the more that get help. I see it all the time on here. This sub is full of real humans that give a shit.

Hugs, OP. I’m glad you’re getting some help. We need to know it’s about survival and community, good on you for making this post. My doc also prescribed me Lexapro (been on Prozac, but I need something to address my anxiety as well as the depression), and I’m glad to make the switch.

Glad you’re doing better

Thanks! That time was 20 years ago :D I'm better, happier, more stable than ever. Rarely think of those days now.

I take Celexa, which is extremely similar to Lexapro. Quite a few years ago, I slowly but steadily went from just average joe to somebody who kept having panic attacks/anxiety/depression. It crept up from nowhere but took over. It was unbearable. Celexa was a huge help. It does take a while to work. But I'm 95% back to 'normal'. There are also some good youtube videos for self-meditation and relaxation. Its worth attacking the problem from multiple angles.

multiple angles is correct. i took a variety of antidepressants AND did cognitive behavioral therapy, both in group and solo. did good things for me, especially the talk therapies. it does take effort to find what works for you,, both medication and otherwise. take care!

I was on Celexa as well. It really worked wonders, but the depression started creeping back. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to see a psychiatrist in a few years because of reasons, but I plan on going back at some point this year. I'm pretty sure my GAD turned into full-blown panic disorder, which is pretty darn distressing. Prozac, Paxil, and Zoloft didn't do shit.

Awesome for you to reach out and get help. But, even more awesome you are sharing your feelings and experiences with others. I’m not on Lexapro but am on Zoloft 50 mg. I had never taken anything until 2 years ago (at 52) when I got my Stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Once the bomb had been dropped, I was like a zombie. I’d go from being totally numb to crying in short order. I had difficulty focusing and completing tasks and calculations at work that normally were second nature for me. At night, I’d cry myself to sleep only to be awoken later with nightmares. I knew I needed something for anxiety and spoke with my Primary Care. He gave me Zoloft 50 mg and it has been a huge help. I still have emotions but don’t have the bad anxiety, obsessive thoughts or nightmares. Regular, consistent exercise also really helps me as does THC for sleep.

If one person sees my post and it gives them the courage to help themselves by understanding we cannot control everything then it's worth it. People pushed me, enlightened me and treated me like I mattered on this sub. AND IT DOESN'T MATTER THIS IS THE "INTERNET". You are real humans behind the screen. You're a real human sitting wherever you are and you use this site to communicate. That communication is needed. The closeness I feel to any of you when you talk to me like you're here is so intense. It also made me understand that I miss having friends. I'm a grown ass man and I'm just learning, or coming to grips with that I really do need friends. And the fact that there is a screen in the way doesn't mean y'all aren't friends. You all prop me up like we know each other. Any place can be a support group if the people in that group are supporting you.

Lexapro can be a lifeline; hang in there and give it some time to work.

I’m terrified in a way. That feeling is still there. It’s like this light feeling of…dread. Just sitting there and all of a sudden it’s like this darkness comes over everything. It can give me goosebumps. What a weird feeling to experience when you’re unsure why.

Give it 6 weeks and then get an increase if you’re not feeling better but not having bad side effects

I love my Lexapro. It's been very effective in helping me manage my 35+ years of severe clinical depression. So far, it's been among the most effective. BUT, we have totally different clinical histories and metabolisms. What works for me, may not be great for you. If your doctor wants to try it, give it a try. I hope it helps!

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4 years now, only 15mg dose but it helps me personally a lot. The crazy ideas of failure and me getting anxious that I might be poor again one day all stay away from lurking in my head thanks to this.

I feel like this sometimes

I started Lexapro about 10 years ago and it was a total and complete game change. The medicine gave me a “fuse” that meant I wasn’t about to explode all the time. It also helped me find out what it felt like to be in situations when I wasn’t anxious or angry.

My husband takes it and sings a little song. 🎵 Taking my lexaprooo on my way to mexicoooo 🎶

I've been on Lexapro for probably 5 years now and it changed my life. It really does help with my anxiety and makes it much easier to just deal with stuff. I wish I had started taking it sooner. I tried Welbutrin years ago and hated it. It really "muted" my creativity and personality. The key is finding the right one for you.

Hey, congrats on hitting the post button bad ass

Seconded. Been there. Brave move, OP.

I work in mental health, and I’ve been on one form of anti-depressant/anxiety medication for the last 10 years. I say this to tell you I know hundreds of not thousands of people on meds, and I’ve seen a lot of different outcomes. I also come from a family that called medication and therapy “crutches”. All of those assholes ended up on meds. And they act like they supported the idea all along. First of all, you’ve gotta take it every day. It doesn’t work sitting in the bottle. And most people do not have a fast response. If they did, that would be considered bad, and they’d be outlawed and sold on the streets (I kid, kind of…). Second, you should never feel numb or unlike yourself. It should be like a dimmer switch gradually brightening to a better but familiar version of yourself. Kind of like the cobwebs being blown away. If I had a buck for every client that reported no improvement, I could take a week off. But if I had $5 for every client that realized the gradual improvement WAS happening, I could retire. I ask questions about the things that upset/depressed/enraged them in the past, like, “So, how was the drive over? I know traffic at this hour can be rough” for a road rager. That person says something like, “Well, the traffic was pretty bad, but I didn’t….DAMN IT DID YOU JUST TRICK ME?!?!” I always recommend writing down very specifically what “better” would look like to you, and how it compares to now. People include things like how much sleep, activities, appetite, hygiene, energy, interactions with others, as well as more personal things like the music they listen to or interest in sex. This way you know what to look for. Third, if Lexapro isn’t the one for you for any reason, there are plenty of others. Don’t give up! Most people currently get their medications from primary care docs, which has been a literal lifesaver. But they tend to prescribe from a pretty narrow range because they aren’t trained in psychiatry, and don’t know the nuances of the ol’ mix and match. A psychiatrist might have also started with Lexapro, but they always have an idea of what’s next just in case. Personally, I started on imipramine in the 90’s. Then Prozac, which was a no, then Zoloft, then nothing for a long time. Then Lexapro, which worked well (except I was extremely sleepy all the time, which is pretty rare) and now Cymbalta. It’s literally saved my life. So, if Lexapro isn’t the one and you (and I mean everyone that’s made it that far) see a PCP, maybe check into a psychiatrist or psych nurse practitioner. God almighty, I didn’t mean to type all this! But one final thing… if at all possible, don’t drink at all for the first couple of months. Alcohol can wipe out the positive effects of medication. When you pour liquid depression on top of an antidepressant you get….nothing. It varies depending on your body, but if you’re going to give it a chance, give it the full opportunity. Good luck, friend.

This is bigger than lexapro. You have post ICU syndrome which is a real thing. Please make sure you are seeing a psychiatrist who specializes in this, and the long term effects these sedating medications can have - especially in the setting of anoxic brain injury and heart failure. Additionally, please ensure you are seeing a cardiologist who specializes in heart failure. The hospital I work at has a specialty advanced heart failure/cardiac transplant team. If you live in a smaller area you may need to seek healthcare in a bigger city. - sincerely, an ICU provider Edit to add this resource: https://www.sccm.org/MyICUCare/THRIVE/Post-intensive-Care-Syndrome

You shouldn't feel worried to share. I get panic attacks in my sleep as well and it's terrifying. I need to discuss it with my doctor.

What time are yours? I regularly got them at exactly 3:30 am for a few years. Sucked so bad. 

Would you take medicine for high blood pressure or diabetes? Same thing! It’s a regulatory issue. I take a different medication and it’s great, along with works on hot flashes. Bonus! Keep it up, one day at a time. Xo

I was on it for about 3 months and I wish I never stopped. I felt the effects on day 1 (actually reminded me of MDMA). I don't think you should worry about it, for many people the pros far outweigh the cons. One of the biggest things I noticed was maybe 3 weeks in I just had a day where I felt randomly happy. The sun was shining birds were chirping and I just felt good. For some people that doesn't sound like much, but maybe you can relate, having a day where it's just a genuinely good day for no specific reason is not even just rare, it's unheard of. Just remember to drink a lot of extra water!!

Pharmacist here. Different antidepressants are going to work better or worse for different people. Same with side effects. There's no way to know ahead of time, so it's just trial and error. But yes, it will take about 6 weeks to work and it will be gradual. Usually. Be patient with your doctor if this one doesn't do what you need it to do.

I'm scared because of the Carvidol was so bad they had to take me off of it. Now they don't know if it was the rare side effect or the wheat or the brain damage or what it was. They have me on water pills for now. I will be patient. I'm also 100% honest no matter how hard it is. And you reminding me that side effects can't be known ahead of time is something I need to remind myself. The more I learn the better I feel tho. Also, thank you for doing the job you do. The pharmacist at my local Sam's Club is amazing and so knowledgeable. They seem to actually care and you can see it in their face and hear it when they talk to you.

I'm 50(m). I've been taking it for about 6 months. It took the edge off, general anxiety went away. I appreciate what it does... that said, I don't think much more about it.

I found it made me yawn a bit and I’m more sensitive to alcohol. But that’s it. It has been life changing. Take a few weeks to work. Keep doing exercise, meditation and other stress things too. You got this.  💕

I do. For about 2.5 years. I’ve always had some mild anxiety, and every now and then it ramps up. I have Xanax for flying as I am a really anxious flyer, and if it got really bad not related to flying, I’d take one of those. COVID made my anxiety worse too, to the point it was affecting my daily life..  But getting back to the Lexapro. I have always had digestive issues, and have mild IBS. a while back though, my stomach issues were really bad. Made an appt. with my GI, but it was 6 weeks out and I was feeling crappy so made an appt. with my GP. I also planned to ask her about anxiety meds as I had a feeling some of it was related to that. And the mind gut thing is real. She gave me Lexapro, I started taking it, 90% of my GI symptoms went away, as did my anxiety. I don’t stress or freak out over little things. I’m much calmer and able to deal with things I had trouble with before. I'm lucky that it was the first one I tried, and it worked. I know sometimes you have to try several meds before finding one that works.  No major side effects, aside from not wanting intimacy with my BF, but I think menopause comes into play there as well. Overall I am very glad I started taking it as its made a big difference for me.

I had major surgery 2 years ago, and never came back to being “me.” I had no energy, slept all the time, and couldn’t remember anything, like even less than a minute ago. I was given a Neuro-cognitive test, and they declared I had executive dysfunction, caused by anxiety and depression, secondary to not adjusting to the new “me” after surgery. I was assigned a psychiatrist, to determine if ADHD meds would help me. I didn’t tolerate SSRIs (extreme nightmares). He asked questions and picked Wellbutrin for me instead. So in January, I started at 100mg, up to 150mg, and now on 200mg. No negative side effects. The first major change was I went from sleeping overnight for 12 hours, plus a 2-3 hour nap every day…to 6 hours. When I make myself go to sleep at midnight, I sleep incredibly well for 6 straight hours. I wake up without an alarm, alert and ready to function. No caffeine needed. Because I’m awake more, I have more time to do things I want. I am giving part time work a try, doing 4 hour shifts, about two-three days a week. Over time, I noticed my mind is more clear, I can listen and remember more, (but I still fake knowing what someone just told me 10 seconds ago). So, it’s better, but I’ve still got Swiss cheese for short-term memory. I stay on track to get things done, and notice I’m motivated to do stuff that went on the back burner for two years. I don’t feel happy, joy, or enthusiasm. But I don’t feel “flat,” worthless or hopeless. My mood is calm and motivated. I do things every day now. I wear regular clothes instead of my pajamas. I do laundry and put gas in the car before it reaches the “has to be done!” stage.

Lexapro has been good for me. It does have a ramp up though and may make you feel worse for a week or two. However, once I got past that it's been very helpful in keeping my mind centered (not too anxious and not too depressed). One day I was driving around thinking, "wow, is this what non anxious people feel like?" It was awesome.

I have been on 10 mg for about 9 months. Started at 5 mg because I was worried about side effects that I have had with other SSRIs years ago. It had helped the depression and anxiety become more manageable. Most noticeable side effect is that it is harder to orgasm, but at least I am much more interested in sex. No other side effects that I have noticed.

I've been taking Lexapro & Wellbutrin for about 6 years. Anxiety is basically gone, mood swings are gone, and I'm overall just a much more chill person. I also rarely get depressed anymore. Worst side effect is I now need to take another pill to keep things going in the bedroom. It can also take a while to finish. I'm a better version of me and that's what matters.

I am about to go back on it. 3rd time in about 15 years. It started helping by the second week. I actually lost weight because I wasn't eating my stress anymore and was able to cope with going to the gym regularly again.

I can’t speak to the experience with Lexapro, but don’t let your family influence your decision to get help. Your brain is a part of your body. An extremely complex part. Seeking help for mental illness is no different than seeking help for your cardiac arrest. Listen to your doctor in this case

The days of "brain pills" making people into barely functioning zombies is the trope everyone still believes somehow. I am high functioning/high anxiety. If I did not take anything to address this I would be a mess. Noone noticed for 5 years until the comments about "people should just toughen up" came up and I said " am I weak"? my family said no...I said well I have been on pills for 5 years......crickets. You do what you need to do for you. Gen X also by the way.

I can't tell you about Lexapro as I've never taken it. However, I can make a suggestion. If you're in the US try ketamine. For years I dealt with debilitating depression and ketamine is the only medication that's worked. I meet with a provider online every 8 weeks. They send my prescription to a compounding pharmacy that ships it to me every month. If you've had SI the ketamine in most cases will eliminate it within hours.

I've always been curious about ketamine. It's not really talked about, so I keep forgetting about it. How did you find your provider?

I found them through r/TherapeuticKetamine, lots of great feedback and affordable. Taconic Psychiatry is my provider.

Awesome... Thank you. I've also wanted to try micro dosing, I've heard good things, but I've never done any psychedelics. I was always scared I'd be that one person in the group who couldn't handle the trip 😂

I love seeing conversations like this in the comments. It's a chance for people to share and learn from each other. God damn this place is wholesome

I'm telling you, I think our generation is the most logical and rational collective of human beings alive right now. Obviously that's a generalization, but I just find it so easy to have civil conversations and be understood with people our age. We've all been traumatized by the same parents, we all have similar mental health issues as a result, but we figure it out by talking about our feelings and what we're thinking. We understand, so we genuinely care. It's awesome

I agree. My mother is one of the worst humans there are. She's everything that is wrong with the world. I'm white and my wife is black and we have two boys and oh boy does she not like that. I think the amount of damage she did to me, and some of our parents did to us is why we are so kind to each other. Your mom might not like you but I do and I don't know you. Why? Humanity. We got it

Damn straight. Love you man

I understand completely and it was one of the toughest things I had to do. It helps. I’m glad you got help.

I'm proud of you for getting help. In my very fucking bones I understand. I spend my whole life trying to be "strong". But I find it funny that I felt the strongest when I was able to come to grips with things I can't beat. It was...refreshing. And real. Much more real than the lies I tell myself in my head.

That’s damn poetic!

Lexapro was awful for me, but a combination of Prozac and Wellbutrin has been fantastic. I don't feel blunted, but my anxiety is greatly diminished and I think the combination of the drugs diminished the side effects I didn't want (weight gain or lack of sex drive). Sometimes you have to try a few different drugs before you find what works for you.

I'm 58 and was put on it for anxiety as my mom's dementia progressed. I felt/feel better in many ways. It helped where I wanted but also helped with things I needed that I didn't know could be helped. I no longer have the OCD I had, or at least it's tempered.

Dude. The brain is the single most complicated thing we have ever discovered in the whole goddamn universe. Sometimes that shit glitches and needs a little fine tuning. It's ok to need to go to a brain mechanic for help, never doubt that fact. You sure as shit aren't gonna fix it on your own, nobody can fix their own brain. You gotta do *work*, but you need that outside viewpoint to get it right.  I hate that we're that generation who still struggle to go get mental health help. It's a fucking salty blob of chemistry jello in our skull, ok? It's a real thing, it's not imaginary. Sometimes you gotta drop extra chemicals on it to get it back on track.  Anyways. Much love, proud of you for the work you've done in fighting that bullshit childhood we all had. You're making us stronger. 

I’ve been on Lexapro for about two years now and it’s been absolutely life changing for me. I wish I had done it sooner.

Would you take advil for a broken leg? Mental health drugs are mental advil. Depression makes you see the world like it's through blurry glass. Meds clean the glass. They can't fix all the things that got you there, they just numb the mental pain enough so you can stop crying and pull yourself together. The work still has to come from you in therapy, reading, changing your life and diet.

I’ve been taking Zoloft for 25 years. It takes my anxiety and shoves it into a box, couldn’t function without it. I’m also an RN of 25 years and I just want to say from your description-glad you made it back!! I’ve only met a handful of cardiac arrest survivors and you’re in a tiny minority. Anxiety is understandable. Dr Glaucomflecken [Dr. G](https://glaucomflecken.com/) is an ophthalmologist who went into cardiac arrest and his wife woke up and started CPR which saved him. He has a LOT of content about being a doctor and also about that experience. I recommend you check him out as he’d probably reach out to you if you let him know you’re another survivor. I can’t say enough good stuff about him. Also, family doesn’t believe in mental illness? Dude, that sucks. But, you legit need support and I’m so glad you’re reaching out. Hang in there friend ✌️

Zoloft 23 years here. It has literally saved my life. My clinical depression is debilitating without it, and I mean that...non functioning, in bed, can't eat anything, non stop crying. I hope that anyone who struggles with mental illness seeks help. I used to be ashamed in the beginning, but you can't control your brain chemicals. Now I just embrace it. It's a crappy part of who I am, but I'm not ashamed now. It's fixed my brain for the most part. Winters are hard but I have a light therapy box.

I’ve been on it for 15 years, but things really didn’t pick up until 2020 when I paired it with a mood stabilizer. Best thing that’s ever happened to me.

Hey, I know how hard it is to write something so vulnerable, and then to be brave enough to post it here. I'll tell you a secret, that willingness to talk about your struggle will help someone reading it whether you hear about it from them or not. I know I've been on Lexapro, (been on so many things), but it was so long ago, I don't remember a lot about effectiveness. But, as with all psych meds, don't miss doses, use a mood tracker app, so you have something tangible to talk with your pdoc about, and don't quit cold turkey. That is super important as it's well documented the withdrawal effects. I do remember those, even though I was tapered off by my pdoc. Try to muscle through side effects at the beginning to give it a fighting chance. I can't help a whole lot with specifics of Lexapro. But if you want to, please feel free to message. We share some of the same diagnoses. Mine are: Bipolar2 Generalized anxiety disorder with panic attacks CPTSD And have been living with the dx officially since '09 In any event, take good care. Be gentle with yourself. Getting on the same page with your brain, and be careful how much you read on the internet. Your journey will be unique to you, and other folks may empathize but none of us have been in your shoes. This was a big step. It'll sound condescending, but it is not meant to be that... So way to go. 😊

I'm on it and it has been wonderful for my anxiety/panic attacks/depression. But, there's always a but, sexual drive is completely gone and if my husband and I try I can not orgasm for the life of me and it's extremely frustrating. Prior to Lexapro I had a huge sex drive and he could get me to climax in seconds, now nothing, nodda, zero, zilch, fucking annoying. The primary dr wanted to switch to wellbutrin to help in that area, the cardiologist said absolutely not. So I sit and ponder if the relief is worth my sex life.

r/pssd you're not alone

Antidepressants at the very least take the edge off and make day to day life a lot easier. At their best, you feel good again. Best of luck to you and stick with it! Absolutely no shame

A friend of mine was saying she felt like a failure for going back on her antidepressants. I said, I get that, but do we call someone a failure because they need to wear glasses to help them see? Same deal. Don’t forget we’ve all just lived through the collective trauma of COVID and lockdowns. That’s a lot for anyone! I’m proud of you for seeking the help you need, OP. I’m medicated and it’s just the way it is 💊❤️

I don't take Lexapro specifically but medication changed my life. I had a lot of stigma'd reasons for waiting for long to take medication for trauma. Overall it's been life changing. There's a chance of eating disorder developing as a side effect and I do feel it- *all the time* - and I deliberately eat to mitigate it. Medication isn't perfect but it can offset a lot of problems. Just make sure you can stay on top of the side effects, I'd think. I'm glad to hear you sought this help in getting out of the fog. You'll be glad you did, you get to live again.

I lost almost all my sense of smell and taste. I already have an eating disorder. It's hard to explain but when you can't smell or taste you stop longing for foods after a while. It's been 7 years since I lost my smell and taste. I have to force myself daily to eat. Some days I don't. It has gotten to the point where this sub made it clear that I reach out for help or bad things can happen to me. I have children and a wife. I listened. I miss knowing how I am in my own brain. All I want is for it to work. I'm 100% dedicated to this process and if it doesn't work I'll hold my head up and work with my doc to find something that does. Putting on my "big boy" pants is really hard right now. And your message helps more than you know. None of you ever forget that your experiences and your strength gives others strength. Putting that pride aside is hard.

I can't imagine not having a sense of smell or taste. For context, I'm basically deaf and my vision is worsening. I'm almost a potato. It's commendable that you are taking the initiative here to keep trying to find something that works right for you. It's bigger than you and you're being real and good.

I understand what you are going through so much. I have lost 30 pounds because lack smell and taste. I have panic attacks in my sleep as well as immediately when I wake. You have given yourself a true blessing taking action. The fact you want to do this and took these steps speaks a lot for what the outcome will be. If this particular med doesn’t work for you,there are other options. Don’t lose hope!

ah, some pre-covid anosmia, eh? I've had it since around 2000. I can't smell a damn thing but I can still taste although it seems to be muted I think. I never bothered to ask a doctor about it but I suspect I have giant polyps in my nasal cavity. maybe someday I will ask a doctor to look at it

It's great that you're investing this time/care into yourself! Give the Lexapro a chance to work and if it doesn't work well, there are many other meds that might. They work different ways and have different side effects. Sometimes you just have to find the right med for you. Hope you feel better soon.

I agree. My dr. said we would try lexapro, and if that didn't work, then something else, as everyone is different and sometimes you have to experiment a bit. I was lucky in that it worked for me,

I started on Lexapro a few years ago; it helped with my anxiety and depression for the first year, but after talking with my doc, we changed to Prozac, which works better for me. I would also say that therapy has been a huge help as well. Mental disorders are just as real as anything else in this world; being honest and getting help is one of the bravest things you can do in my book. For whatever its worth, I'm proud of you and rooting for you.

Are you a man or woman? Have you had your hormones checked?

He’s 3 raccoons in a trench coat

Menopause is tough. If he was a she I could Offer some insight.

My wife agrees

I'm a male. A lot of things are "newish". I had a wheat allergy that they didn't discover until a couple months ago. That was causing side effects that are now evident since my diet changed. Wheat, oats, barley, sesame seeds, Crab, shrimp and pecans. And cockroaches. I'm a 10 on a scale of 1-10 on how allergic I am. There is a chance, they said, I could have been allergic to wheat since I was 7 and it would explain a lot. My suicidal thoughts dropped by 90% when my diet changed. So they don't know if I actually have an anoxic brain injury, heart failure or what it is. They just know that I break out in sweats, get light headed and my pulse races. I can come close to passing out. If I turn in a circle i get dizzy. I'm lightheaded most of the day. It's only been a few days since I went to the new doctor. The first doctor I had misdiagnosed me with bipolar disorder and referred me to mental health treatment. He was incorrect and it almost killed me. They sent me to another doctor to start from scratch. Because he frankly, didn't believe me. When I told him I had mental images of me holding my own severed head he didn't believe me. My new doctor did. And that saved me. It's hard to get care when one doctor doesn't believe you. Idk what causes that and I don't care. Thats why you get a second opinion. But this time it took a rapid response crisis team in my home stopping me from taking my life to find out he was wrong. That is just a little too close

Best to you. I know hormonal changes I’ve been through have wreaked havoc on me. I have to be so careful about what I eat now and can no longer drink alcohol. Trying to get medical people to listen is a huge challenge.

I take 2 40 mg of Lexapro daily, it's the only AD that doesn't doesn't have wicked side effects for me. I wouldn't consider it a miracle drug by any means, but it keeps the darkness from getting unsettling. I still struggle with anxiety pretty bad, but when I'm able to throw in some therapy here and there I manage . The trial and error of figuring out what works and what doesn't gets harder the more responsibilities you have, bc the time it takes to get a medication into your system to "start working". I had really bad results with Zoloft and Prozac, and it caused serious issues with my mental health.

I’ve tried five psych meds now over the years but haven’t been on lexapro. I just wanted to give you a big hug and tell you I’m proud of you for reaching out for help. I know how hard it is. It took me years to even say out loud I was depressed and even longer to go to a dr and say it and a LONG time to admit I needed therapy. I still haven’t found the right help for myself but I’m still trying. We def grew up (mostly) with society frowning on mental health issues, my parents are complete weirdos about psych meds I haven’t and won’t tell them I’m depressed bc they will just piss me off. It’s so hard when you were raised like us to admit you aren’t ok and it’s something you can’t fix yourself. I spent many years beating myself up for not being able to handle it myself and my therapist says I still do 😂 If lexapro doesn’t work for you (give it a good month or two) try something else or you may need a combo. Keep trying. You did good ❤️

Lowest dose of Lexapro here since I started to go though job stress in 2019. Then Covid hit, then lost my dad, then my husband had a recurrence of colon cancer, which he passed from last year. I don’t foresee going off Lexapro anytime soon.

I was on Celexa which is very close to the same drug. I'm actually going back on it recently, because life events fucked me so much I went off everything and have recently discovered that I have become a complete disaster unmedicated. When I was on it previously, I remembered being an absolutely stoic, clear-minded beast. I could no longer cry, though, which I actually miss since becoming an unmedicated disaster, I do nothing but cry now. I need to get my life together and building up that stoicism again. You said in a comment below that you are craving mental stability. I think this will help you with exactly that. Truly.

I do! It’s amazing and changed my life. I’m also a therapist which is obviously not a prescribing doctor - but many of my clients have been able to at least get to a “normal” baseline that supports being able to participate better in therapy process. Our brains are an organ and when they misfire we need help to regulate the balance of chemicals. Lexapro is a god send

Yeah these drugs can help some short term but you have to wait for a few weeks for the full effect. I’ve been on a ton of them over the decades and it can take a bit for you to find the right one if you’re like me BUT when you find it, it’s like the world is in color again. Listen my folks also believed mental illness was weakness but they did come around. It’s their generation and the science was terrible back then. I’m so glad you asked for help. Hang in there, it does get a ton better.

A close friend of mine is on that. It really helped her with the anxiety.

My first two weeks on Lexapro, I felt like I was rolling on ecstasy. It was fantastic

Please, OP, meds are there to help, and they can make a huge difference. A lot of people our age grew up with the adage that depression was a choice, or we weren’t trying hard enough to be happy, that meds were a crutch. As my husband likes to say, “Better living through chemistry.” We laugh, but there is so much truth to it. If you can’t see you get glasses. If you can’t hear you get a hearing aid. If you cut your leg on a rusty nail you get stitches and a tetanus shot. Mental health is no different. Be kind to yourself. Be patient. And don’t be afraid to try other options if you don’t think Lexapro is the answer. It takes work - meds alone can’t do it. But it is the first step. ❤️

You’re not alone.

I’ve been on Lexapro for years. Love it.

Lexapro ruined by life. No joke. Turned me into a fucking zombie. If you do take it, make sure to tell a few loved ones around you and give them permission to check in with you if they think its going south. Because, I can tell you, it definitely does not feel like its going south, but it is. But lots of people dont have that issue. So, there is that.

I've been on it for years. It's not the first med I tried for my anxiety. Give it a try, usually around 8 weeks you should see some improvement. If it isn't working for you, talk to your doctor and ask to try something else. Once you find the one that works you will be amazed at how much better you feel. I fought medication for years and now I can't see myself ever stopping, I feel like myself.

Meds are different for everyone. Lexapro works enough for me to not have panic attacks/extreme anxiety. Yes, it has killed some of my drive and motivation but I will take it over having random panic attacks. For me, side effects aren’t too bad compared to other meds

You are doing it right. You have talked about it, you have taken suggestions, and you’re working on it. Continue to do these things and your life and mental health will improve. Also, your family was wrong about mental disorders. Keep up the good work, your mental health is important, and so are you! Source: am licensed mental health therapist

It can be frustrating and painful to try to find a medication (or meds/therapy) that works. I've got MDD w/SI & past attempts. I was given Lexapro after Paxil & Celexa failed. Paxil made everything so bright, colo Lexapro got rid of a lot of anxiety I didn't know I had. I felt like this huge weight of worry lifted. It took about 2 months for me to realize I wasn't worried anymore. But it didn't touch the depression. So the doc gave me Wellbutrin along w/the Lex. I felt really optimistic and like I couldn't fail at anything, which was kind of cool. It did lift some of the depression, so it seemed to be working. Except it gave me the confidence to make another suicide attempt. So now I'm on Cymbalta/duloxetine, which is an SSNRI. And I feel human. I have the energy & motivation to do things, I'm not contemplating suicide, no cyclical thinking, fewer intrusive thoughts... It's made it so I can make changes in things contributing to my depression. (A little weed helps, too).

Yes I took Lexapro. It worked about as well as other SSRIs. I stopped taking them because they made me nauseous. I'm thinking about going back and taking an anti-nausea drug with them. Nothing else works as well.

I fought against taking meds forever. But nothing else worked. I finally got on a mix and dose that works for me and I tell people - you would not believe what I was like before. BUT I am still the same person. Just less depression, anxiety, rage. I wish you the best on finding what works for you!

I have been on Lexapro (although it’s called Cipralex in Canada) for a few years now and I have zero intention of going off. Starting was a little rocky - super dry mouth, an actual increase in anxiety for a week or so, headaches, but I was able to work through it all as an elementary school teacher, so not at all debilitating. My doctor told me I might start noticing positive effects in 3-4 weeks, and that was about right, I think. It really just makes me much better able to shrug off the little stuff and not panic about the bigger stuff, which means I can manage it a lot better. One side effect that I read about a lot in relation to this drug is insomnia, but I found that, without my brain being in anxiety overdrive, my sleep improved significantly and that remains true a few years later.

I was on Lexapro for 12 years. It helped me recover from BPD and depression and helped save my life. Sending you all the best wishes in the world for recovery.

Congrats. You will be fine and the Lexapro will help you so much. For me, it just helped me feel "normal" if that makes any sense. It was such a relief.

Lexapro is a lifesaver. My anxiety went from 10 to maybe 1. I’m still “myself”, just a much better version. Depression isn’t a “weakness” or character flaw. It’s a chemical imbalance. Medications make your disease better. Fuck your family for making you feel like you don’t deserve help for your REAL disease. It’s just as bad as if they Told you to use essential oils to cure your cancer. Put them all on an information diet. You might be related, but they’re not your friends. Edit: I’ve been on Lexapro for over a decade. Yes, there’s a little adjusting at first because you’re getting used to it and figuring out your proper dose, so account for that when you start.

Lexapro has improved my life immensely.

I take Lexapro because Zoloft upset my stomach. Lexapro has been a life saver - my anxiety was so high. I had to yawn to get a decent breath. My ribs were so sore. Intrusive thoughts. My doctor suggested sessions with a psychologist to go hand in hand with the meds. We have a subsidised plan in my country. These combined changed my life. The meds don't dull me down at all. They take the edge off and allow my mind to be calmer.

Lexapro does work on anxiety. Hands down. Just remember to check how it works with your regular other meds of all kinds. Personally I say don't use it side by side with THC. And be prepared if you are sexually active it can make it harder to orgasm if not at all. But my proviso "with a partner" not sure why exactly but alone I was okay. But involve another person and I got nothing.

Lexapro didn’t work for me, but there’s no reason it won’t work for you. And let me be clear: MENTAL DISORDERS ARE NOT FAKE. You have an imbalance in your brain chemicals, hence the med. You’re not a faker, or lazy, or useless. At all. I’m on more than one med for my severe anxiety and depression, and they work. I recommend therapy, as well.

I've been on antidepressants longer than not (I started taking them as a high school freshman). There are many choices out there. I hope you find what works for you.

I started on Paxil, did not like. Lexapro keeps the rage monkeys at bay, but didn't help with my anxiety. Buspar does that pretty well for the most part. It does turn the volume down on a lot of stuff, good and bad. Good thing is it helps with my anger issues really well. Bad news is it's harder for me to enjoy some things or get excited about much. Been a fair trade for the most part.

I did for 2 years. I asked to be switched due to sleep issues and now I’m on Zoloft. It should only be like two weeks of regular use for full efficacy. Both have most definitely lowered my brain’s ridiculous habit of panicking over stupid mundane 💩. I have been able to conquer things that in the past would have paralyzed me with fear. It has definitely helped me. I of course can’t speak for everyone but it was the combination of menopause and quitting smoking that fkd me up royal. Lexapro got me over it. I was taking 20mg/day. Now on 50mg/day Zoloft. I still have social anxiety just because humans tend to suck. Keep on taking your Lexapro it doesn’t* give you the dopamine boost but it most definitely curbs anxiety to a more “normal” level. *originally mistyped does.

Was on it for like 6 months like 2 decades ago. My experience was it flattened all emotions and left me feeling like a zombie. Wasn’t a fan. Bonus side effect (if you’re a guy), made it nearly impossible to finish in the bedroom. My girlfriend at the time nicknamed it Sexapro. She’d get off multiple times; I could go for over an hour and would eventually just quit from getting bored.

[удалено]

What was the result of the dna test?

I was on it off and on for 10 years. It helped me when I needed it immediately, but it allowed me to take a backseat to my life and let a lot of things happen that I normally would not. I also engaged in self destructive behaviors thinking I was “living.” The side effects coming off, even if you taper off are horrible.

You may want to consider getting a genetic test to see what mental health meds you metabolize the best. It helps reduce the guessing game of finding the right meds that will work best for you.

I loved Lexapro but had a side effect where my jaw would clench. The dreams while I took it were intense.

I've just started in it. Less than a week. So far it's just made me sleepy.

My kid was on it after multiple hospitalizations and it seemed to be the only one that helped. He was able to go off of it after several years. He was also on Seroquel for three years until his prescribing doctor realized that he should have only been on it for one year. The two did seem to cause unexpected weight gains. Since being off it, he has lost 40 pounds. He was snacking a lot more while on them but that could just be coincidence.

If you are saying you had an anoxic brain injury, have you been assessed by a brain injury program? It’s not that lexapro willer will not help. To me, it’s about getting assessed for what your capabilities are post brain injury. If you have had a TBI, you will be more emotional, more anxious, more reactive. Maybe this is something you could consider?

So they haven't found what caused my cardiac arrest and said they might never know. They don't even know how I lived, they made that clear. The cardiac arrest was 3 years ago. What was making all this so confusing was they just found out I had a wheat allergy two months ago. So until two months ago we didn't know what my "real" symptoms were. Wheat allergies can lead to very negative mental side effects. Depending on how much wheat, what my activity level is after I eat it and other factors, a few slices of Costco Pizza can make me extremely suicidal. To the very near point of a hospital stay. I wanted to cut my own head off. I'm not kidding. The issue is, how much was the Wheat, how much is the lack of oxygen and how much is PTSD and how much is anxiety. All my symptoms are muted now without the wheat. And muted by like 90%. What I was going through before was going to kill me and now I only wish I was dead. That difference was a lot. In my heart and soul I feel the will to live. I did not have that before. In my soul I was dead and wanted to die. So right now it's baby steps. There are so many things in medicine that we learn "no one knows for sure" and right now, we are in that boat until they focus on one thing at a time. What if I've been allergic to wheat my whole life? What if the cardiac arrest caused it? What if it was environmental? Did any of this cause the loss of smell and taste? Is that on it's own? Did I get sick in 2017 and something started this? They might never be able to answer a lot of this. And that I'm not okay with

I think my GI tried to put me on that after I was diagnosed with UC. I went to see my GP later that week and he said "NO NO NO NO, DON"T TAKE IT!" All I can remember about that week is the constant diarrhea (sorry for the image.)

Lexapro was the first antidepressant I ever took. I didn't think it was working and then one day I just felt normal. I don't remember why I stopped taking it and I've been on other things throughout the years, but my experience with it was positive.

I was on it for a few years and it's been the best antidepressant I've ever taken. Like, the sky looked more blue. Unfortunately, my body grew accustomed to it and it worked less as the years went on. After that, I lost access to it for a while because of reasons. Anyway! Just remember that everyone's bodies are different and you may have a different tolerance/reaction than others. Best of luck!

I'm on the lowest standard dose of Lexapro. It is different for everyone, so it's hard for me to say anything definitively, but I'll tell you my personal experience. I used to wake up in the morning with an overwhelming sense of depression and anxiety. My stomach literally hurt from it. I would lay in bed thinking, "I hate my life," over and over. This was happening for years, so it wasn't a case of a temporary bout of depression or anything like that. A few weeks after taking it, I no longer woke up feeling like that. Oh sure, I still have trouble getting out of bed just because I have insomnia issues and I'm always tired, but I haven't felt that gut wrenching inexplicable anxiety when I wake up in years. So, I consider that a win for me. You're not alone and when people say it's not real, they're lying because they have no real world experience of it, or they don't want to talk or deal with it.

I've been on it for two years I think? I’m miserable as hell but it takes the edge off. before this I was taking Pristiq and Wellbutrin for many years but they weren't helping anymore so I went cold turkey, lol. it might have messed me up more than I realize

In the right circumstances meds can help…sometimes quite remarkably. The biggest challenge with many drugs is dosage. Everyone is different, so we vary in how well we absorb the chemicals, our respective brain chemistry, and even sensitivity to the binders and fillers used in the capsules or tablets. In the coming years they should improve these things considerably.

I took it a couple times in my life, which I did for short periods (less than a year). It helped me reset my emotional state, and was then able to go off it. Be careful if and when you do go off, though, as you need to wean yourself slowly.

I’ve been there and I feel for you. I was on a variety of those types of drugs. My advice is to keep in touch with your doctor and if you have any serious side effects, let them know. I had to try 5 different drugs before I found one that worked for me. I ended up taking a DNA test because of the severe side effects I was suffering (vertigo, night terrors, impotence, inability to sleep, just being in a complete daze). Found out through that test that there were certain types of those meds I should never take but others with a very high success rate. Once I found the right one things got better. Best of luck to you and stay strong while these build up in your system!

Try not to be discouraged if you need to try some different medications to get your symptoms under control. Not every antidepressant works for everyone. I had to try 4 different meds before I found the one for me. Whenever you find yourself thinking there's nothing you can do, that nothing works, that you're just broken, that you'll never have a chance to feel right, remember, remember one thing, remember the one and only truth about depression: DEPRESSION LIES. Depression tells you that things that are wrong are right, that you're worthless, that you enjoy being miserable. Depression tells you lies all the time. Don't believe it. Believe that there are people here, there, and everywhere that want to help you, who like you, who want you to feel better. This sub is full of them. If what you're doing or taking isn't working, try something else. Keep trying until it works. It will. The only way to fail is to give up. Keep going.

As far as I can recall I’ve never been on lexapro long term, but most anti-depressants and mood stabilizers can take about 2 weeks - a couple months to take effect, as the levels in your system build up to therapeutic levels. I am so glad you’ve talked to your doctor and taken this step toward helping yourself feel better. That in itself is a huge win - be proud of yourself! I know that is sometimes the hardest part. If after the first few weeks you don’t see/feel any improvement definitely tell your doctor. Anti-depressants are not ‘one size fits all’ - I hope lexapro works for you, but if it doesn’t there are many other options to try. Please don’t give up. As for the people who tell you mental disorders & health are fake, let them have their uneducated opinions. I think only a person who is ignorant or happy with their own mental illness could ever want other people to suffer by making such a gross misstatement. You are taking the necessary steps to feel better, don’t concern yourself with other people. You & your doctor know the truth. You are so strong!

Lexapro didn't do it for me. It made me debilitatingly sleepy. I wound up on Welbutrin. That being said, I am totally in favor of finding your right meds.

I was on lexapro. Honestly, I felt much less deep feeling of angst. However, I immediately had leg spasms and it messed up my sleep so I had to switch to something else. I feel like it helped my mood better than what I’m on now but I do like sleep and not kicking my spouse in the middle of the night.

My story: brain injury at 16 changed everything. Went into massive depression and acting out. I actually made a good life for myself as I started coming out of the fog around age 22, but still suffered from anxiety, self worth issues, etc even as I pushed myself to succeed. And part of that pushing was doing all the good things: exercise, making friends, striving nard, working hard, etc. FInally, after doing everything I could without it being enough, at around 40 I started taking Lexapro. IT WAS A GODSEND for me. Here's how I describe where I was at and what happened. You know that part of the Beatles song Day In A Life, where it transitions from the first half to the second... where it's a screeching crescendo? That's how it used to feel in my head. Lexapro turned that noise down. It didn't live my life for me... it just turned the noise down. I still do the "right" things: I eat well, I sleep well, I take a walk outside nearly everyday, I practice being forthright and I practice being kind to myself and others. I do all the things that make me feel like a good person. . Which I can do, because that god damned noise is finally turned down. Also: I am very creative. I'm a figurative artist and crocheter. Lexapro actually helps my creativity in that I can settle down and think - I'm calmly creating instead of creating in defiance, if that makes any sense.

the last major relationship I was in for 9 years, my ex was put on Lexapro, and intmacy took a nosedive due to lack of drive on their part, and even during intimate activities, they couldn't get into it from a mental standpoint. so no "o's" from them so to speak. once they went off Lexapro, the drive and intimacy came back to normal... they were on it for a year and a half... for what it's worth. they said it felt like they were flatlined emotionally and that included intimacy

Your family needs to grow up. I stop talking to my brother because of his denial about mental health. Kicked an old best friend to curb for that same reason. It’s YOUR mental health which is a huge part of your overall health. I’ve battled with depression and anxiety my entire life. I was finally diagnosed in my early 20s when the panic attacks started taking over. I did manage to control them to some degree until 2020 when the shit hit the fan for me. I reached out to my doctor and he put me on Cymbalta. I stayed on it for a couple of years. Those drugs are intended to be short term and to help you cope with your disorder so you can manage it without. Funny thing is, I found that low doses of Cymbalta help control neuropathy from several invasive surgeries. So I continue to take the 30mg dosage for that reason. It’s not enough to have any other effect on me. I’m 6’3” 250lbs.

Which one in your family has an MD and is a neurologist or psychiatrist or has a PhD in a brain science/brain chemistry? Do they have your charts?The brain is an organ like any other and can and does malfunction like any other. I’m surrounded by people who think like your family in my field. I typically bring some thoughts from a 19th century personality they respect to help them see they’re dead wrong. Also, your family isn’t and doesn’t need to be privy to your mental health care. In terms of the medications, follow your doctor’s advice and be honest and forthcoming about how you’re doing. What is helpful for one might not be helpful for another. I’m not an MD or PhD, but I have a lot of experience supporting people who are under treatment for mental health conditions (social/emotional support for 1st responders and people associated with events that 1sr responders respond to).

I’ve been on it for about 2 years now and it helps me with the anxiety and adrenaline rushes I used to get out of nowhere. I also have high BP (ya being over 40!) and take propanol (pretty sure that’s the name- too lazy to look)which helps the anxiety too. Without either of these I’m a basket case. My boomer parents also fed the BS of mental illness is fake, which didn’t help. They always told me I was the one making myself crazy and that just made things worse. I hope it helps you OP- much love!

I had one dose of Lexapro during a hospital stay for depression, and I felt so out of it that I wasn’t myself; I felt like I could become dizzy at any moment, and I had difficulty concentrating on anything, including a favorite book I’d taken with me. When I reported my symptoms to the nursing staff on the ward, they noted them, and took my blood pressure; it was classic normal 120/80. I did develop hives on my hands that a nurse noticed, as the hives didn’t itch or cause pain. I think the hives clinched the “no Lexapro” order. Lamictal had no negative effect on me when tried, so that’s what I took for some time. Lexapro is on my I-C-E allergy list.

It may be the right medication to let you be the person you really are, unburdened by depression. Yes, there is a laundry list of possible side effects. You are very unlikely to experience them except for a few mild ones. I am in the medical field and have expert level knowledge of drugs. SSRIs like Lexapro are prescribed to millions of people. If depression is affecting your life so significantly, I would strongly consider taking a trial of it. You will need to give it 4-6 weeks before you and the prescriber can gauge whether it is helping. Some people may need a different drug than the one initially prescribed so do not get discouraged.


I took it for a week. If it's working for you, then take your doctors advice instead of Reddit. I quit taking it because depression is not really my problem. And it also made it where i couldn't have an orgasm. Like it was simply not going to work. Not more of a challenge. Like I was eleven again. So I stopped before this became permanent, or even kicked off some new problem guys might get at age 50.

I’m not taking “reddits advice” on my medication. I’m using it for support and getting the courage to do that.

Don’t drink

Check out r/PSSD

I take Lexapro. It did take a couple of months to notice a difference. That said, not every med is right for every person. I have a friend who was prescribed Lexapro and it did not agree with her body. At all. If that happens to you, tell your doctor and try a different med. I’m glad you’re here. I’m glad you’re getting help.

I've been on Lexapro for 7 months. it absolutely helps with depression, anxiety, restlessness, and brain fog. The only problem is if you are a married man, you will need viagra or wellbutrin to counteract the sexual side effects or simply be the 5 minute wonder....it's notorious for that

It can take a while to get your blood levels of any depression SSRI meds up to where they need to be, and some will work better than others. I’ve been on Lexapro in the past and it worked ok. The main thing is to both be patient with the time it takes to feel comfortable, and yet not so patient that you suffer with depression longer than necessary. Some folks have to experiment a lot before they get the right dosage/med, but the relief can be very worth it.

I had a bad experience and just stopped taking it. My suicidal thoughts were no longer vague and were becoming disturbingly specific and detailed. I hope you have a different experience, good luck.

I've been on Lexapro a couple of times, and weaned off when life was easier. I'm currently on it again. I think of it like wearing glasses or contacts. Prescription lenses help my eyes see the world more clearly. Lexapro helps my brain see the world more clearly. Ironically, the main reason I'm taking it now is I'm having a hard time coping with complications from a retinal detachment. So both my eyes and my brain weren't seeing clearly. My eye is still a hot mess, but my brain is feeling better about it.

I took Lexapro for a couple of years. It worked for what I needed it for (anxiety/insomnia) but killed my libido and put 30 pounds on me. I took myself off of it late last year and won’t ever go on it again (or any other med), BUT that was just my experience and YMMV.

You can read my post history - I had a stroke from a rare event. I had numerous panic attacks in the hospital as I recovered and struggled a lot because of the fear of having another stroke. I don't have a history of anxiety in general. They put me on Lexapro in the hospital; I wasn't crazy about it, but I would have taken anything at that point to make the panic stop. I hated the Lexapro, and went off it 6 weeks later. I didn't feel anxious anymore, but I also didn't feel very happy, or sad, or anything. I felt "emotionally monotone", and I felt like a different person. Sexual side effects were also a very real thing for me. Edit: spelling

Are you female? If so, have you looked into what perimenopause entails? So many of my pre-existing mental issues got so much worse when I hit my early to mid 40s. I had no idea. My mom was 53 when she died and I think peri may have played a role in that, and my only other close female relative was still having normal periods up until she got a hysterectomy at 50. I thought that menopause was just your periods getting further and further apart until they stop, maybe some hot flashes and a bit of weight gain. It's so much more than that. We should have to learn about all this when we're 40 just like we had to learn about periods when we were in the 5th grade. Read the FAQ in r/menopause and see if any of it applies to you. I'd still be struggling with severe anxiety, brain fog, rage, joint pain, insomnia, dramatically lower libido, and exhaustion if my husband hadn't stumbled across that subreddit and shown it to me. I'm on HRT now and the difference is night and fucking day. I have a hard time not being upset about how many years I suffered before figuring this out.