Lexapro (escitalopram) - Success Story

Hello, I just wanted to take the time to post a Success Story with Lexapro. Back story is that I have suffered with Anxiety my entire life. I was previously on Zoloft for 10 years back in my 20's. I stopped taking my medication because I naively thought I was cured from Anxiety. 1.5 years ago, after starting a new relationship, the anxiety reared it's ugly head. I tried to deal with it through exercise (daily), therapy, prayers (not enough) and meditation. Nothing seemed to stop the vicious cycle of anxiety that hindered my daily life. Things spiraled and I eventually had a panic attack while at work. It was 2 weeks after that I decided I could not continue to live my life this way and decided that I wanted to give medication another go. After working with my doctor I decided on escitalopram, the generic version of Lexapro, 10 mg (started on this mg and remain on this mg).

The reason I'm writing today is because the beginning weeks on medication was a nightmare. I spent countless hours on this forum (amongst others) trying to find someone/thing to relate to. Trying to hold out hope that if I continued to be persistent, that I would too find relief that I so desired. At around the 3 week mark, I did start to feel relief. It was gradual and from there it only continued to get better. I am currently starting month 3 and I no longer feel any panic (this went away after about the third week mark completely but it dropped drastically almost immediately) and at around the 3 week mark my anxious thought patterns (vicious cycle) dissipated. As of today, I no longer dwell on things that are created by anxiety. I live my life. If an anxious thought creeps into my mind, I can easily dismiss it and move on. Before, I would live in that thought pattern for weeks before my mind could settle it - only to move on to something else almost immediately.

If you are here and in the early weeks of starting your meds - Hang tight. It DOES GET BETTER!!!! I felt helpless and honestly a few times hopeless (which was something I'd never felt before). Please know this is the medicine and it takes time to adjust. Just remember, that while the sky is grey above you now, there is always blue sky above the clouds and that never goes away. Give the medicine time. I know it's a struggle. I know how hard it is. I know what it's like to comb through pages and pages of forums looking for some type of relief. That's why I have taken the time to come back here, create an account, and hopefully give someone hope. Hang in there. It gets better. I'm happy now and I haven't felt like this in a long, long time.

xoxo

Hi, Thereishope2122,

I am sooo glad I found this forum, I started on Escitalopram 5mg 12 days ago and hopefully I am seeing signs of slowly improving. I am hoping to move up to 10mg in a couple of weeks.

It is such a relief to hear a success story like yours, especially when on the same meds.

I am so pleased that you have managed to get your life back on track again and you have inspired me immensely to carry on day by day, good and bad.

I cannot express how grateful I am that you have taken the time to post your success...I hope this is an inspiration for many people, not just myself.

Wishing you continued happiness and Thank You !!!

Tracey xx

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Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ... I'm possible!

Thank you, again, for sharing!!

This will bring hope to many.:)

Your perseverance and hard work have paid off...you are an inspiration! :)

May your recovery continue to go well and grow.

Hugs and high fives!

S.C.

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Moderator:Anxiety/Panic

"Courage is not the abscence of fear, it is feeling afraid and doing it anyway!"

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles...it empties today of its strength."
Corrie Ten Boom

Panic Syndrome recovery due to CBT

Thank you!

Good for you, too, Stellina76! Glad to hear it.

I ended up creating an account just so I could thank you for this post. I was on Zoloft for about six years, successfully weaned off of it this past March. Honestly, I felt GREAT in a way I wasn't expecting, but due to a huge move to an area where I knew no one, my anxiety came back with a vengeance.

I've been on Escitalopram for about two and a half weeks now — I started off on 2.5 mg for a few days then was on 5 mg for a week. Recently I moved up to 7.5 mg, then a quick change to 10 mg, and it has been utter hell. Increased anxiety, emotional numbness, muscle tension...all that combined with being alone in a new place has been tough, to say the least.

Reading your post makes me realize there's a light at the end of the tunnel, and I just need to keep pushing through to get the positive effects. So, thank you, from the bottom of my heart. I can't tell you how much it means to read a positive success story among and endless variety of negative experiences.

Thanks for sharing your success with this drug!
I'm on day & and already feeling better every day!
You are right where I aim to be!
Thank you so much and way to go!!!