Hello. I don\'t know if my experiences with this drug are the norm BUT, I experienced side effects that very few do. When I first started the drug I thought it was okay, but soon after I didn\'t really care about anything. I guess you could say I was a walking zombie. My aunt died and I didn\'t even shed a tear. I had no emotions what so ever. I also had the interesting side effect of short term memory loss. This was very scary, I am a school teacher. My physician did actually admit that this was a rare side effect.
Did it help with anxiety? I guess if you want to forget about everything in the world that means anything..yeah then it worked. I just don\'t know if the side effects are worth the cost.
Just my thoughts. If anyone wants to know more just ask.
Thanks

Lexapro was the first med I was prescribed and it worked well for the OCD that I have but not as well for anxiety. It lessened the effects of the anxiety but didn\'t take them away. A side effect I had was a ringing in my ears that has never gone away. It is not severe but it is noticeable when it\'s quite. I switched to Prozac because the Lexapro made me feel like I was on edge all the time.

How severe was your anxiety before you started taking it? Was it a once in a while type thing or several times a day?

Thanks,
Sean

IT BEEN WORKING A LIL BIT I STARTED IT

I had a SEVERE increase in panic attacks for the first week. I used to have one a month, maximum, but I had 1-2 a day for that week. After that, they subsided. I still had some anxiety, but I became more depressed actually. A bit numb...I wasn't able to write anymore. Not good stuff at least. I felt a bit hazy. But I guess it DID help with anxiety.

If I could go back and do it again, I wouldn't.

I have been taking 10 mg of lexapro for about 6 weeks. The first two weeks were very rough. I didn't know what to expect, all of a sudden I went from taking no medicine to xanax and lexapro. The first few days my mind raced with the thoughts and fears of losing my mind or that I was going crazy it was very difficult to stay on the medication. I thought the medicine was making me crazy. I never felt this way before I took the medication so I naturally blamed the medicine and not my anxiety. My doctor said that the lexapro wasn't even in my system yet and that I should keep taking it, and that anytime I felt anxiety I should take my xanax .25 mg, so I did. After 4 weeks I really started to feel a lot better and no longer needed to take the xanax. I feel back to my normal self again and am happy that I stuck with the lexapro treatment.

I am on Lexapro too. I had to go from 2.5 mgs to 7.5 mgs and wow did it cause a lot of anxiety and insomnia along with this terrible tight jaw. Now that the Lexapro is leveling out I feel so much better. I was on 5mgs before I got pregnant and know this drug is wonderful for my type of anxiety. I did not find I was numb and had emotions still. I just found that dealing with stuff kept me in perspective and not a spiral like i can usualy do. I really do like Lexapro and wish it worked as well for anyone. Any drug that makes me sing in the shower while I shave my legs is in my book an A+.

I do not understand why Lexapro is prescribed for anxiety since it is an antidepressant. I had the best results with Xanax for managing anxiety. I have only taken Lexapro for depression and it was good but Cymbalta works even better for me.

Lexapro is also prescribed to treat GAD which is General Anxiety Disorder. I am taking Lexapro to help me deal with this and stress... more like fear etc...I was in a plane crash (no kidding) about 1 1/2 yrs ago with my family (we all survived, thank heavens but my ability to deal with stress/fear has certainly changed since then!!) I found that at first the SSRI really helps with getting my IBS under control as previously indicated in another thread this is probably because of all the "receptors" in the gut. However, as many of you are probably aware, stess and anxiety will always find a new home somewhere if you allow it.. I have problems chilling out now, and as you can imagine I feel like I am always on guard duty mentally. Ability to handle adverse situations has changed.

I am not taking Lexapro for depression but find that it does make me rather depressed at first.. (I have only been back on it for about 5 days and as I recall it did this before) I am doing a low dose up, 2.5 once a day, 2.5 2x day, etc... till I probabably get to 10 mg for a full day, will leave that up to the Dr.. I have a tendency to get a bit emotional which may be a good thing since i have been keeping so many emotions bottled up... I do recall getting better on the Lexapro and the life events that i was going through seemed to sort themselves out also.. once I was past that, I came off the Lexapro, only to find that about 6 months later I am back at major life events that I am having fear or anxiety over...so I am going back on it... while taking the occasional xanax to help out with relaxation along with meditation, stretching and just chilling out, journaling etc..

Hope this helps

Lexapro is for depression and GAD and OCD disorders. I have GAD and a little OCD along with some phobias. Lexapro is the only SSRI that has helped me since it does not have added agents like dopamine which I can not handle (Zoloft).

I've been taking lexapro for about 3 or 4 months and am taking 10mg. I don't have to bad of side effects with it. I think it works great with my anxiety. My anxiety was getting really bad and now I can go a few days with out even having an axiety attack. Even then they are small ones. I like this med. and it works well with the other meds I'm on. I take my at night before I go to bed and that has cut back on the side effect to I feel. I have not experienced the memory issue. Like I said I really like this med.