Anxiety Support Group

Anxiety is a physical condition marked by intense and persistent feelings of distress, fear, angst or dread. General anxiety caused by routine day-to-day stresses usually passes quickly and is experienced by almost everyone at one time or another. However, such feelings that linger over time and are very difficult to cope with, and which lack a clear cause, may indicate...

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Need reassurance about taking Lexapro today

mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
Today is the day I told myself I was going to finally allow myself to take Lexapro (the generic version actually--does it still work the same?). I had taken it years ago before kids, which was about 8-9 years ago. I remember it working well and feeling like I could function with so much less anxiety. So my doctor prescribed it for me a couple weeks ago and I have been too scared to take it. I'm trying to look at it like it's not a big deal, like it won't have a hold on my brain (I know that sounds weird but it is one fear I have of it), and that it's not as big as I'm making it.

I'm afraid maybe it won't help the same way it did before and I'll feel bad about myself like I am just a weird person stuck with this anxiety. There are times where the anxiety is better, but right now I just think I need a boost to get functioning better and to stop being so afraid of talking with people. Plus I'm starting a new job and want the help with my confidence and not have to worry about the anxiety getting in the way.

My therapist told me it's a real mild drug and that I give it too much credit with my fears lol. So can anyone help me feel comfortable in taking it or if anyone is taking it, how it's helped for them? Thank-you. :)
waiting4thesun
waiting4thesun
I take Lexa pro and like you was nervous at first to start. I have to say that I am so glad that I started. It has changed my life for the better. I can function without my anxiety getting gin the way. Do yourself the favor and start. In a couple of weeks you will be thankful you did.
best of luck to you!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I say just dont think about it and take it! I was on prozac for a while and then switched to zoloft for anxiety.

But i remember reading the pamphlet that comes with every prescription and reading about the side effects and i was so scared to take it, like what if that happens to me.

Now my anxiety is so bad that i dont even read those things. i'm like well i can't feel any worse than i already do so i will just take it and the worst thing that can happen is that it will make me drowsy.
release2find
release2find
Great replies Waiting and Mindy. I get a bit anxious when first taking med, but like Mindy, after a while, I just say," ok, Here Goes..and I CAN DO THIIS"!! It's been working so far..and so far so good. I don't have Lexapro, I had a 30 prescription for Clonazepam and still have most of it from last year this time...Good luck to you Mamaoftwo...I'm with your therapist and think you can wrestle your fears down to something manageable and get the med in. That med makes a good difference. You Can DO This...Yaaay You!
mamaoftwo8901
mamaoftwo8901
Thank-you all for your replies! Well, I took it. I only took half the dose, as that's what the doc said. The only thing is, I was doing fine and everything was normal and all of a sudden my ear started ringing real bad and it felt real deep. Then my stomach started to hurt. I thought, okay maybe brief side effect? Well my ear keeps doing it on and off and I'm very anxious about it. Ear ringing is a major anxiety trigger for me. I am also sick so it could just be partially from that, but I hadn't had it the whole time I was sick until now. I won't be able to handle ear ringing. Does anyone else have this during meds or is it more likely from me being sick? I just don't want any damage done to my ears.
JudyFZ
JudyFZ
I've been taking Lexapro for a couple of months. Actually, I'm taking the generic version, but I think it works just fine. I was hesitant, too, but I was glad I gave it a shot because after a few weeks it really started to help me. I feel very different now than I did when I first went on it. Much less anxiety, much better sleep, better days.... the most striking thing was when I got up one morning and saw the light coming through the trees and it just looked so pretty. It was a moment of pure appreciation and I hadn't felt that in so long. That's when I knew it was really working.

Anyway, I would give it a chance if I were you. I didn't experience ringing in my ears but I did have some nausea, a little dizziness, and drowsiness. Most of the effects were mild and subsided after the first two or three weeks. Hang in there! If it helped you before, it's likely it will help again.