LEXAPRO Reviews (ESCITALOPRAM OXALATE)Average Rating: 3.2 (2093 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare LEXAPRO with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Date added. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) Page: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 |
More on LEXAPRO: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR LEXAPRO | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 3 | Insomnia, IBS, Headaches, Anxiety | None, I have a headache every day, but I don't know if that's from coming off Cybalta or starting Lexapro. I just switched from Cymbalta which I loved, but I gained weight and felt like it stopped working for the insomnia. | It's making me sleepier, but I have headaches, and worried about the weight gain | F | 30 | 4 weeks | 5/17/2009 | 3 | Depression, Fatigue | First week; high, Second week; good mood, headaches, chest pains; third week; break through depression and fatigue, fourth week; still very tired, Doctor upped dose from 10 to 20mg and now I'm dreadfully zombie like. My brain is at a standstill. Kind of a relief from racing thoughts, but scary because I might as well be in a coma. I think it would be good in combination with a stimulant of some kind. | I like not feeling depressed, but I feel like I am being made to feel happy against my will. It's like a false sense of peace. It is not the true sense of peace that comes from God. I think of this time of my life as taking a well needed break. That's what Lexapro is....a vacation from reality. Now I'll have to face withdrawl when it is time to get off the stuff. YIKES! | M | 31 | 5 weeks | 5/15/2009 | 1 | Depression anxiety | insomnia (no sleep at all without sedative), horrid headaches, nausea and yet hungry too, anxiety through the roof, I felt very sick on this medication | I'm glad this med works for some, but it's definitely not for me. My doctor just told me to get off it, as the side effects were pretty extreme for me. | F | 36 | 2 weeks | 5/15/2009 | 3 | Anxiety/Depression | Extreme fatigue, insomnia and weight loss. | Well, I started taking it at night (was told it would help with sleep). It's 1am and I have NO hopes of sleep, but when I do get sleep I am exhausted. The weight loss is a bit much too. I am 5 foot and went from 128 pounds to 102 pounds in just 4&1/2 weeks and am still losing. I have no appetite and sometimes don't eat at all in a given day. Don't get me wrong, I wanted to drop 10 pounds, but the weight loss was so rapid that I just have loose flesh and have to work out like crazy to try to firm up. Has anyone else had these problems? I don't go back to the doctor for another 3&1/2 weeks to follow up. Will these go away? | F | 30 | 4.5 weeks | 5/14/2009 | 4 | Anxiety/Panic disorder | brain freeze (in firts week only) weight gain, sleepiness, blackouts (with alcohol), diarrhea, heart burn, memory loss, vivid dreams, twitching, gaw clenching (first 3 months only), | I like Lexapro in general. I was unable to function before I went on it due to horrible terrifing panic attacks and general health anxiety. After 3 weeks in hospital being tested for everything under the sun, my GP found me and diagnosed panic disorder and depression (caused by the panic attacks). He started me on 2.5mg for 2 days, 5mg for 4 days and 10mg from there. It was hell going on to it (i thought my brain was freezing over - always worse at night), but after 2/3 weeks I started to feel better. Gradually over the first 2 years he increased my dose to 20mg. I stayed there for 4 years. I've been tappering off it since then. I'm down to 5mg daily with 10mg taken if i'm feeling bad. I feel I have been on the drug for too long and have gained nearly 50lbs!!!! I needed to go on the tablet, but hate the weight gain the most! I would love to hear from anyone who has come off the drug. I agree with another post - do not judge lexapro until you weigh up all the good and bad. Despite the weight gain, if I had to make the decision again to go on the tablet - I would. | F | 27 | 6 years | 5/13/2009 | 5 | Mild anxiety | Constipation, apaced-out feeling, some headaches - but only in the first week of taking. 3 weeks into it: inability to orgasm is my only complaint | Lexapro has been great. I used to cry, often, about random things, for no apparent reason. I would also get overly anxious about things, my children, messes that they made, things that I could not control, etc. My heart would race and I would overract to even the smallest thing. 3 weeks into it, I have not shed a tear and my heart no longer feels as if it's going to beat out of my chest. I am calm and for the first time, feel normal. I am not spaced-out or abnormal, in any way. I can function fully, and well, and am happier. I take 20 mg per day. My only complaint now is the lack of ability to orgasm. It no longer makes me drowsy. I have no other side effects. I love Lexapro! I am nicer, more calm, funnier, more confident, more verbal, never anxious or inhibited! Great stuff! | F | 32 | 3 weeks | 5/10/2009 | 4 | Anxiety | Insomnia, muted emotions, decreased libido | I took Lexapro for just over a year. I was new to panic attacks until the year before I began Lexapro (10mg). It did an EXCELLENT job at addressing my anxiety. Side effects have been: 1) insomnia -- I cannot go to sleep "naturally" while on Lexapro; insomnia had never been a problem for me before Lexapro; now I HAVE to take Ambien CR to fall to sleep...and I always feel I have not had enough sleep. 2.) Muted emotions -- I have not cried a drop or even produced a tear in over a year; sometimes wonder if I care about anything anymore. It is a strange state to be in. 3.) Decreased libido -- is it my getting older or just the drug? I have been weaning myself off Lexapro. I went to 5mg for 3 weeks and then to zero. It has been one week since I have been off Lexapro. Withdrawal symptoms have been some dizziness (just from turning my head quickly at times) and some head "noise" (sitting hear now I can sense this "buzzing" in my head). Libido is back up (it WAS the drug, ha!), but insomnia & emotions haven't returned to "normal". Also, my anxiety remains under control. The "withdrawal" so far has been manageable and no "brain zaps" as others have described. | M | 47 | 15 months | 5/10/2009 | 1 | anxiety | Stop my anxiety but I just kept gaining weight 40 lbs . The worst of it was I work on construction and would start sweating to the point of being soaked I would bring 2 extra shirts. But that was not the worst of it I would have this strange body odor . Told my doctor told me cant be . I weaned off [horrible horrible] withdrawals. All syptoms stopped even lost the weight | M | 50 | 2 years | 5/10/2009 | 4 | Anxiety | Leg parasthesias after going in the sun or in a hot room; dizziness and lightheadedness upon standing from a sitting position; muscle twitches that diminished with time; mild nausea at first | After a terrible experience with Buspar, I was terrified to medicate again. But Lexapro changed my mind. This drug is very good for me. My anxiety disappeared within two weeks. I felt sunny and happy for the first time in years. Though many others gained weight on Lexapro, I was a compulsive overeater and was able to actually lose weight due to my diminished anxiety and increased energy, which enabled me to hit the gym and hiking trails. I was able to function well, and many of my anxiety symptoms (tremors, slurred speech, fuzzy thinking, muscle pains etc) simply disappeared. Before taking this medication, I was sure I had MS or ALS or something like that. My doctor assured me anxiety was causing my symptoms, and Lexapro has more or less proved him right. The only problem is the pins and needles in my legs and the postural/orthostatic hypotension, which is severe enough to make me stop taking the drug if it doesn't stop. | F | 40 | 6 weeks | 5/6/2009 | 4 | anxiety and sleeplessness | Decreased sexual drive, weight gain, now after taking this drug for 2 1/2 years I cannot stay asleep...could be because I just quit smoking cigars cold turkey after 15 years too. | This is a wonderful drug. I am an alcoholic in recovery and sober 15 years. I recommend (if you are in recovery) NOT going on anything for as long as possible since you could mask your REAL problems and end up drinking or using drugs again. I would also recommend lots of cardio exercise. Golf is not exercise and I love to play a lot but NOT in place of cardio. There is not question Lexapro works if you do the other things I mentioned in or out of recovery it doesn't matter but seeing a therapist or going to some type of self help 12 step program will help no matter what if you accept you are in need of HELP. I never thought I would feel NORMAL....I never felt normal and thought I never would. I only felt comfortable with people when I was under the influence of something. You are going to have some kind of side effects but Lexapro is a good, clean drug. I have taken Zoloft and then Paxil before Lexapro...Paxil was the worst for weight gain and Zoloft the worst for getting an erection. With both Paxil and Zoloft I felt way too relaxed. My house could burn down and I wouldn't give a sh_t. I am now switching to something else but not sure what yet. Cymbalta is what my Dr. suggested but each time you switch you have to get ready for that OUT OF BODY experience in the way you are going to feel. If anyone has gone from Lexapro to Cymbalta I would love to hear your experience....thank you. I hope I may have helped someone and anyone may email me with questions or concerns or comment | M | 50 | 3 years | 5/5/2009 | 4 | panic attacks anxiety depression | The first week the drug made me feel high but this subsided. I had some very strange realistic type dreams in this period too. The most noticable side effect in the first 1-2months of taking this drug was sometimes during sex I would be unable to orgasm. Makes me feel tired. Feel like I have no emotions, I have never cried since taking it. Even when I felt like it. | Lexapro has been really good for me. Yes it has side effects which aren't the best. But I was pretty messed up before taking it and it has helped me work through a lot of my problems with a pshycologist. Definately not a 'cure'. | M | 28 | 2 years | 5/5/2009 | 5 | Panic Disorder | 10 mg: nausea, fatigue, night sweats, failure to orgasm (most went away) | So I was very hesitant to go on Lexapro after all the bad reviews that I read on it. However, when my panic attacks were getting way out of control I knew i had to start. I am not going to lie the first couple of days were horrible. I became so depressed, I though i was never going to be happy again, my anxiety spiked as well. I could not sleep at all. I would fall asleep for and hour or so, then wake up and not be able to go back to bed. I had horrible, horrible nausea. I can not believe i never vomited. I could not function and just wanted to curl up into a ball and die because I felt so horrible (I was NOT suicidal though, I had no thoughts of killing myself). After a brutal 5 days things started to turn around. It seems like after day 6 all the horrible side effects completely vanished like i had gotten over a terrible illness. Now I have been on lexapro for four months and I feel wonderful. I am so happy all the time. NO panic attacks. I feel no anxiety even over little things that would make most people anxious. Seriously my life has done a 360. There are only a few complaints I have but I would rather deal with the side effects that the anxiety. I have to sleep way more than I use to, about 10 hours to feel fully rested. If I do not get enough sleep I need to nap, which I never did before. It seems my sex drive is still going strong, but I sometimes have trouble orgasming. This could be a placebo effect though. When I drink, it doesn't make me feel good, like alcohol i | F | 18 | 4 months | 5/4/2009 | 2 | mild depression/grief from loss | nausea, dizziness, spaciness, lack of coordination, massive headache in morning that lasts all day, feeling generally "hungover", lack of energy/motivation, dry mouth, jaw clenching | Dr. prescribed this to "give me a better outlook, engergy, and be able to face the day" because of depression related to death of parents/divorce/job cut/ and resulting overwhelming responsibilities related to those factors. I had a previous bad experience with Zoloft 10 yrs ago when a dr. misdiagnosed my hypothryroidism for depresssion instead. Was deadly sick for 2 wks and he kept me on it regardless, upped the dosage three times over a year because it wasn't working (duh, it was my thyroid!)That dr. is history, btw! This time, I was very leary of taking anything. Lexapro, this doc said has 'no side effects, the gentlest of meds, no addiction, no sexual side effects, etc). I disagree. I waited until the weekend to start, just in case problems arise, glad I did. Took Fri afternoon, nauseous and dizzy immediately, spaced out, went to bed for 2 hrs, got up, couldn't even make dinner, stumbling/spacey. Next day worthless and in a fog, bad headache. I waited and took the 2nd dose in evening after dinner so wouldn't have to deal with nausea/dizzy. Woke up with massive headache, felt like hit by truck, hungover-like. Got nothing done all day. Took 3rd dose again Sunday 10 pm before bed, and didn't get up until noon today (Mon). Called in sick. Headache still and completely useless. Coffee & tylenol so far-- not helping much. Still in fog as I type this. Not sure if I want to continue. | F | 50 | 3 days | 5/4/2009 | 3 | General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) | Severe decrease in libido, Major weight gain (I had been 140-145 lbs. for the 10-12 years prior to beginning Lexapro. In two years of being on Lexapro I have gained 20 pounds!) | Lexapro has helped with my anxiety. But the weight gain is very depressing! I have tried different doses, between 10-20 mg per day. At 20mg I had no anxiety but craved sugar like no body's business! I am now at 10mg and have only a small sugar craving, but also experience a little anxiety. It has been hard for me to find a good balance. Craving sugar and therefore gaining weight has been really hard to deal with. I am currently talking to my doctor about switching medications. | F | 28 | 2 years | 4/30/2009 | 1 | perimenopause | was like a bad mushroom trip: terrible nausea, extreme agitation but too sedated to move, out of touch with reality, couldn't communicate, suicidal/homicidal thoughts. | Doctor said there would be no side effects. The side effects started with nausea about 2 hours after 1 10 mg pill and things went downhill from there. I finally knocked myself out with 2 mg. Xanax and then woke the next day feeling like I'd been on a 3 day tequila bender. This was my first SSRI, and my last....I'll never touch anything like it again. I became someone else. | F | 47 | 1 days | 4/30/2009 | 4 | depression, insanity | insomnia, jaw clenching, restless legs syndrome, dry mouth, tremors, short of breath, delayed orgasm, increased libido, drowsiness, excessive hunger. | All of these side effects went away after a week of 10mg/day EXCEPT: dry mouth, excessive hunger, delayed orgasm, and increased libido (a little). It has cleared up my thinking a lot and overall I feel a lot less depressed. I'm happy to have met this drug. :) As a side note: This drug increased my libido considerably, and while it has given me delayed orgasm, when I do orgasm it is extremely intense and wonderful! They are unbelievable. So that is a plus. | M | 24 | 24 days | 4/29/2009 | 5 | Anxiety/Panic Attacks | A little more tired than usual. | This medicine works exceptionally well for me. I have suffered from panic attacks and generalized anxiety for 20 years; other than xanax, this is first medication that has actually resolved the problem. Have tried wellbutrin, zoloft, paxil and other medicines. The others caused nasty side effects including depression. I am not depressed in general and now, am happy to say this seems to be the perfect cure for anxiety. I'm VERY surprised. | F | 48 | 29 days | 4/28/2009 | 3 | Depression GAD | Third day and I have this stomach ache that won't go away. I have also noticed odd little violent thoughts that don't really fit with what I was thinking at time. Also noticed delayed orgasm. | My doctor said there were virtually no side-effects, after these odd things I found this website and can plainly see that there are some real potential consequences. I already have problems with delayed orgasm before I started this drug, I already have a problem with tachycardia (racing heart sometimes) and the thought that I will make these big issues worse scares me. I just wanted my mind back after an ugly break-up and resulting depression. I guess I was codependent and now don't know what to do with myself. ughghghghgh.... | M | 46 | 3 days | 4/26/2009 | 1 | Depression, Bipolar, Anxiety | Loss of Appetite, Loss of Coordination, Jumbled Thoughts/Speech (SEVERE), Dissociation, Hearing Voices, Detachment (SEVERE), Vertigo, Abdominal pains, Nausea, Weight Gain, Decreased Sex Drive (SEVERE), Loss of motivation, Dizziness, Disorientation, Yawning, Tremors, Lightheadedness (MODERATE), vision changes/hallucinations (SEVERE), Memory Loss (SEVERE), Decreased Concentration, Jitteriness, Forgetfulness.... the list goes on. | In the beginning of this year, I pleaded that I must get off this drug, fore it no longer helped my situation, and had become tolerant of Lexapro. My psychiatrist first suggested I cold turkey it. (obviously a bad Idea) From previous experiences, missing only a single daily dose would have me sick as a dog, with sweats, migraines, nausea, cramping, twitching, and a general "hangover feel." So I told him I could not. Then he suggested weaning off. I went down from 10mg daily to 5mg. . . Over the next three weeks I prayed for the courage to kill myself. In a single week after 2 ER trips and a CAT scan for abdominal pain, burning and stinging eyes, nausea, vomiting, severe, diarrhea, inability to eat, drink, sleep from the pain, I eventually recovered; though I had to drop out of school for personal illness. I have never in my life suffered as severely as such. . . I wish I never met the drug. Now back on 10mg a day, I am a slave to it, fearful to wean back off. | F | 18 | 4 years | 4/26/2009 | 3 | Depression & Anxiety | For the first month I had extreme naseua & vomitting. That went away, but I continued to have dry-mouth, night sweats, and insomnia the entire time. I also had no sex drive & gained 40 lbs. | 20 mgs of Lexapro helped my depression improve by about 80%. If it wasn't for the sexual side effects & weight gain, I would continue to take it forever. I might add that while gaining that weight I was attending Weight Watchers & had been for 2 years. I also had been exercising on average of 5 days a week. I can only imagine how much I would have gained without the other efforts. I am now switching to Wellbutrin XL. | F | 36 | 14 months | 4/24/2009 |