https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 17 Apr 2026 07:48:01 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2924505 Tue, 03 Aug 2021 09:28:11 +0000 jennlin821 2924505@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: Just popping in to say that 2 years ago I started on daily Sertraline (Zoloft) for PMDD. When taking it for PMDD you can do it just the week prior to your period or daily. (I opted for daily because it was anytime during the 2 weeks prior to my period when I was severely struggling)<br /> I was started on a tiny dose (25mg) and I was AMAZED at the difference it made. PMDD depression gone and daily life improved. I can't really explain the difference, it doesn't make you suddenly happier - but I felt lighter and more able to handle life. </p> <p>I stopped cold turkey when I got pregnant (I wasn't sure if it was preggo safe - it is) but then I was so sick for the first 5 months I never got back on it. No side effects from stopping cold. </p> <p>I highly recommend trying something. It does take time for it to build up in your body and make a difference, but I felt better within 6 weeks. Some people need to try a few different meds to find the best one, but that is not always the case. You don't truly know how bad you are feeling until you feel better! </p> <p>We all need extra mental health support right now, so I hope this helps. And with all unsolicited advice, feel free to ignore random internet stranger advice :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2924479 Mon, 02 Aug 2021 15:04:44 +0000 wrkbrk 2924479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Shantuck: Hi there! I did! I took it for over two years. It served its purpose - gave me a much longer fuse; wasn’t angry; didn’t cry. Eventually though I decided to wean off and now I’ve been off for about six months. There is no harm in trying it in my opinion and seeing if you like it - you’ll know within two weeks probably. You won’t get addicted or anything like that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2924478 Mon, 02 Aug 2021 14:45:04 +0000 Shantuck 2924478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Curious as to whether you ever decided to take the Lexapro or not and whether you think it helped you. I'm in a similar position (stressful job, third kid born at the very beginning of the pandemic, etc.) and the new doc I saw today suggested I try it. I am worried about going down a path that is difficult to reverse but also wonder if I might be a better parent if I was on it... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789462 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 17:23:46 +0000 wrkbrk 2789462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: I’ll DM you tomorrow! Sounds so similar! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789459 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 17:16:54 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2789459@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Absolutely...and if you want to chat more about it, feel free to wall me. I have recently within the last 2 years been able to come to terms with my mom and her emotional abuse and how to combat it. I was becoming her and I hated it...now I'm fighting the cycle, and it feels so empowering. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789436 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:27:37 +0000 wrkbrk 2789436@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: A lot of this sounds similar. Ruminating at night and up for 3 hours (usually 1-4 am haha) several times a week. My issues also started with my mom and she’s at least half of my issues still (plus a stressful job and having a toddler!). Thanks for your input. I’ll keep lowering the dose in mind. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789435 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:23:57 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2789435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Part of my anxiety issues stem from my relationship with my mom. While I'm in therapy to help deal with those too, I find that I'm bothered less by the things she says to me. If there are large events coming up, that was usually a trigger for my anxiety. I've noticed that they also don't bother me as much any longer. I just feel calm leading up to them instead of the pit in my stomach or tight chest. </p> <p>Believe it or not, my PMS is easier to handle as well. I could ALWAYS tell when my period was about to come b/c I was a raging bitch about a week before. Now it's a lot tougher to figure it out, because I'm far more even keel all the time. </p> <p>I think dosing is important as well as talking about your side effects with your provider. I let her know that I was exhausted all the time and felt really numb, and had no desire to have sex on 10mg. She weaned me down to 5, and every last bit of that isn't an issue any longer. I'm still tired by the end of the day, but I now feel like I get restful sleep. Without Lexapro, I was up half the night worrying about things and couldn't seem to settle. My mind would race with the millions of things I had to do the next day and I felt like I couldn't turn anything off.</p> <p>My other big thing that triggered me to needing something was my irrational fear of my family dying horrifically. I attribute a lot of it to my mom causing me anxiety over everything, but I was also 10 months PP with DS2, so I'm positive now that I had PPA. I wish I would have started everything sooner. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789429 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:15:10 +0000 wrkbrk 2789429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@2PeasinaPod: Thank you for your response! How do you know it’s working? Did you just start feeling calmer? The only thing I have to compare it to is Xanax which of course is only occasional. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789423 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 15:05:04 +0000 2PeasinaPod 2789423@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I started with a low dose of Lexapro for General Anxiety Disorder. I had no issues with depression, just major anxiety. I started on a dose of 10mg which from what I understand is the norm.</p> <p>The very first day, I felt really sick. Like a bus ran over me sick. I slept for most of the day and had on and off headaches. I gave it a fighting chance, and I'm so glad I did.</p> <p>The only negative thing I have to say is that it really made me sleepy. I was at the point where I could fall asleep if I sat down anywhere. I was really struggling with that, and I asked my provider to give me an even lower dose and went down to 5mg. I'm a small person in general, and I think the 10mg was too much for me. </p> <p>Coming down from 10 to 5 was a rough month. I had some major mood swings, but I have since leveled out, and I've never been happier. I have coupled mine with talk therapy. I would highly recommend continuing with a therapist. I know you haven't clicked with anyone yet, but keep trying. I went through 3 therapists before I found my super amazing one right now. </p> <p>All in all, start it over a weekend when you know you will have support and are able to rest. The first month is the hardest, but then you level out and hopefully you start to feel the anxiety come down. </p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789417 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 14:28:56 +0000 wrkbrk 2789417@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Bibliolove: No not yet! I am starting Sunday - I have DS by myself rhis week/weekend and I didn’t want to have just* started at that point in case I had weird side effects. Good to know you’ve noticed a positive difference with minimal issues!! Keep me updated!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2789414 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 14:23:47 +0000 Bibliolove 2789414@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: how has it been going, did you take the Lexapro? I ask because I have been prescribed it and have been taking it for about 14 days or so. It's only within the last few days but I have noticed a big difference. I really didn't have any side effects yet, except for the hot flashes and some jitteriness the first few days. My main issues are anxiety, some depression, and panic attacks at night with insomnia. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786349 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:03:46 +0000 wrkbrk 2786349@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Ok, will do. Thank you!! :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786348 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 12:03:03 +0000 LCTBQE 2786348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I honestly think your awareness is going to prevent that. When this happened to me, I was 26 and had never had a conversation with anyone about taking meds--doesn't sound like where you're at. Just let your doctor know that you're worried about side effects, including that one, and schedule your follow-up visit before you leave the office. Lexapro totally snapped me out of what was 100% a chemical depression, it worked wonders for me. I hope it works for you too :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786340 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 11:52:32 +0000 wrkbrk 2786340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Gaaaaaa exactly what I am worried about! It's meta worry, if you will - I am worried I wont be able to recognize why I feel worse, if I do, in the moment!!!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786324 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 11:17:27 +0000 LCTBQE 2786324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: yeah, it is scary--not a dumb question at all; the worst part was the answer is NO, I didn't recognize it for what it was--I thought I wanted to die because I was so depressed. I went back to my doctor after a month on Wellbutrin because *he* insisted on follow-up. I thought I was just a helpless mess and didn't attribute it to the pills at all. So anyway I went back, and he said, "okay, are we feeling much better?" and I was like, "no, not really, at all." and he told me to dump the Wellbutrin immediately. I didn't put it together that there was a perfect correlation of those obsessive thoughts starting exactly when I started that particular pill, and ending when I stopped, until about two months later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786300 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 09:55:25 +0000 wrkbrk 2786300@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LCTBQE: Oh wow! Thanks for your comment. The suicidal thoughts side effect is the scariest - let me ask you this (maybe dumb) question. Did you recognize oh, I am having abnormal suicidal thoughts, it must be the medicine, and call your doctor?? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786298 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 09:43:32 +0000 LCTBQE 2786298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: looks like you have a lot of feedback already, but here's mine: I had a terrible breakup that put me in a major depression (lost 20 pounds, couldn't sleep, the works) and I got a prescription for Wellbutrin. It gave me serious, frightening suicidal ideation. Like when on commercials the announcer says "if you have thoughts of suicide, talk to your doctor". I went back a month later and was put on Lexapro, and within about 10 days I was completely snapped out of it--basically, healed. It was amazing and I am still grateful for it. I continued to take it for about 4 months, during which I couldn't cry or have an orgasm, but didn't really feel numb, or artificially happy. I just felt like myself. Not as much like myself as I do normally, but it was worlds away from the depression I'd been in. Then I weaned off and have been fine since. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786293 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 09:35:03 +0000 wrkbrk 2786293@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@ChiCalGoBee: No, I definitely want to know everything! I would prefer knowing what to (maybe) expect! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786285 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 09:08:28 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2786285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I don’t want to be the voice of dissent, but Lexapro gave me crazy, graphic, violent, bloody dreams. I was only on it for a little bit and didn’t make the connection that that was the cause at the time. However, my FIL happened to mention a few years later that he was having that happen because of the Lexapro, too, so I bring it up just in case you have that happen and wonder. </p> <p>All that being said, finding an SSRI you respond well to is key and I so hope it helps! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786284 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:58:51 +0000 wrkbrk 2786284@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@IRunForFun: Ohgood to know. Thanks! I’m wondering if I should find a week to start it when I don’t have any major obligations ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786283 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:58:19 +0000 wrkbrk 2786283@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JMOM: Thank you for your comment! I am worried about tapering back off of it at some point too but ya know. Cart. Horse . </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786278 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:45:35 +0000 IRunForFun 2786278@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've taken Lexapro for about 4 years now for anxiety. It takes me from barely functioning to functioning normally with just a bit of anxiety. The start-up effects were the worst part for me, a week to 10 days of nausea, headaches, dizziness. After that minimal side effects, maybe a bit numb to emotion but nothing extreme. </p> <p>@wrkbrk: I think 10 mg is the lowest therapeutic dose. That's what I took through pregnancy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786270 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 08:04:48 +0000 JMOM 2786270@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took Lexapro for a couple years for depression. I went off it because I was pretty numb all the time. I know this sounds dumb, but I couldn’t cry when I was on it which really bothered me. I had severe headaches for several weeks when I started taking it and when I got off it. I went through a major depression when I was getting off too and I slowly tapered off it over the course of a month or two. However, I will say that I am very sensitive to some medicines and caffeine. I would never take Lexapro again but that was just my experience and I know it has helped a lot of people so I would never say that you should avoid it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786266 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 07:25:06 +0000 wrkbrk 2786266@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dahlia: Maybe I should request a smaller dose. Like 5? She gave me 10 to start. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786265 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 07:24:22 +0000 wrkbrk 2786265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: Good to know! Yes I’m worried about that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786250 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 23:39:26 +0000 bhbee 2786250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My dh takes lexapro for anxiety and likes it the best of what he’s tried. He said it really takes the edges off, lowers the amplitude, but it also does that on the good end - everything is just more muted for him on it, but it’s worth it. It also definitely takes a toll on libido, same effect i suppose. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786247 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:55:17 +0000 Dahlia 2786247@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: I haven't taken Lexapro, but I've taken both Citalopram and Sertraline for anxiety. I was originally resistant to medication, but now I am a huge proponent of it. </p> <p>I seem to very responsive to SSRIs and a very small dosage is able to get me from unbearable anxiety to feeling under control. Because I am on such a small dose, I also haven't had any issues going on/off it, nor do I notice any side effects.</p> <p>That being said, I do think SSRIs are a little like birth control - every one reacts differently to them, and you made to play around a bit (with your doctor, obviously!) until you find the right one and the right dosage. </p> <p>Hang in there, and don't be afraid to medicate! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786239 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 21:55:22 +0000 wrkbrk 2786239@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gotkimchi: Thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786238 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 21:55:09 +0000 wrkbrk 2786238@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@macintosh: Thank you! It’s so hard to know whether it will help me because my levels ARE off or if I just have a stressful job and small child etc etc. I mean, we only know our own experience, so it’s hard to say if “everyone” feels like me ... or not! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/experience-with-lexapro#post-2786237 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 21:55:05 +0000 gotkimchi 2786237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Lexapro is a good one for anxiety! </p>