Since I joined this forum and the group on Cipralex all I seem to see are negatrive, negative, negative from this drug. I have never been on an anti-depressant in my whole life. But now at 59 struggling with terrible anxiety and panic attacks. It took me a long time since the Doc recommended Cipralex to make the decision to take it. But finally I did. I am on Day 8 only. And I am having some side effects, jitters, nervousness and racing heart here and there. But I would really love to hear some positives concerning this drug, cuz I am now having mixed feelings about my decision. I do want one thing and one thing only is to feel good again, and to feel myself again......
I take 10 mg of this at bedtime and have had no problems with it.. I know you must eat something with it. How many mg are you on and when do u take it?
I also take a beta blocker and its stopped my racing heart/palpitations..
Hi Damon,I'm in the UK and I've been on Escitalopram (Cipralex) for 6 weeks. I have to honestly say this drug has saved my life...I have suffered from anxiety from childhood (I am now 42) and this June suffered my worst bout yet,lasting 6 months. Having been on a couple of different ssris before,Cipralex has far fewer side effects. I had slight headache,nausea and loss of appetite for the first week or so. The benefits,for me,started to kick in about week 4,so hang on in there. It is a very good drug with powerful anti anxiety properties. Wishing you all the best,hope this post helps
How many mgs do you take Justine? And do you take it at night or morning?
As you know it takes an average of 6 weeks for most anti depresants to reach their full potency I'very been on Cipralex for 5.5 years with few side effects - I take 10 mgs.daily. When me doctor wanted me to take 20 mg. I experienced night sweats.
. I find Cipralex a good meducatn due
Hi,
I take 10 mg. At night with no problems. I'very been on Cipralex for 5.5 years. Beside having few side effects as an anti depressant Cipralex is also a mood stablizer and is supposed to help with anxiety (I have GAD).
You may want to make a chart with time and symptoms - then you have something concrete to show your doctor and of course a record for yourself.
Are you familiar with CAT? Cognitive behavioral Therapy is very effective in reducing anxiety. The is also an anxiety website / support if you're interested. If you can't find it contact me and I'll look it up. Good luck to you with the Cipralex. Karin
Hi Tonya,I take 10mg in the evening
I'm gonna try mine after dinner today.. I'm having dizziness in the morning upon waking. Trying to figure out what's causing it. I take propanolol 20 mg twice a day also.. Just wanting to feel better in the mornings.. I take 10 mg also.
Thanks Karin
A very informative and supporting message you wrote. I live in Canada (Montreal). I am 59 and have had on and off anxiety since I was in my early twenties. Went years without it . But recently in the past several months went on a mid-life crisis breakdown with a ton of anxiety. Never been on an anti-depressant. Was on Ativan in my early thirties for seven months and that's it. So it took me a long time after getting the prescription from my Doc for the Cipralex to actually take it. I struggled and hesitated and decided more than once to find a hundred reasons why I coiuld fight this and not have to be on this med. But then started weighing the odds. I will be 60 this year, the quality of my life is full of fear, anxiety, stress and tension. I want to start living again. Hence decided to start the Cipralex. I am at the end of week two, starting week three. Had a few nausea episodes. But the thing that is disturbing me the most is the tremors I am experiencing. Mostly in the morning before I take the Cipralex. I take 10 mg at 10;30 a.m. each day. After I take it sometimes the tremors go away and I'm okay for the rest of the day. It started last week with this nervousness and shakiness inside, so I asked my Doc about it. And she advised to continue. Now all day yesterday and last night till I went to sleep I had tremors, which ruined my day and evening. Its an awful feeling which I don't know if I can continue to live with, therefore, might call the Doc and tell her I want to stop this drug. Deep down I don't want to stop and want to hope that it will go away and I will start feeling awesome after the time period for this drug to take affect. But if these tremors continue I really don't know. 
What do you think ?
Hi Damom,
It sounds like you' very had a rough go. I hope you are beginning to heal from the breakdown / meltdown, it all takes time and patience with yourself
I just checked on tremors and CipraleX *key words) and yes it comes up as a possible side effect I have a bit a shakinessential in my hands to the point that finè handwork is difficult Remember that antidepessants can take at least 6 weeks to work. It appears that alot of side effect's go over time
I'm havin some problems working on my phone this morning. Another thing that comes to mind it that as we age medication can effect us differentry - a pharmacist is usually where I turn they are often better versed than doctors.
I t sounds like you've been thinking about the future and your quality of life. You asked what I would do I would contiune taking the Cipralex for 3-6 montH's, giving you body a chance to heat from the breakdown. Do you have regular appointments with your doctor?
After you'very established a baseline with the CipraleX you maybe able to decrease the dose
What is you doctor doing to help with the anxiety? You have my sympath, I suffer from an anxiety disordel and know how disabiling it can be. I was on a Clonazapam for 15 years
Hi Karin
Thank you once again for your support and kindness. I decided to continue. I have a Doctor's appointment this Friday, therefore, I can discuss all this with my Doc. I have called my Pharmacist last week about the nervousness, etc. and he told me to go back to 5 mg. But since my Doc did not tell me to do that I will wait and see on Friday when I see her. In the meantime, so far today is a good day, had no nervousness or shakiness, nor tremors. But we'll see how the rest of the day and evening goes 
My Doctor has helped by putting me on Cipralex and also referred me to a therapist which I have been seeing for a couple of months now. Many dollars later, she is really nice, and we connect, but I don't think she is helping me much. It was nice to have someone to vent to and talk, but for the amount that it cost me, and the results.....I won't be seeing her for now anymore.
I also was taking Clonazapam. But I was only taking it as needed when I had an anxiety attack. My Doc had told me if I started to take it more regularly to let her know because she did not want me on these on a daily basis and would prescribe something else, hence the CipraleX. But I tell you, I did like those Clonazapam alot, they had no sides at all and made me feel amazing. And I only would take a half of 5 mg. so it was a very very little dose, but gave me alot of happiness and calmness..... Wish I could take those instead. Well thanks again so much Karin. How are you doing so far with the CipraleX ? Where do you live ?
My doc had me titrated off of that Rx- as it is niw onky for shortterm use it took over a year. During that time I worked with a counselor who introduced me to CBT (cogenitive behavioral therapy) you can check that out online. Very effective, no medication. I think that you are staying ofF the medical sites for a while Have a good week Danom.
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Hi Damom,
I'm glad that you have an appointment with your doctor this coming week, she is the best person to make changes if necessary to the Cipralex. It is possible that you are sensitive to medications, everyone is different. I can relate to what you said about Clonazapam, It worked well for me for many years and made it possible for me to function in high pressured jobs. However now the medical establishment has decided that all drugs in the biodiazapine family are addichive and should not be prescribed long term. As someone that had to withdraw from Clonazapam I can attest to the dependency. I still would like the total relief that valium, adivan or clonzapam offered. I may speak to my new doctor about a limited presription for dealing with acute anxiety.- I don't know if my doc will agree but I will ask.
You asked where I live last May I moved from Ontario to Northern British Columbia. In both provinces I have lived in isolated, rural communities. Now I live in the village of Valemount surrounded by 3 mountain ranges - check it out on the Internet (the motto is "let the mountains move you" ).
In both the Bruce Peninsula and in rural BC I've had access to free counseling through a health worker on the medical team. If coSt is the main obstacAl to you continuing counseling see if there is a geared to income
Program for counseling. I was a social workemnother
Hi I'm doing well with the CipraleX, it's been 4.5 years with no major side effects. Initially I experienced some nausea & tummy aches, slight shakes (maybe tremors)? And on 20 mg. Sweats especially at night.I weighed the side effects again the benefits and decided on the Cipralex Remember we are all unique and know best what does or doesn't work for us. Hopefully your doc can work with you and find the right dose and meds for you. When a med is working well I think that the benefits clearly outweigh the side effects. I don't lis having to take meds but The CipraleX makes a big difference for me and improves my qunlit of life.
Phone issues again. The Cipralex works well for me - let's hope it works for you as well. I take 10 mg. At bedtime (which was a result of some dizziness )
You asked where I live, in McBride, Britush Columbia. I moved back to the West from Ontario last May. Happy to be near the mountains. Medically this is Northern BC health service's we're considered isolated, rural communitiy1 There are good mental health services, including counseling. Got to go, hope you have a good apt. Friday. Bon chance. K
Hi Damom, If I remember correctly you have a doctors appointment today. I just wanted to wish you well - hopefully some of the side effects from the Cipralex are letting up - if not your doc should be able to help you. Let me know how it goes - it certainly can be tough to start any new meds. Be well. Karin
Hi Karin, I am so sorry I have not responded sooner. I am new to this site and still learning how to use it with ease. Thank you for remembering I had a doc appointment, that is very considerate of you. I saw my Doc yesterday. Follow-up appointment to see how I am doing on the Cipralex. Completing week 3 now, and tremors have gone, but morning agitation and heart racing and palpitations still there on some mornings, today being one of them. And in the past couple of days started a new very weird symptom. Had this chemical taste in my mouth so unpleasant, in my mouth and sinus, and felt like each time I would swallow it felt like I just bit into my pill. Even eating felt weird cuz it felt like I was mixing food and my pill in my mouth. This started on Wednesday and continued. Told the Doc about it and how it was making me feel very anxious, she said she had heard of this with some people who take sleeping pills (which I do not) but she had not heard of it from the Cipralex. But she assured me it would go away. And weirdly today it seems to be disappearing, thank God. She wants to increase my dosage to 20 mg. I am now on 10 mg. I am nervous about the increase. She said because of my symptoms to continue for a week on the 10 but to increase afterwards Feeling still uneasy about this increase. But she seems very certain of her advice, so I guess I will. Otherwise Karin, I tell you, I am not feeling any better and feel like what is the use of me continuing on this med. But I know it can take time still to start feeling better and I will try and hang in. Its nice to know we are fellow Canadians. British Columbia is beautiful. Well I hope your doing well. Thanks for your support, it makes me feel so much better....
Hi just wondered how u feeling today?
Cipralex works so well but it does present funny effects, everything u r saying is listed as a side effect and it will pass. I woke to my teeth chattering this morning and shakes with major anxiety am like Ian and on day 5 it's damn hard