Hi. It's been such a roller coaster. Lately I'm having more good days than bad. Thank heavens. But I've noticed that when I have a bad day, it's worse. The anxiety butterflies are back and won't leave. I'm up again from 3 am to 6 or 7, sleeping only 10 minutes at a time. My neighbor passed away and we had a little confrontation with our adult daughter this week, which is fine now, but both events at the same time were too many drops in my bucket and now I'm just a basket case, can't stop worrying and crying and the what ifs are back. All the advice I've gotten and advice I've given has disappeared in my head and I'm trying to remember how to calm down. It's almost 6 weeks on 20 mg of escitalopram. I still have hope that these extreme flare ups will lessen, hopefully go away for good. But when I'm in the middle of it, I'm not so sure. I'm depressed too. On my good days, I'm thinking about the bad days and planning for the next anxiety attack. I can't seem to break that thought processes. It's so exhausting. So exhausting.
Hi Tammy, I know exactly what you’re going through and I’m on15mg escitalopram (from Aug16) and I am pretty much settled 99% of the time but I’ve had a few blips as I call them!
Mine seem to be triggered by anything health related , either me or my love ones! It will pass, perhaps see your GP again as mine give me proporonol and it helped relax me and I only take them til the anxiety and symptoms leave again!
Don’t know if this helps but you’re not alone , hope things pass x
Hi Tammy,
I too am on Escitalapam but can't get to 10 mg because of side effects. I take 7.5 mg and it does help me greatly with my panic and phobias..
I did find I have ups and downs too. Its taken me 12 months to get to this point but I did have a very bad time coming off my last one so was blaming that.
I was put on Valdoxan as Escitalopram helps with OCD and panic etc but not really for depression. Valdoxan is for depression and not panic...I did find this helped even things out for me.. a multi approach but low doses of both.
I wouldn't have said I had depression but treating has helped to settle the ups and downs.
Not sure if this helps but maybe you need something like this too.
I found I had terrible insomnia on just Escitalopram..3am...yep.. that's my awake time too. I was only getting about 2 hours sleep a night for months. The Valdoxan has helped.. still have bad nights but better..
So I think you probably need to treat the depression which is probably because of all the anxiety..a nasty cycle hey.
Hope this helps,
Thanks Gina. It is a nasty cycle. I've been thinking I'm on too high of a dose.... Anxiety is a side effect of this medicine, so that being said I might switch if I'm not getting better relief in another two weeks. I hope you start sleeping better!!! Wouldn't it be a relief to sleep all night at least 6-7 goes and wake up with no anxiety? Take care!
Tammy... I can sooooo relate to the death and etc. causing aniexty and panic... I hate that it does us like that...I haven't heard from u in a while on our other blog.. Have u heard how Lois Ann and some of the others r doing? I just need to figure out when and how to start my 10 mg sence I have been taking 2.5 mg 3 X a day any ideals...? U take care and hope to hear back from u ...🤗 and 😇
Gina ... I to am on 7.5 mg of Lexapro but I find that I may need just a little bit more for I to am having aniexty off and on and my phobias r better but not all gone...I guess maybe I'm hoping everything will b gone but idk if that will happen r not...this is almost my 5 th week of being on Lexapro .. 2 weeks of 2.5 and 1 week of 5.0mg and almost 2 weeks of 7.5 ... I'm really wanting to take it all twice a day just got to get my nerves ready for a change and that's hard for me because I'm soooo sensitive to meds... But I have to do it sooner r later... Take care and keep us posted on your journey..🤗 and 😇
Susan ... I can sooo relate to your post .. I guess as most of us can .. I have a horrible phobia of Drs. and Drs. Offices .. Mostly my blood pressure.. It's always high when I go to the dr because I get Soo aniexty ridden and anxious when going... R u anything like that? This has just come on the past 10-15 years...its just crazy... But real....
Hi. Thanks for checking in on me. It's been rough. Anxiety every day, but I think it's mainly from the medicine. I've been on 20 mg for 6 weeks today, and my therapist thinks it's probably not the medicine for me. I'm waiting to hear from my pcp so we can discuss alternatives. I'm exhausted, too. Exercising, eating well, no caffeine or sugar, therapy sessions... Doing everything right and still not getting consistent relief.
If you're doing well on your current dosage, why do you want to increase? Talk to your doctor. But I think it's wise to stay on the dose for two to three weeks before increasing it. Just be sure your doctor is consulted and don't do anything without her knowing. I do know that with every increase, the side effects increase too. I think that's my issue. Anyway, I really hope you're doing better!!!
Hi Nickie,
I found it wasn't enough too.. helps but not quite enough.. I'm on Valdoxan as well which helped calm the anxiety.
I was suppose to be on 20mg...heaven forbid as I've had enough side effects on 7.5.
My doc said you need at least 10mg for it to be a medicating dose..so he is saying it's not enough to work but it is definitely doing something because a lot of my phobias are gone..
Hi Nickie, I actually meant my anxiety is triggered if me or my loved ones are poorly, actually going to the Drs I’m fine with! I’m just scared about what ifs with health related things as I’ve never got over loosing my parents over ten years ago! Mine all started as I’m scared as I’m the next in line in the circle of life if you get what I mean, but we are all going to die one day but these meds help me think more rationally but they do take time to work, mine took about 12 weeks with starting on 5 mg and now on 15mg!
Anxiety is awful! Hope you get on well
Hi Susan, yes, death is a big issue for me and lately my daughter. She moved back home after 6 years being on her own. She had depression and is doing so well!!! With counseling, no meds. But that was hard to watch. She's tough! But yes, that affected me. It was a perfect storm.... Effexor xr not working after 12+ years, weaning off of it, starting Lexapro, menopause.... It's been hard. The invasive thoughts in the early morning.... Ugh. It's hard to start my day. I can't say that my symptoms are better. I still get stomach aches, chest hurts, lump in my throat and big anxiety flare ups. I really thought that after being on a total of 9 weeks (6@ 20 mg), I would have more good days than bad. A few weeks ago, I did, but now seems worse. I get through the day and somehow around 4-6 pm the anxiety lifts. It's a small reprieve, but back again in the wee hours. My therapist and I don't think this is the medicine for me. I'm talking to my doctor later today. Hopefully we'll figure it out! I really hope you even our out and stay there!!! It's a battle that requires patience! God bless you!
Hi Tammie, I personally think the menopause and fluctuation of hormones has played a big part in my anxiety and losing my parents too!
I started out on citalopram and after 3 months it definitely wasn’t for me and dr switched me to escitalopram which I think is a lot milder on side effects although I still suffered a bit but it was a good 12 weeks til I felt better and every day feeling good was a bonus but like I said before I still get off days but it usually lifts after a few days or so and I know if the anxiety is back as I wake up between 3 and 4 o’clock in the morning with nausea and shakiness!
Hope your daughter is ok and hope you get on ok too x
Yes I know the meds r working .. That's why I feel like my body is running out because of the way I've had to start out Soo slow and spaced apart .. I take 2.5 at 9am and 2.5 at 3 pm and 2.5 at 9pm then I don't get any more until 9 am the following am so that's 12 hours of no meds . I feel like that's why the aniexty and hyperness has shown itself the week of the morning.. I'm no dr but it makes sense to me so I'm going to start 5 mg tonight at 9pm and see what happens... U have got to do something.. I've been on 7.5 mg. for almost 3 weeks now ... Hoping u get better each day... Keep posting and take care 😊
Yes... I understand.. Take care and keep posting about your journey...😊
Tammy ... Hang in there girl...Sooo Sorry that u r having a rough time right now... It will get better...😊
Thank you! Our daughter is doing so much better.... Better than me for sure! Everyone here is so supportive and understanding. I'm so thankful I found this site.
Ironically, my anxiety has lifted this past hour so I took advantage of this break and started the laundry, showered, ate lunch, got out chicken for dinner, played outside with the dog and now I'm exhausted. I still am walking 3 miles every other day, but it has been raining off and on. These little breakthroughs give me hope, but I need to see more consistency. Even Miso said it took him about 8 weeks to feel better and I'm only at 6 at the 20. I have two favorite hobbies that I just can't seem to pick up again. I think that's the depression talking. Right now, I'm happy to play on my phone and watch TV when I get like this. Probably because it's mindless activity. I hope everyone's weekend is good and happy!!
Tammy.. Sooo glad you had a break in that aniexty.. It can completely drain you from all energy... Just hang on for a few more weeks I'm sure things will get better...I'm hoping that tonight I feel like bumping up to 10 mg.. We will see... My mind has to b ready for the change...Take Care and keep us updated... 😊
Tammy.. Sooo glad you had a break in that aniexty.. It can completely drain you from all energy... Just hang on for a few more weeks I'm sure things will get better...I'm hoping that tonight I feel like bumping up to 10 mg.. We will see... My mind has to b ready for the change...Take Care and keep us updated... 😊