Experience reports on the drug Escitalopram:
Escitalopram User Reviews, Experiences
Posted in Nervous system
Reviews, Experiences, Questions
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Helps me very well against depression. But does not make it disappear completely. No side effects observed.
Dizziness and a strange feeling in the eyes on sudden attempts to stop taking the medicine.
Escitalopram made the sun shine again for me. Although I only took 5 mg daily in the morning, it had a relaxing, anxiety-relieving and mood-enhancing effect. I didn’t have many side effects, but extreme breast tenderness 10 days before my next period, combined with water retention and a 12lbs weight gain. The weight issue prompted me to switch because I couldn’t lose the pounds with the medication either. When I stopped taking the medication, the 12lbs disappeared again by itself within half a year with the same habits. However, as I have suffered from dysthymia (chronic, mild form of depression) for as long as I can remember, I need support and am now trying duloxetine. My specialist also emphasised that such a condition can also be hereditary – my mother also had depressive episodes. I wish everyone a good recovery and can only say that these medications really help. You can’t and don’t have to cope with everything on your own.
I was given the medication because of a mild depression with anxiety disorder that set in after a burnout. Escitalopram helped me even at a very low dose of 10 mg. The initial side effects were all gone after two weeks of taking it. Occasional erection problems also occurred, but they weren’t really a problem for me. When I stopped taking it, however, I had to struggle with slight dizziness for several weeks. All in all, however, I tolerated the medication well. It helped me a lot in a difficult life situation.
I slowly increased escitalopram with drops over several weeks and didn’t notice any side effects. In addition to therapy and good self-care, the medication was a very helpful building block towards more stability and mental health.
I thought about taking escitalopram as medication for 1 year. (I kept it closed in the bathroom cupboard the whole time) My mind somehow refused. Then came the day when I became “weak” and, on the recommendation of my neurologist, tried it after all. I started the first week with 5mg, with mild side effects such as headaches, dry mouth and tremor. In the 2nd week (10mg) I suddenly felt better. My energy returned, my mood improved significantly and I started to enjoy myself. From week 3, the horror show began very slowly. I got severe tension headaches, my mood went down, symptoms from week 1 became more pronounced, along with severe nausea and extreme restlessness… okay … Medication must be adjusting I thought to myself … then at the beginning of the 4th week it happened out of nowhere … Suicidal thoughts. I’d never had anything like this before in my life. I had one panic attack after the other and was/am terrified of these thoughts. At the end of the 4th week and after long discussions with doctors, I was told to stop the medication immediately …. Now, just over 2 weeks after the last dose, everything is slowly getting better.
The “normal” side effects are gone, the black thoughts are weakened but not yet gone … unfortunately … it takes a while for the biochemistry of the brain to adapt again … the only frightening thing is that it was 4.5 weeks of taking it . I don’t want to criticise the medication because it has a positive effect on many people, but for me it did nothing and made everything worse.But this is my personal story and experience with escitalopram.
The only positive thing was that the depressive mood quickly disappeared… but a lot of unpleasant symptoms were added. Totally unsteady gait, drowsiness, symptoms stronger than before. Even if you always hear that the body gets used to it, no it doesn’t!!! It clearly shows that it’s not right.
I was previously taking fluoxetine, mirtazapine and now this medication. My migraines were terribly bad for the first 2 weeks in particular. After that it got better and I was very nervous until then. My mood improved really quickly. I also have bad, rather sad days sometimes. However, without endangering myself at last!
I now take it without any side effects. At the beginning of the first week I was constantly running to the toilet, unfortunately. But it was worth it!
I can only advise you to keep taking it. It helped me to get by without having to go to emergency psychiatric wards and I now love my life. I’m becoming more and more mentally stable!
I can only recommend everyone to stay away from this medication. Sure it works and seems to be helpful, but if you don’t want to stop taking it, this so-called medication will show you what it has done to your body and mind. I slowly phased out this medication, there were hardly any discontinuation symptoms and I was satisfied that I was off it again. Now, 3 months later, my symptoms have suddenly returned without any events or stress. My doctor thinks it’s the so-called ‘repound effect’ of these medications and that I should either stick it out or take the medication again. This shows that these drugs do not contribute to recovery but rather make the problem worse and cause the body to become mercilessly dependent. In fact, legal action should be taken against the manufacturers and prescribers.
I take escitalopram because of my panic disorder. In the first two weeks of taking it, I experienced virtually all the side effects. I was miserable, but the side effects then decreased. I have now gradually increased to the maximum dose and no longer noticed any side effects with the increases. I have been taking the medication for five weeks and only the tiredness that sets in a few hours after taking it has remained. The medication is actually helping me: I tolerate it well so far, I have more drive and my anxiety has already decreased. I would recommend it, but you just have to get through the first few weeks of side effects.
At the beginning of the therapy with Escitalopram (10 mg), I had severe difficulties falling asleep and sleeping through the night for about 5 weeks.
In the first month, I also had restless legs, tiredness and restlessness at the same time. The reaction of my body was particularly extreme in situations where I would normally have a panic attack. My whole body started to get hot, I had a metallic taste in my mouth and I felt dizzy.
BUT: After about 7 weeks, almost all the side effects subsided. I was more balanced, calmer and less stressed. Only falling asleep takes a little longer than before. But sleeping through the night is no problem.
However, my body is constantly in cold-warm mode. This must be what the menopause feels like.
I can go into trigger situations more often and usually cope with them very well. Of course there are setbacks. But for me – who is rather averse to medication – the effort to take it was worth it.
I always take Escitalopram after getting up. After about 2-3 hours I have a low level of tiredness that lasts for about 1 hour.I have “built this into” my everyday working life and avoid appointments that require a high level of concentration at this time.
I find Escitalopram very helpful as an adjunct to psychotherapy.
The initial period is difficult – you have to persevere.But then the side effects are limited and the successes outweigh them – at least for me.Despite some side effects, my quality of life has improved.
I was prescribed Escitalopram for a psychosomatic disorder relating to the digestive system. In fact, these symptoms improved somewhat after a few days with 5 mg. After a few days, the initial nausea disappeared when taking 5 mg. However, a worsening potency disorder and inner restlessness set in, especially after taking 10 mg for the first time. I am aware that this medication helps many people, but it is not for me.
Initial worsening of panic and anxiety. It is essential to increase in mini small steps. After 5 weeks everything has levelled out. It also helped well with irritable bowel syndrome and irritable stomach. Now tends to cause problems when emptying.
What really bothers me about the side effects is the forgetfulness and numbness.
I slipped into severe depression after 3 weeks of taking it. Suicidal thoughts first developed under this medication. Stopping was no fun either. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, headaches, severe malaise.
I think it is very dangerous to sneak it in on your own. Simply writing a prescription with this active ingredient is grossly negligent in my opinion!