Escitalopram and side effects

[Grease2ftw]

My GP prescribed these last week due to increased anxiety and have started on 10mg per day. This is the first time I've had medication for anxiety and I would love to hear of anyone else's experiences?

I feel constantly nauseous and tearful (even more so than normal) and every night since starting have has really vivid, realistic dreams (usually about work which is the source of all my anxiety) which have left me more unsettled during the day. I know the meds take a few weeks to work but do the side effects usually tail off too or are they here to stay?

TIA x

[Itisnoteasybeingdifferent]

Can't help as not used that one... but didn't want you to feel ignored.

[Purplebluebird]

Hi! I started my escitalopram a month ago or so, though I have tried many many similar ones (old version of these was citalopram, which I've also tried)

I felt really rubbish the first 7-10 days - nauseous and sort of dizzy and out of it a bit. I can assure you the side effects settles down soon. Not sure about the dreams though, not heard that one before, but it should get better. They have helped my anxiety massively, and I feel a lot better now!

[Iseeall]

I started taking this for my extreme anxiety and depression about three months ago and have found it amazing.
Unlike you I had no adverse effects, when are you being reviewed. I think one week is too think about changing them.
You don't find many people on here that take them, I get the impression sertraline and citalopram are prescribed more often but a quick scan of some of the posts on here seem to suggest similar side effects to what you are experiencing already.
I would persevere with them until your first review. Good luck.

[JeffJarrett]

I've been on them in the past for anxiety, after years of Citalopram which just stopped working.

Escitalopram is a 2nd generation drug, it has far less side effects and is generally more efficient. The starting Citalopram dose is 20mg, so it's half the dose with a better effect.

I don't recall having any side effects, though with the Citalopram had horrendously increased anxiety in the first two weeks and constant 'cotton wool brain' where I couldn't focus on anything.

I think it should settle down for you after around 14 days and you'll start feeling yourself again

[Grease2ftw]

Thank you all for replying, it's reassuring to hear that the reviews are positive! Am hoping that in a few weeks I'll feel more like myself again and that thought in itself is a good one x