Fainted on escitalopram

[Cakemonger]

So yesterday was Day 4 of trying escitalopram and I fainted in a cafe and had to be taken to A&E and had to lie on the floor for hours. Obvs I will talk to my GP when I can but would you carry on with the escitalopram or stop? Has anyone else experienced this? The A&E dr I saw said it was up to me whether I continued taking it in the meantime.

I am so desperate to find a medication that works and lots of people report positive experiences with escitalopram. Up until the fainting I didn’t feel too bad on it at all. I’ve tried loads of others in the past that didn’t work so I wanted to give this a good shot. Yesterday was quite scary and horrid though :/

What dose are you on? Are you sure it's connected?

I am on 10mg. Nothing like this has ever happened before so I’m thinking it’s the most likely explanation.

That's a very low dosage, I can't imagine it's related.

It’s just so odd though - nothing else has changed and I haven’t any history of fainting. It’s also messed up my gut but I am finding all of them seem to do that.

I have been on escitalopram in the past, had no fainting. It was stomach upsets and sweats if I remember. I was on 20 mg, found the medication helpful for anxiety.

@Cakemonger how are you now? Did you carry on?

I started on 5mg before upping to 10mg after a week and I did feel quite woozy at points during the first week or so but didn't ever faint. My symptoms went after a week and I've had no problems since - it's really helped my anxiety and I wouldn't be without it now!
I'd try to stick it out or maybe take half a dose for a week before moving to 10mg?

Thanks schmalex, I actually stopped it as it was messing up my gut so much (I have IBS). The cafe episode was actually my first time out the house since recovering from Covid - I didn't think it was Covid related as I felt better but today I saw a thread with someone saying exactly the same - that they had mild Covid and fainted the first time they went out - so who knows.