I was prescribed escitalopram but I am terrified to take it! Has anyone got positive stories about it please?

[ChiquititaCat]

I was recently prescribed escitalopram alongside therapy to help me through a difficult period of my life. I’m currently in an abusive relationship but my mental health is making it impossible for me to cope with leaving (which I didn’t realise for some time, I just thought I was useless!), so the mental health nurse thinks this is the way forward to help me finally take that step.

I am still terrified of taking it though - so any positivity would be helpful! I have a strange sleep anxiety, even though I sleep well most nights. I am very worried about it potentially affecting my sleep to the point where I haven’t taken it yet… also concerned about all those horror stories about people who say SSRI have permanently damaged their brain chemistry or PSSD etc.

im in a very vulnerable place at the moment and just feel afraid of what would happen if things got worse, which would likely make me feel more dependent on him.

If you do feel like commenting anything judgemental I would truly appreciate it if you could keep it to yourself as I am already struggling with feeling down on myself about not being able to leave - thank you!

I’m on it. Never had a single side effect. Feel it helps.
I do understand your worries but I would say try it for a decent period of time, long enough to get the full effect and then see how you feel.
Anxiety often makes us paralysed to do anything which might help for fear it might make things worse but anxiety does not allow rational thinking.
Personally I often make terrible choices when in the grip of anxiety and it is only when I feel better that I can look back and think why did I / didn’t I do that?!
Give it a go.

thanks so much for your post. How much are you taking if you don’t mind me asking? Did you start on a low dose?

I’m taking 20mg. I can’t quite remember but think I started on 10mg.
I also have prn (as required) other meds for panic attacks these being lorazepam and propanalol.

Thank you! Have you ever tried to come off it?? I am worried about becoming dependant on it

I took it through a divorce following a horrible marriage. Was on it for about six years on and off and haven’t been back on it all in ten years.
I used to say it was like having a hand in my shoulder supporting me and now I’ve got my own hand there.

thank you for sharing x

did you find it difficult to come off

I took it for 6 months to help me through a breakdown and combined with therapy it was very effective. After 6 months I began tapering down very slowly and was off of it completely within 9 months with very few side effects.

The key with onboarding and tapering down is to go slowly as if you go too fast and have unpleasant side effects you are more likely to give up on it altogether. Good luck OP

I have come off other ssri anti depressants and never had an issue.
The only side effect I have ever had from any ssri was on fluoxetine at a very high dose (60mg) and I started finding I clenched my jaw a lot but this stopped when I reduced to 40mg.

That’s so reassuring to hear, I’ve read so many horror stories I’ve really freaked myself out!

This is what I’m hoping I can do!! Can I ask what dose you were on?

I was on 40mg. Started with 10 and worked my way up over a few weeks. Then when I decided to come off the GP told me to reduce by 10mg every week and then do every other day on 10mg for 2 weeks before stopping but I felt that was too fast so I did it even more slowly than that. I went down by 5mg at a time and would stabilise on that for a couple weeks before dropping again. I had no side effects this way and could ensure my mood wasn’t slipping before moving down again.

That’s great! Are you glad you took it? Or would you say therapy alone would have been as helpful?

I’d been in therapy for 5 months already and it helped a little didn’t really start improving until I added in the medication. Once the medication took effect and I wasn’t so low, the therapy REALLY started working. For me I needed both.

That’s great to hear, I’m hoping it will help me during this icky time

Did it affect your sleep at all?

If it's any consolation, I think more (women) in my wider social circle have been on some sort of SSRI/SRNI, than not. I don't know what that actually says about the medical prescribing of these drugs, however I found one or two of them absolutely lifesaving. They all have a bumpy couple of weeks to start with whereby you can feel 10 x worse - but it's worth sticking with them at least 3/4 weeks if you can and I'm sure you'll then feel the true benefits. Good luck.

I had a few days of mild insomnia when I first started but then I started taking it in the morning instead of the evening and it was fine after that.

I'm on it, best thing ever. Stopped my anxiety, no side effects, I feel normal again.

I'm on the lowest possible dose - 5mg - and I love it. it took a few weeks to kick in but the difference is amazing.

I’m so glad it’s helped you. I’m hoping it will help me too. I keep doubting myself though and wondering if I’m “bad enough” to need it or if I just need to get a grip. My anxiety isn’t bad at all if I stay in familiar situations but if I try and do something I want to do (but it’s unfamiliar) I freak out.

I think you need to try it to see if it makes any difference. I know that you can get used to feeling anxious, you almost forget how it feels - not to worry... You can always stop it if it doesn't agree with you (but remember you need to give it a few weeks to see if it works).

I’m on it - had no side effects so I say go for it

I started off on 10mg and did have side effects for a couple of weeks - felt detached, tired. It soon went. I am now on 20mg and feel as though I have levelled out and had no side effects from the increase. Annoyed with myself for avoiding medication for so long - people seem to big up not going on medication but for me it has meant I am able to go to work, engage in counselling and think a bit less emotionally. I am a tad concerned that my emotions have dampened down so much eg at my last counselling session I didn’t cry once and I don’t feel great joy either (I do have moments of happiness and sadness) but it could be that I am used to years of being emotionally right at the top or right at the bottom so this emotionally levelled out me is taking some time to get used to and I’m not sure how I feel about it but I am going to continue

Also realised my anxiety has reduced massively - in fact can’t remember the last time I had an anxiety/panic attack.

I was on it until recently and found it massively helpful. Please don't be scaredof it.. It's not addictive so if it doesn't suit you you can easily dial down (under doctor supervision) and try another one.