Anyone starting antidepressants in the new year and want to chat / keep me company

[Newyearsparkle]

I'm on my second day of escitalopram..I'm taking it at night 5 mg.
I think I've been very depressed for many years and I'm not convinced this will work.
But hay ho ,give it a go

Just thought I would offer some support and solidarity. I've tried a few (about 5- I had some very odd episodes on Sertraline in particular) and settled on Fluoxetine every other day. Not all antidepressants agree with everyone - your GP can suggest options and even onwards referral for help. You can also ring 111 for their mental health support out of hours if you are struggling today.

I doubt that the 111 crisis line would be much help unless the OP is planning on heading out with some weapons to slay her neighbours this evening.

Really ..I do hope so

Thankyou ,I appreciate your post x

💐There are some positive threads about escitalopram on MN so might help your resolve to read some of them.

I've typed in on the search and only found one which I commented on in the hope people replied..but they didn't

There were quite a few posts on that thread saying that escitalopram has been life changing and/or lifesaving so that’s quite hopeful?

Ok ..I will ave another look thankyou , perhaps I didn't look properly

I don’t want to sound a negative note and I agree ADs can be life changing but before you start, you also need to know how long you should expect to take them and how you will manage coming off them. Make sure your medical practitioner is up to date on the effects of long term AD use and how to manage withdrawal.

I'm on 20mg of escitalopram. I've been on it on and off for a few years. Things are still quite difficult and complex for me but It definitely helps.

How long did it take to work with you

I'd probably say a 10 days -2 weeks to see some benefit and maybe a month for the full benefit, but I have also always been switching from another med so already had some medication in my system. They do make you feel horrible to start with but your body does often get used to them quite quickly and that changes, just have to persevere and remind yourself why you are doing it, although there are a lot of other meds if this one isn't a good fit but you have to get a few weeks in to know.

Thankyou ,I'm still taking them .will try to see it through to at least a month

Sorry for not replying earlier Newyearsparkle! I also have diagnosed ADHD and take an antidepressant and an adhd drug together. Many of my adult friends do the same and it is life changing. For me the biggest change with the addition of the ADHD drugs is that I’m no longer absolutely exhausted all the time.

I started escitalopram in November. From being on citalopram before I was expecting it to be bumpy for a few weeks. It's also really hard if you are coming onto them from being really stressed or anxious.

I started on 5mg for two weeks, then went to 10mg on a Friday to give me time to adjust.

I actually do recall having lots of racing thoughts around then - I went through a period of playing the A-Z game at night to sleep and it really helped. Basically go through alphabet and think of 3 letter words. Then 4 letter words. Don't think I ever got past half way on 4 letter words before I was more calmed and falling asleep.

There was some nausea which went. To be honest my appetite has dropped (I'm still eating the same just not enjoying it as much) but that's okay.

Main thing is my anxiety is under control, no racing thoughts. I think I probably am a little blunted in my emotions but to be honest I'll take that - I still need to sort my exercise and diet routine out and dig myself out of the housework rut, so I'm not out the woods yet.

I also slept more and felt tired at the start.

I also take ADHD meds - to be honest escitalopram is one of the ADs that helps with focus and motivation, and weirdly by taking my ADHD meds and the escitalopram together it was like they cancelled each other out, and I couldn't be arsed to do much NOR did I feel guilty about it 🤣. Not a good combo. I then switched to taking the AD med at bedtime and it was much better, think it was just clashing in the daytime.

I've not got M6 diagnosis yet for ADHD ..been waiting 3 years
Glad you found what works for you

I'm having problems with teeth ,jaw ,face bone pain .
I had sinusitis before Christmas
My teeth are my biggest cause of anxiety and I didn't leave the house for two days this week because I thought I was starting with toothache and now I read this medication can cause pain in teeth and jaw.
Of all the things to cause me an issue, anything to do with teeth is the absolute worst
So I've decided I'm not taking any more

I think I'm just going to stick to propropnal and take it 3 times a day .
It does work,when I remember to take it ,it just wears of quickly
I just can't cope with anything that effects my teeth

It will work !!!! This is my second time on them I was them for 7 years and my god life was good again I then came of them as I thought I could do it without I was off the for a year and yes I had moments in that year but Oct 2025 bang and I’m now back on them 3 weeks in side effects arnt nice but the do pass trust me give it time not days but weeks they can take up to 8 weeks to get the full effect I’d advise after a week or 2 at 5mg to go up to 10mg drink plenty of water cut down caffeine eat before taking them and get some fresh air and rest don’t rush take time for ur self these meds r not an over night fix u may start to feel a difference within 3 week take the good days as a win and the bad as blips the blips become less and so do the side effects u can do this

It's hurting my teeth though
Making me feel I'm starting with a tooth infection or tooth ache

U can take a paracetamol to help with that it won’t last it will pass

It's not been to bad today
Need to decide what I'm going to do as I take it around 6 pm

Did you have the same issue with your teeth ,how long before it stops

It didn't work for me.

I had lots of jaw clenching which made my teeth hurt I took paracetamol to help it did go as do the other side effects