Just started Escitalopram, lowest dose. What to expect the coming 1-2 weeks?

[MozzarElla84]

Looking for experiences, hopefully positive ones, of starting escitalopram. I started on 2,5mg today and will go to 5mg in a week. Depending on how that feels I will either go up to 10 or stay on 5 for a while.
I am sensitive to most meds and have health anxiety so it's going to be a challenge dealing with side effects! (Maybe something to do with low BMI, which seems to mean that sometimes I can get away with "pediatric doses" of certain meds..)
Have also been prescribed a benzodiazepine to help if side effects get too bad, but rather not take these (the whole point of starting the SSRI is because I started to become more "dependent" (without actually being addicted) to benzodiazepines (for example needing them every week instead of every 6 months or so, as i had in the past)

I do know it can take up to 6-8 weeks to really feel the positive effects so I really want to give them a fair chance.

I intentionally don't Google all possible side effects as this would probably make things worse (although i let my DH read up on it so that i can ask him what is normal according to the information) and will have weekly contact with the prescribing psychiatrist.

Still, any words of encouragement/wisdom are very welcome.

Can’t offer any help as just been prescribed it too, but advised to start it after our holiday which is in 10 days time. I’m starting on 5s and titrating up as well. They did this for my DD. We are both AuDHD and apparently slow titration, while frustrating, is supposed to minimise side effects and allow you to stop and switch more easily at the first sign of a negative response.

My DD reported feeling a bit nauseous and having headaches - but she had also read that in the bumpf and is highly suggestible and negative +++.

Hoping someone can comment more helpfully!

Thank you for sharing anyway! I am also possibly audhd (son diagnosed a few years ago, many shared traits but havent got around to get diagnosed myself yet- not sure if i really need to if the escitalopram does its thing🤞)

I started on 10mg, had no side effects and felt positive mood lifting benefits within a couple of weeks.

That is great to hear!

🙂 I remember being so nervous before I started so am happy to reassure you and whoever else needs to hear it! I know it’s different for everyone but I’ve loved the support the meds bring. They have helped enormously with anxiety and low mood.

That's so nice of you and I hope I can say the same thing soon. It took me a decade (was prescribed an SSRi for PPD and anxiety but declined them, but the constant worry -although far less frequent- has never really left my life. You can only do so much (therapy, lifestyle choices) and done them all but am still a raw nerve most of the time.

I recently saw such a beautiful quote "children don't need a perfect mother;they need a mother who is alive in her own life"
So here I am ... Hoping I can report me being alive in my own life in a few months 😉🤞🤞

Can I ask you how your periods were on escitalopram? Mine seems to be a lot heavier (but also perimenopause so could be coincidence). I know that ssri's sometimes have this as a side effect as it does sometimes to your platelets. I really hope this is just a start up issue because i already have menorraghia to begin with 🫣 (need to do something about that too i guess..)

How are you getting on @MozzarElla84?

I’m just about start escitalopram and am the same as you- very sensitive to medication- so I’d love to hear how things are going for you.

You will likely get some heightened anxiety for a few days to a week. But that will subside fairly swiftly so bear with it and do take the diazepam if you need it.

I’ve taken sertraline three times in my life and it’s been the same each time. By about end of week two it’s like a switch goes off and anxiety tapers away.

You’ll be fine

Never noticed any difference whatsoever. But perimenopause did a number on them!

I started escitalopram a couple of months ago. Initially a 5mg dose then increased to 10mg as 5mg was helping but I was still feeling anxious. It’s helped my mood a lot and I feel much more on an even keel, happier and sleeping better.

Side effects I did feel a bit dizzy / unbalanced for a few days at first and avoided driving. But then was back to driving quickly after that. I have put on weight but hard to say if that’s a direct side effect or if I’m happier so eating more.

It’s overall been very positive for me.

I have taken citalopram before and that also worked well for me. I understand doses for escitalopram are usually about half of citalopram doses.

Edit: I am menopausal so no periods anyway.

I'm not sure to be honest, but that heavy periods also really did a number on me. I feel like the escitalopram amplified the issues i normally have on my period but hopefully that is just a part of the adjustment 🤞.

The only weird side effect (Besides the normal slight drowsiness) is it sometimes feels like my brain vibrates and i get random episodes of goosebumps on just one leg!!? 😆🫣. For some reasons meds always give me the rare side effects so I hope they go away by themselves 🤞 Will most likely not be able to to higher then 5mg due to this sensitivity, but who knows it might be enough

That is good to hear!

I really hope this will be the case for me too 🤞

So, unfortunately I already have to come off the escitalopram. I am so extremely sensitive that the lowest dose imaginable causes/ exacerbates underlying health issues that I already have and that I need to get investigated further first. And maybe then I can start again, but I have to figure out a way to deal with my anxiety issues without medication for now...

But don't let that put you off! I have a rather complicated health history with extremely rare things, so i am not a good representation! 😊

Am curious how you will go on the meds so update here if you'd like!

What other health issues are these?

I was born extremely premature with a rare form of Bartter syndrome. Issues I am struggling with are possibly related to difficulty in keeping my electorlytes balanced and autonomic nervous system problems that stem from mild brain injury/underdeveloped brain regions. Am waiting for neuro referral and other testing. Have had most issues my whole life but some seem exacerbated by perimenopause and iron deficiency.

As for the effect of escitalopram; i had side effects that we werent sure were normal side effects or minor focal seizures. So I am coming off them now but might start them again if I have these other things sorted.
The effect on platelets is really unfortunate for me as i have menorraghia and used to somewhat control them with ibuprofen, but i couldnt take these with the escitalopram. Was on the mini pill for this but it kept me bleeding for months on end so am now looking into other options.
It's very annoying!

Hope you can find some relief soon op

Have you started the escitalopram and how is it going? Hope it works for you!

How are you doing on escitalopram? Hope it works well for you!

I haven’t started yet 😣 Too scared

I understand this! But have you tried building very slowly ? The way I did it is also very easy to quit if the side effects are bad. I really think that my experience is not a good representation to go by. I am happy I tried them and might try them again if the other things I am dealing with are better controlled.

I have 5mg tablets but also a pill cutter. How slow did you start?

2,5 mg, for about 10 days i think and then i had to taper off with 1,25 (so a quarter tablet) for 4 days. Doctor said that normally he would let people just quit after such a low dose for such a short time, but bc i am so sensitive to meds this was the best way for me and I am off them now without problems. My experience wasn't necessarily bad on them, like I said before it was not really the meds but my sensitive reaction to them iyswim. So just give them a go, chances are you will do great on them!

Like some other posters said you can feel heightened anxiety the first 1-2 weeks, i also did (every mornin, probably because thats when they stopped working and it was time for a new dose) but because you know this is normal and part of the start up, it's really doable. I would have happily continued if the anxiety, fatigue and slight dizziness were the only issues!

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experiences - it is reassuring! I think I will start at the weekend…