Escitalopram

[Roo1982]

Has anyone tried Escitalopram 5mg for postnatal anxiety? How did you feel in the first week and how long before you noticed it working? Xx

Anyone? Xx

I did, the first week I felt awful - more anxious , nauseous , dizzy , cold sweats etc. luckily I knew this was a normal thing to happen , it is usual for anxiety to get worse at the begging of treatment and side effects are normal at the start too. So I kept in taking it and just kept telling myself I will feel better on repeat. By end of week 2 the initial side effects had dwindled and by week 4 I was starting to feel it was working, by week 8 I was feeling a lot better. I took it for 2 years and then very slowly weaned it down over a few months.
How are you feeling today?

Thank you for replying. I feel awful today. Verrrry anxious. Hopefully that's a sign the medication is working. Did you have to go up to 10mg? Xx

Took 6 full weeks. After 4 weeks I went back to the GP and was all this isn't working. She persuaded me to hold on for another 2 weeks as it takes 6 weeks to be fully effective. She was right. It started working and helped me a lot.

No AD works that quickly. They have to build up.

Just read on a website that if the anti depressants are making you feel worse then you should phone the GP and ask for different ones. That's why I'm worrying. Don't want to keep taking if I keep feeling this low but I know it is only the first week. Xx

I actually started on 10mg but I was very bad , I literally could not function or look after my baby. When I look back at it now I can’t believe I felt that way it’s like I was a different person!
4-6 weeks is the usual time to feel a difference , you are 1 week in now so tell yourself you are on your way to feeling better .
You can always see or speak to your GP if you are worried and need some reassurance. X

Thank you. I've spoken to the GP and he suggested moving up to 10mg by end of week 2. Xx

So I've been taking Escitalopram for the past 3 and a half weeks. Got my appetite back week 2 and week 3 was feeling bit more level. Now this week I have been awful again, anxiety attacks etc. Doctor has given me 20mg dose. Anyone else feel like this? Xx

Sorry you are feeling worse again. If you have increased the dose from 10mg to 20mg you will often get an increase in anxiety - similar to when you first start taking it. This will ease off after a week or so. Hang on in there! X

Hello Roo. When I started it took over 4 months to have an effect, during which time the dose was put up several times. Each time the dose goes up, there is the weird side-effect feeling which does eventually settle down.

I am currently on the max dose, 40mg, and have been on various doses over the years. It's important to have those regular check-ins with your GP until you find the dose/combo that works for you. How often are you going?

Try to hang on in there. Anxiety attacks are horrible aren't they? I just try to tell myself that it's not me, it's my brain, and that it will settle down.

How old is your baby and do you have just the one child?

I've 2: 2 years old nearly 3 and a nearly 4 months old. I only took my first 20mg this morning, the anxiety was all this week. My oldest is going to playgroup in sept and this week was his first time going for open days etc. Theatre made me anxious. He's not due to go to school for another 2 years but I'm worried he won't get into the school we want. I know these are not worries for the here and now but I can't stop thinking about them. Then they spiral to other anxious thoughts. It's a complete nightmare. I though I was on the mend but now I'm so worried . Xx

Sorry not theatre I meant this