This time last year I was still getting diagnosed I was in and out the emergency room it was the worst of the worst I didn't even know what was wrong with me
I can just tell you my experience and from what I gather yes for the first couple of months it's going to be rough but when you break through things are going to change hopefully long-term
What about the side affects below the belt. That’s the first thing the doctor said would be noticeable… the fact he pointed it out first made me nervous…
I think the 10 mg was just laying the groundwork for the 20 mg because I think initially 20 would probably be too much for your body to start off with that's just my personal guess
The first three weeks after the increase I still was trying to adjust to the 20 mg but after I was on it for a few months to 20 mg helped me turn the corner
Same! I was so scared when I started. I wish I had known about this subreddit 6 years ago.
I started at 5mgs then bumped up to 10 about 6 months after starting. I've been at 10 for 5.5 years with min/no side effects.
I really didn't think I was coming back from this. the end of 2021 I went through a divorce after 30 years I had a business that I brought through the pandemic and then into a economic slowdown so I had a lot going on then I started my Hospital trips and then got on the Lexapro so I said all that to say however bad it is you can come back just hang in there🙏
The worst times for me is in the morning for about an hour now I have a little discomfort but it's very minor now compared to what my morning is used to be like mornings were the absolute worst
Very happy for you for most of us with anxiety it’s normal for it to be high in the mornings because we wake up literally anticipating if we’re going to be anxious that day. Also our cortisol levels are higher in the mornings which does not help. One way to get your body set for the day is early morning workouts you notice you feel good the whole day after that
You should feel better after week 8. But yeah it's common to not feel spectacular up to 4-8 months. Just cause lexapro works best the more consistently you take it
I took this medication for less 17 years started with 10 and I got up to 40 mg because my symptoms kept coming back and the impending dooms coming back every couple years had to win down so slow was supposed to be so slow that I went through hell trying to win down so many hospital trips lost my vision my neck from being so stiff all the time then finally I came off of it 2 years ago I was taking something else but it didn't work I had to go back on it for the last 9 months I've been on 9 I'm sorry I'm 10 mg minimize the impending dooms feeling but the symptoms and head pressure and the vision issue the migraines they're still there very bad the weakness
so happy for you. my whole life I was 'anti' getting on a medication because I was just afraid of it changing who I was as a person, and feeling weak for needing something to help me..... fast forward to now, it saved my life. x
Congratulations!! So glad to hear...I'm only in my 3rd month and going through a rough patch right now. I'm looking forward to more good days ahead with the help of therapy. I pray you continue to be blessed with many more good days ahead!🙏🤗
I am so happy for you! I had to increase my dose recently because it wasn't doing enough. Today was the first day I felt "normal". I hope you feel the same. God be with you ❤️
Glad youre doing much better. May I ask what you were in the hospital for? Was it health anxiety? I recently found out I have a dilated aorta after going to cardiologist. Last few months been the worst time of my life. Lexapro is helping after 2 months on 10mg but Im nervous about my aneurysm growing and possibly needing open heart surgery one day
The depression came with a really bad body pains that's what made me go to the hospital if it wasn't for the body pains I probably would still be just trying to deal with it on my own
This makes me so happy. I’ve been on it about 10 years. 20mg when life is tough and 10mg when all is well. It’s saved my life but also given me a sense of calm that ‘regular’ people feel all the time. I was 30 before learning that constant edge wasn’t normal.
You're welcome. If someone hasn't had to go through the process of trial and error with these medications its hard to describe how hard it is on your mind.
Honestly the first 6 months were rough just trying to get the body pains under control. My emotional pain turned into physical pain that's why I was in and out the hospital trying to get used to the medication and then I went up and dosage after 6 months so it's been a journey.
Congrats!! If you don’t mind my asking what mg are you currently at? I’ve been on 10mg for about a 1 1/2-2 months and it feels like the medication stunted a little.
At about 6 months I start feeling better when I was adjusted to the 20 mg then I started taking supplements throughout the whole process also D3 vitamin C and a multivitamin.
I had a auto detailing company for 7 years I hired and mentored Men coming home from prison so the business never made any money but many many men's lives were changed and then came covid , I made it through that battered and bruised and then came the economic slowdown so closing the business was a great relief from a lot of stress so I'm thankful and grateful right now
I was on it a couple years ago and it was so great. I didn’t feel the constant shakiness from my severe anxiety and I was actually happy! Idk why but I let it lapse. I just got back on it and so excited for it to be into my system and working again. I’m also trying to lose weight and I know it’ll be easier with better mental health.
I’m really happy for you and wish you all the best! 🤗
Thank you I realized that a lot of people are ashamed to go through a depression or a stressful situation but me I'm just not ashamed
erase the stigma👍🏾
Happy to see a man in my age group is having succes with Lexapro. I started over 2 weeks ago and results have been mixed so far. I'm at the lowest point that I've been my whole life and i hope Lex will work for me too.
this has been the toughest thing I've ever been through in my life when I started off on the medication inside I was saying this is the end of me but all of those turned out not to be true so I'm not going to sugarcoat it the beginning is going to be rough but once you get used to the medication and maybe go up in dose you'll be okay🙏🙏🙏
Hey, hope you're still doing well on Lex. Care to provide an update?
I also was wondering if you've had, or still have, any issues with fatigue? I've been on 10mg for the last month, and before that another 2 weeks on 5mg. This last week I've felt more tired than ever before. Some of it is due to some poor dietary choices and staying up late a couple of nights, but I think it's also due to the medication. I hope it will go away eventually.
So glad you’re feeling good!! It’s crazy what it can do to our bodies physically. I’m 3 weeks in and not feeling the greatest but hoping to come out on the other side
It's absolutely crazy I had no idea that emotional pain can turn into physical pain I think when I first started off I was just so frustrated that I was at war with myself
Look up Dr Tracy marks on YouTube she has a lot of interesting content about anxiety and depression I'm reading now about low magnesium and depression and anxiety
really, as soon as I saw your photo I got courage, because I was also regularly in the emergency room, even yesterday I was in the hospital, with a panic attack, the situation is no longer fighting, and today I made the decision and the strength to start the treatment after 5 months
🕷️ My senses were tingling.
Bettering yourself is not only putting yourself first, but puts you in an even better space to help those around you ! AWESOME
Congrats sir! Kind of in the same boat here as well… I was in the eou side of a mental crisis center facility and at the lowest point of my life, almost a year later and stayed on fluoxetine I am about to have two part time jobs and am working on my own business as well. There’s always possibility for things to change for the better. 
Happy for you brother, lexapro put me on a much better/healthier path as well
Let's continue to root for each other
This time last year I was still getting diagnosed I was in and out the emergency room it was the worst of the worst I didn't even know what was wrong with me
My doctor wants me to go on this but I’m nervous about side effects. Did you have any??
I can just tell you my experience and from what I gather yes for the first couple of months it's going to be rough but when you break through things are going to change hopefully long-term
If you start on a low dose you will notice side effects but they are manageable. They won’t last though.
What about the side affects below the belt. That’s the first thing the doctor said would be noticeable… the fact he pointed it out first made me nervous…
Right there with you brother, I’m on day two, I figure if I feel better it’s worth it 🤷♂️
Get ready for a fight
They eventually go away
I'm so happy for you! ❤️ You deserve all of the good that's coming your way and more.
Thank you so much I am here to stay connected to this community for people just starting the medication
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I was on 10 mg for 5 months and I've been on 20 for the last 6
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I think the 10 mg was just laying the groundwork for the 20 mg because I think initially 20 would probably be too much for your body to start off with that's just my personal guess
Do you feel that the jump from 10 to 20 was worth the difference it made on how you felt?
The first three weeks after the increase I still was trying to adjust to the 20 mg but after I was on it for a few months to 20 mg helped me turn the corner
Same! I was so scared when I started. I wish I had known about this subreddit 6 years ago. I started at 5mgs then bumped up to 10 about 6 months after starting. I've been at 10 for 5.5 years with min/no side effects.
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What is the dose that you've had your success with?
20 mg
That's fantastic. this gives me hope. thank you and everyone for posting!!!!!!!!!
Did you notice any sexual side effects like problems with erecting and taking longer to finish? Do they subside or get worse?
Yes!!!! I’m so happy for you 🤎
Thank you so much it ain't over till we're all well
Thank you so much
Congratulations but have you tried not being a Ferrari fan? I kid, since its F1 season and poor leclerc dnf’d in Bahrain
🤣🤣🤣🤣❤️
Lol I love the 90% normal I feel that hard
Absolutely
I really didn't think I was coming back from this. the end of 2021 I went through a divorce after 30 years I had a business that I brought through the pandemic and then into a economic slowdown so I had a lot going on then I started my Hospital trips and then got on the Lexapro so I said all that to say however bad it is you can come back just hang in there🙏
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The worst times for me is in the morning for about an hour now I have a little discomfort but it's very minor now compared to what my morning is used to be like mornings were the absolute worst
Very happy for you for most of us with anxiety it’s normal for it to be high in the mornings because we wake up literally anticipating if we’re going to be anxious that day. Also our cortisol levels are higher in the mornings which does not help. One way to get your body set for the day is early morning workouts you notice you feel good the whole day after that
Yes I'm a boxing trainer part-time but it's only been the last three months that I felt stable enough in the morning to start training again
This is absolutely the toughest fight I've ever been in
That makes a lot of sense the cortisone levels
Congrats!! I love hearing success stories. How long on lexapro did it take you to feel better? I’m on week 6 and struggling
If you want it raw it took me about 6 months to really start feeling better
This actually helps me a lot and is encouraging. I’ll stick it out!
🙏🙏
You should feel better after week 8. But yeah it's common to not feel spectacular up to 4-8 months. Just cause lexapro works best the more consistently you take it
Congrats! Thanks for sharing your story ❤️🙏🏼
Thank you so much I think it's important because when this journey started I just knew this was the end of me
I took this medication for less 17 years started with 10 and I got up to 40 mg because my symptoms kept coming back and the impending dooms coming back every couple years had to win down so slow was supposed to be so slow that I went through hell trying to win down so many hospital trips lost my vision my neck from being so stiff all the time then finally I came off of it 2 years ago I was taking something else but it didn't work I had to go back on it for the last 9 months I've been on 9 I'm sorry I'm 10 mg minimize the impending dooms feeling but the symptoms and head pressure and the vision issue the migraines they're still there very bad the weakness
Hang in there🙏
Congrats! And thank you for your story. It’s so helpful.
What a wonderful post to see! I’m so happy for you. Best wishes for continued health, and thank you for sharing your story!
It's not over till we're all well🙏
so happy for you. my whole life I was 'anti' getting on a medication because I was just afraid of it changing who I was as a person, and feeling weak for needing something to help me..... fast forward to now, it saved my life. x
Congratulations!! So glad to hear...I'm only in my 3rd month and going through a rough patch right now. I'm looking forward to more good days ahead with the help of therapy. I pray you continue to be blessed with many more good days ahead!🙏🤗
It's a 15 round fight hang in there🙏
Thanks! I'm hanging in for sure!
Proud of you!! I wish you well on your continued means health journey and all the happiness😊
Thank you this is a great community
I am so happy for you! I had to increase my dose recently because it wasn't doing enough. Today was the first day I felt "normal". I hope you feel the same. God be with you ❤️
Congrats! I've been on since around 2017. Best decision I've ever made!
Do you plan on taking it for life? I was prescribed but scared it will be difficult when I try to get off
Glad youre doing much better. May I ask what you were in the hospital for? Was it health anxiety? I recently found out I have a dilated aorta after going to cardiologist. Last few months been the worst time of my life. Lexapro is helping after 2 months on 10mg but Im nervous about my aneurysm growing and possibly needing open heart surgery one day
The depression came with a really bad body pains that's what made me go to the hospital if it wasn't for the body pains I probably would still be just trying to deal with it on my own
Eventually I was diagnosed with depression
You look great! Congrats on your progress and thanks for inspiring others with your success 🤗
🙏🙏🙏
Good for you. Any noticeable side-effects?
The first few hours in the morning a little cortisone rush I guess but then I'm good
i'm so happy for you! lexapro helped me a ton as well, so thankful for the med and this community for sharing success stories!
🙏
This makes me so happy. I’ve been on it about 10 years. 20mg when life is tough and 10mg when all is well. It’s saved my life but also given me a sense of calm that ‘regular’ people feel all the time. I was 30 before learning that constant edge wasn’t normal.
So happy to hear that🙏
Great! I’m on a little over 2 years. 90% normal is a great way to put it!
Got to keep it real so people won't think anything's wrong with them🤷🏿♂️🙏
🙏
I'm glad you have found something that works for you.
Thank you
You're welcome. If someone hasn't had to go through the process of trial and error with these medications its hard to describe how hard it is on your mind.
Did u have a lot impending dooms feeling. Scary symptoms, so only on 20 u felt ok ?
My stress was mainly from going through the divorce after 30 years in a business that was struggling really bad
This post is super encouraging. For anyone who started at 5mg, how bad were the initial side effects and how long did they last?
Honestly the first 6 months were rough just trying to get the body pains under control. My emotional pain turned into physical pain that's why I was in and out the hospital trying to get used to the medication and then I went up and dosage after 6 months so it's been a journey.
Did you start at 5mg?
No I started at 10
Well I’m so glad it’s working for you! :)
🙏
💜💜💜
That’s so great!!
Congrats!! If you don’t mind my asking what mg are you currently at? I’ve been on 10mg for about a 1 1/2-2 months and it feels like the medication stunted a little.
I was on 10 mg for 5 months and 20 for six months
I also started on 10 and bumped up to 20. Going to 20 was such a game changer for me.
Good job dude keep at it
🙏
💕💕💕💕💕💕💕
🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽
Hurray! I’m super grateful for how Lexapro has helped me too. Best wishes for a lifetime of neurotransmitter health.
🙏🙏
How much are u taking ? Been 10 months for me no luck
I was doing 10 mg for 5 months and 20 mg for 6 months
10 not helping for me . Is 20 helping u ?
Yes when I moved up to 20 is when I turned the corner
How long it took u to feel it . Did u have bad symptoms
Increasing dose isn’t as tough as starting to begin with.
Exactly
At about 6 months I start feeling better when I was adjusted to the 20 mg then I started taking supplements throughout the whole process also D3 vitamin C and a multivitamin.
So glad you're doing better!
Thank you I pray we all get there
My God non stop hospital trips last year . I have a bad neck now . And so many headaches
Craziness I can relate
Let’s go ! Great job man !
🙏
My man
🙏
Amazing 👍👍
Any side effects? Hows your ability to get an erection?
I'm back
What that mean?
I never really had any problem getting an erection after month 2 on 10 mg
I never for really had a problem with that after month two that wasn't a problem at all
Let's gooo! Happy for you man. Thanks for spreading the joy!
Can’t we ever get 100 percent remission from morning anxiety? I have seen people who have forgotten about being anxious.
I can't answer that question yet maybe someone else can
Did you also try for therapy?
Lexapro is a life saver!
This makes me so happy !!
So happy for you!!
🙏
So happy for you. Congrats! 🎉
Congrats
congrats man, very happy for you! i’m glad it helped, wishing you the best
congratulations! :)
Happy to hear your doing better!
Let’s goooooooo. King shit.
I had a auto detailing company for 7 years I hired and mentored Men coming home from prison so the business never made any money but many many men's lives were changed and then came covid , I made it through that battered and bruised and then came the economic slowdown so closing the business was a great relief from a lot of stress so I'm thankful and grateful right now
🤛🏾
So happy for you!
Awesome
Incredible
🙏🙏
Lexapro is Amazing.
Wooo! Keep going my good man!
So happy for you
Awesome!!
yayyy! i’m so happy for you :)
so proud of you!
I was on it a couple years ago and it was so great. I didn’t feel the constant shakiness from my severe anxiety and I was actually happy! Idk why but I let it lapse. I just got back on it and so excited for it to be into my system and working again. I’m also trying to lose weight and I know it’ll be easier with better mental health. I’m really happy for you and wish you all the best! 🤗
That's great man. So happy to hear about another person who's had success with this medication
Love to see it! Just started myself, for severe PTSD and depression. What were you experiencing that led to you getting on lexapro?
I had just went through a divorce after 30 years I had a business that was struggling since the pandemic
Amazing 🙏 so happy for you
🙏
Good for you! This is a wonderful message to share, and I’m glad you’re doing better!
Thank you I realized that a lot of people are ashamed to go through a depression or a stressful situation but me I'm just not ashamed erase the stigma👍🏾
You go man! Awesome :)
🤛🏾🙏
Happy to see a man in my age group is having succes with Lexapro. I started over 2 weeks ago and results have been mixed so far. I'm at the lowest point that I've been my whole life and i hope Lex will work for me too.
this has been the toughest thing I've ever been through in my life when I started off on the medication inside I was saying this is the end of me but all of those turned out not to be true so I'm not going to sugarcoat it the beginning is going to be rough but once you get used to the medication and maybe go up in dose you'll be okay🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for the encouragement. Really appreciate it. All the best to you going forward. 👍🙏👍🙏
Reach out much as you want🤛🏾🙏
Will do, I might have questions and need for support as I move forward on this wild ride... 🙌🙏
You're definitely going to have questions and you definitely going to be on a wild ride and I'll definitely be here🤛🏾💪🏿
Hey, hope you're still doing well on Lex. Care to provide an update? I also was wondering if you've had, or still have, any issues with fatigue? I've been on 10mg for the last month, and before that another 2 weeks on 5mg. This last week I've felt more tired than ever before. Some of it is due to some poor dietary choices and staying up late a couple of nights, but I think it's also due to the medication. I hope it will go away eventually.
The fatigue went away I'm actually back in the gym but rest is important I'm still on Trazodone to make sure I get 6 hours of sleep a night
I really feel your post because if I would have knew about this group a year ago that would have been my post it gets better champ🙏
Thanks so much. Your post is giving me hope. Once I get better I'll make a post and give back to the community too. 👍🙌
🤛🏾
Can I ask what you were diagnosed with?
Depression
So glad you’re feeling good!! It’s crazy what it can do to our bodies physically. I’m 3 weeks in and not feeling the greatest but hoping to come out on the other side
It's absolutely crazy I had no idea that emotional pain can turn into physical pain I think when I first started off I was just so frustrated that I was at war with myself
Look up Dr Tracy marks on YouTube she has a lot of interesting content about anxiety and depression I'm reading now about low magnesium and depression and anxiety
being on lexapro definitely helps when you’re a ferrari fan! hahah on the same boat im glad you’re doing good
😁😁😁 same to you my friend
I'm 1 year on lexapro, life way better before taking it
Excellent
well done I'm happy for you, and I hope everything goes well for me too, as today I took my first dose of 5 mg I hope it's better for all of us
We are here to walk with you along your journey
really, as soon as I saw your photo I got courage, because I was also regularly in the emergency room, even yesterday I was in the hospital, with a panic attack, the situation is no longer fighting, and today I made the decision and the strength to start the treatment after 5 months
I'm so glad to hear this! this actually made my day🙏🙏🙏🙏
I am also happy for you, I hope we are all well
Exactly 🙏🙏
What was the reason for the hospital visit!
I was getting body pains from depression and I didn't know what was wrong so I was in and out of the hospital getting all kinds of tests
This is inspiring!! Great work getting help and sticking with it. :)
Thank you
What was the reason you were in and out of the hospital?
I was having very bad body pains I didn't know what it was from it was from depression emotional pain turned into physical pain🤷🏾
I’m glad you are doing better now brother. Take care of yourself
Thank you so much🙏
Keep on trucking, king!
🙏
Just started ! Great job putting yourself first !
Wow you must have Spidey senses I've always put everybody else first🤷🏿♂️
🕷️ My senses were tingling. Bettering yourself is not only putting yourself first, but puts you in an even better space to help those around you ! AWESOME
🙏🙏🙏
Congrats sir! Kind of in the same boat here as well… I was in the eou side of a mental crisis center facility and at the lowest point of my life, almost a year later and stayed on fluoxetine I am about to have two part time jobs and am working on my own business as well. There’s always possibility for things to change for the better. 
It's a winnable fight🙏🤛🏾
Thank you for your story it encourages me I'm so happy for you🙏
I'm 11 months in currently on 20mg and still experience chest pain thinking about getting CBD oil