Lexapro - from 5 to 10

[TomRainKing]

I have had 2 pretty major meltdown type attacks since taking the 5 mg's (i'm on day 11 now) where i thought i couldnt breath or was having a heart attack.  I'm not overly tired, or sick to my stomach anymore.  I'm not exactly sure if the meds were totally responsible for the episodes or not.  I'm scheduled to up to 10mg this friday...as i have a 3 day weekend coming up.  I'm wondering about the side effects when moving up.  Will they be less than when i first started the 5mg's as the drug is now in my system?  I see the dr friday before i'm scheduled to up, but wanted to know if anyone can tell me what to expect.  I think my anxiety is def a little worse, and i'm nervous about work tomorrow, but i have "controlled" some episodes since my last major one.  Just today i drove, by myself, about 20 minutes each way to a store.  I panicked the way there, peaking when i actually got there (had my wife's # ready to dial in phone but didnt' call).  But I kinda pushed through...panicked on the way home but controlled it to a point. 

[insights]

All antidepressants can, and often do, increase anxiety levels during the first few weeks. From your description the two attacks were panic attacks which Lexapro may have made worse, but probably didn't directly cause.

It is hard to say whether going up to 10mg will make matters worse. This is very much an individual thing. Hard as it can be to believe, there are some who have no more side-effects from antidepressants than they do from M&Ms. Unfortunately, about the only sure thing is that the side-effects probably won't be less severe. I suspect that they will be about the same, or only a little worse. While it is still early days, your body will have adjusted to some degree after 11 days.

Ian 

[kmwondering]

I'm on day 3 of 5-10. So far, nothing to report good or bad. I'll keep you posted.

[jay8510]

Keep it up!

[MsAnxiety]

I can totally relate your feeling of uneasiness! I've suffered from anxiety and panic attacks for many years. I was recently prescribed Lexapro (day 12 today) and started with 5mg. Racing heart rate tends to wake me up around 4:00am for the last 3 days. Anxiety levels throughout the day have decreased. I'm hoping that all of these side effects are just me breaking in. Anyone else experience a change in heart bpm?

[eyebob]

I personally had a heck of a time bumping up on Lexapro.  I think that I'm having the same problem with Prozac.  I started a small dose of Klonopin yesterday to try to take the edge off of titrating upwards.  I am told that this is a common problem.  I searched all over the net and found lots of people with this same problem.

Good Luck