r/lexapro

I started Lexapro in January of 2023 and have gained over 50 pounds since then. I have been on a consistent 10 MG, and have only stopped for 3 months during the summer of 2025, but other than that have been very consistent with it. I tapered for about a month from February to March of this year down to 5MG, and within the last two weeks am completely off the medication.

I work out very consistently and eat very well and still have yet to notice any weight loss. Is this normal? When can I expect to start losing some of the weight I’ve gained?

Hiiii I’m on zoloft and i’m doing a research project about it because i’m curious about a couple different things so if anyone would be interested in helping me out that would be super appreciated!!

I've browsed a bit on this subreddit and noticed a lot of people experience side effects like:
Increased appetite, decreased libido, night sweats, tiredness...

Are these worth the journey? Like, What do people feel like on it long term? Has it helped, did you experience these side effects, was it worth it?

Just curious and looking for a reason to switch from trazodone to lexapro

so basically In june developed agorophobia and a fear of the sky after having a panic attack when smoking weed,but after starting 10 lexapro in march my symptoms reduced to 20% when before they were so severe that I couldn't go outside without having a panic attack,I can now go outside without being anxious,and I also notice moments where I laugh and smile where before I was too anxious to,im so thankful for lexapro

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does anyone start to get withdrawals symptoms if they're are taking their tablet by even a couple hours. I start getting the tingling, dizziness and brain zaps. 2 hours after being late. my psychiatrist thinks I am in the 1% that this happens too

I made a post on here a couple days ago about side effects I’ve been having with like tingles and zaps in my tongue and fingers, dizziness, being so extremely weak and just so fatigued. Some other things as well I can’t remember what I typed out but it has made it impossible for me at work because I’m constantly scared I’m going to actually just black out or faint because lifting just 10lb makes me feel like I’m going to fall forward or backwards. My extreme brain fog doesn’t help either because I work in customer service and just forget what I’m talking about or saying mid sentence to customers or my coworkers… I did a video call with my doctor today explaining everything that I believe Lexapro is ruining my body because along with these side effects I’ve had changes in my menstrual cycle that I’ve never had before. He’s recommended me to cut the pills I have left in half’s (they’re 20mg) until they’re gone and go off Lexapro completely for a month to see if my side effects are still persistent. Then he wants me to try Zoloft..

which I am scared about because lexapro was already acting a big jump for me. I’m 20 years old and I’ve been doing therapy since the age of 8 from PTSD and my teenage years I struggled BADLY with social anxiety and depression and finally gave in at 19 years old to medication because I really wanted to be “normal” and not have to be dependent on medication.. not that it’s a bad thing of overall with everyone who takes medication of course but I have a sister who’s tried almost everything and was even on multiple medications at once just to get through the day and that just scares me. Not to be offensive but does that make sense? Anyways I will schedule an in person appointment just a little after a month to follow up if I do want to Proceed with Zoloft or cut off medications completely… I will also be seeing a gynecologist about my menstrual system to see if it is just a hormonal change or new issues or lexapro triggered it..

Does it honestly make a difference if you take it at the same time everyday or not. I was consistent with it for the first few months but 3 years down the line I just take it whenever I remember that day. I don't think it makes a difference for me?

Hi, I been getting off Valium (benzodiazepine)after almost a decade using a proper taper . I keep coming here for answers because no doctor has been able to help and I am doing my own research, can lexapro at 5mg help with restoring my appetite and help me sleep? As of now I am taking trazadone and Seroquel for sleep and only getting 5 hours, I don’t want to add anymore sleep meds and maybe take lexapro during the day.

I posted on here before trying to find answers but nothing. I am also dealing with intrusive thoughts and nightmares while sleeping, some anxiety that gets stuck in my gut and it feels like my gut is going up and down.

I spend thousands and a lot of time on testing and I am negative for everything.

I started Lexapro almost 2 weeks ago and about a week in I developed the constant urge to pee. The first 3 days or so when it started I would wake up multiple times throughout the night. I went to urgent care and my urine came back all good. Right now I am only on 5 mg, and I’m worried that when I go up 10 mg it will get worse. I have reached out to my doctor, but he believes that frequent urination isn’t a side effect of lexapro. I am wondering if others who had the side effect at 5mg then went up to 10 mg if it worsened?

i am currently tapering off, i take 7,5mg. I usually take it anywhere between 12:00-14:30 but today i forgot and its 19:53rn. Should i take it rn or tomorrow? :) Im scared of side effects

I to start this off I did the dumbest thing you could ever do in the midst of a panic attack for the first time in two years I took 100 mg Zoloft two days consecutively after being free of medication for 5 or 10 years. I didn't have any lorazepam and I thought maybe if my anxiety was coming back getting started on my old med made since. I'm learning now you have to build up each time. I shocked my body and immediately stopped the medication causing with draw. I have been in terrible shape for over 2 and half weeks. In therapy and psychiatrist office trying to beat the discontinuation and nothing has let up.

I have had intrusive thoughts mostly suicidal that have been so scary and I never had that even when all I had was anxiety. Also when I took those two pills I got a slew of side effects insomnia high blood pressure heart rate my man part went numb and got ed that last a week still having problems with it.

I made another visit to the psychiatrist today because I think I'm one step away from in patient care but that's not really practical as I have a job and kids.

The psychiatrist prescribed lexapro 5 mg. I have two major concerns how quickly does this minimize intrusive thoughts cause I am barely functional currently. And as far as genital numbness and ed has anyone suffered there. I keep all my hormones in check and everything has always been normal but those two Zoloft pills messed me up so bad so I'm scared to death of another SSRI but I also don't feel like I have a choice because my mental state is that bad right now.

Really just looking for some hope and maybe some experiences if anyone struggled with intrusive thoughts on the darker spectrum

Hi all! I’ve been a silent reader of this thread since I first started Lexapro back in July 2025. To say the least, it changed my life! Even without participating, I’ve found this thread really helpful in working through what I’ve been experiencing :) Long message incoming…sorry in advance!

I wanted to post because I’ve now been on it for about 9 months. I originally started for depression, but I also have anxiety, so it’s helped with that too. The first month was a bit rocky while figuring out the right dose - per my psychiatrist, I moved quickly: 5 mg for 2 weeks, then 10 mg for 2 weeks, and 15 mg for 1 week. I ended up going back down to 10 mg after an experience on 15 mg where I drank and then slept for 15-17 hours. I knew it made my sleep deeper, but that was too much and freaked me out. I also ended up switching psychiatrists because I didn’t think the first was a fit.

In my first meeting with my new psychiatrist, she suggested taking it earlier in the day. I had been taking it at night and it was so difficult to wake up in the morning. She thought it wasn’t making me drowsy, but instead affecting my “sleep architecture,” and I was willing to try anything since it was impacting my sleep so much. She was right - I worked my way up to taking it around 10:30-11am, which helped with daytime drowsiness and made waking up a bit easier. I’ve been doing that for about 3 months now.

The thing is, it’s still affecting my sleep. I need at least 9 hours and still struggle to wake up, often sleeping through multiple alarms. It’s not the worst thing, but I miss being fine on 7-8 hours and getting up easily (which was basically my baseline my whole life). I can’t wake up before 8:30am now, whereas a couple years ago I could work out and shower before a 9am workday no problem.

I’ve thought about introducing Wellbutrin (which a lot of you have said helped), but the idea of adding another medication makes me a bit nervous (probably ingrained from my parents, wish it wasn’t). I’m also considering dropping down to 7.5 mg to see if that helps, but that’s scary too since 10 mg has otherwise been perfect for me. I also haven’t been on as low as 7.5 mg since last July when I was really struggling, so I’m wondering if that’s the move.

Would love to hear if anyone’s experienced something similar and what’s helped!

Hi everyone!

I wanted to post on here to see if I can find people who are also experiencing similar side effects. I started Lexapro back in September 2024 and since then have had night sweats, vivid dreams, and muscle twitching which has never gone away. Honestly, the sweating has gotten worse even before the plan to tapper down.

Since then, I was given the green light to tapper down to 5mg (week 4 so far) with the hopes of decreasing the twitching and night sweats. Twitching has gone down, but the night sweats continue every single night.

I should say that the reason behind taking Lexapro was for generalized anxiety with a particular focus in health anxiety. I truly hope I am not the only one.

I’ve been on a baseline of 20mg lexapro, 300mg Wellbutrin, and then guanfacine for adhd. Dealt with significant “treatment resistant depression” for years, and finally was able to get access to do TMS therapy. The results were amazing, but I’m not allowed to come down on meds for awhile until I’m about 6 months post-treatment.

However— I’ve noticed over the last few months, especially since TMS treatment, that my sexual side effects are way worse than previously. The ability to climax is practically gone, which is defeating. I’m a 34 M with a wife, and we would love to enjoy one another, but in the event that I am able to get a good, solid erection it often means there’s not a chance I will orgasm. Even when motivated and trying, it can often take 45 minutes or longer to maybe have an orgasm.

Any advice? Recommendations? Send help

My doc just increased my dose from 10mg to 15mg. While my days were still rocky before the increase they were stabilizing a little. My mornings were still rough. My doctor just increased me to 15mg to make my mornings easier. However, my middle of the days have now been awful with increased crying and anxiety. Is this normal after a dose increase? I’m so scared.

So, first off I was on lexapro for 3 1/2 years on 10 mg. And I cut cold turkey almost 3 weeks ago (yes I know, dumb idea). But I really do have side effects and do not think it’s healthy long term to be on these type of meds (weight gain, sexual side effects, not feeling myself), so I made the mistake to quit cold turkey. But it’s too late to start tapering now.

I have been a mess especially the past few days. Is it normal even on week 3? I really just need some reassurance and guidance because I can barely function.

And for people to tell me I’m dumb doing it this way or why get off it. I have my reasons and want to try my best to go the natural way. I know things take time but it has been extremely difficult in my relationships and work.

TIA

I took hydroxyzine with my Lexapro because I’ve had trouble sleeping, I took the hydroxyzine first then the Lexapro about 5 min later, now I’m reading all these things about how you shouldn’t take it together and the qt syndrome thing, my heartbeat is feeling kind of weird now and my body feels heavy, chat gpt is saying I should go to the ER now I’m freaking out, I wish I never took both now I’m definitely not going to be able to sleep, please help did I fuck up

Hey everyone. Im 26M and have been ln lexapro for about eight years now. I take 20 mg.

I never had issues with it until January of this year. I had my gallbladder removed due to stones and after the operation I have developed floaters in my vision when Im outside or near bright lights.

I was thinking it was my eyes but when I checked in with my eye doctor they said they were healthy. Im gonna see my doctor again and probably a specialist but I have a hunch it was my lexapro. I wasn’t on it during the surgery as it was at 2 am and it just slipped my mind.

I wasn’t on wondering for those who experience this if anything helps. Would going off of it make it better or worse? Ive been managing it well but I would honestly rather not deal with it anymore.

Any advice would help, thank you!