Anxiety getting worse on Lexapro, Zoloft - Anxiety Message Board

lehara · 03-27-2006, 04:07 PM

Hello,
I need some advice, please.
A few weeks ago I finally decided to give the antidepressants a try, hoping to find relief from my daily panic attacks that will not stop despite a very healthy lifestyle, relaxation and breathing exercises, Bourne book.
I am really upset about the outcome of this trial- first, lexapro (5mg) gave me severe agitation (felt like I'd had 20 cups of coffee) insomnia and an overall extremely uncomfortable feeling so bad that after 2 weeks I just stopped taking it. Went back to the doctor, who recommended Zoloft instead at a very low dose (25 mg). After 3 days on Zoloft I have had it, feel exactly the same as I did on lexapro only 10 times worse. I have read that sometimes you need to wait a few weeks until you see results, but there is no way that I would ever take another Zoloft pill, based on the way I feel right now. My questions are: why are my side effect feelings so severe? Has anyone else had such a severe reaction? What am I supposed to do? I have been taking Ativan with these medications on particularly bad days, that only took the edge of slightly. Thank you. I just feel so alone. Noone I know that is on these medications feels this way.

tmarie · 03-27-2006, 06:21 PM

I was the same way when I tried cymbalta...it was like I had gallons of caffeine. I could only last one week on it. I was on lexapro for 2 years and was just put on zoloft. The lexapro was not doing what I needed it to do. So far so good on the zoloft. Every individual reacts differently to medication but do not give up hope...

MagicSunshine · 03-27-2006, 06:36 PM

I'm just another example of how differently AD's work on people. What works for one, may not work for the other.

Lexapro has worked great for me. I have depression and anxiety. The lexapro worked on both. I had only one side effect. It made me sleepy. Maybe it relaxed me a little too much. lol I'm on 10 mg's and I'm so happy I found it.

I don't think you should take anything that has profound side effects like that med had on you. There are many out there. Maybe your Dr. will try something else that works for you. Lexapro works for me, but if I were you I would never take it again either.

I hope you find the one that works for you soon. Take Care...Connie

jitteryme · 03-27-2006, 06:51 PM

I had a hard time with Lexapro as well. It seems that most people get a bit tired taking it, and for me, I could never go to sleep. Between the anxiety, the insomnia and the burning feeling it gave me, I only lasted 15 days on it. Like you, I have been trying the very healthy lifestyle. I eat well, get plenty of rest and exercise, do the techniques in the Bourne book and still am struggling. This is the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with.

I just keep taking one day at a time and try to maintain an optimistic attitude that things will get better.

Salster14 · 03-27-2006, 07:57 PM

I was put on Lexapro when my mother was in the hospital after a car accident. Within three weeks I was in the hospital with a panic attack. I tried 5 different anti-depressants until I was forced to go on Xanax. It is now the only thing that works for me. I truly believe that anti-depressants can screw you up if your brain cant handle them. I wish I never had gone that route. Now I take a small dose of extended release Xanax everyday for anxiety that I feel was brought on by continued insistance by the doctors that I needed to be on anti-depressants.