Re: please help!
If its at all reassuring 10mg per day is a pretty normal dose, and it can go as high as 20mg per day. There are arguments about whether 20mg is better/stronger but certainly 10mg is the normal theraputic dose. 5mg is usually just an initial dose unless the patient has been higher and is now reducing. See this document section 4.2
The document also confirms that it takes 2 to 4 weeks for the medication/benefit to stabilise.
I found that Esc' mainly controlled depression and only took the worse off my anxiety. But I had severe GAD (largely undiagnosed) with some phobias but not panic attacks only attacks of stress & panic.
I have some understanding of how you felt as I've been around people going back for a fuller breast scan. I think this is scarier than it should be since you get a callback if there is any anomaly on the initial screening as its not complete enough to tell what they are seeing. Also my father died last november during a period when I thought I was beginning to make progress. So life really can throw stuff at us.
PS: many of my other posts are about Esc' or my experience of it. So search for it or my posts and there is a fair bit to read.
Last edited by alias_kev; 07-04-09 at 22:33.
Reason: added postscript
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Kevin, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK
Probably GAD & Phobias. Anxiety and renewed Depression medicated (Venlafaxine). Trying to improve.