What can I take instead of Escitalopram? Advice needed.

[Sleepy]

I’ve been on Escitalopram for over 4 months. It’s helped with anxiety, but is too activating for me and the side-effects are intolerable.

Its gifts to me have been:-

Insomnia
Hyperactivity, feeling manic
Jaw-clenching
Sinus problems
Ear pain and pressure
Hot flushes
Constant yawning
Raging appetite
Interaction with alcohol, so had to give it up
Twitching
Chills
Shallow breathing
Wooziness
Nausea
Headaches
Leg weakness

Transitioning from Trimipramine, I had appalling anxiety and panic attacks. I need to take something.

Took paroxetine for 6 years. Put on 56 pounds in first year, couldn’t lose it. Trimipramine was great, but I slept half my life away, couldn’t lose weight, had severely dry mouth and eyes and palpitations that worsened the longer I was on it (10 years).

Mirtazapine made me feel awful and is weight gaining.

From what I have read, all SSRIs are activating except for paroxetine. I’m thinking they’ll make me as hyper as Escitalopram.

What else is open to me.? I’ve lost 9 months of my life since coming off Trimipramine. I’m a permanent invalid, holding back my family and not being able to live my life.

My psychiatrist has proposed Sertraline or Fluoxetine, but I can’t see how they would suit me any better than Escitalopram

Please offer experience, insights, advice. I feel like I’ve come up against a wall.

[Benjammin69]

Sounds to me like you don’t get along with SSRI but you do TCA, why don’t you try another TCA? Anafranil?


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[Sleepy]

Thank you for your reply, Ben.

I tried Amitriptyline and had a bad reaction. Trimipramine was having a scary effect on my heart rhythms, and I’d be worried about taking a TCA long-term.

I’m still battling with escitalopram on 12.5mg, wondering whether to drop to 10. I really don’t want the anxiety back, but I feel ill all the time from the side-effects.

I had wondered about Trazodone?

[Benjammin69]

Thank you for your reply, Ben.



I tried Amitriptyline and had a bad reaction. Trimipramine was having a scary effect on my heart rhythms, and I’d be worried about taking a TCA long-term.



I’m still battling with escitalopram on 12.5mg, wondering whether to drop to 10. I really don’t want the anxiety back, but I feel ill all the time from the side-effects.



I had wondered about Trazodone?



What about an antidepressant booster like buspirone or an antipsychotic? All these med stops and starts won’t be doing well. Augmentation may work for you?


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