Escitalopram and me: longterm anxious insomniac

[mbclubph]

Ive taken lexapro for almost 2 years starting 2014 im on 10mg daily. After taking it for 2 years straight i decided to stop it gradually. For the years 2016 and 2017 i was off lexapro and back to my real self. But come early 2018 anxiety and panic is back due to flu and throat symptoms.

Now im back taking lexapro for a little over a month.

[NervousKel]

Mbclubph, sorry to hear you had a relapse after going off the meds. That's great though that you were able to go med free for two years!

Are you finding the Lexapro working for you just as well this time around?

[Sleepy]

Hello Nervouskel,

I've been on the escitalopram now for 7 weeks at 10mgs. My sleeping has settled down now and I get 7-8 hours waking once, but I am still on my 7.5mg of Zopiclone.

For the last few weeks though I've been feeling unwell with swollen glands, ear pain and fullness and generally feeling unwell. Going back to see ENT this week, but worried my body could be reacting to the SSRI.

[NervousKel]

Sleepy, hopefully the ear pain, swollen glands, and feeling unwell is due to something else, since it seems like otherwise the escitalpram is working really well for you :-).

I just started my first dose of it this morning; 5 mg. for 6 days and then up to 10 mg. Should be interesting;-).

[Sleepy]

Well, several weeks on and still have the ear/gland problems. Investigations ongoing.

I have found that anxiety is breaking through again so today I have gone up to 15mg escitalopram. Hoping that the nausea won't come back hard.

[NervousKel]

Good luck, Sleepy!

Let us know how it goes moving up to the 15 mg.

[Sleepy]

Third day today on 15mg. I had trouble getting to sleep the first night, but dozed off after about an hour and a half.

Yesterday I had quite bad anxiety.

This morning I woke up at 6 and felt super anxious. I dozed off at about 8 and woke at 10 with a jolt and in a blind panic after a horrible stressful dream.

I so hope this is going to be short-lived. No nausea yet

[NervousKel]

At least the first three days are over :-)!!

[Sleepy]

Too true, NervousKel!

I took half a lorazepam and it's calmed me down a bit.

[Sleepy]

11 days on 15mg now and I feel much better in myself. Had tests for ear pain/fullness, sinus fullness and general malaise. All clear. Now I am aware that I am clenching my jaw. Have I been doing this all along and that has been causing my symptoms? I've read that it can be a side-effect.

I've also been feeling quite wired and restless, but SO much happier. Hoping these effects will fade. I really want to stay on this drug!