Re: Scared.
Originally Posted by
xleax
Hello, ive been med free for a while now.. well 2 years to be exact
What med did you take, and what was the dose?
Anyway been prescribed Escitalopram 10mg and im petrified to start incase im allergic/side effects, cant afford to be out of it with a 1 year old to also look after
Allergies to SSRIs are rare and most people experience only mild side-effects, especially with escitalopram and citalopram which generally produce fewer side-effects than other SSRIs. However, I do suggest you ask your GP to prescribe a 5mg starting dose for the first 7-10 days to limit any side-effects that may occur, or even 2.5mg if that would be easier for you to take. Severe side-effects are very unlikely at such low doses. Escitalopram does not come in 2.5mg tablets, but 5mg tabs can be cut. Pill-cutters available from most pharmacies make cutting tablets easy. It is also available in liquid form, but it is probably easier to cut the tablets.
From personal experience, avoid reading about side-effects as this can itself trigger symptoms. An anxious mind is very capable of producing our worst nightmares if given free reign.
I hate even taking paracetomol but i have run out of ideas to try and help myself..ive tried cbt, meditation, reading, mindfulness programmes and after about a week im back to my worst.. im not coping well at all regarding panic attacks/anxious and then it brings out the depression.
Unfortunately, med phobia is the 'freebie' many of us get along with our primary anxiety disorder. Unfortunately, the only fix is the very thing the phobia makes it hard for us to take.
Any reassurance i guess is what im asking for.
I can't guarantee that you will have a trouble free experience, but there is a good chance you will. For most the disorder is much worse than the treatment.
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The opinions expressed above are based on my observations and, where applicable, interpretation of cited data and are general in nature. Consult your physician before acting on anything stated.