Re: My experience so far
Hi. Sorry to hear you are still suffering with the meds.
Nausea, Dizzyness, Insomnia and Sleepiness are all listed as common side effects of escitalopram. Dry Mouth is often mentioned with SSRI's in general.
They don't mention vivid dreams BUT many people do list this as an effect. Ofcourse it maybe that in releasing some of our depression/anxiety the medication just allows us to sleep deeper or dream differently. We may have a pent up amount of dream material and that could be why people dream more intensely. Or it may be the changes in brain chemistry by the drug do just make it happen. The important thing is to remember that its just a dream and no matter how vivid it 1. isn't the truth, 2. isn't a hint about real life and 3. cannot hurt you unless you believe (1) or (2).
It may even be that we normally dream like this BUT the SSRI alters our ability to remember the dream on waking. So we remember more detail and intensity for longer. Whatever the cause it should improve with time. If you are not someone who "normally dreams" or rather not someone who "normally remembers their dreams" then I think this could all be quite intense, weird and a bit of a shock.
It generally seems quite common for SSRIs to cause (initial) increases in your anxiety and for some people this can get a bit dodgy as they get LOADS of extra anxiety. I guess this is because their seratonin cycle is taking a massive beating and the levels are all over the place. In theory this should stabilise after 4-6 weeks. SSRIs are also linked with confusion and a sense of unreality - which may be what you are describing in saying you feel spaced out.
As I said in another post I was already suffering from sleepiness in the day but insomnia at other times and so did not notice much affect in that area. I had a lot of headaches also although I do remember them seeming worse in the first few weeks of the meds.
I still recommend taking the meds after food and having a snack at bedtime so your blood sugar is not too low in the morning.
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Kevin, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, UK
Probably GAD & Phobias. Anxiety and renewed Depression medicated (Venlafaxine). Trying to improve.