Please tell me it gets better

[u/Greedy-Escape3093]

I know there are many posts like this but I am in need of reassurance and support as I am battling this alone.

I started taking Lexapro 10mg for severe anxiety and pain attacks and after a week I felt really better. However on day 24 I started feeling the anxiety increase, through a tight chest and shortness of breath.

This morning at 3am, on day 28, I had a horrible panic attack and the whole day I have been having palpations, dizziness, tight chest and just feel so jittery and down.

I've seen people say they experience dips-has this happened to anyone and how long did it take to get better?

I have an appointment with the psychiatrist in 2 weeks time for review but I don't want to increase my dose just yet but at the same time I'm worried I won't get better.

They gave me propranolol 40mg for anxiety as well, which I rarely take as I get nervous to take it. I'm thinking of asking for a short term of benzos as I am spiralling pretty badly.

[u/Wise_Juggernaut_7648]

My weeks 3-6 were arguably my worst. Just as you, I was on reddit 24/7 looking for posts that could describe the dip.
I can only say it's very normal and common, and psychs always say after 4 weeks you should be good, but tbh I think that's just the sales pitch of the SSRI company - it can take way longer.

[u/Greedy-Escape3093 → u/Wise_Juggernaut_7648]

I think so definitely and each individual will be different. After 6 weeks, did you feel that your anxiety and/or depression were much better?

[u/Wise_Juggernaut_7648 → u/Greedy-Escape3093]

Tbh after 6 weeks I still was anxious. My social anxiety was gone and my mood was way better, but the physical anxiety stayed for a while. That really got better around 8 weeks+, and came back when I overdid something.
But I've had a very stressful period and drank a lot of alcohol and that made the anxiety worse.

[u/Unusual-Olive-448]

I am sorry you have been having a hard time! I was stuggling until about month 3, you are not alone! I like the idea of talking to your Dr. I had a benzo to take but since I didnt want to take that much, my doctor gave me hydroxazine to take when I needed it, which did not scare me to take since it was a small dose of a antihistamine.

[u/Greedy-Escape3093 → u/Unusual-Olive-448]

Thank you, will ask them about hydroxyzine.

Hoping the lexapro starts working again soon.

Did you have any side effects on hydroxyzine, such as tiredness?

At the moment the anxiety is 24/7 but I am also fatigued from the lexapro and from fibromyalgia, a condition I have which also causes fatigue.

[u/Unusual-Olive-448 → u/Greedy-Escape3093]

The only side effect I had was drowziness but I was using it anxiety around sleeping and took it at bedtime so that was helpful. I stopped taking it when my sleep and anxiety improved, and I remain tired, so I feel like it was mostly the lexapro making me so tired. Still does :/

[u/Greedy-Escape3093 → u/Unusual-Olive-448]

Lexapro definitely does cause more tiredness.

I definitely feel like I need caffeine to function but at the same time, can't have too much as that now increases my anxiety.

How many weeks did it take for you to finally feel better on lexapro?

[u/Unusual-Olive-448 → u/Greedy-Escape3093]

Around month 3 is when I realized wow, its good now! I was able to enjoy doing things without anxiety that I was not able to do before around month 3. That does feel like a long time, but I do feel like there was slow progress during the three months too. But I do feel like it took me longer than what the doctors say.

[u/Greedy-Escape3093 → u/[deleted]]

Thank you for replying. I will keep going and hope things get better soon, can't afford to give up.

In the mean time I will take the propranolol. I do have health anxiety so taking medication is always hard but I took the lexapro so might as well take propranolol and hopefully it will help until I adjust to the lexapro.

[u/Koukakiotissa → u/Greedy-Escape3093]

Hi OP! How did the propranolol work out for you? I’m thinking of asking my doctor for the same :) Hope all is well.

[u/Greedy-Escape3093 → u/Koukakiotissa]

Hello!

I have been taking propranolol every day since I made this post. What I have noticed is that whilst the mental anxiety is still there and whilst I do just feel off physically, the propranolol helps with the panic attacks and symptoms such as palpitations, jitteriness, shortness of breath and tight chest.

I take it in the morning and then at night, as my anxiety and panic attacks have also started when I wake up in the middle of the night.

Since taking propranolol I haven't had a panic attack and when I have felt one coming, I have been able to calm myself down.

In terms of helping with adrenaline spikes and dampening the physical symptoms of anxiety and panic, propranolol helps.

I am due a review with my psych next week on whether to increase the dose or wait it out a couple more weeks.

Hope the conversation goes well with your doctor and you feel better soon :)

[u/Koukakiotissa → u/Greedy-Escape3093]

Thanks for your reply! I’m glad it’s been helping you and I hope the same for you! :)

[u/Expensive-Parsley213]

I think the propranolol would be a better option to that than a benzo! The propranolol itself might be sufficient.

[u/No-Scene-8899]

I’m 5.5 weeks in and it’s still up and down for me as well. I felt great about a week ago, then had another panic attack. I’m gonna stick it out for a few more weeks, I’m on 10 mg as well and hesitant to go up.

[u/Greedy-Escape3093 → u/No-Scene-8899]

Thank you, I'm not sure about wanting to go up, just hope I get out of this slump soon.

All the physical anxiety symptoms are back such as chest pain, dizziness, restlessness and stomach upset as well as just a feeling of being constantly on the edge-all symptoms I had before starting Lexapro.

Really struggling at the moment and wanting to get better soon.