Hi, all. I've been on Lexapro (this time) for about 11 weeks now, starting out at 10 mg and going up to 20 mg. I found that I started feeling better after about 3 weeks, and the benefits seemed to plateau at about 8 weeks. Everyone new to ADs always wants to know "how long it will take" to feel better, and I know it's different for everyone. Just wondering if there is any experience that is more common than others.

Kim,

How do you know when it's working?


- Penguin

Good question, Penguin! For me it was waking up and not suddenly getting this sinking feeling in my stomach as my negative mood crashed down on me. Finding that I could think about things OTHER than how badly I felt. A lifting of the pressure I felt in my chest--the feeling of my emotions just being black. An ability to actually DO something, like work, do the dishes. An appreciation of things like the birds singing or the stars. The ability to NOT feel like life was hopeless and would never get better. Renewed hope, I guess, along with a renewed ability to function.

Well then, I am going to say 8 weeks, because I have felt some of those things. The physical intensity of my feelings has eased off this week. The depressing thoughts in my head have stopped dragging me down and making me cry. The thoughts are still there, same as before, but my emotions are subdued. Also, vague hopes have started to appear for the first time in months. And I did hear a bird singing yesterday...

So 8 weeks it is!



(I also recently went from 10 to 20mg like you did.)

Hi, I jut wanted to say how glad I am to hear that feeling better does eventually happen as Im running out of patience,
I thought I felt alot better after only 12 days of meds, silly me, what I should have realised is that I feel alot better when Im at home where I feel 'safe'.
I went out today to do a bit of shopping and sure enough along came that crushing feeling in my chest like someone was dancing on it, dont know if its because Im expecting it to happen when Im out and about, probably.
I know the Citalopram are working as before I was constantly floaty,like I wasnt in my body, or in a bubble or something, that only happens rarely now. Im looking foward to the anxiety finally going away so it stops bothering me.
Thanks for the optimism.

Leila xx

Hi all,
I am new to AD's. I started Lexapro 4 months ago, first 4 weeks on 10 mg then went to 20 mg. Really started to feel better after week 6 and have now plateaued. I have dysthymic depression with destructive/addictive behaviors. I am finally waking up in the morning feeling a whole new sense of self-worth. When I look in the mirror I see someone who I had not seen in years; really feels great. I still have those dark times, but usually I am able to work through them using my CBT methods.
Good luck to everyone who has posted to this topic.
Al

Hi.

I was put on Celexa about 3 weeks ago. Started with 10mg, then was increased to 20mg a week later. Yesterday I was told to increase my dosage to 40mg, and today is the first time I've tried it at 40.
I'm 25, and I was diagnosed with GAD, Depression, and ADHD. I notice I feel good in the mornings, mostly cause of the ritalin, I think. I take my Celexa in the morning, with my ritalin and Lorazepam. I've been feeling great and better than I have in a long time. Hopefully when the Celexa kicks in, it'll be even greater.

Keeping my fingers crossed for all of you who are new to Lexapro/Celexa. I still think it's a miracle how they work!

Today is my first day taking the 40mg, and I feel kind of weird. Like foggy...like when you're dreaming. Feel slow and sluggish, mentally. Hopefully, I don't feel like this tomorrow. I have an important business orientation. Has anyone had this side affect?

Hiya Juan, sorry to hear your feeling like this and I hope your feeling better for your orientation tomorrow, Im new to Citalopram which I think is the same thing, im not sure if I felt the same thing from the meds as I got a lot of de-personalisation anyway with the anxiety, feeling very floaty like I wasnt really in the room if you know what I mean, if anything this seems to be getting better, only on 20 though, sorry I couldnt be much help but I wanted to say hello and hope you feel better.

Leila

Hi, Juan. Yes, I had some "fog" when I first started Lexapro and when I went up to 20 mg, and caffeine became my best friend when I had to be at my best. Try to get some extra hours of sleep tonight, and splash some cold water on your face and maybe do a few toe touches before your presentation. You'll do fine. Are you taking it in the morning or evening? In a pinch if you're really worried, you might take half the dose in the morning and the other half at noon so you don't get the full whammy all at once. Best wishes to you, Juan!

I'm so grateful for these boards and all the info that's here. I'll be starting celexa, 10 mg, on March 5th as my doc is weaning me of wellbutrin right now and wants me to wait until i'm off that (hope I don't go nuts in the meantime). The wellbutrin I was on for nearly 4 years and the anxiety from it was getting overwhelming, and my depression was also back. I'll see my doc again on March 26 (after taking celexa for 3 weeks). Not sure if that's enough time for me to be able to tell if it's working or not, but time will tell. All of your posts are so helpful

does anyone experience over heating? like feeling really hot all throughtout your body, like a fever?
ive been getting it every couple days ?

Thanks for the kind words everybody. I didn't feel any of the affects the next day. So everything went smoothley.
Now I'm off for 6 weeks for leadership training. It sucks cause I'll be away from my wife during that time. If it wasn't for the Celexa and Lorazepam, I'd be an anxious mess right now. Don't get me wrong, I have my moments, but its not as bad as it could be. Hopefully soon I'll start feeling more of the positive effects from the celexa, other than just the side effects. I'll be on week 4, and my first complete week taking the 40mg.

Thanks for all the kind words. You guys are great.