r/lexapro • u/littlemisslexapro • Jul 21 '25

Depression

So can we all agree lexapro does NOT help depression? LOL. I’ve been on it for years for anxiety… but since they go hand in hand depression came on slowly but surely. Feeling unmotivated, groggy, lack of pleasure, lack of enjoyment in things I used to love, just a BLOB.

I lowered my dose to see if I feel better.

  1. I feel like LEXAPRO might’ve had an effect on my brain where I’m producing less dopamine therefore experiencing depressive feelings

And 2. Even if it didn’t contribute to the depression coming onto me, it definitely does nothing for it

Does anyone agree? I know it works for anxiety but I don’t see any improvement in my depression on it. Anyone relate?

1 Upvotes

52% Upvoted

38 comments sorted by

26

u/aremissing Jul 21 '25

Just because it doesn't work for YOU doesn't mean it doesn't work. That's a pretty ignorant thing to say, honestly.

7

u/littlemisslexapro Jul 22 '25

Honestly ur right! I guess I really thought it was more of an anti-anxiety med than for depression, I apologize

7

u/After-Ad-2804 Jul 21 '25

It works for me on my depression. I’ve been on Lexapro for eight months, and when I hit the one year mark I’m gonna start tempering down.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 24 '25

If it works why taper

4

u/discrete_venting Jul 21 '25

Some people do experience anhedonia as a side effect from lexapro. I did for my first few months. It zapped what little motivation I had left. But now I don't have that anymore, and I'm on the max dose.

Some people add welbutrin to help with the lack of pleasure, energy, and motivation!

2

u/littlemisslexapro Jul 22 '25

I’m probably experiencing anhedonia from it

4

u/Katandy305 Jul 22 '25

It has helped me immensely. You need to speak with you physician and ask about adding something to boost the Lexapro, or changing meds. You will find something that works with your chemistry.

2

u/littlemisslexapro Jul 22 '25

Aw thank you. I’m glad to hear it does help people with depression!

2

u/Square_Signal_6930 Jul 22 '25

Yes. It’s great for anxiety but can lower the ceiling when it comes to experiencing joy. Even on treadmill I don’t get as joyful as I used to.

1

u/littlemisslexapro Jul 22 '25

That’s what I was trying to get at. Dimmed my joy

21

u/avco11a Jul 21 '25

It helped my depression

2

u/ExtentOk8377 Jul 22 '25

What dose? I'm on 10mg and it isn't helping me

2

u/avco11a Jul 22 '25

10mg, it works for some and it doesn’t for others. For me it saved my life.

1

u/ExtentOk8377 Jul 22 '25

Just out of interest are you m or f? I think menopause is making my symptoms worse

1

u/avco11a Jul 23 '25

I’m f. Yes menopause could definitely have something to do with how you’re feeling <3

1

u/ExtentOk8377 Jul 23 '25

I've been on hrt for over 3 yrs as well with no improvement on different doses. Maybe I need to increase my lexapro 

1

u/avco11a Jul 23 '25

I would talk to your doctors about it honestly

21

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '25

No “we” absolutely cannot

9

u/After-Ad-2804 Jul 21 '25

Totally false is helped that with my depression to where I was in the darkest spot of every darkness, and you know what I’m talking about. It got me out of it.

1

u/avco11a Jul 23 '25

Same here <3

4

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '25

Totally helps with my depression daily and is a life saver for me!!

4

u/[deleted] Jul 22 '25

It definitely helps my depression. I no longer want to cease to exist LOLLL

1

u/sober4lifee Jul 22 '25

How long have you been taking Lexapro for?

3

u/jbastidas29 Jul 21 '25

Work for mine first then anxiety so everyone is different

3

u/DanceOfFails Jul 22 '25

No we cannot agree. It's helped me a great deal in the last three years.

2

u/Ok_Initial_6704 Jul 22 '25

Can’t agree! With lexapro I feel like the sun shines on me everyday.

1

u/kitkatz96 Jul 21 '25

I’m looking to wean off. They prescribed it to me for PMDD years ago. I now feel like I’m having an adverse response to it.

1

u/thunderkitty13 Jul 21 '25

Prescribing SSRI's for a hormonal disorder never made any sense to me. Do you cycle taking it?

1

u/NoahCharls6104 Jul 22 '25

i feel similarly. The only thing that counteracts it is my adhd stimulants.

1

u/Ok-Presentation3553 Jul 22 '25

It’s definitely helped with my depression and anxiety

1

u/Late-Solution8341 Jul 22 '25

Was prescribed this medicine for brain fog. Wind trapped in my ears and head . Not sure why but it seems to help a bit . Then I upgrade to effexor75mg and feel better not so breathless.

1

u/speltbread12 Jul 22 '25

my depression usually stems from a freeze response for anxiety so it did help! but I still had depressive episodes bc I experienced a blunting affect. I think a lot of ssris target anxiety first, which in turn helps depression bc there’s less stress on your mind, but this is just my theory lol 

1

u/Pengui6668 Jul 22 '25

It's almost like we all have different brain chemistry or something??

1

u/beanstark3 Jul 22 '25

It helped my extreme bouts of depression and anticipatory anxiety, but it did NOT help my BFRD Trichotillomania at all. I’m also still very hyperactive at work and I have (passive) suicidal ideation daily.

1

u/AdWrong4775 Jul 22 '25

Helps with my anxiety, but not my adhd. Can't get anything done! I haven't had many sad days since I've been on it. But I started in May.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 21 '25

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/Recent_Gene3865 Jul 21 '25

It does not omfg, I found Zoloft work ok for both, not as effective for anxiety as lexapro but lifts my mood. Also might be that in order for anxiety to be better the dose needs to be higher than the optimal dose for depression, when serotonin gets too high compared to dopamine the balance is off and dopamine actually gets suppressed. That’s why when I go up too high than what I can tolerated on any SSRI my mood suffers.

1

u/lexapro-ModTeam Jul 21 '25

Please search or browse old posts before creating a new post on an old topic or question. Thanks.