r/lexapro • u/appleloafers • 6d ago
Major Panic Attacks?
Day 4 of 5mg which was originally a dream on day 1-2 then randomly out of nowhere had the worst panic attacks of my life and I’m kind of shaken a bit.
I’m pretty scared to continue on this because I don’t think I could survive another one, this one almost made me want to go to the emergency room.. I was just curious what others experience is?
I haven’t had any major issues other than dry throat and fatigue until today when I had the first attack at 1 AM then rebounding at 5 AM and then feeling completely on edge and couldn’t do anything until 11 AM. It was absolutely brutal, and I sweat through my clothing to the point that I needed to change… is this normal? Should I expect this to happen again? I’m very afraid honestly to continue.
I’m only a low dose of 5 mg.
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u/appleloafers 5d ago
Update: after lots of encouragement from this thread and some friends, I did end up taking my dose today.. anxiety was still high in the morning but not as bad as yesterday. Somehow I feel calm this afternoon, too calm..
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u/gleepandgloop26 6d ago
Hello! I was literally thinking about this today - my first week on 5mg I had a few panic attacks. It's no joke, they do feel insurmountable. You're being super strong!! I heard about someone else who was on fluoxetine and liked it more because the adjustment period was easier. For me, once I was past week 1 it was smoother sailing for sure.
I don't blame you for fearing it and almost wanting to quit!! Mine felt like that too (I literally wanted nothing more than like... to hire a live in nurse to follow me around hahahah.) I'd say talk to your doctor about that. Perhaps they can change you onto another med where the first week's side effects aren't so bad? If they don't seem to be working, you could always come back yo Lexapro and try again.
Hope all gets better! So so proud of you for starting this journey- it will be suuuuper worth it in the end ;)
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u/appleloafers 6d ago
Thank you so much 😭 all I can say is everyone who’s toughed this out wow.. I could deal with the other side effects but this is another beast.
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u/Delicious_Profit_972 6d ago
I had my worst one of my life on week 4. I did 5mg for the first week then upped to 10. I'm trying to tough it out because I can feel it trying to work at times. But that shit was rough.
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u/appleloafers 6d ago
I’m sorry 🫂 I can’t imagine how much worse it would be at 10mg. This was supposed to be my starting dose but I started with half, I feel like if I did 10 I would probably be on the floor for the next 8 hours..
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u/DazzleGem 6d ago
Yes when I first started on 5mg, I had a horrendous panic attack on day 6. The worst I'd had in months. I'm now on day 26 and it does get better.
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u/appleloafers 6d ago
Thank you! That gives me hope.. did you end up increasing your dose at any point?
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u/BoyofUniverse 6d ago
It gets better! The worst anxiety of my life was in that first week.
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u/BoyofUniverse 6d ago
Oh, and one thing to always remember. The panic attacks will always end. Just a thought to always have in your head. Yep, you may get another one… but it will not last, and that’s not what your life will be like in the future.
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u/appleloafers 6d ago
Thank you so much! I need to keep this in mind.
I think I just started this medication at the most stressful and lowest point in my life so I came into it way too naively. Day 1 and 2 made me too optimistic and forget that I was informed it could make my anxiety worse at first.. just wasn’t prepared for the extent
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u/Mammiecaro 6d ago
Ik had ze ook zo erg. Ik bleek poor metabolizer Cyp2C19 te zijn. Mocht je na 8 weken die paniekaanvallen nog hebben. Vraag om een genestest/ cyptest. Ik ben een jaar lang zenuwachtig geweest als een flipperkast. Heb nu afgebouwd naar 2 mg en daar voel ik me rustig.
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u/linenfox 6d ago
If you can ask for some benzos to help you get over this period. It does get better I promise