Lexapro success stories (Lexapro experiences so far)

In this blog, we are going to talk about lexapro success stories. A lot of people, now-a-days, are being diagnosed with depression and they often need treatment to get rid of it. 

Lexapro, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), can be used as a first line agent to help relieve the symptoms of depression. 

How successful is Lexapro in the treatment of depression? 

Lexapro has a success rate of around 70-80% in the treatment of depression. People taking it have complained of some side effects, but they begin to fade away on their own when the body is adjusted to the medication. 

Doctors usually start from the lowest effective dose of lexapro, that is 10 mg, and then the dose is gradually increased if needed. Lexapro is an effective antidepressant. Millions of people, around the world, have used it and called it a ‘life saver’. One user stated:

“I was a cheerful teen but as I stepped into adulthood, depression became my friend. It changed a lot of things in my life. It made me isolate myself and leave behind everything I once loved and cherished. I love swimming, but my depression made me stop doing that as well.”

This is exactly what depression does, it breaks you from within. A decade or two back, people, including healthcare professionals, used to believe that there’s always a reason behind depression.

Years later experts revealed that depression sometimes has no reason or no trigger factor but it still hits you. This user continued:

“It further messed up my life. I started isolating myself and stopped hanging out with my friends. That’s when I decided to visit a mental healthcare practitioner and got diagnosed with depression. He prescribed me lexapro 10 mg and I started taking it. The first few days were the worst days of my life.”

It is the most common thing to hear people say that the first few weeks on antidepressants were terrible. Antidepressants start producing side effects earlier than the beneficial effects. 

Side effects can begin hours after taking lexapro, but you only begin to notice beneficial effects in around 4 weeks. The user further stated:

“I suffered from side effects but I did not give up. That cheerful kid I once was, kept asking me to push through the pain and I did. It was indeed the best decision I’ve ever made. I think it’s safe to say now that lexapro is my saviour and it brought me back to the light I thought I’d never see again!”

Antidepressants make changes in the amounts of excitatory neurotransmitters. This process takes time. It could be just a matter of 4 weeks for some people, while others can take upto 8 to 12 weeks for noticeable changes. 

Make sure you stick to your treatment and do not give up. Another lexapro user told us how lexapro changed her life. She stated:

“I started taking lexapro 6 months ago, when I failed to get rid of my depression by using home remedies as I feared taking pills. After the first few weeks, I started feeling better, much better actually. I felt less swingy and agitated. The negativity that did not seem to leave, left me for good.”

Now this is indeed a positive feedback, a kind you and I would like to see if we ever get diagnosed with depression and start fearing taking antidepressants. 

These meds are actually saving millions of lives. Depression is associated with suicidal thoughts but taking these meds can help you get rid of such thoughts before you start acting on them. 

Researchers revealed that suicide rate from depression is much higher in people who refuse to seek medical help. It is also much higher in underdeveloped areas which lack mental health professionals or medicines. 

When your depression starts asking you to take your life, this is the last red signal. If you don’t seek help right away, it will turn out to be the worst for you. 

“My depression took me to the point where I wanted to end my life. I don’t know maybe I shouldn’t say this but I had an entire way planned out to go. But somehow, I didn’t do it and seeked medical help instead.” 

He further stated:

“I started taking lexapro and after 7 months, I’m here telling you that I’m glad I didn’t end my life and I want to live it to the fullest now. Take it from a guy who almost did it, step back. It’s not worth it. Get help from a doctor and your loved ones. Life’s not so bad actually.”

These success stories tell us how it takes a little courage to make a right decision, but that one decision can make your life. These are just a few cases, we all have people around us battling with depression. 

Let’s help each other out so that no one would ever think of doing something horrible to end their lives. 

What can help make your antidepressant journey easier? 

There are a few things that can make your journey a little easier or, shall we say, less difficult. These include:

Cut back on alcohol 

Alcohol is something you should never drink with your antidepressant. It can cloud your mind and can make your depression symptoms worse. Alcohol suppresses your nervous system and dulls down your brain. It can make you feel more depressed and suicidal. Make sure you cut back on it as much as you can. 

Healthy diet

Healthy diet and lifestyle can help make your body much stronger and able to go through the challenges in a better way. Good food boosts your immunity and can help you counteract some of the side effects of lexapro. Make sure you add wholesome foods in your diet. 

Stay active

Sedentary lifestyle gives you more time to think of your depression and makes your body ache. It’s better to divert your mind to something productive and healthy. Try adding a good workout regime in your daily routine. Exercises release happy chemicals in your brain and you feel happy and satisfied. I’m sure you’ll begin to see changes, just after a week or two. 

Get exposed to early morning sunlight 

Researchers suggest that early morning sunlight can boost serotonin levels in your system, the same effect that lexapro has. This can help cheer you up. Try going for a morning walk or jog, whatever you like more. You can try doing yoga or meditation as well if cardio is not your thing. 

Stay hydrated 

Drink plenty of water. Water boosts your energy and draws toxins out of your body. You can try making detox water with your favourite fruits to make your water flavorful and full of nutrients. 

Reading

Buy a self help book. Do some research online and see which one has good reviews. It gives lots of useful and effective tools to help you in your everyday life. Read blogs, articles and of course, success stories to help motivate you to walk out of this whole mess. 

What side effects can you experience during the first few weeks? 

Common side effects of lexapro include:

• Loss of appetite 
• Constipation or diarrhoea
• Sexual issues
• Difficulty in falling asleep
• Vertigo 
• Decreased salivation or dry mouth
• Sweating
• Anxiety 
• Infections caused by decreased immunity
• Nausea
• Shaking
• Weakness
• Sleepiness and fatigue

Reach out to your healthcare provider right away, if lexapro causes the following side effects:

• A severe allergic reaction causing symptoms like skin redness, burning sensation, itching, blisters, chest tightness MN difficulty in breathing etc. 
• Elongation of QT interval, causing increased heartbeat or arrhythmia
• Seizures 
• Confusion 
• Migraine
• Unconsciousness 

It may also put you at an increased risk for dangerous bleeding, especially when taken with medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), warfarin (an anticoagulant medication), or other anticoagulants. 

Make sure you rule out any possible drug interactions between your antidepressant and other prescription medications. 

Antidepressants are started from the lowest possible dose because there’s a chance that they might not suit you. Some people can not tolerate lexapro well or are allergic to it. 

Conclusion 

In this blog, we talked about lexapro success stories. Antidepressants can sometimes scare people off before they even start taking it, but they’re only prescribed when absolutely needed. 

These meds can help you with your depression symptoms and can lower the risk of suicide in depressed individuals. 

The success stories we shared today tell us how you should step forward and gather up all the courage you have to seek medical help, which turns out to be in your best interest. Make sure you adopt a better lifestyle which can help make your journey less difficult. 

FAQs: Lexapro success stories

What is the success rate of Lexapro?

Lexapro has a success rate of around 70-80% in the treatment of depression. People taking it have complained of some side effects, but they begin to fade away on their own when the body is adjusted to the medication.

How long does it take for Lexapro to work for anxiety?

Lexapro can take up to 4-5 weeks to start producing noticeable therapeutic results. 

Is it possible for Lexapro to work immediately?

No. You can expect your lexapro to work overnight. Antidepressants make changes in the amounts of excitatory neurotransmitters. This process takes time. It could be just a matter of 4 weeks for some people, while others can take upto 8 to 12 weeks for noticeable changes. Make sure you stick to your treatment and do not give up. 

How do I know if Lexapro is working?

The simple answer: when you start seeing good changes in your mental health condition, you know your lexapro is working. 

Is Lexapro worth trying?

Yes, lexapro is worth trying if your depression needs medication. Lexapro is, in fact, considered the safest SSRI. Make sure you only take it if prescribed by your healthcare provider. It is not recommended to start taking any med without your doctor’s approval. 

Is 10 mg of Lexapro enough?

10 mg is the most commonly prescribed dose of lexapro. The dose is increased if your doctor thinks you need it. It should not be more than 20 mg/day. 

References 

• Escitalopram (Oral Route) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/escitalopram-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20063707
• Connie Sanchez, Elin H. Reines and Stuart A. Montgomery (2014) – A comparative review of escitalopram, paroxetine, and sertraline: are they all alike? https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4047306/ 
• Andrea Cipriani, Claudio Santilli, Toshi A Furukawa,  Alessandra Signoretti, Atsuo Nakagawa (2009) -Escitalopram versus other antidepressive agents for depression https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4164382/#:~:text=The%20most%20commonly%20observed%20adverse,sweating%2C%20fatigue%2C%20and%20somnolence. 
• Karly P Garnock-Jones, Paul L McCormack (2010) – Escitalopram: a review of its use in the management of major depressive disorder in adults https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20806989/ 
• Lexapro – Uses, Side Effects, and More https://www.webmd.com/drugs/2/drug-63990/lexapro-oral/details