[Liinu]

Well howdy. So.. I got diagnosed and put on escitalopram. The doc said to start taking 10mg right away, but I am stubborn and well.. studying medicine so of course I know better.

My point is that I have read that you should start with 5mg and build up to 10mg to reduce side effects. Also my mom (dx panic disorder) takes the same one as I do and her doc said that she should only take 5mg. Always. Since she is underweight. As am I. So 5mg is enough. Then again, our diagnoses are different and she got prescribed by a family doctor and I got mine from a psychiatrist. And she also has kidney problems which can also mean a smaller dose.

So my question is. Should I start with 10mg or 5mg and build up to 10?
I am starting tomorrow since I am working today and didn't want to risk feeling ill at work.

[elevatedsoul]

i dont think it would hurt to start at 10mg, what i would do is try starting 10mg and if i have any weird reactions call the dr and start taking half
but personally i dont normally have side effects when starting a new medicine.. i dont think that is too high of a dose either..

Adults
The recommended dose of Lexapro is 10 mg once daily. A fixed-dose trial of Lexapro demonstrated the effectiveness of both 10 mg and 20 mg of Lexapro, but failed to demonstrate a greater benefit of 20 mg over 10 mg [see Clinical Studies]. If the dose is increased to 20 mg, this should occur after a minimum of one week.
Lexapro (Escitalopram Oxalate) Drug Information: Indications, Dosage and How Supplied - Prescribing Information at RxList

I think you should go with your gut. My tolerance for just about anything is very low. I had an er visit once for starting a med at the "normal" dose.

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[elevatedsoul]

I think you should go with your gut. My tolerance for just about anything is very low. I had an er visit once for starting a med at the "normal" dose.

thanks, gotta remember that medicine effects everyone differently i suppose

[A Red Panda]

I can't see the harm in slowing down your titration.. it just might take longer to notice any effect on yourself. I slowed down my titration of lamotrigine when I first started, it eased my mind. You could always tell the psychiatrist that you want to start it out lower and work your way up.

[sewerrats]

10mg is quite normal start up, your young and may need to go to 20mg if really ill, 10mg limit if over 65. 5 mg may do nothing at all to your illness 10mg may hit the spot sooner rather than later than starting with 5mg

[Liinu]

Well the med I'm taking says that 10mg is the normal dose and 20 is max. And my mother takes 5mg and she hasn't had a panic attack since so I guess it's working.

Anyway.. I think I'll start with the 10mg and if I feel really bad, I'll take 5 the next time..

[Liinu]

And now I'm having side effects.. They're not too bad but since I'm very aware of them and were kind of excpeting them, it makes it worse.
But it's just some mild nausea, dizziness and just this.. overall "out of it" feeling. And it's kinda hard to focus my eyes on anything.

[sewerrats]

Originally Posted by Liinu

And now I'm having side effects.. They're not too bad but since I'm very aware of them and were kind of excpeting them, it makes it worse.
But it's just some mild nausea, dizziness and just this.. overall "out of it" feeling. And it's kinda hard to focus my eyes on anything.

That's normal and not a problem, best to be out of it for a time than being in the eye of depression storm .

[Liinu]

The second day I got hyper. Realll hyper. Talking fast and thinking fast and all. Which is what I'm like most of the time, but it was even more.. hyper. Today I'm fine.

[elevatedsoul]

glad you're doing ok
i know that i can personally send myself spiralling into the obis by thinking about those things too much!

[Liinu]

Btw. Is it normal for the drug to give me a good mood? I've been in a SUPER mood for the past week. Like just cheery, happy, optimistic. Not complaining, but I'm more worried that it's just gonna be like this in the beginning phase and it will wear off eventually.

Originally Posted by Liinu

Btw. Is it normal for the drug to give me a good mood? I've been in a SUPER mood for the past week. Like just cheery, happy, optimistic. Not complaining, but I'm more worried that it's just gonna be like this in the beginning phase and it will wear off eventually.

My brain was racing at the start of taking citalapram but it wore of very quickly. I may have backed it off for a little while. Not sure. They say AD'S take a while to kick in but that one kicked in right away. If you have been "super" for a week I would wonder about the dose. Are you still at 10mg? The problem is if you have entered a hypo manic state. I love hypo manic states but there is a crash. You don't want that

Years ago I went into a hypo manic state and I couldn't tell how dramatic it was. I thought it was great... So productive A friend and my dr identified it. You might ask a trusted friend if you seem "overly happy".

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[nottrustin]

OMG so glad I read this post I started this med to day and have the same side effects along with no appetite..

BTW my pdoc started me out on 5mg because of my history with a low tolerance level to medications

[Liinu]

nottrustin - I'm glad if this helps. You can keep us all posted on how it affects you.

But yeah, I've been on 10mg. And I'm not overly happy. Just in a good mood. Kind of like I used to be before anxiety got worse. So I guess maybe it's just that my anxiety is low ad I'm kind of going back to who I was before all these troubles. I mean, I used to be this really optimistic person.. I feel like that again. And my best friend, who I also live with, just says that this is what I'm like when I have a good mood normally. It's just that I have a good mood all the time now.

[nottrustin]

Originally Posted by Liinu

nottrustin - I'm glad if this helps. You can keep us all posted on how it affects you.

But yeah, I've been on 10mg. And I'm not overly happy. Just in a good mood. Kind of like I used to be before anxiety got worse. So I guess maybe it's just that my anxiety is low ad I'm kind of going back to who I was before all these troubles. I mean, I used to be this really optimistic person.. I feel like that again. And my best friend, who I also live with, just says that this is what I'm like when I have a good mood normally. It's just that I have a good mood all the time now.

Today is better than yesterday. Like you my mood is not the greatest but better. Plus my energy level is a little better. Yesterday I took the meds when I first woke up. I killed my appetite and I didn't want coffee.. This is a huge deal in that I drink a lot of coffee. So this morning a I had a little breakfast and coffee and then took the meds a short time later. Still have a upset stomach and headache but not nearly as bad.