3.5 weeks into escitalopram

Hi
I wanted to start a new discussion to seek some support, as many of the recent posts are a bit dated. I’m currently in week 3 of escitalopram and am still dealing with loss of appetite and heightened anxiety. In fact, I feel worse than when I began the medication, as I’ve developed social anxiety that I don’t believe I had before. I also had to take a leave from work, and being alone all day is really challenging. My husband is incredibly supportive, but I worry he’s getting worn out from this emotional roller coaster.

I was on citalopram for nearly three years, but after experiencing breakthrough anxiety, my GP increased my dosage from 20 to 30 mg. After four weeks with no improvement, he suggested I switch to escitalopram. While there have been a few positive moments, the past three weeks have mostly been tough. I had my first appointment with a psychiatrist last week, and she advised me to give it 8 to 10 weeks, which feels like a long time right now. I also started therapy, and we’re set to begin EMDR this Wednesday.

I understand that three weeks is still early in the process, but it’s disheartening to hear others feeling better in just a couple of weeks. Has anyone here experienced something similar? How long did it take you to start seeing some improvement? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Hey I’m not a doctor or anything like that just a patient like you. I have been on escitalopram on and off for good 10 years and I’m back on it now. Everything you going thru is normal some people feel better sooner some need extra time. With me it took about 6 months to really feel good, until then I had ups and downs and increased. All that is normal just don’t worry about it, talk to your doc and just go back to work , or just do something this way your are busy and you will feel better sooner!

I don’t mean to discourage you, but three weeks is still very early in the process. It’s not helpful for anyone to tell you what you want to hear, as that may lead to disappointment. Patience is essential with these medications—plenty of it. Many people who feel better within a week or two might be experiencing a placebo effect; the reality is that these drugs don’t work quickly. They need to change the neurological pathways in the front of the brain, which takes time. Once the drugs bind to the right receptors, it takes even longer for serotonin levels to rise.

Understanding this process can be beneficial, and I genuinely hope your medication change works out for you. Just be prepared to give it at least 10 weeks, and ideally more.

When I switched from Citalopram to Escitalopram, it took about six weeks for things to stabilize, followed by another two weeks to reach a steady state. Unfortunately, I dealt with constant shakes for three months. Yes, I endured that for that long, and now I’m back on Citalopram, going through the withdrawal and adjustment effects again!