This was posted on r/lexapro but I wanted to post here if it helps anyone. 

Let me preface by saying I understand the medication takes about a month to work properly, but I started taking 10mg of lexapro a little over a week ago and I am completely shocked of how well it’s working. At first I thought it was just placebo effect but I have tried other medication and did not have results even close to this (kinda just felt numb). 

I went to the doctor for pretty severe anxiety. I determined it was the final straw after I had a severe panic attack during my LSAT, causing an ocular migraine (vision goes so blurry that I can’t read) which caused me to mess up badly on the test and now I have to take a gap year. That was my ‘enough is enough’. 

I was very nervous to start taking it due to reading about side effects and just the general anxiety surrounding a new medication. Well, my first day on it, I immediately feel anxious after taking it and get pretty sweaty, and a little dazed. A few hours later, I literally feel normal again. And this feeling has stuck ever since. I feel way more confident, I am no longer super anxious while driving, no panic attacks, I enjoy music again, I have energy, I feel way more social and happy overall. The hypochondriac in me is hardly noticeable. The only side effect I’m still having is getting sweaty sometimes. 

I am fully aware there could be new side effects to come. I am just so relieved that something is actually working for me. I cried tears of joy the first few days I was on it while listening to music, because I haven’t felt genuinely okay in a long time. 

I hope this helps some of you who are worried about side effects/starting 💛