askchapo

I started with 10mg citalopram first few weeks then 20mg, then switched to 10mg escitalopram due to availability issues at the start of the year.

It was for anxiety and depression.

Had severe side-effects first few weeks on citalopram. Mainly lethargy and low mood.

After the initial side-effects, I remember it not really doing much except made it easier to unhook for anxious thoughts and a slightly lower baseline anxiety. I have a chronic physical illness and it often gets worse in periods where I am more anxious and have noticed it has generally gotten better after the anti-depressant.

Currently bumped up to 15mg escitalopram past few months. Had taken it for nearly a year now. The switch from citalo to escitalo wasn’t as bad, side effects were similar but less potent and lasted only a few days.

Libido did not really change, but I started taking Concerta (methylphenidate) for ADHD regularly the past couple months in conjunction which just increased it honestly. The side-effects for Concerta has/is more prominent than escitalopram for me now.

I have to switch back to citalopram again soon because of availability issues… again.

In general I am adverse to medication, and so depending how the next year goes, I am hoping to taper off of the citalopram.

I can't remember my dosage but I was on it in college. Made it impossible to orgasm... Would get right up to the edge and then...flaccid... Was absolutely not ok. And yeah getting off it meant brain zaps for a month which wasn't like painful or anything but was not pleasant.

Have taken 10mg for anxiety. Take it before bed since it makes me sleepy. Has almost completely eliminated a lifetime of low-medium grade anxiety. Makes it difficult to orgasm which isn't great. YMMV.

Edit: also it makes my dreams way more "literal" than ever. Like I never used to dream about shit that happened that day. Now I always do. Also I'm now prone to kick in my sleep.

Been on 20mg for depression for a few years now. Never heard of it being used for BP, but it's been good for my mental health I think. I definitely get brain zaps if I miss more than a day in a row tho.

Lexapro is pretty mild as far as that class of meds go.

I don't remember it bring substantially different to Zoloft. It was a lot weaker than the 120 mg of cymbalta I used to be on, which did reduce libido a bunch

Ive been on it for like 5 or 6 years. My libido was fine at 10 mg but at one point I went up to 15 mg and it got a bit worse (but its still good enough).

It also prevented me from being suicidal and living in a depression pit during really tough grad school times.

I have gained about 60 lbs since then but i cant blame it entirely on lexapro.

Just make sure to never miss doses. If you miss 2 doses you will absolutely get the brain zaps and just overall feel confused and weird.

Also, if/when you desire to stop the medication, you need to do a very slow taper, slower than your doctor says. People recommend lowering your dose by 10% a month, it will take a long time but its much better for your brain and you will be more likely to stay off it.

Personally, my life and mental health has gotten into a better place and soon im hoping to taper back down to 10 mg soon. Maybe go even lower afterwards. Its not perfect but it sounds like you are having some success so far and for me was better then the alternative

I've been on 20mg for depression for a while now and it's given me the least trouble out of the ones I've tried. It has dampened my sex drive a little bit, but that's okay. Recently had to switch to 40mg citalopram as a subsitute since my insurance ran out and my brother went on vacation to Mexico and that's what they had. Haven't noticed any adverse side effects.