Lexapro Side Effects: What to Expect

Lexapro is becoming one of the most popular anti-depression drugs on the market. Mental health physicians around the United States are choosing to prescribe this drug more than any other – and some are calling it the “Prozac for 2008.” However, Lexapro does bring on a variety of side effects. I should know; I take it. Here is my story on the Lexapro side effects that I experienced.

When I first started Lexapro, I remember the first side effect that I experienced was a rapid heartbeat. It felt as if I had just ran a mile. The feeling would increase as a sat or laid down, and most of the times I would have to stand up just to get rid of the feeling that my heart was beating out of my chest. I must admit that this side effect often scared me because I thought that I was having a heart attack.

Shortly after that subsided (or maybe I just became use to it), another Lexapro side effect showed up.

I became very jittery. I was unable to hold anything in my hand without it shaking. It was mostly in my upper body. I would often find myself just trembling without reason. After a phone call to my doctor, I found out that this is one of the Lexapro side effects. Things eventually calmed down and I later realized that the cause behind this feeling was that the nerves in my body was adjusting to the chemical changes that Lexapro was making.

And I must not forget the headaches that came. We all have had headaches before but this was terrible. My head hurt everywhere and no pain medicine would ease the feeling. I often resorted to laying down in bed with a pillow over my head because I was in so much pain. I tried switching the times I took Lexapro to see if I could get any relief. I found out that if you take your Lexapro first thing in the morning, your headaches are not as bad.

Another Lexapro side effect that I came across in my journey to get out of the grasps of depression was insomnia. It wouldn’t matter if I woke up at 5am, I could not get to sleep until almost 4am the next day. I remember sitting up at night watching television just praying for relief. I was physically tired but my mind wouldn’t let me sleep.

Needless to say, the Lexapro side effects that I experienced was horrible. But guess what? They didn’t last. The side effects I mentioned above only lasted about one week and then they was gone. If you can get past the problems during the first week or two, you will be fine. Remember: The benefits are worth it.