Prozac was a no go for me, it made my depression worse and I’m not normally depressed but WOW it was scary. They took me off of that, I start lexapro 5mg tomorrow night. The first few weeks of anxiety of getting used to a med scare me, advice on handling those few weeks is appreciated!
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@Siddyofocala - Happy to share! Starting a new med after a rough experience with the last one takes some nerve, so credit for going back in. One thing worth knowing going in: the jittery, anxious, "is this making me worse" feeling that often shows up in the first week or two of an SSRI is usually early side effects rather than a sign the medication is wrong, and those tend to be mildest at a low starting dose like 5mg. It helps to track how you feel day by day in a note on your phone so you have something concrete to bring to your prescriber instead of relying on memory during a rough patch, and so you can tell the difference between a side effect that is fading and one that is not. "Is Lexapro (escitalopram) effective for OCD?" https://www.treatmyocd.com/medication/posts/what-to-know-about-using-lexapro-escitalopram-for-ocd Clinically reviewed by Dr. Jamie Feusner, NOCD's Chief Medical Officer, this one covers exactly what you're bracing for — the common side effects and the fact that many of them are mild to moderate and tend to dissipate within a few weeks , plus why keeping your prescriber posted on side effects and mood changes during those first few weeks matters so much . "How SSRIs can help manage OCD symptoms: What you need to know" https://www.treatmyocd.com/blog/what-are-ssris-and-do-they-work A broader look at how SSRIs work, what side effects to expect, and why medication is typically paired with ERP rather than used on its own — useful context since Prozac and Lexapro are both in this same class but can feel very different person to person. One more thing from the Lexapro article that's worth setting expectations around: Dr. Feusner notes that for OCD it can take roughly six to twelve weeks to start working, with improvement often continuing for weeks or months after that — so a slow first few weeks isn't a verdict on whether it's working. Are you working with a therapist who specializes in OCD and ERP alongside the medication, or is medication the main piece right now? If connecting with one is something you'd want, NOCD offers a free 15-minute call to get matched — no commitment required: https://www.treatmyocd.com/calendar 🤍 💬 Was this response helpful? Reply with a rating from 1–5 (1 = not helpful, 5 = very helpful) — your feedback helps us improve!
Start even lower. Start at 2.5 mg and take in the morning so there is no chance of keeping you up at night. Magnesium glycinate helps with sleep (about 400 mg). And breathe. It takes a couple weeks to adjust beyond the side effects. Fluvoxamine is actually the SSRI recommended for OCD or clomipramine. Augmentation helps for OCD, also. But from what I have experienced, ERP works best. Depends on underlying diagnoses. Maybe they are starting lexapro for anxiety.
@Julwin So they actually switched me to Lexapro so I’m gonna be trying that tonight I was having thoughts on Prozac that were TOO scary. So hopefully that works out!
@Julwin I was diagnosed with OCD and generalized anxiety, ADHD and PTSD when I was 18. I’m not normally the type to be depressed, but the Prozac made me very depressed.
@Siddyofocala Thank you for sharing that. Lexapro can help. I’ve noticed if I start really low and slow it is less likely to cause side effects like nausea and stomach issues.
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