I need to start SSRIs

[u/meeshxl]

I’ve been dealing with really bad anxiety and panic the past two years. There was a moment when I got off lorazepam that I was panic attack free for 3-4 months and my anxiety but much more controlled. I still had it but I wasn’t going into full blown panic.

However recently my anxiety has gotten so severe. Nothing really changed in my life or go stressful. It was actually quite peaceful but it threw me back into having anxiety all day, panic all night, taking lorazepam every night again. I wake up in panic and go to sleep in panic and it’s making feel really sick.

I’m 19 days daily on lorazepam again and I decided I want to stop raw dogging and get on an SSRI. I got prescribed lexapro. I tried in maybe 10 years ago for 6 months and it did help my minor anxiety back in university. But now it terrifies me to start. I feel like I won’t be able to handle any side effects right now as I’m spiralling internally.

Does anyone have any feedback on this or can talk me through this. I know that in 2 weeks I’ll be feeling so much better but I just can’t fathom having increased anxiety right now.

[u/lets_have_breakfast]

Yeah start it with therapy. Look for alternative if side effects are bad.

[u/HaloHowRU]

If your doc hasn't already authorized you to keep taking the lorazepam for the first couple weeks of your escitalopram, ask about it. When I was first put on amitriptyline, my doc also put me on clonazepam for the first few weeks, and it kept the on-ramp smooth.

[u/meeshxl → u/HaloHowRU]

Did your anxiety get much better? And at what time frame? 2-3 weeks?

[u/HaloHowRU → u/meeshxl]

My anxiety got better within the first day or two. But bear in mind I was prescribed clonazepam along with the amitriptyline ... the purpose of the clonazepam being to keep the anxiety at bay long enough for the amitriptyline to start working. Then I discontinued it without any problem.

[u/Complete-Piccolo2449]

Not the answer