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JOURNEY THROUGH LEXAPRO®
by Nikki and Anne Heart ♥ July 17, 2025
*Although we wrote this post together, we have chosen to present the following through Nikki’s eyes.
Nikki's Story: Journey through Lexapro
My mom helped me pack the car, and together we drove four hours to my new school—a place that promised opportunity, growth, and everything I needed to succeed. Excitement and fear tangled inside me; this was the fresh start I had worked so hard for, the beginning of the life I envisioned.
When we arrived, I remember how the sun shone brightly—something my old school never seemed to offer. Even though my new dorm room was tucked away in the basement, it still felt like an improvement over the one that overlooked a graveyard at my previous school.
I had everything I thought I wanted, yet a quiet unease lingered. Something, deep down, didn’t feel quite right.
As the days passed, I felt myself sinking deeper into something I couldn’t quite name. The weight of it grew heavier, pressing down with each adjustment to my medication.
At the time, I was taking Lexapro alongside two other prescriptions, one being Lithium. My counselor frequently adjusted my medication to find what she considered would be the right “cocktail” for me. With Lexapro being the newest addition, it was adjusted the most.
The dosage shifted—first from 5 mg to 10 mg, then back to 5 mg. I tried taking half in the morning and half in the evening, only to be switched back to taking the full amount all at once. The pattern repeated: changing when I took it, adjusting how much I took.
With each shift, my depression deepened. Instead of finding stability, I felt like I was constantly losing my footing, caught in a cycle that only pulled me further into the darkness.
By this point, the shaking had become uncontrollable, and the weight of my depression had intensified beyond anything I could manage. For four long months, I endured the relentless cycle as my body struggled under constant medication adjustments.
Eventually, I reached a breaking point. My body could no longer tolerate the effects of Lexapro. With relief, my healthcare prescriber finally advised me to stop taking Lexapro.
But that relief was short-lived. Almost immediately, a new SSRI was prescribed, ushering in yet another wave of uncertainty—a fresh start that didn’t feel like one at all.
Learning from my journey on Lexapro
First:
- As I was prescribed one medication after another, little thought was given to the effects of withdrawal or the consequences of frequent changes and inconsistencies in dosage. The impact of this instability was never fully acknowledged.
Second:
- Despite repeated mentions that I was particularly sensitive to medication, no effort was made to investigate why. The underlying reasons for my reactions remained unexplored, leaving me without the answers I needed.
Third:
- I was never given an accurate diagnosis and the true picture of what was causing my mental health unwellness. Unfortunately, the side effects from Lexapro and the other medications I was prescribed, gave me a false diagnosis.
Fourth:
- While I was navigating my own mental health treatment with multiple prescription drugs, my dad also underwent a brief period of treatment being prescribed Lexapro. Unlike myself, Lexapro was his sole prescription drug. He described his experience as being intense, with effects similar to drinking 20 cups of coffee and a relentless buzzing sensation in his head leaving him feeling overwhelmed. He discontinued Lexapro within a week.
Facts you need to know about Lexapro
- Know how your medication should be taken
- Verify if your your medication can be cut, opened, or altered in any way
- Realize cutting or altering a medication can change how the drug is released into your system
- Be Aware of misinformation regarding medication
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What you need to do
- Research the medication prescribed to you
- Determine what treatment plan works best for you
- Recognize that there are treatment options
Note: All information in “Nikki’s Story and Mom’s Story” are based on detail journals covering seven years of Nikki’s life on prescription drugs.
Medical Disclaimer: We share informational resources that are intended to help you with your self-care plan. We are not professionals. We write based on personal experience and personal research.
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