Question: Hi.

I am a 36 year old male. I've been through a lot of trauma in my life, and this last year has been particularly stressful. When i was around 19, I had a big nervous breakdown and spent the next 5 years or so on anti depressants and anti-anxiety meds. Even back then, a lot of my worry and anxiety stemmed from concerns about my health. Always worried that I had cancer or a heart attack or something similar. This would work me into a depressed state.

It has been a good 10 years or so since I have had any real issues with this, but I have started to slip back into it over the last few months. It started with some health issues that were legitimate, but benign. I started having a lot of anxiety over the way I felt physically. My GP put me on xanax at first, and then when I went back and was still having issues, Lexapro.

I have now been on Lexapro for 26 days. At first I thought I was doing better, but these last few days have been very difficult. I have been waking up very anxious and started to get some intrusive thoughts (haven't had those in a very long time). I'm not sure if I can attribute the thoughts to the meds, or if the anxiety surge just led my brain to one of its old familiar ways to mess with me.

I guess my question is: Do I stick it out on this medicine? I am on 10mg. Because of these side effects, I'm starting to question my decision to start the drug. I was having a hard time before, but I honestly feel worse in these last few days than I did before. I know Lexapro can take 6-8 weeks for full efficacy, but not sure if I can stick it out.

Thank you for your response

In your opinion, should I wean off of this drug(cut to 5 mg?) I am worried about withdrawals but wondering if i have been on it long enough to have any bad effects from stopping.