I feel like I’m navigating this medication journey alone. Was prescribed by my Dr and the psychiatric np (whom I’ve never met). Was given hydroxyzine for quick relief. Finally after 2 weeks of having it on hand, I took it last night. (Just 1/4 of the dose) and again early this morning. I am trying so hard to get the courage to take the lexapro and told my Dr I wanted to start at a quarter of the 5mg pill. She said I could but I likely wouldn’t benefit from it. I just wanted to start on that to minimize side effects. Anyone start that low (1.25mg) or lexapro. How did it work out. I wanted to try it for a few days then go up to 2.5. Then if need be up to 5. I’m alone. I fear side effects. I’m phobic with medications. I’m proud that I took the other medication. But the issue is I was told that I can not take the hydroxyzine and lexapro at the same time. So how do I calm myself enough to take the lexapro or if I get additional anxiety from it? I have to wait several hours between both. I’m not sure what to do. But I know that I need to start the lexapro asap. I can’t feel this constant anxiety all day and night day after day.

Hi. Sorry I’m just seeing this now as I haven’t been on here much. This is how I started: Week 1: 1.25mg Week 2: 2.5mg Week 3: 3.75mg Week 4: 5mg. (I actually did 6 days at this dose. I was supposed to do 2 weeks and then increase but I did start to feel some anxiety so my Dr told me to increase today. Week 5 (started today) 6.25mg Side effects were tolerable and I think worse when I initially started. Because I increase so slowly I think it helped. I would maybe get a headache or some little side effects for a day or two (here and there) when I’d increase. When I increased from 2.5-3.75 I didn’t have any. When I increased from 3.75-5 I had none other than the increase in some anxiety (which I didn’t have with the other increases). Today, like I said, I went up to 6.25. Maybe a little headache for a short time, little fuzzy head, again, for a short time and little anxiety. My Dr doesn’t seem too concerned. I think when the dose is too low that can happen. I’m not sure. I did have small improvements in the first week and then each week after that, even on a low dose. Obviously such a low dose is likely not sustainable, but I was definitely heading in the right direction and truthfully wish I had started sooner because if I had, I’d likely be where I want to be at this point.