Lexapro Side Effects: What's Common and How Long It Lasts
The most common Lexapro side effects are nausea, trouble sleeping or sleepiness, sweating and sexual side effects. Most early ones ease within weeks; sexual side effects often last. Here is what trials found, what 343 people on Reddit described and what helps.
By withClaro Editorial · 2026-10-23 · 6 min read
Medical review pending. Written by the Claro editorial team from the FDA label and published studies.
Key takeaways In FDA trials for depression, the side effects most often seen above placebo were nausea, insomnia, delayed ejaculation, sleepiness, sweating and fatigue. In 343 people we counted on Reddit, anxiety or restlessness, tiredness, sexual side effects and stomach problems were mentioned most. For some people early side effects ease within weeks, for others they drag on; in our Reddit count, more were still going than had eased. Thoughts of suicide, signs of serotonin syndrome or unusual bleeding need a call the same day. On this page
What are the most common side effects of Lexapro? What 343 people on Reddit said about Lexapro side effects How long do Lexapro side effects last? Which Lexapro side effects are serious? Are Lexapro side effects different for women? What helps with Lexapro side effects? What should you tell your prescriber about Lexapro side effects? Lexapro side effects are usually mild and show up in the first weeks. They fall into two groups: early ones that tend to fade as your body adjusts, and a few that can stay. Where the trials and what people describe online disagree most is how long they last.
What are the most common side effects of Lexapro?
In placebo-controlled trials in adults with depression, nausea was the most common side effect, in 15% of people on Lexapro against 7% on placebo. By the gap over placebo, delayed ejaculation in men came next, then insomnia, sleepiness, sweating and fatigue. In anxiety trials, headache affected 24% of people on Lexapro, though also 17% on placebo.
Side effect in depression trials Lexapro Placebo Nausea 15% 7% Insomnia 9% 4% Delayed ejaculation (men) 9% under 1% Diarrhea 8% 5% Sleepiness 6% 2% Sweating 5% 2% Fatigue 5% 2% Dizziness 5% 3% Trouble reaching orgasm (women, depression trials) 2% under 1%
The placebo column matters. Part of what people feel in the first weeks also happens on a dummy pill, so the gap between the two columns is the share the label puts down to Lexapro. The NHS adds weight and appetite changes and joint or muscle pain to the list.
What 343 people on Reddit said about Lexapro side effects
We read 100 recent threads about Lexapro side effects on r/lexapro, comments included, and 343 people described their own side effects. These are people's own descriptions, not trial measurements, so the two tables are not the same kind of number. Anxiety or restlessness came up most, closely followed by tiredness and sexual side effects.
What people reported People Share of 343 More anxiety, jitteriness or restlessness 76 22% Tiredness or sleepiness 73 21% Lower sex drive or trouble reaching orgasm 69 20% Nausea, diarrhea or stomach upset 61 18% Trouble sleeping 36 10% Sweating 32 9%
Anxiety tops our list but has no row in the trial table. The NHS lists feeling anxious or restless among escitalopram's common side effects, and in trials these feelings may be counted under other headings. People who struggle are more likely to post than people who feel fine.
How long do Lexapro side effects last?
It varies. Of 124 people on Reddit who said how long their side effects lasted, 57 said they eased within the first weeks and 67 said they were still going. The early weeks are when people post most, so many threads end before side effects could ease. The NHS says most side effects should ease after a couple of weeks, though some last longer. Sexual side effects are the ones people most often describe as not going away, though the label says no studies were designed to measure them.
A 2018 US trial that followed 211 people starting escitalopram or duloxetine for 12 weeks found that side effects which had settled before a dose increase rarely came back after it.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists notes that feeling agitated or anxious in the first weeks is a common reason people stop early, especially when nobody warned them it might happen. Starting anxiety usually settles; if it gets worse instead, that is a reason to call. For what usually happens week to week, see how long Lexapro takes to work .
Which Lexapro side effects are serious? Clinical section: medical review pending
Serious side effects are rare, but a few need a call the same day. The FDA label's strongest warning, a boxed warning, is that suicidal thoughts and behavior can rise in children, teenagers and young adults under 25, especially in the first months and after a dose change. Its other warnings cover serotonin syndrome, unusual bleeding, low sodium, angle-closure glaucoma and triggering of mania. The clinical view:
Most early side effects of antidepressants ease within the first weeks, while a few tend to last and are worth raising.
Side effects that often pass include nausea, an upset stomach, headache, sleep changes and feeling restless. Sexual side effects, weight change and feeling emotionally flat tend to stay while you take the medication. A change of dose or medication often helps with these, so mention them instead of putting up with them.
Call your prescriber the same day, or get urgent care, if you notice:
new or worse thoughts of suicide or self-harm, especially early on, after a dose change, or in young people agitation, heavy sweating, fever, muscle twitching or confusion, which can be signs of serotonin syndrome unusual bleeding or bruising a sudden burst of energy, little need for sleep, racing thoughts or unusual risk-taking That last group of signs can mean mania or hypomania. The label asks prescribers to check for a personal or family history of bipolar disorder before starting, because antidepressants can trigger it.
If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 in the US, or find a crisis line .
Are Lexapro side effects different for women?
Mostly not, except for sexual side effects and the cycle. In the label's pooled count of sexual side effects among women, 3% on Lexapro reported a lower sex drive against 1% on placebo, and 3% trouble reaching orgasm against under 1%. In the anxiety trials, menstrual changes were reported by 2% of participants against 1% on placebo. If your mood or symptoms seem to follow your cycle, note them by cycle day and tell your prescriber. The full picture is on the page about Lexapro side effects in women .
What helps with Lexapro side effects?
What helps depends on the side effect, and many ease with time alone. The National Institute of Mental Health suggests that people sensitive to side effects may benefit from starting with a low dose, raising it slowly, and changing when or how they take the medication, for example at bedtime or with food.
In our Reddit count, 67 of the 343 people said something had helped. The most common were waiting it out (20 people), adding a second medication their prescriber suggested (16) and moving the dose to morning or night (15). Any change, including the time, is one to agree with your prescriber. A useful way to ask: "It makes me sleepy in the day; could I take it in the evening?"
What should you tell your prescriber about Lexapro side effects?
A specific account helps your prescriber decide whether to wait, change the dose or try something else. Early side effects are not a sign the medication is wrong for you: in the 2018 trial, people who had a side effect in the first two weeks were more likely to finish the 12-week course, 86.7% against 73.7%. Sexual side effects and emotional flatness are worth raising even if they feel awkward, because a change often helps. It helps to tell them:
which side effects you have, when they started and whether they're easing anything that makes them better or worse, such as the time of day you take it sexual side effects, weight change or feeling flat, even if they seem minor whether a side effect is making you want to stop any other medications or supplements you have started Weight is the side effect people ask about most after the first weeks; the page on Lexapro and weight gain covers what the trials and Reddit show.
Download on the App Store Side effects that ease and side effects that stay look the same in week one. The withClaro app lets you log mood, energy, sleep and side effects each day, linked to your dose, and turns it into a report for your doctor.
Frequently asked questions What does Lexapro feel like the first week? In the first week, people on Reddit most often describe nausea, feeling tired or wired, and broken sleep, and some feel more anxious before they feel better. These usually ease over the following weeks. If anything feels severe, call your prescriber rather than waiting.
Can Lexapro make you sleepy? Yes. Sleepiness affected 6% of people on Lexapro in depression trials and 13% in anxiety trials, against 2% and 7% on placebo. Others get insomnia instead. Ask your prescriber whether taking it in the evening would help.
Does Lexapro cause brain fog? Some people describe brain fog or trouble focusing, especially early on. It is not listed among the most common trial side effects. Note when it happens and how it affects your day, and raise it at your next review.
Do Lexapro side effects come back after a dose increase? Some people on Reddit describe nausea, anxiety or sleep changes returning for a while after a dose goes up. Write down what changed and when, so your prescriber can judge the new dose.
Can Lexapro cause weight gain? The NHS lists weight changes and changes in appetite among the common side effects of escitalopram. Tell your prescriber about a steady change early, while there are more options.
Does Lexapro cause hair loss? Hair loss isn't among the common side effects in the trials. If you notice it, note when it started and mention it to your prescriber, who can look at other possible causes too.
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Sources FDA label: Lexapro (escitalopram), DailyMed NHS: Escitalopram Royal College of Psychiatrists: Antidepressants National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications MedlinePlus: Escitalopram NHS: Antidepressants, overview and types Pastoor and Gobburu, 2014, Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism and Toxicology: Clinical pharmacology review of escitalopram Cipriani et al., 2018, The Lancet: Comparative efficacy and acceptability of 21 antidepressant drugs Drugs@FDA: Lexapro, application 021323 ClinCalc DrugStats: The Top 300 Drugs of 2024 Polychroniou PE, et al. Temporal profiles and dose-responsiveness of side effects with escitalopram and duloxetine in treatment-naïve depressed adults. Behavioral Sciences, 2018 Claro articles are for self-monitoring and educational purposes only. They are not a medical device, therapist, or diagnostic tool, and do not replace care from your prescribing clinician. If you are in crisis, contact your care team, emergency services, the Samaritans (UK: 116 123), or the Crisis Text Line (US: text HOME to 741741).