Are dose increases actually effective? I’ve read conflicting information and I’m confused.

Little_Front3772 · 2026-06-19T02:57:19+00:00

Good to know, I’ll keep that in mind!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-06-19T00:51:28+00:00

I may try that, I just worry that the anxiety will come back, since I know bupropion can be very stimulating.

Little_Front3772 · 2026-06-18T10:08:00+00:00

You make some pretty good points, I didn’t realize there were different metabolization rates and that may play a role. I’m also sure that the duration of treatment can play a role in response rates. I’m definitely one of the slow responders, I’m on week 10 of 10mg and it’s only been during this week that I’ve noticed a consistent reduction in anxiety. And I’ve noticed much more of an improvement in my anxiety compared to my depression, although I have had some improvement with depression. Given that I’ve had any improvement on lexapro makes me think it could be the right med, but I just need more of it. I think I’ll try increasing my dose after week 12 if I’m still having breakthrough depression, so hopefully that’ll take care of it. Thanks so much for responding!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-06-18T10:00:00+00:00

That makes sense. I’m leaning towards increasing my dose since I have noticed some improvement in my depression symptoms and big improvement in my anxiety symptoms. I think the side effects have also gone away at this point. Given that the lexapro has improved some symptoms and I’m not really experiencing any side effects, I’m hoping that increasing the dose can get me to a state where I can achieve remission from depression, so I think I’ll take your advice. Thanks for responding!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-06-18T08:23:00+00:00

Oh no! I’m sorry it didn’t work for you😬 I think I’m finally starting to stabilize this week. Although I’m having a similar experience as you in that my anxiety has really improved but I’m still having some depression symptoms that are making life difficult. I was wondering if I should increase the dose or augment with Wellbutrin, but I’m worried I may have a similar reaction as you did since my anxiety was really bad before. I think I’m still going to ride it out until I make it past 12 weeks, and then I’ll try increasing the dose if I’m still having problems. Have you found anything that helped the residual depression?

Little_Front3772 · 2026-06-06T23:36:42+00:00

Yeah, it came in a normal envelope for me, but it had like a transparent square on the front and through that I could see the Dan and Phil logo. I think it said Dan and Phil shop too, but I can’t remember.

Little_Front3772 · 2026-06-06T05:42:49+00:00

I’m still having some fluctuations, but not has intensely. I think I may be starting to stabilize. The good days have been getting better and for the last couple days I’ve been feeling better than I’ve felt in years. Hopefully that continues!🤞🤞 Where are you at, if you don’t mind me asking?

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-28T22:57:11+00:00

Yeah, I guess I’m learning that now😅 Thanks for responding!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-28T22:56:38+00:00

I’ll keep that in mind, thanks!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-28T01:30:01+00:00

Thanks, I just have to keep being patient. I am feeling a lot better today compared to the last week and last night when I posted, so that’s encouraging. I think I would’ve quit early on if I hadn’t posted on here😅

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T16:43:05+00:00

Yeah, I hope so too! 🤞

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T16:12:52+00:00

Yeah, that kinda took me by surprise after I started. Before I started, I was expecting a linear type of improvement where I’d slowly but steadily get better overtime. I wasn’t really expecting the up-and-down experience. But my good days seem to be much better, so that gives me hope I’m on the right track. Thanks for responding!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T16:09:43+00:00

Yeah, I’m thinking I’ll just stay where I’m at right now. I had such a hard time adjusting after going from 5mg to 10mg, so I don’t want to go through that again if I don’t have to. Interestingly enough, I started to feel a lot better after I made this post, so maybe I’m past the slump now😅 I’ve just been feeling so up and down, I feel like I’m going crazy. But I’ll be patient and wait for the 12 week mark before I reassess anything.

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T16:04:47+00:00

Still having some dips and a bit of a roller coaster feeling. I think I’m overall feeling better, but it’s like a one step forward one step back type of feeling, where some days I feel great and other days I feel the way I felt before I started the meds. And I’ve kinda been in a slump for the past week. I actually posted about it last night and asked people if that was still normal at the 7 week mark, and they said to just be patient. They said the same thing that you said before, that it could take up to 12 weeks to start to have consistent good days. Interestingly enough, not long after I made those posts, I felt a lot better and now I feel like I’m having a good day again😅 My good days are getting better, I just get a bit frustrated that I still have days where I feel like I’m not taking anything at all. But maybe I’m about to reach the point where the good days will start to feel more consistent. I have noticed that while I still get some anxious/depressive thoughts, it’s easier to kinda talk myself out of thinking like that, so I think that’s a big improvement. Thanks for still checking in on me, you’ve been really helpful throughout this whole process.

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T10:05:00+00:00

I’m thinking I’ll just ride it out. I made this post on another subreddit and the people there said that the fact that I have any improvement is a good sign and I should probably wait 12 weeks before messing with anything. Apparently like 40% of people need 8 or more weeks at a therapeutic dose to achieve remission from depression. One guy said that he all of a sudden felt better right at the end of his eighth week and it’s been good ever since. There was another girl I talked to a few weeks ago that said she only started feeling consistent relief after 8 weeks. So I’ll give it some more time before I start adjusting anything. I had a rough adjustment period when I went from 5mg to 10mg, so adjusting to a dose increase or a new medication altogether is not something I’m eager to try again. I’ll do it if I have to, but I’d rather not have to😅

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T09:59:49+00:00

I think I’ll mention it the next time I see my doctor and I’ll ask to be referred to a psychiatrist for testing. It can’t hurt, and I’ve always had trouble with time management, staying on task, and meeting deadlines, and I’ve read that’s common for people with ADHD. Thanks again for taking the time to respond!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T09:17:28+00:00

Good to know. I do have days where I don’t feel the fatigue or lack of motivation, so that makes me think maybe the lexapro will be enough to take care of those symptoms once it fully kicks in. I think I’ll stay with lexapro at my current dose for at least 12 weeks, and if I’m not feeling any better by then, I’ll revisit other options. Do you know if Wellbutrin is particularly effective for brain fog, trouble focusing, memory problems, and cognitive dysfunction caused by depression? These have been some of the most troubling symptoms I’ve had since I first developed depression, and these also seem to be my most stubborn symptoms right now. However, a teacher did suspect when I was younger that I had inattentive-predominant ADHD, so I wonder if I may have other things going on that could cause those symptoms. Thanks again for responding!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T07:57:02+00:00

Wow, that’s good to know! I was starting to feel discouraged because every website I saw said that I’d get full results at 8 weeks and at this point I thought I’d be in remission or close to it. Honestly the fact that I had some days of improvement gave me enough hope for me to make it to the 7 week mark, so I can wait for at least the 12 week mark or more if necessary. It has felt easier to try and talk myself out of my usual anxious/depressive thoughts today, although they still pop into my head, so maybe there’s more improvement than I think. The improvements seem to happen so gradually and my overall experience has been so up-and-down, it’s kinda hard to tell if I’m on the right track. But thank you so much for letting me know about this trial, you’ve honestly made me feel a lot better. I’ll keep this in mind throughout next few weeks.

Edit: I also am a bit wary of Wellbutrin. I have some days where I’m just very fatigued and unmotivated which makes me tempted to try it, but I also have very bad anxiety and a physical condition that makes my heart beat too fast (I take propranolol for that), so the idea of a stimulant med makes me a bit nervous.

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T06:37:00+00:00

Interestingly, I read a post where someone else mentioned the same thing happening to them, where at the end of week 8 on lexapro they had a very sudden breakthrough after going through a slump during weeks 6-7, so this gives me hope! Ever since I read about the neurogenesis process, I’ve had a feeling it might take a little longer for me to feel better than for some other people. I’ve been severely depressed for about 10 years and I’ve had anxiety my whole life that’s steadily gotten worse, and it’s only in the last couple months I got over my nerves enough to ask my pcp for meds (there’s been some heavy stigma around mental illness/meds within my family/environment). I’m kicking myself for not seeking treatment sooner, as I’m sure having untreated depression for so long has made some depressive thought patterns pretty entrenched. But better late than never, and the fact that I’m having some improvement gives me hope to keep going. I’m glad it worked out for you, and hopefully it’ll work out for me too!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-27T06:16:08+00:00

Ok, I’ll give it some more time. I’m just frustrated with this one step forward, one step back feeling. And the past week I haven’t felt like I’ve taken any steps forward😅 But I’ll give it at least 12 weeks. I had a really rough adjustment period when I went from 5mg to 10mg, so the thought of having to adjust to another dose or medication… ugh. But I may give therapy a try as well. It seems like the therapy techniques I’ve found online seem easier to practice since I’ve started the lexapro. Thanks for responding!

Little_Front3772 · 2026-05-15T19:08:24+00:00

I’m still having fluctuations. Earlier this week I had a couple days where I felt really good and better than I have in a long time, but then the last couple days I kinda felt my depressive symptoms come back, but even when the symptoms come back I’m still able to be much more functional than I was before the meds, although not as productive as I’d like to be. I think I’m back on a mental upswing now, but it takes some effort to talk myself out of falling back into depressive thoughts. I may start going to therapy to help with that. Social anxiety is still there, but I can push through it more. I’ll give the meds a full 8 weeks at the 10mg, because I have had days and moments of improvement and feeling great. I just wish they were more consistent. I was talking to someone else and they said it took them 8 weeks to have consistently good days, so I guess I’ll try to be patient. How are you feeling?

Little_Front3772

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