I am on Lexapro 15 mg a day. I have had the most luck in the aspect of no major side effects, but I am tired quite often. I don't think it is the medication as much as it is the anxiety in combination with the meds (I also take an "as needed" lorazapam and a beta blocker). My doctors say the same thing about exercising, I know that it is true but it is hard to exercise when each waking moment you feel like you just got off a treadmill. It is all I can do some days to do my job, much less exercise. I think I could sleep for a week if given a chance, but I am realizing that it is because I want to sleep long enough to wake up and go, oh, I am panic free now, where are the pancakes?
I have willed myself to take the mutt for walks, and that does feel good. Also, I think the exhaustion is because I want my brain to be quiet. It is really like the little angel on one shoulder and the little devil on the other. I want the positive thoughts, but that little bugger on the left won't shut up!! Sorry for rambling, I too struggle with 'is this the right medication' constantly. I think that is inherent to our condition. I took lexapro several years ago at 10mg and I was able to function as though I was not on any medication. Getting through this program has opened my eyes to the fact that I have pretty much been anxiety filled my whole life, and that is a little depressing. Some days are good, some days aren't and there is no magic pill that is going to make that go away completely, only help us deal with the bad days a little better, so we have more good ones. I admire the folks out here that are not on meds, but I no longer beat myself up that I am on meds. My mother is a nurse and for her, success for me is being off medication. I have decided finally, after 43 years, that her shoulds don't have to be mine, and if I had diabetes, she would not be asking me when I was off my diabetes pills. Take them without guilt, don't take them, make your own choice, but know there is no magic, just our will power.