• Effectiveness

  Major (for anxious mood)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (dizziness)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 10 mg Daily

Side effects: dizziness

• Effectiveness

  Slight (for anxious mood)
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall) (anxious mood, apathy, joint pain, loneliness, avoidance of people)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 5 mg/5 mL Daily

Advice & Tips: I was not sure about taking this medication. My doctor started me on 5mg theen ,10, 20, now 30mg. External factors have made it difficult for me during the month of march.I still feel anxious. I have experienced soreness in my left shoulder and knees. My hands sometimes shake. Since I have been off work, I seem to want to avoid people and conversation, sleep at the wierdest time of day and get very edgy if I don't manage to get some sleep. I don't see any results yet and can not wait to be the person and mother I used to be! I had gone to the hospital due to my joint pains but was told it is due to my anxiety and was not given anything to aliviate the pain. Did some physiotherapy ...seems to be helping.

Cost: < $25 monthly

Side effects: loneliness, avoidance of people, anxious mood, apathy, joint pain

• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for depressed mood)
• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for pain)
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall) (decreased sex drive (libido))
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Helps with depression that comes from being sick, makes moods level out. I'm happier and the people around me are happier.

Cost: $25-49 monthly

Side effects: decreased sex drive (libido)

• Effectiveness

  None (for depressed mood)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 10 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Just prescribed by a general practitioner who did not actually help me with the problems presented and husband made me bring severe depression up.

• Effectiveness

  Major (for depressed mood)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Major (for sucidial depressive thoughts)
• Effectiveness

  Moderate (for depression with anxiety)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 15 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: It was and still is necessary. I may still need to raise the dosage, but for now I am maintaining a reasonable level of daily calm. My depression is still palpable, but manageable with professional help. This is the first time in my life I have needed pharmaceutical help in mentally dealing with daily ups and downs. It did not take much to bring my natural levelheadedness back into play. What was most important in the decision to use an antidepressant was the personal understanding that I had fallen fast and hard (mentally) and had to have professional help immediately or I was not going to be able to save myself.

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  None (for General health)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 30 mg Daily

Cost: $25-49 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Can't tell (for depressed mood)
• Side effects

  None (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  A little hard to take

Dosage: 10 mg Daily

Cost: < $25 monthly

• Effectiveness

  None (for muscle twitching (fasciculations))
• Side effects

  Moderate (for Overall)
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Somewhat hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: Did nothing for my twitches and basically felt all the side effects.

Cost: $50-99 monthly

• Effectiveness

  Major (for depressed mood)
• Side effects

  Mild (for Overall) (decreased sex drive (libido))
• Adherence

  Always
• Burden

  Not at all hard to take

Dosage: 20 mg Daily

Advice & Tips: I was seriously suicidal. Lexapro has REALLY helped. It is my most important med. I never miss a dose. Beneficial side effect = slightly lower libido. Time-of-day for dosing is important for me; Evening dosing is not so good (can't fall asleep); morning dosing works well.

Cost: $25-49 monthly

Side effects: decreased sex drive (libido)