My mother takes/took Lexapro. It would take about two weeks to start working. When she went off of it she became very hyper and slept little and would get angry--she was not supposed to take herself off the med. She has fought depression for many years and there is/was a big difference when she took her med(s), for the better. I'm afraid by me getting cancer is a little too much for her. I never really believed in meds and depression until I experienced it first hand through my mom--depression can be treated successfully with the proper medication. A big issue is when someone depressed starts to feel better and they stop taking the med without consulting their doctor, that's when the trouble starts. Too many long stories--a lot of heartaches that I really don't want to remember.