hi my name is monica,i have been on Lexapro 20 mg for over 8 years and I have been weaning off for about 8 days its been hard for me and scarry too..i feel these weird things like my head feels like I am not really here like iam in a dream and I feel these weird brain things and my heart beats really fast mostly when I am sleeping,i get really scared to feel these things and I kind of want to not continue weaning off but my dr had tried me on so many different anti meds and they all made me sick I am very sensitive to meds..i just don't know what to do:(
Take the weaning VERY slowly after 8 years...
Drop by 2.5mg every couple of months and keep positive...
Hoping the best for you
I went off Lexapro about 2 years ago. I am still lightheaded and just had another brain zap. Is anyone else having such long term side effects.
How are you doing now? I think I have been having withdrawl for a couple years now but I haven't seen anyone post about how long the lightheaded/zaps can last.
Hello. I am also on Day 8 with no Lexapro. I tapered off over a period of a month. I am constantly dizzy, my eyes feel swollen and I am having issues just focusing. All of this isn't worse than the 28lbs of weight I gained while on the drug. I couldn't stand the weight gain, so I decided to get myself off the medication. Some experience no side effects despite going cold-turkey, some are not so fortunate even after a carefully monitored reduction in dosage. I found that Dramamine helps with the dizziness.
How long did it take for that to go away. I've been off for 10 days after only 7 weeks of being on Lexapro and I get occasional dizzy spells and feel out of it.
I was on Lexapro for eight years--10 mg. My insurance ran out, and shortly thereafter so did my pills and the prescription. I went off Lexapro four months ago cold turkey, which I would not recommend to anyone. I had no idea how devastating this could be. At first (the first several weeks), I just noticed a bit of increased irritability and moodiness (crying for no reason, etc.). I was able to cope with that part. Then, suddenly, I was downright sick. Extreme fatigue, flu like symptoms, diarrehea, and vertigo and brain zaps to the point where I was not able to drive or even get out of bed. I lost my job over the ordeal. The neurologist I was seeing wanted to do a brain scan, but I didn't have the funds to do it being unemployed and in my heart I know it is still the withdrawal that I am going through. The neurologist initially diagnosed me with BPPV (a type of vertigo), but the physical therapy for it did not work and in fact made it worse. I am now in the fifth month of "withdrawl" and am still basically incapacitated. It's possible more is going on here, but after reading this thread, I'm convinced that I'm suffering from the same effects as everyone else only worse-- probably because I was on it for so long or just have a metabolism that doesn't tolerate this very well. My recommendation: be very very careful about taking Lexapro and don't ever go off of it cold turkey. Don't stay on it for long. And be mindful of what people are saying here--the doctors don't seem to be aware at all and will go down fruitless paths at great expense.
It's November 2014. I am hopeful you were successful in your fight to get free from Lexapro. Today is day two for me, cold turkey. I gained strength from your post. Thanks.
I've been taking 150 mg of lexapro for about 1 and a few months. My doctor put me on wellbutrin cause i complained of massive weight gain. (around 60 lbs.)
So I stopped cold turkey. I told my doctor and she just told me to not bother going back on it cause i was 1/3 through of the withdrawal.
I can barely stand sometimes i'm so dizzy and nauseated.
Best of luck to you all!
the dizziness will stop after about 3 to 4 weeks
I, due to extreme family stresses, took 10 Mg of generic Lexapro for a year and a half. Prior to this I had attempted to find different means, whole food vitamins, this and that, and for a long time I was able to cope. Then...I hit an all time low. Nothing I had done before - helped. I could not function, as a wife, mother, or friend. I would cry over everything, and nothing. I would lose my temper easily, and scream uncontrollably. I was not, by any means, the person I wanted to be. My immediate family loved me, and tried to help. However, I, I was the one that had to make the choice. I knew I had to do something. The doctor was extremely sympathetic. So...I faced side effects for about 2 weeks when I started it, and it took about two months to feel fully happy, and, mmm... normal. I lost 5 lbs in the first two months. But after that, I have slowly gained about 1 lb a month. Now, here I am 18m later. I had lost five lbs. then gained 16. I had always been one about my weight. It bothered me, but of course - who isn't - when they have done nothing to cause it, besides a little pill.
Over the year and a half it helped with my depression, anxiety, anger, and it helped to calm my acid reflux (which was largely from stress). I was calm over everything, never lost control, and in fact - I never cried either. (I found this strange, because I was always the emotional one, and I would always cry a little at a wedding, funeral, or etc.) It also made me lack COMPLETELY in the libido department. I had no desire - whatsoever. I was not as lovey, like holding hands and such either. It did make me feel more able to do what I want, and not always consider the effects. Like spending money. I was a very good couponer, deal finder, and such. But it lessened my view of consequences. I found it easier to just go, get what I wanted. Groceries and everything else.
So, here I was. It was time for me to stop Lexapro. I needed to. I wanted to be the me without the side effects. Yes, it was what I needed for a time, but now I was done. 6 months prior I took the Drs advice and took a pill every other day - BAD IDEA. Within a week I was irritable, grouchy, moody, and yelled at the kids every time they did something. Back on it daily I went. Ugh. Lets try this again. After research, common sense, and knowing that in some things, slow is best - I tried again. I cut it in 4 and took 7.5mg. for about 8 weeks. If there was any side effect, it was minimal, not even a daily thing. Then I went to only half a pill - 5mg. for another 5 months or so. Still feeling pretty good. We were selling/buying a new home at this point, moved in with in-laws for a few weeks, and all of this was a stressful time. I had my moments, but I held together very well. I remained on 5mg because with everything that was happening, I wasn't ready to move forward, physically and mentally. After we moved, and life started to settle down, I was ready to continue my Lexapro weaning. 2.5 mg. One- quarter of my pill. After 2 weeks on this dose, I started to feel side effects. Although mild. I did feel a little more irritable, I had occasional dizzy/woozy feeling, and my stomach was starting to feel "refluxy" again. Honestly, at this point, I was like, well - what's the point? I'm almost to none, so let's just do it. Okay - here it goes.
Currently two weeks out - I feel the dizzy/woozy feeling. I find that strong/bold coffee makes me irritable and bothers my stomach too much, so I cut back to 1 cup in the morning of a light blend. Good! I started my Multi-vitamin again, Calcium, and C's. Good! Mornings are the hardest and I usually feel good after eating lunch. I feel a little woozy most mornings, almost foggy -I feel good when I wake, then this feeling slowly takes over. And I'm a little irritable. But not bad. I'm still figuring things out, what works and doesn't. But I am in control of me now, not my little pill. :)
So - like others posted- YOU know you. It's your body, your choice. Some can go cold turkey. Most can't. You will have some side effects. Expect them. But don't let them overpower your choices. Have support - Make sure you TALK to that support. You'll eat yourself up if you don't. If nothing else, once my husband understood why I needed to go off, he was with me 110%. That helped. Extremely! Best wishes to ALL WHO face this challenge.
One added note that I forgot - The second day off Lexapro, I also had severe achiness in my shoulders and lower back. Over the following week, it decreased a little every day. I no longer feel this symptom of withdrawal.