dizzy and lightheaded from Lexapro withdrawal

WORST DRUG EVER!!!!! I started off randomly one day having a panick attach which scared the sh*t out of me. I was also depressed for a bit. I went to a Dr who suggested i see a cardiologist because I didn't belive IT was anxiety. Still don't lol. But anyways heart turnt out fine my Dr left to another clinic somewhere and I was stuck with some new random Dr who automatically before even taking any sort of blood work told me yup your depressed yup you have anxiety. Gave me 10mg of escitalopram and .5 mg of clonazapam. I took it for 2 weeks. And oh my god! I had such severe headaches... Not a normal headache like someone was stabbing me in the head with a knife and then these pains would sit at the top of my head and sometimes shoot up the back of my neck. I got shooting pains all over my body which were soooo painful and still are. Felt like water was wishing around in my head or my brain was bleeding. Seriouse anxiety and panick attack ( went to the emergency 12 times in the past 2 months) lightheaded to he point where I can't think. Extreme tingling throughout face/ arms legs extra. Very strange rushes of what clearly is this ugly drug. Feeling like I'm going to faint pretty much 24/7. If I'm not wanting to faint I have such high anxiety. Suicidal thoughts.... Which is very weird because I've NEVER wanted to or ever would even think of something like that. Have no emotion. SEVERE depersonalization, floaters in my eyes, sense of smell is all off. Very vivid dreams that would come up randomly in my mind throughout the day... Weiiiird right? , sleep paralysis. Not feeling real. Very scary feelings. I don't even know what to do. I was so close to admitting myself to the loonie bin. I also get weird rages of anger. Feeling that I'm going to loose control. diahrreah. BRAIN ZAPS. Oh yea and a weird high feeling. I hate this sh*t so much. I have always been very outgoing and I seriously have no personality what so ever at all I feel like living in my head and am going to snap of they don't go away. I know I have some sort of medical issue that needs to be resolved but I only took this pill for 2 weeks and it did this to me. It is the worst thing I have ever gone through in my life and I am 24 yr old female. I originally went on it for having a panick attack... Allegedly lol. I would do anything to feel like again... Even with the panick attacks. I have been Off this for about a month and still don't feel better. I get so lightheaded and dizzy and can't concentrate it unbareavale. I haven't been able to watch tv cause I can't comprehend what's going on I havny left my house because now all the sudden I'm scared of everything. I can feel some of the symptoms subsiding but there still there and very real. I had a Dr tell me the other day he believed I had IBS , an ulcer, MS or ALS ( sent me to rsee a neurologist) oh and also my lymph nodes in my neck randomly swell up now not sure of that has anything to do with it but the Dr believes I now have lymph node issues. I could go on. He's so dumb. I've had plenty of test done this past cpl months. Oh also NOTHING SEEMS REAL. Never had this Issure before. Sorry for the rant just wanted to let people know my horrible effects from this c**p and wouldn't recomend it to the f devil. Seriously.... Thanks doc!

Does anyone ever get frustrated at how difficult it is to describe what coming off Lexapro is like? Especially when your head is mashed up from withdrawing anyway? I just want to know if anyone knows what i mean when I say along with all the other sh*t people have mentioned, does anyone get that heavy front brain feeling. Beyond grogginess. Like a foreign object (like Plado rolled acrooss the front of your brain?? It f*****g sucks and despite what you feel you should all keep journals because one day Lexapro?Forest laborotories will be paying out Big time. Happy withdrawing. Peace

These message boards have been both a comfort and a source of anxiety for me, haha. But I promised myself I would post my success story, to spread a little hope. I had spent a month on 5 mg of lexapro about 10 years ago for some mild OCD. I went off of it cold turkey after my symptoms resolved and don't recall experiencing any withdrawal symptoms. Recently, I was prescribed 10 mg of lexapro for a bout of GAD. I took 10 mg for about 8 days, but the side effects were intense! My anxiety worsened ten-fold, then depression popped up out of nowhere with occasional suicidal ideation! I was dizzy and couldn't sleep a wink! So after 8 days on 10 mg I went off of it cold turkey thinking my discontinuation would be unnoticeable like last time. About 3 days later I had what I could only describe as a psychotic episode. I was extremely dizzy and was fluctuating between severe feelings of déjà vu and complete unfamiliarity of the people and places that surrounded me. I frantically called my psychiatrist who instructed me to go back on 5 mg of lexapro. I did just that and felt better a few moments later. Realizing I must be very sensitive to this drug now, I began a tapering schedule. I had spent 1 week on 10 mgs, so then I spent the following week on 5 mgs, then the following week on 2.5 mgs and the final week at approx 1-1.5 mg (I was cutting 20mg tablets so it's hard to be precise). When I began my taper, I introduced the following supplements: A womens daily multivitamin Fish Oil Ultimate Flora Critical Care probiotics (research the new studies on probiotic treatment of anxiety. Very interesting!) And magnesium as needed to ease the physical symptoms of anxiety I also went back on a low progesterone birth control, and I began cognitive behavioral therapy. I was able to switch to less stressful work hours, changed my diet and added exercise to my daily schedule. Every time I dropped a dose I would feel feverish with increased mood swings for a day or two. It's been two weeks since my last crumb of lexapro and I'm feeling much better. I never felt the brain zaps. The sweats and hot flashes have ceased. My anxiety seems to be lessening and I haven't had a panic attack in several weeks. The wild mood swings persist, but seem to have balanced over the last two days. Today I feel dizzy and I was just hit with a wave of fatigue. But it's nothing I can't work through. I hope to bring you even better news at my three week update.

For me it is like being car sick all of the time.(dizzy, sick to my stomach feeling) been off lexapro for about 3 weeks now and it is still bothering me. Had my first brain zap yesterday while watching the basketball tournament. I was dizzy and thought I was going to pass out... also not sleeping well... Taking Dramamine has helped a little. Appetite is gone.Just ready for this to be over.

So, I went on lexapro 8 months ago after the death of my 5 day old son. I was on 10mg & went to 7.5 for two weeks. I felt ok. Went down to 5mg two days ago and have felt lightheaded, somewhat dizzy & last night felt a weird floaty feeling. It really freaked me out. I determined to get off this though to try to have another baby soon. Someone please tell me it gets better. How long after you totally stopped did you feel ok?

Hi I have been on Lexapro (escitalopram) for about 5 months first 3-4 months taking only 5 MG then decided as my doctor directed to take full 10 MG. I work very long hours 7 days a week so this helped me get through the long days of work, my kids and husband. I decided I was in a good place and went off this cold turkey. First week I didn't even realize my mood swings my husband would tell me I get so angry and yell I thought I was just exhausted from work. Had a cold 5 days on Day 7 was the worst didn't feel right i felt as if I could die and so mad. I took a sleeping pill that usually knocks me out but only slept 3 hours. I took a few days of work in hopes to cope better. They symptoms I get mostly is Tackycardia (100-142) BPM, dizziness, lightheaded ness, weird feelings, blurred vision. I am 8 days out and refuse to get on this stuff again and slowly taper off this sh*t.

My doc..acted as tho he had no clue that it caused weight gain..I have gained 30 lbs from Lexapro..I am FED up with the nonsense..I am going thought withdraws currently because he did not call in my script..I feel drunk,when I move my eyes back and forth I get dizzy it is even hard for me to drive..I forget things and cant remember things..I have been tempted to call in for a script BUT ...NOPE I am done with SSRIs..I am DONE with Docs who just prescribe any ole thing..because it is $$$ in their pockets..I have non stop hunger from this drug..like I said I have gained 30 lbs..before that I was on zoloft..and gained weight but ..doc said nope..I beg to differ..NOW I have to deal with withdraws and loosing 30 lbs..DO NOT allow our Doc to put you on SSRIs FIND better ways..these drugs are evil...

I went to the gym tonight and swam for 45 minutes..got on the stationary bike and after 5 minutes felt lightheaded and drunk..I have to really pay attention when driving as I space out ..and feel drunk due to the withdraws..

I know exactly what you are talking about..the swimmy feeling like your brain is floating in water..I have constant ringing in my ears as well..I even told my doc ..look this stuff is causing weight gain (( I switched from zoloft because of weight gain and ringing in my ears))..But good ole doc refused to admit that it was caused by these nasty drugs..when I move my eyes back and forth to read or look around I can hear a difference in the ringing in my ears kinda like a swishing sound..I just started feeling a little "car sick" and have INTENSE hunger even after meals..I am DONE with SSRIs I am DONE with depression meds..I also have the runs from withdraw..I am like come on body purge it out ..This sucks and I have thought about just getting a rx to get rid of this feeling..BUT...I am gonna try to tuff it out..these drugs are evil..

I hope and PRAY my limbido comes back..it has been gone for far too long..and it is not fair to my hubby..and YES the feeling of being drink...totally know what you are talking about..and it also interferes with climax...it is almost like things go numb and you can not feel..SO SO SO donnnneee with this..I will try drinking allot of water and continue swimming..ect and being active..it is so hard going through this withdraw..

I stopped taking lexapro about a month ago. I thought I had done well getting off of the drug all by myself, little did I know my life would be screwed up for 3 weeks or more! I have been experiencing headaches, disassociation, flu like symptoms, nausea and I have not left my bed in 4 days fair warning this drugs benefits do not outweigh it's side effects ! My life is in shambles now :(

Hello Everyone!

i've been taking Lexapro for over 10 years 10mg every day.  I've stayed on it for so long because every time i tried to quit i would suffer horrible withdrawal symptoms. The doctor said that i should be able to quit cold turkey whenever i felt ready for it, well...Brain zaps, sweating, lightheadedness, horrible vivid dreams, hallucinations...you name it, i've had it. I've tried weaning off by taking 5 instead of 10 every day, or taking 10 every second day. I could not do it. So, i started researching online the best/least painful ways to wean off. I've searched for days, and then i found it! On one of the many forums someone had posted about liquid Lexapro.  I wish i could find the post and thank the lady who shared her way of quitting with us because today i am on 1ml a day and i barely felt any symptoms at all! A slight lightheadedness here and there but ABSOLUTELY DOABLE!! I started off by taking 9ml for 10 days...then 8ml for 7 days... then 7.5 mil for another 10.  Then 7 for 7 days. Then 6 for 7 days. 5,4,3,2 for 7 days. And now i've been on 1ml for the past 3 days. I feel great! It was also suggested to take vitamin D while quitting as it supposed to ease some of the symptoms. The trick is really just to do it as slow as possible. Let your body get adjusted to every new dosage you start before you move on to the next lower dose. Ask your doctor to switch you over to liquid and start believing!! :)

Best of  luck to you all!! 

I took Lexapro for depression for about a year. Upon approval from my psychiatrist I have discontinued taking it. It's been about a week now without it and I feel dizzy and light headed all the time, as well. You are not alone.

I'm in the same boat. How long did the dizziness last?

I am also in the same boat. I have been on Lexapro for 5 years and it was working great for my anxiety but I was bothered by the sexual side effects. My doctor had me switch from 15mg Lexapro to 10mg Brintellix which I have now been on for 5 days. The nausea and dizziness is horrible and I am very on edge.... probably because I'm so dizzy and I can't do anything about it! I think it is a combination of lexapro withdrawl and brintillex side effects. The nausea has slowly gotten better but the dizziness hasn't. Is the consensus that it lets up in 2 weeks?