I have had hives/urticaria too since starting Lexapro. I was on 5mg for a couple of weeks with a few itchy spots but no rash yet, and then when I went up to 10mg it starting spreading over my buttocks and backs of thighs. I stopped taking it but it continued to get really bad, eventually covering my whole body in big swollen red spots, welts and huge red raised patches - it was unbearably itchy. The dermatologist said it may be from the Lexapro, or stress or a thyroid problem, hashimotos which i show signs of in my blood tests. I had been on Effexor but weened off it. I then tried to take zoloft instead but it seems to make the hives worse again, although its hard to tell as it comes in waves. Ive had it for 2 months now, and am hopeful it will just burn itself out. Apparently when you are allergic to one class of antidepressants you are allergic to all? So i may go back to Effexor but its a bummer because i really wanted to try the lex/zoloft. Its all trial and error. The ironic thing is you go on antidepressants so you can cope and not be stressed, and then you have a reaction and cant take it and stress can prolong it! Catch 22 all round.
Just wondered if indeed the biopsy you had taken at the dermatologists did come back that Lexapro was the cause for your rash. I'm going through the same thing. Did you stop the Lexapro cold turkey or did you taper? How long had you been on the Lexapro? Hope you don't mind my asking these questions.
Thanks,
Karen
Thanks,
Karen
I started taking Lexapro two weeks ago. One week after taking the full 10 mg dose, I started to get itchy sensations on my hands, and after a day or two I broke out in hives all over my body. I am stopping taking it this week after weaning down the dosage. After reading this posts, I really hope that the hives go away and don't linger for a long time!
I have been taking lexapro 10mg daily for years but within the past two years I have been getting several patches of red itchy little bumps and only during summer months. I had them last year so bad they looked like hives and was given a creme for bacterial infections and it stops the itching temperarly but not long. This rash is horrible, so far restricted to my arms. Benedryl doesn't do anything for me. I have tried to go off lexapro in the past and experience horrible side effects doctor told me to go back on them anyone else had a hard time getting off the lexapro? I can't wait to try and go off them again.
I too have been on lexapro for 1.5 years. Over the past few months I have been getting hives, almost always on my thighs, as well as incredibly itchy palms. I have been to an allergist, dermatologist, etc...and it seems to be the lexapro. I too amy working at getting off of it, but it is a struggle. I have been very gradually reducing the dose and then keeping it there for several weeks. I am now down to 2.5 mg...just a quarter of a pill. But some days are good, others difficult. I tried to go completely off, but had a lot of anxious feelings, as well as nausea.
"I started taking Lexapro two weeks ago. One week after taking the full 10 mg dose, I started to get itchy sensations on my hands, and after a day or two I broke out in hives all over my body. I am stopping taking it this week after weaning down the dosage. After reading this posts, I really hope that the hives go away and don't linger for a long time!"
I posted this a few weeks ago... Just an update. The hives went away completely for me about 1.5 weeks after I went off of the Lexapro and haven't come back yet. I have now been taking Zoloft for about a month and haven't had any problems. The Zoloft has taken much longer to kick in compared to the Lexapro, however (my depression/anxiety was dramatically reduced after just a few days on the Lexapro), but it is slowly taking effect. My pharmacist told me that there is no reason to think that because you are allergic to one SSRI, you will also be allergic to others; they apparently all have very different chemical formulas. To all of you with hives: hang in there! They will go away after you have been off the Lexapro for a while. I had a rocky time going off of the Lexapro, with anxiety attacks, but that also went away after a week or two.
I posted this a few weeks ago... Just an update. The hives went away completely for me about 1.5 weeks after I went off of the Lexapro and haven't come back yet. I have now been taking Zoloft for about a month and haven't had any problems. The Zoloft has taken much longer to kick in compared to the Lexapro, however (my depression/anxiety was dramatically reduced after just a few days on the Lexapro), but it is slowly taking effect. My pharmacist told me that there is no reason to think that because you are allergic to one SSRI, you will also be allergic to others; they apparently all have very different chemical formulas. To all of you with hives: hang in there! They will go away after you have been off the Lexapro for a while. I had a rocky time going off of the Lexapro, with anxiety attacks, but that also went away after a week or two.
I started Lexapro 10 mg in July 2007 and after one week noticed two large hives on my arm. I was also taking Keflex at the time. My primary doctor who prescribed the Lexapro said that it was unlikely that the Lexapro would cause hives and it was more likely that the Keflex caused the hives. I stopped taking both drugs and the hives went away in a about a month or so. I never had problems taking Keflex or other antibiotics in the same class (Ancef) prior to that or since then. After reading these posts, I am now convinced it was the Lexapro. I wish I had seen a dermatologist for a second opinion! So glad I found this site- thanks everyone.
I am so glad there are people having the same problem. I have been taking Lexapro since December 08 but in April 09 I broke out with small, itchy blisters on my hands, a welt in my groin. I treated it with an anti fungal - but it did not help. The rash spread to my abdomen, armpits, legs and arms. I saw an allergist, a dermatologist, my regular endo (I have Hashimoto's) and finally my regular GP. My derm did a biopsy and found nothing but "atopic dermatitis". The GP tested me and said I was NOT having an allergic reaction- the allergist said the same and blamed it on stress (I got married in June). No one could tell me what was wrong. I suggested the lexapro or something else internal- but not one of the Doctors said anything I was eating or taking should be causing my rash. I have been on 3 rounds of prednasone because I have been scratching myself bloody. It helps but then the rash comes back when I taper off of the prednasone. UNTIL...I forgot to take my lexapro- the first time ever- and I noticed I was not itching. 3 days now of not taking the lexapro- and no itching!!! I have had this rash for 5 months- I dealt with it through my wedding and honeymoon. SOMEONE needs to make sure this is listed as a major side effect of Lexapro. Not one of the 4 professionals I saw even thought to take me off of it - instead prescribing a powerful steroid to control the itch. To anyone out there as miserable as I was - the prednisone works to control the itch - but taper off the Lexapro and try something else.
I have been taking various brands of escitalopram, including Lexapro, for a year and have had skin problems from the start. My psychiatrist believes this side-effect is , caused by tiny traces of contaminants in the chemicals (i.e. chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine or astatine) used in the "packing" of escitalopram.
Even though I am 44 the symptoms including a return to the large acne cysts :-( I had in my teens. More typically the problem manifests as patches/lumps of dry skin. I have found that rubbing in petroleum jelly a few times a day is effective in treating these.
Even though I am 44 the symptoms including a return to the large acne cysts :-( I had in my teens. More typically the problem manifests as patches/lumps of dry skin. I have found that rubbing in petroleum jelly a few times a day is effective in treating these.
I have been taking lexapro 10 mg for 3-4 months and suddenly broke out in a rash that looks like insect like bites all over. It started with just a few and now has spread all over. I thought maybe it was fleas or something (though I have no pets). Just to be sure I washed everything in my house with hot water like 5 times, steamed my pillows, mattress and couch, and cleaned everything like crazy. After seeing several doctors a dermatologist and looking on line, it seems that it has to be the lexapro. I have stopped taking the lexapro for 6 days now and it is slowly be getting better. The bites have gotten smaller and look like little pimples now. I have had only 2 new bumps even though I have stopped the lexapro, but i think it is because I have been on it for so long. I guess it will take longer to get out of my system. I have had a biopsy done and am waiting for the results. I feel sure this is from the lexapro as I have not changed anything else (soap, detergent, shampoo, etc). It is horrible. I hope this helps someone. I will post my biopsy results once I find out. Good luck out there.
This a follow up of my insect like hives. (posted 09/18/09). I got my biopsy results back and I have urticaria papular (a type of hives) which is usually caused by insect bites, medication, food allergy, or even stress. The dermatologist feels that it is the lexapro 10mg, as I have now been off it for 7 days and the bumps have slowly gotten smaller and now they look like they are drying up (they looked like little pimples with liquid inside before). Though I did have 2 more bumps two days before I have not had anymore. I asked the dermatologist about the new bumps and he said the lexapro will take a while to get out of my system as I was on it for so long, so it is not unusual. I am glad it is going down though, what a mess. Just incase anyone is wondering I have been on Fexofenadine 180mg once a day, Hydroxyzine HCL 25mg twice a day, and benadryl 50 mg twice a day. BECAREFUL AS IT MAY CAUSE YOU TO BE EXTREMELY DROWSY AND SLEEP ALL DAY. Of course check with your doctor what is safe for you first. The dermatologist told me to buy Eucerin Calming Itch Relief (OTC), it stinks and only helped stop the itch for a while, the only good thing is it is clear unlike Calamine. I don't care how I look at this point so I stick to the good ol' pink Calamine for itch relief. The hives are going down so far but none have just gone away yet. Again I hope this helps someone out there. You are not alone. I will follow up in a few days. God Bless.
Have been off Lexapro for over 2 months. Continue to have hives. Extremely itchy bumps. Worse at night. Is still spreading. Started on underside of forearms, sides of hips, and base of hairline/neck. Some of these places are better, but it has popped up elsewhere. One round of steriods helped, but the rash came back in full force. Dr. says I have to wait it out. How long?????
Again I am following up on my post 09/19/09. My hives have gone down considerably as I have still been off the lexapro. So far I have not had any new hives, and the old ones have dried up and look like scabs now. Sorry for all the graphic details, I just felt so lost when all this happened to me, I just want to offer any info I can. I am not taking the 50 mg of benadryl any more but will finish out the rest of my prescription meds as directed by my dermatologist. It is slowly but surely clearing up, I pray that no one else has to experience this, but if you think it is lexapro causing your hives too, get off it and it should clear up with time. My outbreak began on the 12th of september and still has not completely cleared up but is much better than it was. I know it is terrible and frustrating, hang in there. Hope this helps. God bless.
Had no problems when taking 10 mg for about 6 months. Bumped up to 20 mg and now breaking out after about a week. This is crazy, I hate to hear about everyone's trouble with this. Will drop back down to a lower dose and hope that helps.
I started developing a rash a couple days after starting Lexapro (I was taking 10 mg). One of my eyelids became extremely red, and I got about 6 patches of red, itchy, bumpy skin on my hands, arms and chest. At first I thought it was a food allergy, but after about a week and half I realized it might be Lexapro. Since going off, my eyelid has gone back to normal (thank GOD) but the rashes on my arms got worse and the others have stayed the same. It's now been about three weeks since I went off the med, and the other rashes haven't changed much. Zyrtec didn't seem to do any good, and I haven't been treating it with anything else. Just waiting for it to run its course. Does anyone know how long it takes for the rashes to go away?