I am so glad I found this forum. I weaned off lexapro over a 2 month period. The first couple of days after I quit I felt fine. Then it started going downhill from there. Anger, irritability, heart pounding, wild dreams, GI problems, crying, feeling fuzzy, headaches. My emotions are all over the place. I thought of going back on but will give it another month. Knowing I'm not having a breakdown helps.
Is this thread still active?
There is liquid lexapro which is great for tapering it allows for incremental downward adjustments. No pill splitting.
For those of us who are or have taken Lexapro to address depression and/or anxiety, we need to remember that if we have not addressed the impetus of our anxiety/depression (unresolved grief, childhood trauma, combat veteran with unresolved PTSD, etc.) when we stop Lexapro the symptoms of anxiety/depression will return. I was on 40 mg and eventually, after going through some good counseling/therapy, tappered down to 2.5mg and was eventually able to stop all together. But, if I hadn't participated in counseling and resolved the issues underlying my anxiety getting off Lexapro would have simply resulted in my symptoms of anxiety eventually returning.
Hey there- I have been on lexapro since I was 12- and I am now 26- (ugh) it got to the point where i didnt need it but it was such a habit to take it and every time i tried to stop them those dizzy "zappy" feelings were so unbearable i just continued to take it for years- for the past year I have started tapering 10 mg to 5mg to 2.5mg to nothing- and I am on day 19... the first 6 days were fine--- but now I am getting those dizzy feelings all day long- I saw my therapist and PCP-- they reassured me that no one they new in 20 years of practice have died from getting off lexapro it can just be really uncomfortable and a nuisance. hang in there my friend!
How long before the derealization goes away
Best of luck! I too went cold turkey about a week ago. Flu like symptoms, electrical zaps, depression heighten. But I am staying the course...and wish you all the best!
I took 10 mg of Lexapro a day for 1 month and a half. When I was on it, it made me dizzy and I felt my anxiety eventually getting worse. I weaned myself off within a month, reducing the dose to 5mg and then cutting that in half for 2 weeks. The dizziness, nausea, and exhaustion will disappear in time. Everyone is different. Don't try to fight the withdrawal symptoms. Accept them and try to distract your mind to focus on other things. (Proactive) things. Get plenty of rest and start walking or exercise. You will see how this speeds up the process.
Thank you. I just quit my lexapro 2 days ago and have been doing your suggestions for a few weeks so I hope for minimal problems. I have to stay positive and hopeful & reading something positive helps a lot. It gives me hope.
I Gained About 30 lbs since I started lexapro a year ago. This is the second time trying to stop taking lexapro . This time I am weaning my dosage very slowly. So far doing well. I don't think lexapro helped my depression but my anxiety seems better. The weight gain is not worth it.
Hi there - I was on lexapro for almost 3 years and have now been off for one year. The first six months off were absolutely horrible, then as time went by each month got slightly more bareable and I started to enjoy life again and feel back to normal. I would like to say I am now completely recovered (I still have a bad day here and there but who doesn't). I wanted to write on a forum because when I was going through it I found it really hard to find positive success stories.
Hang in there team, it is possible.
As a bit of background I am 25, female and was taking 20mg lexapro for the first year and then 10mg for the last two. I tapered down over around 6-7 weeks although in hindsight this was too quick I just wanted to get it over with.
The things I found most helpful were: yoga, fish oil tablets, having a supportive partner and lastly at around the 4-5 month mark I started to see a acupuncturist who gave me a herbal supplement - I think this really helped with the last few horrible months.
Sending love and supportive hugs x
Hang in there team, it is possible.
As a bit of background I am 25, female and was taking 20mg lexapro for the first year and then 10mg for the last two. I tapered down over around 6-7 weeks although in hindsight this was too quick I just wanted to get it over with.
The things I found most helpful were: yoga, fish oil tablets, having a supportive partner and lastly at around the 4-5 month mark I started to see a acupuncturist who gave me a herbal supplement - I think this really helped with the last few horrible months.
Sending love and supportive hugs x
I am in the midst of stopping lexapro for the second time. I have taken the drug twice, or six months each time. I take 10 mg.
The only side effect I experience is the brain zaps. To me it feels as if my brain is blinking, or my thoughts are taking a second to connect. Definitely an odd sensation.
This withdrawal symptoms started about four days after my last dose. The first few days is estimate I had one of these brain zaps every few minutes. Now, ten days later I rarely have one a day, and it feels much milder.
It appears to happen at times when I move my eyes quickly, such as looking from keyboard to the screen, or moving my head quickly to look behind me.
I have read a lot about this symptom, and apparently no medical professionals know the cause, but it is not dangerous. Keep this in mind, and hopefully your worries can subside and you can ride it out.
Honestly this symptom is annoying, but not hellish. I managed to work (however I have a desk job that doesn't require high concentration. If you are a surgeon you might want to take a day off).
My advice is to take it easy on yourself. Walk slowly. Be gentle. Rest when you can.
The only side effect I experience is the brain zaps. To me it feels as if my brain is blinking, or my thoughts are taking a second to connect. Definitely an odd sensation.
This withdrawal symptoms started about four days after my last dose. The first few days is estimate I had one of these brain zaps every few minutes. Now, ten days later I rarely have one a day, and it feels much milder.
It appears to happen at times when I move my eyes quickly, such as looking from keyboard to the screen, or moving my head quickly to look behind me.
I have read a lot about this symptom, and apparently no medical professionals know the cause, but it is not dangerous. Keep this in mind, and hopefully your worries can subside and you can ride it out.
Honestly this symptom is annoying, but not hellish. I managed to work (however I have a desk job that doesn't require high concentration. If you are a surgeon you might want to take a day off).
My advice is to take it easy on yourself. Walk slowly. Be gentle. Rest when you can.
I have come off Lexapro after being on it for several years. After Many failed attempts, I have found success!
I had to wean off slowly, starting at 10 MG, going to 5, then halving 5mg, eventually I was taking 1/2 the 5 every other day, down to .25 each day, then every other, down to once a week.
As I was weaning I allowed myself to stay in each phase 2 to 3 months. This allowed my body to start to process and feel some normal anxiety, or stress and start to process it slowly. It gave myou brain time to detox from higher levels it was accustom to. All my attempts to come off faster failed resulting in me back on my full dose within 3 weeks. Brain zaps & Fear of panic attacks were the worst.
I'm very glad to have come off & feel I have all kinds of motivation that I didn't have while taking this medication. For me, it was the best decision to come off, just a much, much slower process than I had originally thought it should be.
I had to wean off slowly, starting at 10 MG, going to 5, then halving 5mg, eventually I was taking 1/2 the 5 every other day, down to .25 each day, then every other, down to once a week.
As I was weaning I allowed myself to stay in each phase 2 to 3 months. This allowed my body to start to process and feel some normal anxiety, or stress and start to process it slowly. It gave myou brain time to detox from higher levels it was accustom to. All my attempts to come off faster failed resulting in me back on my full dose within 3 weeks. Brain zaps & Fear of panic attacks were the worst.
I'm very glad to have come off & feel I have all kinds of motivation that I didn't have while taking this medication. For me, it was the best decision to come off, just a much, much slower process than I had originally thought it should be.
I was just reading your comment. I'm just wondering how your doing?
I was just reading your comment. I'm just wondering how your doing?