Lexapro withdrawal help

So: I prepared myself for the worst and I think maybe I'm just lucky...but I feel good! I actually slept last night and I have minimal discomfort this morning. Meaning: there are still trace levels of the usual side effects ~ but nothing to complain about. 1.coffee 2. hot shower 3. Yin yoga class 4. lunch 5. christmas shopping 6. Sting concert YAY! I'll let you know (for the record) if I have any wild spontaneous eruptions of tears for no reason. How are You doing? I think the liquid lexi with a long, slow taper and determination... is the best way to go.

I've been on 20mg of Lexapro for 3 years and 40 mg of Celexa for 4 years prior to that. In consultation with a psychiatrist I attempted to stop the Lexapro by stepping down from 20 to 10 and then to 0. This first attempt was a massive failure. Going from 10 to 0 resulted in a week of horrible withdrawal symptoms including flu-like illness, nausea, loss of appetite, anxiety, dizziness, confusion, disorientation, fogginess, lethargy, obsessive behavior, introversion, insomnia, etc. etc. as described by many others. I didn't suffer the more dramatic "brain shocks" many people describe, though. I tried to stick it out but I couldn't take it any more and went back on the 10mg dose. After taking 10mg for two weeks I'm now the 2nd week of 5mg and I've felt little difference thankfully. This week I will step down to 2.5 for two weeks and then, depending on how that goes, 0. Should I begin to experience withdrawal symptoms I will simply extend the step down as much as needed. Even though I've very eager to stop taking Lexapro completely as soon as possible, I can't bear even a few days of what I felt the first attempt.

I'm taking vitamins, fish oil w/ OMEGA3 etc. per my regular regiment. I never noticed any significant difference with or without these, so I can't say they seem to be some magical solution for me. That said, I will continue taking them as perhaps they are indeed helping and they certainly have additional benefits besides potential withdrawal mitigation.

One thing seems clear: everyone is different. Some people can go from 20mg to 0 cold turkey without a problem. Others have stepped down in various increments with varying results. I recommend taking the most cautious route possible to avoid any complications to what is an already challenging situation: stopping an anti-depressant which clearly was originally started for an important reason. More suffering is not deserved nor is an immediate medication stop worth the unnecessary risk.

I think these medications can be helpful to people when taken properly and monitored by a competent doctor; however, the potential side effects of withdrawing are clearly highly under-publicized. It's a shame that individuals already suffering must be the ones to learn this lesson the hard way. In the end, I'm confident one way or another I'll be able to finally step down to zero, hopefully with little impact this time around.

Good luck!

Well, I was wondering if this site was just for women or if men could participate also.  It let me register ... and I finally see a couple of posts by men so I'm going to believe I can participate.  I sure hope so, because I could really use some input from people who are trying to get off Lexapro.  I've been on antidepressants off and on for 40 years.  Yeah, I'm old.  :-D  62 to be precise.  I've honestly lost track of how many years I've been on Lexapro.  Probably at least 10.  I've tried to get off antidepressants in the past and crashed hard very quickly.  I had thought I would be on them for life, but for some reason decided a couple months ago that I wanted to try one more time.  I was on 10 mg initially, then got increased to 20 when my wife died in 2007.  So two months ago I started by taking 3/4 of a tablet (15 mg) for two weeks, then went to 1/2 tablet (10 mg) for two weeks, then 1/4 tablet (5 mg) for two weeks, and finally 1/4 tablet (5 mg) every other day for two weeks.  Took my last dose of that Friday, the 23rd.  It's been really, really hard the whole way.  Bad headaches initially.  I get angry so easily.  And everything and anything seems to irritate me.  I'm not a very fun person to be around anymore.  I can't say that I've had those "brain zaps" that everyone speaks of, the electrical shock feelings, but my mind has a "switch" thrown and I wander off into the Twilight Zone somewhere.  Just sit there staring not having any idea what I'm thinking or should be doing or anything else.  I'm incredibly tired all the time and my emotions are all over the place.  I'm one of those guys who seem to have gotten an extra Y chromosome in the first place .... cry at Lassie and ET, etc.  And this time of year is tough for me.  My wife died on Christmas Eve 5 years ago and our anniversary was Dec. 27th.  I'd been getting a lot better the last couple of holiday seasons, but have been completely wiped out again this year.  Undoubtedly from detoxing from the Lex.  Well, there's a lot more I could write ... but this is a long post already, so I'll start with this and see if I get a response.  I really hope so!  I'm getting kind of desperate trying to deal with this and could really use some encouragement and sharing with people who are going through the same thing.  I really, really want to get off of this medication.  I knew there were "issues" with it ... but I only now see how horrible it is while I'm trying to get off of it.  Hope someone answers.  Blessings to everyone!

HI Steve. First off my condoleces on your wifes passing. This time of year must truly be a nightmare for you. Truly sorry from the bottom of my heart. This forum is for everyone from what I can see male/female it doesnt matter. Everyones experiences for reducing and comeing off Lexapro is different. I had been trying to come off Lexapro after being on it for seven years. Im only on ten mgs daily. I started taking half a pill once a week and the withdrawals are so strong I started taking it again. I had headaches mood swings, nausea and dizziness. I am going try again though. NOne of your withdrawal symptons sound unusual. Actually what did help me was exercise it did help reduce them. Goodluck and keep in touch. Jeffrey

Thanks for the response Jeffrey.  Really appreciate it!   All of our "life issues" are made so much better just knowing that there is someone out there who understands and can relate to what you're going through.  I think this site is going to be a Godsend for me.  I've been really sick for just over two weeks now.  Thought it was a cold, then flu, then .... ????   I'm an over-the-road truck driver and got sick in Nashville.  Then down to Mississippi and finally back to Calif for Christmas.  Been a real thrilling trip this time!  8-|  Anyway, after reading many of these posts, now I'm wondering if my "illness" is just another symptom of withdrawal.  I'm heading for an Urgent Care this afternoon to get their take on what's going on.  Fortunately, there is a Loma Linda Medical Center Satellite facility near me.  I'm going to go there.  They have the best people in this area and that will give me the best shot at getting some actually relevant info.  We'll see!  :-D  I'm actually having a little better day today.  Not coughing my head off and feeling like I'm going to cough my lungs up.  That's refreshing!  LOL  Not as bad on the emotional roller coaster today either.  More kind of "numb" today.  I'll keep you all posted.  

@ Jeffrey.  Forgot to tell you thanks for the info on the exercise.  I was trying to walk 30 min a day and do some light upper body dumb bell work outs before I got sick.  I'm going to try to get back to them as soon as I feel well enough to.  Also, good luck with your weaning off the Lex.  I'll be praying for you.  It's not easy ... but I can tell you that I've made it from 20 mg to 0 in 2 months and am still "surviving".  :-D  If you're a person of faith, I suggest a lot of prayer.  It's seen me through some really tough times!

Today is my 5th day of NO Lexapro.  My doctor gave me this schedule to wean me off 20mg of Lexapro that I was on for two years: 15mg for one week, then 10mg for one week, then 5mg for one week, then NO MORE Lexapro.  Even with this weaning off schedule, the withdrawal symptoms are strong.

On a daily basis, I have the following symptoms: the "jolts" of energy in my head, lips, and hands, nausea, diarrhea several times this past week, mild anxiety, mild shakes, dizziness, abdominal bloating, night sweats for several nights, mild abdominal pain, difficulty saying the words that my brain is thinking.  I am not going back on Lexapro just to relieve the withdrawal symptoms.  I know they are temporary.  Everyone is different and I don't know how long the withdrawal symptoms will last.  The important thing is that the withdrawal symptoms are not life threatening nor will they cause me any physical harm per my doctor.  I will deal with them until they are gone even though they are extremely unpleasant.  I just had a "jolt" while writing this.  LOL

I have gotten to the root of the problem that caused me to go on Lexapro and that is why I can deal with the withdrawal symptoms as long as they last.  Lexapro takes 4-6 weeks to be fully effective but I hope it doean't take that long for the withdrawal symptoms to go away.

And for you guys out there, the libido is coming back.  ;-)

 

Hey Steve. I will try again. I got so scared when I felt how strong the withdrawals were for only cutting back 1/2 one day a week. I will try again. My insurance decided they dont want to pay for it anymore so the price went up to 125.00 dollars a month. Please keep in touch and let me know how your doing. The weight lifting should help you even if its a light workout.

Steve, you are certainly not alone. There are literally millions of people experiencing depression etc. in the US and probably 100s of millions more around the globe. Sadly, mental health issues in America (and most of the rest of the world) are grossly under-addressed and the impact of medication even more so. You are lucky to be introspective and brave enough to take some steps to sort things out; most people don't make it even that far and live their whole lives undiagnosed and untreated.

I've been going slowly and taking one step at a time, both in terms of figuring out what works best for me to get my head in the right place overall as well as more specifically on my efforts to cease Lexapro. There don't seem to be any short cuts to this route, despite the frustration of wanting to feel better fast. Less than a week into the final step down to 2.5 mg I'm feeling some withdrawal but much less than attempting to go from 10 to zero previously. Best of luck figuring out your path; despite the difficulties I haven't lost hope at all that paths to a better future can be found.

Hi ColumbusOHman. It's been 6 weeks since I stopped taking 10 mg lexapro. The first 2 weeks I took 5mg, the next 2 I took 2.5 mg and these last 2 weeks I have only taken 2 doses cause I start getting the dizzies. I didn't get brain zaps and the dizzies were minimal up until about the 1st week of stopping the 2.5mg. The dizzies aren't as bad as they were when I tried to quit cold turkey about a yr ago. I thought I was an a carnival ride...and I was NOT having fun:) These dizzies are just little side benders, but bad enough to think I'm a little on the hangover side. I think the brain has A LOT of figuring out to do when not on it's bender. I was on lexapro for 10 yrs, so it's got a lot of cleaning up in the attic. I feel 100% better. I have emotions, laughter and a few tears...I sleep better, have more energy throughout the day, and I am feeling libido back, too. So... from the doctors telling me ( and they are only family docs, nurse practitioners, physician assistants...no psychologist had the time for me and/ or didn't take new patients)..just stay on the pill...it calms you down. First of all, $ 132.00/ month...stupid, and wannabe doctors not listening to me...I was done. I only needed it for short time...not 10 yrs. Once one starts, the brain has a hard time letting go, unless a REAL DOCTOR OR PSYCHIATRIST/PSYCHOLOGIST is willing to help you wean. They are much too busy and your not important. I tried the generic and almost had to be hospitalized. I think the generic releases too much drug at once causing a "serotonin syndrome" in some people. The FDA has taken generic Welbutrin off the market for just that thing. So I had enough. It should be a short term drug with close monitoring by a mental health doctor. Some people DO need it long term, others only for half a year or so while dealing with a stressful situation. Glad to hear your doing it slowly. It works that way. Since I am going on to week 7, the next dizzy spell I get, I plan on cutting even the 2.5 in half. Just taking the most miniscule seems to work for a co worker of mine whom only was on it for 3 months and went off. He even had the brain zaps and the whole shabang. My 19 yr old daughter thinks I look like a drug dealer cutting up all my pills at the kitchen table. LOL. Good luck to you in your quest to be lexapro free. Peace and joy for 2013 ( and even some extra cash in your pocket). :D ~Melissa

I also forgot to mention something that just might help some of you thinking of ways to quit. I ran out of pills a couple of months ago and refused to get another script for $ 135.00 ( yes and that is with insurance). Well I went 2 weeks cold turkey...no pills. I felt ok, but stubborn as all get up. My husband told me to suck it up, pay out the cash and then wean from it. So I did. But I didn't start out with the usual 10 mg. I immediately broke the pill and took 5mg. I think maybe the 2 weeks that my brain didn't have an overload of chemicals, helped to ease the withdrawal effect. I have had very very mild dIzzies, maybe once a day, but I pop a tiny piece ( probably 1mg) in my mouth and dizziness goes away for 24 hours. The last bit I took was Wednesday evening. No dizziness yet and it is 32 hours later. SO...maybe, just saying if your on 10mg and want to quit, try going a while without any and then when you feel dizziness or any other kind of weird feeling, pop half a dose. Don't know how it would work with higher doses. And I'm not a doctor..just someone who knows the drug...just sayin. But weaning IS the answer. ~Melissa

For some reason I had to re-register, but the above "Guest posts" dated 12/26 & 28 are from me. -Melissa

HI!! I was on 20mg, cut it down to 10 mg for 2 months. Now im lexapro free.. I am a lil dizzy..but I can get past this. I took lexapro for 7 or more years....You can get off of it !!! Trust Me!!

So you're a few weeks ahead of me (I stopped 3 weeks ago). What about emotions? After 3 years of no ability to cry I'm now teary over the silliest things. Jean Val Jean I understand....but a re-run of "Sideways"...really? laughing and crying sometimes run together. No actually tsunamis have occurred but i had one meltdown that seemed close; i looked like rhudolf on christmas eve. Maybe it's good for me...but i hope to be more balanced, asap. Happy new Year!

Dont give up I am going through same thing Dr said it could be several weeks