Lexapro withdrawal help

As precaution I'd like to share my experience with you all, I am 19 170cm and weigh 59 kilos. An accredited psych had over the coarse of 1 year increased my lexapro dose to 100mg daily! I was constantly tired, couldn't concentrate and generally felt "unwell", was effecting my prolactin levels yes. Causing me to lactate at 19 with no pregnancy, not to mention my mood was exactly the same as i still had 3 admissions to psych hospitals at that dosage.I had enough of it, I told my GP I was going to come off, she agreed whole heartidly and numerous doctors had agreed. So I admitted myself into the clinic to change medications to another antidepressant, another accredited psych from the clinic had my case and decided to ween me off my 100mg of lexapro in 4 days. By the 5th day I was on nothing and about the 7th or 8th I was struggling heavily! I became suicidal and my brain chemicals were all out of wack, I became so desperate and frantic and manic that I tried to overdose. All because I was weaned to quickly off a medication with nothing for side effects prescribed. So please if your thinking of quitting cold turkey think again cause if I had the choice and my doctor had informed me I definitely wouldn't have cut down so quickly considering the outcome of possibly me not being here.

I have been on Lexapro for about 2years It really helped me with my depression, and not so much with my anxiety. However, I have not had an anxiety attack in so long. So, maybe it helped me with my anxiety more than I thought. Over the past 6 months or so I felt like I was in a better place and was kind of tired of all the side affects... sweating and low to zero libido. I also HATE taking pretty much any medication, so I was desperate and knew I had to do something. So, I relented and went on the meds. I intially started out on 10mg and increased to 20mg. Periodically, I have forgotten to take my meds and decided to go 'cold turkey', and it was BAD! Brain zaps were the worst, irritability, and confusion. I could have easily continued to 'cold turkey' even with the side affects during any of those times, but my husband was really worried and scared that I was going to spazz out or something or fall back into depression. So, each time I would restart my meds. But not this time! This time I discussed it with my doctor and followed a 4 week wean regiment (of which I didn't follow) after two weeks. During the third week, I decided that I didn't want to take the Lexapro anymore and quit. The first few days was okay, and then the brain zaps, confusion, irritability, and inability to concentrate rushed in. I would gauge them between severe and minor... some days I couldn't speak fluently or form coherent thoughts. But I knew I was not going back! I wanted to get some Fish Oil vitamins but decided not to do so. Here I am in week 2 and my brain zaps have calmed down tremendously! I am able to think without thinking or feeling like I am stumbling over words and babbling. So, I just wanted to give others some hope out there. You know yourself... determine honestly if you really are ready (emotionally, physically, and mentally, most important) to come off Lexapro. If so, talk it over with your doctor to determine the most safe, less withdrawl symptom provoking wean process for you. Good luck!

Carla121212 - How horrible! I thought what my doctor did was bad but your experience is unconscionable! In my opinion the doctors who let you get up to 100 mg in the first place, and the ones who had you taper off in four days should all be reported to whatever governing agency monitors them. I did speak with the manufacturer during my months of hell and although they couldn't/wouldn't give any specific information regarding my experience even they said Lexapro should be tapered off slowly. I had suicidal thoughts several months into my withdrawal, so be careful of that. Your brain has to reset itself which can take months to a year or so, so if this experience is recent you'll still likely have side effects for some time to come. Take care.

I am a registered nurse, worked in mental health have a good understanding of depression and anxiety. I ended up on antidepressants after 3 years of becoming a belligerent old man at 40 :O) It was related to job stress, my dad dying of leukemia, son diagnosed bipolar 1 and I guess just lots of life's challenges that we all go through until our batteries wont recharge like before! My wife was a saint but I think she was about to cash in my life insurance.

I was a pharmaceutical rep. selling Lexapro to specialists and we never mentioned much about SSRI discontinuation syndrome in the process. Now having tried to cold turkey I have been sensible and gone from a low dose of 10mg, to 7.5mg to 5mg down to 2.5mg over a month for each stage and still have developed terrible tinnitus with brain zaps like last time. Very hard to concentrate and it is exhausting.

I hope it settles down as last time I had to go back on to get rid of the side effects of withdrawal, I definitely will not this time. Relaxation, sleep, vegan diet and exercise all help staying mentally healthy - that is something I have learnt in the whole process.

I hope you are all feeling healthier and happier soon.

 

David

So since I first posted on here 4 months ago I went through hell & have come out on the other side of Heaven! It was not easy but you can do it. So at the time of my last post I was @ 2.5 mg daily. My Dr thought after two weeks of being on that dose I could just stop. Don't let any Dr tell you that because it is not true. For two solid weeks I lost my mind & cannot remember a lot of it. I was trying to do my daily routine of going to work but people at my work said I was mean & very verbal about anything good or bad. I brought my spouse to tears with the way I was acting. I do remember trying to drive as I commute 35 minutes to work. I was dizzy, couldn't concentrate, & the brain zaps were at an all time high. So I went back to my Dr's office & saw a different Dr. She couldn't believe my Dr had taken me off so quickly. Finally someone who understood. So I started back on the 2.5 mgs daily for two weeks, then I went to 2.0 mgs for two more weeks, then to 1.5 for for two weeks, 1.0 for two weeks, then to my final dosage of .5 for two weeks. After that I alternated every other day at .5 mgs for two weeks & then just started backing of from every other day to three days, to four days, and after that I wasn't having brain zaps. No moods swings, etc. so I completely stopped. It has now been almost three months & I am free from this awful drug. I feel better, have energy, I am losing weight, & started to feel like I am not a cast member of the Walking Dead! No more zombie! My advise to anyone out there who is going through this is to wean yourself off slowly. It can be done but quitting even on the lowest dose can be difficult. Also I was on the liquid Lexapro which my Dr didn't even know about. So educate yourself & then use your Dr as your tool. Don't just depend on the Dr to tell you the right thing. Take care everyone!

Stopped taking Lexapro after 8 days. 10mgs per day. 1st day off only minor withdrawal symptoms. Stomach issues and minor headache. Too many side effects for me. Nausea...sexual..etc.... For those of you who really NEED this drug then my advise is go to a DR who will really take the time to discuss it with you. I simply asked my DR for a perscription and he called it in. I told him I just want something to take "the edge off". Go to a specialist who has the time to listen and advise. This is a serious drug and should not be used if you do not NEED it.

 

wow- I'm not completely crazy and losing it! I have been on lexapro for about 5-6 years now. Started at 10 mg and went up to 20 mg a few years ago when I was feeling depressed again. I have gained weight and pretty much had no sex drive, but I tolerated the side effects because al least I was emotionally balanced. I'm at a time in my life where I'm sick of no sex, so started Wellbutrin and weaned off lexapro the last 2 months. It has been a nightmare! I feel so bad physically- dizzy, horrible hot flashes, tired and no energy. I can't concentrate in thing as, I'm an emotional wreck and have had several huge meltdowns. I can't seem to handle even the slightest stress right now. I can't stand feeling this way but was so glad to read it is withdrawal from lexapro and not just me losing it. Also looks like I should have been weaned off more slowly. I'm gonna talk with my doctor and see what she says? 

 

Yes, talk to your Dr & wean off properly. I can tell you the crazy, unstable feeling of being like a time bomb will dissipate after you have been weaned off the right way. I am still working on not being so hot tempered but that's just my personality. I need to learn me all over again. I wish you the best. You can do it!

No you're not losing it, at least not permanently, although you will feel like it.  I think we all react somewhat differently to the withdrawal with none of it being pleasant, although it can be better if done very slowly.  My post several above describes the gist of what I went through.  After going to four doctors they seemed to agree that I was in a 1-2% of people that have extreme problems, but a fast withdrawal isn't going to be pleasant for anyone.  I agree with Oneredwolf about talking to your doctor and doing the withdrawal slower, even if it means you have to go back on Lexapro at a dose that makes life tolerable again.  I had to do that, 2 or 3 months into the withdrawal, and did it using an elixir (liquid) form. I started going back up from 2 mg, tried adding a little more each day or two (I did divide the dose into one AM and one PM) until I was back up at a point that I could live with.  I then stabilized there for a couple of weeks and then started going down again, just 1/2-1 mg every week or so.  Before I did that I had all the side effects you mention to an extreme level, after going from 40mg to zero in two weeks.  It still wasn't easy but it was MUCH MORE tolerable.  Don't try to rush it, let your body and brain tell you when to drop again, and accept that it is going to take a few months and interfere with your life as it is.  I still only got down to 10 mg and hope to try getting off of that this year.  Reading the Wikipedia article on SSRI Withdrawal that lists the side effects will help you feel you're not going crazy.I didn't have problems with anger, but for six months the meltdowns were very disconcerting as I was never a crier, and even during the very slow withdrawal and I would cry at the drop of a hat, sometimes not just cry but suddenly start sobbing for no apparent reason. My brain was in control, something I had never experienced before and which gave me a new appreciation of chemicals we put in our bodies.  If you do a slow withdrawal the amount of side effects will vary from person to person, but they will gradually lessen and you will come out the other side.  

Best of luck. 

Oh My...Been off Lex.for about 2-3 weeks....I started a period out of the blue...I am 54 and have had no periods for close to a year or more....Wow....also very very dizzy this morning

Being dizzy, actually vertigo with nausea, etc. was part of the withdrawal in the first month. There were weeks where I couldn't drive, so be careful. I'd be surprised if having a period again is part of the Lexapro experience, but don't really know. I found that taking a high quality fish oil, liquid about 2 tsp, every morning helped tremendously with how my brain felt. I could tell when I forgot.

I am a 57 yr old woman who has been taking antidepressants since I was in my 20's.  Lexapro among them.  Have been on it for over ten yrs.  My dose is 20 mg.  it wasn't doing its job so the doc said to take 2 of them (40 mg).  I got even more depressed and almost obsessed in my desire to commit suicide.  doc said to take 3 (60 mg) a day.

i had a melt down and said enough !  Good thing I did.  I am now going through withdrawal and it is awful.  Every symptom everyone has described in this forum is identical to mine.  From personal stories here what I can glean is that it will take me at least 4 months to get this out of my system.  

The doc I went to should not be allowed to practice.  Are there any naturopathic remedies that might help ease my withdrawal anguish ?  Ain't going back on the drug.

 

I have successfully gone off Lexapro once before, had to go back on about a year later, and am currently tapering off again. I have experienced withdrawal symptoms of anxiety, panic, and depression, but, they are helped greatly with supplements. Check out "the road back" (Google it), their taper suggestions and supplements have made it doable for me. ( I have absolutely no connection to the company )

Every time my Lexapro dose has been changed, it has affected my periods. Every time. I absolutely think it could b the cause of your unexpected period.

I am so thankful I have found this board. I can empathize with so many of the posts; weight gain, laziness, lack of any feelings.  Now after 2+ years, my doc said I could "just stop" taking Lexapro, that it has a very short half-life. Well, that isn't working for me.  As a 41 y/o mother working in the Emergency dept of a busy hospital, the symptoms after just 5 days cold-turkey from 10mg are so awful I feel like checking myself in!

I have learned alot from these posts and from other health care providers I work with and have decided I'm going to have to wean off of it. Of course, I'll follow up with my doctor next week.

Thank you all for your input.