Lexapro withdrawal help

I took 10mg-20mg of Cipralex for around 9 years.
First couple months after I quit, I was still fine...
Then the apathy and anhedonia came along 4 months into my detox...
I hope your story turns out better than mine.

Yes my experience was very similar. I am able to function significantly better now I am back on Lexapro 20MG. It doesn't take the lows completely away but it removes the despair and allows me to socialise more often.

Hi Adam,

Thank you for your post. I agree so much with your quote "It's a shame that individuals already suffering must be the ones to learn this lesson the hard way."
Being the ones who need help in the first place, then getting dealt these problems which "normal" people will never have to face... such an unfathomable problem.

I myself have stopped completely since May of this year (2017) after taking 10-20mg for ~9 years.
Honestly, it really felt at times that this wasn't worth it; and that maybe I have to be on this medication for life because I'm not normal.

To be honest, I'm still not sure. Maybe later in my life, I'll get dealt a hand so hard and tough that I will have to be back on this medication; but I'm trying to not let myself get there. I still have terrible terrible down days, but I have rare days like this where I'm typing this to you. I hope there will be more and more days like this, and I'm slightly hopeful because it's only been ~5 months since I stopped.

Right now, I (try to) work out twice a week, take B12 and Omega 3 oil supplements daily.

I hope you succeed in your journey and I thank you for your words.

Best,
-Ethan C.

Hey man,

I am intrigued by your story. Thank you for typing it out. You are a man of courage to try to battle this at your age. I don't think I would be able to if I was in your situation; I have a lot of respect to your determination.

I'm 30 years old and took Lexapro for ~9 years (10mg-20mg); I've been currently off it for ~5 months, And let me tell you the apathy and dread are real. Literally did not see the point to continue living at times; and to be honest, I don't know if life is worth living if I know I'll be feeling like that for the rest of my life.

But I told myself, give yourself 1 year. A 1 year detox, no matter how hard and how shitty life gets... do it; so you can say for sure that life is better with (or without) it.

Again, it's only been 5 months; and I only started to feel better recently (with lots of downs and occasional rare ups).

I hope that one day, you'll be able to quit if that is what you want. If this "medication" is needed to make you feel "normal" or "happy", then you should by all means keep taking it.

You lived a long and tough life sir. A 62 year old wise man, your wife would be proud of you. I know she'll want you to be happy first and foremost, so do what you have to, and take it easy ok?

Best of luck man, we're all in this together.

-EthanC

Thanks everyone for sharing. Back up to 20 MG Lexapro. Seems the right level for me.

Yea... if you read about the long-term effects of 5-HTP; they are pretty similar to anti-depressants withdrawal. Supplementing a brain-chemical drug for another isn't always the solution. I suggest being careful with that.

-EthanC

Are you a doctor?

Hi, it has been 1week since going cold turkey from escitalopram10 mg . I have been taking it for 4 years and I don’t want to be dependant on it anymore. I have been taking a supplement of magnesium diasaprol 400 mg sachet daily and herbs of gold stress ease adrenal support tablets 2x daily with food. I do have withdrawals such as the dizziness, nausea, flu like symptoms, mild anxiety etc. I would like to know why do the doctors prescribe chemically enhanced medication that has drastic effects instead of encouraging natural herbal remedies. I am 55 years old and realise Drs are not the experts on what is best for each individual.

Hi everyone! I’ve been on lex for 11 years and before that was on Zoloft for 5 years. So needless to say, my brain is used to an SSRI. I’m coming off lex now bc I­t­ has stopped being effective and was even causing some weird feelings out of the blue. So needless to say I went from no anxiety while taking this MED to now a lot of anxiety while taking this MED and trying to come off. I’m down to 2.5 mg everyday and 1/2 of a .25 Xanax in the morning. So I’m basically taking nothing and the anxiety is pretty all consuming. Im relying heavily on my faith God and prayer and journaling as well as working with a therapist to learn some good CBT skills. I’m still really early in All this. It’s helpful to read others posts that say they have gone through the withdrawals and have come out on the other side. I really believe that with God and proper nutrition and supplements I can allow my
Body to work on its own at optimal levels and will not need these meds. It’s just so hard to come off of them. Can anyone offer words of encouragement to me? Any help would be appreciated.

Hi, Do you mean that all the side effects will last in this period? I took it just for 2 months , i dont have most of the side effects you all mentioned but I have some cold/ warm flesh and some ringing in my ears that dont make me sad but the most bad side effect for me is crying for no reason and panic attack from time to time espcially during daytime,,, do u think I will be fine after 2 months? I have finished my first month after stopping the Lexapro and still not feeling well

After retaking the Lexapo, how long does it take before the withdrawal symptoms go away. I’m miserable.

Yes, I have, 2 years into Lexapro, feeling fat, hips enormous, going through disgusting withdrawal, yes DRS should ....... tell you before writing out script after script, no one's fault but mine, gosh I am suffering.

How about 50 lbs.

Bad advice. Do not tell anyone to do that. Two weeks doesn't give your brain and body time to adjust to anything! How long, and what dosage were you taking to even advise anyone to do what you suggest? Wrong

Good luck. I gained 50 lbs after being a thin person all my life. Lexapro to thank for this. I am trying to slowly taper off Lexapro and it is a hell I have never known before. It was not worth it. Good wishes to you, I know we both can do this, and get life back.