Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms

I have been taking lexapro 20mg for 2 years to treat anxiety and depression. I was diagnosed with a mental form of OCD.

I have tried weaning off it several times and failed. Mainly because I felt insecure about my anxiety returning. I was not sure if it was this or a withdrawal and could not deal with my job in this state.

I have gone cold turkey for 5 days now. I decided to give this a go as I have a month off work.

This is a horrible experience.

- I feel dizzy almost like a form of motion sickness. Not dizzy so my body motor skills are affected. I have had these"dizzy" spells which on occassion when I'm talking to somebody as it happens I mix my words up and become momentarily confused.

- I have been having terrible nightmares. So bad it takes me about 20minutes to get over them after I have woken up in the morning.

- I feel a little bit more sleepy than usual.


On a positive note I haven't had the depression, anxeity and mood swings I had when I tried weaning off it.

Hard exercise seems to take the dizzy feeling go away for a while and generally makes me feel better. I think this is due to the naturual rise in serotonin from the exercise (brain thinks lexapro is back).

I wish I never took lexapro.

:I started Lexapro 6 yrs ago due to extreme mood changes 3 days, almost to the hour, before my period starts. These feelings include very limited tolerance for anything including noises and I feel like I could jump out of my skin, with yelling and crying. These feelings only last half a day, but are very strong. Started on 5 mg of Lexapro and over the years have increased to 20 mg as the mood swings returned and the medication did not assist in reducing them. During the initial year, I gained quite a bit of wt and overall about 35 pds. Dr. said it was not related to the medication even though I repeatedly tried to control my eating, but always felt hungry. About a year and a half ago started talking Budeprion XL 120 mg (generic Wellbutrin) because my husband had a mental break down and left me and our 5 children, cleared our checking account, spent the money, came back and thought all was well and forgiven because he was feeling better after the little vacation) I only started the medication because I was worried that one day soon I would wake up and have a mental callapse because I felt I was handling it too well. The callapse never came, I gained more wt. and wanted to stop talking all these meds. Started weaning myself from the Lexapro with reducing the amount by 5 mg every few weeks and have been off that for about 4 weeks agol Just saw the Dr. 2 days ago because of the flu and asked how to wean myself off of the Budeprion. He said to just stop taking it because of the low amt I am taking. I thought the constant head ache, foggy feeling and feeling sick to my stomach (like I might throw up at any moment) was from the flu, now after reading others stories, I wonder if these feelings are from stopping these psych meds. How can so many women report wt. gain, but the medication side affects not list this as a concern. How can you all mention these side affects of stopping these medications, and none of these concerns or issues or even mentioned to me by my Dr. No one mentions how long it takes to actually feel normal again after stopping these medications. Where is that information? I am not going back on preventive medications when I might be able to handle these life situations without meds. Anyone have a medical site that list more research based info for me. Thanx. me.

Lexapro may contribute to weight gain. Of all antidepressants, Wellbutrin (bupropion) has the most potency to promote weight loss. You may discuss with your doctor if you will benefit from Lexapro

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I've taken lexapro 10mg for 5 yrs. I've had recent life changes that required me to be increased to 20mg. The 10 mg alone was great. The 20 mg requires me to take another medication (Klonopin) to sleep, to stop the crying that increasing to 20 mg has caused. It takes the edge off of everything. I am able to function daily and I love life. I am making decisions again and enjoying life. I have gone cold turkey before, because of $$. It took about 6 month for my anxiety to kick back in, so I started taking it again. I didn't experience any withdrawal side effects from going cold turkey. No headaches, paranoia, crazy thoughts...it was all good.

It is very frustrating to continually read warnings about going cold turkey. We get it but some people don't have a choice. So now that I have quit, can someone help me manage the withdrawl symptoms. I am not going back on it just to taper off. The side effects are miserable. I think they are more what has been wrong with me than any actual depresion left over form post-partum. I am "uninsurable" and literally I can't afford the Rx. Not to mention that I am out of refils and it is $200 for a Dr. visit. So I am stuck. I have to make the best of this. So pleae, no lectures.

From what I read, I don't even think tapering off helps. people who taper seem to exp the symptoms everytime they cut a dose. So it seems to me that it just prolongs the misery and lines the drug companies pockets!

So what helps clear this sh!t out of my system and reset my brain chemistry? I have some herbals (B-12, omega 3, l-theanine, 5htp and rescue remedy). What else? Exercise? What about a suana to sweat it out? Hot Yoga?

Thanks for your help

OK, hello everyone!

I've been on lexipro starting at 10mgs and then increased to 20mgs for about 7-8 months.
Didn't have any sexual side affects, , however, I really feel as if it kept me from feeling normal feeling that I felt before. It really hurts to know that as a Mom I missed out on so much of my daughters life because of this damn drug. It makes me so mad.

She'll be 4 in October. It also piuled me so far away from my husband.

You know it was as if I couldn't feel and real human emotions. No love, no sadness, no nothing!
And even though yes, it did help my depression, it did make me feel so numb inside. Like a walking Zombie!

For so long on these meds I wanted to die, because I felt nothing and therefore didn't feel the need to exist.
I wanted to "feel" so badly that I just want off ASAP.
I tried to tapper off by cutting the pill in half and taking it every other day, but I feel so much pain! Back pain chest pain. Nothing and I mean NOTHING helps! IB prophen, tylonol ect.... I also started this dizzy feeling now too. :-(

And worse yet, my daughter who I love so much has seen my mood swings on this medication and I can't help but think that she thinks that I hate her, but I really don't. I love her more than words could ever say.
I just don't want to take this horrible c**p anymore!!!
I think what I should do is just keep very busy so I can't think about the pain that I feel. Take my daughter to the park, visit with friends/family, get my scrapbook out, maybe then I'll feel normal again. :-)

I found out after 4-5 years being on Lexapro 20mg that I actually have a thyroid problem. I NEVER NEEDED LEXAPRO!!!!
I am trying to tail it off and been on 15mg for 5 days now. I feel horrible, my arms are shacking, I cannot stop crying, my period has even stopped. I just want to be clean, I felt sick on the meds as I could not seem to think. I feel like my head is entirely filled with nothing yet nothing is everything and i can think no more.

I was put on depression medication a little over a year ago, after my daughters father comit suicide. 4 days later i found out i was pregnant, my doctor put me on zoloft she said it was the safest during pregnancy. During my pregnancy i felt a little better but would still cry every day. When i delivered my son 4 months ago i asked for lexapro, my doctor then put me on 20mg. I now have no insurance and was too lazy to go to the pharmacy and pay for the medication so i have now been off of it for 2 weeks (cold turkey) To make a long story short I have all the signs of pregnancy....vomiting, dizziness, and all i want to do is sleep. After reading about this i cant really say i regret doing it cold turkey because a lot of people that just cut back experience the same symptoms and are still stuck on the lower dose afraid of going thro it all again. I just really hope this ends soon... A little over 2 weeks, should i still be feeling like this? What if i am pregnant again? I wish i would have read more about this before i started taking it, it can really take a toll on people who suffer from depression!

I'm a bit nervous now. I have just been started on lexapro. I have been on it for a month and hate it, but the doctors will not let me discontinue it. Even after i tell them i feel like a zombie, highly irratable, going from happy one second to wanting to cry or scream or beat something the next as well as continued suicidal ideation and self-mutilation. I notice i dont feel right or as myself on the medication, but I was told I had to give it time to work. Could i just be on to high a dosage for my weight(91lbs)? should I just discontinue the use of it or what?

I have been on two different kinds of depression meds and i must say on both i still found myself very depressed. The only thing i did notice was the lexapro took some edge off of me, while i would normally worry about certain things i found myself more relaxed. Other than that i would like to share with everyone that it ruined my family/life. I have finally come to the realization that i have been shutting my husband, friends and even children out. All i wanted to do was sleep, and nothing ever really made me happy. The simple joys I used to find in life were gone. I have recently taken myself off of lexapro without reading about the side effects first or discussing it with my doctor and I have been so sick. It has been very challenging to do the smallest things like getting up and getting my children ready for school. I have turned to something im not sure is a good idea, but at this point i would do anything for a quick fix...Adderall, i have taken it for a couple days and i am experiencing a big change. I am motivated, i can focus and my nausea let up a little. Im not saying thats the right solution, but like i said i was desperate. Ive never been addicted to anything in my life nor have i ever wanted to become dependent on meds to make me feel normal. While people are saying the withdrawal lasts about a week it has been closer to a month so far for me. Ive also been thinking about the way i was diagnosed, my doctor had me answer 10 questions off a piece of paper and came back and told me i had depression. It seems doctors are so quick to diagnose people with depression. They make the meds sound like a solution when in the end it can be the complete opposite!

I was finally taken off the lexapro, due to the side effects I was having on it, adn i guess the Doctors realized I had changed. Also I dont think me having a mental break in front of them was what they wanted to see, but whatever. I am still not feeling like myself tho. I just dont find joy in things, im no longer motivated, and im never feeling happy reguardless of the smile i put on. How long has all of you all's symptoms lasted (without starting on other meds)?

I have taken Lexapro for 8 years now and the major side affect was my lack of intrest in sex. About 6 months ago I lost my insurance and I could not afford to buy the medication. So I stop taking it. Now, 6 months later, I am experiencing many uncomfortable situations. I am continually vomiting, in the morning when I haven't eaten yet, after I eat every meal, and the only relief I get is taking a hot shower. I am not interested in food and anything I do eat - just comes right up. Nothing tastes good. Things I use to eat all the time, now are gross. I just don't know what to do now. I can't go back on the drug (and I don't want to) but something has to stop this vomiting. The other part is constant burping - It's better if I am sitting down, but when I stand up, I have to vomit.
I can't go to the doctor as I don't have any insurance right now. Any suggestions?

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I have issues with vomitting anything I eat as well. I'm not 100% sure it is all from the lexapro, but try getting a medicin that helps reduce vomitting. My mom got me some until I could be seen by a doctor and get a proper medicin for it. Also, if worse comes tp wprse(and only if it is unbearable) go to the ER. They can not turn you away and have to treat you with or without insurance. I'de start with an OTC medication 1st and see if it helps. For the burping, you can go to any store and get some gasX or anything of that sort to help with the gasses that are building up in your intestines(mostly due from the vomiting). My mom is a pharmisist, so I know or can find out about low prices and effective medications. Good luck and I hope you find relief very soon.

Before I read this, I wasn't even a member of this site but this post was so concerning to me because of experinced this first hand that I had to join and reply to it; first off I would like to say that I stopped taking my medication cold turkey when I was sixteen years old and for a while everything was ok, awhile being about a week or so, but then everything went downhill from there. I WAS NOT on lexapro but I was on stratera, wellbutrin, remeron and maybe one or two more medications. Once I stopped taking my meds cold turkey, I began to become detached from reality and I became hyperreligious; I went to school preaching about the bible here and there and I eventually began to display symptoms of psychosis. I was unwilling to go back on my medication because I felt that my faith would sustain me through the ups and downs of life, eventually I stopped eating and went from 160 pounds to 136 pounds from anorexia. What I'm trying to say to you is that this is symptomatic of her refusal or halt in taking the medication and she may have been sane before but she may be becoming cognitively unbalanced and even psychotic. When I became hyperreligious I began to think that I heard voices from god or that I was god at times ( I'm so ashamed to say that), I think you should advise her to go to a hospital or bring her to a hospital so that she can get psychiatrically evaluated... This is from one caring human being to another, I know you care for your daughter, I can tell by the fact that you took the time to post this, take her to the hospital, things could get much worse if you don't. 

SMFIII: I went off all of my meds cold turkey as well... psychosis has been thrown out into the mix, i dont eat, n have been diagnosed with anorexia as well. i am hearing voices more and more which is scaring the c**p out of me cuz i dont understand it and im seeing , wel li dont know what im seeing, but i know its there. I have a history of suicidal attempts and plans.(have not had any since being off the meds) they keep talking about baker acting me again, i refuse it. How did u deal with it all, did the voices go away? did u go back on meds? What does all of this mean? no one seems to listen or care when i talk tho, so i am at a point where i dont care, and the voices i hear r getting meaner and more annoying.