lexapro withdrawal

Hi folks...I've been on Lexapro for the better part of 10 years now and during this time, I've missed my dosage several times and each time I've had the feeling of anger and cases of vertigo. Not to worry though, after a few days, it will pass. It is about dealing with it and controlling your mental state when it happens.

Remember, our bodies have been introduced to a chemical and weening or stopping will cause withdrawal effects like any drug ..e.g. alcohol, heroin, etc.

I find that exercise is the most natural thing to help me through this time, as I am now finally getting off this drug. I think everyone should do the same.

Also good to know I'm not going crazy... I'm switching from one antidepressant (20mg daily of Esipram, the generic Lexapro) to a new one (4mg twice a day of Edronax) and my doctor told me to just stop taking the old meds for 2-4 days then start taking the new ones. It's day 4 and I took my first Edronax today, but I've been feeling detached, light-headed, shivery (in 43C heat) and slightly nauseous. I put these into google and found this thread. I'm hoping that the new antidepressant will lessen the withdrawal symptoms of the Lexapro... I'm not liking the idea of being like this for up to three months.

I also thought I was going crazy. I started taking Lexapro 18 months ago when I was getting my first round of chemo for Hodgkins Lymphoma-at the time I never thought to ask if there were withdrawal symptoms but boy have I found out now-I gained alot of weight while on this medication and now my head is constantly feeling sooo weird. I stopped taking Lexapro 8 days ago and went on Wellbutrin immediately. I have the sweats, weird dreams but the worst is the dizziness. Does anyone know once these withdrawal symptoms pass if you are able to loose the weight gained while on Lexapro? I keep telling myself I have been through some much that I can get through this as well but I really feel like c**p. I am really grateful to have read all these comments, I don't feel as crazy anymore.

I have been off Lexapro for 1 week. I am feeling extremely strange. I feel like when I am walking, that I am on an escalator walker, my head is clouded, I am forgetful.... I feel sad but not from coming off the meds its from this weirdness I am feeling. It scares me.
When I started this med. Things were ok. But, I have noticed
that with this med and all the others, it has just made me numb(in spirit). I am,happy but the weight gain in the past 11 months has made me so miserable that I can't ever explain how I feel. I have so many reasons to stop lexapro, but I am afraid! I have stopped like I said, But the side effects are so crazy!! Really crazy bad. I have gained 39lbs. in 11 months. That has been so much more depressing than. DEPRESSION. I WORKED So hard for 3 years to lose this weight. Please ......................someone tell me that there is an answer out there. I feel like lexaprro has taken on my life!

I had been taking Lexapro for a few years and my depression was better although I didn't realize the cost. I gained weight and was so laid back that my fiance said I didn't care about anything and was always "whatever" attitude. I had noticed that I lost motivation for projects that I used to enjoy. I went down to 5mg for about 6 months without a problem, then I decided to just take it every other day and that was ok with no side effects.
I stopped taking it 10 days ago, and was ok until day three, then got the "zaps" in my brain coupled with cluster type headaches and very spaced out feeling. Loud noises are very uncomfortable and I have to really focus to not forget things. I can offer that the symptoms have lessened but I still have ringing in the ears.
I thought this wasn't going to be as bad as Effexor, which was awful, but I think they all need to be slowly tapered off, had I known how hard to get off these meds I would have not started them.
I am feeling less "numb" and hope I am free of these effects soon.

Hi there all,

Just wanted to offer my support to all of you who are struggling coming off the lexapro.

I was on Lexapro for about a year and actually went off it unintentionally, I had to leave town suddenly and forgot to pick up my refill. After 3 days without the meds I felt crazy, sleep was near impossible, I felt dizzy, disoriented, and was having very odd physical sensations ranging from tingling and hot flashes/cold sweats to episodes alarmingly close to seizures during my attempts at sleep. On day 3 I had my first panic attack in my life and actually had to be taken to an urgent care center becuase my heart rate and hyperventilation were so out of control.

With the help of the docs, finally figured out the problem was lexapro withdrawal. It hadn't actually occurred to me because I have gone off of many medications suddenly before (which I know is not advised but previously I'd never had a problem) and it had only been a few days and the reaction was so severe I just never thought it could be because I forgot medication for 3 days. After that whole experience I was terrified to be taking anything that would cause me to freak out so badly after missing a few days, would NEVER have taken it in the first place if I had known.

Immediately started tapering my dosage off to get off it as soon as was safe. Once I was off completely I gained about 15 lbs. in 2 weeks, heavier than I've ever been!! Without any change in diet or exercise. Moods, sleep, were all over the place. I struggled for about 2 months with no meds whatsoever, depression and mood swings out of control, unable to lose the weight working out every day and eating incredibly healthy and very sparingly. My new Dr. finally convinced me to try Wellbutrin (after thouroughly convincing me the physical dependency would be nothing like Lexapro) and it has been incredibly helpful. It took about 5 months total for my body to stabalize from coming off that damn drug but I finally feel better and I think the bupropion helped alot, which I have recently come off with no problems. I would suggest any of you struggling with withdrawal to ask your Dr. about it.

Hang in there!

lexapro is scientificly proven non addictive. if you stop lexapro suddenly your symptoms are most likely to be that of which you had when you first start.you must ween off lexapro same as you need to ween on to them its not uncommon for ppl to take up to six tablets a day when using to its full benifit. as depression is a disease that cahnges your chemicial balance its very rare that these medications would show any benifits before 1 month and usually they need time to become effective as varys from person to person but most likely needed to be taken for a mimium of 8 months to have any long term effect if lexapro has not worked for you then you may be suffering more severe depression or a range of other commonly misdignosed illnesses its unlikely changing to a different ssri anti depresant will have any extra benifit. as with all depression medication psychoses or other psychiatric forms they all take months to work other than maoi inhibitors,and need to be taken long after you are feeling better

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Lexapro withdrawals