Lexapro Withdrawal Unwanted Side Effects (Page 11)

I have been taking Lexapro 10mg once a day for about a year. I have had many unwanted side effects which according to my doctor there are very few side effects from Lexapro. He says it is a clean drug. Wrong. It did nothing to help me and I want off. My doctor refused to give me anti-anxiety meds to help with the withdrawals from Lexapro because once again, there are no withdrawals from Lexapro. Why do doctors lie about this. Why do pharmaceutical companies lie about this? I have read so much about people just losing it while trying to stop taking Lexapro. I have not taken it in about ten days after weaning off for about two months from 10mg to 2 mg a day. My nerves are a wreck, I am extremely irratable, and have slight headaches. This is a horrible drug with many long lasting withdrawal symptoms. The makers of Lexapro, Forrest Pharmaceutical, should be ashamed of themselves. Do not lie to so many people just to increase the market strength of your company.

REPLY

REPORT

I am experiencing HORRIBLE effects after a slow taper. I have been SO close to starting again to make it go away. I needed it, but read all the horror stories about going off it ( making my first week on a cake walk in comparison) and figured it was worth it. I am in MISERY.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Joan I am so sorry. Even a slow taper can result in extreme withdraw symptoms all un related and 100x different than the reason you went on the medications. Most experts in the field say to taper 10% per month or longer. How did you taper?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi guys... Im glenn i have been with lexapro for over a year now. Ive suffer from terrible anxiety and panic attacks before and lexapro helped me cope up and manage my "visitor" (anxiety and panic). I consulted my doctor and told him i want to stop my medication (i still have attacks of anxiety and panic at times but im confident that i can get through it even without medication). We started last march from 10 to 5 mcg in a month until it became 5mcg every other day. Now its may and told him i want off the meds.

Im telling you its a challenge. It has been months ago since i had my visitor and the visits now are "mad". My confidence in managing my anxiety has come down from 100 to 5% , there are times that i want the meds back. It has been 7 days since i last took lexapro and i am constanly weak, im dizzy all day ... My hands and feet are numb at times... And the brain zap comes and go's... I have sudden heart palpitation and i feel like im about to faint always. I have a 5 yo & 8 mo old daugther and they often escalate my symptoms.

Just last night i was out of town for a business meetings and i canceled all 4 meetings because i fear i might faint or the attacks might come. I sat infront of the mirror and told myself that it is a "phase" if i really want to be free of this meds i need to feel all of this. I got into the room of my hotel and the flare from the tv is just annoyingly painful.

Like i have said, i want to stop so i am facing this head on. You guys are not alone , i know i am not... Those threads that says they survived the withdrawals kept me hanging on. Its no walk in a park yes but i am aiming for the bigger price. I wish everybody well. Thanks for reading this. (I appreciate some encouraging shout outs and replies). Thanks again.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I need to taper more slowly apparently. I originally was going to, as suggested (reduce by 10%) had it all mapped out, but cutting the pills was difficult, so I opted for a 10, to 7.5, to 5, 3.5 ish, 2.5 , and since I didn't obtain liquid and all other versions of do it yourself dissolving methods seemed chancy I opted to have 2.5 be my last dose size. I gave about 3 weeks between each dose increment. Smooth sailing until I stopped. I guess I should try alternating days, then every few, then off. (or get liquid)

Anyway....I caved two days ago and took 5MG as it was debilitating and I had too many things I could not perform, (not the least of which was my daily interactions with EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY and MYSELF!) and I am going to try again when it is a time I can better afford to be incapacitated...

Crazy thing...and I figured as much but was determined to stick with it, I feel IMMEDIATELY relieved of my symptoms. I did get a slight back of my top/head headache (similar to starting) but ALL my other symptoms went away. I was able to play my clarinet in pit orchestra well and cook, clean, and feel like a HUMAN! My neck pain came back, which was the only thing that I was relieved of during my brain zaps, nausea, depersonalization, hostility, crying spells, fatigue, abdominal distress, flatulence, vivid dreams, etc...hell 16 days. So....for now I am resuming my starter dose as I have too much to accomplish right now and I just couldn't handle it at all feeling so awful. That doesn't even describe it. My husband also smashed his foot, broke it and has quite an injury, and can not do normal tasks right now. So us both being down for the count, plus my moods, it was NOT a good time to put it mildly. We disintegrated and had an argument, first in years! I will check back in again. I want to be free of the med, or I would never have tried to stop, but it just was not working out this time. It is really scary, but also a relief, that it is so powerful that in one dose I am feeling 'normal' and able to DO THINGS and THINK CALMLY again. I know it was not a resumption of my anxiety or depression symptoms, it was WORSE! It is very powerful. So I may also look into switching to Celexa, then going off, as I hear that no withdraws are had when that drug is stopped. As they are so similar this seems odd, but I know a few people that swear it is true. Maybe for me? Let you all know what I do! Thanks for responding.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Guys,

It has been 11 months off Lexapro and I am telling you I'm still having withdrawal symptoms.
Is any one having funny feelings in the head since they came off.
Hi Stitch have all you symptoms disappear.
Please guys hang in there, the body is reacting this way for you to feel you want the drugs.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

No Tasha they haven't disappeared yet. I was on too much 30mg so it maybe that's why it's taking so long. Symptoms have improved but still dizzy, weak and agitated.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Stitch do you have funny feeling in your head (tension). do you still feel unbalance when you walk

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Yes i am off balance alot with weakness in my legs. I do also get tension headaches

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Stitch its a pity we have to go through this stuff.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

wow we have a lot to ensure. how long have you been off the Lexapro

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Ya it's been something else. 20 months total. Just an awful experience. Makes this seem like it might take another year or two to resolve. It's insane how this crap is prescribed to people.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I had to resume. I truly don't know when I will try again. Probably when I feel annoyed with the sluggishness, weight gain, and other side effects again. But for now, mentally I needed to. I am able to function better, get along with everyone, MOST of all myself! I hate that it is this dilemma, but it is. Has anyone done a 10% reduction every month down to nothing with success?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

wow 20 months I am just at 11 months. This drugs is terrible. We need to pray to God because he alone can help us now to recover.
I know this lady as well, she is off 10 months now and she is feeling just as how we are. She is even constipated at time.
You know sometimes I have problem swallowing as well

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I think I'm tapering too fast, but I'm so eager to be off of this medication. I've used 10 mg for about 10 months for anxiety related to a promotion. It helped, but I was feeling completely unemotional and gained 30 pounds.

I tapered from 10 to 5 for about 3 weeks. I am now at 2.5. I have heart palpitations, joint aches, light sensitivity, headaches, jittery, etc. The symptoms are not debilitating, but annoying. I take Advil PM to help me sleep and am taking omega 3.

I know what to expect because I've weaned off of Effexor before., but it still sucks. I'm trying to be strong and have warned everyone at work and at home about what I'm doing.

I'm trying to stay calm and just get through it. I'm taking easy on myself right now. No new big changes at work or at home. I know everyone says to exercise but exercising stresses me out a little because I have to fit it in my day. The additional 30 lbs also make it hard.

Let's get through this together. Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

I tapered from 10, to 7.5, to 5, to 3.5, 2.5, then off. Three weeks each taper. Fine till 7 days after stopping. So...I think getting the liquid to do the last 5mg way way slow, but 1mg per month and then every other day, then every three, then four, then off is the way to go. OR ask to switch to Celexa , which I hear from family and friends is NOT HARD to withdraw from. For now I am gun shy to stop. On 5mg. I was on 5mg for 7 months last May 2015 through December 2015. Then upped to 10mg ( which was my Dr.'s original dosage rx. But 5mg worked so well for up till then I stuck with it. ) It also works great now. But I do want eventually to try and go off it. I think switching to Celexa will be my best bet.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi, I am on lexapro for 1 year and i decided to stop before seeing my dr in 2 weeks as i am in pregnancy plan and i m worried it will affect the possibilities of getting pregnant. I have stopped to take lexapro 3 weeks ago and I dont feel good. It somehow confuse me could it be due to the withdrawal sympton or my mild depression relapsed. I went tru dizziness, restless weeks ago but even until now i still feel restless and lifeless. I dont wan to rely on the medicine but yet I feel my mood swing a lot and tend to think a lot and cannot get out from the circle. It is just left and right brains are telling different stories and emotions overhelmed the rational in my heads. I just feel im suffering so my tears can come out easily again when no one is around me. I just dont wan to rely on lexapro

May i know is this depression relapsed or withdrawal symton? How long will the symptom last for as they makes me feel terrible

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I've been on Lexapro for 6 months 10mg. Now tapering off I took 5 for 14 days and 1 each other day 2 each 3 4 and 5 each other day...I have little side effects thanks God..
your brain needs to gradually reboot it's chemicals..Do not quit cold turkey.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Do you have horrible anxiety for a withdrawal with your dizziness?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I do not understand your tapering. Could you clarify?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Yes, the idea that it works so well is great TO START. And we do need help, so we are thankful. But unless you plan to be on it forever, not so good. The Dr.'s have NO IDEA, unless they had a family member take it and try to taper as text Dr. Recommend. THEN THEY WOULD KNOW and BELIEVE US! I am still on my 5mg, need to decide how to proceed. It is causing some joint inflammation/ pain I know, and this is my major complaint. ( Without it despite the 10 other horrible withdrawal effects I had NO joint pain until I resumed..) So....let you know what I decide. Still thinking about switching to Celexa, ( as I hear NO first hand withdrawal horror stories ) which I actually requested first, but my Dr. gave me lexapro. So....gotta make an app with a different Dr. as mine retired. I was going to stop seeing him anyway.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I started lexapro for anxiety and hot flashes. Was given 20mg but only took 10mg to start. I took this for 3 days. It di...

3 REPLIES

I took Eliquis for 6 days, during those six days the side effects were unbearable to the point I thought I surely would ...

6 REPLIES

What are the side affects of Risperdal? My Dr has me on it for insomnia. He took me off Risperdal due to being drowsy du...

13 REPLIES

My husband is backing down on percocet and complaining of dizziness is this a comm I need side effect? ## Hello, Madge! ...

1 REPLY

My husband takes Tramadol for pain. It has caused him to be depressed. He is now addicted to the drug can't function...

31 REPLIES

I was on Citalopram from August 2017 to June 2018. I decided to taper off of them because I didn’t like how I felt...

2 REPLIES

I've taken brintillex 20 mg for around 9 months. It has worked very well for depression. I had nausea going on it. I...

1 REPLY

Any one else go off of cymbalta and experience muscle/leg cramps? I'm on day 7 of going off and since day 5 I've...

1 REPLY

Hi, I've been taking depkote. I recently stopped taking it because I lost my doc. I've been have like these jerk...

6 REPLIES

I stopped taking a 300 mg twice a day dose of gabapentin last tues. I feel awful depressed sweaty moody irritated emotio...

22 REPLIES