Lexapro Withdrawal Unwanted Side Effects (Page 11)
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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.

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REPORT

I'm just cutting my dose - its been a week now and actually - i feel good. My brain is clearer and so far I feel ok - I'm working with my Dr and we have dropped from 20mg to 10 per day - in couple of weeks it will be 10 every 2 days and then off. I'll let you know how I go.

Lexapro has helped me get through an awful patch - but it did rob me of my Mojo - my Dr who has known me for years recognized this thinks that coming off now ( after 10 months - should bring me back to normal - heres hoping.

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I just got off lexapro about 2 weeks ago and I had become this horrible monster that people don't want to be around with. I feel dizzy and have chronic headaches that surpassed any migraine headaches I've ever had since I was a child. I snap at people in a drop of a hat, I developed extreme sensitivity to light, my belly fat had increase tremendously even though I exercise and go to the gym 6 times a week. If I would have known upfront that this would be the side effects after I decide to come off of this pill, I would not have taken it in the first place. I would rather deal with my depression than take this freaking drug. On top of it, I have lost every desire to have sex since I started taking this drug, and the primary reason why I got off of it. If you are about to take Lexapro, DON'T! I would stay away from it. Deal with your depression some other ways.

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i can only answer for myself. it was better for me to get off of lexapro. have you talked with him about it? ssri can cause an imbalance in your brain when you take it off and on..i don't see how it can't.. coming off of it was a time..i got depressed, had iriatability, and all kinds of things happen. i am off of it and i am happy now that i am.. i can only say to talk with him and research yourself. get him to research it...talk to pharmacists about how he is taking it, both of you talk to a pharmacist about how he is taking it..and read read read..research research and research..but other than that, in my opinion, and i am not a doctor, he is taking it wrong but a pharmacist is your best bet right now..

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Thank you Minpin for your reply. He has been taking Lexapro for anxiety for over 5 years now, but only when he thinks he needs it. I believe that this is his trouble, the constant on and getting off cycle of the chemical causes a huge imbalance to his system. He is highly athletic and has the "obsesive compulsive" behavior. The Lex was not prescribed for alcoholism by his Dr. it was for the anxiety disorder. The sugar cravings are related to being off the alcohol, I hope this will subside in time. Do you think he would be better off being completely off the Lex ? I tend to lean that way, especially the way he takes it.

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what did the doctors say about your husband? i have been off of lexapro and lamictal and trazadone and now i am weaning myself off of klonapin. i don't think it is healthy to take the lexapro as he is taking it.. but i am not a doctor.. i only know that i was over medicated and i have gotten off all but klonopin. i can say that the way he is takeing it may be why he is having problems but i don't know. all i know is that the medication can cause more problems and giving medication to treat alcoholism is not wise..but again, i am not a doctor.. my advice to you is to research the medications that he is taking.. know the ins and outs of the medication..why it is prescribed, why does he need it.. and what are the side effects of taking the medication... that is about all i can say.. i have no more brain zaps (lexapro) and now i can concentrate on getting off of klonopin.. also one thing you should know, if he is has a problem with habbitual use of alcohol, he can have the same thing with klonopin..it is a narcotic.. research what happened to Stevie Nicks of Fleetwood Mac on youtube..her own words about drug addiction..and how she got off of it..but that is all the advice i have for you.. i won't go on another ssri as long as i live..it is too painful to get off..and klonopin has led me down a path i don't want to be on..i am sorry i can not help more.

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Please help ! These posts are wonderful and very insightful about Lexapro. My husband only takes 10mgs "as needed ". He may take it for a week or maybe just a few days. He is also a recovering alcoholic, sober 6 months now. He craves sugar and doesn't always eat during a very physical work day, then will down lots of ice cream. My question is taking Lexapro on an " off & on" basis healthy. He is very difficult to be with, angry, short tempered, very fatigued!
He takes Kolnopin to help him sleep. He's a great man, but these highs and lows are extreme. Please any advice would be appreciated !

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Joan

Thank you so much for the encouragement. I could feel myself regaining my strength and courage as I read your encouraging message. I am going to schedule an appointment with a therapist soon as I now realise that a therapist is definately an important element in my healing process. Thank you and stay blessed!

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Joan you are the first person who has been through this nightmare and i am so glad you have made it.. i had to quit because i have no job.. i went the first 3 weeks of pure hell and then went back on it for about 4 days with half the dose, and then half of that.. i have been off of it for almost 2 weeks and i am feeling better.. i hope i have gone through the worst. i feel really good.. and i hope it continues.. i will be seeing a new counselor soon so i can learn how to deal with what is going on with me without drugs.. i look forward to living a normal life, well as normal as you can in a crazy world.. i only have one more med to wean off of.. and i will be starting that as soon as i know i am off of lex. thanks for your encouraging words.

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Sue,
The Best thing you can do for yourself, under the guidance of your doctor, is to wean off these drugs. I say , under the guidance of a doctor because their responsibility towards you is to help you get better. Since we manage our own care, for the most part anymore, explain you want to wean off and the dr. will help you.I have been off the Lexapro and Ambien now 5 weeks and I have been able to sleep better, I exercise 6 days a week, am more focused and am feeling like my old, well, not that old, self again. :) I will add that I am seeing a psychologist who is wonderful. She has helped me tremendously through the last 2 yrs... now she gets to see me off drugs, without artificial happiness and will work towards more consistent and "true" natural treatment. It's good to be off the medicene. Hang in there.....and exercise. Sweating out the toxins from your body certainly helps to rid the medicene from your body. Chiropractic care is also good and I see mine regularly. You can do it....just hang in there and tell yourself how much better you will feel once you're through the tough days. All of us on this thread have done it....not easy....but you can be successful. Hang in there....

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I was placed on Lexapro 10 mg at bedtime after tapering off of Venlafaxin 75mg twice a day. After 3 months I decided to stop because I did not want to be "medicated" any longer. Mistake!!! I have suffered through 2 weeks of terrible restless leg syndrome every night and feel awful the next day. I hope to tough this out and not be dependent on anything like that again. If l must I certainly will taper off the next time and not just stop!

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Are the withdrawn symptoms which you mentioned earlier getting better though? I am about to be weaned off Lexapro and am praying that I will be able to handle whatever comes my way. I cant imagine being ill again...Thanks for sharing your experiences.

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I am at 13 weeks with no Lexapro and have had two good days and nights in a row. I am excited that someday I will be drug fee and feel good again.

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Mary, thanks for the encouragement to those of use entering their 4th week drug free. It's hopeful that we will all start feeling better soon...Once those neurotranmitters "get it" that there is no artificial serotonin coming to block them and recycle them, then hopefully we are back to normal. Good for you and hope you continue to feel great!Z

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I am still trying to find answers to that question through research. I haven't concluded whether I believe they do or not at this point, except what I have learned is that there is a possibility that they may recover if other factors are present such as no drugs, more vitamins.

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so Joan, are you saying the neurons never recover?

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withdrawal from Lexapro and Ambien together.....I was on Lexapro for about a year and Citalapram for about 6 months prior to that. Then about 6 months ago my dr. prescribed Ambien. Two weeks ago I ceased all medication and am suffering terribly.Anger, depression, mood swings, anxiety, wanting to lash out, etc...it is HELL!!! These dr.'s that think they are doing you a favor are only feeding their pockets. the Neurons in your brain actually dissipate and die while the seratonin on your brain gets a false high from teh drugs. the Neurons don't recover after weaning fromm the drug...or at least, they don't recover 100%. Go to a Psychologist and get help...Psychiatrists only make things worse with drugs.

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I totally agree with you! I went through 2 weeks of sheer hell after stopping this medication... and that was after reducing it slowly over weeks beforehand. Like you, I too don't understand how pharmaceutical companies can lie about these things or minimise their effects. It's a horrible drug and I never ever want to use it again!!!

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I don't know if I am the Jennifer that you were asking about but I am two and a half months off Lexapro and I feel as if I have gone into another stage of withdrawal. All my senses are exaggerated, my eyes hurt from the light, noises seem very loud and give me a headache and nothing taste good anymore. All of the foods that I loved no longer appeal to me at all. I have terrible headaches through my eyes everyday. I am sick to my stomach everyday and am constantly hungry. My eyelids and under my eyes are so swollen. Worst of all I cannot sleep. Am getting maybe two hours of sleep a night. I am miserable. I want my life back when I was happy and fun to be around. Don't know how much more I can take. Seeing the doctor on Friday about the eye swelling. Basically would stay in bed everyday if I could but would still get no sleep.

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i quit 10mg lexapro cold turkey after 6 months because i was finally feeling great and did not want to pay for another month. for two weeks after quitting, i felt great. then BAM! dizziness, fatigue and the occasional brain zap. i was tired all the time and was having short term memory problems. it was like being drunk all the time. people couldn't talk to me because i would forget what they had JUST said. i am so glad to be free of artificial brain chemicals.

after much reading i read that withdrawal symptoms last anywhere between 1 week - several months. a small percentage will last longer that 3 months, but the average length is one month.

well it's been exactly one month since i quit the drug, and YAY! i feel great again. i religiously took a multivitamin and complex B. FYI, complex B is amazing! i do get the occasional very mild brain zap once every few days, but i'm optimistic that will go away.

i wish my doctor would have told me more about the withdrawal symptoms. i read that doctors only get a 20 min information session for each drug they prescribe done by a pharmaceutical rep! i wish i would have tried exercise and healthy diet before turning to drugs. i am thankful lexapro helped me through a hard time, but i am glad to be off it.

i am also mad at my doctor because she tried to push my dosage up to 20mg when i was doing fine on 5mg. i agreed to compromise with 10mg, as i am very sensitive to most medications. i believe i would have had a very difficult time if i was at 20mg. several times while nauseous, dizzy and fatigued i wanted to give up and take it again and wean off more slowly. thankfully, i was too broke.

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I think you must stay the course of getting off it. I can't believe the side effects either, the brain zap, the feeling of swelling or migraine or vertigo. The disequilibrium. it's pretty hard to fathom but it just tells me all the more so how much the time has come to get off and move on! You can do it.

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