Lexapro Withdrawal Unwanted Side Effects (Page 13) (Top voted first)

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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Good morning everyone...I went cold turkey off of Lexapro 10 mg after being on 5mg for 4 years and 10mg for the last 6 months. My last dose was 4 days ago. I went from 130 lbs to 190 lbs during the time on Lexapro.... To tell you the truth...I'm feeling awesome....some frontal headache at times...and my anxiety is holding it's own thank goodness but I am using Gaba L-Theanine topical on my wrist about 2 x a day to help with the anxiety just in case..and who knows...maybe that's what helping with the anxiety. Also...to help me with losing the weight along with exercise/diet, I've been prescribed Contrave. A combo drug with no stimulants but has two meds that work on the hunger center and addiction center. The only addiction I have is food..no drugs or alcohol...but sugar is also an addiction. Started taking my first dose today. Really feeling pretty good and my appetite isn't overwhelming as usual. I'm making sure I'm eating lots of protein though...like Pure Protein bars with only 2 gms of sugar. I'm a chocoholic big time so this satisfies that craving. I tell you...Lexapro makes all food tastes awesome and makes you want to eat more and more of it.....and now my self esteem is tanked because of the weight gain...Now...let's see what happens. I've already lost 3 lbs being off of the little white pill. Praying all withdrawal effects stay away.

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I am happy you feel good, but be aware that it takes about 7-10 days to feel the effects of the discontinuation of a dose fully. It will likely be a tougher time in a few more days to a week. If so, don't feel bad if you resume. I did. I WANTED to stop for many of the same reasons. I went from 5mg to 2.5, to zero every 3 weeks and still it was so awful I had to resume after weeks off. I since have researched it more, and Lexapro
( escitalopram) is far more potent at lower doses than all other anti depressents. It is like 3x the same dosage of a different anti depressent. So... my plan is down 10% for 3-4 weeks, eachvinterval, and go to liquid to ensure proper dosing. I read this is suggested to allow your body to recalibrate and get accustomed to it's own levels of seratonin, etc..and to minimize, any of the discontinuation/withdrawal effects. Ithe will take a long time, but eventually I think I will try it. It was SCARY what happened to me at about a week.
Please come back and let us know how you are doing at a week, 10 days, etc..
There is no shame in a slow taper. I had to reconcile myself to that last year.
The cold turkey is rough on your nervous system. It sounds like it will help somewhat, with you are doing otherwise, but it may still be quite tough. Hoping for a miracle for you!! Be well! Please do check back in.

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Well said Mate!! After 16 years on lexapro, I'm coming off this... I had a major meltdown.... and lost it. Still in recovery now!! It's great to hear the truth!! Peace to all for recovery. God bless.

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I have been on Lexapro for years for Anxiety. The withdrawals are very real and usually start if I have not had it for 2-3 days. While this is a bad side affect I should also tell you that it has helped me tremendously. Without it I suffer from panic attacks. As long as I am on it I do not have any attacks. Mine were so bad they created internal bleeding and I was hospitalized. The doctors said: "Treat your stress or you will die." So it may not be for everyone, however there are those of us who benefit from it. I do not have depression though, my issue is sever anxiety.

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Hi Birdiepj - How long did it take before all your symptoms were gone

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Can you direct me to this thread and this user 'aunty' and the research and remedies they have found. I am in extreme and desperate need to find some relief from this hell.

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Has anyone else had a sense of feeling like a toddler like I will laugh really oddly (my sister calls it the Girl Scout laugh) and act really weird I've been on 20mg of lexapro for about 6-7 months and it's concerning me

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I have been taking lexapro (10mg) for a month in conjunction with dex (25mg a day) which I started a month prior. I went onto lexapro mainly because my anxiety got worse from dex and because I got diagnosed with depression. Some stuff happened which made my depression worse so I went to 20mg of lexapro which I've been on for 3 months. I want to withdrawal to a lower dose possibly back to 10mg but I'm worried my anxiety will come back and I won't be as tamed as I am now, but I know I can't continue not feeling anything. I've also been looking at changing my ADHD medication.

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When trying to get off a certain antidepressant, why do people have such terrible withdrawals when it only takes up to 72 hours for the medication to be completely out of your system?

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On my 9th day of withdrawal from Lexapro, what a b****! I have brain zaps, my sinuses hurt, my ears feel full, I'm gassy, my stomach hurts and I have indigestion. I've been doing a lot of research and just got some t-lyphan because they say it helps. I will let you all know. I'm also taking b12, magnesium & fish oil. This is not for sissies. Anyone else experiencing these symptoms? I have no appetite either.

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Re: Jeff (# 246)

Hi. May i know have you recovered totally from this withdrawal symptoms ?

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was on effexor for 13 yrs they switched me to lexapro was on it for about 2 months had horrible stomach problems kept having to run to bathroom if you know what I mean. decided to go off weaned myself down been off for about month had horrible side effects brain zaps, worse of all reflux and stomach problems. indegestion, and a feeling like something is stuck in throat. tried to with go any anit depressents but had to go back on this past week they put me on prozac 10mg for my depression and ocd and anxiety. anyone else have refluc withdrawling from lexapro plz let me know.

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Get a new doctor because clearly thus is a high performance drug. You need something like xanax to help with the withdrawal symptoms.

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Re: Lxl (# 259)

not sure I just went on prozac been on about a month but still have some reflux problems not sure if its from lexapro or not

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I've been on lexapro 5mg for a month now and I am having panic attacks when I wake up from a dead sleep. Also brain fog and constant anxiety. I can't seem to really eat and I just don't feel myself. I don't even like being alone or sleeping alone. I called my doc. She told me to start tapering off of them. Kinda nervous about it.

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I have been off Lexapro 10mg for a month or a little more. I weaned from 10 to 5 to 2.5 to nothing. I am getting horrible headaches almost daily. Has anyone else experienced this after being off a month?

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I took 10mg for a year. Started weaning of by taking 5mg for a week then 5 mg every other day for a week then 5mg every 3 days for a week then 2.5 mg 1 day and just stoped. The first week was I was on edge very short fused then I read about CBD oil and started taking a dropper full of 600mg oil 2 times a day with 1000mg of fish oil and 500mg magnesium and it was smooth sailing after that. The oil gives me the same effects as if I never stoped taking the lexapro. The only side effect I had was insomnia but that only lasted a couple nights and then I added melatonin and fixed that. CBD oil has totally changed my life. And I’m lexapro free now for over a month.

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Re: Jessica (# 264)

Try CBD oil it really works well. Came of lexapro 10 mg and using the oil and it has kept me from having any withdrawal symptoms

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I'm in my second withdrawal attempt. I followed the tapering recommendations from my doctor but I'm still having really bad side effects. I finished the tapering 2 and a have months ago.

I have a burning sensation in my skin specially on mi arms, forearms and hands, dizziness, confusion, concentration problems, irritability among others.

Is this a normal thing? The only thing partially helping me is sleeping and doing light exercise.

There is not much information about this post withdrawal phase...

Please help!

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Re: Verwon (# 1)

Why did people down vote this? It’s totally true. If I take Tylenol every day for a headache I will get rebound headaches when I stop taking Tylenol. My mom had a terrible problem when she used Afran nasal spray for years and then tried to stop using it she couldn’t breathe through her nose at all because of the rebound/withdrawals.

Nothing you said is wrong it’s bizarre people down voted you.

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