Lexapro Withdrawal Unwanted Side Effects (Page 14) (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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I’m sorry it should be malpractice to tell people there are no side effects when that’s obviously a lie. I have learned that if they tell me there are no side effects they either have no idea what they are talking about or they are lying to me on purpose.

I was told by doctor that gabapentin would not be causing my fatigue. It’s listed as a side effect of course it does.

My neurologist told me there were no side effects with emgality, yet the internet has many many people reporting terrible GI problems that they’re stuck with for at least 5 months while the long-acting injection wears off.

It should be malpractice to refuse actual anti-anxiety meds to people suffering from anxiety if there’s no reason to believe THAT patient will abuse the meds.

Sir, please try to make an appointment with an actual psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner because they are usually not afraid to give people anti-anxiety medication. I get an annual bottle of alprazolam from my mental health provider even though I take oxycodone and Adderall, because she knows I’m not going to do anything done with them, and 30 of them last me a whole entire year. But if I had asked my PCP he would have said no.

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Re: holly (# 4)

I assure you no “junkies” are after Lexapro. Nobody likes that medicine except people who are depressed. And half the time they don’t even like that medication. I don’t think SSRI’s work for anxiety, they’ve always made mine worse.

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Re: Randa (# 7)

My mom was 69 when her psychiatric medication made her hang herself. Please get off this medication if you are having those thoughts. Please

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Re: diane (# 14)

Please google “FDA Medwatch” to find the on line form to report this to the FDA.
The manufacturer won’t care, they won’t want people to know what you are experiencing, but the FDA might. I complained to them about Aurobindo Adderall, And now that company doesn’t make Adderall anymore. I’m not saying it’s because of the complaints but I also know I was not the only one

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Re: Leo the Yardie Chick (# 19)

Magnesium may help as well. It saved me when I was coming off gabapentin.

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Thank you sir. Your info is very helpful and really sheds some light on my feelings. It makes perfect sense that any chemical that you put in your body will have side effects, whether noticable or not. Also, when you stop taking any chemical, that your body will go through an adjustment phase. Just needed confirmation that I am not imagining all of this.

Thanks again for your reply.

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Sorry could"t take the withdrawal. Am back on the meds . Feeling better but feel like a total failure for being unable to stop the drugs.Am feeling a bit spaced out though and get occasional spells of dizziness.

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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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update ... 5 months free from lexapro and the only symptom of withdrawal i have is after exercising i get brain zaps.

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I stopped lexapro in May 2013 cold turkey.

My physical side affects were similar to that of a H junkie going through withdrawal and lasted 3 months.

Once they went away the only thing I deal with now is serious lack of patience for anything resulting in anger and depression.

Believe or not I don't feel like a zombie everyday anymore, I will probably not die of some deficiency due to lack of research on long term effects of lexapro and overtime my symptoms have subsided.

To get over the emotional withdrawal may be another 6 months.

This stuff really messes you up. I was on it for six years.

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I am a bit the opposite...I am not depressed, but my brain keeps zapping at such speeds I am barely able to deal with it...#hatelexipro

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Geez Diane, your story is my story!! I was on 20mgs for 5-6 years. Weaned VERY slowly at 5 mgs each month, down to the 5mgs, then one every other day. Had this dizzy thing in my head tho, was almost going to get a brain scan, thought I might have a tumor! Eventually got my energy back, and felt awakened again!! But the thing Is you are awakened in every sense of the word...I am angered REALLY quickly, my partner and kids just plain give me the s***s most of the time! I am unhappy and grumpy and confrontational. I wonder whether the suppression of emotions due to the drug, just all come back up after you withdraw??? I am tempted to get back on them again to feel a little happier.. but really don't want any drug dependance again. Maybe I am just an a**hole of a person just naturally? Although I never used to be.

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Its okay I have lots of road under my belt being 17 months off. I think I am getting hit really hard one more time before I start to feel good again. Nexium could mess with your digestion. Your right we have too little stomach acid. But your system is actually really sensitive because of the med change so any change to your system might be disruptive. If the nexium helped I would say stay on it until you stabilize but obviously if it makes you worse than no point in that. Your in what the veterans call a wave right now. Anti anxiety meds are very addictive and have they're own Withdrawal but might help. My suggestion would be to try a magnesium bath or foot soak daily or Ltheanine a calming amino acid picked up at the health food store. Another option is Kava which can have a same effect as anxiety meds without the withdrawal. But if you would rather try the anxiety meds than I would suggest the lowest possible dose and not to take it daily. Tolerance is built up very fast . But if you did have to take it daily. I would say lowest dose possible so when u want off it you can taper easier. One thing that works for my gut. Is buying raw ginger and chewing on a very small piece. Let me know what you decide to try

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Leaxpro contains the active ingredient Escitalopram, this an SSRI antidepressant.

First off, ALL drugs carry the risk of side effects, regardless of what your doctor tells you. Some people tolerate drugs very well and experience few side effects, while other may get slammed with all of them. For your doctor to try and say there aren't any is just not realistic.

Some common side effects of Leaxapro can include: nausea, headache, dry mouth, drowsiness and diarrhea.

Secondly, our bodies can become dependent on ANYTHING we ingest regularly, be it a morning cup of coffee or orange juice or a medication and if you suddently stop using it, you will experience withdrawal effects. They will not be as serious as they would if you were an addict that was abusing a drug, but nonetheless, they will occur.

You can also experience rebound effects, such as worsening anxiety and depression for awhile, as your body tries to readjust to no longer having this chemical.

You can read more about this medication here:

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Lexapro/­

Did you have any questions?

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