Lexapro Withdrawal Unwanted Side Effects (Page 4)
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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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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.

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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

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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?

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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.

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

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

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

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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I tapered from 10 mg to 5 to 2.5 and now none these past 2 days. I have a muffled head feeling and some dizziness that I guess is still medication withdrawal. Hanging in.

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I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for approx 8 yrs now. Recently I spoke to my Dr about going onto another antidepressant as Lexapro has not helped my anxiety/depression. He told me to take 5 mg for a week, then have 4 days break and then start on my new medication. He gave me some tablets to help me sleep, they put me to sleep, but I keep waking up every few hrs. so sleeping is frustrating, l also feel short tempered at times. And very depressed. l know these are side effects of coming of Lexapro so knowing that helps. Each day it gets easier. I haven't put on any extra weight or have sugar cravings, just a slight brain zap now and again, but my motivation is down. The insomnia is the worst. I know it will be worth it in the end so I'm pleased when each day passes. I feel like my light has gone out, but l won't let these feeling beat me. My light will shine again hopefully on the new anti depressants. Fingers crossed, and to all of us who are withdrawing l congratulate.

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I am anxious and irritable. Part of why I started lexapro. This is 3rd week and on 2.5 mg. definitely less tired but no weight loss yet and concerned abt the high anxiety.

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I was on the generic for lexapro for almost 2 months I was lightheaded from day 1 all day everyday .. I originally was put on 20 mg a week later was dropped to 10 mg another week later was dropped again to 5 mg and I believe two weeks after that I was taking 5 mg one day and 10 the next I did that for about a week, then I decided my lightheadedness was not getting any better , I decided to come off of it , they put me back on 5 mg every other day, then every 2 then every 3 then i have been off of it since 2/2 I have experienced palpitations ( about 2 weeks of them )I have had a 24 hour holter monitor on , 2 ekgs they came back good I am having a stress test / echo tomorrow . The palpitations are not as bad now as they were after I got the results my heart was fine .. Then I experienced pain/numbness in my leg for about a week and chest pain , again had a second opinion from another heart Doctor he assured me I am fine...those symptoms went away , now I'm having ringing in my ears ( been for almost a week) it's driving me nuts!! And still am lightheaded .. Any suggestions? Ever since I had my first panic attack I've thought the worse .. I think it's the meds have not fully left my system .. Because I was not lightheaded before the meds ... Any advice ??

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If you start to get crippling symptoms its withdrawal not your old conditions coming back. That is likely due to your taper. 10mg- 5mg drop is big. Lexapro is double and up to 10x stronger than other SSRI's. 10% taper per month is recommended to reduce those nasty side effects. Good luck. The drug has helped people but trying to get off it is extremely difficult.

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Lexapro is a brilliant drug helping many to get through the days. It took me about 3 weeks to adjust to it and by week 4 I felt human and week 5 I wondered if this is how ordinary people feel every day. (Ie great and normal and calm).
Now it is 2 plus years later and I want to experience life without the weight gain and fatigue that were my side effects of this otherwise great medication. I went a week on 5 mg from 10 mg and now am starting the 2.5 mg. I don't mind the occasional dizziness or the difficulty now falling asleep but worry my crippling anxiety will return. I am eating regularly and doing breathing exercises and focusing on my half full glass. I just want my own self back drug free but can't bad mouth this drug (yet) because it saved my life. Everything is a trade off.

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