Lexapro Withdrawal Unwanted Side Effects (Page 7)

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 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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I hope it gets better for you. Its been 2 weeks off of it for me and it seems the nausea is getting better but still have the brain zaps severe headache and fatigue . It seems the brain zaps are worse when I get really tired. I started taking the magnesium tablets and omega 3 fish oil along with a multivitamin. It seems like it helps a bit. Oh I still get the all of a sudden anxiety too. My doctor gave me a prescription for xanax. He said it would help with the withdrawal symptoms but I wont take it because I think its ridiculous to replace one with another.

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Does anybody know if any of these withdrawals are dangerous? I am taking my daughter to a neurologist but couldn't get an appointment until April 21st. After taking Lexapro only a month, and now being off it for a month, I would think the withdrawals would be over. Her hands still shake and if she exercises or gets tired, she still gets "zaps". It does seem like the restless arm symptoms are lessening.

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I do notice that when I get tired the dizziness and zaps seem to be worse. I've read of other people going to neurologists and everything comes back fine. I think it's probably just the withdrawals. The hand shaking could be some of the anxiety that comes along with the withdrawl too. I don't know if any of you on here have anxiety like I do but I got a book called hope and help for your nerves and it really helped understand it a lot better. I would recommend it.

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My daughter did battle with psychiatrist while she was hospitalized for a corporate burnout experience. She lost the battle with him, and ended up on Lexapro after several others attempts from his trials and errors of prescription meds.

After release from hospital, and 6 months later, she asked him to work with her to get off the meds. He stated she would have to be on them for a year. Well, bottom line, she received a certified letter from him stating she was non-compliant and she would have to seek medical advice elsewhere. She tried to schedule a followup appt with him, and was declined! He gave her 30 days to find a psychiatrist who will provide her with refilling her prescription! We are looking into gaining a psychiatrist who is willing to help her off the prescription.
All I can say here is, as her mother, I am quite upset, and my thoughts about conventional medicine and pharmaceuticals has once again been affirmed, and I have picked up the banner, and will beat the drum on this outrageous violation!!!!! Here is one professional who has spent 25 years doing the same. Dr Ann Blake Tracy on the dangers of all SSRI drugs.

youtube.com/watch?v=rDTg14SxtzU
drugawareness.org

If you know of a psychiatrist who truly takes a holistic approach to his practice, and they are in Chicagoland, please speak up! Kindest Regards... Thank you.

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I can really sympathise. Doctors often minimize symptoms and are not aware of the horrific effects of abrupt withdrawal. My husband stopped it 2 weeks ago and he has been unbearably negative, agitated, in a rage state most of the time (though fortunately he is not a violent person) He is incapable of saying anything positive, and talks constantly about the woes of his work and the world.He is really not rational most of the time, but he has no insight into that. I am nearly going insane, but I can see that he really cant help it. This sight has helped me not feel so alone, so thanks all.

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I am miserble! I have been on Lexapro for almost 12 years and want off! I hate the way I feel. I have been weaning off this drug since January. I am finally off it, but miserable. Please, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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I am miserable! I have been on Lexapro for almost 12 years and want off! I hate the way I feel. I have been weaning off this drug since January. I am finally off it, but miserable. Please, any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

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I've been on ssri's for 5 years, Lexapro in particular for 3 years. Have been weaning off of Lexapro for a month now from 30 mg, down to 10mg. Unfortunately like most people I have been experiencing horrific withdrawls. Headaches, nausea, depression, night sweats, brain zaps, lack of concentration (forget my words mid sentence) and have a constant battle against anxiety&panic attacks. I started gaining weight (I'm assuming from Lexapro) and it was losing it's efficacy, I still had anxiety& panic attacks so I no longer want to depend on it if it's not going to help. I'm terrified of what's going to happen when I stop taking it completely but I won't give up. I am extremely depressed, don't want to leave my bed. I'm seeing my doctor on Thursday and going to suggest small dose of wellbutrin to help with depression and eventually
Will wean off that, which I think will be easier than weaning off Lexapro. My advice, take fish oil, b12, multi vitamin, take walks/physical activity, also melatonin is a natural sleep aid, l-theanine is to help relax you as well as valerian root and lemon balm.

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I was on Lexapro for almost 6 months, 10 mg. After reading all the horror stories of withdrawal symptoms, I was anxious to get off this medication. I know other people are too, but don't be in such a hurry. I cut my 10 mg pill to 3/4 of a pill for 8 weeks. My plan was 4 weeks, but I felt I needed the extra time. Now I am down to 1/2 pill a day, which is 5 mg. I am on week 3 and will continue until week 8. This may take a few months, but so far, my withdrawal symptoms are nothing like I am hearing on this forum. I am having a little anxiety now, but I just ignore it and keep myself busy. Depression is always hard, but you have to force yourself to move. My advice is to go very slow, especially the people who have been on this med for years. Don't just cut your dose in half. Cut it by a 1/4 and stay on that dose for at least 8 weeks. Your body is used to the higher dose and cutting it in 1/2 it's going to react strongly. I have had very mild dizziness once in a while, some anxiety, headaches, heartburn, but not where I am in extreme distress. I can handle it. If you wean down to half your dose and you have to stay on that for 6 months, then do so.

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Lemon Balm really does help. It is a great anti-anxiety tea. According to the research I done after reading about it on the website "Food Matters." Three cups of a tea a day. and chamomile at night for sleep. It worked for me.

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Hi, my name is Linda and it's been 7 weeks off Lexapro and I feel horrible. Mentally I am fine, lately nausea is the worst and I am so tired. How do you feel now since you're a few months ahead of me. Thanks

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I felt moody at times and irritable. I felt a bit more anxious since my mind just kept on thinking so many random thoughts. Some times good ones and some times sad and anxious ones.
Now that I am at 10mg and I am going on two weeks I have been less restless and my mind is not running with thoughts like I was on 20mg. But it has been tough tapering off. Really hard. feeling a bit better. Been exercising and doing hot yoga to remove all the toxins from my body.
Hope this helps. if not asking again or feel to ask me more questions.

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I walked in the house last night after doing yard work, received a smell of dinner and threw up. Everything upset my stomach, by the way, I am 52 and so not pregnant!

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Linda, Did you very slowly wean yourself off, especially if you have been on it for a while. I am finding people that weaned off for only a few weeks or less are really having a hard time. I am still weaning myself off this medication since February. I have gained a lot of weight, on this medication and I'm anxious to get off, but I know it's a process, so I am doing it very slow. I am only having mild side effects.

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Hey Isabella, I did what my Dr. Told me to do, cut in half for a week and stop. Big mistake, I was on for 2yrs. I think my Dr was so wrong!

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I would also like to comment that this page has been wonderful, thank you EVERYONE for posting. I no longer feel alone!

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Hi Linda, Being on medication for 2 years and stopping in like 2-3 weeks, (especially that this medication is addictive), to me has to be very hard. I am hearing on this site how people who have been on Lexapro, did exactly what your doctor told you to do, and suffered greatly. This medication did help me with anxiety and I'm thankful for that, but I have gained a lot of weight and don't want to be unhealthy either. My method slowly decreasing the dosage by a 1/4 of a pill and staying on that dosage for 8 weeks has been so much better. Once your body has adjusted to the new dosage and you are feeling better, then I cut it down to another 1/4. I am on a 1/2 a pill now (5 mg.) and have one more week, then I will cut it down to 1/4 of a pill and stay on that for 8 weeks. It's a process, but if I don't have the horrible withdrawal symptoms, then I will keep doing it this way. I have to work and take care of a family and cannot be suffering from major withdrawal symptoms and of course I don't want to. Even if it takes 6 months to get off it, at least you will eventually be off. Lot's of Luck.

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THE GOOD: Eight years ago, Lexapro was my savior from anxiety and depression. I felt, mentally, a way I hadn't felt in twenty years. I could put up with the excess and constant sweating, anorgasmia, and jaw clenching in exchange for this. Now, after talk therapy with the most amazing psych in the world, I have tapered off.

--THE BAD--: When I first started to go off, my doctor said I shouldn't have any problems and recommended a quick taper of going down 2.5 mg each week. Mid-way through week 2, I was a mess. I kept falling from dizziness/light-headedness; everytime I turned my head, there was a swishing/whirling; I had headaches; I was manic; I was crying -- all of the time; I was stressed and irritable and jumping on co-workers and students. So, I reported it to my doctor, who said she was unaware of what could be causing this. Grrrrr! I told my psych, who was also unaware. Dr. said I should do a slower taper over two months that would include up-down doses. BAD IDEA! So, I went online, found others' horror stories and did a nine-month taper, one mg at a time. Each time I would step down, I would cry and stress from day three to five or six. When I got down to two mg, I became incontinent -- that lasted until I was completely off six weeks, then stopped as abruptly as it had begun. (related to the anorgasmia?and downright weird) When I was completely off, there were no symptoms for the first few days, and I thought, wow! this is so great! I am free! Then, the crying started - anywhere, all of the time! (note: I am NOT A CRYER) Everyday for four weeks. I noticed toward the end that I was crying less frequently and started keeping track of the episodes. Every day crying stopped around four weeks and tapered gradually until at the end of six weeks, no more crying.

THE UNBEARABLE - My stress level started creeping up at week eight post and is now at a full roar. I am now ten weeks post-Lexapro. I have been grinding my teeth so fiercely over the past year that my top teeth are shifting. My stress level over the past two weeks has escalated to seemingly unmanageable. I have been eating right, exercising and meditating. NOT HELPING. A couple of times I have had fleeting thoughts that my life is unlivable, though I would not take action on this. And, when it happens, I think how weird it is to have such thoughts and try to shift focus.

Oh, and I can only sleep for an hour at a time. This started one week ago.

So, if anyone can help with how long the insomnia and the almost complete inability to deal with stress lasts, please, please help me.

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I'm so sorry you seem like you are really suffering. Being on Lexapro for 8 years is a long time and I would think you would need about a year to get off. Weaning very slow. I also felt better being on Lexapro with my anxiety but, my hair was falling out by the handfuls. I gained over 20 lbs in a few months and I have no libido. I still take a 1/2 a pill a day, 5 mgs. and now my hair is okay. I still have the weight. I think when you start feeling better with your life, it's only natural to want to get off your meds. Suicide ideation and life feeling blah is very depressing. These meds really mess up your mind. I would probably have stood on this medication if the side effects weren't so bad for me or getting off of it wasn't hell. I want to lower my dose still but my anxiety level has been high and I am afraid to. There is a lot of stress in my life.

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