Lexapro Withdrawal Unwanted Side Effects (Page 9)

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 this is so long. Is Lexapro to blame? or Lo-Loestrin? In doing some research on Lexapro and reading forums where people have posted, I came across a post from a woman who finally found out that Lexapro was not her culprit. It was her birth control pill.
Chelsea had been on Loestrin birth control bill for 4 years and was fine on it, except had some bad headaches and over the last 6 months she was on it, they became more frequent. When Chelsea went to her GYN for her yearly checkup in Sept 2011, she talked to the DR, discussed the headaches, so they changed her to Lo-Loestrin FE. She started these new pills at the end of Sept/ beginning of Oct 2011. She got the ovarian cancer vaccine and went back around the beginning of Nov for the second shot. During the first month taking the Lo-Loestrin, she had started having some crying spells, panic attacks, strong anxiety, stomach aches, concentration issues, inability to complete tasks. We all attributed it to grad school and because a lot of her friends and support group had graduated and left, boyfriend was back in Atlanta, no more Delta Zeta sorority, which had been a big part of her life – all of her “campus” activities ended when Chelsea graduated from under-grad – year book, television and radio station work… grad school was hard, Chelsea was taking 3 classes and assisting/teaching 3 classes, working part time. We all thought this was happening because it was a lot of changes and adjusting to grad life was just more stressful. Although she never had any issues adjusting to being away at college as a Freshman. When she went back in for this follow up appointment, she saw a PA and started talking about what she was experiencing. The PA suggested Chelsea go on Lexapro for the anxiety. She said it was a mild pill, and she would be on a low dose and it would help ease the anxiety of the transition. So, Chelsea went on Lexapro and did feel better.

Jump forward a year and a half. Chelsea graduate from grad school, decides she doesn’t need Lexapro anymore, was told by her GYN to wean- as it turned out - incorrectly, had a bunch of physical withdrawal issues for a month, then went through a bunch of bad depression about 2 months later. Same type issues as she had before – irritability, followed by a really bad depression and it continued to get worse. (all this time, Chelsea is still on Lo-Loestrin). At that point none of us knew what was wrong, as Chelsea had never gone through anything like that, but we attributed it to going off the Lexapro. Chelsea was crying constantly – like 6-8 hours a day, literally could not get out of the bed, and wound up having to quit her job. She had never been like that before. We decided that a GYN should NOT be issuing her an anti- anxiety drug, so went to a psychiatrist and started seeing a therapist. Figured it was due to another big round of changes in her life. Ending college, starting life in the real world, coming off a high of grad school/college, took a job she hated, a co-worker was pressuring me to move in with her, … and other stuff. The psychiatrist put her back on Lexapro, said for her to take it for at least 6 months and stabilize, then wean off correctly – VERY slowly. This spring she weaned off pretty slowly. Did start having a little irritation, but not as bad as last time. Brain shocks weren’t too bad, so much easier weaning than last time, since she was weaning correctly. But, two months later, we’re back to anxiety / panic attacks, lots of crying, feeling down, bad fatigue, helplessness… the same kind of feelings that put her on Lexapro the first time… and similar to what she went through when she went off Lexapro after she graduated.

After reading a few forums of people who went on Lo-Loestrin FE and starting having issues within a few weeks – we think her problems stem from the birth control pill. From what I have read, Lo-LoEstrin has high hormones and inhibits production of estrogen, so lowers your estrogen –so you don’t release an egg, don’t build up a uterine lining and don’t have a period. And, this pill only puts a low amount of Estrogen back into your system. (that is why it called Lo Loestrin). Estrogen helps to produce serotonin, which affects your emotional balance. (lower serotonin.. more emotional issues). And, when Chelsea went on Lexapro – which maintains serotonin longer in your brain by blocking the serotonin receptors (Keeps serotonin longer in your brain and keeps more of it) - it masked that low estrogen/serotonin problem caused by the birth control pill, because the Lexapro maintains a higher serotonin level for you. Then you go off Lexapro, over the next couple of months, the serotonin levels drop to normal for a brief time, then the LoLoestrin is keeping you at a lower estrogen level, which in turn re-affects your serotonin level (making it low), causing anxiety, depression and crying and concentration issues. It also hits you when your body stops producing much estrogen when you go through menopause. Same symptoms - BAD irritability to the point of rages, depression, bad memory issues, and inability to make yourself do the things you used to like to do, extreme fatigue.

Once she goes off the Lexapro and it gets out of her system and starts letting her body use serotonin, it depletes what she has stored, and the birth control pill is not supplying estrogen, which in turn makes her not produce serotonin. It’s like you are stuck in a perpetual second day of your period! Low hormones, low serotonin. This is probably what happened last time. But, not realizing that, the doctor put her back on Lexapro then, because we didn’t know what was wrong and didn’t know what else to do. Granted, Chelsea weaned off Lex completely wrong last time, and with that negative stress she had on her then , it probably had something to do with what all happened. After reading some Lo-Loestrin forums, it sounds like it starts causing issues in some women immediately –within a week or two – or the first month they start taking it. I found an article about estrogen levels during the month for a woman – Your Hormone Horoscope: As estrogen plunges during this premenstrual week, it can trigger moodiness, the blues, muscle aches, insomnia, headaches, fatigue and a wide variety of other PMS-related symptoms. As estrogen plunges, it depletes your brain of mood-boosting chemicals (serotonin) , leading to irritability and negativity. But, when you take a bubble bath, watch a much-loved movie, go for a walk or do anything else you enjoy , it gives a temporary boost to these happiness-triggering brain chemicals, making you calmer and more upbeat. So, she went back to her GYN yesterday – had to see a different doctor in order to get a quick appointment, and she said it was definitely probably the pill, as it does have that effect on a lot of women. So, she said to stop it immediately. She suggested Chelsea wait a couple of months and come back and try something else. But, she decided to go back on Loestrin, which she took and was fine for 4 years during undergrad.

But, we are not sure how long it will take for this new birth control pill to get her hormones back to normal. And, she cannot continue the way she is. She has a great job, just got a big promotion and raise in July, got engaged in June and we are planning a wedding. She should be on top of the world, but is a depressed crying mess. So, does anyone think this is Lexapro? Or a birth control issue? And, any idea how long her recovery is going to take? She wants to go back on Lexapro. I’m about to agree with her.

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Does anyone know if a blood test shows if you are taking lexapro?

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I am off Lexapro for 3 days. Been on it since after a heart operation, and experienceing some depression as a side affect of the operation. Was taking 20mg then down to 10mg. I am a mess! So dizzy that I can hardly stand up, weird sweating, night sweats, eating like a pig, so depressed, even worse than when I wasn't on it. Mad as hell at everybody and everything. Very exhausted and I just want to scream bloody murder. My family thinks I am crazy and I think that I may be. Just want to get in my car and drive off until I can't drive anymore. When will this end? I just want to die. I cannot believe that I allowed my doctor to put me on this horrible drug.

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I have had this down there symptom over the years and I have contributed it to underlying health anxiety. My anxiety issues have caused many urological symptoms but primarily the feeling you describe plus diffuse pelvic pain not attributable to any other cause such as prostate or urinary tract etc.

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Hi Richard, I'm in the same boat. I was taking lexapro 10mg daily for about 18 months. Went off it cold turkey and I'm a mess. It's been one week. Did it get better for you? I'm trying to stick it out but I am psychotic at the moment. Crying all the time, cranky with everyone, headaches and nausea.

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Seriously, the only thing I know to do is tuff it out, and this is where I am, in my personal desire to get this crap out of my system. I am consciously watching everything I do and say, in order to help me get my old self back. I am watching my diet, and actively trying to control my behavior through vigorous walking and taking deep breaths. I think before I speak, and try to keep my roller coaster of emotions in check. I do have a lot of personal will power, but realize that not everyone can muster up courage and will power on demand. You must believe that you will get through this. Think of yourself as a fighter, and you at war. Be determined to win! Do not allow yourself to go to any dark places in your head. Shake it off, walk around the block a few times. Focus on "winning".

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You are tapering incorrectly. Everytime you stop it and start it back and then stop it, it is like stopping cold turkey. You have to taper Lexapro by taking it EVERYDAY, but at a lower dose. You should taper 10% a month. This might involve having to supplement with liquid Lexapro. And, even then, you may still have a serious depression hit you. This is a HORRIBLE HORRIBLE drug. I am hoping there will soon be a big legal suit against the company. It has been horrible for my daughter, who was never depressed and never had bad anxiety, you can read my earlier post (it is long). Good luck to you.

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I have been on Lexapro 10mg for probably about 10 years now! Im 28. I tapered off very slowly but still getting the nasty side effects. Very dizzy and getting those 'brain zaps' in the begining, that has now subsided after about 3 weeks! Im still very irritable and my emotions are on a rollercoaster. Some nights i have restless legs and find it difficult to sleep, feel strange. The past few days have been pretty bad mood wise. I feel very sad and hopeless and just want to cry all the time. I just can't go back to feeling like this. Lucky im off work until end of next week. Can anyone tell me when it starts to get better? I refuse to go back on it! I know it's just my brain adjusting to the different levels of seratonin but it still sucks! It's probably going to be a long road as I have been on this drug for so long. I have tried going off it numerous times in the past and I couldnt deal with the side effects. Im proud to have come this far.

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Hi , I have been off Lexapro for 6 months now, I am still feeling unbalance when I walk, stomach problem. I cry alot , saying to my self when are these feeling going away

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I've been suffering from massive symptoms since stopping Lexapro 17 months ago. I was on 30mg and My a**hole doctor had my last 20 mg tapered in 3 weeks. It took 7 months to figure it out what was going on. I was adamantly told by my doctor that Lexapro doesn't cause withdrawal for more than a week. A good psychologist told me that reinstating the drug could make me worse. This was also supported by users who have experience with the poisonous medication. There are lots of recovery stories and it can take anywhere from 3 months - 6 yrs to fully recover. These meds should be banned. Its the perfect crime. Users get hooked and cant get off. But if they get off massive withdrawal symptoms appear, however doctors say its your condition coming back and need to go back on. The problem lies when your new withdrawal symptoms are completely different than the original reason for going on. In this case your doctor has you evaluated for every disease known to man while you suffer from withdrawal symptoms. It can get even worse when you become poly drugged to treat your withdrawal symptoms. I avoided this but only barely. Good luck to everyone. Time is the only thing that heals.

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So when everyone is weaning off, we are all getting withdrawals just from taking a lower dosage? When I started these pills the dr informed me that to get off them you have to lower the dosage for as long as you were depressed or on them i think?

I've only been on lexapro for the last 6 months. I was given 20mg and had awful side effects such as; head spins, nausea, sleeping 10-16 hours straight few times a week and feeling fuzzy. They settled down after 3 weeks and when I returned to my dr I mentioned the side effects and he said that is normal and temporary. So I've missed a day here or there and I have felt fine. Less sick if anything. In the past month and a half on a few occasions missed 3 days... (I'm very forgetful). Circumstances have changed and I feel like my old self again as if I might not need the lexapro anymore. I spoke to my dr who noticed a remarkable improvement and told me to drop to 10mg saying that cuz im small and releasing my own happy chemicals 20mg may be too strong.

SO this is my 3rd week on 10mg so half of what I was on. I feel awful health wise. Mentally I feel happy and I haven't cried more then the usual. But physically I've started feeling sick simular to when I started them. I have unintentionally forgot it the last 5 days and I an feeling even worse. I've had the following things that have concerned me above my other feelings:

-My cheeks feel like they are on fire as well as my jaw hurting near my ears.
-Ear aches
-Feet souls have been very achey
-Hearing s*** that's not there and ppk need to repeat things to me
-Mild head ache that feels like pressure right in the centre front of my head
-Can't concentrate
-Loss of appetite
-Breathing is difficult to control as in if I'm doing something I stop breathing and don't realise until I blow my held breath out harshly
-Head spins
-consistently getting that overwhelming wave you feel when you're just about to drop off to sleep
-Sometimes that is followed by me blacking out.
-My eyes are suddenly sensitive to light to the point I can't keep them open
-Double/blurred vision
-Strong sense of smell
-Last night at work I felt I needed to pee and when I did only a lil came out 20 mins later I urgently needed to go and couldn't but it had leaked in my undies. I skulled 4 bottles of water and 2 hours later I went.
-I had a dizzy spell this morn and cant remember what happened just woke up an hour later on the lounge
-Brain zaps
-Tingles up my arms and legs.....

Please post back if anyone else is experiencing any of this so I know if it's really lexapro or not?

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Can any one please help me! I have been on Lexapro for 1.5years 10mg since i switched from Zoloft 100mg. It was working good for my anxiety and running thoughts. however, after tress of my work, i feel little worrying feeling and doctor straight away put me on 20mg of Lexapro. I felt heart palpitation when wake up and didn't care of it, and after 7 weeks my heart started to beating faster and faster, went to 125 bpm for whole day! That was worse than my original Anxiety! Also i experienced some bowel movement, usually i have constipation problem. Then i went to see doctor, he wants me to reduce back to 10mg, I don't even know what happened to me! I after couple research on the web I noticed it is quite simular to Serotonin Syndrome, but i don't know I am right or not, anyone can tell me? that feeling was awful! Now it has been 2.5 month after i dropped back to 10mg, for the first month i went back to 10mg, the race heart was slowly calms down to 68bpm but still feel very strange and anxiety. the second month palpitation feeling was totally gone but still have anxiety feeling and stomach starts to feeling nausia, full and indigestive that makes me more anxious I was worrying my stomach too much now. I am still not well now and do anyone think i am still suffering from a kind of withdrawal syndrome? I am so worrying and don't know if the symptom will still exists or I should keep waiting till its getting stabilized? I have lost my job and I really want this feeling go away soon...

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Tasha very sorry your also going through this. Your symptoms seem alot like mine.

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You need to very slowly taper the drug 10%per month. Its an awful drug. You may need to go back on a low dose and taper very slow

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its the Lexapro. You started at 20 mg? Which is very strong , than you dropped to 10mg which is too big of a drop. Your central nervous system is going haywire. Your doctor has no idea what hes doing. This drug is very strong so even a suggested 10%taper per month would induce withdrawal symptoms. My guess is that it will take a few weeks or a month for your system to get used to being on 10mg again.

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Many many thanks Stitch! I feel bit relax after I knew whats going on with me. I was on 10mg for a year and then doctor want me to go for 20mg straight away due to i told him about my work stress. However 20mg made me much worse than 10mg, I do not know why but just made me couldn't sleep and heart beat went to 100bpm+! It has been 2.5 months after I dropped back to 10mg now, the feeling is changing per month, for the first month the heart beat getting slower and second month I dont feel any uncomfortable with my heart beat. However my stomach starts to feel nausea and indigestive. my anxiety feeling still not go away and its not stable. Anyway, I quit my job since I started palpitation problem when I was on 20mg...Now I just hope I will be back to normal soon!

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I started at 10th but my Dr put upto 20th after 2 and a half weeks.
I thought I was getting these symptoms because I wasn't ready to go down doses.
But I've been forgetting to take it as well I went 4 days without it but I felt fine mentally only sick physically.

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No problem Rain. Ya the 10mg to 20mg is too powerful of a jump. It overloads the system and your body struggles to adapt. That increases the heart rate anxiety and all those other symptoms. You should stabilize on the 10mg so don't worry. But if you ever quit the drug than taper 10% per month, any faster is very difficult

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Ya Becs you need to stabilize on the med. You were started at 20 mg? Not 5mg? Cause even starting at 5mg is very strong. Lexapro per mg is the strongest ssri on the market. So 20 was likely much too high to start and than dropping 10mg back to 10 is another shock to your system. I would probably stay at 10mg for a while to stabilize.

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I startes on 10mg and after 2 weeks I was put onto 20mg. I've been on 20mg for almost 6 months and then 3 weeks ago dr told me to break my pills in half and start taking 10mg again.

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