pound4poundI have been taking 10mg Lexapro since 2007 and I weaned myself off slowly with no bad side effects. After 3 weeks of being off the Lexapro, I got mad at something very little and it sent me into anxiety and panic attacks. I started back on my Lexapro after literally a week of non-stop attacks that I thought would go away. I have been back on the Lexapro 5 days and now I have insomnia and haven't eaten (little to nothing) in two weeks. Is this normal? Does anyone else have experience of going off Lexapro and needed to get back on it soon after?
Has anyone else experienced anxiety and insomnia after quitting and returning to Lexapro?
- Posted:
- 14 Oct 2011 by pound4pound
- Topics:
- lexapro, anxiety, insomnia, generalized anxiety disorder, side effect
Details:
Responses (3)
LaurieShay15 Oct 2011
Hey pound4pound,
You are experiencing side effects from the Lexapro. If the insominia doesn't subside soon, you need to discuss with the doctor. I assume you are taking the Lexapro in the morning? If not, I would definitely do that. Having a resurgence of symptoms after stopping a medication is not unusual. Just means that you really needed the medication in the first place to control the anxiety. It may take a few weeks for your body to adjust and the Lexapro to start working again, be patient, it will get better.
Best wishes,
Laurie
15 Oct 2011
Did you have your Dr. help you wean off or did you do this by yourself? It is very common when you wean yourself off something then go back on that you might have a totally different side effect then you had the first time. I have experienced this myself when i have decided to wean off something and get back on it or i just didn't remember the side effects being on it so long. Can your Dr. give you something else ti try??? Leron
pound4pound
15 Oct 2011
My doctor told me how to wean myself off but really didn't want me to. My husband and I were going to try to get pregnant with our first child but apparently I can't get off this lexapro and be well enough to be able to get pregnant. This is very sad for me because we want to have children. I don't know what to do. :(
15 Mar 2012
I took lexapro for about two years in high school with no side affects and weened myself off of it by the time i got to college. I'd been off of it for a little over a year, but recently i've been struggling with depression and anxiety again and decided to get back on it. I just woke up at 3 in the morning sweating and nausiated. That caused me to have a little panic attack. I got on here in hopes that it would make me stop freaking out. This is only day one though so i guess i'll just hang in there for a while and see what happens.
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Laurie,
Thank you for your reply. I feel better knowing this will pass because the last two weeks has been the worst for me. I haven't been able to function because of not eating or sleeping and all the ongoing attacks :(
Laurie, Imissed my lexapro last nite, now just one nite mind you and I woke up this morning wet as water, hot flashes all nite. Feel therible today, but thank the Lord I got the Lexapro and didn't have to change to celexa. I take mine at nite so I have been fighting anxiety and panic all day just missing that one last nite, thats the first time just missing one has done that to me. Crazy!! Sorry didn't mean to take over the question. von
Glad to hear you got the Lexapro Vonnie. Strange that missing just one dose would do that. Hope you are feeling better soon.
Hang in there pound4pound. Gonna take a little while, but it will get better.
I have been on Lexapro for about 4 years. I stopped taking it about 3 weeks ago and am feeling like my head is full and jittery and hard to focus. I feel light headed and dizzy too. How long will it take to feel normal
Hang in there Ramona. Shouldn't be much longer. If the symptoms haven't cleared in the next week to 10 days be sure to notify the doctor and make sure there isn't something else going on.