How to minimize Lexapro withdrawal symptoms?

Question

It seems that most of the Q's are similar... Here's my story, I've been on Lexapro for anxiety for almost 3 years (with continually telling my Dr to get me off of it!) I've gained over 40lbs, which Dr said was not contributed to the Lex, just that I ate too much/exercised too little.

At the time it was prescribed I did need it, life was in a crazy tailspin but I am now fully functioning and life is going in a wonderful direction for the last two years - no anxiety attacks - ofcourse the Dr contributes this to the amazing work of the Lex... the Dr keeps telling me I need to take it for the rest of my life, I keep saying that I would like to cut back and see how much it is really helping.

At my last appointment the Dr said I could try and stop taking it, the recommendation was to take 1/2 dose for two weeks, then stop... and see what happens. I feel that after being on any medication for an extended period of time you cannot just cut back and stop, I think I was being set up to fail...

So I took matters into my own hands, I am taking 3/4 of a dose for two weeks, and seeing what happens.. If all seems well then I will take 1/2 dose, and then 1/4 dose, then stop.. I don't think this is something that can be stopped "cold turkey".

I am currently on day eight of my 3/4 dose and I know I am having withdrawal symptoms, such as a slight tingling everywhere from finger tips to toes, continual joint pain, a sort of continual headache in my neck/upper spine, and just a general feeling of being spaced-out. I don't think these symptoms are related to the anxiety which I had originally, and I don't think it is anxiety returning, however, I really feel like I am working extra hard to get through each day. On the other hand, I have had a huge drop in appetite, I not longer crave foods made with high amounts of sugar. I will try to keep posting on other side effects, and the outcome after my self prescribed weening off.

My questions are: Has anyone who successfully stopped taking Lex been able to go on without it, and function normally? Have your original symptoms returned? How long did the strange withdrawal last, and what can you do to minimize it?

Answer

I am coming off of cipralex and it's very touch and go. I originally took 15mg and I've been lowering my dose by 2.5 mg every three weeks. Every time I lower my dose I feel great for a few days and then the withdrawals hit. I feel some anxiety, trouble sleeping, zombie like and sometimes even flu like. After a few days of that I feel almost completely normal until I lower my dose again. It's not fun but I'm trying each day to get through it and I have the help of Ativan if I ever truly need it. I had no idea how much these meds effected my brain. Right now I'm on day 5 of lowering my pills from 12.5 - 10 and I feel horrible. Buzzing sensations in my body, general anxiety and terrible  insomnia . But I know that it will eventually go away. I can't wait to be off these. I would much rather take an Ativan here and there then be stuck on these. It's not easy though. It does get better - and that's what I need to keep remembering. Good luck to everyone else.

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So how did it end for you? I was on 10mg for one year for depression and gained 30 pounds. I decided to ween off of it on my own as well. I started with half a pill for about a week or so. Then moved on to half of that.
I don't know for sure if my symptoms are fully linked to that, but I feel worse that ever. I'm experiencing random episodes of deep sadness that won't go away. My emotions are all over the place and I don't seem to be able to get them under control. I hope this is temporary...

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I took myself off of lexapro about 4 years ago, I really didn't notice any withdrawals as I cut back to 1/2 and then stopped! I ended up going back on them a few years ago when my daughter got cancer all my anxiety came back, thinking about trying to get off again! Let me know as it goes for you please

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I searched this post when I was tapering off Lexapro last month and wanted to return and share my experience. First off, my advice to anyone, who's thinking about starting or stopping Lexapro, is to not let things you read on the internet scare you. I was on Lexapro for 10 yrs for anxiety/panic attacks and it literally saved my life. That is no exaggeration! My symptoms were so bad that I would rarely leave my house. I was placed on 10 mg of Lexapro and, very quickly, everything changed and I felt normal again and could do all the things "normal" people could do. I was eventually increased to 20mg but I think I took myself down to 10 mg after a couple years due to the cost so I pill-split a 20mg to equal 10mg QD. I cruised along for many years and, aside from gaining weight, was really happy on the Lexapro. Fast forward to now, I just decided that I had been taking the medication long enough (10yrs) and would like to try to come off of it.

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I'm a nurse and I knew to taper it and, to be honest, I wasn't really taking it every day anyway. I had gotten pretty lazy with it and was really taking it about every other day. So I went from 10mg every other day to 5 mg every other day for a week or two and then my PCP told me I could probably just stop taking it. I have been off of it for a month now and I can say that almost all of the withdrawal symptoms are totally gone. The brain zaps, while bothersome, weren't really a huge deal. They were bad, especially in the evening, for maybe the first week or two but nothing that necessitated any type of intervention. In fact, my doctor had given me some prn Ativan and I haven't even taken it. The brain zaps were really the only symptom I had, except maybe some dizziness. All in all, so far, it has not been bad at all. I just wanted to post this because I had read so many horror stories on here and elsewhere and I wanted people to know that not everyone goes through that.

Answer

I took it 10mg Lexapro for a year and gained 40 lbs. Doctor tried to tell me the same. Weaned myself off and lost 15lbs within 6 months. Which was great but my anxiety and depression returned. I am currently back on Lexapro because I know it works but Im trying to find that happy medium to where the  weight gain  isnt an issue. I read that 10mg Lexapro is the "fat maker" so I try to stay at 7.5 mg. Unfortunately for some weight gain is a huge side effect.

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You are doing everything correctly. I have experienced all the same withdrawal symptoms. Slow is the only way to go. I was on 20 mg and 1 mg clonazepam for 8 years . Dr.dropped me down to 10 mg for the last year, and took away my clonazepam. Now I have dropped myself down to 5 mg presently. After 3 months at 5 mg I totally went off for one month. I felt great for one month but had some stressors the second month and didnt react well. Also had horrible nightmares of bad life experience replays in my sleep. So I am going to stay at 5 mg for a long while so I dont ruin every relationsip in my life with the withdrawal effects, anxiety, restless sleep, and bursting into tears at thr tiniest thing. Avoiding all kinds stress helps with withdrawal symptoms. It sounds weird but I just cant handle any stress without over reacting when I am completely off of it. I think maybe the drop from 5mg to none was fine until it got totally out of my system and I had stressors.. Next time I think I will drop only to 2.5 mg., hold several months, and then drop a little more.

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Was on it for about a year, just stopped talking it, got zingers for a couple weeks then they stopped.

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Hello, Here's my two cents. I was on Prozac and didn't care for it. I stopped Prozac and went on Lexapro. The NP who prescribed it didn't say anything about the withdrawal issues nor did the pharmacist who filled the prescription. I took Lexapro for 16 days at 20mg a day and didn't care for the tired, lifeless feeling.

I went from 20mg to 15mg for two days then down to 10mg and then 5mg on days 3 and 4.

Big mistake.

I spent all morning in bed feeling completely incapacitated. I finally got out of bed around 4:30 PM and researched withdrawal suggestions. Following the suggestions I found online, I reinstated the Lexapro to 15MG and took 15MG of Prozac. I felt great within the hour. In my opinion Lexapro is more powerful than I think most people are led to believe.

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I have to function so I created a 6 week wind down schedule for both the Lexapro and Prozac. I'm 63 years old and have been on a lot of medications in my life but I've never seen a medicine that takes 6 weeks to wind down from after only taking 16 doses.

I think at the right dosage, Lexapro is very good for GAD but the trade off is the long landing time. I'm hoping that I'm back to normal after 6 weeks. I'm guessing they don't really know how this drug works. I have concerns regarding it's therapeutic mechanism. It seems to effect a lot more of my head and brain than just serotonin receptors.

Scary that this stuff is on the market. After I get off of Lexapro I'm going to stay off of all psych meds for a while and try going it alone again. I can't take these crazy meds anymore.

Votes: +1

Answer

Hello. I have been taking 20mg lexapro for a year and a half. I can't afford it and I still am taking Wellbutrin as I have a 3 month supply be t was fired from my job and lost access to lexapro and insurance. I have about 3 pills left. I've been taking 10mg for 2 weeks. I forgot to take it 3 days ago and decided that I would just end it here. Yesterday I got a headache. Still have it. Today I wasn't feeling well in the stomach and body. Unemployment called and afterwards I felt so anxious I threw up. I have been feeling really exhausted and sick to my stomach. I'm not pregnant. Is this the lexapro? How long will this take? I am miserable and scared. I only realized after my boyfriend suggested that I migh Be having withdrawals that it might be true. I really didn't want to take this chemical in the first place but I needed to. I learned and grew a lot. Now I feel ignorant stupid and sick.

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Should I break the other pulls into 1/4 and take them until they are gone? Will it help me? My body tingles, I'm dizzy and nauseous, achey, fatigued, sad. I'm used to the sadness so whatever, but... Could anyone offer their advice?

Answer

Hi. I have slowly weaned myself escitalapram after taking it for approx 18 months - originally prescribed it for anxiety. However, diagnosed with Parkinson's and when Parkinsons treated anxiety was almost eliminated so wanted to come off escitalapram as I didn't feel it was needed. Felt really good whilst coming off it - spent about 6 weeks lowering dose from 20mg. Took last 2.5mg dose 10 days ago and for the last 8 days or so have had a complete melt down. Very disturbed sleep pattern, unbelievable horrific nightmares, extremely tearful, instant onset of sleep I.e would just HAVE to take 10 minute power nap. Aches and pains and feeling anxious. However, I feel I am starting to turn a corner and have a feeling it could be the best thing I have done. Nightmares becoming bad dreams, head becoming clearer, feeling less anxious able to relax and concentrate, balance improved, less dizzy. I feel better everyday. Been very hard but stick with it. I have a feeling it will be well worth it.

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I am also weining myself off Lexapro after being on it for just 3 months due to anxiety. I'm not sure which feeling is worse anxiety or all the side effects of Lexapro. Well after seeing & speaking to my primary care Dr about how I am feeling (all she suggests are different Antidepressants) I also Decided to take matters into my own hands. Since I started with only 5mg I thought coming off would be easy WRONG... So I took a 10mg pill & cut it in quarters I did 1/4 for about 3 weeks then I cut it the 1/4 in half so I took an 1/8 of a pill for 2 weeks now along with 50 mg of 5HTP ( which I take in the morning) then around 8 at night I take alittle less than an 1/8 of Lexapro ... Now with all this my side effects are not as bad.. I have headaches & heaviness on the top of my head..it's a strange feeling... Alittle fog going on in my head.. I sure hope this doesn't last long..

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But I will continue to take a 1/4 of a 0.25mg of Xanax when needed for anxiety which is not that often.. So anyone trying to wein off Lexapro try doing it along with 5HTP it's an all natural Supplement u can get in The Vitamin Shop ... Hope this can help someone...

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Ive been off Lexapro for about 8 days still having withdrawl My Dr. says it couldbe several weeks and there is nothing you can do.It is very frustrating I can barely function.He di give me adivan which helped some with the anxiety but know I have a rash its stinks but I refuse to go back on it.

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I have recently, successfully come off of Lexapro. It was very difficult for me because I weened myself off too fast! Come off very, very slowly!!! I feel fine now and I'm so glad I came off! I had a Doctor tell me I'd have to take it for the rest of my life, but I could not accept that! I want to feel things again! I felt like it made me not feel things emotionally like I should. Anyway... you will feel normal eventually. I had to take one months worth of Prozac in order for the side effects of withdrawal from the lexapro to stop. I am going on fine without the lexapro. If withdrawal symptoms don't stop... see your Doc and see if he will give you a prescription for prozac 20 mg. for one month. That's what worked for me. It has to do with the half-life of the drug. Good luck!!

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I was on 10mg for 5 years, I felt great while taking it. I was taking it for anxiety and panic attacks. The last 2 years of my life while on lexapro has changed drastically. I am now seperated from my husband of 16 yrs and left my 3 beautiful girls with him. I decided to stop taking lexapro because my husband says that since I was on meds I have changed for the worse. Of corse I thought he was crazy. I am lexapro free for 3 weeks now and I am on my 12th day of withdrawal symptoms. I am starting to look back on what I have done and I must say I believe that lexapro made me numb to my feelings and those around me. I use to call lexapro my miracle drug. Now, I regret everyday that I put that mind altering drug into my system. I understand it works but the cost of loosing myself was not worth it. I pray that I will be able to get thru the withdrawal, which has been complete hell.

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I wish I had looked into the affects of lexapro instead of blindly going along with my doctor who said it would fix everything for me. I was wonder if others feel that lexapro changed there life for the worse?

Votes: +1

Answer

I'm on lexapro,trazodone and seroquel and have been on them for 3+ years but I've been on lexapro the longest. I was living in Louisiana for 5 months when I decided I wanted to come back home to Maryland. I ended up losing my bottle of lexapro and now I'm going through severe withdrawal. I'm really really sad, I'm panicky, I get so angry so fast, I'm getting scared, the electric shocks and tingling when I turn my head, having bad nightmares, don't sleep good, wake up sweating really bad. I can't get any refills until 10 days from now and I last took my lexapro a week ago exactly. I can't wait 10 days feeling as horrible as I do. I lost my insurance card in LA too. the insurance company won't pay for it unil 10 more days. What am I supposed to do to kill the withdrawal? How long do the withdrawal symptoms last?

How to minimize Lexapro withdrawal symptoms?

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