Lexapro withdrawal is horrible... how long will it last?

Withdrawal from any drug should be done under medical supervision.
Heart and blood pressure should be taken into consideration.
Depending on the dose you are currently taking... withdrawing should take no less than 6 weeks.

Before withdrawing starts be informed.
Weighing in and body measuring is a must.
Keeping a diary and making entries thrice a day is advisable.
What do I want to acheive by withdrawing from my medication?
Whats happening to me?
How do I feel through out the day?
Who can I confide and trust in... My Diary and Doctor.

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I have been on Antidepressants... 3 different kinds over 15 years.
I am now in my 4th week of withdrawal from lexapro 20mg... a long way to go I feel.
I can not answer at this stage how long the symptons will last.
I have not been able to put terminology to most of the symptoms I feel.
.This site, filled with Q&A has helped. That I may be able to identify with some of these. ... yes I do have feelings of ( trippy) zapping out... this lasts for a split second... maybe like falling or fainting... nothing life threatening has happens so I choose not to be frightened.
I moved. foward one hour at a time and now it is one day at a time
I have certainly put on weight, especially around the midriff... more shakey than usual and a little tight chested at times.
I have had no sexual desire for ten years,constiputation, memory loss, being unsure of myself, weight gain to name a few are the side affects I have had since taking Anti depressants.
As with reckless legs I had suffered this for some years of and on... since giving up alcohol this has not happened.
I do not drink coffee of tea unless it is de-caf. nor do I drink any form of softdrink.
The only way to help myself through this is to join the gym and eat more healthy than usual... replace the drug with a more positive activity... getting my body fit again after 8 years is my main mind set.
I would never had moved foward to a more positive and healthy life if it had not been for my third Doctor... yes it took me three goes to find the doctor that was prepared to work with me amd find out what was wrong and how to get well. This Doctor refered me to a Clinical Psychologist who uses CBT... for two years I stuck with the Therapy and worked hard to find wellness. I am very proud of who I am and I deserve what I have acheived.
Who knows how long it will take for me to go through the withdrawals. I feel it will be different for all of us and how I will feel at the end of this is anyones guess... my diary will reveal all... I feel one morning I will wake up and say to myself... What was that all about.
We can all learn from each other.
Thank you all for helping me to understand a little more about withdrawals.
M.

I have been off lexapro for 3 ?weeks. At first I felt the euphoric high of getting my energy back. I truly felt better than I ever could remember. This lasted for the entire weaning period(10mg every day, 5 mg every day for 1week, 5mg every other day for 1week) and for the following week.
I am still not convinced that this is lexapro withdrawal but all my blood tests are normal, my lungs are clear, and my body shows no signs of fighting anything so this really is the last option.

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First I ended my lexapro while fighting bronchitis, after antibiotics and prednisone my cough and congestion didn't really go away, then I was off again on again sick with sinus congestion. two days ago I lost my ability to catch my breath, a trip to the ER told me nothing was physically wrong. I have been dizzy and fatigued and completely non funtional. Serious migrane like headaches in addition to sinus headaches. Sudafed has done little to relieve the pressure. Benadryl has done little to help me sleep.
I hesitate to say this is all withdawal since I felt so great for three weeks after stopping then bam this hits me out of nowhere. Perhaps my vitamin and exercise craze I was on just before starting to wean helped. 3,000 mg fish oil to help brain function, 50 mg b-complex taken 1-2 times a day to help with mood swings and stress, plus a multi-vitamin. I've also adopted the body flushing technique of drinking a glass of water as soon as I wake before doing anything else. I've also been avoiding fried foods (triggers for my ADD). Read any book on food and mood the more recent the publication the better. Changing my mindset on diet has helped me a great deal.
Now to get over this breathing and fatigue... My doc said just start taking Lexapro again. Really? So, your advice to someone in withdrawal is to try the drug again and all will be ok? sure hope he doesn't council addicts regularly!