Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms?

I was diagnosed with anxiety/depression about three years ago and was put on Lexapro 10mg for about a year. I had problems with anxiety and depression before hand. Tried zoloft and it made me so drowsy all the time that I couldn't work or study. I ended up on lexapro without too many side effects except the withdrawal symptoms of brain zaps. I also noticed when I was on the lexapro I developed a nervous tick in my left should/arm which would bother me a bit when I was trying to sleep.

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Now I have been off for two years!! I slowly weened myself off. Only... this past year I noticed when I feel stressed but am in an environment where I'm not able to move around, my nervous tick comes back. And more disturbing I have experienced a couple of "brain zaps" -- the first episode since going through withdrawal two years ago! I thought maybe it was brought on by a detox tea I was drinking, but I still seem to be experiencing them although much more mildly and intermittent.

I've been trying to comb through the forum but there's a lot. I want to know if anyone else has experienced withdrawal effects after such a long period of being off the medication.

In my late 20s I was exercising every day, had a fantastic, high paying job, had great family support and had no history of any abuse of any sort.

So why did I leave work one day and try to kill myself?

Several years of severe depression and multiple suicide attempts ensued. Nothing seemed to help. I saw multiple psychiatrists and psychologists and underwent various treatments... virtually every SSRI, a couple of the MAOIs, light therapy, exercise, Electroconvulsive therapy, diet changes, sleep deprivation, and cognitive behavioral therapy were some of them.

The one thing that finally worked and has kept me stable for several years is a mix of talk therapy, Lexapro, and abilify. I am a happy, functioning human being thanks to Lexapro, Abilify, and my psychologist.

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Finding the right treatment for depression is unique to every person. Different medications work differently on each person. The important thing is to give the medication a few weeks before you give up on it. The side effects often wear off after a few weeks if you can tolerate them that long.

And for those of you that seem to think depressed people should just go exercise... well, it is clear that you don't understand depression and treatments and how they vary in different people. What works for you may not work for someone else.

So, I have been on Lexapro for almost three years now. I started taking it after hurrican Katrina's devestation here in New Orleans for anxiety and depression. Well, I realize now that most of that could very well have been intensified by the alcohol & drugs I was playing with at the time. Long story short I don't use drugs or alcohol anymore, and I want off this *!! I am 5'2 and weigh around 130lbs. This is more than i've EVER weighed in my entire life!! I steadily gained weight through the last few years while my Dr. kept increasing the Lexapro. I have weaned from 30 mg to 20 mg in the last two weeks and now I'm trying to decide when to knock it down to 10mg?? Should i do it slowly or just give it a shot? I am very indecisive, but the weight is killing me.

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I have had the side effects of brain zaps,insomnia, RESTLESS LEG SYNDROMEE(THAT DRIVES ME INSANE),irritability, etc., but i just want off of it so bad that i feel like i really want to just deal with it! The one thing that scares the hell outta me is all this talk about suicide! I haven't had any thoughts, but i'm worried that may happen if i decrease quickly. Any advice?? Can anyone tell me when they were able to start noticing any weight loss or metabolism returning to normal??Any advice i could get from ya'll would be helpful!

SLOW DOWN! you are tapering too fast! This is my humble opinion however, I have been down that road and it is not fun. You reduced your dose down to 20mg over the last 2wks? if so, then your withdrawl symptoms may begin to get worse very soon. 10 mg is a HUGE drop in dose. I understand all to well about wanting to stop taking lexapro, I have been tapering down since November 2007. It is not a quick process and requires ALOT of patience. (You may be fortunate enough to be one of the very few people who can quit lex with ease) but, after reading the symptoms you are having from the drop in dose, I doubt this will be easy for you. I am NOT trying to scare you but rather, caution you about the problems with fast tapers. Weight gain is VERY common with SSRI use. As you reduce your dose the weight may begin to come off. Fast for some and slow for others.

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If you check the lexapro withdrawl thread started by Auntybiotic, you will find the proper taper scheduales and recomended supplements to help your brain heal as you come off lexapro. Many of the supplements recomended also help with weight loss so, they work double duty to help. If I can help you in any way, please let me know... Good luck... Erin

Hello. I saw that you posted on the other thread and, I reccomend that you continue to do so; at least for support!:) At times the other thread can get "chit chatty" as we offer our support and friendship to each other. The 10 mgs you reduced is rather large but, if the symptoms from that drop continue to get worse or become unbearable please, keep in mind that you can re-instate to the 30mg dose or even to 25mg until the symptoms ease and you are feelin more stable. Then, you can begin to taper more SLOWLY! I know that seems like a step backward but, sometimes we don't have a choice unless we want to go "nuts". :rolleyes: If at any time you have to raise your lex dose back up, please don't beat yourself up about it; most of us have had to do that. I have had to do it twice! I will be tapering a VERY long time as I have been on SSRI's for 11 years.

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The general rule is that you must taper at least one month for every year that you have been on SSRI's. Keep in mind:that is a generalization, some must taper longer and some can do this faster. Your body will let you know if you are dropping your dose by to much or to quickly. There are other considerations as well, such as: what you were put on lexapro to treat, panic, anxiety, deppression, etc... these are important things to consider as going off of the lexapro can make you feel as if you are having a relapse of the original condition being treated; it is not, it is withdrawl or discontinuation syndrome. (which ever you prefer). Disregard your physician, psychiatrist or whoever treats you, telling you that "withdrawl" does not exist or any other such rubish! Numbers don't lie and there are hundreds if not thousands of people who are having the same "withdrawl symptoms". If you ask your dr if he/she has ever taken these meds to know anything about them first hand, the answer is likely to be no. I do not personaly know ANYONE who has been able to stop taking an SSRI med by tapering the ridiculous way that the doctors reccomend... EVERYONE who posts on the other thread have all had similar experiences with doctors and psychs so, you are not alone there either. Lexapro is available in liquid form but, you may not need to switch to that. Liquids are reccomended mostly for when you get down to low doses or for ease of measuring reductions, as the lowest dose of lex available is in pill form of 5mgs. Example:trying to measure 2.5 mg from cutting pills is not exact and is difficult. Also a few reccomendations on supplements, I personaly take these and swear they help with symptoms. Many of these supp's will also help with the weight. Oh, the weight gain is likely do to reaised cortisol levels in your body, that is common with lexapro and promotes weight gain. (more about that if you ask)
fish oils, magnesium, calcium, lecethin and a good quality multi-vitamin to start. There are others that will help with specific symptoms to, if you need that just ask. I think I have covered most of your questions in this post, if not; just ask :). Good luck to you, keep me posted and I will help any way that I can... Peace... Erin