Lexapro Withdrawal

[Skywalk]

Patience: I know, it's interesting to follow the progress since we're so close in time. I looked up some stuff about Effexor withdrawal and it sounds similar but I did notice people complained about muscle aches a lot more. Are you able to live your life OK during this? I got hit really hard and cannot really function on my own. I could, if not for the depersonlization.

I miss my warm drink too. And my trip to Starbucks, but I have no choice. It's healthier in the long, anyway, and I'm not going back.

I felt better last night...some fatigue lifted...but when we went out to get a DVD and some take-out I noticed the depersonalization really bad. I've had it since three weeks on the drug (I took it for six weeks). It's always worse at night and the artificial lights don't help. I believe it has something to do with my REM sleep and I think it won't go away till my vivid dreams go away. It started at the same time as the dreams too. I don't know, but from what I've read it sounds related. I've also been really dizzy, again. So, yeah, like you were.

When you said you were scared of having a disease or something it reminded me...look into the Lucinda Bassett Anti-anxiety program. I bought it right after my reaction to Lex (I knew then I would never take another SSRI). I bought it on e-bay (it's spendy otherwise) on audio tapes (cheaper) and it's great! I wish I could apply all the new skills I've learned, but I can't till I'm over this withdrawal. It seems kind of corny at first, but it's really great. I've learned so much about my disorder and how to get over it and deal. I never believed in the cognitive approach until I got this program. OK, I'm done with that pitch!

How are you today?

Hi newbies: Hang in the there. Read some old posts and it will give you a good idea as to what you may be in for. Many do OK and experience short lived withdrawals. Others, like myself, have been here for almost four months or more.

[Skywalk]

Rub and Getting Better...how you both doing?

Spider: Go back and read posts from Auntybiotic early on in this thread. You may just want to sliver that 2.5 mg over weeks till you get to 0. You describe classic withdrawal symptoms.

[rubiek]

Skywalk--Thank you for your kind concerns while you have your own issues to worry about! I hope that you are feeling better today. I find you and Patience's conversation on the 3rd month hurdle very helpful.

Thank goodness, I feel better today. It sounds funny but to me, eating a lot--I mean A LOT, eat FULLY really helps me to ease the symptoms worsen by the PMS. My hunger drive is intact and I am eating like a triathlete on the past two weeks, on high protein/carb diet. Lots of lots pasta, along with organic brown rice. I'm steadily filling up my jeans and FEELS GOOD ! Haha. I hope to get back to practice this Saturday, in a hope to start rebuilding muscles in my body.

I wish all of you a nice weekend! Take real good care & take it easy.

[Calebsmom]

I am SO glad to find this site! This is my 6th day without my pills and I feel crazy... I have been on 20 mg. Lexapro for about 2 yrs. now. Before that it was Paxil, Prozac, Zoloft, you name it. I am 27 yrs. old and have been on anti depressants since I was 15. I have tried to quit many many times, but I can't deal with the withdrawls. This time, it wasn't my choice to quit. My insurance lapsed and I can't afford the $90 to refill my Rx. I took Zoloft throughout my first pregnancy (Thank God he is happy and healthy no health problems) Now I'm pregnant with my 2nd child and I keep telling myself this is the best for the baby to not take any drugs, but these zaps and dizziness and nausea (in addition to morning sickness and hormonal changes already going through) are almost unbearable. I called my Dr. and he wrote me a Rx. for Celexa since it's the closest thing to Lex. and comes in generic form so it will only cost me $5. I'm struggling with the decision to stay off forever or start taking the Celexa and see if I can get off later...Sorry if I'm rambling or not making sense, I can hardly focus enough to even type this. Please if anyone has any suggestions or anything I can do to make this transition tolerable let me know! I do appreciate it!

[TaraD]

Good evening to all. Well, today was a breaking point for me.[V] I went back to my Dr's today and of course he put me back on lex for now. I guess this is going to take awhile. I went through 4 night of having panic attacks and it seemed each night got worst then the last. I just couldn't take it any more. I have to small children and I can't just spend every-night in my dark room dealing with these attacks for hours. I'm feeling that maybe right now is not the time to actually quit. (at least not by cold turkey.) My 6th week would have been on Tuesday and it seems each day gets worst. My anxiety is way worst then ever before and I always feel that someone is looking over my shoulder. Even at home when there is no one is there other then my kids. And my poor husband is getting the brunt of everything. I am so unreasonable. Everything seems so overwhelming. Even over the littlest things. Which is not me at all. And at work I'm such a B****. The other employees are afraid to come to me for anything. It's crazy, I feel Crazy, irrational, sad over the stupidest things. To give you an example: Tuesday, my daughter broke her wrist in her gym class at school and I went crazy on the poor nurse. My stress level went thru the roof. Of course, somethings they did not handle the right way but she didn't need me to go all barracuda on her. She felt bad enough. ( I made sure they all knew that the school system was paying for everything for my daughter, even her medication which was only $6.00.) They tried to tell me that they would only pay for what my insurance wouldn't pay for but I told them otherwise. Right or Wrong that was how I felt and of course, I didn't keep my mouth shut. It happened in school so why should my insurance have to pay. anyways, I'm' starting to rattle on here.

I have to start back 7 days on 10 mg then 20 mg after that. How long should I stay on this time before I try and start tapper off and exactly how do I tapper off the correct way? I don't want to be on lex for the rest of my life. Hopefully I can do this the right way this time around. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for listening (or reading)
Tara

[Patience]

Skywalk: That's interesting that you found more things about muscle aches when you looked up effexor. I should look a little more into that, I just started to have an affinity for his forum!
i know what you mean about being able to live your life. It actually does get better, but soooo slowly. I find that it is literaly what everyone has said; 2 steps forward and 1 1/2 steps back! So slow. Luckily I have had little work lately, so it is much easier to check out---however--something to think about: I was thinking for a lomg time how I could ever work again and just recently I had to go to training for my job and it actaully helped! It forced me to get out there and it showed me that I can do it if I have to. It really made a difference. Who knows whether it would have been the same 3 weeks earlier. I am so sorry that you are having a hard time with the depersonilization, there is nothing fun about that. You just have to know that it will go away, but I would be aware of it every time it happens and ask yourself why you feel that way and what you can do to help it. Dont let it get ahold of you; hope that makes sense.

That's great that you felt better last night, it's so nice when some enrgy comes along Makes you feel human... I have been feeling better lately, but still having the setbacks every here and there AND I started my period 5 days early...23 day cycle?!

I am really going to look into that Lucinda Bassett Anti-anxiety program, thank you sooo much. I have generalized anxiety in the sense that I worry about big things all the time, so i could really use some help! I really agree with the cognitive approach too, it is the only oher answer besides drugs it seems.

I guarantee that you will see some improvement with the dreams, and depersonolization soon. It just takes soooo long!!

Did you quit the caffeine for adrenal purposes or because of the drug?

[Patience]

Rubiek:
I'm glad that hearing about our journey has helped! Without this forum, I really would go mad! All of these side effects are just so crazy and so wrong!! Its unbelievable....The PMS is very bad, magnifies all of my syptoms tremendously. For awhile, whenever I ate, I would feel weird and a little worse for an hour or so. I read that other people had this experience as well. It is much more mild now..

Caleb's Mom:
Could you try a slow slow taper on a low dosage of the celexa to get you by? That is a hard decision, I wish you luck with it. Read through these posts and it might help your decision. My friend went of celexa when she got pregnant, she felt like crud her whole pregnancy and thought it was just hormones, but looking back we think now that it was the withdrawals. She ended up feeling great a few months after giving birth...so it did take awhile...

TaraD:
Don't beat yourself up too much. If I had a child in the beginning of this crazy withdrawal--I would have probably not been able to handle it! Read all of Auntybiotic's posts back in the middle. She has a lot of great info about how she tapered her daughter for long time and what she came across. Your withdrawals might be better if you do a really slow taper.

**I was on Effexor for 2 months and 5 days and quit cold turkey Sept 15th

[sarita]

HI EVERYONE,

I wanted to say goodbye............It's been a long journey but i made it through. i am happy and healthy.

You all can do this. I am living proof. Believe in yourself, trust yourself and your gut, and remember, most of the things you are going through are withdrawal; if you can stick it out; you'll get past it.

I will check in to see how everyone is doing and reply when needed.
My thoughts are with all of you. YOU CAN BEAT THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[auntybiotic]

Sarita,

Congratulations and Good Luck. I was hoping for the sake of others before you actually leave from daily posting.......... could you do a quick write up of how you tapered off of the last 2 Mg of Lexapro and what your experiences/symptoms were with the tapers..................this would help so many others that are down to low doses and are not quite sure what to expect. Did you ever experience the depersonalization or because of your slow taper did this symptom not affect you.Bad dreams?Are you completely over your symptoms.

Thank you...........you may not realize the thousands that your synoposis of the last taper off the few milligrams of Lexapro will help.Actually it would also be so helpful for me to know what to expect when my daughter gets down to those low doses.....................very few here have tapered as slowly as you.......................so your experiences are priceless.

Thanks again

Aunty

[Skywalk]

Patience...I had my period exactly 5 days early for three months; this month it was on time. How are you doing?

The past several days have been hell and the worst so far. For days I've had brain activity, tense stomach and depersonalization. We also had an unexpected family crisis yesterday and my nervous system was in no shape to handle it. I really thought I was going to come out of my skin. The situation is fine now (my fiance's mom has dementia and got lost). She was found after being gone for 24hrs. Anyway, I've been doing really well so far this morning...strange?? But I'm glad. I really needed a break from this nightmare. I'm sure it will get bad again, but hopefully some of the worst is over. Who knows? I just have to rest.

Congrats, again, Sarita!

Tavee...where are you?

I'm nearing the 4th month mark after quitting cold-turkey.

[sarita]

hi aunty,

it's such a habit to check the website!!! i want to be sure ya'll are okay.

to answer your question: the last 2 mg. i tapered the same as always. 5% every couple weeks or until i felt stable. the ONLY withdrawal that was different was CRAMPING in my stomach...but i was still(maybe more)tired and dizzy. that's it....nothing that different..i did NOT feel depersonalization at all. i did at the beginning i think mostly because i was scared, negative, and had little support. once i change my attitude, it got SO SO MUCH BETTER.

i still take the roadback supplements. and technically, i still have 2 weeks til lexipro totally leaves my system (45 days they say)...

i also highly suggest people keep journals. it's SO important cause it gives you confirmation and helps you understand why and when things happen to you. for ex: i now know thanks to my journal..that i have a night sweat and slight anxiety about 5 days before my period and that i get dizzy while i'm pmsin'g. if i never wrote it down, i'd think i was regressing or that i was having an anxiety attack.

good luck w/your daughter. how many milligrams is she on? thanks for all your help. it's crazy to be here helping you when i had nothing to give back to you 8 months ago.....thank you SO MUCH>..

[Patience]

Skywalk:

I'm sorry you have had a bad couple days and I'm, glad that your soon to be mother in law is okay. Your nervous system was indeed not ready for that and it exascerbates (sp?) the symptoms....just keep resting as much as life allows!

Yes, the cycle things is weird. I just started the last 2 months to have cycles that were off. I do notice that everything gets much worse a few days before starting. Right now I feel like **** because I started, have a cold and have this @#ap to deal with. UGGH!

I posted an article before that had great info about having a bad reaction to an atntidepressant and I read further on another page of the article that explains seratonin in more depth. It says that is used in our sysytem for much more than mood; muscle contraction and many other things...explains the tight muscles, stomach aches and perception.

Sarita: thanks for the advice! I hope that things go well this last few weeks...

[pghsher]

I have noticed a significant weight gain since I have been on Lexapro for 4 months. I decided that with this along with the sexual side effects that it wasn't worth it. I googled weight gain with Lexapro and came across your forum. WOW--am I scared to get off of this stuff. I am going to call my doctor tomorrow and see what she advises but I'm sure she'll tell me the same thing that the other docs have told these forum members-- off in a month. I am scared to death about the side effects. If she would have told me this is what I would have to go through to get off I would have never started on it for my mild anxiety. It's nice to know that I can come here in the next few months to share my painful withdrawal stories and get support and understanding.
Sherri

[auntybiotic]

Sarita,

Thanks for the information................see how things come full circle.......my posts helped you in the beginning and now you are helping me. She is down to 7.4 Mg but she was on about equiv. to 35 Mg Lexapro........20 Mg of lexapro and then with the Biaxin Lexapro interation it turned the 20 Mg of Lexapro to about 35 Mg of Lexapro.................. what a nightmare. She is unable to even handle a 5% reduction ..................so slowly it goes but we have reduced by more then 60% so far.

aunty

[sarita]

aunty,
what the hell kinda doctor put your daughter on 35mg? that's insane..
poor thing. feeling sick can make anyone become introverted. lord...
is she taking enough omega 3's? when's the last time you took a break? 60% is awesome. she should be very proud. YOU"RE ALMOST THERE!!! it's so great to feel again.

[SaraAnn]

[:I] Hi ya'll... Cold turkey of 30mg here after 2 years on and just reaching the one month mark. The nightmares are gone!!! The brain zaps are almost unnoticable and I am feeling real again. I was lactating - that has stopped and being a strict Low GI eater has aided in the detox. I gained 30lbs on Lex and already the weight is starting to fall off... oh, and I totally lost the desire to smoke! I am so happy to be free of Lex... I take 6 Relacore a day as recommended and it is really working out great... better that that freaking Lexapro! If anyone want to email me... feel free politicaldreamer@hotmail.com

All the best...

GO BEARS!!!!!

Sara Jones

[Seefour]

Hi all, I have a few questions that I hope someone can answer for me, awesome thread btw, it seems to have put a lot of minds at ease.

A few months ago I had multiple panic attacks, The hospital put me on lexapro 10mg. I took it for 3 weeks, started getting rashes, developed dysphagia (which is still a very annoying problem) So I tried to get in touch with the doctor at the hospital who prescribed it, no luck, they wanted me to come back into the ER, which would have ran me another 1500 bucks on top of my other medical bills... (my insurance is being proccesed and won't be available to me for 90 days.)

So I stopped the pills cold turkey after 3 weeks, that was about 3 days after christmas. the dysphagia stuck with me, I still have it, hard to tell if it's getting better or worse. It's hard for me to focus on anything really. My stomach is doing flips, My head dosen't feel quite right, I get a tingling across the left side of my face and my head, I can't sleep until I'm absoulutly exhuasted, I get very angry (which isn't AT ALL like me) I've had fits of rage where I have thrown stuff around. I've had episodes where my whole body has felt like one big itch. the muscles in my calf visably spasms on occasian.
Also I can't stop burping, I burp probaly over 100 times a day.
There is probaly more symptoms that I can't think of at the moment.
I had none of these problems before going on lexapro.


Now, can ssri cuase swallowing problems? Can it be possible that I am having withdrawal after only 3 weeks of taking this drug?

Has anyone else experienced weird swallowing problems while on, or withdrawing from lexapro? (this would REALLY put my mind at ease)


That's about it i think, lol.
Hope everyone is feeling alright today.

[Skywalk]

Seefour: I'm sorry to hear about your situation...all because of the horrible drug, Lexapro. You are not alone. Yes, you can have withdrawals after only three weeks of use. Don't believe the doctors when they tell you it's not so. The anger, exhaustion, stomach and head problems are all part of the withdrawal. Perhaps not as common, but I would bet the swallowing problem can be blamed on the Lexapro. That has to do with the lungs too, I think. I've been dealing with some bronchitis from this drug, so I know it affects the lungs. I hope someone else out there can relate to that symptom for you, but Lexapro is a screwy drug and I believe it can cause all kinds of strange problems.

Hi all: Well...I'm hanging in there. I've been very dizzy and can't seem to shake this fear. And it's not really all fear about my situation, it's just general fear. Stomach is better, at least. Anyone know about the emotional withdrawal? It hit me about 3 weeks ago (so the end of the 3 month mark). Since then, I have lost my sex drive, feel down, anxious and have no desire or ability to feel or enjoy anything.

[Skywalk]

See: Dysphasia is a known side-effect of anti-depressants. I looked into it. The drug needs to clear from your system. That's what most of us are waiting for. It depends on how fast your liver can rid itself of the drug. It can take weeks or months. Hang in there.

[RescueMe]

What I would like to know about all these withdrawal symptoms are; do they happen as you are tapering off and the drug is still in your body, albeit small doses, or do all the brain zaps happen after your done tapering off, and your body is cleared of the chemical? I cut down to half my dosage for over a week, and I'm now on day 3 of nothing at all, and I seem OK as far as withdrawals, although I did have a blinding headache yesterday, yet today, I'm fine. I guess I'm just anticipating the hard stuff still to come. Bleh! Thanks.

[TeachinNV]

Hi all...

Just a update on my tapering off of Lexapro.

I went from 10mg to 7.5mg a day on New Year's Eve. Great way to start the new year. The only side effects I had was some brain zaps. Boy, those get your attention.

After 2 weeks on 7.5mg/day, I dropped down to 5mg a day. That was on the 14th. I'm in my second week of taking 5mg a day. I haven't noticed any side effects, much to my surprise. After reading this board, I was terrified about what might happen. My experiences so far just prove that everyone is different in how they react to meds.

On Sunday, I'll taper down to 2.5mg a day or as close as I can get to 2.5...those suckers are hard to cut into 4 pieces. Hopefully, I'll stay free of side effects.

I'm looking forward to losing the gazillion pounds I've gained since I started taking this med in February. Can't wait to focus on that for a while.

Take care, everyone!

TTFN!!
Lori

TeachinNV

[tavee]

skywalk sarita and all
hi there!!
im doing ok. i am down to 3.6 and im ok. i think the thing im dealing with is just being irritated a lot and annoyed. i get mad easily and i dont have a lot of patience. im still taking my fish oil and multivitamin.

im hoping to be done soon so i can try to get pregnant again in the summer sometime.

sarita- congrats girl!! plese check in occasionally. can u leave an email just in case i have questions when i get down to the low low numbers??

skywalk-are u doing ok? hang in there,. like i told u before, by the summer we will all be cured!!try to keep busy and exercise. i know that this has helped me along with the supplements, but remember i think it is a little different for u because u stopped cold turkey. thats why u are going thru this. it will pass.
i bet u i will have some issues once i am down to 0. ill keep u posted.

take care
tavee

[deabzofsteel]

Greetings to everyone!
I am new to the site I have been reading for several hours. It is so nice to know that I am not alone.
I do have a question:
I have read that several people are still experiencing side effects several months after being off Lexapro. Has this experience been for the majority?
My doctor wanted to change my med back to Effexor-YIKES! She told me to ween (I was on 20mg) down to 10 for 3 days go off for three days and then start the effexor. I decided not to start. 9 days ago I took my last 10 mg. 3 days later 5, another 3 days 5.
The brain zaps/vertigo/dizziness/brainaches/headaches are making me batty! I can handle it if temporary, but I can not take it if it goes on for months! Could it be that after several months peoples anxiety/depression start to kick back in? Any advice? Sorry to ramble on.
Thanks

[Seefour]

quote:Originally posted by Skywalk

See: Dysphasia is a known side-effect of anti-depressants. I looked into it. The drug needs to clear from your system. That's what most of us are waiting for. It depends on how fast your liver can rid itself of the drug. It can take weeks or months. Hang in there.

Thank you so much for looking that up, I know now to stay clear of any lexapro in the future, and I'm a bit more optmistic that i don't have cancer or something. One good thing is that alot of us will probaly be trying other ways besides these crazy meds to combat our anxiety and depression eh?

Deab- I've heard somewhere that the maximum withdrawal period is 8 weeks, and a side of effect of lexapro withdrawal is anxiety (lol)
But yeh alot of people in this thread have been withdrawing for more the 2 and a half months so who is to say if they're suffering from htere orignal problems or withdrawals?

To all- I found a good drink to help ease withdrawal symptoms a tad, it's not a cure, but it will enchance your mood a little bit and streghthen your immune system. If available in your area Glaceau vitamin water, power-c flavour has alot of vitamin b6, b12, and C.

[auntybiotic]

Hi Lori,

I agree that everyone is different when tapering from Lexapro but keep in mind that some that do not feel excessive withdrawals at the time of reductions....such as you.....may be hit with depersonalization a few months after they are off the medication.

I have personally talked to a few who cut 50% as you are doing and felt pretty good but down the line in a few months, the depersonalization set in. For some it can take about 18 months to get back to feeling themselves. Similiar to the brain repairing after a stroke, that is why 5% to 10% is recommended amount for tapering.

I am hoping that you may be one of the lucky ones that is a fast metabolizer and you will be symptom free. Just wanted to forewarn you, in case it happens several months after being off the lexapro that this is also common in many that are symptom free at the fast tapers but months later the depersonalization and emotional issues set in.

I know isn my daughter's case she was only put on Lexapro for a TMJ problem which her doctor thought the grinding was due to anxiety....what a fool he was. I was told lexapro was a safe and effective antianxiety medication much better then valium because it WAS NOT addictive. If I only knew now that Lexapro is toxic!

So when so many think the withdrawals are the "depression returning" I can say that I know in my daughter's case that everything is from Lexapro withdrawal.

aunty

Good Luck

[deabzofsteel]

Thanks for all of your advice. I have been very depressed lately, but I was depressed on Lexapro, so I am not sure if that is a withdrawl symptom or what. Thannk you again for your experiences.

[RescueMe]

Me, I was never depressed in the first place. I wanted a little something to take the edge off of an isolated problem my son was having with school and was keeping me awake at nights thinking about it. I can't beleive my Dr. gave me something so heavy to get on and off of, when he knows I am mentally stable other than this one problem, that now does not even exist. Maybe my body was fooled the whole time, because now I'm off completely for a few days and really don't have any symptoms. Yet, I hope. Thanks for all the advice, this is a nice group, and it's nice to have someone to turn too when you need it.

[Skywalk]

Thanks for posting, Aunty. It hurts me when people assert that my "old anxiety and depression have returned." I never had depression. I never had depersonalization. I never woke up with severe stomach pains every morning. I never had fatigue. It's the Lexapro.

I do believe I took a harder hit than most, but I never thought it could get this bad. I was functioning some for the first 2 months off 10mg cold turkey (was on it for 6 weeks). Now that I'm reaching the 4 month mark I'm in such bad shape that I can barely leave the house. It's easy for people to say "just go out and walk around, exercise or try to get a job." If you don't have the depersonalization, then you have no idea. It is the worst. It's like trying to have control and function in your dreams. I've had it since three weeks on the medication (was told it would go away). My body is trying so hard to rid itself of this toxin and so I feel awful.

[Skywalk]

ps. Stay away from b vitamins. They are too stimulating during withdrawals.

[Skywalk]

Please read:

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/reaction.htm