[bodyelectric]

Aunty! Hello! So good to see you. We're coming up on the 2-year anniversary of the thread you started. Thank you for a tremendous public service! I haven't been keeping up so don't know where to start reading, so I'll just ask -- how is your daughter?

Skywalk, I took Bs and thought they were helpful -- at least as a pick-me-up -- but they can certainly keep you up at night if you take them too late in the day. If you're a red meat eater and also eat leafy greens, there's no reason to take them, though.

I'm also a fan of cold turkey -- but only in a sandwich. Or hot turkey in a melt. However you want to gobble it. The tryptophan might help out a bit with the symptoms you describe.

Don't let people's remarks get you down. I'm sure they meant well -- I mean, it is something we have to look out for, isn't it -- the return of whatever it was Lexapro was supposed to treat. It's hard to keep up with the whole thread and remember every detail about everyone. You know your body best, so trust your intuition.

You knew that, though -- so I guess I'm just reminding myself.

[JulieC713]

I have been off Lexapro for 5 weeks ( It took me 5 weeks to wean from 10 mg). I was on Lexapro for 9 months total. I felt wonderful for the first couple of weeks, then my anxiety about health issues kicked back in around the 3-4th week. I thought I was having a heart attack at one point, and 2 week ago I began having twitches in my sleep, and then a bit of tingling started in my fingers and toes last week. Convinced I have MS. I had an MRI done in late Nov. and it was normal.

My twitching is almost gone, and my tingling is not as bad, but still there. Is this a normal withdrawl symptom?

I have also had vivid dreams forever. Could MS have developed since Dec.?

Thanks for your help!

[deabzofsteel]

I know this is a sensitive subject for everyone. I was not accusing anyone that "their old anxiety and depression are back" I was asking a question, not making a statement.

[Skywalk]

I know. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off like that. I guess I have a raw nerve when it comes to "old issues" because a lot of doctors believe that's the problem, as well as some who have posted here in the past...when, in fact, it's the withdrawals. Of course, I think original depression and anxiety can come back, but you have to trust your gut on that one. I've just spent a lot of time trying to convince my own family that this is not my fault. I only had one specific phobia and that's why I was given Lexapro. I did not have anxiety and depression at the time I started the drug. These emotional problems are now here because of this screwy drug.

Julie...yes, when I started the drug I had the tingling fingers and toes. Today, I have one toe that still tingles at times.

[JulieC713]

Skywalk-

You have tingling because you are off Lexapro or on.

I am sorry, but I am confused by your answer.

Thanks!

[auntybiotic]

Bodyelectric,

How are you, please fill me in. My daughter is still tapering.down to 7.4 Mg about 60% reduction so far but I have gone very slow because she is so sensitive.

Any lingering symptoms from Lexapro? How are you feeling?

Skywalk,

Try Primal Defense by the Garden of Life for the stomach pain. Also keep in mind that the pains may be cause by Gallstones which Lexapro can cause so you may want to get a ultrasound to rule out gallstones.

Thanks,

aunty

[auntybiotic]

Hi again,

I wanted to say that taking Lecithin (I think I spelled it corrrect?) will help the twitches..in fact if taken while tapering it can actually prevent them. Follow label instructions.

Bonnie can help the dizziness and unstableness.

Cherry Plum Flower Essence by Bach Flower essences can help the anxiety and paranoia. Please note that this is a cumalative effect and does not happen immediatly upon taking the flower essences. Four drops under the tongue when feeling anxious. You can also mix four drops in water and drink through out the day.

There is a juice at the health food store that is great for the depersonalization....I have to go back and check my notes for the name but I have been told that it helps.

Dr. tracy's book is very helpful with advice on withdrawaling from SSRI's.

aunty

[Skywalk]

Aunty and all: I think it's called Noni juice...I'm a little scared of it. I don't know much about it. I'll look into it. Also, about the stomach pains...I should not have used the word "severe" because it's not. Every morning I wake with some cramping followed by a visit to the bathroom. After that, my stomach is OK. This morning it seemed a little worse so I was edgy this morning -- if you all didn't notice! So sorry. I'm doing really well this afternoon...I almost can't believe it. But that's how this withdrawal goes. I followed posts from "Redbled" last year and his stomach symptoms were very much like mine.

Julie...you can have some of the same symptoms on and off the drug. I got the tingling fingers and toes while on it and once I quit the drug the tingling started to go away. All but this one toe on my right foot. It comes and goes. I even thought it seemed like an ms symtpom, too...but it's Lexapro. I did not have twitching or brain zaps.

[rubiek]

Julie -- Yes, I feel the tingling sensation, too, on my toe sometimes. When I have brain zaps, the electric shock type of sensation shoots from the back of my head to my toes. I feel it when I'm walking. Very interesting.

In the middle of PMS, I feel so lethargic, and my withdrawal symptoms are sort of accentuated. More dizziness but no comparison to what I felt during the first 10 days of withdrawal. Yet, it's still very uncomfortable. Chocolate makes the dizziness worse. It's definitely the time to avoid alcohol, caffeine, along with chocolates. Ugh.

[HelpMe58]

TAVEE,
Hi, it's HELPME. My mother is out of the hospital trying to get strong enough for open heart surgery. I am dealing with a lot but have not forgotten any of you. I am still taking 5 mg but cannot lose this stubborn weight....this drug has packed 35 pounds on me and nothing gets it off. I want to cut my 5 mg pill in half.....I hate taking this but I am scared of the repurcussions of lowering it. I am finding myself getting jumpy still sometimes. I have been on the 5 for about two months now so it should not be withdrawal. Let me know how you are all doing
HELPME

[tavee]

HELP ME- IM SO GLAD TO HEAR FROM U. SO IS URE MOTHER BETTER THAN BEFORE?? I KNOW U SAID HEART SURGERY, BUT HOW WILL THAT AFFECT HER? I MEAN IS THAT THE ONLY SOLUTION?

SO HOW ARE U FEELING?? DOES 5 MG SEEM TO BE OK FOR U FOR NOW?
I WILL TRY TO GIVE U A RING TO CATCH UP. IVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT U.
KEEP ME POSTED WITH EVERYTHING.

AUNTYBIOTIC- I HAD WRITTEN TO U BEFORE. I AM THE ONE WHO EMAILED U BUT THEN THEY DISCONTINUED THE EMAILING THRU THIS SITE.
I AM ON 3.5 SO FAR. I TOOK URE ADVICE AND SWITCHED TO LIQUID IN OCTOBER SO IVE BEEN TAPERING EVERY 2 WEEKS ABOUT 5-10%. SO FAR SO GOOD EXCEPT JUST A LITTLE IRRITATED SOMETIMES. IM NOT AS PATIENT AS I USED TO BE. I WAS ON LEX FOR 3 YRS(10 MG). I AM TAKING OMEGA 3 (3 A DAY) AND A MULTIVITAMIN. I JUST HOPE THAT ONCE I GET TO THE END I WILL BE OK.

[starlittkiss]

Hey all, I'm new to this, found it when I was researching lexapro and trying to figure out what is happening to me! I was taking 20 mg lexapro for a little over a month, but decided I really didn't like the way it was making me feel and decided to go off it. I cut my dose to 10 mg and started suffering severe panic attacks from feeling disoriented. I have never had a panic attack before and it was so bad I was afraid to leave my dorm room (I'm 18, a freshman in college). Naturally I've been so scared and my school is far from home... to top it off i got very ill, i'm not sure if it's from the drug or what but I missed 2 weeks of classes. I decided to taper off but I did it pretty quickly. I got myself down to 5mg for a few days and now have stopped taking them, I'm on my 5th day. I recently came home and decided to stay home for this semester to try to deal with this.

Here's my problem, I'm ridiculously dizzy, I can't do anything. I'm afraid to leave my house or drive a car, I feel like I'm going to vomit. I get really intense waves of this dizziness and confusion, i feel like i'm not really doing the things i'm doing, like it's not real. I've been to my doctor, she wasn't too helpful. I was taking the 20mg for slightly over a month, does anyone have any idea how long this will last? I found people who recommend you go back on 2.5 mg and taper off more but if it's not going to last too much longer I really want to hold out. This drug has taken me away from college and left me at home. I'm scared... I feel like crying because I'm so scared. I would REALLY appreciate any help. E-mails are welcome!!!
THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!

[felly]

Hey guys

I swear this drug has seriously stuffed me up. I was only on it for a week (off for 2 weeks after) went back on for 2 days then stuck it out for a month and was feeling so seriously weird I had to go back on it. Not I have been back on it for a month and taking 5mg. I am seriously having a lot of trouble tapering and am cutting up crumbs. I guess I am now taking about 4mg, and feel ok but have no idea how long I should wait before trying to cut down more. I can't even really measure how much I am taking so I'm just guessing. Does anyone have any suggestions about how to tell how much I am cutting down? I've got a pill splitter but it's still hard to tell how much I'm taking (and little bit of this stuff goes a looonnnnnng way. Not that I need to tell you all about that!!)

I feel like I am going crazy. I haven't slept since I touched this drug and I feel constantly sweaty, bloated and headachy and just not me. It's so weird!

Any tips really really appreciated!

[deabzofsteel]

Starlitt Kiss-
Everything will be fine. You have a big benefit in that you were only on it for a month. Some of us had been on it for years! HAng in there, you are not crazy. Stop positive- if you can believe me I know my emotions are on a HUGE rollercoaster, so it is really hard. But know that you are not alone, you are normal, and you can make it through.
And I think it was you that mentioned a doctor- they really don't know what they are doing. SSRI's are so complex-and I am not saying doctors are total idiots, but the majority shove more pills at you and send you on your way.
I have been doing acupunture for the last 6 weeks, and what a difference!- it took many weeks to notice a difference- but maybe it can help you through this hard time.
Hang in there!

[Skywalk]

Starlitt: I'm afraid you're are another victim of this horrible drug. Everything you are feeling is withdrawal. That unreal feeling you have...it's called depersonalization. I got it on the drug and have had it for some time now. We'll all get better, but it takes time for the drug to clear from the system. I'll write more later, but know you are not alone. Read through these posts and you will learn a lot. It's hard to say how long withdrawals last because we are all different.

[Seefour]

quote:Originally posted by Skywalk

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

Ouch, sorry everyone I had no idea about that.


I was pumping myself with B vits, cereal, vitamin water, ect.
Time for regular water I guess.

[bodyelectric]

Aunty: I'm well, and no lingering effects of Lexapro. I tried the natural approach for awhile, and things were going great. Maybe too great (i.e., hypomanic). When I fell, I fell hard and couldn't get back up -- like that old commercial. "I've fallen, and I can't get up!"

It was getting progressively worse, despite clinching my jaw and throwing willpower at it 100%. Yoga, meditation, excercise, diet, fish oil and more fish oil. Quit smoking, started flossing. It helped when I had the energy to carry through, but despite winning a battle here and there, I was losing the war overall.

So. A year later, I'm on different meds (mood stabilizers, not SSRIs) and doing much better than I have in a very long time. Turns out bipolar people should start with mood stabilizers and then add antidepressants if necessary -- NOT the other way around, and not necessarily SSRIs, though there is much lower suicide risk with SSRIs than the other classes of antidepressants.

I was glad to see 2006 end. It was a rough one, straining my marriage, finances and especially my sanity, but I think I've come out of it a better person. It definitely beat the "I'm going to control this bipolar B.S. without meds" right out of me.

Your daughter is fortunate to have a mom like you.

[HelpMe58]

TAVEE,
My mother has to have two valve replacements and two bypasses. She will not get well without surgery and the valves will completely shut down. Her lungs and her weight are not conducive for surgery yet and may never be...we will see. She is being helped with medication but she is not well by any means.
I want to start the liquid...did you feel any different when you did?
Help Me

[Skywalk]

Hi HelpMe: Wondered how you were doing. I'm sorry you still feel jumpy on the 5mg...maybe you need 10mg to stop that or maybe the drug did not work the same after you went back on it (I spoke to another woman that tried to go back on it right after quitting and it did not work the same -- she is off it now and happy that she is). And it sounds like you will be better without it. It's so hard to go through this when there are other stressors in your life. Perhaps you should plan a very, very slow taper -- similar to what Aunty does with her daughter. Glad you're back for support.

To all: I'm not against any vitamins you feel you want to take -- I'm just going by the article that I posted a page or two back. It recommends staying away from certain vitamins and herbs. I do take magnesium and Aunty has mentioned many other good supplements. I've tried some stuff, but I've decided to go pretty much clean. Just eating very well...acidopholis bean dip (great for stomach), lentils, veg/fruits, oatmeal, etc. Also, if you read posts from last year you will find that many who tried acupunture stated that it increased symptoms and that quality of life afterwords was too hard. I do believe it helps the liver, but sounds like speeding up the process may be a little painful. Perhaps some liked the acupuncture -- so, again, we're all different and you have to do what you think is best.

Today I feel pretty good. I hope this is a sign of improvement. This is sort of my journal, so I guess later I can look back and read my posts to look for patterns.

Patience, tavee, Rub (and everyone)...hope you are all doing OK.

Starlitt???

[Seefour]

It's good to hear your feeling some realief skywalk, I'm pretty new here, but I've been following this thread for a few weeks, and it's cool to see one of the regulars having a decent day.

As for supplements I heard omega 3 helps some? I just ordered a bottle of liquid omega 3 becuase pills will probaly just lodge up in my throat.

If oatmeal is ok, I guess cereal is too, which is good becuase about all's i can eat comfortably is fruity pebbles lol.

[MaryB]

Hello everyone! I am new to this board and to posting on boards. I came upon this when searching for what I was going through that I now know are withdrawl symptoms from Lexapro I have only been taking it for about 6 months or so and not for depression... I was taking it for IBS with my fibromyalgia. My doc thought it would help for everything. (My fibro has been somewhat tollerable the last few years without anything like that) I did not like the way it made me feel and it did not help with the IBS so I started to wean myself off of Lexapro... I am on about my second week and went from 10mg to 5mg. (going back and forth for a week or so in between to get to 5) I have experienced all the awful affects from this drug and I have been a bit relieved with knowing that it is normal (if that is what you want to call it) to feel these side affects when coming off this. I am married to the most wonderful man but unfortunately (or I should say fortunately) He NEVER gets sick.... doesnt even hardly take a tylenol. I feel very awkward with the way I feel because the brain "zaps" I experience and the EXTREME fatigue, nausea and even some vomiting that I am experiencing is over whelming for me. I can't believe that such a small dose of a medicine can cause such discomfort and pain (the pain is in my neck and my left arm muscle) and terrible headaches. I just thought this forrum may help me to be able to share my feelings and get some relief from others going through the same thing.. Hopefully I can help someone too. I am 39 and only been remarried for a little over a year. Its a great relationship but this is something I don't think he could possibly imagine.... I will keep you all in my prayers and thanks for this board and being able to share.

[starlittkiss]

this board is a godsend. i'm so happy i found all of you and it's so good to know other people are going through this. i've been showing my mom posts because she's really helping me get through this, hopefully i'll start to improve in a few weeks. today i'm OK, i was exhausted last night but couldn't sleep, my head hurts a bit, i'm just very exhausted. the dizziness is still there along with the brain zaps... i'm trying not to get scared and it helps so much to know other people are having this problem. did anyone try a detox tea or something like that from gnc? I know one person who used it to remove another type of drug (illegal substance) from her system and it worked at least to the extent that she passed a urine test. I was thinking of trying this to get the lexapro out faster?

[Getting Better]

Hi everyone--

I've been reading for the last week and have a lot of particulars to respond to, but I started a new job last week and I'm swamped. I'm a college professor now!! Too crazy.

I'm 3.5 months off, still fat, still have weird things going on in my body that I keep forgetting are withdrawals, but have finished a book and started a new job since quitting Lexapro (though I was bedridden and useless for about a month after initially getting off).

My moods are mostly stable, but I am crazy, I'd say, about 15% of the time. I've always been kind of, well, eccentric, but that's not what I mean by crazy. I mean my emotions are all over the place, make no sense, and are outside my frame of refernce.

Skywalk: I am so happy to hear you're feeling good today. I think you and Redbled and Ms Lee have had it the hardest. I pray for the time when you'll be able to stand in front of your store, happy and commanding and proud of yourself for acheiving your dream. It WILL happen soon. I also have bad stomach pains in the morning. There are cramps until I go to the bathroom. Never had that before. I also have the fear, "What if something happnes to us" about all sorts of crazy things. Especially "What if something happens" to my husband. I drive him nuts. He is so patient with me. I feel blessed. It sounds like your fiancee is the same.

Patience: As for fearing disease...I must be an expert by now on the symptoms of cancer. Every pang, every cough, every little thing that feels weird about my body, I'm sure is cancer. You're so right about the onion metaphor. The thing is, I feel like I've been off for long enough that I should stop blaming things on the withdrawals and get on with my life. Of course, I know that isn't true, it's just that i start to feel really good and then I have a weird pain, or I am suddenly very afraid and it reminds me that I'm still recovering.

Sara Ann: Relacore? Really? How long have you been taking it? How much have you lost? I'm going to an endorcronologist in two weeks to test my hormones. I'll see what she says, but even if she says no, I might still take it anyway. I just bought more clothes in a size 10 (pre-lex I was a 6) because I can't wear my sweatpants to work. It's depressing.

Julie: I had twitching also. Especially in my legs.

And to whoever asked about itching, I had eczema like I have never had eczema before when I got off. I ripped my skin off for weeks. It was awful. I also had a cough and congestion that would not go away for months. I think it's fianlly gone. I also had horrible, smelly obnoxious gas.

Sarita: Congratuations on being finished. It's been inspiring to read your journey. Hope you stay healthy! Let me know if the weight ever comes off. I'll be sure to post if I ever start losing!

[amielyn]

This is so interesting. And sad. Sad that so many of us were duped into using this "miracle drug". I too just stopped using Lexapro -cold turkey after four months of 10mg. I didn't think anything of stopping cold turkey until yesterday (day 4 of no use) when I started to have this weird tingling feeling, especially when I walked. It came in waves, so after feeling it again today, I decided to do some online research and wa-la. My answer! I also now have an answer for my sudden weight gain of 10lbs in the past 3 months - all while beginning a new exercise program! Go figure! I lost a few pounds the first month of use (of 4), but since then my belly has grown. I've NEVER had issues with belly fat. Whenever I had put weight on (prior to Lexapro) it went straight to my booty, so a small part of me thought something was up. I appreciate everyone's efforts in gathering and sharing their stories and info (especially Aunty) and also hope those folks who are still suffering can hang in there. When I first came upon this forum I read the Sept 2005 postings and then jumped to the present time to join in the chat. From everything that has been shared, I know there is light at the end of the tunnel for my dizzy, vivid nightmarish, headachey life. I just hope things don't get worse before they get better. But from what I've been told, they just might. I just recently started back on my multivitamins. Maybe the B's are causing some of my issues??

BTW - I liked the drug for it's help with sleep. Unfortunately, that's all I wanted to do. I also lost interest in a lot of things, feeling pretty complacent about everything, even sex! It definitely helped with anxiety, but now I believe my environment (things I won't share) and all the coffee/caffiene I was drinking wasn't helping.

My fingers are crossed. I see a trip to the Accupunturist in my future. Thanks for listening...

Amie

[amielyn]

Getting better,
I'm glad someone mentioned the gas thing. My husband and boys (6 and 3) have a new word for me. It's "Eeewww!" I wasn't sure if it was the drug or what I was eating. Thank god I now know! My family also thanks you for giving some hope to the end of it all.

How embarrassing! [:I]

Amie

[auntybiotic]

Body Electric,

Thanks for the update.glad you are feeling better.

Tavee,

I remember the email from you, sorry the board stopped forwarding them. If you give me your email I can write to you on a one to one.

For all those that do not have liquid lexapro......... A AIMPLE WAY TO CONVERT THE PILLS to a liquid for tapering.

Take the 10 Mg (or 5 Mg) lexapro and crush it in 10 Ml of cranberry juice (5ml of juice for the 5 Mg of lexapro.) There are free syringes from your pharmacist upon request. Ask for a 10 Ml syringe and a 1 Ml syringle.

Measure out the cranverry juice 10 Ml for the 10 Mg of lexapro. With the two syringes you can taper to zero by following this plan.

10 ml and tapering by 10% you would crush the lexapro tablet in the measured 10 ml of cranberry juice, mix well then draw up the 9 Mg into the syringe and discard what remains.

If tapering by 5% then draw up 9 Mg in the 10 Ml syringe and then draw .05Ml in the 1 Ml syringe (fill to the 5 line on the 1 Ml syringe).


For example if you were down to 2.5 Mg of lexapro and wanted to taper from a 5 Mg tablet by 5%..you would disolve the 5 Mg lexapro in cranberry juice 5 Ml and mix well. The calculation of 5% of 2.5 would be approx 2.4 Mg.
Draw up 2 Mg Cranberry/lexapro in the large 10 Ml syringe. Then in the small syringe draw up to the 4 line wich would be .04 of a ml.

You can use this slow taper to be precise when the liquid lexapro is not available and can work very well. Discard all unused liquid.

Aunty

[Getting Better]

Amie:

There are Seratonin receptors in our intestines and colons, so they get thrown off by the withdrawals. Taking supplements made it worse for me--specifically the Omega 3. On the advice of an accupuncturist I took all of my supplements at different times to see what triggered it. My intestines responded to the Omega 3s like they would a pound of beans. That said, they helped a lot of people with their withdrawals, so see if they're a trigger for you. The gas started at around week 3 and went away around week 8.

For now, just laugh about it. What else can you do ?[:I]

[JulieC713]

[quote]Originally posted by Getting Better

Hi everyone--

I've been reading for the last week and have a lot of particulars to respond to, but I started a new job last week and I'm swamped. I'm a college professor now!! Too crazy.

I'm 3.5 months off, still fat, still have weird things going on in my body that I keep forgetting are withdrawals, but have finished a book and started a new job since quitting Lexapro (though I was bedridden and useless for about a month after initially getting off).

My moods are mostly stable, but I am crazy, I'd say, about 15% of the time. I've always been kind of, well, eccentric, but that's not what I mean by crazy. I mean my emotions are all over the place, make no sense, and are outside my frame of refernce.

Skywalk: I am so happy to hear you're feeling good today. I think you and Redbled and Ms Lee have had it the hardest. I pray for the time when you'll be able to stand in front of your store, happy and commanding and proud of yourself for acheiving your dream. It WILL happen soon. I also have bad stomach pains in the morning. There are cramps until I go to the bathroom. Never had that before. I also have the fear, "What if something happnes to us" about all sorts of crazy things. Especially "What if something happens" to my husband. I drive him nuts. He is so patient with me. I feel blessed. It sounds like your fiancee is the same.

Patience: As for fearing disease...I must be an expert by now on the symptoms of cancer. Every pang, every cough, every little thing that feels weird about my body, I'm sure is cancer. You're so right about the onion metaphor. The thing is, I feel like I've been off for long enough that I should stop blaming things on the withdrawals and get on with my life. Of course, I know that isn't true, it's just that i start to feel really good and then I have a weird pain, or I am suddenly very afraid and it reminds me that I'm still recovering.

Sara Ann: Relacore? Really? How long have you been taking it? How much have you lost? I'm going to an endorcronologist in two weeks to test my hormones. I'll see what she says, but even if she says no, I might still take it anyway. I just bought more clothes in a size 10 (pre-lex I was a 6) because I can't wear my sweatpants to work. It's depressing.

Julie: I had twitching also. Especially in my legs.

And to whoever asked about itching, I had eczema like I have never had eczema before when I got off. I ripped my skin off for weeks. It was awful. I also had a cough and congestion that would not go away for months. I think it's fianlly gone. I also had horrible, smelly obnoxious gas.

Sarita: Congratuations on being finished. It's been inspiring to read your journey. Hope you stay healthy! Let me know if the weight ever comes off. I'll be sure to post if I ever start losing!


Getting Better-

How long did the twitching last? Are you sure this is normal? Today was actually better, but I have anxiety that tomorrow it will be bad. Do you remember when the twitching started?

Thanks for your reply and support!

[JulieC713]

Getting Better-

How long did the twitching last? Are you sure this is normal? Today was actually better, but I have anxiety that tomorrow it will be bad. Do you remember when the twitching started?

Thanks for your reply and support!

P.S. Sorry for replying twice

[mrsclause1971]

I am new to this forum and I have tried to read as many posts as possible, but I still have a few questions.

I have been on Lexapro for 4 years, yes years not months. It actually worked for me and I felt much better. I did gain about 40 lbs so I didn't look better, but inside I felt more in control.

I was put on Lexapro because I was having health issues and that caused me to fall into a very deep dark depression. A place I never want to be again.

After 4 years I have decided it was time to try living without meds. I was on 20mg and in October I lowered the dose to 10 mg. Last Tuesday I had the stomach flu and couldn't eat or drink anything for 2 days, so I decided that was the start of my coming off of Lexapro.

Today is day 9 and I have had mild side effects. I've been dizzy, but not so much that I can't function. I have had really heavy bleeding, which hopefully will stop any day. It is bad enough to have this once a month but it has been 9 days and still going strong. Is the bleeding a normal side effect of the withdrawal?

I also have been fighting a broncial infection and they have me on Arithromiacin (Z Pack) pardon the spelling. Yesterday I started with terrible congestion. I want to take a decongestant but wasn't sure what I can take. I was told that I couldn't use decongestants while on the Lexapro, but not that I'm not taking it am I safe to take some? Didn't know how long it would still be in my system.

Has anyone else here been on Lexapro for 4 years? Most of the posts I've read are for a few months to a year.

How long does the normal withdrawal take? I would guess it varies a little for everyone.

I noticed I've been a little moody, or maybe my kids are just really being bad this week.

I'm very nervous about this step since I know that I was feeling well while on the Lexapro, but I know it isn't good to be on any drug for too long.

Thanks for listening and any feedback is greatly appreciated.



mrsclause