Lexapro Withdrawal

[tavee]

help me

how are u doing? u havent written in a while.

how are u feeling?

well, i started my 5.6 ml today and im a little nervous.
i probably wont be feeling anything for a few days or so.

im really , really tired though.

i will let u know how im feeling?

have a good thanksgiving. im looking forward to hearing from u

take care
tavee

[Shine86]

I was wondering if anyone has had a Physical change since weaning off Lexapro? My face seems swollen a lot and the top part of my tummy bulges. I'm not a thin person, but my stomach seems to be swollen. I've had such a hard time with the STUPID medicine that I feel I'll never be back to 'normal' and will have to live feeling overwhelmed by everything. I wish I had NEVER taken it! It was prescribed for PMS 5 years ago, now I wish PMS is ALL I HAD. It does help to know I'm not the only one who has had such a hard time. I hope we ALL get back to ourselves.

[ENDOrphine]

I haven't taken the time to read through much of this thread since it is quite long so please forgive me if I am being repetitive. I currently take Lithium, Wellbutrin, and Xanax. I was recently prescribed Lexapro for my anxiety. I am satisfied with my current treatment, but my doctor is determined to get me off of Xanax because she fears I will get addicted to it. I want to tell her that I am satisfied with taking Xanax and that I have been taking it for 6 months and still feel no desire to take it daily, just when I have a panic attack. I enjoy taking a medicine when needed instead of having to take it every day. It seems odd that my doctor wants to take me off Xanax which I am not even taking on a daily basis and replace it with a medicine capable of causing such terrible withdrawals such as Lexapro. Would it be a mistake to start Lexapro if I am satisfied with my current treatment? And if my doctor won't keep prescribing me Xanax and my anxiety gets bad, should I take the Lexapro or just switch to a doctor that will prescribe Xanax? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[samiprem]

I took lexapro 5mg for 2 months and it did help me with depression but made my anxiety worse. I am in the process of weaning off and taking 3.75 mg daily. I have minimal withdrawal symptoms. As advised by a taper off program i take 2 340mg EPA omega-3 capsules in the morning and two in the after noon empty stomach and tart cherry concentrate capsule at bed time for help with insomina. What really made a difference for me as far as my anxiety is corncerned is reading a book called "Help and hope for your nerves". It made me under stand the whole anxiety and panic attack process and ways to deal with it.

Good luck to everyone

[Skywalk]

Since yesterday, I've been having a really hard time with stomach pain, nausea and have an on and off electric feeling in my head and vivid dreams. That said, I would never recommend this drug to anyone. I'm almost two months off of it. This drug is too unpredictable and has killer withdrawals.

[Skywalk]

Shine: Read page 166...there is a blurb about the facial problems. I don't know if I would call my stomach "swollen" but it grew during my withdrawals.

[sarita]

PUFFY FACE. i actually liked that part. It filled my face out!!!
FAT STOMACH: UG!!!!!!!!!! me too. terrible. i've NEVER had a belly in my entire existence in this world.
STOMACH PROBLEMS: definelty

i'm doing very well again. i think i figured out what was throwing me off. i had wine the other day. could that be it? anyway, i going to 1/2 a milligram tonight!!!!!!!!! yeeepie. i can't believe how close i am! i'm so frickin' excited.

[Skywalk]

Sarita: How long has it taken you to get down to 1/2mg? And you have withdrawal symptoms going off of it slow?! That makes me realize how harsh it was for me to go off 10mg cold turkey (only took 5mg for 3 days and then quit). I can't believe how messed up I am. I'm OK around the house and going on a few errands, but otherwise I feel so dependent on my fiancee/family. I can't work right now because of this.

[sarita]

skywalk,
if you only took 5 mg for 3 days, i'm not expert, but i think you may be suffering from some old stuff going on. i'm not sure but that doesn't make any sense.

i actually haven't suffered at all. the first time i felt a somewhat bad withdrawal is when i went from 1 mg to 3/4 mg. but i think it was cause i had some wine. that was the only thing i changed. i went from only 5 mg. also but been tapering for 8 months.

[tavee]

sarita i started 5.6 ml yesterday.

did u say that u had withdrawals or do u think it was from the wine u had the other night like u said?

tavee

[sarita]

tavee,
how r u feeling? i did have some dizziness last week but i'm not sure if it's the wine or the taper.
good luck on your next taper. i started my 1/2mg. last night. i was hoping to finish by the end of the year. i think i can do it but don't want to rush. finally had sex again. still having some problems but it was still nice to have physical contact.

[HelpMe58]

Tavee, I hope you have a wonderful, stress-free Thanksgiving. I am sad as always because of my mother's illness and my husband being gone but I am trying to think in a positive way,
I am still trying to figure out a way to get completely off this medicine,,,and after being told there were no withdrawals. I am still so angry.
How are you doing? How about your son? Is your husband supportive?
Keep in touch.
HelpMe

[tavee]

help me

how are u? happy thanksgiving to u too. try to enjoy it today. thats what ure husband would have wanted.

i am ok. i started 5.6 two days ago.

are any of ure symptoms gone?
tavee

[angie928]

quote:Originally posted by tavee

help me

how are u? happy thanksgiving to u too. try to enjoy it today. thats what ure husband would have wanted.

i am ok. i started 5.6 two days ago.

are any of ure symptoms gone?
tavee

[angie928]

quote:Originally posted by tavee

help me

how are u? happy thanksgiving to u too. try to enjoy it today. thats what ure husband would have wanted.

i am ok. i started 5.6 two days ago.

are any of ure symptoms gone?
tavee

Tavee & everyone:
I am new to this forum, I just found out about this resource this morning when looking for help with side effects and what to expect while coming off of Lexapro cold turkey.

I started 5 months ago with Paxil CR and Xanax XR, then Lexapro with Paxil CR and Xanax XR. Dropped the Paxil almost 3 months ago, but stayed on 20mg Lexapro and 1.0 mg - 1.5 mg Xanax per day.

I can no longer handle what these meds have been doing to my body. I want to take a 1/2 dose tomorrow, then Saturday cold turkey. What do I expect? I am asking my family to go away for awhile so that I can do this on my own, I know that I need a support system and am hoping I can find it here. Am I in the right place?

[tavee]

angie

whatever u do do not go off this drug fast like that.

ive been on 10 mg of lex for 3 yrs and i just started tapering 2 months ago. i am currently on 5.6ml.

i actually tried going off this drug a year ago the wrong way(very quickly) and suffered tremendously. brain zaps, pains, dizziness.

do not be in a hurry to get off it. do it slow and right.

u can start by reducing 10% every 2 weeks.
the best thing to do is let ure doctor know to switch u to the liquid lex, that way u can cut down the dose very slow.
WHATEVER U DO , DO NOT TAKE 1/2 DOSE ON SATURDAY AND THEN GO COLD TURKEY!! U WILL REGRET IT, THATS WHY WE ALL ARE HERE.

let me know how i can help.

good luck

tavee

[braveface]

[?]I just found this forum this a.m. You all sound like you've been through it all. I started coming off my 20 mg. of lexapro last summer ( been on for 2 1/2 yrs.) I am down to 5 mg. every other day. I thought I was doing a great job of tapering and dealing with life but this last week has been hellish. I haven't had too many physical symptoms so I won't even begin to complain about them. My mood, however, is another thing. I'm all over the map. I am determined to get off the last mg. of this junk is it's the last thing I do. Could anyone lend a little sympathy or encouragement. I didn'e even tell my husband I was tapering until I was two months into it. Most of the time I am either a screaming shrew, a sobbing idiot, an angry paranoid, or any combination thereof. Oh and let's not forget the laughing hysterically part. I want to keep going but I can't even stand being with myself let alone other people. I can't remember the last time I was in such a dark place. I hate everyone and everything!!! Keeping up the appearance of being normal right now is almost impossible.

Anyone have any experience with those last few mg. and how to deal?[xx(]

[Skywalk]

Sarita: I was on 10mg for six weeks and THEN I went to 5mg for three days (that was my taper). THIS IS NOT OLD STUFF. I have never felt like this before. My head feels so strange I can't even explain. I feel tugs in my head and I feel removed. I almost feel like I have a concusion.

[Skywalk]

Braveface: It's really not a good idea to take the med every other day. But either way, getting off of Lexapro can cause huge mood swings. Luckily, I only went through it for about three weeks, but I nearly scared my family away. I didn't even recognize myself I got so mad. Hang in there, you will even out. Unfortunately, I can't relate to a slow taper because I went cold turkey.

[sarita]

brave,
hang in there. this will pass. mood swings are very common especailly if you taper too fast.

skywalk,
did u have some sypmtoms before you went on lex?

[headspinning]

Okay, here's my story. I was recently started on Lexapro 10 mg and only took it 4 times. The psychiatrist I saw made it clear that I should not stop taking it right away because of side effects. He said most side effects are mild and will go away with continued use. He is an intimidating man so I did not feel okay about questioning him too much.

The first day I was itching like mad. I had the worst headache of my life and began throwing up and had diarrhea. The next day I developed a rash and still had a terrible headache and was still vomiting all day and the diarrhea got worse. I also was clenching my teeth together and they ached. My neck and shoulder area began to ache. I had that spaced out numb feeling and thoughts of wanting to die increased. The mild panic attacks I felt before taking Lexapro became severe panic attacks. I felt hot and flushed and kept sweating. My body ached all over, especially my knees and fingers on both hands. I was so dizzy I couldn't function. I was not able to sleep for even a minute for all those days. Every muscle in my body felt like it was aching, almost cramping like. By the fourth day my vision became blurred and a slight tremor began in my hands. I was almost passing out from the weakness the vomiting and the diarrhea caused. I ended up getting taken to the ER by a friend. The ER doc said I was so dehydrated that my heartbeat was not normal.

I was on IV fluids for two days. The nausea and diarrhea have mostly stopped. They gave me something for the nausea and something for the diarrhea. Of course the Lexapro was discontinued. Now it's been four days since I've taken Lexapro and I'm getting what I think are those brain zaps. I've been told that I've stopped talking mid-sentence and just blinked my eyes for a few seconds when it happens and that I seem a little confused. I feel it happening but I was not aware I stopped talking or blinked. When it happens I feel like the kind of shock one gets from static electricity only stronger…more painful. The pain goes from my head down to the rest of my body. Someone told me her sister had epilepsy and did the same kind of stop talking and blinking that I was doing. I have never done that before. My vision is still blurred, not as much I don't think, but still blurred. I still have the tremor only not constantly. Now it's mostly when I hold something.

My questions are:

Are all the symptoms I had/have typical of Lexapro. Do any of them ever stay around permanently?

Is what I'm experiencing brain zaps from withdrawal? Is this what they are like?

Can a person even have withdrawal symptoms after being on Lexapro for only 4 days?

Could the Lexapro have given me epilepsy?

My vision is still blurred. Is it normal for blurry vision to occur and then last after for several days after the Lexapro has been stopped?

How long before I am symptom free, if ever?

A friend is typing and posting this for me because my blurry eyes and shaking hands make it too difficult for me to do it myself. I can't believe all of this could happen from just taking a prescription medication only 4 times.

How I wish I had found this site and read the posts here before I ever took this horrible drug. Feeling depressed and having mild panic attacks were nothing compared to the terrible things this drug has done to me.

I want nothing more to do with the psychiatrist I saw because he definitely made me feel that he would not be happy if I didn't give this drug a good try. I won't be going back to him and I won't be taking Lexapro ever again so I'm not up to getting into it with him.

I would very much appreciate any information or input any of you can give me.

Thanks in advance.

[sarita]

Headspinning,

I feel for you. I had almost the exact same symptoms with the side effects. It was the worst days of my life. No, you don't have epilipsy. Brain zaps are like electic shocks. Definetly blurry vision alot. And stopping in the middle of a sentence i did that all the time going on lexipro. Since you stopped cold turkey it may take a few weeks before you feel alot better but you should start feeling better in a week or so.

I PROMISE you...every single effect you mentioned is what i had. and i also went to the emergency room twice. not only are you suffering from side effects but your suffering from withdrawals. that's a double whamny.

Try not to panic. Keep telling yourself you can do this. It'll be over soon.. Be strong. You can do this. Breathe.

[HelpMe58]

[ Tavee,
Most of my withdrawal symptoms are gone but I am afraid when I begin to taper again. I am waiting until after Christmas. When I tapered before I did not notice anything but some dizziness. When I went completely off..after a week is when the hell began. I wonder why it is when it is completely gone rather than when you cut back when the symptoms multiply by 1000?
I hope you still feel well.
HelpMe

[Skywalk]

SArita: I had no symtpoms like this before Lexapro. I was happy and productive, but got panic attacks only while driving on the freeway. That's the only reason I took Lexapro. I've done well on other SSRI's, but Lexapro has been a nightmare. I had severe side effects starting Lexapro - naseau, neck pain, headaches, sinus trouble, insomnia, huge increase in anxiety, sweats. I kept on taking it because I was told that the side effects would pass. Big mistake. The side effects calmed down, but I was left with more anxiety and a spacey feeling. I'm almost two months off cold turkey and still feel like ****. I can't work or anything. If I go for a walk I get really sick after it. My stomach is bloated, I feel dizzy and have the spaced out depersonalization feeling. BUt I do sleep now! Having my hormone levels tested to see what Lexapro did to me.

Headspinning: I really feel for you too. I never had to go to the ER, but I was very sick when I started this drug. I have no idea how I made it through. I took it for six weeks and I'm two months off still with withdrawals. Luckily, I've been on these drugs before and know that they can stay in the body for some time after you stop. So even though I'm scared, I know that things will return to normal at some point. But we're all different. I just go back and read the past posts in this forum to make myself feel better and post on here daily for support. Hang in there, you will get through.

[headspinning]

Oh Sarita thank you so much. Your post made me a whole lot less scared. I can't believe doctors don't know what this horrible medication can do to some people or do they know and not care. I wonder if the big drug companies play down the worst side effects. If just 4 pills did this to me I can't even begin to imagine what taking this for months would do. I never had a medication do so many bad things so quickly. I'll bet street drugs probably do not do this much damage to people so quickly.

I wonder if the brain zaps are a form of temporary (hopefully temporary) epilepsy. It terrified me to think that some kind of permanent changes might have happened to my brain. I'm so thankful to my friend who's staying with me for a couple of days to help get me through this. I can't wait for this to be completely out of my system. I don't think I will ever take another antidepressant again. The only other psychiatric drug I've ever taken has been Valium and Ativan. I didn't have any bad reaction to those other than getting sleepy and that was a good thing. Unfortunately those are addictive and can't be used often.

I hope you are completely over the Lexapro or that you soon will be. I guess for us it's like that saying what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I don't feel any stronger over this but I sure thought this d@mn medication was going to kill me and during those 4 days I often wished it would and just get it over with already.

Thanks again so much for answering me. I appreciate it more than I can say.

[headspinning]

HelpMe58 my heart goes out to you. It is so horrible to feel trapped into taking a drug because going off it is a horror story. God, no matter how bad the withdrawal I pray I never go back on it. No one can say what feeling the horrible withdrawal symptoms will make them do but I just want this out of my body. I'll bet years from now there will be a class action lawsuit against this drug's manufactures the way there has been with other drugs. They have to know Lexapro can do this to people so why do the doctors tell patients it has few and mild side effects. There are so many people just at this website that have suffered through the torture of this medication. Imagine how many others are out there.


Skywalk, I'm so sorry you endured 6 weeks of Lexapro. You know I'll bet if I had let the prescribing psychiatrist know everything I felt he would have told me to keep taking it. The docs at the ER immediately discontinued it. I think either psychiatrists are being told BS information on this drug or they are using some of their patients as guinea pigs or they are just sadistic. Lexapro was the first antidepressant I've ever taken so I had no idea it could do this. I know now to do lots of research into any drug, psychiatric or otherwise, that I will ever take again. I will never even take an OTC product without finding out what people have to say about it. I'm ashamed to go out in public with these brain zaps. How can I talk to people knowing I may space out in the middle of it.

When I'm feeling better and can see well I will look at all the posts on this on my own. My poor friend here is getting more and more frightened the more she reads. She's laughing as I dictate that for her to type here but she knows it's true. I think she thought I was a goner the day I went to the ER and that was before these brain zaps started. I think she was afraid she was going to have to take me back to the hospital and they creep her out like you wouldn't believe.

Anyway, thanks so much to all of you. We seem to be in the same miserable situation together. I hope someone is watching over all of us and we'll soon be back to ourselves, no matter how bad that may have seemed it's better than this, right?

Take care guys. We'll check back tomorrow. I'm still having problems sleeping from this drug but Jena, my dear friend who is typing this, is a good sleeper and I know she wants to call it a night.

[Skywalk]

Headspinning (and all of you): Sounds like you got some relief by finding this forum -- I know I did. I'm really sorry this had to be your first experience with an SSRI. I did very well on Prozac and Zoloft; also did well on Paxil (before I believe the drug company changed an ingredient - long story). I heard Lexapro was the new "wonder drug" so I wasn't worried...especially since I did well on the other SSRI's. As you know, it has been a disaster for me...on and off the drug. I think Lexapro is too new and that we don't know enough about it. And after this experience with Lexapro, and my Paxil experience, I believe the drug companies are completely untrustworthy. I also know that I metabolize slow and therefore have always started these meds on a very low dose. When I started my first SSRI I had a good psychiatrist and he wanted me to start low. He was the last and only doctor that told me that. Unfortunately, I did not know at the time that 10mg of Lexapro is high and I think that has a lot to do with why the side effects hit us so hard. I even read that you can have an adverse reaction if you start too high and your body cannot handle it. Still, I think we both had a toxic reaction. I can't believe I'm two months off and still have the vivid dreams, fatigue, dizziness, headaches and panic. I never got the zaps and never have from these drugs. I live 15% of my life right now and it's really hard not to get too depressed about it. But these symtpoms are real and I'm almost worried that no one believes me at this point. My fiancee believes me and I'm glad for that because I can't be alone much right now. The medical community would tell me it's all in my head and so that's why I'm avoiding the doctors and instead see a naturopath and try to be patient while waiting for it to leave my system.

This forum is saving my sanity. Without all the posts from Auntybiotic and the others I don't know what I would do. It helps me to remain patient during this. I suggest reading some of the posts from early on in this thread. Hope you stay around for support. WE ALL need it here.

[Skywalk]

Headspinning: Eat some foods with magnesium. I guess Lexapro depletes our magnesium, thus giving us insomnia. When I started Lexapro I only got about three hours of sleep a night. And I usually sleep well. Pumpkin seeds are really good; halibut. Once I found out about the magnesium I loaded up and I think it helped. I started getting more and more sleep and less anxiety.

[Hopeful285]

Hi Sarita,
I have not written for a while. As time has went on, I realize I want to be involved in the Class Action Lawsuit. This is day 16 of going off Lexapro and I have to use a cane. I fall alot. I can be talking to someone one minute and be on the floor the next. I feel so embarrassed because I wonder it people think I'm faking. I just want the bounce back in my step. My whole life has changed. If I try to exercise even a little, I end up having more brain zaps, more balance problems, worse insomnia, etc. I was on Lexapro over 2 years. My problems are not all from withdrawals. I have been having walking problems for months while still on the drug. This drug is so evil. I am in a fog. I am the editor of a newsletter at my work and it is so hard for me to concentrate. I have had all the symptoms of withdrawals plus lots of side effects from taking the drug. I feel that would help make the case strong. I am going to a neurologist for a P.E.T. scan. At the emergency room, I was referred to a neurologist because they think I could have M.S. I know I don't have it and that it is the Lexapro, but that just shows how bad the drug is. Do you believe it can cause permanent brain damage?

Hopeful285

[Hopeful285]

As shown on www.webmd.com
Lexapro Oral
Does this medication have side effects?
The following side effects are associated with Lexapro Oral:
Common side effects:
Dry Mouth Less Severe
Conditions of Excess Fluids or Stomach Acid Secretion Less Severe
Incomplete or Infrequent Bowel Movements Less Severe
Inability to have an Erection Less Severe
Drowsiness Less Severe
Dizzy Less Severe
Abnormal Trouble Sleeping Less Severe
Low Energy Less Severe
Excessive Sweating Less Severe
Feel Like Throwing Up Less Severe
Diarrhea Less Severe
Altered Interest in Having Sexual Intercourse Less Severe
Problem with Ejaculation Less Severe
Infrequent side effects:
Inflammation of the Nose Less Severe
Sinus Irritation and Congestion Less Severe
Flu-Like Symptoms Less Severe
Loss of Appetite Less Severe
Stomach Cramps Less Severe
Sexual Problems Less Severe
Rare side effects:
Aggressive Behavior Severe
Extrapyramidal Reaction Severe
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome Severe
Serotonin Syndrome - Adverse Drug Interaction Severe
Heart Attack Severe
Blood Clot in Lung Severe
Rapid Ventricular Heartbeat Severe
Very Rapid Heartbeat - Torsades de Pointes Severe
Atrial Fibrillation Severe
Prolonged Q-T Interval on EKG Severe
Blood Pressure Drop Upon Standing Severe
Abnormally Low Blood Pressure Severe
Hepatitis Severe
Acute Inflammation of the Pancreas Severe
Bleeding of the Stomach or Intestines Severe
Kidney Failure Severe
Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis Severe
Serious Muscle Tissue Damage Severe
Hallucination Severe
Seizures Severe
Involuntary Quivering Severe
Giant Hives Severe
Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Severe
Low Amount of Sodium in the Blood Severe
Decreased Blood Platelets Severe
Having Thoughts of Suicide Severe
Double Vision Less Severe
Abnormal Manner of Walking Less Severe



Hopeful285