[joybelle]

I've been reading from this site for the past few days and decided it is time to register and begin to share some of my experience with Lexapro.

I have been on 10 mgs/day for 2 1/2 years. My doc put me on it because at the time I REALLY needed it! I was working through some very bad traumatic memories from my past which involved years of childhood sexual abuse. I was at my wit's end and needed some help, so he put me on Lexapro. It helped a lot and I saw a therapist as I continued to work through all the bad stuff. BUT... now I'm no longer dealing with all those issues. I'm 8 years into recovery from the past abuse and am much more stable than I've ever been. I wanted to see if I could get off the Lexapro. I tried a few times before, only to find that I 'needed' to stay on it. However, after some reading, I learned that I was actually experiencing withdrawal from the drug instead of an intense 'need' for the medication as before. I started out weaning off of it, but the withdrawal symptoms were present even while slowly weaning. I decided its like cutting off the dog's tail . . . you can cut it off just a little bit at a time or you can just give it a whack and be done with it. Ha! So now I am 12 days without any Lexapro. My withdrawal symptoms are:

flu-like symtoms (chills, body aches, no energy)
feeling hot then cold...then hot again...then cold again Wow!
Dizzy (I'm fine if I don't move)

Now I am feeling like my days and nights are turned around. I feel waves of sleepiness wash over me during the daytime, but at night I am totally alert and can't sleep. How I would like to have those waves of sleepiness wash over me at night!

Today I am trying to make myself stay up, awake and keep going in order to re-set my sleep cycle. I'm about 12 hours off! Hopefully this will begin to improve soon.

Aside from these things, I'm actually doing quite well. I'm not having mood swings or depression or anxiety, etc. I feel pretty stable mentally. However, I function much like a person who is sleep deprived today. Everything is just a little off.

I think that for being on this med for such a long period of time, that I'm really doing quite well so far. I will be glad to see the withdrawal symptoms subside though. I feel good about being able to come off the Lexapro at this stage of my life.

It's been great to read about how everyone else is doing and it makes me feel more 'normal' as I go through this withdrawing process.

Thanks,
Joybelle

[EasyMeds]

Hi Joybell

Did you taper off Lexapro or just quit cold turkey? I was on it for over a year (20mgs a day) and my Dr had me go through a 6 week taper and I didn't have any noticable w/ds.

I'm sorry to hear that you are going through this. It is good to hear that you are working on your sleep patterns. Hopefully that will help you start feeling like yourself again!!!!

David
www.EasyMeds2006.com

[joybelle]

Hi David,

Yes, I did taper for the first month but I was having withdrawal symptoms as I tapered.

I did sleep much better last night and today I'm not having the dizziness and sleepy stuff trying to wash over my brain. Actually I'm feeling good today! I'm almost two weeks without any Lexapro and feeling very good about being off the medication. My energy levels have definitely improved. Another thing I noticed is a decrease (drastically) in the level of swelling and pain in my joints. I was having so much joint pain, especially in my hands, that I was unable to function normally. I still have some pain, but it is minimal. I was surpised to see something like this, but pleased to see such an improvement so quickly.

Tapering off is important to do, I'm sure. The main thing is to realize there is a difference between really needing to take this medication and recognizing what might be withdrawal symptoms from the drug. If we can't recognize the difference, it will cause us to run back to the drug without giving things a chance.

By the way, I also gained 20 lbs while taking Lexapro. I'm hoping to be able to get my weight back down as I clear my system of this medication. I've never gained weight easily before and could always lose it quickly if I did gain. Things changed on Lexapro. No matter how much I tried, the weight just stayed and I gained very, very easily.

I'm off to tackle my day. Thanks again for your post.

Joybelle

[joybelle]

I am now 3 weeks completely off Lexapro. The withdrawal side effects are now gone...no more dizziness etc. I feel good except for being just a bit 'down'. I had a couple of days where I was aware of being 'up' too much due to an adrenaline surge. Then I hit bottom briefly. That was followed by several days of feeling pretty stable and normal. Now I just feel a little dull and almost depressed. Not a big depression, but just off a little. Maybe my body just needs some time to adjust to being off the medication. I guess it's like being on a sleeping aid, because the med does the job, the body 'forgets' how briefly. So, for now, I'm just going to continue on and see how things go. I have a couple of friends and my hubby who are helping me to keep an eye on things so I won't miss anything in my moods or behaviors. If it turns out that I need to go back on the med, I will. But for now, I'm just going to wait and see. Since I'm not struggling with any major highs and lows, maybe this will even out in a week or two.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with coming off the Lexapro?

Thanks,
Joybelle

[Nevi]

quote:Originally posted by joybelle

I am now 3 weeks completely off Lexapro. The withdrawal side effects are now gone...no more dizziness etc. I feel good except for being just a bit 'down'. I had a couple of days where I was aware of being 'up' too much due to an adrenaline surge. Then I hit bottom briefly. That was followed by several days of feeling pretty stable and normal. Now I just feel a little dull and almost depressed. Not a big depression, but just off a little. Maybe my body just needs some time to adjust to being off the medication. I guess it's like being on a sleeping aid, because the med does the job, the body 'forgets' how briefly. So, for now, I'm just going to continue on and see how things go. I have a couple of friends and my hubby who are helping me to keep an eye on things so I won't miss anything in my moods or behaviors. If it turns out that I need to go back on the med, I will. But for now, I'm just going to wait and see. Since I'm not struggling with any major highs and lows, maybe this will even out in a week or two.

Has anyone else had a similar experience with coming off the Lexapro?

Thanks,
Joybelle

Hi Joybelle...
Its typiocal for the whole SSIR brigade.Congrats with no Lexapro.[8D]
Keep kicking ass,and IF you feel the need to get an antidep in the future,try a selective MAOI.
I only know one called Aurorix I think it is.They dont have so strong side effects as the "real" MAOI.They can be a handful,you cant eat this and that.
I know a girl that have taken Aurorix a long time,and she dont have problems whatsoever.
Take care.
Stay away from the SSIR´s.