Question posted by auntybiotic on 1 Feb 2005
Last updated on 18 December 2019 by kyralyn21
Does anyone have any experience from withdrawing from Lexapro (20 mg for one and a half years)? My daughter is having a tough time tapering off lexapro. She is getting sweats, anxiety, moodiness and manic like actions.
Let me know if anyone has successfully weaned off a SSRI and what happened along the way. Thanks
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This oroginal post is old, but for anyone searching in 2019 and finding this site I want to provide my experience.
I was on Lexapro for a year, at 20mg/day for about 8 months. I decided I was done with it. Went to 1p mg for about a week or so and then stopped. It's been 6 days Lexapro free.
I've been... okay.
The brain zaps are legit. Interestingly, I just learned tonight it's eye movement that is causing mine. I can now zap on demand! LOL For me, it's feels like a glitch (Wreck it Ralph movie reference). I actually "hear" a sound, too. A quick, super quiet and soft swoosh.
I can see how these caps could trigger nausea. I've been totally fine, though. No nausea at all. I've had headaches, but I was getting daily headaches anyway.
I share all that because there are many who've experienced intense negative symptoms for a long time period. So far, though, it really hasn't been bad. And I already feel my drive and ambition and motivation coming back. I'll take some on demand brain zaps any day to get back to my old self.
I was prescribed Lexapro 14 years ago when my son (who was 15 months old) went into hospice to try and take away the loss of having control feeling. Within 2 1/2 months I gained 25 pounds (which I needed to gain some since I was only 95 lbs). Well I never lost the weight. I didn’t think anything of it until I realized no matter what I do on any workout program i cant drop weight. I finally realized it was Lexapro and I was still on it after 14 years!!! Tried a number of times to wean off but had all the horrible symptoms and since I am in sale for a drug company, I need to be on my game. This time I finally told select people what I am doing and that I have even been on this drug. My friend told me about a supplement that “reduces stress and improves mood”. Well so far i am at 2.5 mg every other day with ZERO issues! This has taken me 3 weeks.
I only started a 5mg but folks, I have been on his 14 YEARS and missing a day made me feel like I was in a haze with horrible headaches and anger. I also switched from taking at night to the morning figuring that most of the withdrawal symptoms in the past when I tried this would start in the early afternoon. Not sure what really happened but I am almost there and hopefully completely off next week.
Yes. I am seeing the same thing in my 14 year old. Manic like symptoms after changing to 10mg of Lexapro from 20 mg. It’s been 23 days and he went 2 weeks with no episodes then had one a few days ago and today. The Dr. wants to put him on more meds.. I think it is from Lexapro withdrawal. Some articles say that mania from withdrawal points to bi polar. I am looking into different options and don’t want to put him on more. We backed off the 20 mg initially bc he became more depressed while on it
Did the mania subside for your daughter after completely coming off the medicine?
Hello auntybiotic, I am a 43 year old male in good heath that took 10mg of Lexapro for about 18 months. I took my medication before bed around 8:30pm and had the normal side effects, lack of sex drive, little to no emotion and overall numbness to society. On the weekend of my 43rd birthday I decided to stop taking Lexapro... BIGGEST mistake EVER! I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING THIS! The first few days I felt great and thought to myself, "Hey, this isn't so bad." At day four it all came crashing down, brain zaps, crazy thoughts, extreme depression, weird dreams, insomnia and anxiety. I laid in bed that night questioning my existence and crazy suicidal thoughts zipped through my mind, I prayed, drank lots of water and cried, something I hadn't done in a long time. The next morning I contacted my GP and they reassured me that stopping completely was a very poor idea, but to cut my dosage in half from 10mg to 5mg for a week and then stop.
I took a half a pill the same day which I almost felt instantly, whether or not this was in my mind I didn't care. That night the symptoms continued, sour stomach, achy body, overall ickyness and horrid insomnia. After a few days of feeling this way, I'm guessing my body began to normalize to the new level of lexapro just in time for me to cut back to 2.5mg a week later. Cutting these pills isn't an exact science but I did my best. Again the symptoms returned but not nearly as bad as cutting from 10mg to 5mg. My last week on lexapro at 2.5mg was tolerable knowing the end was in sight but unsure of what cutting it out held. Needless to say, I'm on day 5 of no lexapro and besides small brain zaps I feel great. I feel emotions again and love my life more than I ever did prior to taking lexapro. Do I regret taking it, absolutely not. I got me through a season in my life and did its job as it should. Looking back I never appreciated what life had to offer, wife, kids, job, house and all the mundane things we either take for granted or allow to annoy us. Don't give up when you are trying to quit. It is doable and don't read all the negative reviews of people calling it poison. Did I realize what lexapro would do to me, no. Is it the medications fault, no. Is it my GP's fault, no. So many people who stop taking lexapro are quick to judge but forget how great it made them feel, while forgetting how great it didn't allow them to feel. I hope someone reads this and it is reassuring to them during what might be a difficult journey. Far too many people post the negative regarding their withdrawal which isn't beneficial for those who are wanting to do the same. YOU can do this, is it hard. But as I tell my kids, YOU CAN DO HARD THINGS!!! I walked this walk and hope for those of you that read this it will help you. Overcoming this is possible and the reward for doing so outweighs the price you pay. Sadness, happiness, joy, anger, frustration and love are all emotions which you lose during this process but once you taper off you will learn how to control them much better. I know I did. Thanks to all who read this and I promise I will think of you everyday and pray for your well being during this amazing journey.
I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for 8 years. I just recently decided to try to wean off. After reading so many horror stories I was really afraid but I can say I haven't really experienced anything negative. I went to one pill every other day and it has been two weeks. I do feel a little sluggish not sure if it's from that. Once in awhile I feel a little bit of anxiety but nothing I can't handle. I am making sure to drink a lot of water and take walks and to think positive because I don't ever want to go back to that place I was 8 years ago.
I do, tried twice in the past and for the third time now, I am staying away as per Psychiatrist advice. Will be off for 2 months and see what happens.
A brief background:
I never needed any SSRI medication until I was diagnosed with Hepatitis C and went into a 11 months treatment. During my first few months, I needed to get into SSRI (Lexapro 10 mg) and continued until now after almost 8 years with a dose increase to 20 mg daily.
Twice before I tried stopping (on my own) and I became very aggressive, moody and unhappy. Thus I restarted on my own and things got better. My poor family are the ones who really suffered.
Now I decided to finally stop again, but with a help of a Physician and a Psychiatrist, and I have been off for 4 weeks from 20 mg Lexapro, then 10 mg daily and tapered down to every other day until I finally stopped in a process of almost 6 weeks.
Again, I have been off for 4 weeks now and I feel aggressive, getting sweats, anxiety, moodiness, manic like actions and my memory has gone really bad! (I am 50 yrs old).
Now, I will continue fighting this FIGHT for another 4 weeks, when I am due to see my psychiatrist and we will decide further. The good thing is He mentioned to me that I do not need to get back to SSRI medication and I need to learn some techniques to calm me down and come back to NORMAL.
A few things I have been doing, and it does make me feel much better, at least for some time:
1- Drinking lots of water
2- Taken 5-HTP and sometimes L-Theanine (both natural serotonin supplement)
3- Going to the GYM daily (week days) at least for a good 30 minutes
4- Avoiding watching any TV shows that brings sadness, negativism, rage, judgement, etc.
5- Stay away from negative people
6- Above all, GIVE AS MUCH SUPPORT AS POSSIBLE as a Parent... I am also a parent.
I will also start a yoga class (My doctor sad it is imperative to do so, as the yoga teaches you to relax and above all, it helps stretching your muscles, which releases enzymes that are beneficial.
I really hope it will help your daughter.
Keep us posted,
Best reagrds
LCL
First of all, 20 mg is a lot. No doctor should prescribe 20 mg to a young girl. I started on 10 mg a few years ago and it was very helpful during a time of crisis. Then I thought, "I'm fine now, don't need this anymore." Wow! Big mistake. I was irritable, agitated and negative in every respect, so I went back on the 10 mg and stabilized. Then tapered... Whew!
It needs to be tapered VERY SLOWLY! 20 mg, cut the pill in 1/2 to make it 10 mg, and cut the 10 mg in 1/2 to make 5mg (pill cutters are at every pharmacy, or a good razor blade will do). Then every other day for a month, 20-15-20-20-15-20-20-15, etc. The next month 15-15-15-15-15-15, etc. The third month 15-10-15-15-10-15-15-10-15-15-10, etc. The forth month 10-10-10-10-10-10, etc. The fifth month 10-5-10-10-5-10-10-5-10-10-5, etc. The sixth month 5-10-5-5-10-5-5-10-10-5 and hopefully get down to 5 for another month or two.
Best wishes,
Elizabeth, RN
I have weaned off Lexapro 10 mg before. Just make sure she takes her time weaning off with a doctors help. It make take 3 months for her to wean but it helps limit side effects. I’ve been on the second round now for 4 months and I’m weaning over a month. I feel tired, irritable, and a little shaky sometimes, but I just keep telling myself it’s part of the process.
I am so extremely glad I found this thread! I have been on 30mg of escitalopram for over 2yrs. I switched insurance companies at the first of the ur and the new insurance refuses to pay for my dose of 30mg because its higher than recommended dose. Well o have been so very sick..diarrhea, shivers, body aches so bad I can barely walk, tired all the time, headaches, dizzy and in the past two days nauseousness has been added to that run group of symptoms,.I don't know what to do I feel so awful.
I have been on Lexapro (20mg as well) for many years now. Any time I miss this particular medication, I imediately know something is wrong. I am much quiclet to become depressed and stay stuck in that mind set. Depending how long I am off the medication, I will also get dizzy, lightheaded, get headaches, become nauseous, become irritable, and feel very ill and tired. I have not felt any desire to stop taking this medication as it is very helpful for me, but I hope your daughter finds a way off these meds. Good luck!
I have been on lexapro for over ten years, 20 mg . Approximately 18 months ago I started trying to get off lexapro gradually tapering down to 5mg it has been extremely difficult because i start getting so emotional , crying over the least little thing, feeling great sadness over the least little thing. The only thing I have found that helps is neurofeedback brain training. This has made it possible for me to make it this far. I became very motivated to get off of SSRI's when I read about a rare form of dementia increasing in people on these meds. If you are fortunate enough to live in an area where this service is provided it can really make a big difference. The one I am using is called IASIS microcurrent neurofeedback, I know there are others, it is completely safe even for a baby .I do not think i would ever have been able to get this far without it. My heart goes out to all of you .God bless and hang in there. SL
Quick rundown..
Have a 3yo and husband working nightshifts..
January this year found a deceased person who was in small bathroom in 40• heat for over a week.. I was on adrenaline rush for about a month after but then started getting depressed.. Saw a psychologist and thought I would deal with it cause didn't want to lose my job.. (aged care).. Unfortunately I had no appetite and lost over 15kg in 2-3 months and then started losing patches of hair..
I also woke every morning at 3am and had very intrusive thoughts of the deceased person.. So seemed Drs help.. Love my GP but cross he prescribed Lexapro.. That was 3 weeks ago.. I took 5mg for 2days cause the instructions suggested that the best dose.. Went back to Dr as I started waking every hour and was nauseous and zombie like all the time.. Dr said to take 10mg and added Circadin 2mg to the mix.. That was horrific so stopped after one dose.. I only took Lexapro for 14days and stopped 3days ago..
I feel like I visited hell.
My husband waited on me all day and night taking time off work and my in-laws looked after my baby most days..
I know it was only 14days of use but the withdrawals have been horrible.. I've abused my husband verbally and am disgusted with myself and I've had no patience with my baby and I've had zero motivation.. For anything!
I'm dizzy and nauseous and the 14th day on them believed I was having a seizure.
Obviously this is just my experience but this drug did NOT work for me.. The withdrawal is horrid and I plan to see psychologist this week and work through original problem mentally.. Hopefully will physically get over it by doing something like exercise.
I pray all of you do get through this soon and find your inner peace xx
I have been on meds for 22 years. I am wanting to get off Lexapro but am having mood swings and crying spells, looking at responses I will have to refill Rx again and get off slowly. I keep saying I'm going to exercise but can't seem to do it
Thanks for asking this question. I've just come off 40mg of lexapro, and am feeling like crap. Thinking bout going back on them to get rid of the withdrawals.
If you went from 40 mg to nothing you are going to have a rough time. The withdrawal from Lexapro at that dose may take many months to wean off and even then you may have side effects. I would consider to go back to the smallest dose that makes you feel better and will take it very slowly from there.
Thanks, that's what I was thinking. So what is the weaning process. If I went back on them.
My heart goes out to you all. Lexapro withdrawal happens fast for me. Today I was 4 1/2 hours late taking mine, been on a roller coaster ever since. But tomorrow should be better. I experienced all symptoms you described. I encourage hugs, quiet surrounding, dim lighting. Little snacks instead of large meals helps.
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