I have slowly weaned off of Lexapro over a month and for the past week have been not taking any, and my obsessive negative thoughts and anger are out of control. I can't sleep. I've also experienced frequent bouts of anxiety, jitteriness and upset stomach throughout the day, even over simple events or activities.
When I look up Lexapro withdrawal, I find a long thread here that discusses the symptoms, but I've never read a single testimony, as far as I can recall, claiming that the withdrawals did in fact end for them after a period of time and they lived happily and functional again, without Lexapro. This is quite discouraging. I want some evidence that it's possible. I REALLY don't want to go crawling back to Lexapro, especially when I hear about how horrible and bad for you SSRIs are, so I'd like some encouragement and guidance from people who actually know the other side of this, if they exist.
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25 Answers Page 2
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LisaLisa57
4 Nov 2018
I was on Lexapro for 17 years and i came to a point where i just don't want it anymore. I felt like my body was immune to it somehow. Anyways i was taking 20 then 10 then i took 5 for around 2 months. Then i took 5 every other day for 2 weeks and stopped. I have nightmares so bad I cry at everything I get so angry at times not meaning to I feel so dizzy its scarey And i feel sick just sick Im still panicky but i was also panicky when i took them. I worry now that something bad is going to happen to me body wise meaning heart or something. Im determined to do this. I honestly think it will be better for me in the long run. But how long till the drama go away or the dizziness? I never knew how something so little can control your life. And even with me not on it anymore it is still controlling me. Its only been 2 weeks . Can someone give me hope?
Votes: +0
BE
Beoptimistic
5 Dec 2018
I was on lexapro 5mgs for almost 4 yrs to treat my generalized anxiety disorder and had Ativan as a sos prescribed by my doc which I used half of the medicine only once in 3yrs... upon my doctors recommendation I started tapering off the medicine in oct 2018 like having 5mg every other day for 3weeks to having it 2times in a week for two weeks... I had lethargy feeling n headaches here n there... but after completely tapering off... am having discontinuation symptoms like loss of interest... low feeling... weight loss ... loss of appetite ,tingling feeling in thighs... I don’t wanna go back on medicine but want to know how to manage the symptoms ... my in-laws are of the opinion that tapering off wasn’t a good idea rather they think going back is a good idea... I had to tell them you are not a Doctor to advise me... how to manage my discontinuation symptoms?pls give me your comments n feedback...
LE
Lexi77
24 Oct 2017
I am trying to taper too. I have been on 40mg (not 20!!! ) Lexapro 4 years. It helped a lot at the beginning, but over time I came to realize that my constant fatigue and lack of enthusiasm/energies could be related to Lexapro. It changed me and not in a good way. If I forget for whatever reason to take it, I start feeling uncomfortably dizzy almost right after 24h passed from my last assumption.
Votes: +0
OL
Ollie0
14 June 2018
You have to use Niacin to get off. I have done it multiple times. It is the only thing that reduces the withdrawal to almost nothing. You have to use the flushing kind.
I stopped because of weight gain, constant sleeping, no sex drive, a general lack of emotional connection to my own feelings, and loss of emotional memory I cant remember good times or bad times while on it. The days just went and I had no feelings about it.
But sometimes the anxiety forces me to get back on short term. At least I know how to stop the medication.
PU
PutsieB
11 Oct 2021
How much Niacin do and did you take?
WI
WildcatVet
22 Oct 2017
Tapered off Lexapro slowly twice... no discontinuation symptoms at all. Are you sure your symptoms aren't a rebound of what you were prescribed the medication for?
Votes: +0
TK
TKMarsh711
3 May 2018
How slowly? Like several months?
WI
WildcatVet
3 May 2018
No, the first time just three weeks. The second time a month because I was at a much higher dose.
MQ
Mq42
22 Oct 2017
I took Lexapro for 15 years 20mg daily and it worked well except for the weight gain. I tried cold turkey to get off but the vertigo was not fun so I went back on it then last year tapered off slowly. It took around 6 months to do it and it’s been a year now but now I feel down all the time, irritable and just not happy. I am thinking of starting it again but I don’t want to. I just don’t know what to do since they say if you take these your body will want them forever and I’m believing that. I didn’t feel this bad when I first started taking these but my moods have not gotten better really worse!!
Votes: +0
WI
WildcatVet
2 Dec 2021
Often after stopping an antidepressant/anxiolytic original symptoms may return in some form. This is true of a clinical depression/anxiety disorder. They are also not addictive as some people would like to believe... they "reboot" your brain and it's neurotransmitters to what should be it's normal function. When you stop it your brain may return to it's abnormal functioning.
KS
ksariel44
28 Feb 2012
I also have the same question! How long does it take for withdrawal symptoms to subside?
I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for five years, and it has definitely helped my anxiety. However, I used to weigh 120 lbs (I'm 5'2" and petite) and am now up to almost 160 lbs. I'm gaining more and more weight every year, so I'm looking to stop and see if I can get back to my healthy weight before this really gets out of control.
My doc also told me that 10 mg is a "very low dose" and that I shouldn't have any withdrawal symptoms if I decrease to 5 mg for about a week, then take 5 mg every other day for another week. I'm on Day Four at 5 mg per day, and this afternoon I started feeling completely un-focused, very dizzy, "out of it", as if I'm drunk or stoned. I cannot think clearly and can only focus on one thing at a time, which is so unlike me!
I've tried to wean off of Lexapro before, but always end up feeling this way. And I've always gone back to taking Lexapro again, promising myself that I'd try again another time. Well now I am determined to get off it since I'm sick of all this extra weight.
So how long does it take for symptoms to go away? Does anyone have any personal examples? I feel like I can make it through if I just have an idea of when symptoms will stop, if I can just see a light at the end of the tunnel!
Thanks :)
Votes: +0
SA
Salcafe
18 Feb 2014
Dear ksariel44 I was on lexapro for about a year on 10mg. I like a lady before also want to start a family with my partner in the next year or so... so I decided to taper down. I tapered down from 10mg to 2.5mg then 2.5mf every 2 days over a 2 month period. I have had now 12 days with no lex and still have terrible dizziness, nausea, irritability and crying for no real reason! All of this feels worse than why I went on then in the first place. I wish they had informed me of the long term effects. I know that even if I took half a tablet that the symptoms would subside, but I really don't want to give up.
Surprisingly I went to the gp yesterday to see if there was anything I could do about the symptoms and they blamed the dizziness from having had a sore neck. It wasn't until I showed some of these responses that she thought it could be due to the lex! No idea...
I am determined to come off the lexapro and am also wondering if there is someone out there that has had the withdrawal symptoms and if so how did they take to subside. The tears I can manage (I just try and distract myself) but the dizziness is terrible makes me feel like a space cadet! Please share if you have come off this drug and are okay?
FI
Figgypur
15 Dec 2016
Dear ksariel44, I was on Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg for nearly 7 years. I too was told this is a low dose. I took it for anxiety, and it helped tremendously. However, I no longer have insurance to pay for it, so the cost went from around $10 per refill to $107. I found this sickening, and decided to taper off since I didn't want to take it the rest of my life anyway. Also, I gained weight too. My appetite was out of control on Lexapro. I went from about 128 pounds to 164.
To taper, I had to buy a $107 bottle and I took 3/4 of a tablet for a few weeks, then 1/2 a tablet for a few weeks, then 1/4 tablet for a few weeks, then none. I exercised a lot to counteract the withdrawal, plus I wanted to kickstart my weight loss. Two days after the last 1/4 tablet, brain zaps started, but became less severe and more infrequent until they stopped at 2-3 weeks. I thought to myself, well that wasn't so hard.
But I didn't know that I wasn't out of the woods quite yet.
For the next month, I was highly irritable, did not enjoy things I once enjoyed (like walking my sweet dogs). My appetite dropped dramatically. I occasionally flew into a rage because of a stressful situation that I was going through. If I'd not been going through withdrawals, I know I would've dealt with the stress much better.
Anxiety and panic attacks were plentiful, and I have to blame the stressful events in my life at the time as much as the withdrawal.
Now that it has been almost 3 months since tapering off, I'm able to control my anxiety and no more panic attacks thanks to talking with understanding people, prayer, and gaining perspective on the stress in my life.
Now, I have developed some new waves of withdrawal: fatigue, feelings of losing my grasp on reality, sobbing, insomnia and broken sleep, and headaches. Yuck, I know! Well, after some reading on the issues I'm having, I now know that I will have waves of withdrawal and windows of well being, with the waves decreasing and the windows increasing over time. This seems to be happening, which has helped me feel like I'm not "losing my grip" on reality any more, which is a wonderful hopeful feeling.
For the headaches, I take ibuprofen. For the insomnia, I've found that passionflower tea is AMAZING. The tea I drink (2-3 cups in the afternoon to bedtime) is organic Traditional Medicinals brand "Nighty Night" blend. It has, among other herbs, 360 mg of Passion Flower. Sometimes if my panic waves are not manageable, I take a couple Hyland's brand (all natural) Nerve Tonic capsules. I found both of these at Walmart and are both aroun $5 each.
As for the weight, I went from 164 to 131 pounds since I tapered off nearly 3 months ago!
My withdrawals are not over yet, but I feel like they will eventually go away for good some day. I keep reading to be patient and mindful and eat right and exercise and breath right, etc. I'm doing those things and trying to avoid stress as well. I will post again when they are gone for good.
Best of luck to you in your journey to be off of Lexapro. Maybe tapering off more gradually than I did would be helpful in avoiding such withdrawals as I am going through. I realize now that in order to control my anxiety with out drugs I'm going to have to change my lifestyle: healthy eating with lots of leafy greens, omega 3s, little to no caffeine, positive thinking, etc. I've found that massages, nice hot baths, and relaxing music does wonders as well. Do something to relax every day, not just on the weekends.
I'm sorry this response was so long, but I hope I have helped you in some way. God bless!
JA
Jamievslexapro
8 April 2017
Hey I just wanted to know if your still off lexapro? And how did it go? I'm struggling after 7 years and a quick taper :( hope you reply. I'm one month off.
Thanks for the responses. I was going from 20 mg down to 15 mg for a few days, then a few days later down to 10 (feeling better), on 10 for a whole week or more I think (because of unexpected drama in my life), then on 5 for a few more days and nothing. It sounds like I did still taper off too fast (I could have gone much slower and steadier, but I was impatient to get it over with). I've tried twice before to get off Lex, and I tapered off even faster or attempted cold turkey. Should I go back on 5 mg for a whole month, then 2.5 mg a whole month, or something like that?
As for needing SSRIs, I don't know who to trust between the pharmaceutical industry, paid psychiatrists and the naturalists who demonize them. Even my own gym trainer told me that having a concentration of SSRI chemicals in your system was a very bad thing and that it's best to not have anything to do with that stuff if you don't want to ruin your health in the long run. She strongly favored supplements and exercise, just like my dad. My mom, however, really needs the pills to function well and resents the implication from my dad that she's a weak, brainwashed shill for Big Pharma by depending on that stuff. I still feel like a failure if I have to go back to Lexapro, just to have a normal life, when I was just fine years ago with no meds.
I think I'll see how I feel for a few more days, and if I remain just as miserable, then I'll take some again and taper of really, really slowly.
Votes: +0
PE
Peachiekeen
9 Feb 2012
By the way, I read some other claims that 10mg is actually a very small dose and you shouldn't need to taper off that slowly, so that also explains why I did it that way.
IN
Inactive
9 Feb 2012
I understand where your coming from, truly. Getting or feeling as though you need help for your moods, such as depression and or anxiety, can be a double edge sword. You want help, but you would perfer to do it a natural way or hope it all goes away on its own, cause what's the other alternative? Meds. It can make you feel like the oddguy out, I don't have any friends who need any meds for depression etc... so they never could understand where I was coming from by taking them. I use to get so frustrated when hearing" just get over it" "don't think bad thoughts" and on an on. I quit talking about it with them. I mean they didn't get it, so why bother. Anyways Peachiekeen, do what YOU feel is best for YOU. Take meds if you feel you need too, don't take meds, whatever you decide to do, remember its your body and mind. Wishing you all best, Taylor. Ps. You will get off Lex eventually( that is what you want) hang in there.
TE
texasbrian
9 Feb 2012
Just wanted to echo that it sounds like you tapered much too quickly. You can never taper too slowly to prevent withdrawal.
Votes: +0
HA
HannahKW
31 Jan 2022
It is so strange, when I tried to get off (I am off now) my physiatrist told me there is no dosage lower than 5mg than he can give me to taper off. He said no to my request of liquid form and said no to anything below 5mg! That I was to go to 0 after 5! I had went from 10mg to 5mg since that was what he told me was all that was available, and then when he told me about the 5mg to 0 I blew him off and cut my 5mg pills in half until I was ready. Is this normal? Has anyone been able to get supplied a dosage lower than 5mg or a dosage in between 10 and 5? I had a bad feeling that he was lying, but maybe I was being cynical.
IN
Inactive
9 Feb 2012
Hi, I'm another who quit Lexapro successfully. I was on 20mg's for several years. I slowly taperd down, over a period of 7months, a long time I know. But it worked and I had no withdrawls and now no more Lex. Its been almost a year without them. So it is possible. Just take your time. Best of Luck to you... Taylor. Ps. I didn't replace them with another ssri, but I do take Ativan and recently started Trazodone 50mg's to help insomnia and anxiety.
Votes: +2
IN
Inactive
9 Feb 2012
I always forget to mention, I also take a daily multi vitamin that has extra vitamin D3. (Their in the gummie form, so easy to take and their yummy) lol
PU
puckiemull
9 Feb 2012
Hi Peachiekeen, Yes it is possible to come off lexapro and to get through the withdrawls. Have you been tapering off slowly and over a period of time?
I was on lexapro a good few times,while i did replace them with other anti d's when the lexapro stopped working for me,I am currently off all anti d's but I take xanax when needed now for my panic/anxiety disorder.
Speaking from my own experience,i tried many anti d's and they would either work for a short while or I just did'nt find the right one for me!! The reason I am off them now is I am getting married and hope to start planning getting pregnant in a few months time,so I wanted to be off before i started trying for a baby! But it is difficult being off them,I was diagnosed with GAD,I suffer with panic attacks and OCD,I also suffer from depression,so it is indeed hard to get through these times.
Can i ask why you want off all ssri's? Alot of people DO benefit from them,it just takes time and patience to find the right combo that is RIGHT for YOU!! There are many meds out there and although frustrating while waiting for them to work and to find the right one that will work for you,they can be just what you need to help you through. Is your doctor aware how you feel and that you want off the meds?If so and he/she thinks its a good idea then they can help you with a taper plan that will help you come off sucsesfully. But alot of the time when diagnosed it is better to stay looking for something that will help you,if you're determined to come off them then i encourage you wish you the best of luck,but do be careful,you dont want to be miserable in yourself and suffer more with what you were diagnosed,taking anti d's is what some of us need-most of us that have being diagnosed in order to live a normal life without our illnesses holding us back!! In the end only you can make that choice,and whatever the case i wish you the best of luck!! Take care and wishing you the best whatever you decide!!
Votes: +0
IN
Inactive
9 Feb 2012
Hello Peachiekeen. I was on Lexapro for some time. So, we do exist. Not knowing your dose, I'd have to say your taper might have been a bit to fast. One month to get of from a drug such as lexapro, isn't a very long period of time. You've 3 options. Start on another drug to replace the Lexapro with. Number 2, stay the course, untill these symptons leave you or Number 3. Go back on a small dose, and taper of from that. Good health and wishes,pledge
