Lexapro Withdrawal

I have been off Lexapro for almost a week now (1 year on 20mg) I am having horrible withdrawals eg. Feeling like Im being zapped through my head chest & arms, especially when I move, insomnia, feeling obsessive, feeling manic, no concentration, feeling like I'm not myself and so on.. I'm just wanting to know if there is anything I can do as I am so close to just starting back on them, I don't know if I can handle this ## Hello, Emily! How are you doing? Have things improved, at all, yet? That is fairly typical for withdrawal from SSRIs, according to the information provided by the FDA. Generally, tapering is preferred, rather than stopping cold turkey, to prevent the worst of the withdrawal and rebound effects. You may also experience nausea, chills and diarrhea. It usua...

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Would withdrawal symptoms affect me after forgetting to take the medication for 4 days? OR Would I be getting withdrawal symptoms from dropping dosages in my lexapro? I have been on it for roughly 6 months and 3 weeks ago the dr told me to drop down to 10mg which I cut my 20's in half but I am constantly forgetting. I haven't taken them for 4 days until I remembered last night. I feel mentally and emotionally fine. I don't cry more then usual and circumstances have changed for me recently and I felt as though I no longer need anti depressants. The last few weeks I've had some health issues similar to the side effects of starting lexapro but they only lasted about a week. but in the last week or so I've had a lot of other things that are beginning to concern me: -Incr...

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Thank you to all who post here. We can't get truthful or helpful support from most Drs. I am in Costa Rica and it is very difficult as I don't have a Psych. Dr. and the GP speaks little English. I have been on AD's since back in the day when there were only Tricyclics. Done them all. For the last 3 years have been on 150mg Wellbutrin and 10mg. Lexapro. GP started me on 20mg and I did that for a year and decided I wanted to try lesser dose and save a little $. I have since decided it no longer helps me and think the Wellbutrin can do the trick solo. On Sept. 8, I began 5 mgs. did that for 2 weeks, suffered the nausea, sleepiness, dizziness, weepiness short tempered, also started the Omega Oil Caps, B complex, ginger root tea, multivit. and dramamine.Then did every other day d...

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I was on the generic for Lexapro for almost 2 months I was lightheaded from day 1 all day everyday. I originally was put on 20 mg a week, later was dropped to 10 mg, another week later was dropped again to 5 mg and I believe two weeks after that I was taking 5 mg one day and 10 the next. I did that for about a week, then I decided my light headedness was not getting any better , I decided to come off of it. They put me back on 5 mg every other day, then every 2 then every 3. I have been off of it since 2/2. I have experienced palpitations ( about 2 weeks of them )I have had a 24 hour holter monitor on , 2 EKGs, they came back good. I am having a stress test / echo tomorrow . The palpitations are not as bad now as they were after I got the results my heart was fine . Then I experienced p...

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Hi, I am currently in my 4th week of being off lexapro. I had all the horrific withdrawal symptoms which most have subsided. The only one I have left is the dizziness. Its not an all day dizziness like it was but waves of dizziness that come and go. Has anyone else had this side affect for this long? ## Hello Wendi! How are you? Yes, I actually had that when I stopped Zoloft, after being on it for several years due to a misdiagnosis. It lasted about 8 weeks, before finally stopping. Has it improved any? I just kept noticing a gradual improvement, until it finally stopped. ## Did you do a slow taper down on dosage? In my experience you cannot taper down too slowly. ## Lexapro for many years and every time go off terrible dizziness -- more of a labrinthitis so I feel the dizziness when I ...

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Hello all :) I have been desperately searching for information & reassurance as to why I am experiencing such a nightmare ordeal after being taken off Lexapro by my doctor, cold turkey. I have been taking 10-20mg for years. This week (since cessation - 10 days ago) I have been to the doctor 3 times and the hospital on Thursday night - convinced I am dying! I feel SO tired that I can barely lift my head at times. I have horrible headaches - frequent "brain zaps" (thought I was having a stroke). I was throwing up and lived next to the toilet for 2 days.... I get "rushes" of what feels like adrenalin (?) that crawls down my arms and then tingles in my hands and finger tips. I am dizzy - I am aching (joints) - I feel like my head is clogged and I have a horrible flu viru...

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I started lexapro for anxiety and hot flashes. Was given 20mg but only took 10mg to start. I took this for 3 days. It did help with the anxiety and no hot flashes. HURRAH! However by the 4th day, I broke out in an itchy red rash and welts over my entire body including my scalp and face. I stopped the Lexapro immediately. By the fifth day, my face and hands were very swollen. It took 4 days for the rash to go away and the swelling so I thought I was out of the woods. Since then, I feel like I have a heavy chest, something stuck in my throat, dizziness, foggy and heavy head and pressure in my ears. I was wondering whether these are actually withdrawal symptoms even tho I had only been on Lexapro for 3 days. Anyone else have these reactions????? ## Hello, Taz! How are you feeling? Have you...

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I have been taking Lexapro for 2 years and have decided that is enough. My doctor suggests taking 1 tablet every 2nd day for 2 weeks, and then one every third day for 2 weeks. 10mg. Not sure this is the right way about it. ## Hello, Stephen! How are you? That is the modern preferred tapering method for such a medication. The FDA lists the typical withdrawal effects as possibly including nausea, fever, chills, diarrhea, rebound depression and rebound anxiety. Have you started his plan, yet? It should help to minimize the withdrawal symptoms.

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I am on a valium taper for withdrawal of Klonopin which I took for over 20 years. I am one year off of the Klonopin I am down to 5 mg of valium and almost finished with the taper. Although I am better, I still have anxiety, angry outbursts, "brain fog," insomnia.. The dr. had me on Wellbutrin for mood swings. The Wellbutrin seemed to cause my anxiety to be worse and cause my hypomania to return. (I was dx with bipolar II many years ago and that was why I was on Klonopin) . Both my dr. and therapist have suggested I am NOT BIPOLAR. Have a MOOD DISORDER. Until the benzo withdrawal I had several years of stability while bipolar. My question is this: In spite of withdrawal symptoms (which are far less after one year of tapering off of Klonopin), I am basically depressed and the dr. ...

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I have been taking Lexapro 10mg once a day for about a year. I have had many unwanted side effects which according to my doctor there are very few side effects from Lexapro. He says it is a clean drug. Wrong. It did nothing to help me and I want off. My doctor refused to give me anti-anxiety meds to help with the withdrawals from Lexapro because once again, there are no withdrawals from Lexapro. Why do doctors lie about this. Why do pharmaceutical companies lie about this? I have read so much about people just losing it while trying to stop taking Lexapro. I have not taken it in about ten days after weaning off for about two months from 10mg to 2 mg a day. My nerves are a wreck, I am extremely irratable, and have slight headaches. This is a horrible drug with many long lasting withdrawa...

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I have been on 30 mg of lexapro for years and it has worked great for mg anxiety and obsessive thoughts, I have been on 10 and 20 before but 30 seemed to work but it has been a couple years, however I am tired and need to sleep 9-10 hours consistently to feel good, I was wondering if lowering to 25 mg you think would be just as good for Anxiety and thoughts and maybe make me a little less tired? And any withdrawals dripping down 5 mg, thanks guys and let me know! ?? ## Hello, John! How are you? I'm sorry about the problem you're having sleeping. However, after being on it for years, the Lexapro should no longer be causing such a side effect. The FDA lists its typical ones as possibly including nausea, dizziness, headache, dry mouth and weight changes, but they usually only last ...

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Hi, I am taking Lamictal, 150 mg, for years and years, along with an antidepressant - at the moment Lexapro - and for anxiety I take 1.5 mg of Klonopin. My diagnosis is dysthymia - constant low level depression - and I am struggling with it for years and it doesn't go away. I was my happiest on antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds only. That's why I'm planning on asking my shrink to stop the Lamictal. Have any of you experienced withdrawal symptoms and how do they manifest? Thank you! ## You will most likely have to taper off it, due to the fact that while it does help some people with mental health problems, it is actually an anticonvulsant, so stopping it abruptly could put you at risk of experiencing seizures, according to FDA warnings. Other withdrawals effects may incl...

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I was on lexapro for nine months. I put on ten kilos and so I changed to pristiq six weeks ago. I felt awful the whole time and so have decided to go off all medication. I have gone cold turkey three days ago. I'm constantly dizzy, it feels like my brain is a second behind real time. I have terrible diarrhea and my whole body hurts. Strangely enough I am a great deal happier in my mood. A little anxiety but so far no depression or rage. Should I expect worse? How long will it all last? ## After being on them for almost a year, it may take several weeks for the effects to all taper off, because your body has to readjust your brain chemicals on its own. Learn more Pristiq details here. If you quit just 3 days ago, it may get a little worse and you could still experience some rebound e...

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Hello, thanks for having this site. So, I have a couple things going on which I am trying to get handled with my Doc. Along with the fact that I have not being taking my generic brand of Lexapro consistently. Really Dumb. I know. I was taking it, then forgetting. Now, I am getting a pins and needles feeling in my face and really in other areas too, achy flu like symptoms and being emotional and very anxious. Any of these symptoms sound familiar with withdrawal? My anxiety is so high that I am very paranoid it's M.S. or something. Sorry for sounding nuts. Thank you again for your input. ## Hello, Amy! How are you? I'm sorry about the problems you've been having. In order to be having withdrawal symptoms, you'd need to have been taking it consistently for a long period of ...

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Started taking Lexapro about 5 days ago after being on celexa a few years. it seemed to not be working. Have a funny feeling in neck and a dry throat. I can't tell if this is anxiety about the new drug. I don't want to give up on it, but feel nervous. ## Hello, Fay! How are you? You are likely experiencing some withdrawal effects from stopping the Celexa, coupled with the side effects of starting the Lexapro. Things should balance back out in a couple weeks, once your body adjusts. Typical side effects, as listed by the FDA, may possibly include nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, headache and weight changes. If your symptoms get worse, or you find them concerning, please feel free to contact your doctor or post back with more questions. Is there anything else I can help with? ## Anyo...

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I've been on Viibryd for about 2 years now, I think? I started on 10mg, then went up to 20, then 40. At first the side affects were bad--EXTREME dizziness, mood swings, some nausea...but all around no worse than Lexapro side affects...maybe even fewer side affects than with Lexapro. (I was told Viibryd was the "newer bumped up version" of Lex) Anyhow--I am now tapering down to get off the Viibryd as I feel it's not working for me. I just feel stagnant, no better, no worse. Maybe worse? I'm not sure and can't tell until I'm off it I guess. I knew the withdrawal would not be fun. I've been tapered by my Dr. from 40mg for two weeks, to 20mg for two weeks, and now 10mg for two weeks. I am on day 3 of 10 mg, and last night i was a moody/crying/depressive/exhau...

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MY doc and I have recently decided to try to come off of the generic version of Lexapro, Escitalopram. I was taking 10mg of the stuff for about 10 months. So he took it down to 5mg only five days ago. I'm not sure if what I'm feeling is withdrawal symptoms/pains or if I should go to a doctor for this?! Directly under my chin, where one would say a double chin is, I have a dull achy pain. It's almost like something is putting pressure around my jawbone/chin. Has anyone experienced or heard of such a thing? Am I losing it? I'm experiencing dizziness also, which I know is a major side effect possibility of coming off certain or maybe all SSRI's. Thanks in advance if you can offer any words or advice. ## Hi, I have not experienced withdrawal, but I have experienced the c...

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My MD started me on Lexapro a little more than a month ago. Started at 5 mg and I got such paranoia that I quit. On follow-up exam he suggested 2.5 mg and I've been doing that for about 3 weeks. Today I upped it to 5 mg. He was talking as high as 40 mg. I see no reason for anyone taking that amount especially with what I'm reading about rats coming down with retinal degeneration and adrenal failure, plus all the symptoms that come from withdrawals. I will stop at 10 mgs. I don't have social anxiety, I have a problem with motivation which I guess stems from some type of depression. ## My heel hurt so back got ## Hello, CatAddict! How are you? Lab animals are usually given far greater amounts than the therapeutic doses, so you can't really go by that. As to why some people...

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I recently had genetic testing saying that Lexapro was not the best drug for me. So, I am being switched to Zoloft. This is day two of my transition- yeaterday went down to 10mg of Lexapro instead of 20mg and added 25mg of Zoloft. Does anyone have any experience? Just feeling off. Not liking it and need to know what to expect ## Hello, Angie! How are you? I've not done this switch, but I can tell you that feeling off for a bit is completely normal, when you go from one medication to another. You're likely experiencing some withdrawal symptoms from lowering the Lexapro accompanied by side effects from adding the Zoloft. The FDA classifies Zoloft as an SSRI antidepressant and lists its typical side effects as possibly including nausea, dizziness, dry mouth, mood swings and weight ...

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I have been on lexapro 30 mg for 5 years- enough is enough so I switched to pristiq 50 mg- that is the lowest dose of pristiq and what I want to be on after being tired of side effects- how long should withdrawal symptoms last- it's day 12 without any lexapro and day 12 of 50 mg pristiq and I feel awful. ## At this point, you are probably experiencing withdrawal effects from stoping the Lexapro, as well as side effects from starting the Pristiq, so it may take a couple weeks for things to settle back down and for you to feel better. Has there been any improvement, yet? The FDA lists the typical side effects of Pristiq as possibly including dizziness, drowsiness, anxiety, vision changes and loss of libido. ## The price of lexapro really got me, but I found it only costs $8 with an RX...

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