After 12 Yrs I Would Like To Stop Lexapro- Please Advise

I have been on anti-depressants since 1999 and would like to get off them altogether. I started with Paxil and after several years, it just wasnt cutting it anymore. Lexapro was a complete 180 right from the start. I am only on 10mg a day, but would like to stop. Had a real bad experience with stopping Paxil once for a week prior to a sleep study and am worried quitting Lexapro might be the same. I dont see a shrink cause he just pushed the meds the pharm rep was selling and my regular dr doesnt know much about it... help

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After being on it for that long, you'll definitely have to do a very slow taper, otherwise on top of the possible withdrawal type symptoms, you'll also likely experience rebound effects. These effects can include depressive symptoms that are worse than the ones you started taking it to alleviate.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Lexapro/­

You might be better of seeing a Psychiatrist, again, who can better help you with this.

Has your regular doctor done any research?

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I have weaned from Lexapro twice. I was CRAZY the first time. The emotional problems were far beyond measure. I was in a bind financially so I asked my dr to prescribe Prozac because it costs so much less and I had been on it before with no withdrawal symptoms when I quit. I took one 20 mg Prozac and that covered ALL of my withdrawal symptoms.

I had been considering weaning from Prozac this spring. Lexapro became generic and the pharmacy gave me that. I had hoped to wean from Lexapro, so, I took it. But the generic, it was very bad for me. I had headaches, sleep disturbances, anxiety and a general feeling of lack of well-being. So, I called the doc, who prescribed Prozac. I took two 10 mg the first day and have been on 10mg for about 10 days. Since I am 'normal' feeling, I will be going off Prozac in the next week. The thing about Prozac that is so excellent is that it lasts in your body for 6 weeks. So, your body weans itself as it cleans it out of your system!

I highly recommend taking Prozac to deal with the Lexapro withdrawal. I wish more doctors knew this was a way to help their patients stop suffering!

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I have weaned from Lexapro twice. I was CRAZY and suicidal the first time. The emotional problems were far beyond okay. I was in a bind financially so I asked my dr to prescribe Prozac because it costs so much less and I had been on it before with no withdrawal symptoms when I quit. I took one 20 mg Prozac and that covered ALL of my withdrawal symptoms.

I had been considering weaning from Prozac this spring. Lexapro became generic and the pharmacy gave me that. I had hoped to wean from Lexapro, so, I took it. But the generic, was very bad for me. I had headaches, sleep disturbances, anxiety and a general feeling of lack of well-being. So, I called the doc, who prescribed Prozac. I took two 10 mg the first day and have been on 10mg for about 10 days. Since I am 'normal' feeling, I will be going off Prozac in the next week. The thing about Prozac that is so excellent is that it lasts in your body for 6 weeks. So, your body weans itself as it cleans it out of your system!

I highly recommend taking Prozac to deal with the Lexapro withdrawal. I wish more doctors knew this was a way to help their patients stop suffering!

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I was put on Lexapro in March 2010. Late last year the new dr at my dr's offices told me that Lexapro is really only supposed to be used for 6 months and I should think about weaning off. I had decided before then that I wanted to do that. I was on 10mg and she prescribed 5 mg. So I started taking the 5 mg and took them for a month. I then cut them in half and took that for a month. And even though it was hard to do, I cut the half in half and did that for a month. I had no noticeable withdrawal problems and don't really want to be back on any antidepressants at all so I am working hard on my moods, trying to get healthier physically as well as mentally. Realize not everyone can do this but it was important to me.

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I HAVE BEEN ON LEXAPRO 10MG FOR 8 YEARS. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO COME OFF THIS DRUG. I FEEL VERY DISORIENTED, DIZZY, MOODY, AND VERY SHORT FUSED. I AM REALLY WANTING TO STOP THIS MEDICINE. I HAVE NIGHT SWEATS, TIRED, WEIGHT GAIN, AND OTHER SIDE EFFECTS. CAN SOME ONE PLEASE HELP ME TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO COME OFF THIS DRUG. I ONLY STARTED TAKING IT AFTER THE DEATH OF MY GRANDPA AND I JUST NEVER STOPPED.

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I have had horrible experiences getting off Paxil on a couple occasions. I'm currently on Lexapro. The only advice I can give you is take things very slow, really dragging out the weaning process. I would also gauge your mind & body as much as possible to know if you are moving too quickly with the withdrawal.

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