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Withdrawing off of Lexapro! Help!

I am currently withdrawing off of Lexapro after being on it for 12 years (18 years overall on SSRIs). I am hoping to get off of them to have children and because I don't believe I need them anymore, and probably haven't for a while. My psychiatrist weened me off over the course of 2.5 months, but now I have been off almost 7 weeks and I am experiencing the worst withdrawal symptoms! I never had anxiety before and my anxiety is off the chain. I have weird pains, numbness, tingling and sharp pains in my hands, arms, and face. I am getting brain zaps and pressure headaches and muscle spasms in my head! I keep feeling like my throat is closing up or has something stuck in it. My vision is either lightheaded, dizzy or "dream" vision. I had to take leave from work because I cannot even function at all, meanwhile I have a Master's Degree and work as a therapist and am usually very high functioning! My stomach disorders are going awry, regardless of my specialized diet. I am hoping for any advice as to how to manage this withdrawal because I feel like I am living in literal hell! PLEASE HELP!
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Avatar universal
If it has been that long, go back on the drug at the last dose at which you felt fine and taper off even more slowly.  You were on this a long time, and your brain is trying mightily to work again without drugs.  Maybe it won't be able to do so.  What you have is called Protracted Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) and your doc probably doesn't know about this.  The reason I suggest you go back on the drug and try an even slower taper is if you do have PAWS, it might go away eventually or it might never go away and there is no treatment for it, so that's what I would do if I had it to do all over again.  Your other option is to wait it out and hope your brain does adjust eventually and learn how to operate naturally again.  The risk is, the longer you go, the less likely it is the Lexapro will work the same and so it might not do anything about stopping the withdrawal.  Sorry this happened to you.  It happened to me, but my psychiatrist was a quack and wouldn't believe me so it took me a long time to learn what happened.  Knowing what's happening to you is a plus, it allows you to do something about it.  Also, try supplementing with a healthy dose of fish oil daily -- many report it helps at least with the brain zaps and that sort of physical symptom.  But when you get emotional problems you never had before, that's a bad withdrawal to let fester.
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Thank you so much for your insight !
Avatar universal
Forgot to mention that I already do chiropractor, psychotherapy, acupuncture, physical therapy and meditation!
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