lexapro withdrawal symptoms

dear doctor,

i have been on lexapro 10mg for 2 yrs for GAD and am now trying to taper the medication.  my GP asked me to start tapering with 5 mg for 3 weeks and then bring it down further. i started this last week (5mg)..and i feel like i am going crazy! i feel so restless and anxious all the time, its not funny. i am so jittery, almost everything makes me anxious. i'm sweating, and so uneasy...esp in the morning when i wake up. i feel a bit better toward the end of the day. i feel like i am going back to where i was before i started lexapro. are these symptoms normal? will they settle down soon? also, over how long a period can i come off the medication completely? please help!

thanks!

[cj29]

This forum contains no doctor's advice, you have to click on the expert forums to get to a medical professional, but you have asked a question in a forum where people are experiencing the same issues as you.

I was never on lexapro, but the first time I tapered of off Zoloft (which is also an SSRI), I had alot of the same symptoms. You are doing the right thing, by working with your doctor.  When I was feeling these symptoms, I went back to my doctor and therapist and they worked together and I went on a slower taper which worked much better for me.  

[JSGeare]

A response you get from the doctor forums will be general in nature -nobody there and nobody here can say exactly what to expect in your case -nor recommend and changes. For that, Tara, go see YOUR doctor -or call the office and tell them what's going on. And then -please tell us the outcome.

[spade22]

What you are experiencing are typical SSRI withdrawal effects.  Some people never experience withdrawal phenomenon while others suffer to a great degree.  There is no way to predict how a given individual will respond and how long symptoms will last.

As the others have suggested, talk to your doctor if your symptoms are too bothersome.  You may need an even slower tapering regime than what you are on currently.

[tara79]

thanks guys! i must say it feels so good to be in a place where there is so much support, and where people understand exactly how you feel. i'll go see my doctor and let you know how i'm going.

thanks again