lexapro withdrawal

[nandia]

I took 10 mg. of lexapro for 1-1/2 years.  Tapered off the drug last month and now it has been 3 weeks since I've taken the pill.  Headaches & dizziness are my biggest complaint.  How long will it last and is there something I should take to ease these symptoms?  

[AJC]

I think it is great that you have been able to discontinue this med.  You might want to consider a very low dose of a benzodiazepine, like valium for a couple weeks or when needed for the withdrawal symptoms. I would start with the lowest dose possible at first to see how your body reacts.

I don't know how long these symptoms last but they should go away over time, gradually.

Tony

[Sozo]

I was on Lexapro for 3 year (15mg) I tapered off slowly and I've been off completely for 3 months and I'm sorry to say that I'm still experiencing withdrawal symptoms. I've been on 1mg of Klonopin (generic) for 3 months at bedtime to help with the withdrawal. The Klonopin helps, but it's still very tough at times. Very few psychiatrist will admit or believe that withdrawal can last more than 2-4 weeks, but there's a ton of patient's including myself that know otherwise. Exercise helps a lot, but some days are pure hell. I'm still experiencing the very unique "Lexapro headaches", fatigue, anxiety, burning eyes and burning sensation in both eyes 3-5 days per week. It almost feels like the flu at times. I'm also experiencing crying spells 1-2 times per week...I've never felt depressed until I got off of Lexapro. I was recently told online by a Doctor of  psychiatry, Stuart Shipko that withdrawals can last anywhere from 2 months to a YEAR! He also says that in addition to typical withdrawal symptoms many experience "prominent anxiety and depression that is often mistaken for relapse or emergence of underlying pathology" which leads many doctors to re-prescribe the same or other drugs as a fix. I don't mean to scare you, but no one REALLY knows how long the headaches and other withdrawal symptoms will last. I wish you well.