lexapro withdraw

[IMstacie]

Wow this has got to be the worst anti-depressent to quit. I've been on around 20 mg for years, dropped to 10 mg for a couple years, then 5 mg for a couple years, then 2.5.  then every other day . so I came off it slow.  no symptoms at all for a least 3 wks.  Now, I'm dizzy, brain shocks, shaking inside and out, and very mean.  I can't believe the words that come out of my mouth.  Unbelievable.

Can anyone tell me how long before these symptoms subside?  I just want to be free of medication for once in my life.

[IMstacie]

thanks.  I do know it's withdraw and I'm worried because I've been on it for many years.  That is why I took my time about coming off.  I thought 2.5 was very low, maybe I should have spoke with the dr. about going lower.  But, I'm going to try to stick it out.  I've been off for about 6 wks and am on my 3rd wks of withdrawal symptoms.  I will increase the fish oil.  Never thought about St. John's Wort - good idea.

Well & Jude, I know when I'm depressed, pretty much got it down.  I've come off other ADs in the past, never made it past a year but I'm always trying.  This is the worst withdraw.  

[Paxiled]

This is definitely withdrawal, not depression.  Depression doesn't cause brain shocks and such a sudden change in anger.  This is classic withdrawal, which I guess you already know.  Some of us suffer worse withdrawals than others, and there's not way to know how long it'll last since we're all different.  The longer you're on any anti-depressant, the harder it's going to be for your brain to get used to being off it again.  What you can do is go back on the last dose at which you felt fine and taper even slower.  I don't know if Lexapro has a liquid; some people do the last part of the taper with liquid so they can make extremely small changes at a time.  If you decide to tough it out, try taking a heft dose of fish oil daily.  Some people report this helps with the brain shocks.  For the emotional stuff, some people have found St. John's Wort helpful.  Some also report liver cleansing helps.  Good luck to you.

[heyjude1]

Maybe you are going back into a depression.  Did your Doc advise you not to take antidepressants?  

[wellb]

Hum???

Did you tell your Doc about the symptoms of your very last withdrawl, when you dropped down to 2.5?

You mentioned that you were feeling "mean" lately, and I take it that this "meaness" (ie: anger & frustration?) came about during that last drop off your Lexapro, right?

Reason I ask is because maybe, just maybe , once you got off the Lexapro completely, your Depression came back (since anger can be one of the manifestations of depression and anxiety).

I would tell my Doctor about these symptoms concerning coming off your Lexapro.

Also, maybe it takes a long while to completely clean out your system of the Lexapro? Ask you Doc how long this will take.