Lexapro Help!! Bad Withdrawls?

[scottkj]

I was put on lexapro 6 days ago by my PD for anxiety.  I have also been on Xanax 1MG XR for 10 days.  I took 5mg Lexapro for 4 days.  Each day I felt very anxious, as if I had 20 cups of coffee, I had a difficult time focusing and I felt like I was in a complete fog or intoxicated.  Needless to say, this was horrifying and I quit taking it after 4 days.  

1 day after I quit taking the drug a very scary incident occured.  I was typing on my laptop and watching TV, when I felt a sensation on the back right side of my head and I completely blanked out for a brief second and it took a second to get oriented.  I also felt a hot snsation in my chest.  

I went to the ER, they did all the blood tests, CT-SCAN, EKG, etc and everything was normal.  They have scheduled an EEG to make sure eveyrthing is ok, but they think it may be a reaction or withdrawl effect to the Lexapro or a mild seizure (which they doubt).  

I am not going to take another SSRI again, they scare the heck out of me.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?  I would appreciate any feedback as I'm a bit scared.

Thank You.
Scott

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

same

[sdc1213]

Well... there's always side effects on medications, especially SSRI's. I've heard a lot of positive things for Lexapro it's a newer medication therefore it has a lot more of the modern technology and herbs. Also I have anxiety very bad, and 2 mins after I took it for the first time I had a panic attack. Because your mind is set on you doing something new that you're not use to it causes you to be anxious, once you take it for a week or 2 the side effects subside and your body becomes accustomed to it. You pretty much had a panic attack, and I wouldn't worry about anything I'd try taking the medication again and give it a week - two and try things to help you relax like breathing deeply and doing things to keep your mind off of things, also take the medication before you go to bed that way you won't have the worst of the side effects. Also I was a recovered from anxiety for over 10 months what helped me??? Relax meditation exercises. www.panic-anxiety.com read all that and it will give you all the information you're seeking about anxiety and symptoms/side effects

P.S. if you want to get in touch with me personally ***@**** . . . please don't hesitate

must of luck,
Steve

[Weatherwoman]

I have PD too and have been on Lexapro 20mg since last spring.  Last week my Dr. changed me to Wellbutrin 150mg (beginners dose) about 4 days later I started having dizzy feeling when turning around or bending over.  After a few days I realize this is due to going off the higher dose of Lexapro, to a new drug.  I had the same effect when stopping Zoloft a few years ago they lasted about a month.  It is rather agravating and can scare you because of your panic disorder.

So to go along with the previous post, I think you need to give it time, your body needs time to adjust to it.  You can always go back to your Dr. and tell him how it affected you and about your visit to the ER.  PD can be so hard to deal with.  I am also on 1mg of Ativan 2x per day for panic attacks and it works fantastic for me.  Check with him and if he feels you should give it a shot then go ahead and give it a try. The feeling of being on 20 cups of coffee may be panic from trying new drugs and your perception of how they will affect you before you even try them.  It can be a catch 22, I am that way with any new drug I take I always think it will make me sick and generally it does but always gets better once I realize why I feel sick.  I hope just knowing others go through this helps.  I have a headache today so having these dizzing spells is even more annoying than usual.  Good Luck.  We are all in this together.

[sdc1213]

Oh, also I forgot to add, if you're taking a downer and a SSRI it can affect your side effects. Make you have harsher and unbearable ones, such as you stating dizziness. You could always try not taking xanax for a few days until your body becomes acustomed. That's just a recommendation, always speak to your doctor first before changing your medication habits.

[scottkj]

I take Xanax 1MG XR per day.  I quit taking lexapro and a feel somewhat normal.  Based on my negative reaction to Lexapro, my PD prescribed me Cymbalta, which I guess is a newer SSRI similar to Effexor.

I have decided not to take it for now, I feel pretty good (probably because of the XANAX).  I am going to see how I do with .5MG XR Xanax per day and see a Psychologist to determine a possible underlying cause to my Anxiety and cognative/behavioral therapy.  

Scott

[sdc1213]

scott have you thought about taking buspar? It's a very good medication, but it can be bad if you're sensitive to medications on a regular basis.

[cleaha]

HELLO, I KNOW EXACTLLY WHAT U WENT THROUGH. I STARTED TAKING LEXAPRO ON SEPT. 7TH AND BY MY 4TH DAY I WAS REALLY FREAKED OUT! I STARTED HAVING MAJOR PANIC ATTACKS AND UNCONTROLABLE SHAKING. I LOST 20 POUNDS IN 10 DAYS. SO I JUST STOP TAKING IT. MY DOC.TOLD ME NOTHING ABOUT THIS MEDICATION EXCEPT THAT SOME PEOPLE GET MORE ANXIOUS. MORE ANXIOUS? WELL THATS A UNDERSTATEMENT!! WHEN I STOPPED TAKING IT I GOT WORSE! I WAS SO DEPRESSED, COULDN'T LEAVE MY HOUSE, OR EVEN LOOK IN THE MIRROR BECUSE MY WEIGHT LOSS FREAKED ME OUT.... SO ANYWAYS, I WENT BACK TO THE DOC AND HE PUT ME ON ZOLOFT. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST 5 WEEKS AND THESE SIDE EFFECTS ARE HORRIBLE! I FEEL LIKE THE WALLS ARE CLOSING IN ON ME! I'M GOING TO THE DOC. TOMORROW TO TRY AND GET OFF THIS KIND OF MEDICATION, BUT I AM AFFRAID I WILL ALWAYS FEEL LIKE THIS.
                      ANY ADVISE ANYONE???

[betterdaysahead]

I started Lexapro back in July and decided that I had enough, so I stopped it cold turkey- bad idea!  I have been dizzy, having hot flashes, trouble sleeping and the electric shocks are so annoying!! And mood swings that are worse than when I was dealing with anxiey/depression. I started this therapy for postpartum issues.  I just want to feel better.  It really upsets me that noone from my doctors office or counselor told me that there would be such a harsh w/d from this drug.  I wonder why family practioners are so quick to prescribe antidepressents.  I do not think I will ever go back on this kind of medicine again.

[Kairi]

I've been on many anti-depressants (all SSRIs).  When I was on Celexa and Wellbutrin, I didn't experience any negative withdrawal effects.  Then there was Effexor.  I had horrible nausea when I tried to stop.  It made me feel as though I was addicted because I kept telling myself to keep taking them so the nausea would go away.  

My most recent bout is with Lexapro.  I just stopped taking them a few days ago.  Cold-turkey.  I was on 40mg.  I was at the gym today and I felt all dizzy.  At first I thought my body wasn't used to working out again.  But then the dizziness continued after I stopped.  I also started getting these weird electric shock sensations in my brain.  So I hopped on here to see if other people have gone through similar things when coming off of Lexapro.  Sure enough, there were.  I felt so relieved afterwards.  Although thinking these symptoms might last 8 weeks really angers me.  I don't think I even really needed to go on the Lexapro, as I was not severely depressed.  I think I could have done other things in my life to pick up my mood.  No more SSRIs for me.  That's for sure.

[SheilaMarie]

NEVER again will I take another anti-depressant!  I have never come closer to suicide than I have in the last month after being taken off of Lexapro.  The side effects are horrendous!  I never realized that some of the problems I had were side effects from Lexapro.  The best site I have ever seen about antidepressants is www.antidepressantsfacts.com I highly recommend you check this out before trying any other meds.

[JERLYNCHR]

I am currently going on my third week of stopping Lexapro, does anyone know how long I should expect the withdrawls to continue?

[JERLYNCHR]

TAKE OMEGA 3, IT HAS HELPED ME GET THROUGH THE WITHDRAWLS.  I TAKE IT WHEN I START TO FEEL DIZZY OR MY VISION STARTS TO BLUR.

[reigh]

Is it possible to have withdrawals from going off 5mg of Lexapro?
I am dizzy and feel this wave or possibly ajolt very hard to explain but I was wondering if anyone else feels terrible when they went off and if these are side effects or if there is something wrong with me Reigh

[jerlie]

I was perscribed Lexapro by my doctor last December for clinical depression. This was after a lenghty discussion on how I did not want to see myself on this drug long term. He promised that with monitoring and all things going according to plan that I should be of this drug within one year. Now it is November and I am off this drug and I never intend to return to the use of any anti-depressent again, I do not care about the cost of any therapies or what decisions I have to make to keep myself the way I am now, happy and drug free. Ok, I was depressed, I took the drug, it worked, I have to admit I felt better physically and mentally after 3 weeks.
However, the following also happened,
No sex drive, no interest in men or relationships or being emotionally close or intimate in any way with anybody,
huge weight gain, after 6 months on this drug, friends who had not seen me for a while, I would see there faces drop in shock at my weight gain, they would then cover it up because they did not want to upset me because they knew I was going my best.
Constant nightmares, never feeling like I  have enough sleep, however, this did stop when I was reduced to 10 mg per day.
I atempted to withdraw from this drug twice before finally being able to do so 3 weeks ago.
After one week of the drug I suffered a 6 day long migrane that had me close to tears on a daily basis.
Felt chemical explosions in my brain during the night, 'Mental fireworks' is the best description, night sweats and poor sleeping. Stomach cramps and poor digestion which I still have- [take Alo Vera tablets of tonic for this, it works, and Vit B12 for Colon function] Also, EPA and omega 3 fish oils are good for brain function, I have been taking all these to counter act the side effects, also Magnesium for hormonal balance.
When I say I plan to get out of this, I meant it.
Can any one tell me how long it will take to get rid of the weight, after putting on 20 pounds I stoped weighing my self.

Being depressed is a trap that sucked that life out of me, after a couple of months on Lexepro, it was a trap just like my depression. The only way I see to get of this drug is to decide to give tablets and depression the boot at the same thime. A full scale, all out, offensive on the poison of depression. It is working so far. If anyone can give advise on how long losing the weight will take please let me know.

[mindy81798]

does anyone have anything good to say about lexapro?  I mean there has to be some people who have had success with SSRI's. I guess you never hear about the good things , because they don't have to write in.  is there anything good out there for panic attacks,depression,anxiety?

mindy

[enea]

I stopped lexapro a few days ago because I'm trying to get pregnant. I've been dizzy every time I lay down or get up.  I hope this is just a withdrawal from the lexapro.

[Lexapro crazy]

Scott,

I took lexapro for about 4 days, and then stopped. I am crying, I felt like I was dying this morning when I woke up. I woke up at 2 in the morning and could not go back to sleep. I really thought i was dying. I wanted to go to the hospital but talked myself out of it. I feel crazy. My head won't stop hurting, I have palpatations, and a pain in the right side of my neck..

HELP!! What can I do.. I'm not taking that stuff again! how long will it take to get out of my system? 10 mg for 4 days.. can't take that long to get out.

Steven

[AJC]

I took 1 10 mg pill. It wacked me out. Oh boy, do you want my advice. I know what you want to know.
You will be ok. Remember that. I was very very messed up for a while. It hit me like a bus.

write me at   ***@****    seriously, you need to know what I know.

also for additional information:
Look up "Gwen Olsen" on youtube or google video.

T

[AJC]

wdtony at hot mail dot com

[AJC]

sunsabitches!

[mtb14]

Oh My! I have been taking Lexapro for 3 years. I am finally trying to get off of them because I want to lose weight and then have a baby. As you probably know there is no worse feeling then these stupid withdrawl symptoms. It is day 6, I still can't see straight, I am so freakin dizzy, I have been throwing up and have had 1 migrane. I feel like crying because I feel so sick. I imagine this is how people feel when they stop doing hardcore drugs.

I too am looking for an answer on when this f'in drug will leave my system and I will feel normal again.

[mtb14]

I was trying to find info about the withdrawl process from lexapro and it seems like there is not any. I think these pharmacutical companies don't want anyone to know how horrible the feelings are.

[bddk76]

HELP!!! I feel like the dr.s are throwing meds at me without diagnosing me. Effexor was the most horrible drug I have ever taken. I have been on welbutrin for 3 yrs.  I still have bad lows, so my dr. gave me Lexapro to try for 1 mnth with my welbutrin as a "smoother". they told me there would be no withdrawals with effexor and I almost ended up killing myself. I would compare it to hardcore steet drug withdrawal.  Should I try for the month he recommends or stayaway all togrther?  

[AJC]

I would stay away altogether. Be on as few meds as possible. If you want to taper, do it very slowly, TAPER,TAPER,TAPER, over months if need be. this is a new type of addiction. It needs to be treated as such. Ramp it down slowly and methodically Yes, dr.s throw drugs at us. And they don't know what will happen. Lexapro almost sent me to behavioral health institution and almost killed me. Be careful. I see no difference between LSD and psychiatric medications. Legal or not, these are brain drugs and can harm you. It takes time to soul search and find lifestyle changes to become more healthy first. Then you can figure out what is a possible underlying problem. Good luck my friend. I can share only what I have experienced. I went through a hell that wasn't supposed to happen according to the medical community. You and everyone else are not immune to the social stigma of brain drugs being safe. Scour the internet for the high numbers of people experiencing horrible reactions. Doesn't seem natural for us humans to be on all these unproven medications, does it? It also doesn't make sense. I may be a conspiracy theorist but just follow the money back to big pharma and look at all the pending lawsuits. This psyche meds thing is like a propaganda or the dark ages re-visited. I know. I have had 11 months of adverse reactions from this poison. I think I will get better but I hope I can stop any others who care to read this to reconsider starting on a regimen of brain drugs. Please do research and I hope this helps someone.
Tony