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I want to wean myself off of Lexapro
Hi,
I started taking Lexapro 10 milligrams about 3 weeks ago. I thought the side effects would go away eventually. I have felt tired and lethargic, I don't really care about anything, can't concentrate. I went out last weekend had about 10 drinks total on two nights and suffered EXTREME anxiety all of Sunday and Monday. For two days I suffered from heart palpitations, excessive sweating, and insomnia. I had asked my Doc previously if I could go down to 5 milligrams so I started that and I have been taking 5 milligrams for the last couple of days. I want to wean myself completely off of this due to all the side effects. How do I go about doing that since I have only been on it for 3 weeks? Any help you could give would be great! I want to have my energy back so I can go to the gym:)
I started taking Lexapro 10 milligrams about 3 weeks ago. I thought the side effects would go away eventually. I have felt tired and lethargic, I don't really care about anything, can't concentrate. I went out last weekend had about 10 drinks total on two nights and suffered EXTREME anxiety all of Sunday and Monday. For two days I suffered from heart palpitations, excessive sweating, and insomnia. I had asked my Doc previously if I could go down to 5 milligrams so I started that and I have been taking 5 milligrams for the last couple of days. I want to wean myself completely off of this due to all the side effects. How do I go about doing that since I have only been on it for 3 weeks? Any help you could give would be great! I want to have my energy back so I can go to the gym:)
You've been given some good advice and I have just a few things to add.
It can take up to four weeks for this med to reach therapeutic levels, but that is not etched in stone. We are all different and react to meds in our own ways. As other's have said, I would give it a little more time before calling it quits with the Lexapro.
All of the side effects you are experiencing are considered "normal" for this medication and they should pass soon. Often when we begin a new med, especially the AD's and AA's, our original symptoms for which we take the med in the first place will actually increase. Kind of a double edged sword, but if you can hang on and get past this period of adjustment, I think you will be pleased with the results.
Having said that, there IS one contraindication for taking Lexapro and that is the possibility that you are hypersensitive to this particular med. This is something you need to discuss with your doctor. If, after giving it a little longer trial, you still find the side effects bothersome, it would be time to switch to something else. Some of us have had to try several meds before we finally hit on the one that is right for us. Don't give up on getting well just because one med failed for you.
Now for the lecture portion of this post. Don't drink while on this medication! Period. But..........if you can't refrain, HOLD YOUR DOSE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY!
And lastly, while you've been on this med a short period of time, you should still discuss with your doctor the best way to stop it. He may tell you it's OK to just quit, but you may also need to taper to avoid rebound depression/anxiety. I would, personally, ask him/her to show you in the PDR what it says pertaining to discontinuing this drug. Sadly, so many PCP's don't have a clue. Or ask a pharmacist. They DO know.
If you try another med and once again find the side effects intolerable, I would strongly suggest you get into some therapy and possibly look into alternative methods for dealing with your issues. You obviously went on this medication for a reason, and that reeason has probably not magically disappeared...........there is something out there that will help you. I'd also suggest forcing yourself to get to that gym even tho you feel you don't have the energy for it. I once had a chemisty teacher who always said "energy begets energy." Never really understood that until the first time I went through a depression. If you get up and DO something, the energy you put out will create more energy...........and don't think I don't know how hard it is to get that initial energy. All I know is that it works.
Don't give up.
Peace
Greenlydia
It can take up to four weeks for this med to reach therapeutic levels, but that is not etched in stone. We are all different and react to meds in our own ways. As other's have said, I would give it a little more time before calling it quits with the Lexapro.
All of the side effects you are experiencing are considered "normal" for this medication and they should pass soon. Often when we begin a new med, especially the AD's and AA's, our original symptoms for which we take the med in the first place will actually increase. Kind of a double edged sword, but if you can hang on and get past this period of adjustment, I think you will be pleased with the results.
Having said that, there IS one contraindication for taking Lexapro and that is the possibility that you are hypersensitive to this particular med. This is something you need to discuss with your doctor. If, after giving it a little longer trial, you still find the side effects bothersome, it would be time to switch to something else. Some of us have had to try several meds before we finally hit on the one that is right for us. Don't give up on getting well just because one med failed for you.
Now for the lecture portion of this post. Don't drink while on this medication! Period. But..........if you can't refrain, HOLD YOUR DOSE UNTIL THE NEXT DAY!
And lastly, while you've been on this med a short period of time, you should still discuss with your doctor the best way to stop it. He may tell you it's OK to just quit, but you may also need to taper to avoid rebound depression/anxiety. I would, personally, ask him/her to show you in the PDR what it says pertaining to discontinuing this drug. Sadly, so many PCP's don't have a clue. Or ask a pharmacist. They DO know.
If you try another med and once again find the side effects intolerable, I would strongly suggest you get into some therapy and possibly look into alternative methods for dealing with your issues. You obviously went on this medication for a reason, and that reeason has probably not magically disappeared...........there is something out there that will help you. I'd also suggest forcing yourself to get to that gym even tho you feel you don't have the energy for it. I once had a chemisty teacher who always said "energy begets energy." Never really understood that until the first time I went through a depression. If you get up and DO something, the energy you put out will create more energy...........and don't think I don't know how hard it is to get that initial energy. All I know is that it works.
Don't give up.
Peace
Greenlydia
I just wanted to say that it really isnt a good idea to drink alcohol while taking anti-d's, it is dangerous. Side effects can take a while to settle down in some people and seeing as you av been on them for the past 3 weeks may mean that very soon they will begin to wear off, if your feeling better mentally in the sense your depression/anxiety is settling then maybe you should give it a few more weeks b4 deciding for certain to come off....as stopping the tablet could bring back the problem in which you wana get rid of....
However i first would chat to ur doc b4 stopping, he/she may be able to offer something else more suitable for you, there are plenty of other anti-d's out there that work in different ways and what this drug is doing to you may not be the effect of another.....
Good-luck and Merry Xmas
However i first would chat to ur doc b4 stopping, he/she may be able to offer something else more suitable for you, there are plenty of other anti-d's out there that work in different ways and what this drug is doing to you may not be the effect of another.....
Good-luck and Merry Xmas
Hey,
well i'm not an expert but i have been taking 40mg of lexapro for about 2 years now. The side effects at first were horrendous but i perservered and now i dont even know if i would be the same person without taking it. It's quite frightening to think about not taking it. I would reccommend satying with the 5mg for at least 2 weeks. It took my body ages to get used to the dose changes so i would think that the same time would be reccomended for lowering the dose. After a couple of weeks i would see how you feel and then half the tablet for another couple of weeks. Then maybe quarter it and then crumble it for the last couple of weeks. Good luck x
well i'm not an expert but i have been taking 40mg of lexapro for about 2 years now. The side effects at first were horrendous but i perservered and now i dont even know if i would be the same person without taking it. It's quite frightening to think about not taking it. I would reccommend satying with the 5mg for at least 2 weeks. It took my body ages to get used to the dose changes so i would think that the same time would be reccomended for lowering the dose. After a couple of weeks i would see how you feel and then half the tablet for another couple of weeks. Then maybe quarter it and then crumble it for the last couple of weeks. Good luck x
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