LEXAPRO WITHDRAWAL

[boogie2]

I need your help!   I am trying to taper off of Lexapro.  I am taking 2.5 mg every day.  I have taken 10 mg for 3 years.  I have been having severe anxiety and depression all summer.  My doctor thought that Lexapro was not working.  I went 3 weeks without taking Lexapro and it was sooo bad.  So the doctor put me back on 2.5 mg and a program to taper.  Here is my question.  Why are I waking up every morning with anxiety, hot, racing heart, and nervous stomach?   I stay hot all day.  My face feels like it is on fire.  My heart fills like it is racing but when I take my pulse rate it seems to be ok.  Can anyone give me some suggestions as to what to do to stop this vicious cyle.  Today I had a crying spell at work.  After I cry, it does make me feel a little better for a short time.  Please, Please, I need advice!!!!

[margypops]

Try starting to take the Natural supplement Sam-E take a small dose ,it is a nat ural med and it will ease some of the symptoms ,as even slowly Lexapro is hard stuff to come off, they never tell you this though when you start to take it ,years later I still get those brain Zaps and Tinnitus.

[tara79]

how are you feeling now? maybe jumping from 10mg to 2.5 was too fast for you... you could probably make it slower..

[Dazed_N_Confused21]

I briefly gave them up at the start of the year and got 'the zaps'. Quick shocks that to be honest, are quite indescribable!

[boogie2]

I was having adrenal surges in June.  My doctor said that the Lexapro was not working.  I have another question to ask you.  I am also having facial flushing.  Could the withdrawal be causing the flushing?

[lynn57]

Why are you coming off the Lexapro?  Even though the doctor didn't think it was effective, it was helping on some level.  Perhaps a larger dose or adding a med may help.  If you really want off, your taper has to be way slower.  Every time you reduce, wait to stabilize.  Then taper again.  At the end you take the low dose every other day and then go off.  It's a long process. Good luck.  Hope you feel better.

[tara79]

i had the heart racing feeling as well, was very jittery and felt like i was going to go totally crazy.. i ws very restless and just cudnt relax... so i went back on the 10mg then and statrted taking the meds regularly.

[boogie2]

What were your withdrawal symptoms?  I have a flush feeling several times during the day, I feel like my heart is racing, and I wake up with anxiety every morning.  

[tara79]

i m tapering leaxapro as well.. been on 10 mg for about 2 - 3 years too. i went on 5 mg for about a month and a half and then recently started on 2.5 mg and so  far i have been good.  had a few bad times inbetween but  it has settled.  try tapering more slowly.. this is my second attemp at tapering. first time i went too fast and wasnt taking the meds regularly which made the withdrawal worse. this time so far so good. hope u feel better. take care.

[Oneiropolos]

Yeah, it's not going to be a pleasant experience. But what you may actually be experiencing if after 3 weeks off  it was still so vehement is that without the Lexapro you're going through what's -still there- in your emotions and mind. Are you on any other medicine to help handle the depression and anxiety? I went cold turkey from 5mg myself, and it was hell, but it's what my psychiatrist told me to do because he had little to zero understanding of withdrawals. I recommend following the taper your doctor tells you to, and just be prepared for a few days to be rough and don't get discouraged. Also, see if there's anything the doctor recommends to handle the 'withdrawal' anxieties that won't be addictive.

[boogie2]

Thanks for responding.  It helps me so much!

[HockeyShark]

Taper SLOWLY...

[Luisitosax]

Reducing from 10mg to 2.5 mg is too much!!. You have to go back to your original dose and then reduce very very slowly, like 5% each 15 days or when you feel stable again.

[russtoo]

Hi;

   I suppose you could taper more slowly. Would a general rule of thumb of 10% less per week work, given the size pill you take? You could ask Dr. about bumping it up to 3.0 mg and tapering from that.
   I get awful bodily temperature sensor attacks when I withdraw from benzos. like; Where's the air??
   It's especially worse early mornings for me.
   Hang tough, boogie2!

   Russ