increased blood pressure after stopping Lexapro

Question

Is it possible to experience increased blood pressure after stopping Lexapro? I have been off of Lex for about 4 months and I am now on 4 different blood pressure meds. Would stopping Lexapro be a cause? If so is it possible to go back to taking Lexapro?

nm31 · Answer

I don't know if this will help anyone but maybe it will. I was put on lexapro after surgery when I developed panic anxiety attacks and depression from the anesthesia. I was on 1 mg Xanax a day and 19 mgs lex a day for about 9 years. Everything seemed to be going okay. Did gain weight and had to be out on blood pressure med at about 8 years in. Then had a major emotional crisis at 9 yrs which resulted in depression worsening. My doc upped the dose to 1-1.5 mgs Xanax and 20 mgs of lex. Depression got worse as sometimes it will have a reverse affect on upping lex. We decided to go to be med, Wellbutrin. However new Well increased blood pressure. It was a 2 week switch 19 mgs lex at night, 125 mgs Well in morning. At two weeks with ankles swelling, headache and problems sleeping, doc and I decided to stop both. But lex was done by then. First week was great than blood pressure went up, headaches, and what people are referring as brain zaps, to me they are like a jitter on the right side of my brain and a headache. Doc has increased blood pressure med, it has been one week pressure goes up and down, now brain zaps are gone but headaches have started asking with very dry eyes, like when you state at a computer screen all day and realize you have not blinked. Eyes are not producing tears. My concern is blood pressure. Still on Xanax 1.5 mg so no anxiety and no depression. I'm glad I found postings on being taken off lexapro. I'm going to dig deeper in this.

cj29 · Answer

I haven't really heard about blood pressure increasing after coming off of SSRIs, but I am not a doctor. Has your anxiety increased after coming off Lexapro? That can definitely raise your blood pressure significantly. Also, is your BP high at home as well and not just at the doctor's office? Mine is typically 30-40 points higher at the doc's office than it is at home. Yes you can go back on an SSRI; just do it through your dotor. Do not self medicate. Keep us posted!