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How To Withdraw From Lexapro

Hi,

I have been taking 10mg of Lexapro for a year and a half and recently decided to taper off due to fatigue and weight gain. I have mentioned cutting back to my doctor, but she seems adamant that I stay on the meds indefinitely. I do not agree with this because I am concerned about the long term effects, which are largely unknown. I am going to discontinue treatment with her due to changes in my insurance policy, so I decided to try to cut back on my own. (I am in the process of looking for another physician.)

I have been taking 7.5mgs for two weeks and after initially experiencing crying spells, malaise, anger, and nausea, it seems those symptoms have tapered off. Now I am having terrible headaches. Is this typical after two weeks of being at the same dosage level?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Ilene
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Avatar universal
Hi, I am happy to find this board. I appreciate reading everyone's comments and sharing their experience with lexapro and related meds. I was on 20mg paxil for minor depression and anxiety for 8 years before I stopped taking it cold turkey (bad move). It took one week before withdrawal kicked in. I literally went through pure hell for one week. It was the worse thing I have ever gone through.  I think I had an out of body experience during the withdrawal? I am not sure but I saw myself at one point sitting on my couch. I was drinking HEAVILY during withdrawal. I would cry when I saw a squirrel cross the street! Electrical zaps were so bad.... I called my dr. and I was given xanax to help. It was just as addicting as the paxil. Similar withdrawal after I stopped taking. I started on the lexapro (10mg) after one month of being paxil free. I felt like I had to get back on something as the paxil withdrawal symptoms seemed to persist, although not as near as bad as the first week. I do not like the sexual side effects of lexapro, and it is hard to concentrate. I just gotta quit! I have to do it for me, and for the people in my life. I want to be my old self again. I look forward to reading more posts on this subject. picco
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Avatar universal
Hi everyone,

I have been on Lexapro for under a year.  I've been using it to treat Panic attacks that developed last summer.  I started with 5mg and worked my way up to 10mgs with the help of my doctor.  I am attempting to ween myself on the Lexapro because I want to be able to work on my anxiety/panic attacks without the medication getting in the way of my therapy.  I have also gained some weight with this medication as it seems to have made me rather fatigued and sluggish.  (all I want to do is sleep.)  I am also experiencing issues with constipation and I don't have to tell you how unpleasant that can be.  I am not interested in trying other meds because I tried several different kinds (wellbutrin, effexor, paxil) and experienced bad side effects with each one.  Frankly, I want to be med free.  Especially since there are unknown long-term side effects.

Anyway, to ween off I have been 10mg one day and 5mg the next day.  I am experiencing some of the same withdrawl sypmtoms as many of you have.  I have had moments of dizziness and vertigo.  It usually happens out of nowhere, but it increased quite a bit when I have tried to work out or exercise.  I do notice my anxiety is a little worse since I've been on the meds, but I do not entirely mind this.  I want to be able to feel uncomfortable enough so that when I do meditation or breathing exercises it will have an impact.

I've chatted with many others about this topic and it seems that many of them feel twice as bad going off the medication as they did before they started the medication.  This is certainly not easy and I wish everyone good luck on their progress.
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Avatar universal
Well.... so far I did a quick taper off of lexapro. In the hope to be med free cause I want to see if I really need it or not. But now im having the stupid run of the mill withdraw effects. Dizzyness.. that one is a little fun untill you get motion sick from it.. then i get a sureal like state of mind.. kinda like tunel vision or a lucide dream in exstream detail, and finaly im getting the lack of enery. Thing i've noticed since i've take this med are.. Masive weight gain i was like 120 now im 145, diarrhea wich goes away, and  my sex drive has changed.. lets just say I dont release as easy anymore... and I think thats about it. My advice if your planing to quit taking this pill is to slowly tapper off... i mean real slow.. it takes week even moths for it to completly leave your system. also realize that you will most likey have some with draw no matter how slow you taper off. The idea is the slower you taper off the less with draw syomtoms. I hope this has helped anyone out there with as scatered brain as mine ^_^.
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Avatar universal
My thoughts and hopes are with everyone going through the Lex. roller-coaster!   I suffered severe withdrawal when I tried to quit too fast after taking Lex. for a year.  After a year and a half on Lex. I am now weaning off slowly on a month by month plan - from 10mg - now on 5mg for a month and then plan to cut down to 2.5 mg. for a month - and then rotate 2.5 mg and no dose every other day.   It is difficult to cut the pills into smaller sizes , but I have found that actually biting them with your teeth can cut them....also an 'Exacto' knife helps.   As far as weight gain, I am sick of it too, as I am used to being naturally thin.   I have noticed though that exercise does seem to help.  Yoga is good for relaxing too.  I would also suggest getting professional help in regard to learning life/coping skills.  In the darkest times, I try to remember that painful moments may seem to last forever, but they do give way to better ones.
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Avatar universal
I am currently taking lexapro 20mg. i stopped taking it for about a month to see if i didnt need it anymore.  the day after i stopped taking it i also felt lightheaded, dizzy/lost.  sometimes it was bad sometimes it was alright but definately not pleasant.  it probably lasted for a week or so then was gone. that was taht. anxiety is fine.
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Avatar universal
I have been on Lexapro for about 2 months, first 10 then 20 mg. I was on 20 for about 3 weeks, cut back down to 10 to ween,wasn't taking everyday maybe every other, or every 2nd day,  then cut in quarters,  took for two days then quite. This was about a 10 days ago, I have been blind sided by the withdraw symptoms, I thought I had a severe sinus infection. My head hurts so bad, I cannot stay awake, no energy to do anything, cannot take care of my children. Just want to sleep, How long will this last. Today was my worst day, crying constantly, irritable, exhausted, uninterested in anything, Not wanting to see anyone, not wanting any social interaction from friends. I just feel so sick and tired,

When will this end. I can't believe doctors don't tell you about this. I even told him I didn't want to go on anything that would be hard to get off of. He said getting off of 10 mg would be no problem.

I was put on this medication as part of a diet plan, along with Metforim, and Adipex 37.5, along with several amino acids.

The only thing I hear about is weight gain. My neighbor is on Lexapro and loves it, she has lost weight, no more migrane headaches. I guess everyone is different.

Any way to releive symptoms of withdrawel and again HOW LONG DOES THIS LAST?
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http://www.theroadback.org/aaapretaper.htm
it outlines a program that is supposed to help with the withdrawal symtoms
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Avatar universal
I have been on Lexapro for about 6 months to help with fits of anger and anxiety. I once tried to quit cold turky and could hardly walk from the dizzy spells. I had no idea that Lexapro caused weight gain, that would explain the 15 lbs. I can't seem to lose.
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I just recently (about 2 wks ago) stopped lexapro cold turkey. Didn't know about weaning yourself. Went to the Dr. a few days ago b/c of the dizziness, was just feeling blah all week long. Now I am really irritable, (went off on my family last nite for no reason) feel just tired, don't want to do anything, feel misrable, having dizzy spells that just come on all the sudden and last for about 2 sec. if I turn my eyes either left or right the dizziness hits me. I almost called the dr. this morning to get back on lexapro, was kept on hold too long and hung up. I cry at the drop of a hat. Have I been off the SSRI too long to try to go back and wean myself off? I want answers to questions that the dr. says doesn't exist. How long does the withdraw symptoms last?
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Avatar universal
Hi..It is so nice to have such a quick response to my post...I have been doing the same things as you.....I went from paxil to lexapro and I was off of the lexapro for almost 17 weeks and then weham...I lost all control of my emotions/everything...I don't know how I managed to function, but I did.....I went to my psychologist on a crisis call and was sobbing hysterically..and couldn't get myself back together..that was in November of this passed year.....I was put on 20 mgs. of prozac as I was severely depleted of serotonin....I guess my body quit producing it on it's own and stopped working, since it was getting serotonin from the medication.....well..In July my lexapro topped out on me and I started crying and was an emotional mess...my Dr. then put me on seroquel to help me out..It working immediately, but made me extremely tired...It has been a long year for me....I am not on 10 mgs. of prozac and I have good and bad days....I am very irritable and not as emotional as before, but everything bothers me...I know this isn't right, but I don't know what else to do....I remember growing up as a child and having these fears of being a drug addict/committing suicide/etc. and I just thought they were part of growing up..little did I know at the time that I was obsessing....several years went on and I finally was diagnosed as having OCD after I graduated from college and started living on my own...I was 22 years old and was put on paxil....to help with my obsessive thoughts....anyway..I continued taking it for almost 15 years and gained a ton of weight and became depressed/etc. I then went on the lexapro for 1 year. 10 mgs. and then when that stopped working my Dr. upped the dosage to 20mgs. that's when everything went out of whack...crying spells...irritability...not in control.....I am not going to therapy with a great psychologist to help me control my obsessions/etc.  I don't want to be on medication..but I know I have to rebuild myself and then go from there...I am the type of person who wants everything done right now..but I need to be patient.....I don't know if my feelings right now are due to the medication trying to find a balance in my system or if I'm causing my body to go into shock from adjusting the meds/up and down.....maybe I'm just obsessing about the medication....but I do know that my life prior to meds wasn't this bad...I'm a nervous wreck all the time and I have to decompress several times a day just to make it through....I have learned so much about my body and ways to eliminate stress/anxiety that I feel I no longer need to take the medication....I know it will be a long road for me....I want to get there...but have this fear that I will not be able to come off of medication....I think everyday that my brain has been destroyed because of so many years of ssri usage.....It is nice to have someone to talk to..since my wife doesn't understand anything and really doesn't want to learn about what I'm going through....in itself this is the worst situation to be in...for I fear that we are growing apart from one another.....but then I don't know if the medication is doing this to me or not....I'm in a very difficult situation as you can see....I want to be happy again...and I want my life back......Thanks for reading this long post and I look forward to reading more from you as you begin your quest to be drug free...thanks for your support...bigbaz
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Avatar universal
Hi..It is so nice to have such a quick response to my post...I have been doing the same things as you.....I went from paxil to lexapro and I was off of the lexapro for almost 17 weeks and then weham...I lost all control of my emotions/everything...I don't know how I managed to function, but I did.....I went to my psychologist on a crisis call and was sobbing hysterically..and couldn't get myself back together..that was in November of this passed year.....I was put on 20 mgs. of prozac as I was severely depleted of serotonin....I guess my body quit producing it on it's own and stopped working, since it was getting serotonin from the medication.....well..In July my lexapro topped out on me and I started crying and was an emotional mess...my Dr. then put me on seroquel to help me out..It working immediately, but made me extremely tired...It has been a long year for me....I am now on 10 mgs. of prozac as I increased my dosage from 5mgs. as I started to obsess uncontrollably...and I have good and bad days....I am very irritable and not as emotional as before, but everything bothers me...I know this isn't right, but I don't know what else to do....I remember growing up as a child and having these fears of being a drug addict/committing suicide/etc. and I just thought they were part of growing up..little did I know at the time that I was obsessing....several years went on and I finally was diagnosed as having OCD after I graduated from college and started living on my own...I was 22 years old and was put on paxil....to help with my obsessive thoughts....anyway..I continued taking it for almost 15 years and gained a ton of weight and became depressed/etc. I then went on the lexapro for 1 year. 10 mgs. and then when that stopped working my Dr. upped the dosage to 20mgs. that's when everything went out of whack...crying spells...irritability...not in control.....I am not going to therapy with a great psychologist to help me control my obsessions/etc.  I don't want to be on medication..but I know I have to rebuild myself and then go from there...I am the type of person who wants everything done right now..but I need to be patient.....I don't know if my feelings right now are due to the medication trying to find a balance in my system or if I'm causing my body to go into shock from adjusting the meds/up and down.....maybe I'm just obsessing about the medication....but I do know that my life prior to meds wasn't this bad...I'm a nervous wreck all the time and I have to decompress several times a day just to make it through....I have learned so much about my body and ways to eliminate stress/anxiety that I feel I no longer need to take the medication....I know it will be a long road for me....I want to get there...but have this fear that I will not be able to come off of medication....I think everyday that my brain has been destroyed because of so many years of ssri usage.....It is nice to have someone to talk to..since my wife doesn't understand anything and really doesn't want to learn about what I'm going through....in itself this is the worst situation to be in...for I fear that we are growing apart from one another.....but then I don't know if the medication is doing this to me or not....I'm in a very difficult situation as you can see....I want to be happy again...and I want my life back......Thanks for reading this long post and I look forward to reading more from you as you begin your quest to be drug free...thanks for your support...bigbaz
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Avatar universal
Bigbaz...I'm sorry you are having so much confusion as to what to do. I feel the exact way.  I got on meds for anxiety/panic attacks back when I was going through a divorce.  The panic attacks began when I started working after 13 years of staying home with our children. I had minimal skills and no self confidence when I started working and had panic attacks daily.  It was so embarrassing.  I had to work neverless to take care of my children and pay a mortgage, etc.  The meds didn't even help with the panic attacks.  I had one therapist that was just sure I had ADD and wanted me on ritalin.  He referred me to a psychiatrist who said ritalin will only make the anxiety worse, but still gave me a prescription for it.  I took it for 2 or 3 days and almost had a nervous breakdown and had to get off.  I was ready to take anything at that moment if I thought it would help.  I was desperate.  After about a year on that job..I got a better job that was less stressful and the panic attacks went away.  By that time...I had more confidence in my abilities.  I should have gotten off the meds then and I didn't know any better and doctors never even suggested it.  I tried getting off about 2 years later and withdrawals were so terrible...I was afraid I would lose my job and got back on.  I tried several times and same thing.  This is the longest I've been off and I don't know how I'm going to feel from hour to hour and I know for a fact..this is NOT how I felt before getting on meds.  This is NOT a return of original symptoms.  I am so scared that I may be permanently damaged from taking these meds so long.  Right now I would welcome a panic attack over what I'm feeling now.  I understand about wanting to be back in control...I'm doing everything possible to nourish my body back to health.  I'm taking magnesium(powder), calcium, fish oil, drinking lots of water, staying away from caffeine and trying to eat healthy meals. I take very hot baths to help relax me so I can sleep at night along with an occasional benadryl and hot tea if needed.  I will not watch anything on tv that can make me emotional. And honestly...I don't know if any of this is helping, but it gives me something else to focus on and feel like I'm in some way contributing to the healing process.  Bigbaz...Sorry to ramble on so much.  It's just I haven't had anyone to talk to that understands all this stuff.  I hope you feel a little bit better each and every day, my thoughts are with you....tamyb
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Avatar universal
Hi and thanks so much for your comment....I know exactly what you are going through and my heart goes out to you....I am not myself anymore...I worry about everything...obsess till there is no tomorrow and basically don't know what else to do..except take the ******medicine or should I call it poison....I have been trying in the worst way to come off of this stuff...it started back in August and by November I basically had a nervous breakdown with my serotonin levels being completed depleted...and then the prozac.....I've had highs and lows..ups and downs....depression..obsessions...and yet I keep taking it....I went down to 5 mgs..hoping that my body would be able to adjust to the low dose.....but after about 3 weeks...I started obsessing.....I have OCD anyway....and I have learned how to deal with a lot of my obsessions, but they became to overwhelming and I had to up my dosage...to 10mgs..I know that it is still a low dosage, but the point is....I don't want to be on this medication anymore.....I always had obsessions, and that is why I was put on medication in the first place...almost 16 years ago.....I finally got fed up with everything...the weight gain...the depression....the medications topping out and Dr.s always wanting to increase the dosage....I don't know what else to do....I don't know if the low dosage of prozac had anything to do with the obsessions...or if my body was trying to find a balance.....or if the obsessions were just part of my original problem...I am so confused......I do know that we are only dealt with what we can handle at one time....but this anti depressant withdrawal...addiction is the worst.....I just wish I knew if I needed medication or not....I want it to end and I want to once again be in control....I look forward to your reply...and please keep in touch...bigbaz
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Avatar universal
bigbaz,

I have been on antidepressants for 10 years and have been on Lexapro for the last 4 years.  I tried to get off of the meds in the past due to various negative side effects, but the horrible withdrawals and the need to keep my job forced me back on them.  I am single and only have myself to depend on.  In the past, I tapered off with my doctor's assistance and that did not lessen the intensity of the withdrawals at all. In fact, I ended up in the hospital for a week. Recently, due to the overwhelming fatique(feeling like a zombie), the inability to focus and make good decisions at work, I decided to quit my meds without tapering off.  From numberous postings I have read and my own experience, tapering doesn't seem to help. I am in no way telling anyone here not to taper.  Do what you and your doctor agree on.  Anyway...I've been off of meds now for 1 month and 11 days and still going through withdrawals..good one day, bad the next.  Good 3 days and so on.  Of course this is after going through 2 weeks of nausia, throwing up...dizzy spells,migraines, profuse sweating etc.  I am now officially on family medical leave hoping I will return to normal before losing my job.  I have never felt so trapped before in my life.  If I'm not over these withdrawals in another month or so I'm afraid I will be forced to get back on them in order to keep my job.  This is not fair! It takes a long time to stablize after getting off these STRONG drugs. And where are the programs that help support us? People that need help for getting off of illegal drugs get more help then we do.  I know someone who had 6 months of residential treatment to get off of crack and he is doing terrific now.  Where do we get the positive reinforcement and help we need to get off antidepressants?  I have no spouse or boyfriend to lean on and this is the most difficult situation I have ever had to deal with.  These drug companies are disabling us due to their need to get rich and our doctors aren't giving us the info. we need to make good decisions.  When I recently asked my psychiatrist what I could do to help with the withdrawals..she said she could get me more meds.  After telling her no..I asked for any other suggestions and she just said "time".  I just hope time is on my side before I end up homeless.
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Avatar universal
I have been on Lexapro for about 4 years.I had previously been on Paxil while pregnant, my son was born with tremors and breathing problems. he couldnt even cry for his first 3 days of life. My DR. blames the Paxil. So now im on Lexapro. I havent heard anyone talk about more than 20 mgs at a time. im starting to worry because I am on 20 mgs 2x's a day for a total of 40 mgs per day! and 300mgs of Welbutrin and 100 of Strattera(for adult attention disorder)is anyone else on that much? and if so how were the withdrawals?!
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For information and moral support during SSRI withdrawal, you might consider checking out these sites:

www.paxilprogress.org

http://www.ssri-uksupport.com/
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Avatar universal
Ok I am an 18 year old boy and I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was  around 5 or 6. Over the next decade I have hopped higher and higher on the pills food chain. I am now taking one every morning 54 mg of concerta and 10 mg of lexapro. I am sick and tired of being on these stupid meds but I am not sure I have the confidence to try without them. I have had my fair shair of ups and down when I wouldn't take them. There have been times where I have thrown up in the morning and it become hards to take them. I am a pot user however I am trying to quit now. (I took a break for about 4 months before i turned 18) I want to take charge of my own lif now and I don't want to rely on othes to help me. Apparently I am depressed (I was unaware) and I was told I needed lexparo I have been using it for about a year and I have steadily been gaining some weight. I was at first 186 lbs when I started to take my meeds again (I stopped for a year) 5 months later I had dropped down to 150 lbs. and now another year afterwards I have risen to around 160-170 lbs. I am trying to get more in shape now and tune up myself but I need ways to practice focusing and self control any suggestions?
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Avatar universal
This is a great resource...  I had been on 10 mg of Lexapro for 6 weeks and had to quit cold turkey.  I'm a software developer and it became quit difficult to concentrate enough to do my job while I was on Lexapro.  After being off Lexapro for a few days my ability to concetrate returned.  The downside is that I and now very lite headed and extremely dizzy.  Hopefully, these symptoms will subside in a few days.
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Avatar universal
Hey ..thanks for the reply...I've been checking in to see if you have left any comments....well, it sounds like you are going through it....I can really feel for you....I know how frustrating it can be, to not know what the heck is going on with you....I am slowly building myself up again....When I wasn't able to sleep, I took tylenol pm and had a glass of hot cocoa...that really helped me out...I refused to take any more prescriptions.....especially when my dr. wanted me to take seroquel....LOL..NOT going to happen, so I went for the over the counter meds...and it really helped..so give it a try....I still have depression, but it comes and goes...and my OCD comes and goes as well....I really get frustrated, just wanting to know how much more I need to take...is it me? or is it something new??? I guess I will never have the answers...until I am able to experience life again...after all, I was on medication for so many years....I was walking everyday, and that helped some...the last week, I have been having terrible mood swings/combined with some minor depression...I hate the depression so much....it comes and goes.....I am on only 5 mgs of prozac and I'm not sure if it is helping...I might have to go back up on the 10mgs.....since I felt somewhat better on that....it is so frustrating....I just want to get back to normal...whatever that is....it seems like when I'm not feeling up...or when I'm depressed, my mood changes drastically..everything bothers me......Oh well, time will tell what happens next...I hope you find some relief in your symptoms....and just remember....the Dr.s need to understand what you want.....luckily I have found a therapist who understands me and what I want..however I've been through it this week...and it really scares you.....however, keep in mind, that all people have bad days...and just because you're on medication or not, doesn't mean you won't have a bad day every now and then....Hang in there...it will get easier.....that's what I keep telling myself......as always, bigbaz
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Avatar universal
Hey ..thanks for the reply...I've been checking in to see if you have left any comments....well, it sounds like you are going through it....I can really feel for you....I know how frustrating it can be, to not know what the heck is going on with you....I am slowly building myself up again....When I wasn't able to sleep, I took tylenol pm and had a glass of hot cocoa...that really helped me out...I refused to take any more prescriptions.....especially when my dr. wanted me to take seroquel....LOL..NOT going to happen, so I went for the over the counter meds...and it really helped..so give it a try....I still have depression, but it comes and goes...and my OCD comes and goes as well....I really get frustrated, just wanting to know how much more I need to take...is it me? or is it something new??? I guess I will never have the answers...until I am able to experience life again...after all, I was on medication for so many years....I was walking everyday, and that helped some...the last week, I have been having terrible mood swings/combined with some minor depression...I hate the depression so much....it comes and goes.....I am on only 5 mgs of prozac and I'm not sure if it is helping...I might have to go back up on the 10mgs.....since I felt somewhat better on that....it is so frustrating....I just want to get back to normal...whatever that is....it seems like when I'm not feeling up...or when I'm depressed, my mood changes drastically..everything bothers me......Oh well, time will tell what happens next...I hope you find some relief in your symptoms....and just remember....the Dr.s need to understand what you want.....luckily I have found a therapist who understands me and what I want..however I've been through it this week...and it really scares you.....however, keep in mind, that all people have bad days...and just because you're on medication or not, doesn't mean you won't have a bad day every now and then....Hang in there...it will get easier.....that's what I keep telling myself......as always, bigbaz
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Avatar universal
I'm doing a little bit better w/ some of the symptoms....I don't have "brain palpitations" (those lightning bolts that travel up your back to your brain) and I not as confused as I used to be.  I was REALLY out of it.  But I still can't sleep and miss usually a day of work every week.  I drink WAY to much now in order to knock myself out.  I know this is bad but I'm honest w/ the psych and he understands and doesn't scorn me like most regular Drs. would. I am seeing a psycologist who wants me to see a psychiatrist again and the cycle begins.  I guess that now I'm simply more depressed than I've ever been.  I guess a lot of it is from not being able to mentally keep myself together since this all began.  I can't handle being like this (missing work, no interst in playing my guitar, not doing my normal fun things, etc) so the depression just gets worse and worse. I'm very rarely depressed at all, but now I really am.  I can be manic and cry one minute and be ok 30 mins later.  Right now I feel like Lexapro has changed my brain chemistry forever.  The psychologist agrees that I may be manic II now.  I know it sounds too easy or fake to just blame everything on Lexapro, but to be perfectly fine for 27 years and then all of a sudden a manic depressive insomniac is just too much of a coincidence.  I'm in a place where I don't want to ever take another anti-depressant again since 1)The 6 or so I've tried never work or give me very bad side effects 2)I simply don't to be on them.  But, at the same time, I can't keep on like this.  I'm just going to see what the psychiatrist says in a week or so.  Thanks for the reply.  Glad you are doing better at least.
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Hey..thanks for the post...the withdrawal from the lexapro was the most horrible thing that I've ever gone through...after going 16 weeks without anything...I basically had a nervous breakdown....my serotonin levels were depleted and all I did was shake and cry hysterically......I finally went into my psychologists office on a crisis call and within 20 minutes he knew what was going on and he contacted my primary care physician and a prescription for prozac was called in...this was the Monday right after Thanksgiving.....I was prescribed 20 mgs. of prozac..anyway, I got so bad, that I couldn't sleep, had no appetite, major depression, nervousness like never before..panic attacks and these are to only name a few of the worse symptoms....well, to make a long story short, I am doing a lot better today....I still have the fear of what my next  withdrawal will be like, but I need to take each day as it comes.....I have decreased my dosage of prozac from 20 mgs down to 10 mgs. and right now I am on my 2nd day of 5 mgs...I was told that I probably need to be on it for at least 6 months, before I even try to come off of it again.....I hope the 5 mgs. will work and I won't have any trouble with it....if not, I'll go back up on the 10 mgs. and go from there....I have occasional headaches on the prozac and my sleep still isn't the best, but at least I'm able to get about 5 hours a night....it's really frustrating, because I want to know if I can live without being on an anti depressant...I don't know any different....16 years is a long time and all that time, I was shoving those pills down my mouth and my OCD was never really under control...I've finally found a Dr. who understands me and has taught me so many ways to deal with obsessive thoughts...I haven't had any in almost 2 months and I went to my appointment yesterday and when I first started the therapy, I was a (2) on a scale from 0-10 with a 0 being a mess....yesterday, I was an (8)....my doctor couldn't believe the change in me........but then again, I've worked really hard at learning the strategies to overcome my obsessions and continue each day to refocus my energy in other areas.....I will keep you posted and I look forward to your reply as well...I would love to know how you are doing.....Thanks for your interest...and sorry it has taken me awhile to respond..I usually don't come on this board to often..but I will check in to see how you are doing...Thanks again..bigbaz
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I have been taking Lexapro 10 mg since Sept. 4, 2005.  I apparently had a long stomach illness that led to depression and anxiety.  Just when I thought I couldnt get any worse, I started taking Lexapro.  For about 6 weeks I thought I was "going crazy" so they say. All my senses were intensified, many days I felt as though i wanted to cry but couldnt, until one day I had about a good solid hour of really shedding tears.  Now it is January and I have felt great since Thanksgiving.  I want off the meds because I am not a big pill popper to begin with.  I decided to stay on the meds until June then, slowly ween off of them.  The only thing that makes me nervous is experiencing any withdrawal symptoms that are anything similar to what I experienced getting on the meds.  It was the most difficult thing I have ever had to deal with in my life.  I can't imagine how such a low dose had such an intense reaction on me.  I had complete loss of appetite, lost 15 lbs., in two months, couldnt take showers for very long, couldnt bring myself to do normal things, like washing the dishes or even getting outside.  When my phone rang it made me sick to my stomach.  Truthfully, I know I was in pretty bad shape before the lexapro, and although the lexapro messed with my psychi while getting adjusted to it, I am glad I fought through and held on, because now I am great.  I have also seen a homeopathic herbal doctor and have been taking specific vitamins for anything I was deficient in and I have never felt better in my life. Anyway, like I mentioned before I am just nervous about withdrawal symptoms.  I feel confident that as long as I stay active continue with my vitamins and supplements and expect that certain feelings will pop up but only temporarily, I should be just fine.  This was my first and only major depression attack. Sometimes it felt more like anxiety.
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Avatar universal
I'm a nurse who started anti-depressants after the birth of my first child related to anxiety(generalized anxiety disorder) and mild depression. I had tried several meds but lately just quite Lexapro and Wellbutrin, which I've been on for about 4 years, mostly by accident. I have to mail order monthly meds or my insurance won't pay for them. I've been waiting for them to come. I've been off my meds for 1-2 weeks and have had some withdrawals such as the dizziness, headache, nausea and unable to sleep. But I've gained about 30-40 lbs since starting the meds (it would be great if it was related to the meds, but I'm not sure), felt exhausted and didn't have a sex drive AT ALL..... Even though I have the withdraws I feel more energetic and had multiple orgasms for the first time in my life. This is making myself and my husband VERY HAPPY! He said the other day I was acting more like I used to (LIKE WHEN WE WERE DATING)before taking the meds. I'm hoping the withdraws don't get worse or last for very long...I'm also hoping my anxiety/depression doesn't get worse. By reading the above comments, it sounds like my withdraws aren't as severe as most. Best wishes to all of you.....
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