withdrawal from Lexapro

[beachartist]

I tapered off of Lexapro too fast. Now I'm having what feels like electrical shocks in my head, dizziness, irritability and flu like symtoms. My dosage was 10 mgs a day. I cut back to 10 mg every other day for a week,then 5 mgs every other day for a week then I stopped completely. My last 5 mg. was 6 days ago. Each day is worst than the last one so today I took 10 mgs. of Lexapro about 30 minutes ago because I can't live like this. I've heard taking prozac before coming off Lexapro helps.I think I should add that I am 62 yrs. old and was taking Lexapro for social anixety and hot flashes. I want to get off because of the weird dreams and deep sleep I have and it doesn't seem to help with the hot flashes as much any more. Please advise me on what to do.

[alsterlind]

Hello Everyone...

Thank God I checked out all of your responses.  I am WEANING MYSELF OFF OF Lexapro.  The last few weeks I have felt like S _ _ t!!!!!  Same sypmtoms as everyone else......  Tired, feel like you have the flu, so dizzy you want to puke, hot flashes, crying and so forth...  When I talked to the pharmacist and the doctor they both said it only takes 3 days to come off of the drug.  I feel like force feeding them some Lexapro so they can see how long it actually takes.  I have been on it for 3 years and never thought it would be this bad coming off.  I had w/d from Pondamine in the past when it was on the market and I did not feel this bad.  That drug was for weight loss and it was taken off of the market via FDA.  Lexapro is powerfull stuff to have to take so long for it to get out of your system.  It has been 3 weeks and I still feel sick to my stomach and dizzy.  

What I want to tell everyone is do not give up....the w/d syptoms will get better in time...I HOPE...  My question is WHEN?????  When I see my doctor again she is going to get an TOUNGE LASHING.  H E _ _, all this time I have had hot flashes, tired could not sleep and so forth....just to find out this was all side effects from Lexapro...  Check out this site on side effects...
http://depression.emedtv.com/lexapro/lexapro-side-effects.html
When I told the doctor I was having a hard time sleeping and so forth..what does she prescribe...???  SLEEPING PILLS...  It seems they want you on every pill under the sun...  I thought these doctor's had some brains....they went to school to study medicine...  They should know the side effects and how long it takes to come off of a pill.  I feel violated...

[desertwoman]

I've been on Lexapro for years.  I was on40 mgs a day.  I went down to 20 by myself, Dr. wanted to me to go 30, so I stopped all together.  I have been feeling awful ever since.  I have a hard time with my head.  It aches, gets dizzy, and just kinda swishy. I have had terrible nightmares with a lot of fear.  Does anyone know how long this will last.  I've been off for over a week now.  I don't want to go back on them.  I have gained a lot of weight since I started these pills.  My god, I don't want to start them again. please help.    

[[email protected]]

I just stopped taking Lexapro 2 days ago.. I didn't consult my doctor first- I usually take 10mg a day. I took 5mg a day for the last 2 days, then I quit taking. Yesterday was yucky, but today is even worse. I feel like my brain has these "waves" everytime I turn or look another direction! I probably should have weened off it, but I'm going to continue not taking and see if my symptoms persist. If I were you, I would probably go down to 10mg for a week, then to 5mg the next week just because you are at an even higher dose than I was so your symptoms may be worse than mine if you quit cold turkey... Good luck!

[foxy715]

I have taken Lexapro for several years and I am 27 years old.  I talked with my doctor about a week ago and told her that I wanted to quit taking the medication because I felt that I could control my symptoms.  I asked her what I should do and she said to quit taking the medication cold turkey.  I always thought that you need to ween yourself off of any kind of medication before stopping taking it.  I only take 20mg a day.  So my question is, is it ok to stop cold turkey?  I asked her if I was going to experience any withdrawal symptoms and she said probably but nothing awful.  She said that she has had several patients quit taking the medication cold turkey and they were fine.  I have experienced some headaches and I just feel "weird".  Is there anything other side effects that I could experience in the coming weeks?  Thanks.

Lyndsey

[Tomigirl]

Like most of you it was such a relief to find this forum. After being diagnosed with GAD my senior year of high school my doctor put me on 10 mg of lexapro. After 2 years im ready to get off. my doctor said it should only take a month. what a joke! I

[erpie]

you are all coming off Lexapro too fast.  It takes months to come off of not just weeks.  Try lowering your dose by 5mg. Do this for a month.  If everything goes okay for that month, lower another 5mg. If it doesnt just lower 2.5 mg.  You have to buy a pill splitter at the drug store and start cutting these pills.  Allow one month for each lower dose.  If everything goes okay cutting down 5mg. at a time then you can stick with this decrease.  If you do this you shouldnt have any withdraw symptoms.  Everyone is different in the withdrawal process, but you are all coming off too fast.  Keep lowering the dose until you are only taking l/4 pill for a month.  These drug companies and drs. need something done to them for telling people these antidepressants arent habit forming.  Some of these antidepressants can cause you to go manic and then you are diagnosed as bi-polar and one drugs for life when you actually are not.  I dont trust drs. any more especially psycharists.  Good Luck.