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.

[nickname in use]

Holy Cow! Tough finding a nickname for this board. I thought I was going nuts (or having a heart attack or a stroke of some sort) prior to reading all the comments about lexapro withdrawal.

I've been taking this drug for 3 years. Started at 20mg daily. Over the course of the 3 years, under the advisement of my shrink, I increased to 60mg daily. This was the last dosage I took before stopping the medication completely. This was about 2 weeks ago.

I have just now started experiencing dizziness, nausea, tingling in extremeties, headaches, cotton-mouth . . .

Also extreme irritability bordering on full out rage, freaking-out a great deal of co-workers (some of which deserved it).
Unfortunately, my rage has not been limited to the work environment.

I read someone's comment about taking a small dose every few days to calm the physical withdrawal symptoms. Can't remember whose comment that was but thank you.

I think it's gonna be a ***** cutting those 20mg tablets in quarters. Maybe it's worth it.

[chicagodude]

hi. I started taking Lexapro in January 2004 after some severe feelings (physical) of not being well (having problems with caffiene and) and depression / anxiety.   I started off at 10mg, then when that became less effective I went to 20mg in Feb or March 2004.

Ive tried to quit several times, too fast, and got nasty withdrawl effects: dizzyness, lightheadedness, 'brain shocks', depressive-crash with uncontrolable crying, and feeling horrible in general.  

Now I've been trying to quit Lexapro more slowly.  my GP doctor said take 10mg for 2 weeks. then stop.   I did that for about 3-4 weeks.  then tapered down to 5mg for another few weeks.  then last week i stopped lexapro altogether after being on 5mg. I've been getting the withdrawal effects since Monday, although not as severe as when I came off Lexapro alot faster.   im getting the brain shocks, not as badly as before. ive been feeling tired and lathargic the last few days.  the withdrawal effects i am feeling are just at the point where i can tolerate them.  but I am VERY much hopping they will go away soon.  What can be expected - days or weeks, as far as these withdrawal effects lasting?   maybe i should have stepped down to 2.5mg but i couldn't break the tablets in half beyond 5mg by hand.  maybe i can cut/break them with something.

sorry this is a poorly typed reply, i dont have the energy to proof-read right now. I know you guys will understand.

[chicagodude]

hi. I started taking Lexapro in January 2004 after some severe feelings (physical) of not being well (having problems with caffiene and) and depression / anxiety.   I started off at 10mg, then when that became less effective I went to 20mg in Feb or March 2004.

Ive tried to quit several times, too fast, and got nasty withdrawl effects: dizzyness, lightheadedness, 'brain shocks', depressive-crash with uncontrolable crying, and feeling horrible in general.  

Now I've been trying to quit Lexapro more slowly.  my GP doctor said take 10mg for 2 weeks. then stop.   I did that for about 3-4 weeks.  then tapered down to 5mg for another few weeks.  then last week i stopped lexapro altogether after being on 5mg. I've been getting the withdrawal effects since Monday, although not as severe as when I came off Lexapro alot faster.   im getting the brain shocks, not as badly as before. ive been feeling tired and lathargic the last few days.  the withdrawal effects i am feeling are just at the point where i can tolerate them.  but I am VERY much hopping they will go away soon.  What can be expected - days or weeks, as far as these withdrawal effects lasting?   maybe i should have stepped down to 2.5mg but i couldn't break the tablets in half beyond 5mg by hand.  maybe i can cut/break them with something.

sorry this is a poorly typed reply, i dont have the energy to proof-read right now. I know you guys will understand.

[chicagodude]

hi. I started taking Lexapro in January 2004 after some severe feelings (physical) of not being well (having problems with caffiene and) and depression / anxiety.   I started off at 10mg, then when that became less effective I went to 20mg in Feb or March 2004.

Ive tried to quit several times, too fast, and got nasty withdrawl effects: dizzyness, lightheadedness, 'brain shocks', depressive-crash with uncontrolable crying, and feeling horrible in general.  

Now I've been trying to quit Lexapro more slowly.  my GP doctor said take 10mg for 2 weeks. then stop.   I did that for about 3-4 weeks.  then tapered down to 5mg for another few weeks.  then last week i stopped lexapro altogether after being on 5mg. I've been getting the withdrawal effects since Monday, although not as severe as when I came off Lexapro alot faster.   im getting the brain shocks, not as badly as before. ive been feeling tired and lathargic the last few days.  the withdrawal effects i am feeling are just at the point where i can tolerate them.  but I am VERY much hopping they will go away soon.  What can be expected - days or weeks, as far as these withdrawal effects lasting?   maybe i should have stepped down to 2.5mg but i couldn't break the tablets in half beyond 5mg by hand.  maybe i can cut/break them with something.

sorry this is a poorly typed reply, i dont have the energy to proof-read right now. I know you guys will understand.

[rykiramom]

i was on 20 mgs for 10 days or so...and started getting a pinching in my head...now i am at 15 mgs and feel horrible- terrible headaches and vertigo...i think its a brain tumor.

[elisecy]

I'd like to say that this "head ringing" and "noises when I move my eyes" is NOT psychosomatic. That's one of several withdrawal symptoms I experience if I am off of Lexapro for a few days. I will say that taking Advil or Tylenol, like you would for any headache, does relieve this to some extent. Something everyone must be able to do is distinguish between withdrawal symptoms and symptoms caused by the whole reason you're taking the drug in the first place, whether it be depression or anxiety. If you stop taking the drug and you feel depressed, then obviously you still need it. If you have non-depression/anxiety related symptoms, THAT is withdrawal. The amount of medicine you are taking very directly affects how you should define gradual weaning. If you take 40 milligrams, expect to have to be breaking pills for several months to do it right. Otherwise, a month may do it. Above all else, don't let all hell break loose in how you feel before you talk to your doctor. I assume if they prescribed it to you in the first place that they can either advise you to stay on it or help you stop taking it gradually.