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.

[erpie]

You are all trying to get off Lexapro too fast.  It takes months to get off successfully.  Start by reducing 5 mg. at a time for a month then reduce more.  Do at least a month at each lower dose.  The drug companies dont want us to get off the drug because they lose a customer.  Most drs. dont know how to get off them.  You can also get a book from the library.  It is funny that the drs. hesitate to prescribe narcotics but are fast to prescribe lexapro and anti-depressants are worse to get off of than narcotics.  Good luck to all of you.

[underdosed and ready to fall]

I was on 10mg for six months.  I tapered off slow and didn't suffer any side effects.  No insomnia at all.  I broke the pills in quarters & halves.  My taper schedule:  1st week = 7.5mg, 2nd week = 5mg, 3rd week = 2.5mg, 4th week = 2.5 every other day and then off.  Im also taking 50mg of Trazodone which is probably easing the taper side effects.  Most of the stressors that drove me to Lexapro are now gone, so I doubt I'll have a relapse in the future.

[spinnhead]

well.. just like everyone else I am trying to stop lexapro! This is unreal! Yikes, who knew that a year ago my "miracle drug" would turn into my worst enemy!!! I was on 10mg for about a year and just learned that I am pregnant(about 10wks). So needless to say withdrawals have been extra fun!!! I cut back to half for a week, then everyother day and now its been about 5 days completely off.. and it is like i never slowly came off!!! I am sure some of these feelings are from being newly pregnant, but there is NO WAY all of this is!!!  The worst for me is the vertigo type feelings.. head rush.. spins for no reason!!! Its like in a split second my eyes play tricks on me they swoop sideways/up & down! its like they are trying to catch up with my head or something! I have been a bear to deal with when I am not being a zombie..Or an emotional mess.. I also had the numbing in my leg, hands and lips for brief second..just like the head spins these feeling only last for a second and go away.. they are just strangest feelings!! I have read tons of these comments, I was just wondering if anyone else has been/or is pregnant trying to do this?? If so what their experience is/was and how long until i feel like me again???  I keep hoping each morning I wake up that these feelings will be gone for good! I would like to not be worried about lexapro withdrawals and be excited about this great thing that is happening to my body!!!

[Mito]

For those who may be starting Lexapro, I did not have a negative experience with it.  I started with 10mgs. and move up to 30 in about 4 months.   It really helped to calm the anxiety and tame the depression.  

But after three  years of it and lots of therapy, I think I have developed some coping skills for the anxiety, etc. that comes with life.  

I do think that it has contributed to weigh gain and drowsiness..   I do want try to live without, but I wouldn't be afraid of it.

I never had the nausea, headaches, but I started with low dosage.  I would recommend lowering the dosage.   Also, I found that it took about 6 weeks to have an effect.  

Peace be with you.

[rykiramom]

help! i have anxiety disorder and panic. I have been increasing slowly my lexapro to 20 mgs. I got to 20 about 2 weeks ago and after a few days started getting a "pinching" on the left side of my head. I was told to go down to 15 mgs one day and 20 the next..back and forth. That only led to regular headaches and a few days of that i started to get dizzy. Mostly vertigo but sometimes i get a bad spell of dizziness and i feel like i jumped up a foot off the ground for a split second and then back down. I am really scared. I feel like i either have a brain tumor or something... can anyone tell me if it sounds like it may be withdrawl??

[texasguy]

HI iam new here and yesterday was given a lexapro starter kit by my doctor(10mg)well i took that morning for the first time and i had the worse case of nausea,gaging,very lazy.Although i have to say i didint get any major anxiety (deep breathing,heart racing)etc.i have been doing stress teqhniques such as breathing and exercise prior and taking ativan only when i have a episode and cant sleep.after this BAD experience with lexapro iam scared to take again, i dont want those feelings i had yesterday and i dont want to get to deep into taking where i get some majoe problems that iam redaing ...any suggestions