Success in stopping SSRI?

[shipy]

I was on Prozac for 7 years and was switched to Lexapro by my doc about 2 months ago for IBS and depression.  I stopped taking it almost 3 weeks ago and am having some withdrawl issues...brain zaps (although a little better today), dizzy feelings, etc...

Has anyone successfully gone through this?  How long till withdrawl issues improved?

I really, really want to stop SSRIs, while they were helpful for many years they are making me too complacent and holding me back in some important areas, namely exercise and life outside of work.

Everyday I am tempted to go back to my prozac to stop this feelings.  I know my doc said I could stop the Prozac with out a tapper.  I don't want to even try the Lexapro again, I gained 7 pounds in 3 weeks while on and digestion problems.

I'm just looking for a little encouragement.  I am anxious to pick up exercise and fun activities again.  While I my meds, especially Lexapro I had no motivation of energy to do much in the way of recreation or exercise.

[BearHitch]

I was on Lexapro and I always felt numb - like I didn't feel at all.  It was awful- I also gained weight.  I stopped it cold turkey which was bad- it should've been gradually reduced but I didn't want to do that.  I had terrible headaches and dizzy spells and almost fainted one time... I think after about 1 1/2 - 2 months those things finally went away.  I am on Prozac now and have not experienced the numbness or weight gain (it actually can help with weight loss), so maybe you should like you said, go back on that.  Good luck!

[synphony]

Up until 5 days ago, I was taking lexapro for anxiety.  I experienced the same symptoms that you express.  Lack of motivation, unprecedented weight gain!, which actually made me more depressed, because I couldn't motivate myself to exercise or diet.  I felt sleepy and worn out almost all the time... and the list goes on.  About 2 months ago I decided that I absolutely had to stop the madness!! (Pretty ironic huh?)  When it comes to quitting, I feel very strongly that you should work with a Psychiatrist if at all possible.  I has to find someone different than the Dr. that prescribed the Lexapro in the first place, because she insisted that I just needed to diet and exercise and I would feel much better.  Obviously, she never took this stuff herself. Anyway I found an addiction counselor (Psch.) to help me.  I was taking 10mg every day, so the first step was taknig 5mg every other day.  For about 2 weeks. Then 5mg everyday. Another 2 weeks. Then 5 every other day for 2 weeks. I've been off entirely for about 10 days and it has been a really difficult experience. dizzy, hot, nausea, mushy brain, the whole works; and that's after such a slow process. Still I am feeling better everyday, and have started feeling alive again.  (Be prepared for possible emotional roller coaster, too)

All this is to say, there is hope, and it can be done.  I read a lot about others in the same situation and it was really helpful.

Maybe I've gone on too long, but seeing as I going through this right now, I hope this will be helpful

[Hensley258]

So the medication actually gave you symptoms of depression such as Lack of motivation, and low energy?

I don't blame you for wanting to get off them. The symptoms you just described are what these medications are supposed to combat.

I feel exactly the way you described if I don't take my medication.

You should inform you doctor that these meds are actually making your depressin worse.