How can I ease the lexapro withdrawal symptom of severe insomnia

[JaySuper666]

Today will mark the 7th day that  I have been completely off Lexapro.   Under a doctor's care, I was gradually tapering down from 15mg to 5mg.    The principle reason why I went off of it is that college is imminent, and I felt that the med was causing some cognitive problems/slow thinking.    Although it could've reduced the anxiety a little bit, the mental processing issue was getting in the way of functioning and performing daily tasks.  Anyway, as I have been off of this medicine for exactly a week, I believe that I am experiencing the withdrawal symptoms (ones that are mentioned by other patients in the same situation).   While the lexapro is finally getting out of my system, I do feel that my thinking and memory have slightly improved since taking it , but the insomnia has become apparent instead.    I have lost a complete night sleep last night and haven't gotten sleep since.   I do sometimes experience intermittent insomnia, but not at a level which would totally wipe away the slumber.  In addition, there are also some heat spells at times and headache, but these are tolerable effects.  To prevent this same nuisance from occuring against tonight, I am searching for some type of temporary sleep aid or pill that would just relax me and put me to sleep just to get the sleep cycle balanced again.   I am not crazy about using prescription sleep medicines, but I am thinking that it might be inevitable in this case.   What would you recommend to ease the withdrawal effects of lexapro (in particular, for my case insomnia

[spikerusty]

what about 2/1/2 mg's if you could and consider prolonging the withdrawal periods? When I've come over and cross-tapered meds if been for 6 weeks or so. Also what about omega 3  & 6's (I think) fish oils. Have heard this help the withdrawals particularly the dreaded "Zaps"

[Paxiled]

Just to let you know if you're new here, this post is 10 years old.  I hope the poster is better by now.  As for the fish oil, that's a couple of types of Omega 3 oils, including one that is associated with brain function.  The Omega 6 oils are usually the ones we use too much of and aren't in fish oil.  Diving into the archives here can be very informative, but if you have info you really want to share with folks making a new post will get a better response usually.  Welcome to the forum.

[spikerusty]

Thanks for the heads up. I'm returning here after a few years away for my own answers as much as anything. Don't know why this post came up as fairly recent as saw that it was fairly old. Have to get some Cod Liver Oil tablets with max Omega's as used all mine.

[Paxiled]

Actually, Cod liver oil should not be taken regularly.  It is used for things like dry eyes, but it can have too high of levels of some things such as Vitamin A for regular use.  It's better if you're using fish oil for the Omega 3 oils to use fish oil, not liver oil.  Nordic Naturals is a reliable brand noted for not using fish from contaminated waters.

[baby1107]

in one word. restoril, generic temazapam. cheap, effective and doesnt leave you feeling groggy in am. you feel so rested. you cant wait for your feet to hit the floor. everyone is differrent, but it is an old established drug that is effective and not highly addictive. unfortunately,(only GOD AND THE DOC KNOWS WHY) my doc wants ne on ambein and halcion. please dont go that route. it has been proven that after taking one and still not sleepy,you can actually have blackouts up yo 8 hrs, during which i was driving and had a wreck.the first i remember is stumbling in the house like a drunk. i got to the bed and passed out until4 hrs later and had no memory of it at all.o ne other time i woke up in the woods asleep on the cold groung outside,with a blanket. no memory whatsoever i went through this for many months before i saw an episode were ambien patients are getting together and sueing the company. but it is not just ambien. same thing with halcion. my family has told me so many things i did while taking these drugs but instead of helping me sleep, it was putting me in severe danger. i think the newer drugs are released to quickly without concern for the patient but for the almighty dollar. thats why doctors prescribe it so much, they get kickbacks from phamacutical companies for prescribing these things.
\what i told you, count on.i learned from experiences which turn out to be very costly.also if restoril is a problem for you, as the other ones have mentioned, xanax is very good at relaxing you so you can sleep. im so glad i saw yoiu question . these things doctors dont tell you.it is rediculus. VERY FEW people know this. you could propably obtainthe episode of montel if u wanted to go thet route.i hope i have saved you some mental pain. it could also be financial pain , i wrecked my new car and could remember doing it or were the vehicle had been wrecked. unreal what some docters will prescribe. i bet that wouldnt if it happened to their daughter. i could easily and should have died in the wreck. it was totalled. unfreaking real.

[Karl1000]

It happened to me too getting on it and off it too. It lasted about 6 months. I took Ambien sometimes and Xanax sometimes on other days. I also took nothing on some days and just tossed and turned all night. It will pass but I know its no picnic.

[shipy]

I too am experincing sleep problems since I quite taking Lexapro.  I am now around day 20 and still having them as well as 'brain zaps', and other annoying problems.

I have not tried sleep meds yet, however I am considering an over the counter one.

Have you had any other problems besides your insomnia?

Please share any information you feel comfortable with.  I am trying to stay off the SSRIs, but am la

[Hensley258]

Not uncomon at all for your sleep cycles to get screwed up during the discontinuation of Lexapro or any SSRI for that matter.

I just spent the last two weeks tapering off Lexapro myself because I had to replace it with another SSRI. (Lexapro stopped working for me)

My P-doc was kind enough to give me 30 tablets of Xanax to allow me to sleep at night.
You take just one 1MG tablet an hour before bed and I guarentee that you will sleep like a baby the whole night. By morning the Xanax seditive effect is gone and your set to wake up and take on the day.

I don't like sleeping pills like Ambian or other over the counter sleep aids because they make my jittery.

The Xanax is actually just an antianxiety medication (benzodiazaphine) and not really a sleeping pill, but man does it work wonders to allow you to sleep. It's a really nice relaxing deep sleep too. Just don't take it during the day.

(P.S) if you do take a Xanax to help you sleep..... Keep it to 1Mg only. I made the mistake of taking 2Mgs one time and it was too much. Also: A very safe drug, BUT use sparingly and with caution because it can be habbit forming if you have an addictive type personality.

[Holyquest]

I want to thank you for this post from the bottom of my heart. Only sane advice I've seen on everything on the internet about this. I sometimes take Xanax to sleep - 30 tablets last me a year so not often - but I never taken more than .5. Last night after being completely off Lexapro for six days with no sleep I took a whole one. Slept 10 hours. Feel like myself again. Can't thank you enough.

[Ortsa]

How long does the insomnia last as a withdrawal of lexapro?

[Paxiled]

This is a very old post, you might find more help if you make a new one.  But insomnia as a withdrawal symptom is one to be wary of.  It can last a long time for some people.  Did you stop your medication abruptly, or did you taper off as slowly as you needed to?  How long has it been since you stopped the drug?  Because if you haven't been able to sleep for a long while after stopping a med, the best thing might be to go back on it and taper off of it more slowly.  Just depends on how bad and how long the symptom has been there.