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Any POSITIVE reports for coming off Lexapro???
I Googled "Coming off Lexapro" and came across dozens of health-related websites (similar to this) where I read report after report after report of absolutely HORRIBLE withdrawl symptoms of people coming off Lexapro.
Has anyone come off Lexapro with GOOD results?
One thing in common with most of these is that they would say they would go from, say 10 mg. to 5 mg for just a week and then off of it completely. A week at 5mg. doesn't seem nearly long enough to me.
I am thinking maybe going from my current 10mg to 5 mg for several MONTHS and then maybe 2.5mg (if it goes that low) for several more MONTHS may be a better way to come off Lexapro.
After reading these horror stories, I also think that I should maybe start up again with the psychologist I had visited at the beginning when my general practioner first prescribed Lexapro. At least then I would have a back-up already in place to help me. I would like to try coming off of it in a few months but dread the return of symptoms and ESPECIALLY the withdrawl symptoms mentioned by others - like their "brain restarting or rebooting every 5 minutes" or their "brain being turned into a sponge being squeezed every 10 minutes" or "getting an electric shock to my brain" - YIKES!
Lexapro has helped me a LOT over the last several months and has been symptom-free. But I am past what was causing me to be depressed. (Unless maybe my brain is just naturally lacking in serotonin or something.)
So please - if ANYONE out there has had good results from coming off Lexapro, PLEASE let me know!!! And also let me know what method you followed.
Thanks!
Has anyone come off Lexapro with GOOD results?
One thing in common with most of these is that they would say they would go from, say 10 mg. to 5 mg for just a week and then off of it completely. A week at 5mg. doesn't seem nearly long enough to me.
I am thinking maybe going from my current 10mg to 5 mg for several MONTHS and then maybe 2.5mg (if it goes that low) for several more MONTHS may be a better way to come off Lexapro.
After reading these horror stories, I also think that I should maybe start up again with the psychologist I had visited at the beginning when my general practioner first prescribed Lexapro. At least then I would have a back-up already in place to help me. I would like to try coming off of it in a few months but dread the return of symptoms and ESPECIALLY the withdrawl symptoms mentioned by others - like their "brain restarting or rebooting every 5 minutes" or their "brain being turned into a sponge being squeezed every 10 minutes" or "getting an electric shock to my brain" - YIKES!
Lexapro has helped me a LOT over the last several months and has been symptom-free. But I am past what was causing me to be depressed. (Unless maybe my brain is just naturally lacking in serotonin or something.)
So please - if ANYONE out there has had good results from coming off Lexapro, PLEASE let me know!!! And also let me know what method you followed.
Thanks!
Gradual taper is the best option. Lexapro comes in a liquid formulation so you can custom-make doses. Alternatively, cutting the 10mg tablets into fourths makes 2.5mg doses.
Thanks for the time you put into that post. I appreciate it.
You almost perfectly described me (I took out the part that didn't) --->
"When you suffer from Major depression, YOU WILL KNOW IT. Your head will swirl like a mad tempest, You will feel doom, fear, and dread so intense that it literally feels like your going insane. Now those are the symptoms that these medications are designed for, not for short or moderate bouts of the blues and stress."
This may sound trite, but I went with my family to watch Iron Man. Now I am a BIG aficionado of Sci-Fi and thought "What better way to escape then sense of doom then to immerse myself in my favorite genre of movie."
Well, I WAS transported into that great plot and the characters and all the action... until about half way the thing triggering my depression and anxiety re-entered my thoughts and then all I go do for the rest of the movie was to think about how I was going to support my family and keep paying the bills and will I need to lose my house and move into an apartment (and get rid of my boy's dog) and maybe even declare bankruptcy and on and on and on.
I was so incredibly stressed that I could NOT sleep due to the hurricane of terrible worry in my head. I got a prescription for Ambien and it DID work - for three days. Then the best I could hope for was maybe 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night even WITH Ambien. If I took Benedryl (the ingredient in most over-the-counter non-prescription sleep aids) along with the Ambien, I would be unconscious for maybe 7 or 8 hours - but that wasn't quality sleep. (According to everything I have read, if you don't go into REM or other stages, your state of unconsciousness is pretty useless.)
So yeah - it was a good diagnosis. But I would say that a lot of my recovery from depression and anxiety was due in large part to the great work of my psychologist. If either half of the equation were missing, I don't think I would have come out of my funk.
One big worry about thinking of coming off Lexapro is - will my depression return? I haven't seen my psychologist for a few months now (I haven't needed to). But before attempting to go off Lexapro, I am thinking that perhaps I should get set up (through insurance) for another round of visits. (If I don't need them - fine.)
But, if I CAN come off the Lexapro and still be okay, that would be nice. I am suffering from SEVERE vertigo and feel that the Lexapro, while perhaps not causing that, certainly doesn't help. (I definitely know that lack of sleep and LOTS of coffee has made the vertigo worse.)
I have no complaints about the Lexapro. And I would agree - if I have terrible withdrawl, it still would have been worth all the fantastic months I have had in the meantime. As a matter of fact, Wellbutrin worked even better - but it totally quit working after just two months - so we switched to Lexapro.
I would recommend either of these anti-depressants any day to a person that needed one. Wellbutrin worked well. It even gave me energy and helped me to lose weight. But it also made it even more difficult to sleep at night. Lexapro, on the other hand, has been completely side-effect free. (Though I have since regained the weight I lost under Wellbutrin.) But it didn't give me the "energy boost" Wellbutrin did.
Thanks again Hensley!
You almost perfectly described me (I took out the part that didn't) --->
"When you suffer from Major depression, YOU WILL KNOW IT. Your head will swirl like a mad tempest, You will feel doom, fear, and dread so intense that it literally feels like your going insane. Now those are the symptoms that these medications are designed for, not for short or moderate bouts of the blues and stress."
This may sound trite, but I went with my family to watch Iron Man. Now I am a BIG aficionado of Sci-Fi and thought "What better way to escape then sense of doom then to immerse myself in my favorite genre of movie."
Well, I WAS transported into that great plot and the characters and all the action... until about half way the thing triggering my depression and anxiety re-entered my thoughts and then all I go do for the rest of the movie was to think about how I was going to support my family and keep paying the bills and will I need to lose my house and move into an apartment (and get rid of my boy's dog) and maybe even declare bankruptcy and on and on and on.
I was so incredibly stressed that I could NOT sleep due to the hurricane of terrible worry in my head. I got a prescription for Ambien and it DID work - for three days. Then the best I could hope for was maybe 3 or 4 hours of sleep a night even WITH Ambien. If I took Benedryl (the ingredient in most over-the-counter non-prescription sleep aids) along with the Ambien, I would be unconscious for maybe 7 or 8 hours - but that wasn't quality sleep. (According to everything I have read, if you don't go into REM or other stages, your state of unconsciousness is pretty useless.)
So yeah - it was a good diagnosis. But I would say that a lot of my recovery from depression and anxiety was due in large part to the great work of my psychologist. If either half of the equation were missing, I don't think I would have come out of my funk.
One big worry about thinking of coming off Lexapro is - will my depression return? I haven't seen my psychologist for a few months now (I haven't needed to). But before attempting to go off Lexapro, I am thinking that perhaps I should get set up (through insurance) for another round of visits. (If I don't need them - fine.)
But, if I CAN come off the Lexapro and still be okay, that would be nice. I am suffering from SEVERE vertigo and feel that the Lexapro, while perhaps not causing that, certainly doesn't help. (I definitely know that lack of sleep and LOTS of coffee has made the vertigo worse.)
I have no complaints about the Lexapro. And I would agree - if I have terrible withdrawl, it still would have been worth all the fantastic months I have had in the meantime. As a matter of fact, Wellbutrin worked even better - but it totally quit working after just two months - so we switched to Lexapro.
I would recommend either of these anti-depressants any day to a person that needed one. Wellbutrin worked well. It even gave me energy and helped me to lose weight. But it also made it even more difficult to sleep at night. Lexapro, on the other hand, has been completely side-effect free. (Though I have since regained the weight I lost under Wellbutrin.) But it didn't give me the "energy boost" Wellbutrin did.
Thanks again Hensley!
You want the truth about all those Horror stories you hear about?
EVERY AD medication on the market today will cause withdrawl effect, even with a slow taper. For some this is a mild experience and for many it can be difficult even with a slow taper.
I happen to withdrawl hard from any AD medication. I took Lexapro for 2 years with the Tri-cyclic Nortriptilyne until I became resistant to the 30Mgs a day of Lexapro and swapped it for another SSRI. Yes, I felt sick for a while, but hey I got two good years from it before it pooped out on me. I call that a victroy anyday.
Since you were prescribed a Psycotropic medication such as Lexapro, I will assume that you were properly diagnosed with Moderate to Severe Depressive or Anxiety dissorder (Major Depression)
If you were prescribed Lexapro and were not properly diagnosed, then shame on your doctor. Don't take this stuff unless you have to.
These are powerful Psycotropic medications are are not intended to be taken unless your condition warrents it for proper daily functioning.
Most of the Horror stories you hear about are from people that were prescribed this stuff and didn't really need it in the first place.
When you suffer from Major depression, YOU WILL KNOW IT. Your head will swurl like a mad tempist, You will feel doom, fear, and dread so intense that it literally feels like your going insane. Your body and hands will tremble, and thoughts of your death will actually make you feel warm and good inside. Now those are the symptoms that these medications are designd for, not for short or moderate bouts of the blues and stress.
Example: I took Effexor XR 300Mgs for 4 years and in that time it provided me with near complete remission from my Severe depression and anxiety. When it finnaly started to fail (poop out) and I had to switch meds and I got very sick from it's Withdrawl effects for about a full 8 weeks.
Would I trade that 4 years of remission for 8 weeks of sick nasty withdrawl? Hell yes I will anyday! Hum, let me see.... 4 years of feeling normal verses suffering the constant torment of my crushing depression and anxiety that was destroying my life? You better believe that the 8 weeks of Withdrawl was worth it.
People post the bad, not the good. Please don't take these meds unless it is absolutly nessasary for you. To do so will only result in another negitive post about AD medication withdrawl.
EVERY AD medication on the market today will cause withdrawl effect, even with a slow taper. For some this is a mild experience and for many it can be difficult even with a slow taper.
I happen to withdrawl hard from any AD medication. I took Lexapro for 2 years with the Tri-cyclic Nortriptilyne until I became resistant to the 30Mgs a day of Lexapro and swapped it for another SSRI. Yes, I felt sick for a while, but hey I got two good years from it before it pooped out on me. I call that a victroy anyday.
Since you were prescribed a Psycotropic medication such as Lexapro, I will assume that you were properly diagnosed with Moderate to Severe Depressive or Anxiety dissorder (Major Depression)
If you were prescribed Lexapro and were not properly diagnosed, then shame on your doctor. Don't take this stuff unless you have to.
These are powerful Psycotropic medications are are not intended to be taken unless your condition warrents it for proper daily functioning.
Most of the Horror stories you hear about are from people that were prescribed this stuff and didn't really need it in the first place.
When you suffer from Major depression, YOU WILL KNOW IT. Your head will swurl like a mad tempist, You will feel doom, fear, and dread so intense that it literally feels like your going insane. Your body and hands will tremble, and thoughts of your death will actually make you feel warm and good inside. Now those are the symptoms that these medications are designd for, not for short or moderate bouts of the blues and stress.
Example: I took Effexor XR 300Mgs for 4 years and in that time it provided me with near complete remission from my Severe depression and anxiety. When it finnaly started to fail (poop out) and I had to switch meds and I got very sick from it's Withdrawl effects for about a full 8 weeks.
Would I trade that 4 years of remission for 8 weeks of sick nasty withdrawl? Hell yes I will anyday! Hum, let me see.... 4 years of feeling normal verses suffering the constant torment of my crushing depression and anxiety that was destroying my life? You better believe that the 8 weeks of Withdrawl was worth it.
People post the bad, not the good. Please don't take these meds unless it is absolutly nessasary for you. To do so will only result in another negitive post about AD medication withdrawl.
Yes. Matter of fact, she just stated last night "your putting a little weight on..."
Having read all of these highly negative reports acros dozens of web sites, I replied "statistics from 10,000+ Lexapro users say it is due to the Lexapro, NOT because I sit on the couch in front of the T.V too much!" :)
Having read all of these highly negative reports acros dozens of web sites, I replied "statistics from 10,000+ Lexapro users say it is due to the Lexapro, NOT because I sit on the couch in front of the T.V too much!" :)
"Scientific, quantitative research" you say?
Are you married?
Are you married?
For anyone else -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
Thanks Bob.
My thought, which isn't my own, is that people never seem to report GOOD things. They only want to report BAD things.
It is like being involved with sales. People don't brag how GREAT a store was to them when they, say, needed to return something. But give them a reason to complain and they tell ALL of their friends their "horror story."
Out of HUNDREDS of BAD postings about Lexapro withdrawl (literallly pages and pages of them) I would read only the extremely occasional GOOD story. And none of it is backed up by scientific, quantitive research.
I am glad to hear one more report of non-symptomatic withdrawl.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anecdotal_evidence
Thanks Bob.
My thought, which isn't my own, is that people never seem to report GOOD things. They only want to report BAD things.
It is like being involved with sales. People don't brag how GREAT a store was to them when they, say, needed to return something. But give them a reason to complain and they tell ALL of their friends their "horror story."
Out of HUNDREDS of BAD postings about Lexapro withdrawl (literallly pages and pages of them) I would read only the extremely occasional GOOD story. And none of it is backed up by scientific, quantitive research.
I am glad to hear one more report of non-symptomatic withdrawl.
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