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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!
Crazy but after 3 months of 20mg lexapro I decided to go of it cold turkey. No problems but was more energy and fast temper, but I work in construction so it’s to my advantage. The drugs were good at getting me through new work and loosing my dear cat. I’ve always had depression and anxiety but I learnt in the past to use it to my advantage and be creative. Buuut this was a very tough time and the drugs did what they did on the label. No way I’d want to stay on them for a long period because I can feel they are changing things in the brain that probably should be left alone.
I have tapered off Lexapro .. carefully and LONG...off it now for about 2 weeks .. i'm a mess .. crying, hating myself, etc., what i want to know is, if i keep staying off of it, will i ever be okay again?
1 Comments
I'd like to tell you somebody knows the answer, but nobody does know the answer. People react very differently not only from one another but also to different meds. My advice is, if this lasts another week you might go back to your psychiatrist and go back on it and try even more slowly. You say it took a long time, but you don't say how long. The other choice is to wait it out and hope it goes away. There is a condition called PAWS that a few people get where withdrawal lasts an indefinite amount of time. But for you it's only been 2 weeks, and that's not a long time even though it seems like it is. Because this happened to me and my psychiatrist caused it by being a moron, I had to research this on my own, and there are websites devoted to all manner of withdrawal problems. But again, if it lasts for awhile, I wouldn't let it fester and hope it goes away -- I'd be proactive and go back on Lexapro -- I know it's the last thing you want to do and by now you're probably angry at your doctor and angry at the drug but because it sounds like you might be having emotional problems you didn't have before you went on the drug in the first place, you don't want that to go on for very long. One thing some seem to have found helpful is a healthy daily dose of fish oil -- seems to help some. Exercise helps some. Staying on a regular routine helps. Hopefully, this passes within a relatively short period of time, but if it doesn't, I'd try to do it more slowly and see if it works for you. Good luck.
I know this is an old question, but it's one of the questions I found when Googling how to get off Lexapro myself about a month ago.
I was on 10mg Lexapro for about two years and decided on my own to taper off on my own due to many of the same factors others have stated. I also didn't think my doctor knew what she was talking about when, after one time accidentally missing my dose, I had strange dizziness (which I later learned many people refer to as brain zaps) and reported this odd side effect to her. Her response? "That's impossible. You can't possibly feel side effects like that after missing only one dose. And there aren't any side effects associated with stopping Lexapro." --MAJOR red flag, right there.
Yes, there are a few cases where someone is lucky enough to have NO SIDE EFFECTS, but I knew my body and I knew what I was feeling was strange and new and I had never felt it before prior to starting Lexapro. Side effects are VERY common and that's one of the most important reasons to taper off SLOWLY.
I didn't want to continue relying on a medication that was capable of doing so much harm to me in the event I missed even a single dose. I also felt that my anxiety had come under control in the two years I'd been on the drug because the major sources (previous job and an unhealthy relationship) had been removed from my life.
I weaned down from 10 mg by halving my dose every 10 days until I was able to stop taking it altogether. During this time, I took fish oil, vitamin B complex and magnesium supplements which helped tremendously.
I quit on April 23rd and went through several very uncomfortable weeks of brain zaps, fatigue (SO MUCH FATIGUE!), general dizziness, lack of appetite, etc. I pushed through and a little over a month later, my body has finally reached a state of normalcy. I get the (very) occasional brain zap -- maybe one in a 72 hour span -- still but it's nothing like the one every minute rate I'd been having when I first stopped.
I feel so much better now, both emotionally and physically and have no regrets about getting off this drug.
tl;dr: YES. I have had a positive outcome after coming off of Lexapro. Hopefully, this can help anyone else who stumbles upon this post and needs reassurance.
I was on 10mg Lexapro for about two years and decided on my own to taper off on my own due to many of the same factors others have stated. I also didn't think my doctor knew what she was talking about when, after one time accidentally missing my dose, I had strange dizziness (which I later learned many people refer to as brain zaps) and reported this odd side effect to her. Her response? "That's impossible. You can't possibly feel side effects like that after missing only one dose. And there aren't any side effects associated with stopping Lexapro." --MAJOR red flag, right there.
Yes, there are a few cases where someone is lucky enough to have NO SIDE EFFECTS, but I knew my body and I knew what I was feeling was strange and new and I had never felt it before prior to starting Lexapro. Side effects are VERY common and that's one of the most important reasons to taper off SLOWLY.
I didn't want to continue relying on a medication that was capable of doing so much harm to me in the event I missed even a single dose. I also felt that my anxiety had come under control in the two years I'd been on the drug because the major sources (previous job and an unhealthy relationship) had been removed from my life.
I weaned down from 10 mg by halving my dose every 10 days until I was able to stop taking it altogether. During this time, I took fish oil, vitamin B complex and magnesium supplements which helped tremendously.
I quit on April 23rd and went through several very uncomfortable weeks of brain zaps, fatigue (SO MUCH FATIGUE!), general dizziness, lack of appetite, etc. I pushed through and a little over a month later, my body has finally reached a state of normalcy. I get the (very) occasional brain zap -- maybe one in a 72 hour span -- still but it's nothing like the one every minute rate I'd been having when I first stopped.
I feel so much better now, both emotionally and physically and have no regrets about getting off this drug.
tl;dr: YES. I have had a positive outcome after coming off of Lexapro. Hopefully, this can help anyone else who stumbles upon this post and needs reassurance.
2 Comments
Hello!
Are you still doing fine after the withdrawal. I’ve been on lexapro for 2 months and I hate this zombie feeling.
Are you still doing fine after the withdrawal. I’ve been on lexapro for 2 months and I hate this zombie feeling.
It really doesn't matter to you because your response will be different than that of someone else. If you're thinking of stopping the Lexapro, the important thing is to do it with a psychiatrist who shows a genuine understanding that you aren't anyone else, your experience will be yours, and the slow taper off should be timed only as suits you, not one that suited someone else. The best withdrawal treatment is how you go off the med and how your particular brain responds to not having the med in your system anymore. Because it's only been 2 months, this should be pretty easy if quitting is what you want to do, but again, we're all different. Being well prepared is the best medicine.
I weened myself off 10 mg lexapro over a course of 3 months. Have been feeling ok with the exception of weight gain after lexapro. No changes to diet or eating habits but gained 20 pounds ? Has this happened to anyone else ?
After the passing of my husband I went on 10mg if Lexapro. After 6 years I decided to wean myself off it. I purchaed a good pill cuter and cut the pills in half, making each dose 5mg. I took this for 2 months. Then the 3rd month I started skipping a day. So took 5mg every other day. Did this for 2 months. 3rd month stated taking 5mg every 2 days. Did this for 2 months. 3rd month states taking 5mg once per week. Did this for 2 months. I am now totally off of the drug! NO side affects that I noticed! Except now I do have emotions, whereas I didn't before. I was like a zombie on Lexapro! I was present when my mother died a few years ago and I couldn't even cry! That's when I knew I had to get off of this drug! Mine is a success story!
Ok, 30 May, 2016 and I've been completely off Lexapro for 2 weeks!! I felt slightly dizzy occasionally for a few days afterwards but had none of the 'brain zaps' or headaches that people have mentioned. I'd describe it as being more like having slightly low blood pressure. I did, for a few days, have insomnia. I took a strong B-complex vitamin each day and really ramped up the exercise. Probably about 45-60 mins cardio split into two sessions. Since going off, I've slept FAR better and find I need WAY LESS sleep than I did when on Lexapro. I have been going to bed earlier and waking up at 6-6.30am.
So to sum up, I went off Lexapro from 20 mg, to 10, to 5mg, to nothing, in 2 weeks. Then had withdrawal side-effects from no Lexapro for about 10 days. I feel completely normal now and better than ever. Perhaps slightly emotional here and there but not, in any way, depressed. I have more energy, the weight is coming off slowly (I put on about 4 kilograms in 5 months). The Lexapro worked very well for me for about two months but the side-effects outweigh the benefits in my opinion. I suffer from anxiety mainly, not depression, but I find a good sleep, vitamin B, probiotics and other supplements, lots of exercise, regular meditation twice-daily and positive visualisation using binaural beats and headphones on my iphone, work better. Plus I feel in much better physical shape. All the best for everyone else and I hope my input has been helpful.
So to sum up, I went off Lexapro from 20 mg, to 10, to 5mg, to nothing, in 2 weeks. Then had withdrawal side-effects from no Lexapro for about 10 days. I feel completely normal now and better than ever. Perhaps slightly emotional here and there but not, in any way, depressed. I have more energy, the weight is coming off slowly (I put on about 4 kilograms in 5 months). The Lexapro worked very well for me for about two months but the side-effects outweigh the benefits in my opinion. I suffer from anxiety mainly, not depression, but I find a good sleep, vitamin B, probiotics and other supplements, lots of exercise, regular meditation twice-daily and positive visualisation using binaural beats and headphones on my iphone, work better. Plus I feel in much better physical shape. All the best for everyone else and I hope my input has been helpful.
2 Comments
This is great to hear thanks I am weaning off Lex 10g to 7.5g and after two months to 5 g and then off. Gradual has been recommended by my doctor. I have been on for two years for anxiety. It has given me a chance to learn meditation and to review best supports. Your post give me great encouragement. I will up my exercise and take Vitamin B cheers and good luck
I've been taking just 5mg for 4 months now. Was a dummy and just quit cold turkey, by day 4 I was having anxiety attacks and not sleeping. It is crazy what such a small dose can do for you. I've started it back & I became pretty discouraged that I wont be able to come off of this but your post has given me hope! I used to use a mindfulness app prior to going on lexapro and had used the binaural headphones with my therapist so maybe I should look in to those again!
Hi, I have been on Lexapro 20mg for 5 months. During that time, I put on almost 5kg and was more often than not, very lethargic. I could sleep 10-12 hours a day if I got the chance. I decided to go off it and I'm at the end of week 1. I went straight from 20-10mg and haven't noticed anything different in particular. I simultaneously caught a cold a few days ago and am recovering from it. I'll post back here in another week because I'm going to halve the dose again in a couple of days.
Hmm, not really. We all know about drug and other companies' vested interests. I would submit the greatest degree of manipulation comes from the supposed 'formal data'.
I would like to add that everyone person is different in personality and in body, mind and spirit. So different things work for different people. I think if you feel you no longer need the medicine that your body will heal it's self and that you are correct about it. No one is inside your body or mind to be able to tell you weather or not you need to continue use of it. My thought is Your mind is the most powerful form of medicine and if you believe you can heal your self you can. You should try watching the documentary "The Secret" and open the realms of your mind. Just like a cut or wound your mind is also capable of healing. Doc.'s, I believe, are there to suggest an opinion for you. Ultimately you are the one who makes a choice to take his/her advice. Just like a good friend. Good day to you and good luck. May your life be blessed with happiness and peace.
I went off Lexapro about six weeks ago after going from taken ten mg. for about eight months then down to five mg for about six weeks then off for six weeks.
Everything seemed great. But about a week ago I began having symtoms of depression again. I had to go on from a very bad hospital experience. I thought I was ready to not take it anymore. My Dr. said it might just be too early to get off. I will be taking five mg. again for three months then see if I can try to get off again.
I had absolutley no side effects from cutting down then stopping Lexapro. It is just that the depression returned
Everything seemed great. But about a week ago I began having symtoms of depression again. I had to go on from a very bad hospital experience. I thought I was ready to not take it anymore. My Dr. said it might just be too early to get off. I will be taking five mg. again for three months then see if I can try to get off again.
I had absolutley no side effects from cutting down then stopping Lexapro. It is just that the depression returned
I have been off lexapro for 4 weeks with zero negative side effects?? I actually feel 100% happier, is this normal I'm so confused.
I was on it for nearly three years, started on 10mg then upped to 20mg, 30mg for 3 months then back down to 20mg for about a year and a half. Then I just stopped taking the stuff because I eventually want to have children and I don't want to be stuck on them my whole life. How can I feel happier off an antidepressant?
I was prescribed for Anxiety not depression.
I was on it for nearly three years, started on 10mg then upped to 20mg, 30mg for 3 months then back down to 20mg for about a year and a half. Then I just stopped taking the stuff because I eventually want to have children and I don't want to be stuck on them my whole life. How can I feel happier off an antidepressant?
I was prescribed for Anxiety not depression.
I recently tapered off my lexapro from 25 mg to 20. I had tried this before ( doing the extra 5 every other day) but had immediately found relapse of depression, also the jolts of electricity through different parts of my body and sometimes my head.
Odd reading about the vertigo though... i had an extremely bad bout of this recently. I haven't had it checked out yet but presume i do have some sort of inner ear issue going on. for me I woke up and the room was spinning very quickly and i could not control it. every time i opened my eyes things moved quickly in front of me.
it lasted for maybe twenty minutes as I continued to open my eyes for as long as could stand it and the movement eventually slowed to a point that i ust felt a bit dizzy... for the next few days.
It didn't occur to me till now that it might possibly have been related to my dropping that 5 mg of lexapro a few days before cold turkey this time for about a week.
the other symptoms i had: mild depression, itching over my body, electric type jolts, some body pain, perhaps nausea( related to the vertigo)
The other thing is that my pharmacy had run out of my ADHD medicine (vyvanse) so i was also off that for a week when this happened. I am on a fairly high dosage of it 30 mg and i think it may have been a large contributing factor as I felt much better once i got it back in my system. I had a huge sinus infection which i thought also was contributing ( likely it was ) but the sinus medicine didn't help as much as getting the vyvanse back. in fact the sinus (tylenol severe decongestant one day and sudafed SE on the others.) did absolutely nothing for the headache or the vertigo, but when i took the vyvance it went away.
for what its worth, just some more data. Lots of variables, so i dont know how helpful, maybe these drugs interact with each other some.
any way, i feel for all the folks who deal with vertigo. mine comes and goes and hasnt been as bad as that one time ( about a week ago) but still following yp with ENT soon.
GOod luck everyone.
thanks for swapping data.
Odd reading about the vertigo though... i had an extremely bad bout of this recently. I haven't had it checked out yet but presume i do have some sort of inner ear issue going on. for me I woke up and the room was spinning very quickly and i could not control it. every time i opened my eyes things moved quickly in front of me.
it lasted for maybe twenty minutes as I continued to open my eyes for as long as could stand it and the movement eventually slowed to a point that i ust felt a bit dizzy... for the next few days.
It didn't occur to me till now that it might possibly have been related to my dropping that 5 mg of lexapro a few days before cold turkey this time for about a week.
the other symptoms i had: mild depression, itching over my body, electric type jolts, some body pain, perhaps nausea( related to the vertigo)
The other thing is that my pharmacy had run out of my ADHD medicine (vyvanse) so i was also off that for a week when this happened. I am on a fairly high dosage of it 30 mg and i think it may have been a large contributing factor as I felt much better once i got it back in my system. I had a huge sinus infection which i thought also was contributing ( likely it was ) but the sinus medicine didn't help as much as getting the vyvanse back. in fact the sinus (tylenol severe decongestant one day and sudafed SE on the others.) did absolutely nothing for the headache or the vertigo, but when i took the vyvance it went away.
for what its worth, just some more data. Lots of variables, so i dont know how helpful, maybe these drugs interact with each other some.
any way, i feel for all the folks who deal with vertigo. mine comes and goes and hasnt been as bad as that one time ( about a week ago) but still following yp with ENT soon.
GOod luck everyone.
thanks for swapping data.
I am currently weaning myself off of Lexapro and my strategy this time is to go VERY slowly. I have been weaning myself down over the last several months and plan to come off very slowly over a span of about 6 months. I was taking 20mg. I stayed at 10mg for like a month and a half until I felt my body had stabilized. Now I have gone down to 5mg. Feeling a bit more moody, but nothing too bad. I will stay on 5 mg for like 2 months and then wean to an even lower dose like you are planning to do for several more months before attempting to come off. I have come off of other meds in the past and it didn't go well. That is why I am going slowly now. So far, so good. I plan to stay at this dose until I feel stabilized again (however long that takes) before weaning further. Good luck to you!
I just recently got off Lexapro after being on it for almost 10 yrs. I was thrown on SSRIs at 15 and never been able to get off them due to the withdrawal symptoms. I am happy to say that now, at age 24, I am off all SSRIs and are no longer experiencing withdrawal symptoms. It's not an easy thing though. I went from 30 mg to none within 4 months. The hardest change was from 20 mg to 10mg when I started having obsessive thoughts and panic. I made it through, leveled out, and then dropped it again. 10mg to 5 mg wasn't as bad but I definitely was very moody and a bit short fussed. I used my benzos to help with any night panic that ensued. Once I got off my drug officially, the first couple days were rather hellish in the way that I was extremely unhappy and angry. It was like a big grey cloud was over my head I hated everything. There were brain zaps too which are never fun. Any who, I trudged on... did things like exercise a lot, take lots of vitamins and fish oil, and eventually the symptoms subsided. It was the 4th day after or so that I woke up actually happy again and feeling good. It's been 3 weeks now and my brain zaps are gone and my emotions are normal. I am more sensitive of course... I'll cry a lot easier over things and might get irritated more but that also has to do with no longer being on something that reuptakes my serotonin. I'm sure I will take an SSRI again (with having a husband in the military and deploying often) but at least now I know that I am not trapped and can come off them in between difficult phases of life. I had so many doctors tell me to never go off the drug - that I wasn't "fixed" and that it will likely be for life. I knew that wasn't the case though and I'm very happy to be on this nice break from the drugs. If I could do it after being on them for so long, you can too! And you WILL feel better. Just remember that your brain has to adjust and get used to not having that drug in it anymore. It takes time but it will figure it out :)
Hi! have been on lexapro 10mg for two years and coming off - or, at least trying to.
I have experienced exactly the same symptoms as you - my personality has changed drastically, but while on drugs. I have become aggressive, always arguing, I got more enemies than frends now... I couldn't concentrate and my memory has become really really bad. that is why I decided to quit.
I hope it all goes back to normal after I get off the meds completely, before I scare away more people.... ;)
Already feeling better and more down-to-earth after taking just 0,25mg less. In any case I think it is much better to get off the ADs than to continue this way. Hope we can all make it work.
I have experienced exactly the same symptoms as you - my personality has changed drastically, but while on drugs. I have become aggressive, always arguing, I got more enemies than frends now... I couldn't concentrate and my memory has become really really bad. that is why I decided to quit.
I hope it all goes back to normal after I get off the meds completely, before I scare away more people.... ;)
Already feeling better and more down-to-earth after taking just 0,25mg less. In any case I think it is much better to get off the ADs than to continue this way. Hope we can all make it work.
Hi I have been on lexapro 10mg for a year and a half for my depression, In the last 6 months I have been trying to get off the pil, I find my depression is so much worse now then it ever was. I feel as though my personality has changed being since trying to come off the drug, I am moody and always angry and getting anoyed at people when my whole life I have been very shy and did not ever get anoyed at anyone. I also feel fuzzy in the head and cannot concerntrate. Has anyone else experienced these symptons? and does anyone know if it will get any better?
Also i am a 22year old girl
Also i am a 22year old girl
Your welcome.
I have a feeling that everything is going to work out on your behalf and that you are going to be okay. &: )
I pray you have a wonderful day!
I have a feeling that everything is going to work out on your behalf and that you are going to be okay. &: )
I pray you have a wonderful day!
Thanks for the brilliant advice Bob. I can't believe I didn't think of that! It is so simple now that you mention it!
- - - Bon-Bon - - -
I have a pill cutter. Women have smaller fingers than us men. I don't think I could cut that tiny 10mg pill into quarters! LOL
I did use it to cut my Wellbutrin pills in half. Wellbutrin were veritable horse tablets compared to the miniscule tiny Lexapro tablets.
You were only on it for 3 weeks though? that wasn't even enough time for the full effect of it to kick in. My GP told me to expect to be on it for 4 weeks to see it help as an anti-depressant and 4 to 6 weeks to see it start helping with anxiety.
I am a little anxious about coming off of Lexapro though. I would hate it if my depression and anxiety returned. But at least taking a break from it for a while will help me to be assured that it isn't the Lexapro that is causing my vertigo.
Thanks for your advice about consulting with my doctor. I'll be sure to do that!
- - - Bon-Bon - - -
I have a pill cutter. Women have smaller fingers than us men. I don't think I could cut that tiny 10mg pill into quarters! LOL
I did use it to cut my Wellbutrin pills in half. Wellbutrin were veritable horse tablets compared to the miniscule tiny Lexapro tablets.
You were only on it for 3 weeks though? that wasn't even enough time for the full effect of it to kick in. My GP told me to expect to be on it for 4 weeks to see it help as an anti-depressant and 4 to 6 weeks to see it start helping with anxiety.
I am a little anxious about coming off of Lexapro though. I would hate it if my depression and anxiety returned. But at least taking a break from it for a while will help me to be assured that it isn't the Lexapro that is causing my vertigo.
Thanks for your advice about consulting with my doctor. I'll be sure to do that!
Hi ComputerGeek! &: )
I feel your concern regarding the question of weaning off Lexapro. I also went through this concern a few months ago.
I only offer my experience with Lexapro. Of course, I am not a doctor; therefore, my post/s are not to be received as advice to anyone.
If choosing to discontinue Lexapro or any medication your doctor prescribes, doing as your doctor advises, most likely will help reduce and/or avoid problems.
In my particular case, I chose to follow my doctors instructions - not my own. Everyone is an individual and their cases may vary when taking and stopping medication.
In "my" case, after taking Lexapro for 3 weeks, my doctor advised me to split the 10mg Lexapro tab. in half, taking - 1/2 tablet for 4 days. Then split that in half, taking - 1/4th tablet for 3 days. After that - no Lexapro from that point forward.
Yes, the tablet was small and my initial thought was it would be crushed into mere powder, especially, when attempting to break it into fourths; but, acturally it broke well and I did not have too much of a problem when using a pill-cutter or a thin knife. (I only messed up one, trying to break it into fourths, then got the hang of it.)
I had been taking Lexapro for only 3 weeks when I asked my doctor to wean me off. ( If not mistaken, I believe you have been taking it much longer. ) I made my decision after reading comments made by some people concerning their withdrawel symptoms after taking Lexapro, even for a short time. Nonetheless, I consulted with my doctor.
I'm not taking anything now. It has been 3 months since I weaned off Lexapro with no withdrawels / ill affects and still doing great! : )
I feel your concern regarding the question of weaning off Lexapro. I also went through this concern a few months ago.
I only offer my experience with Lexapro. Of course, I am not a doctor; therefore, my post/s are not to be received as advice to anyone.
If choosing to discontinue Lexapro or any medication your doctor prescribes, doing as your doctor advises, most likely will help reduce and/or avoid problems.
In my particular case, I chose to follow my doctors instructions - not my own. Everyone is an individual and their cases may vary when taking and stopping medication.
In "my" case, after taking Lexapro for 3 weeks, my doctor advised me to split the 10mg Lexapro tab. in half, taking - 1/2 tablet for 4 days. Then split that in half, taking - 1/4th tablet for 3 days. After that - no Lexapro from that point forward.
Yes, the tablet was small and my initial thought was it would be crushed into mere powder, especially, when attempting to break it into fourths; but, acturally it broke well and I did not have too much of a problem when using a pill-cutter or a thin knife. (I only messed up one, trying to break it into fourths, then got the hang of it.)
I had been taking Lexapro for only 3 weeks when I asked my doctor to wean me off. ( If not mistaken, I believe you have been taking it much longer. ) I made my decision after reading comments made by some people concerning their withdrawel symptoms after taking Lexapro, even for a short time. Nonetheless, I consulted with my doctor.
I'm not taking anything now. It has been 3 months since I weaned off Lexapro with no withdrawels / ill affects and still doing great! : )
I didn't get any sleep Tuesday night/Wednesday morning (except for MAYBE an hour if that) and had vertigo SO bad when I got back out of bed that I couldn't hardly walk straight and got extremely nauseous. But I prepared for and tried going to work - through lashing rain and in a loaner car I was unfamiliar with and that had dirty inside windshields along with fogging (my car was in for repair). The streets were dark (no street lights) and the road was jammed with crazy drivers late for work. (In this state, drivers are NOT more cautious in thunderstorms and lashing rain - they are more aggressive and crazy drivers than ever.)
The last straw was being called on my cell by my wife that I had forgotten my wallet. Since I was so dizzy by then that I thought I was going to throw up, I returned home and called in sick and tried to go back to sleep. But I couldn't. The storm passed and by 10:00 it was bright, sunny and the roads were dry. So I went on in to work - not feeling quite as dizzy and nauseous as several hours earlier.
Today, by comparison, it is as though my vertigo was completely gone. It seems as though I don't feel much dizzyness at all. But, like I said, that is perhaps in comparison to my feeling completely overwhelmed with dizzyness two days ago. Are you listening Hensley? Maybe I should pull an all-nighter (on the computer) again! On a day I DON'T need to get in to work!
I can't answer your question at the moment though buddy - I never really paid attention to my head - just my footsteps so I don't fall over. I actually did fall over when I returned a few weeks ago from getting a head MRI done so my Ear, Nose and Throat doctor could make sure that there was no tumor or other growth pressing against my inner ear. (There isn't.) I had just parked the car in the garage and was putting something away on a shelf in the garage before going on into the house and I lost my balance and fell over backwards onto the garage floor. But no harm done - I landed flat on my behind!
But I'll pay attention to see if I feel what you are talking about. I think mostly I just feel dizzy. At its worst, it is like I just got off of a merry-go-round or a spinning computer/office type of chair. Once when I went to bed, it was so bad that I couldn't read when I laid my head back. My eyes were literally slamming from left-to-right JUST like I got off a spinning chair. So I put my book down and turned off the light and eventually fell asleep.
I wish my ENT doc. would get back to me about all this! It is ALL I need on top of anxiety and depression. IF, indeed, I am still suffering from anxiety and depression. Since one of the listed side-effects of Lexapro is SEVERE dizziness, that is one additional reason that I am interested in coming off of it. But not, I have decided, until I break into my new job after my training class ends and maybe being on the job for a month or two. Otherwise I might lose sleep over starting my new job! Extreme anxiety and depression caused me to get only 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night towards the end of my last long-term job (when all this came to a hilt and I started taking Lexapro) and I CANNOT have that on this new job just starting out!
- - - Bon-Bon - - -
How did you wean off Lexapro? Did you just take a tablet every other day? and then a tablet every third day? Or split the tablets in half? (The 10mg tablets are so tiny, I don't see me doing that!)
I'll message you if I you don't see this question because I am really interested.
Well, off to bed. It is 1:00 AM and I don't want a repeat of two days ago!
Thanks everyone for your input on this. So far I have heard several GOOD reports of coming off of Lexapro and i appreciate that! It makes me feel more confident about coming off of it myself to see if I can do without it or not.
The last straw was being called on my cell by my wife that I had forgotten my wallet. Since I was so dizzy by then that I thought I was going to throw up, I returned home and called in sick and tried to go back to sleep. But I couldn't. The storm passed and by 10:00 it was bright, sunny and the roads were dry. So I went on in to work - not feeling quite as dizzy and nauseous as several hours earlier.
Today, by comparison, it is as though my vertigo was completely gone. It seems as though I don't feel much dizzyness at all. But, like I said, that is perhaps in comparison to my feeling completely overwhelmed with dizzyness two days ago. Are you listening Hensley? Maybe I should pull an all-nighter (on the computer) again! On a day I DON'T need to get in to work!
I can't answer your question at the moment though buddy - I never really paid attention to my head - just my footsteps so I don't fall over. I actually did fall over when I returned a few weeks ago from getting a head MRI done so my Ear, Nose and Throat doctor could make sure that there was no tumor or other growth pressing against my inner ear. (There isn't.) I had just parked the car in the garage and was putting something away on a shelf in the garage before going on into the house and I lost my balance and fell over backwards onto the garage floor. But no harm done - I landed flat on my behind!
But I'll pay attention to see if I feel what you are talking about. I think mostly I just feel dizzy. At its worst, it is like I just got off of a merry-go-round or a spinning computer/office type of chair. Once when I went to bed, it was so bad that I couldn't read when I laid my head back. My eyes were literally slamming from left-to-right JUST like I got off a spinning chair. So I put my book down and turned off the light and eventually fell asleep.
I wish my ENT doc. would get back to me about all this! It is ALL I need on top of anxiety and depression. IF, indeed, I am still suffering from anxiety and depression. Since one of the listed side-effects of Lexapro is SEVERE dizziness, that is one additional reason that I am interested in coming off of it. But not, I have decided, until I break into my new job after my training class ends and maybe being on the job for a month or two. Otherwise I might lose sleep over starting my new job! Extreme anxiety and depression caused me to get only 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night towards the end of my last long-term job (when all this came to a hilt and I started taking Lexapro) and I CANNOT have that on this new job just starting out!
- - - Bon-Bon - - -
How did you wean off Lexapro? Did you just take a tablet every other day? and then a tablet every third day? Or split the tablets in half? (The 10mg tablets are so tiny, I don't see me doing that!)
I'll message you if I you don't see this question because I am really interested.
Well, off to bed. It is 1:00 AM and I don't want a repeat of two days ago!
Thanks everyone for your input on this. So far I have heard several GOOD reports of coming off of Lexapro and i appreciate that! It makes me feel more confident about coming off of it myself to see if I can do without it or not.
I weaned off of it as my doctor advised me. I suffered no side affects coming off of 10mg tab. of Lexapro.
1 Comments
Bob-Bon, I have been on 15mg of Lexapro for about 5 years. MD & Iagree to start weaning off. What was your weaning off schedule? I am 62 years old and have been doing great the past 4 years or better.
I have read some Psychiatry reports that talk about what is called Psychomotor dissorder. There isn't much knows about it, but experts agree that depression and anxiety can (in some people) effect balance.
When you get these vertigo symptoms do you feel a kind of odd heaviness in the pit of your head?
When you get these vertigo symptoms do you feel a kind of odd heaviness in the pit of your head?
- - - Therese83 - - -
Thanks Therese83 - some great ideas there. I need to write all these down. Liquid Lexapro (suggested by Azalea82). And your suggestion of going back up a level on the tapering and try coming down again if needed. Use a chart. great advice.
Until people experience vertigo for themselves, they have NO CLUE how lucky they are that they can walk in a coordinated fashion - all thanks to the very complex inner workings of the middle-ear-to-brain connection. Any small malfunction and you look like you are drunk walking a wavering line. I am waiting for a policeman to pull me over if I make a mistake in traffic and have me try to walk a straight line. I will fall over! (I am SUPER careful when driving and, actually, it is easier to drive a car than to walk down a sidewalk.)
- - - Hensley - - -
I have wondered what you have wondered too - is this JUST a middle-ear issue or is there some part of my brain that is involved with a lack of balance too. My Ear, Nose and Throat doctor and my audiologist feel it is due to the inner ear. But the audiologist DID say that depression and anxiety can exacerbate vertigo. But I wonder if the CAUSATIVE action could maybe be more due to the brain than the inner ear.
I have seen a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, for depression & anxiety. The former knows how people think inside and out and help them through their thoguht processes whereas the latter seek a causation in the form of chemical imbalances in the brain that can be treated by drugs. That is why I was more open to the idea of a psychologist than a psychiatrist in the first place. It was actually my GP that prescribed the Lexapro.
But my psychologist is a very smart man. He was a medic in Vietnam so he knows the medical side AND he now knows the thought-process side. I will be sure to ask him whenever I get through all of my new job coursework and transition to my full-time position. I KNOW I will be much happier in my new job than my old and, if things go well, I look forward to coming off Lexapro - especially since the side-effects list possible SEVERE dizziness. I will rely on my network of church and work friends to help keep me going in a positive direction.
On a side note Hensley - I have been doing VERY WELL on Lexapro for months now and THEN the vertigo hit. But THAT was during a new job too and, to be honest, I just didn't seem to be getting it. It was VERY complicated and involved a LOT of paperwork. (It is a photography job.) So that stress could have contributed.
But from everything I have read, vertigo usually comes as some sort of damage to the inner ear system. An infection or a blow to the head or a tumor pressing on the inner ear (thus the reason they will usually do an MRI).
But I will definitely ask my psychologist about the brain's side of things in vertigo. Maybe I can research it myself using Google. (Google is an incredibly powerful research tool!)
Thanks Therese83 - some great ideas there. I need to write all these down. Liquid Lexapro (suggested by Azalea82). And your suggestion of going back up a level on the tapering and try coming down again if needed. Use a chart. great advice.
Until people experience vertigo for themselves, they have NO CLUE how lucky they are that they can walk in a coordinated fashion - all thanks to the very complex inner workings of the middle-ear-to-brain connection. Any small malfunction and you look like you are drunk walking a wavering line. I am waiting for a policeman to pull me over if I make a mistake in traffic and have me try to walk a straight line. I will fall over! (I am SUPER careful when driving and, actually, it is easier to drive a car than to walk down a sidewalk.)
- - - Hensley - - -
I have wondered what you have wondered too - is this JUST a middle-ear issue or is there some part of my brain that is involved with a lack of balance too. My Ear, Nose and Throat doctor and my audiologist feel it is due to the inner ear. But the audiologist DID say that depression and anxiety can exacerbate vertigo. But I wonder if the CAUSATIVE action could maybe be more due to the brain than the inner ear.
I have seen a psychologist, not a psychiatrist, for depression & anxiety. The former knows how people think inside and out and help them through their thoguht processes whereas the latter seek a causation in the form of chemical imbalances in the brain that can be treated by drugs. That is why I was more open to the idea of a psychologist than a psychiatrist in the first place. It was actually my GP that prescribed the Lexapro.
But my psychologist is a very smart man. He was a medic in Vietnam so he knows the medical side AND he now knows the thought-process side. I will be sure to ask him whenever I get through all of my new job coursework and transition to my full-time position. I KNOW I will be much happier in my new job than my old and, if things go well, I look forward to coming off Lexapro - especially since the side-effects list possible SEVERE dizziness. I will rely on my network of church and work friends to help keep me going in a positive direction.
On a side note Hensley - I have been doing VERY WELL on Lexapro for months now and THEN the vertigo hit. But THAT was during a new job too and, to be honest, I just didn't seem to be getting it. It was VERY complicated and involved a LOT of paperwork. (It is a photography job.) So that stress could have contributed.
But from everything I have read, vertigo usually comes as some sort of damage to the inner ear system. An infection or a blow to the head or a tumor pressing on the inner ear (thus the reason they will usually do an MRI).
But I will definitely ask my psychologist about the brain's side of things in vertigo. Maybe I can research it myself using Google. (Google is an incredibly powerful research tool!)
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