Lexapro (Escitalopram) has emerged as one of the most popular antidepressant drugs in the United States. It works as an SSRI (selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitor) and has approval to treat major depression in individuals over the age of 12. In addition to being utilized for depression, it is also prescribed for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It is strikingly similar to the drug “Celexa” in the fact that it contains just the (S)-stereoisomer (without the (R)-stereoisomer).
There is controversial evidence suggesting that Lexapro may be slightly more effective than Celexa. In some cases, Lexapro is used to treat social anxiety disorder, OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and panic disorder. This is one of the most prescribed SSRI’s in the United States due to the fact that it has been found as one of the most effective. Most people stay on this medication until it either stops working or they are compelled to quit.
When a person quits, they may not expect to experience any significant withdrawal symptoms – especially if this is a person’s first SSRI. If you plan on stopping this medication, it is important to know what you should expect and prepare yourself for the symptoms. Most people experience a pretty severe withdrawal period when they come off of Lexapro, which goes to show the power of this drug.
Factors that influence Lexapro withdrawal
There are a few factors that are thought to influence the severity of withdrawal from Lexapro. These include things like: time span (i.e. how many months or years you were on this drug), the dosage that you took, whether you quit cold turkey or tapered, and your individual physiology.
1. Time Span
How long were you taking Lexapro? In the event that you were on it for years, the withdrawal process is likely going to be longer for you than someone on it for months. In general, the longer you take Lexapro, the more intense the withdrawal process.
2. Dosage (10 mg to 20 mg)
Most people take anywhere from 10 mg to 20 mg of Lexapro. The recommended starting dose is 10 mg, but for some people this isn’t quite strong enough. Therefore most doctors continue increasing the dose to achieve the desired effect. Doses tend to increase up to 20 mg, and then it is up to the patient and doctor whether 20 mg needs to be exceeded. Keep in mind that the higher the dose you are on, the greater the difficulty of the withdrawal process.
3. Cold Turkey vs. Tapering
It is never recommended to quit Lexapro “cold turkey.” Although some have done it, quitting cold turkey leaves your brain in a state of chemical disarray. Some people do not have the patience to taper because they feel so crappy on the drug. If you are able to taper, try to work with your doctor to gradually reduce your dosage. The higher the dose you are on, the longer the tapering process should be.
4. Individual Physiology
To a lesser degree than the other factors, your individual physiology will play a role in determining how quickly you bounce back from the discontinuation symptoms. Some people find that they feel normal within a few months of quitting the drug, while others find that it takes months to start feeling a little bit better. Everyone responds differently and heals at a different pace.
Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms: List of Possibilities
Below are some symptoms that you may experience when you stop taking Lexapro. This is a collective of some common symptoms that people experience when they withdraw from this drug. You may only experience some of the symptoms listed below, but in any event, it is better to be mentally prepared for what you may experience so that you don’t become overwhelmed.
- Anxiety: Most people will experience anxiety to a significant degree when stopping Lexapro. This is a drug that inhibits the reuptake of serotonin. If you have been taking it for an extended period of time and discontinue, your serotonin levels are likely lower than average – causing severe anxiety. This is because your brain had become reliant upon the drug to increase serotonin and is no longer receiving it.
- Appetite changes: You may experience changes in appetite when you first quit taking this drug. Some people notice that they aren’t quite as hungry and/or aren’t eating as much, while others regain appetite. Usually changes in appetite are opposite to your experience while on the drug.
- Brain Zaps: It is common to experience “brain zaps” or sensations of electrical shocks throughout your brain when you stop taking Lexapro. This is a common symptom that occurs when withdrawing from many different antidepressants. These usually subside within a few weeks.
- Concentration problems: One thing that most doctors will not tell you is that your concentration may be extremely poor during withdrawal. You are experiencing a ton of withdrawal symptoms which naturally detract from concentration, but the neurotransmitter levels are imbalanced – creating a state of brain fog.
- Depersonalization: This involves feeling unlike your natural self. Most people feel depersonalized and when they try to describe it to someone else, the other person may just not understand what they mean. It can feel as though all natural emotions have been sucked out of the body and the person is lifeless. The emotions will eventually return as the person stays off of SSRI’s for awhile.
- Depression: It is common to experience “rebound depression” when you quit taking Lexapro. It is a drug that was created to treat depression, so when you stop it, the depression will likely return. Many people notice that their depression is actually worse when they stop this drug – this is because the brain has become even more chemically imbalanced after taking this drug.
- Dizziness: Many people report feeling dizziness, in some cases to the point of having “balance” issues. This dizziness can last for an extended period of time and may make life difficult to deal with. Recognize that this is a result of your brain trying to cope without stimulation from the drug.
- Eye floaters: Some people report seeing “floaters” when they come off of Lexapro. Floaters are small shapes that “float” in and out of your field of vision. These are harmless and do not indicate that anything is wrong with your vision. Do your best not to panic and think that you are doomed if you see these.
- Fatigue: It is very common to notice that you feel excessively tired throughout the day. The lethargy, tiredness, and fatigue may become so difficult, that you think it’s never going to end. This is likely due to your brain trying to restore itself to homeostasis.
- Headaches: This is another extremely common symptom to experience when you withdraw from any drug – especially SSRI’s. If headaches are intense, do your best to relax – as many can be caused by tension. Also make sure that you are drinking plenty of water and consider taking headache relief medication if they become too difficult to deal with.
- Insomnia: Some people are unable to fall asleep at night when they first stop Lexapro. This is usually a result of sleep pattern changes and increased anxiety. Some people find that taking a little melatonin supplement helps.
- Irritability: If you are becoming increasingly irritable, do your best to control it without lashing out on others. It can be extremely difficult to control yourself when you feel as crappy as you do, but keep trying.
- Libido changes: Most people notice that their sex life improves when they stop taking antidepressants. Lexapro is known to cause delayed orgasm and in some cases, inability to orgasm. When you stop taking this drug, your sex life should bounce back.
- Mood swings: It is common to experience crazy mood swings when quitting this drug. One minute you may feel as though you’re going to recover and the next you may feel as if there is no hope. People may notice that you are acting especially irritable and angry. Realize that you don’t have much control over these during withdrawal.
- Nausea: It is common to feel nauseated when you first stop taking an antidepressant. In some cases it may lead to vomiting. Do your best to deal with it and understand that it will go away.
- Suicidal thoughts: When coming off of SSRI’s like Lexapo, it is very common to feel suicidal and experience suicidal thoughts. Although you may have felt suicidal before going on this drug, the intensity of these thoughts will likely be higher when you withdraw.
- Sweating: Many people sweat more than average during the withdrawal period. You may sweat more than usual throughout the day and/or notice that you sweat excessively during your sleep.
- Weight changes: Most people experience some degree of weight gain on Lexapro and other SSRI’s. When they come off of the drug, they may notice that they experience weight loss.
How long does Lexapro withdrawal last?
It really depends on a number of different factors including how long you’ve been on the drug and the dosage that you were taking. If you conducted a gradual taper, the symptoms that you experience during withdrawal may be less intense and last for a shorter duration than if you quit cold turkey. Unfortunately there is no exact timeline for determining how long you are going to experience withdrawal symptoms. It is important to recognize that most withdrawal symptoms persist for much longer than professionals think.
I have taken Lexapro and know that the withdrawal process is certainly not as trivial as most people make it out to be. If you withdraw from this medication, you can expect to experience some discontinuation symptoms. These symptoms may only last a few weeks, but in many cases they end up lasting months after the person has taken the last dose of their drug. I would suggest that if you used Lexapro for a year, used 90 days (i.e. 3 months) as a checkpoint.
Most people notice that their severe discontinuation symptoms tend to subside after about 90 days. If yours continue to persist beyond 90 days, just know that it’s most likely that your brain is still in disarray after SSRI usage for an extended period of time. One individual reported that he never fully returned to feeling like “himself” until 48 months had passed (4 years). Although most people will feel “normal” before a three year term, it is important to recognize that withdrawal effects can last months and in some cases, it takes over a year to fully recover.
Update #4: If you saw my above posts I have been tapering down from 10mg. 3 months at 9mg, then 15 months at 8mg. My doctor agrees with slow tapering at my request. I have now stepped down to 7mg for the past month.
I had a month of some pretty bad panic attacks before stepping down to 7mg but I knew I had to do it. Symptoms this time were a little different. No brain zaps or headaches but my skin seemed to be itching from head to toe.
Absolute exhaustion! I could fall asleep anywhere… My goal is 5 mg, and I’m on my way! I am still taking 2400mg of Omega 3-6-9 and 2000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily. Sadly no weight loss at all since I’ve begun tapering. :(
Hi! I was just wondering if some of the people that commented earlier have any update/improvement. I have been on Lexapro for almost 7 years. Started at 5mg went to 10 and have been on 5 for the better part of those 7 years. This week I decided to start tapering and have been taking 2.5 mg for the past 3 days.
I took Lex for anxiety and panic attacks after my brother’s suicide and my father’s heart attack. I have managed to get a lot better, can’t even remember the last time I had a panic attack and no longer live in constant fear, also thought the medication was no longer doing anything for me.
My biggest fear is going back to anxiety and panic attacks triggered by the Lexapro withdrawal and it is so hard to find success stories on the internet! I just need motivation to keep going. I plan to stay on 2.5 mg for at least a month and then another month taking it every other day.
Right now I’m feeling a bit anxious, have a moderate headache and have back and neck pain. I hope everyone is doing much better!
So I have been tapering and I am actually done with it now. I’ve noticed neck and back pain as well. How long did it take for it to go away? Also, did you feel the dizzy spells at all? I’ve only been on it for 6 months, but I am definitely not liking the way the withdrawal is going.
Also, did you have weight gain? I’ve gained almost 20 pounds so I am hoping once it is fully out of my system I will lose that weight I put on because of it. Thank you in advance if you reply, I appreciate it!
About 3 weeks ago I took my final tapered dose, after 14 years, taking 60mg lexapro. I had suffered severe panic attacks and anxiety after some major life events. The first few days seemed ok, then I felt manic, with brain zaps, dizziness, crying at the drop of a hat and mild nausea.
The manic feeling is calming down, but I have severe nausea and near vomiting. I work as an assistant in nursing and am finding that strong smells have me wanting to vomit, just wondering if anyone else has experienced this severe nausea and if it passes.
Like others, it is a relief to know that I am not alone with these withdrawal symptoms. If I had known how awful this was going to be I would have tapered off long ago.
Hi – My doctor put me on lexapro at 10mg in 2009 for traumatic experience in my marriage then in 2014 he raised my dosage to 20 mg during my divorce. I was never on any other medications prior to 2009 and at that time I was in my late 30’s.
My life is finally balanced and back to a really good place and with the help of my doctor I tapered off the lexapro the last 6 months. Tapering down to 10 mg and then finally to nothing. I have now been off since mid July of this year.
I am still experience insomnia, sweating, little bit of vision focus issues, as well as my eyes feeling tired, flu like body ache. I had the headaches, dizziness, a few brain zaps here and there. I mostly tried to just lay down and close my eyes when I felt bad.
My more recent withdrawal symptom has been like a tender head feeling and itchy of my head and around my neck and chest at night. I end up taking a shower and this helps for it to pass. Anyone else have or had this symptom? Has anyone been on the medication for 9 years or more?
I’m trying to get an idea of how long I will feel this way and anything more to come. I pray for all of you that are dealing with this. If my doc had told me how hard it would be to come off this I would have never taken it. I welcome anyone’s feedback!
Anyone having a freefall feeling instead of the dizziness while going through withdrawals? I don’t feel dizzy, but I get this weird feeling of weightlessness for a few seconds when I stand up, make a sharp turn, move my head quickly or take a deep breath.
I have that feeling when I forget to take mine or if I take it too late in the day.
OMG, yes! that’s exactly how I’ve been feeling. I was on 10mg of Lexapro for 5 years. I quickly tapered off in 2 weeks time, not the right thing to do apparently. I also feel like I’m having some heart palpitations, along with constant pressure in my head. I’ve been miserable!
Yes, I have felt those free falling feelings. I will be sitting and almost have to grab on to something because I feel so unbalanced. Weaning from 20mg to 10mg. Been at 10 for 4 weeks and still have those. I have been at 20mg x 8 years.
I have been off of Lexapro for 6 days now and I have been feeling this a lot! It was so bad today I had to call out of work. It’s a feeling of weightlessness and tingling at the same time. I tried to explain it to family/friends today and they just didn’t understand.
I had those symptoms early on like in the first 2 weeks of not taking the medication. It does go away.
I have been on escitalopram 10mg for 4 years now and my doctor is tapering my dose. I felt miserable when I stopped it. Within a week, I was so miserable that I’ve been put back on the medication.
I was on lexapro for maybe 7 months. Have a history of GAD and social anxiety disorder. I have been off and on SSRI’s probably for the last 10 years. I am 55. I always end up quitting them. My last stretch ended in about 2011. I went back on them about a year ago and ended up at 20mg.
Was on them for maybe seven or eight months as noted. Have been off them four months and I have withdrawal. Sleep, increased anxiety, including social, and some weight put back on. I lost weight when on the drug which is weird. I don’t know. I have also tried CBT. I just find my brain too active.
Wish I could just shut it off sometimes. Anxiety can be a killer. I don’t think I will go back on them again. I will suck it up and deal with it. I exercise a lot and drink two or three beers a day. That seems to help but by no means is my anxiety gone.
I get tons of sunlight and take fish oil also. I have never had withdrawals like this on other drugs. Was on Effexor, and cipralex before.
I’ve been on lexapro for 16 years – 20mg. Had a bad time in life and things spun out of control for a bit. Stuff worked good but just got sick of it. I am in a way different spot than back then; retired, consulting as an engineer and financially well off.
Was was on a mountain biking vacation in the southwest and just stopped taking it. I had tried in the past but went right back on it. 2 weeks now and still off it. I quit smoking years ago and had a bout with alcohol at one point – had to quit that also (which was part of what lead to my journey with Lexapro). Both very tough things to quit.
I’d say this is not as bad as quitting those drugs but still scared about what I may find on the other side of me. I just don’t want to be on these drugs anymore. Thanks for the help and blog.
I have just tapered myself down to 5mg in the last week, after taking it for 14 years. I am edgy, and having upset bowels.
I have some Ativan to help, but I want to take the next step and just go off it. Can you update your progress?
How does the ativan help? I was on Lexapro for 9 years and I have been completely off since mid July. I don’t take other meds so I was just curious as to what the ativan does to help?
I got put on Lexapro during one of the most emotionally trying times of my life. It definitely helped and I’m grateful that I was put on a.depressant that works so quickly. I did notice that diet and exercise was no longer helping with weight loss. I was on it for about a year and decided it was time for me to stop taking it.
I weaned myself off for a couple weeks without talking to my doctor prior. The withdrawals were awful! I have had dizziness, nausea, muscle spasms, chills and have had a hard time focusing. I own my business as a hairstylist and I need to be able to focus my energy on my clients. It has been more difficult than I would like to lot let them see how dizzy and crappy I feel.
In all honesty, I would’ve requested a different antidepressant if I would’ve known how difficult this was going to be for me to just get off of. I don’t know if I should just go back to 5 mg every other day for a little bit, because as of right now, I am miserable.
I was on Lexapro 20 mg for years… didn’t seem to be working anymore. Plus I was not losing any weight through diet/exercise. Did research about how this medication changes the way you store body fat, etc. I decided it was time to get off this stuff seeing as it was not working.
Per my doctor’s advice, I slowly tapered off. Went to 10 mg for two weeks, then 5 mg for two weeks then stopped. The first few days were the worst… breaking out in a sweat… dizziness and very irritable.
Kept telling myself don’t give up… you got this… within 10 days the awful withdrawal feelings went away. So glad to be off this medication. I wish I knew what this medication does to your body – I would have never taken it.
That is so good to hear that your withdrawal feelings went away so quickly. I know everyone is different but I hope it’s like that for me. I’m down from 20 mg to 10 mg for about 3 weeks now. My doctor wanted me to decrease mg every 4 weeks. I’m nervous about going down to 5 mg next week.
I did have a lot of the withdrawal symptoms for about a week after I decreased dosage. Now I feel I’m evening out but can’t wait to get this drug out of my body for good. Hopefully my roller coaster ride will be over soon.
Hey, I did 20 to 10 years ago, and it wasn’t bad. Now I’ve been on 10 for years. Tried going off a few times and had to go back BC of horrible withdrawal. For me, this 10 is a kick in the ass! I’ve tried going down to 5 and the body pain, OMG.
I noticed I felt almost immediately better when I’d take my dose… like no waiting for a level. Weird. Anyhow this time, I decided to go every other day, and then in two weeks go every three days and then take one. The most I get is a headache and my body aches a lot.
Soon, I’ll go to every four days, and then I will start pill splitting and do the same thing all over again with 5 mg. It’s keeping me from being super mentally miserable, just more physical and it’s not bad all the time. I think I found what works for my own system. :) I wish you luck. I know I’m scared to go to 5 too!
I recently decided I need to get off this medication. I have taken it for 2 years and hate all the side effects that it causes. And all the unknowns about what is could be doing to me. In addition, I have had a VERY hard time losing weight. So I want to thank you Suzy Q for your post.
I have not discussed getting off the med with my doctor or spouse even. I just made up my mind to do it 2 days ago. So I broke them all in half (I too take 20mg) and want to taper off. Today has been SUCH a rough day. Your post really gave me hope. That I desperately needed. So thank you for that!
Has anyone on here switched from Lexapro to Wellbutrin? I was on Lexapro for 7 years. Started at 5mg and ended up at 10mg for depression, anxiety, extreme driving anxiety. Honestly, the reason I switched was the weight gain-25 pounds. I was pretty happy on the drug.
I tapered off Lex while starting the Wellbutrin-generic-150mg. Started Wellbutrin 18 days ago and have been completely off lex for about 8 days. Hard to tell if symptoms (weird chills, irritable, hard to focus, crying, afraid to be alone) are from the wellbutrin or withdrawal from Lex. Thanks! Has anyone switched like me?
Sort of – Wellbutrin was added to my Lexapro regimen a while back. I’ve stopped taking Lexapro but continued the Wellbutrin. In my case, the Lex simply wasn’t doing its job anymore – the Wellbutrin was carrying all of the weight (so to speak) but the Lex side effects were still in place.
I’m certain (still subjective, mind you) that taking Wellbutrin helped ease the withdrawal from the Lexapro. In my case, I could tell if I was late on a Wellbutrin dose by how intense the brain buzzing was.
Based on the symptoms you listed and my own experience, I’d bet the chills, irritability and focus issues are Lex withdrawal. I had all of those, even though the Wellbutrin was well established in my system, so I don’t think the addition of Wellbutrin caused them.
The crying and not wanting to be alone very well could be as well, but starting any new med can have weird effects. Hope that helps answer your questions.
I started Wellbutrin in late April (after taking myself off Lexapro), but really couldn’t handle MY personal symptoms. (I’m also on Effexor, 150 mgs/day.) The Wellbutrin, at first, helped me wake up and get going. However, with the Fibromyalgia and other diseases I have, I found I was too awake.
The Fibromyalgia prevents me from sleeping to start with (I can be awake for days straight but a physical and emotional mess by day 3, my hands and body looking like a shriveled plant by day 5, in EXTREME pain). The Wellbutrin made the insomnia so much worse that I had to stop taking it.
Also, it gave me the Zombie/empty/deadened effect that I couldn’t deal with. I found myself staring at nothing for hours until my alarm would ring and I’d glance at the clock to see 5 hours had passed and I hadn’t moved!
I’m sticking with the Effexor only and will manage with positive self-talk, EFT Tapping and rest when needed. Also am following up with a more natural method while really paying attention to my diet; a HUGE factor in brain health, too.
Blessings, everyone. I pray we all get positive help and relief.
My doc tried Wellbutrin on me before putting me on Lex. I don’t mean to cause you concern (everyone reacts differently to different drugs) but Wellbutrin very nearly pushed me over the edge, anxiety-wise. It was one of the very worst drugs for these types of things that I’ve ever tried. Good luck to you.
I’m very relieved to find this site because I was beginning to think I was making it up!! I was in Lexapro for about 10 months. My doctor prescribed it to treat some situational anxiety I was having. I’ve always had anxiety, but it skyrocketed when my dad had open heart surgery unexpectedly.
My prescription lapsed and I chose not to renew, so I went off cold turkey. Yikes! Like most comments, I was ok fit the first few days, then the symptoms kicked in. Reading the description of “brain zaps” wad so reassuring!
It’s so difficult to explain and trying to tell someone who’s never experienced it what it feels like is near impossible. Again, I thought I was making it up!! For me, the weepiness and the irritability have been the worst.
Everything has been bringing me to tears. I’m a preschool teacher, so I’m expected to be happy and energetic all day, so this has been hard! This has complicated my life and I’m looking forward to it passing. Has anyone considered going back on the drug post withdrawal?
I am so glad I found this web site and know I’m not alone. In 2013 I was diagnosed with seasonal depression and put on Celexa for about a year. I don’t remember having a hard time discontinuing those but my symptoms returned within a year. My main complaint at that time was anxiety.
At that time my Doctor put me on Lexapro. I’ve been on it for about 3 years now. I switched doctors within the same practice a year ago and expressed concern about weight gain and low sex drive. The new doctor dismissed my concerns regarding the side effects and said I might want to try therapy and increase my dosage from 10mg to 20mg daily.
I’ve been on 20 mg for the past 6 months and have gained more weight and have even less sex drive. I did start therapy about the same time and I do think that is helpful. I finally switched to a female doctor but within the same practice, and she did listen to my concerns about the weight gain and low sex drive.
She suggested to wean myself off of Lexapro and try taking Wellbutrin. That evening when I got home, I told my husband about the proposed plan and he asked why take something new? He knows my goal is to be off all medication. I decided to give it a try and emailed my doctor my plan.
She is fine with it but wants me to wean off slowly and see her in a month. It’s been 10 days since I decreased from 20 mg to 10 mg daily. At first I thought it would be easy until the 7th day. I started to have a lot of the withdrawal symptoms like anxiety, brain zaps, dizziness, and blurred vision.
I thought maybe Lexapro really was helping me and I should stay on it. Then I found this site and realized I’m having withdrawals from the medication. Things my doctor never mentioned. This site has given me the courage to push through this tough time.
I also plan on seeking out a new doctor who is not in that same practice. I feel I probably needed something at that time in my life to get through a difficult time but my goals of getting off the medication should have been taken seriously.
Thank you for sharing your stories and I wish everyone a happy, healthy future.
I’ve been taking Lexapro since early December. I stopped cold turkey May 7th of this year. What a mistake. After about three days, I’ve been so dizzy I’ve been forced to sit or lay down to make it temporarily stop. Tried to go to the store the 13th, after feeling a bit better the day before, and WOAH.
It must have been something to do with the store lighting, but I had to hold onto the cart most of the time. I’ve tried to contact my doctor, but she’s getting to be on my bad list after not calling me back within the required three days the office said she would or returning my e-mail.
The thing is, I’ve come off of other anti-depressants cold turkey before and never had a single withdrawal symptom. It’s quite scary to feel like the room is spinning for the majority of the time. I never want to try tapering off of Lexapro, because the more I read about it, the more I hate it and never want it in my body again.
I realized I didn’t even have depression is why I cut myself off from it to begin with. I’m just scared these withdrawal symptoms will last. Any insight or help would be appreciated.
Really appreciating all the feedback. I too think I have issues with store lighting. Tapered off Lex about six weeks ago. I have been moody and get dizzy spells and sweats in stores. Never happened before. My poor kids think I am Jekyl and Hyde.
Coming off of lexapro after about 6 months of use – 10mg a day.
-Definitely had headaches, dizziness, trouble falling asleep, libido changes for the better
-I feel like a brand new person and that my confidence has soared. Talking more and more than I am used to.
Any one else feel like this?
Approximately 3 weeks FREE of Lexapro! 40mg/day for 8 years and 2 weeks ago I realized I hadn’t taken my meds for almost one week. I decided at that point after unsuccessfully tampering numerous times over the years that this was it – I was going to come off this toxic addictive poisonous shit once and for all!
I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder & Seasonal Depression around 10 years ago & was told by a psychiatrist my mental illness was ‘complex’. I was basically lead to believe that I would have to spend the rest of my life popping pills. F&%# THAT!
Since coming off the drug I’ve felt absolutely AMAZING! It was like someone switched the light on inside & all of a sudden I felt alive. Of course, that didn’t last long. This week (week 3) I’ve started feeling the full brunt of my withdrawal symptoms. (yippee)
I’ve been angry – had mood swings – a very VERY short fuse AND I’m unable to concentrate AT. ALL. Brain fog is now part of my vocabulary… I’ve been an emotional mess the past 4 days (and started grieving the loss of both my grandparents who died in the last 2 years).
The only way to describe this emotional state of hell is like this – for the past 8 years I have been wearing a mask and suppressing my true emotions UNTIL NOW. Now I’m purging. But I’m also healing from within.
And although it daunting & I’m very scared & very angry, it’s the beginning of a new chapter for me & I’m absolutely determined to come out the other end. Being big on natural medicine, I’ve substituted drugs for vitamins & tonight I started taking them! KAVA + VITAMIN D3 + FISH OIL + MEGA B COMPLEX.
Do some research and make some ALTERNATIVE substitutions. Each & every one of us is on a different journey with a different story & a different path, but it all starts with the power of the mind. Find strength upstairs & everything is possible.
Sending love & strength to everyone!!!!
Kate I feel exactly what you describe! I was on between 10-20 mg for 12-ish years for GAD & panic attacks. My first few years on lexapro were a god send. I was once again focused, slept well & felt present in life.
In the past few years I’ve felt numb and like I’m going through the motions of life. Tapered on my own and took my last dose on Sunday. The first month of tapering I felt like a brand new person- alive with energy & extremely motivated, something I hadn’t felt in years.
Now I feel weird – vertigo, brain zaps, irritable, and I get this weird tingling sensation if I’m startled or surprised – feels like electricity that starts in my extremities and flows upward towards my head. If I sleep 6 hours now, it’s a lot. The hot flashes & eye floaters are so annoying.
I really thought I’d be over these symptoms with in a few days… now I’m alarmed to see that withdrawal can last for months or years. What fish oil dosage do you take? I’m buying tomorrow!! I’m glad I found this forum. I just want to be healthy and off medication.
Thanks Kate. I was started on Lexapro after the end of a bad relationship. It helped very much to change my attitude and move on. When you he depression started to return the dosage was increased from 10 to 20. I found on 20 they I was “sedated”.
I went back to 10 after two weeks then decided to stop it. Like you I wanted to feel and deal with my emotions and not artificially mask them. I resorted off the 10 over two weeks. I’m irritable, brain zaps (just discovered after reading this… I thought I had a sinus infection).
I researched natural alternatives to build and regulate serotonin. B6, 5-HTP, and D. I am determined to get through this and get better without drugs. I do see a therapist and he is disappointed in my decision, but I think I know what’s best for me. Just hoping these withdrawal effects are short lived.
Ramped from 10 to 30mg in almost 2 years in response to depression, GAD, sporadic cutting and bulimia. My psychiatrist’s answer to every little thing was to increase the dosage. Libido was an issue, and I felt like I didn’t have any drive. I’m usually constantly in my head, thinking about questions and problems and solutions, but, while on it, that was no longer a part of me; I seemed to only think when required of me.
In sum, I felt sedated. Well, I’m not a horse, so I cold turkeyed, and then decided to use 5mg to taper to avoid the concentration issues at my new job. Nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and hot flashes were obnoxious, but not so severe that time couldn’t push through.
Really, I’m frustrated with my psychiatrist (no longer with her, or any for that matter) and the health system in general. It’s not like I’m suggesting the horrifying idea that doctors are in league with pharmaceutical companies and get payoffs for pushing certain drugs by withholding information that would dissuade a patient from taking it.
(That is literally what happens. A close friend works with doctors and describes these situations happening frequently). (It’s not like I’m suggesting American-style capitalism preys on objectified humans like they’re cattle (nothing wrong with capitalism per se)). But I digress. Also probably a symptom of Lexapro withdrawal because why not.
I also stopped Lexapro cold turkey after two years of 20 mg per pay. I had started to feel like I was in a constant fog and I was always tired and headachy. The week before I stopped I was lethargic, exhausted and very low. I had tried to wean off once before and reduced my dosage to 10 mg but for me, the withdrawal was so bad I went back up to 20.
This time I decided I’d had enough and just stopped. Don’t get me wrong, when I really need Lexapro (escitalopram), it did the trick for me. It was at a very bad time in my life and I was in a bad way and living on Xanax. My doctor (psychiatrist) felt I should stay on it for the foreseeable future because I had this happen in the past due to taking Topamax for migraines for a year – worst drug ever created at least for me.
When I went off my nervous system was never the same. But I started feeling so horrible on the Lexapro now, headaches, lethargy, low mood, muscle cramping, and I didn’t want to try the titration method, I just wanted to stop. BUT this time I started on Magnesium glycinate, and a low dose of iron.
This is not a recommendation, it’s just how I chose to do this with the advice of some very knowledgeable people I know. I also started on CBD oil (Cannabidiol) which is legal and does not contain THC. That helped me relax before bed. You place a droplet under your tongue and then swallow. I bought the oil from a very reputable retailer.
Again, this is not a recommendation but something I chose to try to help with withdrawal symptoms. So, okay, now for my withdrawal symptoms, I’m off 12 days so far. I started with muscle jerks in bed for two nights only. I was light headed for about a week. My nerves stayed pretty stable after a few days with taking the vitamins, etc.
A little bit weepy, which actually felt good to have some emotion again, but it was subtle and no one would have noticed. At this point, I’m energetic but not hyper or manic. I’m just perkier and not so low anymore. Bad headaches from the medication stopped and withdrawal headaches tolerable with one Excedrin when needed and I don’t feel like I’m in a fog.
My head is clearer for sure. Sleeping more than five hours at night is not happening but using sleep mediation videos at bedtime helps a lot. I also don’t come home from work with a bad headache now and so much fatigue I have to take a nap. I can come home and get things done. My head is still a little fuzzy and I can still hear my eyeballs swish from side to side at times during the day but I know that will pass.
I work in tech support so I’m looking at computer screens all day. By the way, I’m a 60-year-old female. I’m not saying I won’t ever have issues again in the future but I’m going to try to stay active and busy, keep with the vitamins, continue to drink lots of fluids, meditate, pray, eat well and hope for the best.
Good luck and God bless. Again, please note this is just an account of a decision I made for myself and in no way a recommendation that anyone should do this the way I did or take any vitamins, oils, etc. without consulting someone in the holistic or medical field. A safe weaning method with your doctor’s advice is probably a much better way to go. I just got really fed up and took a chance.
I just quit Lexapro “cold turkey” about 4 days ago. I missed two days of pills and decided that then would be a good time to cut it out all together. I’ve been using meditation to handle my anxiety/depression and have been reading that most medications like Lexapro are basically just placebos and altering your serotonin might not even solve your problems.
Anyway, today I’m feeling pretty dizzy and I’ve gotten a couple headaches – nothing ibuprofen can’t solve. Hoping I don’t experience those “brain zaps” because it sounds scary. I don’t think anyone should be on anything that gives you such bad withdrawal symptoms … I’m scared of the damage I’ve done to my brain the past year on this.
I too stopped cold turkey after missing a few days. I have been on lexapro for roughly 8 years on 20mg. It does help with my depression and anxiety, I also found it helped with my mood swings. I am 6 days lexapro free.
The first day or two was fine. About day 3 I started with the brain zaps, feeling foggy, fatigue and horrible sweats. I am hoping to get thru this. Thank you for your post.
Hey don’t worry about the zaps. They aren’t dangerous, just a bit strange. Just know that they are natural withdrawal symptoms and let them happen.
Were you able to go off Lexapro completely? I could use encouragement. I’ve tried to get off it before with no luck, so stopped cold turkey and it’s been a week or so with a few symptoms.
I am so relieved to find this site and read the comments. I was on Escitalopram 20mg (Lexapro) for 2+ years. 9 months ago I started to reduce under the supervision of my GP. 3 months on 15mg, 3 months on 10mg, 3 months on 5mg and now 5mg every other day.
I wanted to come off the drug as I wanted to be able to FEEL again. It worked very well for me when I needed it but now with the help and support of a good therapist I want to stop. I also gained over 14lbs while taking it. The first reductions went well.
Although I could feel the difference each time it eventually balanced out and I was fine. But the latest change from 5mg a day to 5mg every other day has been a nightmare. Not sleeping well, nightmares when I do, extreme sadness and depression, fear, pain in all my joints and muscles, feeling detached from my daily life, anger, irritability.
I’m thinking if I’m feeling this bad on this low dose I might be better off just stopping altogether now and waiting for it to pass. I am a reasonably fit older woman who has a regular yoga practice and I swim and walk and have lots of hobbies so it’s not for want of trying. Thanks again!
How long did you try tapering? I just started the tapering process but my doctors has me on a 3 month plan. I’ve been taking 10mg for about 2 years. Since Friday I have been doing even days 10mg, odd 5mg for the next month.
Then I go to 5mg daily for 1 month then 5mg every other day for 1 month. Then discontinue. Thoughts on that? Haven’t had anything extremely noticeable except increased diarrhea which is the reason I have anxiety in the first place from having IBS.
I thought 3 months was a long drawn out process, but after reading all these side effects, I’m terrified. I have severe anxiety already, the last thing I want is more anxiety.
I do take 2-3mg of Ativan a day so maybe along with that, I won’t have too bad of the next 3 months. Any advice is appreciated! Thanks!
I have been taking lexapro 10mg for almost 2 years it quit working so my Dr took me off of it. It’s been 3 weeks and the withdrawal symptoms are the worst. The dizziness, insomnia, headaches, body aches, and emotions all over the place.
Made my anxiety worse. Panic attacks so bad my ribs slip out of place. Doctors should tell their patients what to expect when stopping lexapro. Because this is a wild ride. I just want to feel human again. Miserable is an understatement for what a person stopping lexapro feels like.
How are you feeling now? I’m second week in and I feel like I’m dying. Constant vomiting, dizziness, brain zaps, etc.
I hope this helps someone and gives you an idea of how long withdrawal symptoms can last. I had been on a 10 mg dose of Lexapro for at least 4 years due to anxiety and panic attacks. In December, I went to see my doctor. During the exam, I passed out. 911 was called and I was admitted to the hospital and subjected to a slew of heart related tests.
My doctor deemed the Lexapro a potential problem if I was found to have a heart condition. She took me off it and prescribed something else. All the heart tests came up negative. I researched the new anxiety med and the side effects sounded horrible so I refused to take it. Doc would not give back the Lexapro until she was satisfied there was no heart condition.
Essentially, I ended up going off the drug cold turkey. I have been an emotional mess since December. Crying all the time. Overwhelming fear that something bad is gong to happen…I have always had a positive attitude but have had a extremely difficult time finding any positive thoughts. I would feel dizzy and get chills and this strange warm feeling in my chest and neck.
Tingling in my arms and fingers as well as some difficult to describe vision issues- tired eyes? I was also extremely tired and unmotivated. I started logging each day that I had anxiety symptoms and how bad they were in a journal app on my phone. There are very few days from Jan-April without at least one log entry.
I am a runner and love the gym. Exercise is how I would deal with stress. I have not been able to exercise due to fatigue and a general fear that something bad will happen while I am exercising. It’s an anxiety trigger now. I went to the ER in Feb due to some dizziness and jitters following an exercise session.
I accidentally read something online while researching anxiety treatments that said that Lexapro withdrawal symptoms could last for months. I have been googling and reading material ever since. This forum has been a comfort.
This week has been the first week since Dec 20 that I have not had any anxiety symptoms and am starting to feel some twinges of positive feelings. I actually feel motivated to try the gym next week. I am convinced that the day that I passed out was a fluke.
I had not eaten much that day and was probably dehydrated too. I have never passed out before. All the tests have come back negative. I am hoping that I am putting the worst behind me. No more SSRI drugs. I refuse to go on anything like Lexapro ever again, and will be looking for a new doctor.
Well I tried quitting cold turkey. It’s been four days and the brain zaps and dizziness was so bad that I took another 20mg. My doctor recommended I skip every third day but I struggle remembering when to take meds. This is my third time to be on Lexapro. The last two times I only took during postpartum pregnancy for a few months.
This last time I started during postpartum but life situations were so stressful I increased from 10mg to 20mg. Recently stress has increased dramatically and my doctor approved tapering. She recommended fish oil and magnesium, both help. Unfortunately this week as I did not take my lexapro doses, I forgot the fish oil and magnesium – so symptoms are strong.
I did not realize just how many symptoms I had until reading posts. I am irritable and emotional (but I am happy to feel emotions). My husband prefers I stay on the medicine but I prefer to be off. I have found that praying, exercising, and a spa day are nice alternatives to dealing with my anxiety.
But the withdrawals I will just have to deal with until they subside. Thanks for all the support. I’m relieved that I am not alone. Just wanted to note, before realizing brain zaps had a name, I described it to a friend as my lips feeling numb and then a pulsating heartbeat in my lips.
Then it happened in my brain and vision. Electric current was the right description. Just wanted to mention that in case it helps someone else identify a weird symptom.
HELP FOR THOSE OF YOU WEANING OR STOPPING COLD TURKEY FROM LEXAPRO. I have been on and off Lexapro for years. I have always tapered slowly and still experienced very uncomfortable side effects. I shared this with a couple of people as a reply to their posts asking for suggestions.
Below is what I wrote in two previous points about where I am in this process which I hope may help some of you:
I went off Lexapro cold turkey almost 3 weeks ago. I have done this in the past and it is terrible. This time, however, I switched over to Sam-e right away and it has helped a lot! I am taking 200 mg per day.
I still have withdrawal symptoms from Lexapro (dizziness and irritability), but not near as bad as in the past. I was on Lexapro for years for general anxiety disorder. I recently went off and am using Sam-e. It is surprisingly effective. I have energy, low anxiety, and my senses are awakened again.
I know others who are finding good success with it as well. Lexapro worked well for me, but dulled my emotions and senses. After researching treatments for a family member who has Fibromyalgia, I read article after article how Sam-e is used in Europe where they actually give out prescriptions b/c it works better than SSRIs for many people.
I am a stickler for research-based data and Sam-e has had good results in enough studies for me to try it. I am taking 200 mg per day each morning which is a common recommended starting dose, but do your own research. You may have to adjust it until you find what works for you. Hope this helps :)
Was on lexapro for 7 years. Off it almost a year now and am having major anxiety. Any suggestions how to deal – and has this happened to anyone else? Should I just push through? And does fish oil help? Thanks.
I, too, was on Lexapro for years for general anxiety disorder. I recently went off and am using Sam-e. It is surprisingly effective. I have energy, low anxiety, and my senses are awakened again. I know others who are finding good success with it as well.
Lexapro worked well for me, but dulled my emotions and senses. After researching treatments for a family member who has Fibromyalgia, I read article after article how Sam-e is used in Europe where they actually give out prescriptions b/c it works better than SSRIs for many people.
I am a stickler for research-based data and Sam-e has had good results in enough studies for me to try it. I am taking 200 mg per day each morning which is a common recommended starting dose, but do your own research. You may have to adjust it until you find what works for you. Hope this helps :)
I think fish oil and magnesium help. There is even magnesium for brain support.
I started taking lexapro 20mg then we went to 40mg. I have bipolar and severe anxiety. I take geodon for bipolar, forfivo (Wellbutrin) for depression, and newly added Buspar for anxiety. Along with my 40mg of lexapro. I recently found out that lexapro could cause a drug interaction with my other medications.
So I quit cold turkey, I now feel terrible. I’m cranky all the time, I can’t hold anything down, even water is hard to keep down. I am so lost, do I start taking lexapro again and forget about it interacting with my other meds!? I just feel so terrible.
Our son was bi-polar and on multiple meds for depression, anxiety, psoriasis, arthritis, etc. If I had him back again I would want him to go to some place like Mayo, locked up and off all meds until he completely detoxed. After reading these posts I’m thinking it would take months or even years.
One other thing, make sure your psychiatrist knows all the meds you’re taking. Do whatever necessary to stay off alcohol and drugs (AA everyday) and pray a lot.
I was prescribed lexapro for generalized anxiety disorder. I was on the lowest dose for 9 months and have tapered off completely, after two weeks of taking half of a pill. I am on day 7 of not taking pills at all and I feel absolutely horrible.
At first I felt great but the past 4 days I have had a crazy amount of brain zaps, irritability, profusely sweating and today day 7 I flat out feel like I have the flu. Achey and with a headache.
Any suggestions to curb these withdrawal symptoms? Natural remedies to curb these symptoms? I was only on it for 9 months, how long should I expect to feel this way? This sucks, I see why people stay on it for long periods of time because the detox aspect is horrendous.
AT, I don’t know how long your symptoms will last. However, as a licensed therapist, I would tell you to not give up. It’ll be worth it in the end. You can try natural things like passion flower, chamomile, they have natural calming properties. Use coping skills, cognitive behavior exercises, physical exercise also naturally helps produce dopamine and serotonin. Wishing you the best.
I can relate. I’ve been on the generic Lexapro for GAD for somewhere around 2.5 to 3 years until this past January. I was having increasingly bad anxiety, constantly feeling overwhelmed, and anhedonia. I was laid off a few months after buying my first house and then my mother passed away suddenly (my only immediate family member), so none of us knew to what extent the Lexapro was helping.
My psychiatrist said I didn’t have GAD; instead, I have C-PTSD and ADHD, so he added Adderall and Wellbutrin, and I tapered off of Lexapro over two weeks or so. I’ve never been an overly emotional person (my family was the stiff upper lip type, though I tend to be overly empathetic), but now I constantly feel irritable and panicky, well up with tears at very strange things, or feel like a void of a human being with enough despair to swallow worlds.
The “put on your At-Work Face” facade is starting to crack, too, so I hope I am getting toward the end of this. My psychiatrist stresses that I shouldn’t attribute symptoms to the medications, but easier said than done. I am just reading these withdrawal outlines hoping that that is all this is, because if this is my “new normal”, I am in a heap of trouble. But I wish you the best of luck.
In addition to the response I wrote to someone else in this forum (see below), I went off Lexapro cold turkey almost 3 weeks ago. I have done this in the past and it is terrible. This time, however, I switched over to Sam-e right away and it has helped a lot! I am taking 200 mg. per day. I still have withdrawal symptoms from Lexapro (dizziness and irritability), but not nearly as bad as in the past.
I was on 10mg of Lexapro for about 1 year and 4 months. Stopped cold turkey two weeks ago and it has turned my life upside down. My story is long so it is below if it will help anyone feel less alone. Thanks :)
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In college, I was having an very hard time with panic attacks (at it’s worst, at least 2-3 times a week). I finally ran out of options and was able to get started with Lexapro after 3 years of somehow getting by with them. It was like magic and suddenly they were completely gone. My libido became nonexistent and I had very weird, very vivid dreams every night but I didn’t have a care in the world because it gave me my life back.
I didn’t feel like a zombie or like I was in lala land, I just felt like myself and I was really happy! I still had some issues with anxiety and depression but to me, those paled in comparison to panicking so I just dealt with it on my own. I don’t like taking any kind of drugs, so I asked the school psychiatrist a lot of questions before starting. Apparently, if I found I didn’t need it anymore, I could just stop taking it and it would be fine (spoiler: not fine).
I have just finished with my classes two months ago and started a full time job last month. Since I would not be able to see the school doctor anymore, he prescribed me three refills and said I could continue after that with a new doctor in my area if I needed. I decided I really didn’t need it anymore–I am in a completely different world from when I first started having panic attacks.
I picked up the last bottle two weeks ago but did not take any. I just kept the bottle in case I truly did need it and needed a buffer before I was able to find a doctor to re-prescribe. No issues at all with feeling panicky, which was awesome! I felt normal and was feeling like for the first time in my life, everything was going to be okay.
For as long as I can remember, I have had issues with fatigue, sleepiness, feeling light-headed, etc. I’m not sure if maybe this is why stopping completely knocked me out. Less than a week after stopping, I had no energy at all. The fatigue is very intense and all the muscles in my body ache like I’ve just done a marathon the day before.
My head feels very heavy and dizzy and it seems like my eyes lag behind when I turn my head (not sure how to describe, maybe something like when you are drunk) and everything is in slow motion. I generally feel confused and forgetful. Lots of nausea and loss of appetite, some diarrhea. Some issues with sleeping, but manageable.
Mood is sometimes a little odd, like I’ll get really ticked off when playing a game or choked up and teary watching a show (generally I am cool as a cucumber, even without the SSRIs haha). I have been very sensitive to light and sound (mostly just can’t wear headphones for too long). My body temperature is really inconsistent and my two modes now are either “on fire” or “popsicle.”
But the most bizarre and annoying is the tinnitus. It’s been the most persistent symptom. Whenever I move my eyes, the pitch of the ring changes (also not sure how to describe well). Generally…I just feel like I’ve been hit by a truck all the time. It did not even occur to me that the cause of all this was because of withdrawal.
I thought it was my usual issues of fatigue getting more intense because I was starting my first full-time job. I only figured out this was the issue after I happened to read something today about another person having my exact weird tinnitus issue after stopping Lexapro, then started furiously googling if it was possible to have withdrawal from stopping this medicine.
I am really disappointed that my doctor never mentioned any of this. After seeing how many people have left comments on this site alone, how could he have just vaguely guaranteed that I would “be fine?” I have been trying to get in contact with him these past couple of weeks with no answer. I am visiting a doctor in my new area tomorrow who can hopefully point me in the right direction.
It has been insane trying to hold down a new job and living in a new area away from family, friends, and my loved one while all of this is going on. But I know it’s not forever, so for now it’s just going to be a little rough (maybe little is an understatement…but I must be positive!!). At the very least I’m extremely thankful that my co-workers understand and support me and that I am in a position where I can work from home sometimes if needed.
Also despite my slew of issues, I don’t know what these brain zaps are that a lot of others are referring to (hopefully I will never know..!!). Things like this affect everyone differently so please rest assured that you are not “going crazy.” Best of luck to all out there dealing with a mess left behind by Lexapro.
Thank you for your input. I am off the drug three days now after a six week taper. I’m not getting the brain zaps but have the annoying tinnitus and feeling in general like I’ve been hit by a truck then he backed up and ran over me again in reverse. The other symptom is I feel very numb all over -don’t now how else to describe it. Amazing that you’re doing this while starting a new life. Please keep us posted. Best wishes.
That’s exactly how I feel, and I describe it in the same way! :) I thought I was being smart by tapering, but doesn’t seem to have had much benefit over cold turkey.
I got the same symptoms but less intensely when reducing from 10mg to 5mg a day, but they passed after about 1.5 weeks. Now they’ve returned with a vengeance after going from 5mg to 0mg a day. :(
2016 Christmas I worked really hard and, barely got any sleep (like 4-5 hours a day) for a month and on one night after smoking a cigarette I felt that I’m going to collapse, sitting down behind computer. Suddenly everything started going dark and spinning. I panicked and stood up, barely able to walk, heart pounding etc. Did not call doctor.
But then panic attacks started to happen. Just felt weird/dizzy/collapsing at random places. Called ambulance for multiple times, did all kind of tests (MRI, stress tests etc) all was fine. Then doctor prescribed me escitalopram, we tapered it up from 2.5mg to 20mg and I was on it for 6 months. Panic attacks subsided, I was very calm and enjoyed life, but then I started not to feel like myself, depersonalization, feeling numb etc.
No emotions, just being like a plant. I functioned normally, but I was just numb and did not want to continue. So we decided we start tampering down. went from 15-10-5-2.5 in 2 months. Now I’m off completely for 4 days and I’m having body zaps, feeling ‘good’ like I have eaten some MDMA without the ‘high’, but just ‘body high’.
I think the symptoms are slowly subsiding. I feel that laying down and reading/playing computer games helps to distract. I hope You all are better already, and whoever reads this, don’t lose hope – Your brain is just compensating because it’s used to be with serotonin not being reuptaken so quickly, side effects will go away in time for sure.
They can be replaced by ‘psychosomatic’ symptoms, which occur when you listen your body too much. I suggest get some therapy, talk it through and try some coping exercises. For me one thing was to measure my heart rate constantly, I did it like 20-30 times a day.
If you find out what thought pattern you have that constantly takes you to listen your body or come back to the panic/worry, it is easier to train yourself to get rid of it. It takes effort, but in the end YOU are in control of your body and thoughts.
So a little update – it’s been exactly 1 week and I feel much better already, some mild zaps, but they are subsiding. I read somewhere that it takes around 7-10 days to get the escitalopram (celexa, etc) totally out from your system.
Hello. I just went cold turkey off 20mg of Lexapro. I know this isn’t very smart thing to do but I had just enough of this drug. I’ve been taking it for around nine months and it did help me to feel better.
I suffered from severe anxiety, depression and panic attacks. But this drug totally destroyed my libido. Well I just had to quit it. Sorry for my broken English (I’m in the process of learning it).
My doc took me from 20mg to 10mg in a week to 5mg in a week to none. My last dose was Wednesday (2/14/18) & since last night I’ve been dizzy & having the brain zaps (which I’d felt before but never knew had a name).
She had to take me off since I was in a hypomanic episode (that started mid January) & she was concerned the Lexapro could be triggering since apparently anti-depressants can trigger mania (FUN).
I know the tapering didn’t last long enough but I was in a crisis which we’re still managing. Anyway, my mood is much more stable on the new med but I’m hating these withdrawal symptoms. I just needed a place to vent. Thanks for listening.
I have been off Lexapro 10mg for a month or a little more. I weaned from 10 to 5 to 2.5 to nothing. I am getting horrible headaches almost daily. Has anyone else experienced this after being off a month?
I actually was on lex 10mg for over 8 months and this was in 2008. I tapered off the lex but ever since I have been off them I get migraines pretty much every other day. Never had a migraine prior to the lex. Unfortunately, I have to carry Excedrin migraine everywhere just in case one happens. If I don’t take anything at onset of symptoms, I am screwed.
I was on 20mg for 8 years. I am 3 weeks into a cold turkey quit and I now know the meaning of detoxification! Like clockwork, 1 PM daily I start to get a migraine which leads into nausea.
Will this ever stop? I see why people give into the pain and just go back to the $4 a month medication. Advice would be most welcome!
The comments are so supportive in that I am not alone. I’d been on Lexapro 10mg for 16 years and a year ago decided to tapper down and stop. Sadly I did not realize it was that straight forward and had to go back on to it. In Dec 2017 after a 7 month sailing adventure I tapered off it again and 10 days ago finally stopped.
What a mess. I cry at the drop of a hat, feel lethargic, have brain fog, feel depressed and have anxiety now and again. A psychologist friend is quite concerned for my well being so I saw a doctor, and his immediate suggestion was go straight back onto 10mg Lexapro and see him next week for a Mental Health plan (10 free visits to a psychologist) that’s if I can see/find one quick enough other than my friend.
All this while trying to hold down a new job. I’ve nearly had enough. I want off this drug so I’ll just keep trying to hold it together. In a way I see the only winner is the drug manufacturer.
Chris, your story is very similar to mine. I have been OFF of Lexapro, successfully, for over a year. I highly suggest trying out fish oil. It supports brain health. It stops the nasty withdrawals and has really helped me a lot. I still have those bouts of crying for no reason, but they have gone from daily to monthly.
It took me over a year of research to find that this may help, and it did. No doctor would tell me that, because they don’t get anything from me stopping pharmaceuticals and basically stopping monthly visits to them for help. Doctors only want to push pills. They don’t want to get to the root of the issue, which is an imbalance in your brain.
When I started, I took a double dose of fish oil every morning. If I felt bad, Id take more in the middle of the day. Now, I am down to a normal dose in the morning with my other vitamins and I am pharmaceutical free and honestly happier than I have ever been. I wish you luck.
Well it’s nice to know I’m not alone. I have all the symptoms except brain freeze, thank goodness. I took Lexapro for 4 & 1/2 years. I’ve been slowly withdrawing from 20 milligrams to 0.25. Two weeks ago I stopped all together. Wow, the nausea is unbelievable. Hot flashes, night sweats, weeping because a leaf fell of my tree (not really but close).
I told my sister about my withdrawals and she is debating when she’ll stop taking hers. She and I both feel like this whole process is like a comical tragedy. Good luck, and take care. This too shall end, like passing a kidney stone.
Hi Chris, I definitely feel your pain. This will be a long read but well worth the time. I, too, was on 10 mg. Lexapro for 16-17 years. I started taking at the recommendation of my doctor to help me cope with the difficulties in dealing with two aging parents (one of which was bipolar and had borderline personality). He told me that there were few to no side effects with Lexapro.
Surprise! We decided to move near Charleston, SC last year from Atlanta, GA because we are at a point in our lives where we can. I found a new primary care doctor here who discovered that I had low blood sodium which is not a good thing. After some thought he decided that the Lexapro might be the culprit since SSRI’s are known to create this issue in some users.
So I tapered off in October 2017 for 2 weeks until I was taking none. I actually felt pretty good and we decided that my depression and anxiety from before were probably situational. Over the next month or two I experienced some major physical changes. Number one being that I no longer had chronic diarrhea. It was uncontrollable and for most of those I had a high powered job.
I have seen four different GI doctors in the past 15 years and have been treated for microscopic colitis, IBSD, and pancreatic insufficiency. None of the doctors ever questioned any of my medications. I had none of those conditions and I was unable to tolerate most of the drugs prescribed for treatment.
The last doctor I saw said that he thought I had low pancreatic enzymes due to the fact that I had an attack of acute pancreatitis when I was 25. He began treating me with Creon two years ago, two at each meal and one with a snack. Seven capsules each day. One month’s supply was $2,100 and my copay with Medicare was $900/mo until I reached catastrophic coverage.
After being off Lexapro for four months now I am more normal that I have been in years. No more diarrhea or Creon and my blood sodium came back normal and all was good. Until… I had no idea that I would have any more difficulties coming off the Lexapro since I was four months out. I did notice some issues over the past few months; lethargy, insomnia, severe muscle cramps, itching, irritability, anxiety, crying spells and sleeping a lot during the day.
Then the day came a few weeks ago when I thought I was losing my mind. My mind was no longer my own and I had no control over my thoughts or the depression. I can now understand why addicts relapse. I would have done anything to make those thoughts disappear.
I saw my doctor that day and cried during the entire visit. He suggested some new meds and I discovered within 24 hr. that I could not tolerate them. I am Type 1 diabetic and one of the drugs effected my BG levels worse than steroids. I was a zombie. I was not going down that path.
I turned to the internet and discovered other former users who had experienced this same misery. Sometimes 6-12 months after discontinuing. I am almost back to what is normal for me and saving thousands of dollars per year on drug costs. I will always look back on the last few months as the worst time of my life. Worse than three abdominal surgeries, child birth and menopause.
When you reach a point that you have no control over your mind you are in big trouble. If you don’t absolutely need an antidepressant for a mental condition, don’t do it unless you plan to take it for the remainder of your life. My best wishes to you as you venture down this road. If I can do it, you can, too, but it is not EASY. Meechie
I commented here a while back, when I was having trouble coming off of Lexapro. I was on it for years. I lost my insurance and decided to take the plunge and get off of Lexapro. I had a lot left, so I tapered myself off of it from 20mg all the way to about 2mg in a year.
Then for a while, when I started having the zaps (about once every week or two) I would take a tiny piece and take a nap. Once I woke up, I was OK. With the advice here and elsewhere, I was able to successfully stop taking Lexapro AND stop the awful zaps.
How I did this was with fish oil! There isn’t a lot of information out there on how this works, but it really does and I can say it has saved my life! I started by taking double the dose of fish oil, daily. IF I had the zaps, I would take two more and they would go away within an hour. In a month or so, I stopped having the zaps COMPLETELY.
I have been taking the recommended dose of fish oil now for a few months and have had zero issues and I am happy! Fish oil is so great for our brains. It helps regulate serotonin, and has many other benefits. I am not a professional, but this worked for me and I really hope it will work for others.
Sara – How much fish oil do you take? I stopped lexapro about 10 months ago was on it for 8 years and am now having anxiety again. I have read that this can happen. Wondering if anyone else had this problem? Denise
I have been weaning off Lexapro and have been completely off for only 3 days now. I have been experiencing all of the symptoms you all have been experiencing. The reason why I went off is because of my eyes. I also experienced floaters which I thought was just an eye problem. Then I was having such eye pain behind my eyes, and then double vision.
I couldn’t focus on anything without seeing double. My medical doctor recommended I see an eye doctor. After being examined by an eye doctor and then a specialist who told me my eyes are good and there is nothing wrong with them. Then I started looking for other reasons why I was experiencing eye problems.
I took a look at my medications and found that Lexapro could be causing this. Since I have been tapering off and now am completely off, the eye pain is gone, and double vision is less. I am hoping the double vision will be completely gone soon. I am frustrated with my medical doctor saying it is an eye problem without even considering it may be medication related.
This was 3 years ago I started with the eye problems. Just wanted to throw this out there in case anyone else is experiencing the same symptoms. Hang in there everyone!
I can relate to most of these comments. I’ve been on lexapro for 7 years now, 20mg. I have to say so far it has worked out great for me. I did gain 15 lbs but I can’t say that is because of lexapro. Only problem is I am off of it all too much. Sometimes I forget to call in my prescription in a timely manner. So I end up going through withdrawal for a few days until my Dr calls the pharmacy.
Yes it’s my responsibility to keep up with the prescriptions so this doesn’t happen but my Dr doesn’t seem to care. I go through hell and he takes his sweet old time to order me a refill. He’s gotta know the withdrawal is awful!!! As of today I’ve been off of it for about 3 days and my life is a revolving door of hellish withdrawal symptoms! And I’ve been calling my Dr almost constantly and nothing in return!
Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences. In my opinion SSRIs are wonderful drugs to get you over short-term issues, but not a long-term solution. At some stage the situation that causes anxiety changes or you should make life changes. I have taken Lexapro three times in my life. Last time I took the doctors recommended suggestion of 10 mg and followed a regime to cease use. My feeling is that this is absolutely required for this does.
This time I insisted that I only wanted to take 5 mg. I have taken this for around 2 & 1/5 years. I have ceased taking my medication 2 weeks ago, ‘cold turkey’. I have been trying to lose weight and not getting down as much as I would like, and weight gain from SSRIs is well documented – if not well understood.
I thought I’d see what happened and whether I required a taper off period. After 14 days it’s going really well. I am getting the classic ‘brain zap’ and initially some insomnia, but am feeling so much more energetic, creative and alive. I know the ‘brain zap’ can be a bit scary for some, but as long as you know to expect it and that it is common it’s something that you will get used to.
If you are getting a whole bunch of withdrawal effects then you really need to work with your physician. When I commenced treatment I was suffering quite strong anxiety (30 on the K10 scale) and it felt like a weight was removed from me and colours became vivid again. It’s funny that I am getting positive feelings now from *not* taking Lexapro. I guess that shows it is time to cease use.
The message I would like to pass on is that there are lots of very good reasons to commence treatment. Don’t feel bad that you started! But unless you are experiencing severe psychological disturbance there is also a time to cease use. If you think it is time to cease use, then it probably is time to cease use – not to mention if you are having other issues from taking the drug. For most of us SSRIs are a useful circuit breaker but not a lifetime solution.
Thanks for your comment. Very helpful to me as I am feeling like it’s time to get off Lexapro after being on it for 18 months, as mine was prescribed for adjustment disorder for which the situation has improved. Until your comment I was afraid of the horror stories about withdrawal.
Hello Friends. I am just another former Lexapro user who Googled withdrawal symptoms due to my severe symptoms. I was on 20mg for 4 years and decided to wean myself off it after removing myself from my former stressful life situation. Of course like most of you, I started panicking a bit when the withdrawal symptoms started rearing It’s ugly head.
I went off Lexapro on my own without consulting my doctor. I gradually reduced my dose over a month until I was completely free from it. Without my doctor’s guidance, I did not know there would be such severe side effects. The “brain shocks” were the most severe and scary for the first two weeks.
They since have almost completely gone away. Now a month in, I am really struggling with irritability and clumsiness. I immediately started noticing that I do miss Lexapro’s ability to “take the edge off” stressful encounters. Now I seem to get pissed off at even the most minor things like if someone does something stupid while driving near me or if someone is rude to me at a store.
I feel an inner rage and want to explode. Lexapro really helped me with these feelings where I just didn’t care. Now everything seems to bother me. Additionally, I feel less social and want to be alone. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I just feel safer with myself.
Does anyone else feel this way? Anyway, thanks for listening to my rambling. I am just staying the course hoping all these side effects continue to subside. Thank you all for sharing your experiences… it really helps knowing we aren’t alone.
Omg, I have been off Lex for about 2 months… I’m a school bus driver and MAN I cannnnnot handle it! Just like you said. ? Road rage, anger and irritability, crying at almost everything. Anxiety keeps me awake… what a ride. I hope it tapers in a few months. It makes me miss feeling like a zombie lol. Xo good luck.
I was on lexapro for about 7.5 months give or take a week or two. I started 5mg and gradually built up to 20mg after maybe five months. When I stopped I went to 15 for two weeks, 10 for a week and then five for a week and quit.
I am about 7 weeks post quitting and it has been hard. Cold clammy sweaty hands at work, dread, worse GERD, and putting weight back on.
I lost about five pounds on it but have gained it back. Very active in gym so have not gained any more than I had before. I need some kind of drug to control my mind but I don’t think SSRI’s are it. I will soldier on. That is all I can do.
My inner voice could have written this. Same here. Exactly.
Yeah, definitely feel you. Especially with the irrational rage/anger thing. I’m feeling a lot less social, largely because people keep annoying the f*** out of me. I keep snapping on my boyfriend and sister, who have been really helpful. It’s a s**t spot to be in, but at least we’ve already gotten some of it out of the way. :)
I was on lexapro 20 for about 5 months. I decided to stop because I started feeling how you described while I was still taking it (inner rage, pissed off and irritated at the slightest thing) basically wanted to throat punch everyone and be alone.
10th day off (cold turkey) today. I’ve had dizziness, tired eyes, diarrhea and some insomnia. Trying to just rest and feel better and ride it out until it passes. Hope it gets better soon.
I have been on Escitalopram 10MG for around 7 months due to anxiety attacks. I recently discussed with my PCP that I wanted to get off of it because I had the feeling to have overcome my anxiety. Bad decision! I quit cold turkey and on day 3 I began feeling dizzy, weak, fatigue and have brain zaps almost constantly throughout the day when moving around.
On the good side, I dream a lot (and really a lot every night) again since getting off of it. After talking to the Nurse, my MD prescribed 5mg again. I don’t want to go back to the full dose but will be traveling the next weeks and can’t deal with the withdrawal symptoms at this time. I’ll be picking up the 5mg today and reporting about the outcome.
Coming off after 9 months at 10mg. Have all the problems mentioned in the posts, especially fatigue, short term memory loss, weight loss (a good thing) and better libido! Does anyone find that exercise helps withdrawal? Though dead tired during the day, I force myself to jog, putting in my customary 30-35 miles a week. During the run the fatigue certainly subsides but returns almost as soon as I’m done.
Had a panic or anxiety attack while scrambling eggs. LOL. Who knows why, but about a month prior my daughter was diagnosed with Diabetes type 1 after she almost died in the hospital. In the same year my job was eliminated and my mother was fighting cancer – therefore, it was a stressful year.
I am told by my psychologist that this attack was a delayed reaction to all the stress. After the attack, I Googled my symptoms (please don’t ever do this). The internet told me I may be going crazy so I thought wow could this be happening? And there comes the 24/7 anxiety that I could not shake after that. I finally had to go on Ativan, then Lexapro.
After two months of meds and a reacquainted relationship with God, I decided to trust God and stop taking Lex. I self-weaned by going from 10 to 5 to 2.5 to none during a 2 week time frame. My symptoms were: tingling in legs, lightheadedness, spurts of anxiety caused by fear of losing mind or intrusive thoughts (never about taking my life though), burping, and blurred vision.
Every time I wanted to pop an Ativan, I prayed instead. I know this may not work for everyone, but if you believe in God, cast your cares on Him. Every time I pray, my anxiety lessens. It’s been 3 weeks and I still have all the same symptoms, mostly every day besides anxiety. Anxiety comes and goes quickly, sometimes if bad lasts a day or two.
Helping to always remind myself that these are withdrawal issues, helps the anxiety go away, too. I’m 44 and have never experienced depression, I love my life. Anxiety sucks though. Also, read up on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Prayers for you all, you’re not alone, you are beloved. He walks in the fire beside you, God bless.
After 12 years on Lexapro, I have quit cold turkey. Not because I wanted to, I know better than to do anything cold turkey. I don’t have insurance anymore and when I went to get Rx filled, they wanted over $150 to have it filled without insurance. There is no way I was going to pay that much, even if I had the money!
Well, let’s be honest, I probably would have if I could afford it. So, it’s been over two weeks since I have taken any Lexapro and boy am I tired! Oh, crap, I just realized I quit my job… but I haven’t been really happy with it for a few months, too much stress.
So far I think the only side effect has been lack of energy unless no one has mentioned that I am a complete mess. Let’s see how it goes, wish me luck. Okay so I just finished posting that I have no side effects from quitting Lexapro cold turkey except lack of energy.
After my post I sat on the couch and was eating leftovers and crying during a commercial. So, I forgot to mention that I have been crying a lot and eating a lot as well. This is ridiculous.
I had been on Lexapro 10mg for about 6 months and quit cold turkey about a month ago because of weight gain. I gained about 20lbs in those six months and it started to make me feel depressed. I personally have had NO withdrawal effects (yet) and I have been off of it for a little over the month. It seems like the weight I have gained is impossible to get off.
Update #3: If you saw my above posts I have been tapering down from 10mg. 3 months at 9mg, then 3 months at 8mg. My doctor agrees with slow tapering. However I have now been on 8mg for 6 months, unable to take the step down to 7mg. My symptoms were so bad when first reducing to 8mg that I can’t contemplate experiencing them at this particular time in my life. My goal is 5 mg. I hope to get there eventually. So… I have a prescription for 8mg for another 3 months. I am still taking 2400mg of Omega 3-6-9 and 2000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily. No weight loss :(
I was on Lexapro for 15 years. The withdrawal has been tough but I agree with those who have found that high quality supplements help tremendously. I found a nutrition system (after a desperate prayer) that has changed my life and now that of family members and friends.
It puts superior nutrition into you, takes toxins out and gets the PH balance of your gut to a better state. I also use a magnesium cream on the bottoms of my feet when I go to bed and a sleep spray that you spray under your tongue (is better absorbed by the body that way) which has melatonin, valerian and more in it. I am still feeling withdrawal symptoms but nothing like what some have described.
The system I use and supplements I take are expensive and high quality but its worth it – your body doesn’t absorb cheap stuff very well and the cheap stuff often comes with toxins and crap in them.
Cathy what supplements do you take? I tapered my Lexapro (took generic Escitalopram cause insurance would not pay for name brand) down for over 3 months and last taken was November 2017. Went thru all terrible brain zaps, pain in all my joints but mentally felt good.
Now six months later depression has set back in. But same level of depression as when ON LEXAPRO. Can’t get motivated to do anything. Dread even good times that I should be looking forward to. Feeling overwhelmed about everything. Help please.
My prescription for Lexapro expired the first of January, so I am trying to go cold turkey (with a little help from Ativan), as I am unemployed and can’t afford to get a new RX. It’s been 21 days and it’s starting to get harder. The night sweats are annoying, and the sudden bouts of tears have caused a few awkward moments but I really want to make this. So long as my family doesn’t fuss too much when I turn the air conditioning on in the middle of the night, I think I’ll be alright. I am so glad I found this site. I thought I was losing my mind again.
Hang in there Missymom!!! I agree the sudden bouts of tears can be awkward, especially when you are just listening to a conference call for work, LOL and someone calls on you. I am glad I found this site too. I think I would have given up and got back on the meds by now.
Hey folks, I just wanted to add an update. My withdrawal symptoms are almost gone after about 2-3 months now. I still get tired, but I blame that on the depression. I am lucky to have an amazing GP who keeps up on studies of natural remedies for people like me who don’t like taking mind altering drugs.
Saint John’s Wort for insomnia has been amazing for me the last month. Evening Primrose oil for us females to balance our hormones. And Omega 3’s :)
Besides learning to live with anxiety again, I feel great. SO MUCH BETTER then when I was a medicated zombie with no feelings or libido. Good luck everyone! You got this! XOXOXO
Rachelle, how long were you taking the meds?
Hey Anet, close to 3 years. Also just started with a new therapist, which I am confident is going to help a lot :)
Thank you! This is week 4 – struggling but I am alive. Feeling everything feels good.
Hi Rachelle, Don’t know if you are still responding. But hope you are still doing well. You said your symptoms are almost gone. Are you still experiencing the dizziness and the brain zaps? I am in week six of withdrawal and the dizziness and brain zaps are still there, not as extreme as before, but noticeable.
Praying that I’m on the road to full recovery. The withdrawal symptoms are very very rough to deal with especially when you had to clue that this would happen. There are times that I feel like going back on the meds but God’s mercy kept me and is still keeping me.
I am so grateful I found this site. Reading all your comments regarding withdrawal etc. it all makes sense to me now. I was on Lexapro for just over 2 years, and in the last 6 months I’ve been experiencing severe headaches, dizziness and fainting. My GP has tested everything, my heart, my brain (CT scan), iron, blood, thyroid, eyesight, etc. and all is fine.
I suggested to come off the lexapro as previously I was on Pristiq (antidepressant/anxiety) for 2 years and started fainting then too. I tapered down to 10mg then stopped and have been having these weird brain shudders like my eyes can’t keep up with my head movement. My GP thinks I need to drink more water but I drink 2-3 litres a day already!
But after reading this page I know it’s withdrawal. In the last 2 weeks I’ve been extremely tired, no energy, diarrhea for 9 days, no appetite, brain shuddering and blurred vision at times. I’ve been very moody but I’d rather that than walk around like a zombie. No more anti-depressant / anti-anxiety meds for me thank you. It’s so good to read other peoples experiences and know I’m not alone! Thanks.
Hang in there! 2+ weeks into the withdrawal. Some days are worse than others. But just like you I’d rather know it’s tough than walking around in a fog. I didn’t realize how huge the fog was until I went off the drug!
Some days are more challenging, but I don’t ever want to go back! When the “bad days” hit I’ve been doing yoga, exercising, or reading. Anything to distract me. Hang in there to anyone trying for a healthier… (although challenging) way of life.
Update: After a few weeks of cold turkey and a couple trying L-Tyrosine (which I had done once before), as of tonight I am going back on Lexapro. I have my parents to thank for intervening by getting me an appointment with my doctor and helping to pay for my meds. Going cold turkey just wasn’t working. I only hope that resuming my meds doesn’t get worse before getting better, as I’ve heard it sometimes does. Please pray for me.
Thanks everyone for taking the time to explain (in detail) your withdrawal experiences! I’m going to keep reading them, to help me get through this. I took 10mg of Lexapro for about 8 years. 6 days ago it was time to renew or quit. I knew I had grown tolerant to the 10mg dosage. I also knew my doctor would recommend increasing my dosage.
I didn’t want to do that, unless absolutely necessary. So I opted for cold turkey. I have experienced some head aches… nothing too significant. For me, the worst has been the disorientation… and the electrical zaps… and my anxiety. They weren’t bad the first couple of days. Now on day 6 they are definitely peaking.
Being neurotic of course I googled electrical zaps and found MS-specifically Lhermitte’s and immediately thought I must have that. LOL. However this forum has eased that fear, and I know believe it is related to stopping the Lexapro.
Wish me luck. I hate the heightened anxiety/depression. But I’m trying to find other (non-drug) related ways of coping. Best of luck to everyone trying to quit… I see why pharmaceutical companies make so much money on this stuff!
Stumbled across this via a Google search and thought I’d put in my $0.02 worth… I’ve been taking Lexapro for at least 4-5 years, with a break in the middle due to one my previous GPs refusing to renew my prescription since he was not a psychiatrist. I’ve been on several SSRIs over the last 20 years for chronic depression and I have to admit that Lexapro has been the most amenable to my physiology, i.e. least amount of side-effects. Every time I’ve had to discontinue an SSRI I’ve experienced and dealt with withdrawal symptoms so those are nothing new.
Never pleasant, of course, but at least I know what I’m in for. My history with Lexapro is thus: several years at 10mg with said temporary lapse in the middle; then about 9 months of 20mg; and finally a self-imposed reduction back to 10mg several weeks ago. My current GP will not renew my prescription, presumably without seeing me first, and since I am currently between jobs, without health coverage, and can’t afford an office visit, much less continue expecting my parents to foot the monthly $115 bill for meds, my reduced dosage was an attempt to stretch out my last batch of pills.
I’ve been cold turkey now for the last three or four days. I’ve come off a month or two of a vicious depressive episode with renewed energy (result: a clean and rearranged house!) but my sleep schedule has been completely upside down and I’ve been a good 40 lb above my old normal weight. Since my last pill I’ve been feeling the expected fizzy skin, brain zaps, haziness, slight jitters, my stomach doesn’t feel quite right, and as I type right now a bit of a headache in the base of my skull.
Also the mid-back pain that I’ve suffered off and on for the last few years has returned. I’ve been up since about 3pm yesterday with a three hour “nap” from 10pm-1am last night, and I’m fighting to not crawl back into bed only to get up again mid-afternoon. My boundless energy of the last two weeks seems to have subsided somewhat.
Gotta keep the momentum up. As I said I’ve been through this before, although it’s never pleasant and no telling how long before the withdrawal symptoms will last or whether underneath the artificial normalcy my depression is waiting to pounce again. I will keep you all posted on my progress.
I was taking Lexapro for about 9 years, due to heavy depression. I tried a few others like Zoloft and Celexa. Lexapro really helped my situation. I felt alive again. 9 years later I decided I want to stop taking it, my life is better, I don’t think I need it anymore. I also gained weight and have been fighting to lose it, with no avail.
I was at 20mg, I dropped to 10 and then 5mg. Here comes the zaps and dizziness. It’s been horrible. I started this in July. The doctor said not to go cold turkey. I stayed on 5mg for awhile and then cut them in half. 5 days ago I stopped taking it all together. I still have the Zaps and dizziness but not as bad. I just want to stop this medication.
I’ll just deal with it. Hopefully it will end soon. This is how the Big Pharma companies keep us taking meds. All pills somehow lead to some other symptoms and problems. Look at some commercials “Take this, but it will lead to this” I also stopped taking Lipitor for cholesterol.
I was having such back pain. I couldn’t walk a block, my back muscles would cramp up so bad. Stopped taking it and my back pain went away. That’s how they make money. I had MRIs and all kind of testing on my back which led to nothing. It was the Lipitor.