Lexapro Withdrawals
I am new to this group, but I have done some research on Lexapro and
withdrawals after I had gone a week cold turkey. I had taken 10
milligrams of Lexapro after taking Celexa for two years. I was only
supposed to be on the Celexa for 6 months. It was originally
prescribed for me for post-partum depression. The Celexa helped, but
I was incapable of doing the simplest things, like going shopping.
After going cold turkey for a week, I went to see my doctor about
something unrelated, and I burst into tears. Instead of helping me
off antidepresants, he prescribed Lexapro to me, teliing me it had no
side effects and would be perfect for me. The transition was not
easy, but after a few weeks I felt better. But I slowly realized me
life was not much better than it had been on the Celexa. I let so
many things slide all because I was afaid I might need this drug to
make it through the day. The last time I went to refill the Lexapro
was on a Friday. The doctor had refused to fill it because I had not
seen him for so long. Another apptointment I never made it got pushed
back and back. I decided I would not take them anymore, and for a
week I did not notice much. But then started a living hell. I first
noticed how incredibibly irritable I had become with my four small
children. Then I got all these terrible flu symptoms, aches and
pains, runny nose, etc. The worst part of all is not feeling
comfortable in your own skin. I just don’t feel like myself. I have
read comments drom many people who weaned themselves off slowly, and
could never get off because the withdrawals were too horrible. I
believe I would have been just as miserable even if I had weaned off
slowly. I had taken Zanax for about a year (years ago), one small
dose per day, and when I tapered off and finally quit I was totally
miserabe, almost ezactly how I feel now. I am determined to ride this
out for as long as it takes. It will be two weeks tomorrow, and it is
getting worse not better. After doing more resaech (wish I woild have
had the wherewithal to do it before I started on the Lexapro) I
believe that antidpessants should be used as a last resort. The price
is too huge, and no one tells you about these problems. I have been
visiting many sites like this one, and there are many people out
there that are suffering just like I am. If I had had any clues what
me and my family would have to suffer through, I would never have
taken them. I had pp depression after my second son and it went away
on it’s own. I would have at the least given it (pp dep)more time to
go away on its own, or would have taken the Celexa for a much shorter
time. I would never advise anyone to take these drugs unless you are
suicidal. You can’t know how they will affect you until it is too
late. Is there anyone out there who had suffered from withdrawals and
made it through? Can you tell me how long it took? Thanks for your
time.
October 22nd, 2005 at 5:29 am
Mommyto4boys, can I ask what your withdrawal symptoms were? Thank you
October 22nd, 2005 at 9:40 am
Hi. Im a quiet watcher of this list just to see what others think and go
through. I have been on several antidepressants for depression/anxiety.
Lexapro had the least side effects for me….including less sexual side affects,
but i was ready to just be me and figure out why i was how i was and blah blah
so i decided to quit and start a vitamin/healthy eating/exercise regimen.. I
think after two months of completely being off of lexapro…i was almost totally
normal. Im three months off now. I tapered from 10mg to 5 for two weeks, cuz i
wasnt sure i was gonna go off, then to 2.5 for one week, and then just off and i
think the first week was completely fine, then it hit me….I was very irritable
on short short notice, i would cry, then laugh, i started taking b complex
vitamins twice a day, and just remembered that it wasnt “me” who was acting this
way and asked my family to be patient and helpful. I am now off and my sex life
seems to be coming back slowly, my energy is back for the most part, my
motivation is getting there. It has its days. I did gain about 15lbs on
lexapro without an increased appetite so in my opinion it did affect my
metabolism, but i am still not losing any after three months off, but im working
on it. I also started to see a counselor who, in one visit, totally opened my
eyes to how to overcome my issues and guilt differently. I think i was just
ready to try harder than i was 3yrs ago when this all started. But im much
happier for the time being, lol. Good luck to anyone trying to come off and
congrats to all who found antidepressants to be helpful and calming for them.
We all have our times in life when we need something or someone extra to push us
through it. Hope my email will help someone along the way.
Tammy