Lexapro Withdrawal

[JRDrum]

Hi all,

I'm new to this forum and was directed here from some folks over at the Drugs.com forums who said I might find some guidance and or help here.

I've been browsing your forum and it seems there is a lot of info here, almost too much to process at the moment but since the forum is dedicated mostly to Paxil, I wonder if anyone can relate to me and my situation.

I have been on SSRI's for about 10 years.

I've been on a combo of Wellbutrin and Lexpro for the past 6 years and a few weeks ago I went to see a new doctor who suggested going off lexapro to help me with my stalled weight loss.

Although I've been on it for 6 years, the realization that it might be hurting my weight loss at a time when I NEED To lose (getting married in 2 months) I agreed it was time to try and go off of it.

The doctor gave me a tapering schedule that I have now learned was MUCH TOO fast based on the feedback on the drugs.com forum and from what i"m reading here about Paxil and other similar drugs.

I was on 20mgs and he had me go down to 10mgs for JUST ONE WEEK.

Then after that 2 weeks at 5mgs and then just go off it all together.

Well as of yesterday I was off of it all together for 1 full week and the withdrawal symptoms were in full effect.

I felt sooo sick yesterday. Dizzy, Nauseous and unable to function really. Also highly emotional and iritable.

When It finally occurred to me yesterday that I was feeling this way b/c of wd... I decided to take 5mg. A few hours later I was feeling better.

This morning I took 5mg again and today was definitely better. (Still grouchy and cranky but no real diziness)

Some of the others on the other forum suggested that I go up to 10mg or even back to 20 but I really don't want to.

I THINK I already know what you all are going to say BUT... do you think that if i just stay on 5mg for a while that I will be ok???

I would consult the doctor but CLEARLY he is clueless to have suggested I go off Lexapro in just 3 weeks after being on it for 6 years!!

Any help and advice is appreciated!

Thanks!

[LCrawford67]

Welcome, JR!

We have a few folks who have been on Lexapro and I'm sure they'll be chiming in. One person in particular you may want to PM is, Aeroman.

I don't know much about Lexapro, but I do know enough to know your taper was entirely too fast. But, that's par for the course here with any SSRI and the doctor's recommended taper.

I would suggest you go back up to the last, lowest dose where you felt stable. If that's at 5 mgs, that's great; but don't close your mind to going back up more, if needed.

[scotty]

Welcome to paxilprogress!

While our "title" is about paxil, we have members on every ssri/snri out there. The reality of weaning any of them is to go VERY slow.

Only you can decide what dose to return to. Our advice is find the dose that you stabilize at, and stay there a while. You may have to go back to 10mg, since it's probably that first HUGE wean that is getting to you know.

Key points to remember....it can take 2-4 weeks to feel any symptoms(so don't jump the gun) and consistent daily dosing, no alternating doses, or skipping days.

[Mick85]

JRDrum,

I tapered from 40mg of Lexapro and found that the severe withdrawals did not begin until going below 5mg. While, I did have some issues going from 10mg to 5mg they were nothing compared to the withdrawal symptoms below 5mg. In addition, when I went back on after ct, I found that the 5mg dose provided significant relief from withdrawal symptoms.

While you may need to go back up to 10mg, you may want to see if you can stabilize at 5mg. If you can, I would suggest staying put at this dose for a good amount of time (since it can take several weeks to feel some of the wd symptoms and for your body to adjust to the dosage decrease) and then SLOWLY weaning from there.

[matthew T]

Originally Posted by Mick85

JRDrum,

I tapered from 40mg of Lexapro and found that the severe withdrawals did not begin until going below 5mg. While, I did have some issues going from 10mg to 5mg they were nothing compared to the withdrawal symptoms below 5mg. In addition, when I went back on after ct, I found that the 5mg dose provided significant relief from withdrawal symptoms.

While you may need to go back up to 10mg, you may want to see if you can stabilize at 5mg. If you can, I would suggest staying put at this dose for a good amount of time (since it can take several weeks to feel some of the wd symptoms and for your body to adjust to the dosage decrease) and then SLOWLY weaning from there.

Mick85
I rEAD another post of yours where you said you tapered over 8 months. Did you taper the entire 40 mg over 8 months or just the last 5 that you said were the hardest?
being at 5 mg myself, I would be interested in your schedule or taper from that point on. I think your taper was too fast. My guess is it willl take my 8 months just to get off of the final 5 mgs.
I have to say you got me scared when you say the last 5 mg are the hardest, I could use some tips if you have them.
BTW congrats on getting off 40mg of lexapro, not too many people can say that.

[Mick85]

Matthew,

I actually tapered over 1 year-from April 2008-2009 after having to reinstate following a cold turkey from 5mg in February 2008 (I have been completely med free for about 8 months). My "taper" schedule is a little complicated because I actually started reducing my medication throughout the years that I was on it, so I kind of had a built in taper. I got down to 5mg in November of 2007 and experienced mild withdrawal (crying, slight brain fog) but it subsided in about a week and I was actually able to stabilize at 5mg.

My "taper schedule" was probably not the best. While I did reinstate, I probably did not do the best job making steady, slow drops. I sometimes dropped by more than 10%. I was not aware of the correct way to taper at the time and I didn't really understand withdrawal.

I did not mean to scare you by saying that the last 5mg is the hardest. You may not have as difficult time as I did. However, I did want to offer my experience.

However, as I said, you may not have as much trouble as I did. I was on an extremely high dose for a good amount of time and my taper was not very uniformed. It also sounds like you have done a good job with a steady, slow taper thus far. However, as you suggested, you may want to consider being extra cautious going below the 5mg point and really give your body time to adjust to the dosage decreases. 8 months or more sounds like a reasonable estimate

As far as tips are concerned, a couple things that I found helpful were:

-If possible, you may want to switch to liquid Lexapro, either now or when you get past 2.5mg. It really makes the process easier and allows you to accurately measure your dosage.

-I have used fish oil off and on throughout this entire process. I have recently started taking it regularly again. It seems to really help with brain zaps, cognitive function, and mood.

Thanks for the congrats...same to you on making it to 5mg!!!

[kashmir_06]

I'd like to chime in about the Lexapro 5mg. I've been tapering from 20mg since around mid October. I would drop maybe 2.5 every 5 days or so or whenever I would stabilize. I continued this with relative ease with some fatigue as the worst side effect.

BUT now that I'm at 5mg, it's WAY harder to drop. I have mild zaps, vertigo and such. Listen to your body. If you're feeling good try dropping another mg. I like to test the water. Once I feel better I'll try maybe 3mg if I can't handle it I'll increase it to 4mg. good luck on your journey... it will be over soon!

[pboy]

Kashmir, those are very big drops!!! I'm not surprised you're having zaps.

With my taper so far, I havent experienced any zaps yet, but have had plenty of brainfog, suicidal thinking, head pressure, etc.

[JRDrum]

Thank you all for the responses!

I've been back on 5mg since Thanksgiving and feel so much better. Like I think I'll be able to be ok on 5mg for a while> I AM nervous about going below that especially after reading the above.

I went back to my doctor TODAY but he was too busy to see me (nice) so I saw some other lady who was all "uh huh uh uh huh" real fast in response to me explaining the situation AND told me that in ALL HER YEARS of this, she has never heard of wd from Lexapro. I was like, REALLY? And naturally I was hesitant to be like, oh yeah, well I read on the intenet that this this and this b/c they would be quick to say "be careful what you read online" plus she was rushing me as it is, but she said she tells her patients to go off CT from 10mg!!!!! She's like that's what I always do and I've never had a problem.

Whatever. She's nuts.

So I decided I'm gonna stay on 5 for the next few months and then maybe try cutting that in half.

Where do they find these doctors??

[scotty]

Originally Posted by JRDrum

in ALL HER YEARS of this, she has never heard of wd from Lexapro. I was like, REALLY?

Yet, there you are sitting in front of her, in withdrawal! The psychiatry industry has a one track mind....it is always the patient, never the drug.

Copied directly from the drug insert from the Lexapro manufacturer:

5.3
75BDiscontinuation of Treatment with Lexapro
During marketing of Lexapro and other SSRIs and SNRIs (serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors), there have been spontaneous reports of adverse events occurring upon discontinuation of these drugs, particularly when abrupt, including the following: dysphoric mood, irritability, agitation, dizziness, sensory disturbances (e.g., paresthesias such as electric shock sensations), anxiety, confusion, headache, lethargy, emotional lability, insomnia, and hypomania. While these events are generally self-limiting, there have been reports of serious discontinuation symptoms.
Patients should be monitored for these symptoms when discontinuing treatment with Lexapro. A gradual reduction in the dose rather than abrupt cessation is recommended whenever possible. If intolerable symptoms occur following a decrease in the dose or upon discontinuation of treatment, then resuming the previously prescribed dose may be considered. Subsequently, the physician may continue decreasing the dose but at a more gradual rate [see Dosage and Administration (2.4)].

[Lucy]

Don't you wonder if she will say those very words to the next patient who walks in with the same complaint?

Reminder: cutting in half is a big drop, gradual reduction may be easier to manage.

[pboy]

The doctor I saw actually acknowledged that people can feel bad after coming off AD's, but I'm guessing that after a few months they attribute any more symptoms to hypochondria. A neighbour of mine had back pain I believe and was told that she's imagining it. What?!

[carolyn]

Originally Posted by pboy

I'm guessing that after a few months they attribute any more symptoms to hypochondria.

And, of course, the hypochondria itself could never have come from withdrawing from the drugs!