Lexapro "withdrawal"

Heya, no problem with the quick reply. I log-in here every day that I can: 24/7; 365 days per year. Lexapro ultimately helped me a lot - a tremendous amount in fact. It allowed me to control my OCD better, and also my anger outbursts. It 'slowed down' my thoughts, and therefore allowed me to focus more. I took it for 4 years in total, and the reason why I came off it was because it was the natural process to do so - i.e. It and I had sufficiently recovered my life to the point where I no longer needed it.

Of course, I listened to my doctor during those 4 years regarding 'upping' or reducing the dosage. In the end, however, she had such trust in me that she said I could dictate when I wanted to come off, and to 'up' the dosage as I felt fit. On this note, it's important to build a good relationship with your doctor. In my opinion, one of the opposite sex works best.

Hey all, I know this post is old and not sure if anyone will respond but hey gotta try.

So I wished I had seen this thread a while ago. I tried to come off it in the summer but I found my rages were awful (like when something small triggers a bit of anger, your entire blood stream feels like it is gasoline which has just caught fire). I assumed it was, actually, that I still needed it, and it was too premature to come off.

So are the rages and brain zaps a withdrawl symptom, or do they happen because we still need to be on the drug?

I've been feeling down lately, and have noticed (based on # pills left and prescription renewal date) that I have been missing some doses. I've been wondering if I should talk to my Dr. about increasing the dose (to help with the downer moods) or come off because it doesn't seem to be working (or working as effectively). But maybe the problem is missing some doses. I think the half life is 27 hours or so, so missing a day would be significant.

As for medical support, my family doc doesn't seem to have too much of an opinion - "you can come off if you want, or stay on if you want, how do you feel about it?" blah blah. I know in the end it is my choice, but some guidance is always appreciated. I haven't seen him in many months so maybe I should go back.

My T (who I am avoiding atm) isn't an MD/psychiatrist so he cannot prescribe. He did lecture me about taking the meds regularly and spoke of the harm of coming off cold turkey, which I did appreciate the lecture. But he is not a psych so cannot prescribe himself (and I could guess he doesn't have a lot of experience with the fine tuning of the meds).

Anyhow thanks for the posts, nice to find on a Sunday afternoon.

Sam

Hey,

What you have described is indeed a feature of withdrawal from Lexapro. How significant are the drops in your dosage? - I mean, Did you drop from 40mg to 10mg?; or have you just gone 'cold turkey' from a certain dosage? Lexapro needs to be phased-down over a long period of time.

Ultimately, look at it this way: You know that you're coming off the drug, but a certain part of your mind does not know it. it has come to rely on Lexapro since you started taking it and has assumed that its supply would be, essentially, endless. So, when you come off the drug, its 'crutch' has vanished and it shuts down... That results in you feeling terrible and prone to irritation (anger). It needs to re-programme itself over a few days so that it can start functioning once more.

The best approach to do is this: When you plan to come off, ensure that your life is free of major stress. It will be difficult - know that - but also know that it will get easie. Avoid alcohol and stick to a regular meals. Don't eat sugary foods as they will contribute to your erratic mood.

Take care
Kevin

Thanks Kevin,

Makes tons of sense. I'll remind myself of this post when the day comes. I was so sure that because of these withdrawl symptoms I wasn't ready to come off.

The best approach to do is this: When you plan to come off, ensure that your life is free of major stress. It will be difficult - know that - but also know that it will get easier. Avoid alcohol and stick to a regular meals. Don't eat sugary foods as they will contribute to your erratic mood.

I also have reactive hypoglycemia. The symptoms, unfortunately are much like anxiety, and often bad like anxiety attacks so this last point is a salient one.

You've given me a tad bit of the feeling of control back.

Thanks,
Sam

No problem Sam. Send me a message if you need to talk in private. i log in here most days, with few exceptions.

Kevin

Thanks dude, I will. I'm a bit down at the moment, so probably in a bit.

Sam

Chucky wrote:No problem Sam. Send me a message if you need to talk in private. i log in here most days, with few exceptions.

Kevin

Hey Kevin,

I hope you still come on here every day ! I have Borderline Personality Disorder and Depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The anxiety is the worst. I have tried to stay away from meds because I HATE the side effects. I was on Zoloft for a year and a half and got off because i could not orgasm. Ive tried effexor for a few days and noticed that too, tried wellbutrin (you know, the drug thats NOT supposed to cause sexual side effects) and still had them.

My psychiatrist just yesterday prescribed me lexapro. I AM expecting sexual side effects. However, nowadays, i have no interest in sex at all so i don't really care if i can orgasm or not, i just want to be able to control my stress and anxiety more so if that means a pill then so be it.

HOWEVER, a side effect that i recently discovered that terrifies me are Brain Zaps. ...and you just mentioned them with lexapro! makes me not want to bring in my script to have a bottle filled! i told the psychiatrist yesterday that it was MY BIGGEST CONCERN with taking a med. she said if you don't stop it abruptly, you won't get this. But like takisha, I feel like too many drug companies, too many websites, too many doctors are PRO meds. they say so many great things about it. and come on now, the pharmaceutical industry is one of the top money making industries.basically, i don't trust them. i don't know how much research they've really put into these types of side effects.

you didn't just stop it cold turkey right? yet you still got brain zaps? have they gone away yet

Hi All,

I'm new in the forum , read the correspondence and it seems to be full of good people trying to help

I have quite an urgent issue.

My wife suffered from anxiety for about 4 years. She started taking Cirpalex 20 mg about 3.5 years ago. About a year and a half ago due to some anger bursts ( Temper tantrum) a psychiatrist advised her to take Lamictal 200 mg.
Recently we decided its time to get off the pills, she has been feeling much better , active and in control of her life. We also want to have a baby and want her body clean as possible.
About 4 months ago she started lowering dosage, very very slowly. till about 3 weeks ago everything was smooth. She reached 2.5 mg a day of Cipralex and 50 mg a day of Lamictal. when she started missing one day of Cipralex a week ( 6 days 2.5mg , one day nothing) she started feeling not too good.
In the last 2 weeks she has been having huge anger bursts and irritation of anything , from small noises to a word she doesnt like. She gets to a point she screams and hit herself, i have to bear hug her and she keeps being aggressive. After that she calms down and says she needs to leave , that i dont deserve that and that she is out of control. she feels she is a freak. She isn't. its most likely the withdrawal.

We currently live in Africa for a few years ( me 5 she 2) and are suppose to move permanently to our new house in North America within 6 weeks. The environment here isn't easy.

She is taking many vitamins, Omega-3, Magnesium and other supplement which were recommended as support for withdrawal. She makes effort to cardio train 4-5 times a week. She is Vegan. Overall, living healthy.

I'm trying to be strong but things are really not easy and i'm concerned she might do something very radical in one of these bursts.
I believe this is the Cipralex reduction ( Not the lamictal from what i read).

Would really appreciate any advise. It will seem too bad to go back to high dosages of Cirpalex after this reduction but I'm open and in need for any advise.

Thank you very much
Tak

I'm sorry to hear that your wife is having such a difficult time coming off of the medication. Perhaps you could talk to her doctor about the best way to help reduce the withdrawal effects? The way that it is currently prescribed does seem like a nice and slow taper, however perhaps your wife needs something even slower? Talking to her doctor will hopefully provide some answers.

I wish you both the best!

I took ssri meds for 13 years, the last one was lexapro for the last 7 years. I tried to stop taking them 4 times and was successful the last time by tapering over 2 months. But I went into withdrawal about a month later. I later learned that I should have tapered over a much longer period, especially because I had been on them so long. I finally got off them in the middle of 2010, its now 2015 and I'm still in protracted withdrawal. Its sometimes called PAWS, (post acute withdrawal syndrome)

There are very few doctors who recognize this, but this syndrome is slowly being recognized and accepted, there are a few specialist pdocs in the world and a growing body of evidence.

The symptoms of withdrawal, or discontinuations syndrome are different from the original symptoms of any previous condition, and can effect any body part of body system. It often disrupts hormonal and endocrine systems.

Recovery from protracted withdrawal can take a long time, but it does happen. Its not a linear process and can be very frustrating.