Did feel like brain damaged and partially functioning after headaches and mind zaps stopped? Did you experience deep depression afterward and high anxiety?
I know now too late to taper, life destroyed is there hope?
Has anyone experienced cold turkey withdrawal of lexapro 20 mg taking for 20 years?
Question posted by Lexapro journey on 9 April 2013
Last updated on 9 May 2018 by Rorymays
4 Answers
Rorymays
9 May 2018
I started out with 10mg of Lexapro for 2 months then went to 20 milligrams. Decided I didn't want to be on it anymore and dropped to 10 for about 2 months and then stopped. I had zero side effects. The only I had was psychological from reading all the horror stories about withdrawing from this drug. I actually had no symptoms and have been off now for over 2 weeks. I do take lorazepam and have for years so maybe that's the reason I didn't experience anything bad. Really glad I am off of it because I never felt like myself and I did not really see that it was doing anything for depression or anxiety. Always made me very sleepy.
landrew54
14 Oct 2013
Thanks for your response concerning Lexapro withdrawal. I did start to get very depressed and wanted to sleep all the time. Once I got past that, I started to be very aggressive with my speech. Had no violent reactions in other words I did not get violent. Just a real pain in the A, complaining about anything and everything I did not agree with.
I have gone back on it but instead of taking it everyday, I take it every two days and that seems to be a good balance for me. I could have continued to stay off of it but chose to start again for other reasons like wanting to be cheerful and not so negative. Also, after quitting Lexapro my appetite took a nose dive and food did not taste the same and started to loose weight. Now that I am back on it, it is hard to control my apatite and is easier to gain weight.
If there is anything else you like to know, tell me and I will get back as soon as I can. I hope this has helped.
Landrew54
LaurieShay
9 April 2013
Yes, there is hope. Not unusual for your brain to be a little off since it was use to having the help of the Lexapro. Rebound anxiety and depression after stopping an antidepressant isn't unusual, but be sure it is rebound and not the need for continued use of the Lexapro.
landrew54
8 July 2013
I went cold turkey from Lexapro in June 12. There is hope. I read before hand what I would experience when stopping Lexapro and everything it described happened. 1st the brain zaps were constant for about 40 days and during that period moods were bad and depression tries to take over. I experienced suicidal thoughts that I had never experience before and lasted only about a week. I knew what I was getting into when I quit and expected these feeling and learned quickly to ignore them. After about 3 months my moods started to get better, brain zaps gone, no additional depression, no suicidal thoughts but still have abrupt mood swings. I quit Lexapro hoping my sex life would improve and it did not. So I am going to go back on it because it does more good than harm. Hoped this helped.
dmcdlj
13 Oct 2013
My daughter was experiencing some mild anxiety transitioning from undergrad tograd school, so GYN put her on 10mg of Lexapro. She took for almost 18 months, then GYN told her incorrect way to taper. He said take a pill, skip a day for 2 weeks, the skip 2 days for 2 weeks, then skip 3 days. She was physically ill and had horrible brain shocks. Then after stopping ( which the way she did it was paramount to stopping cold turkey), she went through a month of irritability and rages, followed by a huge depression crash. She has never had history or depression or anxiety. She is totally disfunctional now, crying 6 hours or more a day. Has had to quit her job and is now seeing a psychiatrist and a pschotherapist. She has gone back on Lexapro now and will be on it for 4-6 months , until hopefully, she stabilizes and will wean 10% a month. Hopefully, she won't have these issues then.
lady2882
9 April 2013
What you describe is a fairly common reaction with stopping abruptly for any SSRI drug which Lexapro is.
The good news is yes there is hope. The longer you are off the medication the more things will improve until one day you will realize that you feel fine.
In hindsight, I'm sure you now know that this was NOT the way to stop taking this kind of med and I hope you wouldnt do it that way again.
Take care it will get better
Related topics
lexapro, depression, headache, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, withdrawal, brain, cold turkey
Further information
- Lexapro uses and safety info
- Lexapro prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lexapro (detailed)
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