Depression Blog.com

This is in response to Amanda's comment. Please Keep in mind that the loss of appetite will immediately go away. In about 2 months you'll wish you lost your appetite. Lexapro 10mg. had the same effect on me. I didn't eat for the first two weeks, I was barely hungry. Almost 3 months later and I'm eating like I have two asses. i gained 12 pounds and am having a hard timing shedding it off. Within the first two weeks, the pill made me happy, giddy and just a person that you would find "fun to be around" I have weaned myself off the pill due to weight gain, and loss of sex drive. I am switching to Wellbutrin, mainly because it increases your sex drive and suppresses the appetite. If you could use the weight gain, then stay on the pill. I think you'll see the positive effects within the first two weeks. If not earlier. Good luck to you.

I was prescribed Lexapro by my PCP during my senior year of high school when I reported the typical (and rather general) symptoms of a mild depressive disorder. I was treated in varying doses for a period of about two years. The treatment effects took a while to notice, and were very subtle. My overall mood was leveled out, rather than a general uplifting. As with al humans, there were the low periods, and the high. However, the lowest points of depression were removed, giving me the ability to concentrate, deal with school, job, and friends, and restoring the "same old me."

Immediately, I noticed a number of the reported side effects, including, but not limited to:
-Appetite fluctuations - I experienced both extremes, including weeks of little to no eating, countered unexpectedly by weeks of extremely high appetite. This lasted until I went off Lexapro.

-Weight fluctuation - These were very mild, usually in the neighborhood of about seven pounds in either direction. I countered this by attempting to maintain a consistent diet and a lot of exercise.

-Decreased sexual desire - While not sexually active, I noticed this simply because I was a teenage male. This went away rather quickly.

-Diarrhea - This didn't last very long, nor was it severe.

-Reduced alcohol tolerance - This was also mild and could have been due to my rare use of alcohol.

Withdrawal symptoms were extremely apparent. I occasionally would miss a dose, but never for more than a period of one day. Symptoms would appear about mid-morning, and would last until the next morning. They included dizziness, loss of coordination, moderate to severe headaches, confusion, irritation, and mild loss of judgement. Overall, they were very similar to a hangover, but with slightly less nausea.

At about two years, I began to have increasing problems with restlessness, irritability, apathy, headaches, hopelessness, impatience, and a feeling of lack of control (ie, normally easy situations often became too much to handle, resulting in a loss of temper, which is very rare for me.) At this point, I talked to my PCP, who informed me that these problems were very common for patients treated with Lexapro for a long period of time. His response was to treat me with Effexor (venlafaxine hydrochloride), which he reported excellent responses from.

Overall, Lexapro was quite effective for me for a period of slightly less than two full years. It made life much easier, and was generally a positive experience. The side effects were not a bother and I was eventually able to ignore them. At this point, I have been taking Effexor for about two months, and it has almost entirely neutralized the negative side effects of Lexapro that culminated in my transfer between medications.

Should you begin to experience any of the negative side effects that I listed above, please consult your physician about treatment with Effexor and/or research it yourself. Also, treatment by a psychologist or counselor is almost always beneficial.

I have been on lexapro for almost 3 months.....some of the things I read make me think that some of you people should not have been on any medication to begin with. DEPRESSION IS SERIOUS...meds are not needed for the occassional SAD times in our lives......but for SERIOUS PROLONGED depression! Also if lexapro was so bad why do some of you people stay on it for like 6 months???? I don't understand?!

I have been taking Lexapro for two weeks now and so far, so good. It seems to really be helping. I am able to concentrate more. and I am not as sensitive. It is scary what i have read here. If anyone is having a good experience with Lexapro, please write to me and let me know. If you have been on it a while and it has worked. Thanks, Sue, email, SHa9195556@aol.com

Hey everyone...
this is my first time to view this site or any like it. i am taking lexapro (just started a few days ago) i am scared, especially reading all of the comments from others. my boyfriend tells me to flush the stuff down the drain cause it could destroy my brain. i am having some weird side effects, but i would like relief from depression

Lexapro worked alright for me, but I was completely unable to climax during sex. My sex drive was also greatly diminished.

What are withdrawal symptoms? My doctor gave me no warning and I thought I was going crazy. I haven't gone to sleep until about 3am for the last 3 days. Sometimes when I walk and my feet touch the floor, it sends a jolt through my whole body. Turning my head or blinking my eyes feels exaggerated. I don't know how else to describe it. My fingers feel like they are itching underneath my nails.... is this nerve ending sensitivity? I am dizzy.

This is in response to Linda's post on April 26.

The heavily increased sensitivity of my eyes was the most common and most irritating withdrawal effect for me. It very often felt that my eyes could not keep up with my head turning, and when they finally caught up, it was almost as if they suddenly and painfully snapped into place, making me wince obviously a lot. Sometimes, it was so bad that I would be unable to drive, spend much time in the sunlight, or even move much at all.

Nerve sensitivity manifested itself in an occasional scalp crawling and feeling as if all the hair on my body was raising. This was usually pretty mild, though.

My advice is to be absolutely vigilant about taking this at the same time of day, every day. Excercise almost completely cured the sleeplessness, as did a good steady diet of at least two meal per day.

Today’s my fourth day of ‘withdrawl’ after stopping my use of lexapro for one year. I was happy to feel ready to get off the stuff. I felt it worked well enough, although I found 15mg left me with less side effects than 10 or 5. 15mg also seemed to be the right amount to whisk the surrounding world away enough for me to focus on the now. I originally started due to depression/anxiety and sleeping disorder. I haven’t ‘solved’ my problems through psycho-therapy(haven’t seen one in the last year), but just feel I have a good enough niche in life right now to get by without being unhappy.

Regarding withdrawl symptoms: I managed to injure, hopefully minorly, my neck/shoulder at the gym on 4/22. The injury didn’t really manifest itself until 4/23 evening, setting in uncomfortably by 4/24, my last day of phasing out lexapro at 5mg (1 week), 10mg for six weeks prior to that, then 15mg for most of my time on it. Since 4/24 I’ve been in extreme pain from this injury and believe it was exacerbated from lexapro withdrawl. It’s scary and unsurprising that my psychiatrist didn’t even mention withdrawl symptoms. If I’d known the gym/muscle use could be a possible concern when phasing the drug out, then I wouldn’t have If the health industry was anymore run by the pharmaceuticals industry, it would be a virtual FOX reality show. Disgusting.

I’ve also been experiencing dizziness and occasional disorientation. I’m not sure what psychological condition I’m in since stopping since I’ve been in considerable physical pain the entire time.

I’m going to my PCP this afternoon to see if they’ll have anything useful/honest to say about what I’m going through. I was nervous about stopping lexapro and trying to be chipper without it but until I’m not in physical pain, this’ll be hard to gauge.

If anyone has any recommendations about how to nutritionally/naturally cope with this withdrawl or other sites with this type of info, I’d greatly appreciate it. Also, I’d be more than ‘happy’ to discuss any particulars about my experience with lexapro. In general I thought it a good solution to my problem. Although maybe it’s a bit premature to tell right now.

I have been on Lexapro for almost a year now for general social anxiety disorder. I have to admit that I think the drug has helped greatly with the anxiety, but I now think that the side effects may be outweighing the benefits. I have been constantly tired and in a sort of daze for the past year at work, where before I had no problems concentrating on work for 8 or more hours a day. And worst of all, I recently started dating again (my wife and I separated over a year ago and are getting divorced) and I just discovered the most horrible side effect of Lexapro... ejaculatory disorder! I am dating the hottest woman I have ever known, and no matter what we do I cannot have an orgasm! As a man, this is the most frustrating and embarrasing thing I have ever experienced! I would rather go back to the social anxiety than never have another orgasm! Now I just need to figure out how to get off this damn drug as quickly as possible!

I have been taking lexapro for 7 months and when I am at work i still seem to tense and uptight.Dont know if I should go back on paxil or try something else for anxiety.Paxil seemed to calm me down more.

Hi, I am writing regarding my partner of 8 years. I am at my wits end & I know he is too. 3 years ago he was diagnosed as having ADHD (Type 6-Ring of Fire) and was prescribed Dexamphetamine by a psychiatrist. At first he was told to take 4 tabs, 4 times a day. He said his head was lifting off with that many (not suprised), so over the next 3 years he self dosed. But you give an adult (who has the mind of a child, irresponsible etc) responsibilty over their own meds, they don't take it properly. He ended up using it as a drug (to stay awake when he wanted to or needed to get things done) Which is only expected of someone who had an amphetamine problem for years & smokes pot. I tried in vain to get him to let me control his meds but try getting a big, burly bloke who has a problem with anger, violence etc to listen is useless.
From Christmas 2004 onwards he started slumping into depression. He was always angry or depressed. He put it down to a mid life crisis - he is 39 years old.
By this stage I had almost had enough. Thank heavens, around Easter this year he did his back in & thought it was a good time to get off the dex altogether and the pot, (taking advantage of going through withdrawal while off work flat on his back) as by this stage he had been having murderous & suicidal thoughts. It was around this time that really bad depression set in, I wasn't sure if it was his back or withdrawals causing it.
During this time he went back to see his psych. The psych put him on Lexapro, half a tab (10mg) for 2 weeks, then to increase to a full tab (20mg) to be taken once a day. During the first 2 weeks, I thought we had struck gold - His depression lifted, I could actually talk to him without being growled at & those horrible thoughts had stopped. It looked like things were getting better. He was starting to do a job here & there (he is self employed & by this stage the business was in a bad way), showering again and basically giving a damn.
Then, as directed, he went up to a whole tab and it seems this is what has set things back again. He suffers from insomnia terribly, which makes him tired for work, so he just doesn't go. He doesn't call clients, & book work has piled up & we are in serious debt. His spirits had lifted, but now because he physically feels tired, unmotivated, lethargic & stays in bed all day, the business is going down the tube which is making him depressed again. It is catch 22. He wants to be motivated but physically can't do it. If he goes off the tabs, the depression will come back-probably worse & those horrible thoughts will too & he may act upon them.
I read stories from this site & suggested to him to go back to half and maybe take it in the morn. I thought if it is making him suffer from insomnia then it would be best to take it in the morn, that way he can get to work. Then at night take 1000mg of valerian to help him sleep.
No success, nothing is working....mentally the lexapro has helped, but now this...He also sweats badly but that is a mild side effect compared to this. I don't know about him but I am so darned tired from it all...any suggestions?
(and I suffer from clinical depression - ha)

I've been taking cipramil/lexapro for 5 months now along with regular counselling. The urge to cut myself or commiting suicide is still there, but i am able to control it. The doc prescribed 20mg for me to take at night, but i find that i don't sleep well, i keep waking up or i have insomnia. Plus the fact i dream everytime i go to sleep. Freaky weird as dreams!! I'm tired all the time and I can't seem to concentrate in uni or anything at all. But the plus side i reckon is that i'm numb and i seem to be losing weight.

I have been taking Lexapro for 12 days now. 5mg per day, I am having a hard time adjusting to its side effects. I have been taking the half tablet first thing in the morning around 8am, then I was so drowsy all day and tired. So I switched to the evening and took it at 8pm, but it kept me up all night and I couldn't sleep.
Does anyone have the problem of restlessness and insomnia after taking Lexapro?

I have been on Lexapro 10mg for 6 days for depression. The first two days I felt nauseated, and had no appetite. the first two nights I was not sleeping at all. I would wake up in worse shape than ever....very groggy, and heavy-headed. The third night I took a sleeping pill and that seemed to help. I have not noticed any of the bad side effects that other people have mentioned here and elsewhere. (so far) I feel even during the day, I react better to stress, and at night, I dont' have the leg and hand twitching when I'm trying to go to sleep. I don't have crazy sleep-starts either (when you're almost asleep, and you feel like you're falling and get scared awake) I had some mild OCD problems as well, and I've noticed that they are not as heavy. (I.E. hair twisting, skin pinching, and stuff repeating in my head over and over.) I may have done those things due to stress, I'm not sure. I have not been diagnosed with OCD. Hell, I haven't even been diagnosed with depression, but I know that's what I've been dealing with for over 10 years. I got the prescription from a PCP on my very first vistit. Sort of scary how easy it was to get. He just took me at my word. I sure hope that as time goes by what I go through will get better and better instead of some of the horror stories that I've heard.

I was on Dothep, I am bi-polar, psychatrist switched me to lexapro, it was great for the first few days; then swelling joints, knee pains, dizzy, sexual dysfunction.
Light tingling over body and head pains. I still perserved. Six months into treatment l - I commented to my psyc' about feeling bad (side effects) he increased the dosage to 60 mg a day. My condition became very bad, ....severe headaches drove me to GP who advised getting off the lot and seeking new medication, I am now back to 20 mg lexapro a day (weening), feel bad... no longer productive, lethargic, can't sleep at night, sleep all day. But the problem seems to be more physical, such as walking 'on egg shells', wobbly legs. How many drugs do we have to try?

I started taking lexapro 9 months ago for moderate depression and anxiety - I had taken prozac and zoloft before and had not seen much change except an increase craving for alcohol. On the lexapro - I saw an improvement in my mood and definitely anxiety within the first month on 10mg ... while I did not feel depressed, I admit I did not feel much of anything else either and my energy dropped even further. When the doc. prescribed the 20mg - I soon noticed increase lethargy (I one who it once took forever to fall asleep, was now asleep even when I sat down to relax)... I also noticed all of a sudden that I had gained almost 10 lbs - during the time - when I had changed nothing regarding my exercise and eating patterns. I checked in with the doc and we lowered the dose to 10mg. which helped the lethargy - but not much else. Unfortunately ... it seems like I have hit the lexapro wall - as I did with the Zoloft ... if I am even an hour late with the med. I am overwhelmed by zapping sensations (these sensations are considerably worse with the lexapro) I have decided to go off the lexapro - although the doc. does not recommend this ... I need to learn to deal with some of my issues in a more proactive way. On the other side of things -I quit drinking and I began taking Wellbutrin and felt considerably more energy and hope, and began to be able to focus on my work more (although lexapro has not helped my memory at all). The zapping is overwhelming - but hopefully it won't last forever ... it is scary though - as I definitely see that I have developed a bit of a psychological dependence on the drug and that preys on my anxious nature...not to mention the physical symptoms. Does anyone know how long the withdrawal lasts?

My experiences with Lexapro and Celexa were terrible. Frightening actually. On 10mg of Lexapro, I was dizzy, had tremors, dry heaved and felt as if my head was being pulled from my body. I had no appetite whatsoever. I then tried liquid celexa 2.5mg (1/4 teaspoon). I had horrible insomnia coupled with major mood swings. I blew up at work which was so unlike me; I was embarrassed and apologized to my colleagues. uncharacteristic of my general demeanor. I just don't feel right on them. A great post which gave me comfort which everyone should read is: http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20822&name=CELEXA

I am gaining weight from Lexapro, i am currently withdrawing. I want you to know that placing your feet on the ground helps with the shocks, or the electric surges, you know what I am talking about if you have ever quit one of these drugs.

I took Lexapro for over 2 years. It helped me a lot in the beginning but gradually I started noticing the depression coming back and all my doctors would keep doing is upping my dosage. I was finally on 20mg a day and that seemed to last for about a year. The depression sure enough came back and I simply got fed up being addicted to a medicine that wasn't doing me any good. I started weening myself off of it, getting down to 10mg a day before I just stopped taking them. I know I should have told my doctor, but I was away at college and didn't have an opportunity to go in to see him. I just stopped taking the 10mg a day about 2 days ago and my withdrawl symptoms are making me feel like I'm going crazy. I haven't been able to sleep or felt the need to eat. I know I should be eating so I try to get down what I can when I'm not too dizzy. The dizziness is what really bugs me. I am also experiencing the shakes which I'm told is normal for coming off of an addictive drug. I'm also experiencing a lot of other symptoms but too many to really name here. If I would have known coming off of this medicine would be so horrible, I very well might not have gone on it in the first place. I found a site that said that these symptoms might last up to 6 weeks and I can't take this for that long. I can't even drive my car.
Also for anyone who was wondering I also experienced extreme sexual side effects while taking Lexapro. I was not able to climax at all for 2 whole years. --can u imagine-- after coming down to 10mg from 20mg I noticed that my sexual drive came back slightly, but nothing like it should be for a college female. This was not only scary, but overall frustrating, not only for me, but for my boyfriends as well...ending a few relationships in and of itself.
If anyone can give me some advice on how to tone down these withdrawl symptoms or some reassurance that these symptoms will be gone in around a week or if you just want to talk to someone who is experiencing withdrawl from Lexapro like many of you out there, feel free to e-mail me at chibihentai@gmail.com or IM on AIM me at YokochouYuy. thank you

I have suffered from depression all my life but never considered taking drugs for it until I recognized that my son was suffering too. I started taking Celexa (now Lexapro) and my life dramatically improved. That was 8 years ago. My son takes Lexapro as well. Unfortunatley I still struggle with bouts of depression and am also taking Welbutrin. I often have suicidal thoughts that I have learned to live with, but it sure isn't very fun.

I began taking 10 mg of lexapro a week ago, although in the beginning I was tired and yawning, that has lessen, I seem to have more patience and I actually have lost 7 lbs. I am not screaming at my kids over every little thing and they have even noticed the difference. My sex drive hasn't changed, so as of right now I am pleased with the reults

I started taking Lexapro in January for mild depression. I was on 10 mg and for a while it seemed to help although I did have side affects of being so tired all the time, vastly decreased sex drive, and trouble concentrating at my job, and I gained 15 lbs even with no eating changes on my part. The doctor reduced me to 5mg and after 2 months I realized that I had more symptoms being on the drug than I did before I started taking it. I was tired of being tired, feeling blah, and gaining weight. My family kept asking me what was wrong and I never could quite think of anything to explain it but I felt not myself at all. I've been off Lexapro for 6 days now and so far I've really noticed that I am slightly dizzy, have a little trouble thinking of the right word sometimes when I am talking, and my nerves feel like they are on edge if I move too fast or if I turn my head. I am hoping these will go away soon. I am anxious to get back to the "real me" that I seemed to have lost these past 6 months with all the side affects of the drug. I feel like dealing with the mild depression only will be a relief after all this.

I just started taking Lexapro for anxiety.
I'm taking 10mg. So far I like the drug, but it does tend to make me feel flat. It has helped my anxiety & my tendency to become upset over trivial matters. I don't like the issues I'm having with my jaws & the nausea I feel when yawning. My appetite has also diminished to nothing.

I was taking Leapro for about 8 months at 10m. I went off of it on my own about 6 weeks ago. I didn't really notice any withdrawl. I have always had insomnia, so I cant say that was a symptom. I decided to go off because of the weight gain. I gained 15 lbs. I've been going to the gym 3 times a week for about 2 hours a session for the past 10 weeks, and I still cant get the weight off. Despite this I am considering going back on it. I have bi-polar and I am really losing it without being on any medication. I thought if I went off, and lost the weight I'd feel better all around, but I feel worse. Now I am fat and dr jekell, mr hyde. My doctor suggested Welbutrin as well as Lexapro to try and help level out the side effect of the weight gain. So I guess I'll try that. I never noticed any sexual side effects. But I have a very good husband in that department. I dont know what these people are talking about with the "zapping"?? Strange, I hope that doesn't happen the second time around. Overall, I thought the lexapro worked for me very well. I felt more like myself, normal, not flat at all. It really helped level me out. I just didn't like the weight gain. I'm going to try being more strict with my diet and continue at the gym. So... To Be Continued...

I started taking 10mg of Lexapro a day a year ago and have just gone off it as I am feeling a whole lot better than I was.

When I first took it, I was vey apprehensive as I had never been on antidepressants before and was scared of them. I wasnt going to take it if it made me sick or I had any major side effects.

In the first three days i experienced nausea and light headedness, also on the first and second day my pupils dilated! Those symptoms ended and I felt ok so i continued.

I felt three distinct lifts in mood, the first in about a week (I was very suprised at how quickly it worked - placebo?)then at about 6 weeks and then after about three months.

At about two weeks I noticed some muscle clenching as i was going to sleep. I also noticed some insomnia, tho I often experience this, so i wasnt sure if it was the drugs.

I had no weight problems, no disruption in libido, but was unable to have an orgasm, even with major persistance! This didnt really bother me as i was feeling so much better in my self.
After about 9 months I began breaking the tiny tablet in half, thereby taking only 5mg daily. I noticed quite a drop in mood for about a week. And then my ability to have an orgasm returned(hooray). I kept taking 5mg's for the next three months.

As my life and situation has improved, I decided I wanted to be truly me, so 6 days ago I stopped taking lexapro. I have had quite intense and frequent shock type dizzy spells. Its like a short jolt of adrenaline and lasts about a second. It seems to happen when walking when and I look around.It can sometimes happen 6 times in an hour. I have had this for three days now and am hoping it will go away soon as I find it a bit frightening

While that probably all sounds pretty bad, I think in the end, taking lexapro really helped me. Though, if it is at all possible to not take them, dont. I think they are very serious drugs and the way they work is sophisticated in a realm we dont know that much about.

I have been on Lexapro for four months. I have been on antidepressants off and on over the past 10 years. I started the Lexapro at 10 mg and was doing really well. After three months, my work stress increased more and I found myself unmotivated to do anything at home and even quit exercising. I had no energy. I decided to increase my dose to 20 mg. and I feel good again.

I like Lexapro because I feel less side effects than the other drugs. I hope my energy stays a decent level at 20 mg. I would like to ask those reading this if you believe it is better to take Lexapro at night or in the morning.
I am taking it in the mornings right now, but do not feel rested after a long night's sleep. Anyone have any advice?

I have been taking Lexapro for about 3 years. I started because my mariage was in trouble and my doctor thought it would give me more energy and also help with my daily on going headaches. I started on just 5mg, worked my way up to 10mg, and I have recently benn on 20mg for the past year. I felt like the Lexapro helped a lot, even though at times I needed to increase my dosage, like it wasn't enough anymore. I didn't have too many side effects, I did need more sleep, I had vivid dreams, Gained weight, but I was also going though a lot in my life, this may have happened regardless. I ended up getting a divorce, started feeling better so I talked with my doctor about tapering off. She said to drop down to 10mg for a couple of months, then 5mg. then 5mg ever other day, ect.. Well I felt great for the first couple of days with just 10mg. I wasn't as tired and my mind felt more clear, I could concentrate a lot more at work. The problem I am having now is I feel very agressive. I have said rude things to friends, family, and strangers. I have been screaming at my kids and they don't even know what to think. This is very much out of my character. I went back on the 20mg dose tonight because I can't make my loved ones go through this. I feel like I don't have control over my temper and it scares me. I only wish someone, like my doctor, would have told me this could be a drug that I might have to be on the rest of my life, I NEVER WOULD HAVE STARTED!

Started Lexapro when Paxil CR got pulled by FDA.
Minor side effects = brain fog and extreme fatigue.

Major side effects = angry all the time. I am irritable and have
no tollerance for others. I am pissed-off at strangers for
no logical reason.

this is in response to somehting Prudence said june 14th, i am on lexapro and wellbutrin, and it seems to be a very helpful combination.

DO NOT TAKE LEXAPRO!!!! I have been off it for one month now, and the withdrawl symptoms are horrible. I cannot even get through a day of work without being sick. I am hot all day long and constantly have nausea. These are not even worth what lexapro can do (and it dosen't do much, I still felt depressed and cried even more than I did before)!

I have been on Lexapro for nine months for anxiety and depression with excellent results.I suffered from an anorexia as well. I stabilized my weight, enjoy eating and spending time with my friends and loved ones. I have motivation to look my best daily. My skin is clear and my energy levels have improved. My interpersonal skills are more in control and I don't find myself having verbal outbursts anymore. However, I have become somewhat overconfident and feel like I have control over everything around me. It has heightened my senses and intuition. I lost the ability to cry and feel sad. I sometimes feel like I have no emotions but alot of ambition to take on the world. I hope I am not hitting a manic phase. I also experience very vivid, symbolic dreams.

My husband is 40 years old. I recently found out he has been using methamphetamines. He says for 2 years. I know for at least 6.He quit using 5 months ago. He is extremely irratable, mean, angry.He picks fights with me & our 3 boys, then says its us. He blames his drug addiction on me, even though he was a drug addict when I met him 25 years ago. He has no remorse for the secret life he was living , the extreme hurt his words, actions, and mood swings caused during his use.He has no drive to work, only working a few hours a day, we are behind on all our bills, kids need clothes, and dental work, and he says he can not work any more than he does, and the kids will have to get used to being broke. He comes home from work , sits on the couch drinking beer, watching tv for 5 or more hours a day,until he falls asleep on the couch. Even when he is in a "good mood", he is just acting weird. His voice is always cracking & hoarse sounding, he is like somebody just waiting to have a reason to yell at one of us. He blames all of our kids behavior & problems on me, saying I am not a good mother, when I have been a mother & father to them . Making excuses for their dads behavior. Trying to make sure they knew the violent outbursts were not their fault. I take great care of my kids, and am always there for them. He has been mean & angry emotionally & mentally abusive to them & to especially to me the last 6 years, but thinks his behavior has no impact on the kids at all. He has this lack of drive, lack of motivation does nothing but drink & watch TV, but tells me I am falling short finacially , with the kids ,with the house , & everything. I work 40 hours a week, do all the cooking, cleaning, housework, laundry, yardwork, helping kids with homework, driving them everywhere, trying to parent them on my own, and then every time they do something wrong, he says its my fault. He takes no active role in their lives, except to "discipline them" "be the man of the house" all does is yell at them. My 15 & 16 year olds think he is an "asshole", and are always asking me Whats wrong with Dad, Why is he always mad & yelling. While my husband blames everything on me.He falls asleep most nights, wearing his clothes, on the couch, by 7:oo pm, and gets up @ around 6:30 am. He started sleeping on the couch 6 years ago, telling me he loves me, its just "too hot upstairs", the barking dogs keep me awake", and a hundred other reasons, assuring me he still wants sex, but never wanting( he used to want it at least 2 times a week, before 6 years ago. Its like we have sex once every couple of months when he feels guily for not being a "husband"I believe he has no sex drive, but he will not admit it.Again, blames me for the non existent physical & intimate life we once had. I ask him almost everyday to sleep with me, cuddle with me, kiss me like his wife, not the once a day pecks on the cheek I get , i have tried everything to get us back to the couple we once were before he started using again, & lying, & having this secret life from his family. He swears he wants it back, that he does not want a divorce, but makes no moves to fix our marriage,, or our family. Just like I said before, he takes no responsibility or accountablity for any thing. No motivation to support his family, he swears he loves. He just wants to watch TV & drink beer. He his grouchy, irritable, verbally abusive, no drive, lack of energy, on sex drive, no responsibility. Is this all normal for a drug addict, a trying to get clean addict, This depression, or whatever it is, is it normal? Will it go away? Will the loving caring , responsable , respectful man I married ever come back? Is his behavior due to some kind of mental illness from the drug use? Is it some kind of imbalance or defeciency, is it "male menopause, low testosterone levels, or hormonal? He refuses to get hepl."He is not like other addicts". Am I wasting my life, nad my childrens life by staying & waiting for him to snap out of it? Will he snap out of it, or is he "just htis way now? What is wrong with him? Can I help him, or is it to late? Please -I need answers- We have been together 25 years- Do I turn my back on him & leave , or will "HE" come back? Is it depression, a mental disorder, or just who he is now that the drugs fried his brain?

I have been taking Lexapro for over two years now. I take 10mg a day. It has worked well for me up until now. I am starting to have some lows again, nothing close to what I use to go through. I had the typical side effects in the beginning, but they were nothing compared to Celexa and Zoloft, I could not tolerate either of those. However my biggest complaint is the weight gain, I am 20lbs heavier and just can't lose it. My question to any and all out there is, has anyone experienced joint and/or muscle pain? I don't know if it is from the lexapro, I am trying to figure that out. For approximately the last six or eight months it has become progressively worse.

I was perscribed Lexapro for social anxiety disorder. It didn't really do much but make me sick to my stumach which led to me taking more drugs to counteract that. I can't say it really helped me any, but I'm advised to not stop taking it, but I stopped anyway. My stumach feels better, and otherwise I feel the same. Now what to do with these perscriptions I keep getting filled... (Mom gets em for me)

I started 5mg Lexapro in April 2005 after having horrible panic attacks and anxiety. It really helped me, I experienced few side effects, it made me a little more tired than usual at first, but that quickly went away. Well, about 2 weeks ago after being on it for about 2.5 months I stopped taking it at my doctors advice. She told me it was ok to "just stop it" which i HIGHLY doubted because of all that i've read on it. So I tapered myself off a little the best i could, taking a pill every other day instead of everyday but for all intensive purposes it was stopping cold turkey. Well, for the past week and a half i have been SO incredably dizzy, having what feels like eletric "shocks" or "pulses" run through my body (hard to explain), Im always tired, and occasionally feel nausous. I had a panic attack 2 night ago for the first time since going on it. Needless to say, I do not (and never did) feel like I was ready to go off the medication, and I just got a new Rx for it today. Hopefully when i start taking it again these withdrawl symptoms will go away. And, I have an appt with a new dr in a week! Overall though I have been very pleased with taking lexapro, it really helped me! Going off of it has been HELL though!

Hi all. I have been on Lexapro for about 8 months, since the birth of my second child. Lexapro did help me to feel less anxious and overwhelmed but it left me with no sexual drive. Lexapro also left me completely unable to focus. I almost lost my job. Needless to say I have decided to stop taking Lexapro and deal with my life on my own. I tapered the dosage as suggested. I too have felt extreme dizziness and exhaustion as well as chest pains? Please don't give in to these symptoms. Talk to your doctor of course, but don't give in. If you really want to stop being medicated, try to remember that, although it's really tough, you can make it. I will and you can too!

Can Lexapro cure obssevive compulsive disorder. Does it get rid of obssesions and fixations

[moderator comments: Lexapro and other SSRIs are often prescribed for OCD. People sometimes associate that state of being / disease with low serotonin levels, just like some associate depression with it.

It seems many of the SSRI drugs are prescribed for just about anything related to depression or conditions linked to low serononin levels.]

After 3 years on Paxil my body adjusted to it and it stopped working. After a slow weaning and no withdrawl effects, I strated Effexor but found it did nothing for my anxiety and actually made me feel worse, so I weaned off that and was off anything for 3 months before symptoms got bad enough to pursue another option. This time, Lexapro. After 3 weeks I started noticing my mood had improved and I was less anxious and this continued for the next few weeks. The anxiety seemed to be just a short distance from me like a plane coming out of the clouds and periodically would go through the cloud layer again, so increased from 10 - 15mg. That has pushed it back far enough. Some libido issues, but then erratic sleep and stress can account for that.

It has been my experience that if you look for a magic bullet none of these will satisfy. These medications are great with exercise, healthy diets, grab power naps. I found that so long as I sleep the same 5.5 hours a night I am charged and feel great. 5 hours and I am a wreck. 6 hours and I am sluggish.

It has helped me to be more in tune with my body and mind, to examine my moods and take control over the issues.

I have been taking 1o mg of lexapro fot over a year and have tapered offbecsue it msde me gain over 20 lbs despite my healthy exercise and easting habits, Im also feeling fready taper off becuase I have done a lot of work with my therapist and how to be able to deal with my anxity and depression in more posivie ways. Lexapro has helped me alot (10mg), but the weight gain was bummin me out i tapered off starting 2 months ago and am now off all meds for 2 weeks.its not fun, i feel so overlyensitive and cry alt, but worts of i have these led trmors/ tics at night that make it impossible to sleep any solution?.

I stopped taking 20mg of LEXAPRO 5 days ago. I was only on it for 7 months. Withdrawl is horrid. I should have weined down and talked with my doctor. I throw up ever other time I eat, get dizzy, confussed, nausiated (especially durring car rides), and have a non-stop head ache. I did not step down in increaments as I should have. Lexapro flat lined my moods which was wonderful at the time. I stopped feeling like commiting suicide. The only side effect that persisted longer than a month was the inablity to orgasm. I choose to live rather than have an orgasm though. It was the best thing for me at the time. I thank god for it. Right now the withdrawl sucks though.

Hi. Before I talk about Lexapro I'll give a brief history: I'm a 35 y/o male that was taking 50mg of Zoloft for about ten years with some real success and then it gradually seemed to ware off. In the last few months I've noticed increased depression and even anxiety attacks, which are totally new for me.
My doctor has switched me to 10 mg of Lexapro, which I'm excited about because I've heard many good things.
However... I've been on it now for only three days, just three, and I can't ejaculate! I've heard that that can be a side effect but so soon after taking it? I've put in a call to my doctor to ask him about this and whether or not this problem will go away over time. I also want to see if it's okay that I'm taking an Omega-3 suppliment (for dry eye) with it. On the bright side, I do already feel a lift in my mood some and I can't really say I'm depressed right now. I love reading the feedback on this site as it gives one a look at the overall effects of these drugs, even though they do vary considerably. I'm very concerned too about the possiblity of weight gain on Lexapro, especially after reading many posts. It seems to be a common problem. If anyone would like to share or give advice about Lexapro please post or email me at email4mrjoe@yahoo.com.
Also: Is it true that Zoloft causes hair loss? I did loose a considerable amount of hair while taking it but don't know whether to attribute it to that or not. Will I regain hair on Lexapro?
(I hope!)

I have been on effexor for a year and a half, and have just gone on Lexapro. The withdrawl symptoms from effexor are bad, I have felt dark and suicidal, I have felt dizzy or "buzzy" and my temper which I never had on effexor has returned. BUT I am very aware that these WITHDRAWL symptoms are the same for lexapro, although effexor has a slightly worse reputation. I went off 150 effexor and started lexapro the same day. It was never going to be easy, but my very supportive husband has kept a close eye on me. Having three kids, my tolerance level on the drugs are great, its just the change over I am reacting to. Effexor was great, but slowly stopped working, so my dose was doubled, which made me manic. I don't know anybody who hasn't had to change eventually, and I think the change over period is horrible, because you know how good you are when its all working well, but I wouldn't stop taking them for the world. I am a much better person and mother when all is good. The most annoying thing about Effexor for me was the sweating. I tollerated drinking with no side effects other than I got very tired. I have noticed on the Lexapro that I can't drink as much, but I figure thats a very good thing. Other than that, I hope all is going to get back to normal soon.

i have been taking lexapro for two years. the sexual side effects are horrible. i am a newlywed with an instant family and i have been having a hard time adjusting. i stopped taking my meds because of was causing problems with my marriage and now i am sinking. i don't know what to do,.

its me again. i have gained 20 lbs on lexapro. it has helped as far as depression and mood swings but the weight gain is enough to send someone into a depressed descent. i am lost

PLEASE HELP!!! I am a college student. I've never been on antidepressants or seen a psych before now. I've been feeling blah lately and have no energy, weight gain, etc. I went to a psychologist and she recommended Lexapro on our first meeting. I've been reading all the side effects and I'm not sure if this is something I really want to get into. Is it typical to go straight to drugs? If i'm not severely depressed should I avoid Lexapro??

i feel stuck. i feel flatlined and non-emotional. very little motivation for anything. been on 20mg for about 3 years. diagnosed with 'post-partem' depression after second baby. but now i feel i can't enjoy everything i'm supposed to. plus, i struggle with major bouts of anxiety and depression, almost manic.
my husband doesn't know what to do with me and i don't either. tried to go off of it a month ago and i had every one of these psycho withdrawal symptoms that have been mentioned here. i'm totally afraid to lower my dosage again, but i've got to get off this freaking thing!!!!!!!! help!

oh yeah, i gained a hefty 25 lbs too. and for the life of me can't shed it.... hell i can barely get motivated to tie my shoes!

I had been taking Lexapro for 9 months when I had to stop taking it because, I no longer could afford to buy it because I didn't have insurance. Nobody told me about withdraw symtoms I made the mistake of not working my way off of it and stopped completely at once. I have been off Lexapro for about a week now and I have been feeling worse and worse each day. I didn't know what was happening to me until I started doing research about withdraw. I am feeling really dizzy, I have bad nausia and I feel like my eyes can't focus when I get these dizzy speals. I also feel fatique and have muscle aches and I hear that this may go on for 2 or more weeks until my body detoxes off this medication. I wish I would have known this would happen before I ever started to take Lexapro and to top things off I gained 30 pounds.

I have been on Lexapro (10mg for first 13 days and then dropped to 5 mg next 3 days)for 16 days and I cannot keep taking it. I cannot sleep, I feel tired all day long, I am forgetting things at work, I am living in a fog. My doctor said he considered the drug easy to take. Having taken Prozac for years, off and on, I thought I would sail through Lexapro. Not this time honey. I feel just awful and I am not willing to keep doing this day after day. I have a new prescription for Prozac and will go back on that tomorrow. I hope the side effects from the Lexapro subside soon and that the switch will be easy.

Has anyone here ever switched so quickly?

Thanks.

I have been on Lexapro for about 2 years. It made me feel less depressed and decreased my anxiety. however, the 10lb. weight gain depressed me. So I slowly went off it and have now been totally off for 2 weeks. The withdrawls are HELL. I'm dizzy, moody, angry, tired and feel out of breath from a short walk. I wish I would have known how bad this was going to be.

Does anyone know how long this will last and how long it will take to loose the weight?

lexapro sucks! i an supposed to be taking it for persistant headaches and depression. ive been on it for almost 3 years and nothing has changed. when i talk to my doctor, he just increases the dose. recently ive been taking 20mg a day. i dont notice any side effects while taking it but the few times i tried to stop, it was unbearable. i felt nauseated constantly, dizzy and disoriented but the strange throbbing/pulsing feeling i get through my body really scares me. the worst part is...i was never told about lexopro being addictive.

I just came off of Lexpro about 10 days ago and my withdrawal is so bad. I'm so dizzy all the time. Can someone tell me how long this should last? I spoke to my doctors, one said could be vertigo or Lexpro. Another said migraine.

what are the side of effects of going off lexapro

I am a single of two working two jobs. Feeling very anxious and having anxiety attacks out of a dead sleep knowing one disaster in life could wipe me out financially I went to pcp. He perscribed lexapro 10 mg. It was great for a month or so. Ive only been on it 3 months. I realized that what I was worrying about in life was not going to go away until my kids were grown and went back to pcp. He said wanted me to take it for at least a year. I knew the longer i was on the medicine the harder the side effects would be coming off. In taking lexapro the dramas in my life were not near as dramatic but the enjoyable moments were not nearly as enjoyable. I felt numb. Had no emotions either way. No sexual desire and my response to everything in life was whatever. I decided to stop taking the drug. I have been off for one week and two days and the side effects are terrible. I feel constant nasseau,abdominal pain and diarrhea,sharp darts of pain through my head and the worst is the dizzines and feeling disoriented. But I am determined to not be dependent on a pill that stops me from feeling anything good or bad in my life. I thing we need these ups and downs in life to grow as a person. I just wonder how long the withdrawals last? I fell like I am swimming under water all the time. All the official websites tell you what discontinuation will do but none tell you approx how long the withdrawal continue. Does anyone know?

Been taking lexapro for six months and feel it's time to get off this med. First time user of anything other than an asperin or two along the way. Feel flat much of the time, have gained about five pounds recently for no good reason. Concerned about withdrawal. any helpful hints??!

I was taking 150mg Effexor XR for several years and weaned off it. After a month of no anti depressant my Dr felt the need to put me back on one, choosing Lexapro. I took 5mg for 6 days then went to 10mg. Aside from it knocking me on my butt the first 2-3 days (I take it at night) I've grown quite concerned with the swelling of my legs and feet. I've experienced occasional swollen ankles in heat or when retaining fluids, nothing that home remedy doesn't help. I'm beyond discomfort with sleepless nights, throbbing and cramping and my feet hurt so badly I don't want to put weight on them. I can't walk far without crying. It's quite embarrassing. My Dr is off today but I will be calling tomorrow as this is not normal.

I was put on lexapro 10mg a few days ago. it was suggested by my family doc that i have gone too all my life (28 yrs). I was hesitent to take anything for this, but was reassured by my Dr. that this was a mild drug and that it was not addictive and therefor would not cause any kind of withdrawl. i should experience some mild side effects for a week or so and then they should go away.

Well, sounds to me that many people have heard a speech similiar to this and sounds to me more like the drug company talking. Regardless, i thought since so many people had suggested to me that I should do something about my depression (can't remember a time in my life i have ever really been happy) that I should give it a shot.

The first day showed some minor effects, "fogginess", a constant "spacey" feeling and a few headaches and a noticeble twitch or tick in both of my big toes. All in all it really wasn't unbearable.

Then there was the second day...

I was in the shower and nearly collapsed. I felt all the symptoms of fainting (which has happened to me a few times) without actually faiting. my vision was completely blurred and could not see anything, just a large bright field even when i tried to focus on objects i knew were there. I had ringing in my ears to the point where i could not hear anything else, even the shower running. and of course there was the nausea. this lasted 5 minutes give or take and then my senses came back slowly. until it happened another 2 times in about an hours' span.

i was freaked out to say the least and called my doc of course he was not on call and had to speak with a replacement who suggested i stop and not take another pill. i received advice from other docs, nurses and pharmascists that suggested i stay on the meds and either make sure i take them on a full stomach (was fasting for blood work), or try taking them at night.

I tried both. Taking the 10mg at night helped and havent had effects so far that were nearly as bad as the second day. also taking after dinner with something in my stomach i think helped a lot even though it says on my label that it can be taken with or without food.

All this being said, all I have read about this drug has scared me completely off trying any sort of drug therapy for this. I would rather stay my same old self than deal with even half of the stuff that i have read about here, amongst a number of other sites that share the same sentiment.

I have decided to stop and not take another pill. anyone know if i should expect any kind of problems after being on it only 6 days? i have come to the resolution that lex appears to be more of a poison than a solution, at least for me.

I have read that withdrawl can take anywhere from 1 to 8 weeks or more. also, there is more information and people suffering withdrawl at another forum that offered a lot of insight for me and helped in my decision. www.drugs.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7826.

thanks for all of the posts on this board, it has helped make my decision a bit easier. all the best to those that are suffering, either with the problem or the suggested solution.

has anyone else experienced the temporary blindness or deafness?

I was on lexapro for 6 months and it was fine untill i gained 10 pounds. i am currently not taking it anymore. I have noticed that i get very sever headaches, i get bursts or energy then i exausted, i am still having trouble sleeping i will go to bed then wake up in a hour or 2 and cant go back to sleep then it time to get up i just wondered if what i am feeling is normal because it kind of scary cause i feel weird

Does anyone posting actually know what depression is? Either you don't or you have the worst doctors in the world. I took Lexapro for over 2 years. It truly helped me, but when I reached the highest dosage and began falling into depression again I had to switch medications.
I, too had a weight gain while I was on Lexapro. But, I'm pretty sure that wasn't from the medication, rather, a side effect of depression. Who wants to exercise or concentrate on eating right (I know eating used to be very emotional for me) if they are severely depressed.
As far as libido goes, mine went away as well, but bringing back your libido is something to discuss with your doctor.
Also, do not, DO NOT try to go off of Lexapro or any other anti-depressant on your own. Most doctors recommend staying on an anti-depressant for at least a year--longer if you have had recurring bouts of depression. Also, if you feel better while you're on Lexapro (or any other antidepressant) and are thinking about going off of the medication--seriously consider why you are feeling better than you were. Is it the medication that helped you? So, if you go off of the medication (let's say this was your first time experiencing clinical depression) you automatically have a 50% chance of becoming depressed again. A second bout of clinical depression and the chance skyrockets further to 90%. A third and it goes and stays at <98% chance of relapsing.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. You need to be upfront about any symptoms you are experiencing or negative events taking place in your life.

I began taking lexapro 3 years ago for depression and anxiety as I was graduating college. It helped tremendously. I had been wanting to go off of it for the past several months since my life has been very stable. My doctor suggested that I wait to decrease the meds until the Spring because I have had problems with SAD (during the winter). I started on 10 mg, after a year increased to 20 mg and then for the final year I was back down to 10 mg. I saw such a difference in myself and my outlook on things. It was really so helpful. June 1st I began the decrease - with my doctor's advice - by taking one pill every other day for two weeks. Then I went down to .5mg every other day for two weeks. I have now not taken any medication in 5 days and I'm not liking it. I feel the lightheadedness that everyone else had mentioned. I feel like if I move my eyes suddenly it takes my brain a second to catch up. I am extremely irritable to people at work, friend and family and am very sensitive to loud noises. I have also been crying a lot. People at work have commented that I've been quite and not myself. I have a friend's wedding this weekend and feel like I'm just not going to enjoy it.

Does anyone know how long this lasts? Is there anyone who felt this way and contimued not taking it? How long until this feeling goes away?

My boyfriend has always has issues with depression, but started taking Lexapro 9 months ago at 30 mg per day. At first, his general mood was improved. He has a real stressful job, but was able to deal with the stress a lot better. He was sleeping about 7-8 hours a night with the drug. Before, he was sleeping 12-15 hours and feeling groggy all day. About 7 months into taking Lexapro, he kept telling me that he didn't care about anything anymore. He cut the dose down to 10 mg per day, but it didn't help. He had gained 15 pounds and would binge eat some days and others not eat hardly anything at all. The feeling of not caring about anything and feeling of "being in a fog" got so bad that he stopped taking Lexapro alltogether about 4 weeks ago. Since then, life has been a complete hell for both of us. He is back to sleeping 12 hours a day, he fells sick to his stomach and is so dizzy that he has fallen down. He is withdrawn and wants to be alone. His job makes him so nervous that his fidgets all day long. He wouldn't speak to me for 2 weeks, and now I have to tell him what to do or he won't do anything at all. I hope this goes away soon, or I'll have to be at the therapist's office too. IT'S DRIVING ME CRAZY!!!!

I have been on Anti-depressents for about 8 or 9 years. I lost track. I have been on lexapro for probably 4 to 6 years. After trying many other anti-depressents, Lexapro worked the best for me. I had the least amount of side affects with it. I did not gain any weight at all and this was huge to me. Well, a little more than 2 weeks ago, I ran out and just decided to stop taking them all together. I did not wean myself off, I quit cold-turkey. I was fine for about the first 4 days or so but then started noticing things. First of all I have to say, that I loved lexapro. It was so helpful for me. I no longer stressed about things like I used to and I stopped crying all the time, however, I believe that due to Lexapro, my marriage almost completely ended. It made me not really care about anything, with a minor bit of this directed even towards my 5 kids. That scared me. Anyway, I made the choice to quit. While being on it, I lost all of my sex drive which is not like me cause I am a 24/7 woman. I like it all the time. Well, now I didn't care, when I did have sex, I could not climax at all which was horrifying to me. I was very frustrated and that made me not want to have sex even more. Now that I am 'off', I am experiencing a feeling in my head, from my eyes up like I have never experienced in my life. I have thought about it sooo much and there are no words at all to describe how I feel or what I am experiencing. My eyes, man, they hurt, I couldn't keep them open, I couldn't blink correctly or look at anything correctly. It was very painful. The eye part is much better now, but the head part is still very much a part of my daily life right now. I have had times where I couldn't walk because I was so dizzy and falling into things. I would have to have help getting to bed so I could just lay down and wish for death. I was extremely nausiated and just wanted to puk....I am small and for having 5 kids, I am a string bean, but I am now experiencing binges, I literally will go to the store and buy, ice cream, pop, popatoe chips, oreos, 2 kinds, ho hos, ding dongs, twinkies, licorice, and a ton of other junk, stuff that I normally would not eat except on occassion. I have times right now where I literally can eat enough food for 3 or 4 people, complete meals. I then feel sick to my stomach but want to keep eating. I then have a day or so of feeling totally like a beached whale than I am fine again. I have gained a few pounds since being off the Lexapro but I will loose it, that I know. For my head stuff that is so unbearable at times, I take a vicodin. It helps soo much and makes it possible for me to function through the day right now. My ears feel full of fluid and it is hard to hear sometimes. I am normally a very bubbly, happy, easy going, no worries, 'It's all good' kind of person, but with the withdrawls, I am a total bitch and EVERYTHING in the world right now, irritates the hell out of me. It is almost like I have stepped out of my body and someone else has moved in. I hate it. I am sleeping better but that is about it for now. Like I said, when I was on Lexapro, it was great. It did the job for me. If you have anything you want to ask me, just email me at fiestyporschecowgirl@yahoo.com and I will do my best to answer. Good luck to all of you who are either on it or trying to get off of it. Porsche

I stopped taking Lexapro 10mg about a month ago and have noticed the following:
-increase in sex drive
-decrease in fatigue
-decrease in hunger
-irritability
-emotional ups/downs easy to initiate
-sleep problems
-night sweats
-weight loss

These withdrawl symptoms were easier than when I took Zoloft, and Paxil. I have not had any snapping in my brain, or feelings of intense anxiety.

I have been taking Lexapro for 1.5 months, 10mg a day for the first month, and 20mg for the next half. I stopped taking it one week ago, and was wondering if it is out of my system? I have a fast metabolism, drink more than a gallon of water for a day for the past week, and exercise which i sweat a lot.

Lexapro has helped me with me issues, but unfortunatly because of my job I am not allowed to be on any mood enhancing drugs.

Any feedback is appreciated.

I started Lexapro two years ago and quit drinking cold turkey on the same day. So far I haven't had the alcohol craving like I did b4 Lexapro. Anyone else see any corrolation like I did???

My mom is being weined off of 10 ml of lexipro and the first week she felt very tired, weak, confused, no appetite, odd pains in shoulder and back, irritable, would cry for no apparant reason. Is this what really happens after being weaned off of it? this drug is in combination with oxicontin, dilantin and phenobaritol for epileptic seizures. she is being slowly weaned off the oxicontin also. What can I expect from her behavior.

Wow! Am I glad I found this site; now I think Iknow what my recent bizarre problems have been caused by. I started on 10 mg of Lexapro for anxiety about 2 years upon the recommendation of my internist. I immediately felt the fatigue and loss of ability to orgasm during sex....but these symptoms became gradually reduced. Then I upped to 20 mg and was pretty much fine for 2 years on it. It definitely helped me to "chill" out; and I never experienced any weight gain as others have mentioned (thank God!). However, sex was never the same...sensations were definitely dulled, and I slept as if I were in a coma. I had a hard time waking up in the morning. I decided to try going off to see how I would do, and with my internist's blessing, reduced the dose to 10 mg for a month. Immediately noticed difficulty staying asleep, especially in the early morning hours. The sex drive and sensations dramatically improved-much to my husband's delight. After a month on 10mg, I have completely stopped the drug for about 3 weeks. About a week ago, I started noticing a "flash" in my brain when I move my eyes from side to side; not really dizziness, but a constant shock coming with eye movement. As some have said on this site, it's very hard to describe. And it's very tiring. It really scared me, but I had no idea what was causing it. I called my doctor, who examined me but said he didn't think it was anything serious. In fact he thought the symptoms were very odd. For my peace of mind, he ran some blood tests and they all came up normal. I even asked him if this could be caused by the Lexapro withdrawl and he said no!!! Now that I am hearing all the remarks from others, it makes sense...and I have the same question...how long does this go on???!!!

I have been on Lexapro 20 mg for 3 years and have been slowly tapering off going from 20 to 10 to 5mg and now am totally off. While tapering off and currently, have been feeling very tired and dizzy. I am positive that the dizziness is from tapering off because in the past when I would miss a dose for a day or two, I would feel the same way. Does anyone know how long this dizziness can last? Has anyone found anything to help ease the dizziness without going back on Lexapro? I have been totally off for about a week now and I hope this does not last much longer.

I have been on 10mg of Lexapro for 3 years. Various problems with depression and alcohol abuse. I have been sober for 13 months now and at any "normal" stress out of mine..the solution is always to increase my medication. I have waited it out and found that in a day or two I have once again gone back to feeling fine.
I have decided like many of you..that I am ready to be off it for good. When you go through rehab, you find that these drugs, withdraw, and the need to "up" dose after periods of time - is like any other drug - alcohol, cocaine etc.
I have been off of my lexapro (cold turkey) for only 4 days. I don't know what is in store for me - but I have decided not to worry about this until then. Sleeping and night sweats are all I have experienced to date.

I would recommend reading Philip Martin's book called "A Zen Path Through Depression". I can't tell you how much this book has helped me.

Jen

i have been taking lexapro for 2 years.. i am 19 years old. they put me on it because i had trouble with my temper and impulse to fight all of the time... i got ways worse on the lexapro. if you have hppd do not take lexapro. it will make that warse as well. i have been off for a month and i have chest pains,dizziness, and fainting. i have lost 3 jobs in 3 months because of this med.

I just wanted to let people know that I was on Lexapro for over 2 years.
I recently decided to come off of it and have had no side effects at all. Besides the first couple of nights having some trouble sleeping and mild effects of many of the symtoms mentioned above (especially the ichyness!).
While I don't doubt that these side effects are horrible!!! for others - I am grateful that I haven't had any - and would like to give hope to others.
While you may have some of these effects, nothing lasts forever. If you are aware that it is the medication causing these changes in your body..you may be able to cope with them better.

best of luck

I have been taking antidepressents since 1986 for suspected inherited depression. I first took Desyril, moved on to Effexor and am now on Wellbutrin XL 150 mg taken in the morning. I also take Trazadone 50mg every night. The Wellbutrin is no longer working so today my Psych suggested that I start taking 10mg Lexapro at night with the Trazadone. I have never abused alcohol or drugs of any kind. I went off Wellbutrin for six months and my depression got worse so I went back on it. It amazes me that everyone says that there is very little sexual side effects on Wellbutrin because I have never had a sex drive on the Wellbutrin. I had a very active sex drive before taking it.

Anyway I now am fearful of taking the Lexapro after reading all of these comments. I get depressed thinking about gaining more weight and having my feeling going "flat" which I have heard repeated many times here.

I've been taking a combo of Lexapro(10mg) and wellbutrin xl(300 mg).
The good news is that it does help.
The bad news 25 extra pounds.
Don't believe anyone that tells you that there is no weight gain on Lexapro. It happens quickly. Then, it doesn't want to come off.

I am so angry with my dr's right now. I was on 20 mgs of Lexapro for 3 years and did a VERY slow taper off (3 months) and have been completely off for 4 days now. For the past 2 days I have been falling, dizzy, and violently vomiting. Also have really bad diarrhea.

If I had known that this would happen when I tried to go off this horrible drug, I NEVER would have started.

I was a former meth user and I tell you, it was easier to get off that stuff than the LEGAL prescribed Lexapro.

M

I began losing my "crowning glory" about one month after starting Lexapro. My Dr. said it couldn't be the meds, and doubled my dosage to 20mg after the first month. Then I began developing red boil-like bumps on my face...and immediately dropped the Lexapro back down to 10mg. The boils went away...but my curly blonde locks have thinned out by 50% 3 months later!!
My depression and anxiety have gotten worse because of it. Is it time for a class action against this company that is suppose to be helping us feel better about ourselves??

I started taking anti-depressants almost three years ago. I began to gain a little weight, but I thought it was just my eating habits over the holidays. Then my doctor prescribed zoloft.
Immediately, I started to be a "food seeker". I thought about eating all the time, and DID! For awhile, I thought it was just my eating habits failing even more, but then I realized it was a "drive" in me to be looking for food all the time. I would eat almost constantly. I gained 35 pounds in 3-4 months.

Of course, I didn't look very nice and none of my clothes fit, so I felt more depressed. My doctor just told me I needed to be exercising and controlling myself. I told him for months that I felt the zoloft was making me want to eat insidious amounts. He said that the drug doesn't make one gain weight. I told him that I know the drug didn't magically make me bigger, but that it was making me eat all the time. Finally, I got off the zoloft a year when a nurse in the office listened to my sob story of how I had no self esteem left since my weight gain. I am now on Wellbutrin XL 300 mg and Lexapro 20 mg.

I have continued to gain weight over the last year, despite taking phentermine (a different doctor prescribes, of course), exercise, and limiting food. I am now at my all-time high of 190, which is 65 pounds more than what I began antidepressants at. I have shrunk an inch, too. My doctor, of course, doesn't think my meds are responsible for one iota of my problems, but after reading up on the drugs' effects, I beg to differ.

I started weaning myself off both drugs yesterday, cutting each in half. I plan to take half pills for 2 weeks, then 1/4 for 2 weeks before quitting completely. This is without the advice of my doctor, of course.

As I read all the posts regarding the meds, I can't help but realize many of my "symptoms" are most likely effects of the drugs I take. I have insomnia. I stay up almost all night, then go to sleep. I get up to take care of my son before he goes to school, and I head back to bed if I can.

My body aches. My joints and bones ache. The pains are especially pronounced in my shoulders/upper arms. I started to think that my good mattress went bad from my weight gain, but wondered how mature men are able to sleep on one and not ruin it. It must just be my body hurting and not the mattress causing it.

Acne has increased. I now take meds for my face. I have roseacea, which is worse from all the "hot flashes" caused by the psych meds (it is almost like menopause? and my friends and family think I am freakish for it. LOL). The broken blood vessels in my face won't go away without "cosmetic" treatment by a dermatologist, which my insurance won't cover.

I have ZERO sex drive while all my friends are having fun. I rarely even think about the fact that I have no sex drive. I don't masturbate because I don't have any desires at all. I wonder if I will ever return to some semblance of normal.

I feel that right now I dwell on my negative appearance. I am ashamed to go out socially. I am worse off than when I started the meds, because I hate myself more and more each day. I worry about being able to lose this weight, too. I see pictures of myself and cringe. The camera doesn't lie, though.

Other effects I think could be from my psych. meds:
-eyesight changing
-diarrhea much of the time
-no motivation
-occasional night sweats
-hypoglycemic episodes
-vivid, mostly disturbing-to-some-degree dreams
-short term memory problems
-confusion upon waking sometimes

I am going to try exercise and an improved diet to aid in my emotional and physical balance.

I started weaning off of lexapro in July - I did it just like my Dr. said and now I am taking one pill every 4/5 days because I start getting really dizzy - Im not sure if its a side effect or if its anxiety - any input from anybody? Thanks Lisa

LEXAPRO CAUSES BALDNESS. FOREST PHARMACEUTICALS WOULD NEVER LIST EXTREME HAIR LOSS AS A SIDE EFFECT FOR FEAR THAT WOMEN WOULD NOT TAKE THEIR PRODUCT. IT'S ALL ABOUT THEIR GREED. THANKS LEXAPRO, ACCORDING TO MY DOCTOR AND DERMATOLOGIST YOUR PRODUCT IS MAKING ME TOTALLY BALD!!! YOU SUCK!

i havent taken lexapro for about 5 or 6 days because i ran out of my prescription and i feel woosy every time i get up or turn my head i feel like my head is flu-like with that dizzy feeling its driving me crazy but i have to wait for my mail order prescription, also i have very weird, outrageous, freaky, scary dreams!!!!!

i havent taken lexapro for about 5 or 6 days because i ran out of my prescription and i feel woosy every time i get up or turn my head i feel like my head is flu-like with that dizzy feeling its driving me crazy but i have to wait for my mail order prescription, also i have very weird, outrageous, freaky, scary dreams!!!!!

I have been off Lexapro for like a month. When will I feel like myself again.I have gained weight.Also been dizzy on this meds.Please give me some feed back to let me know when I will start feeling myself again.Thanks Romona

I have been off Lexapro for over a month now. I read this prior to going off them and was very scared that I would suffer some of the symptoms below. I am happy to report that beside a little difficulty of sleeping at first I have had none. I feel great. I just wanted to give some hope to those of you thinking of going off them. I was worth it and painless. The cloud is disappearing.

FYI--I have been on "anti-depressants" for 10 years now. I am 31. The first 4 years, Paxil, then tried wellbutrin & hated it. Had baby #1 on paxil, did fine, but the weight didn't budge & I am an avid Golds Gym Member! Doc suggested Prozac when baby #2 was on his way. Gained only 30 lbs (1st pregnancy was 55lbs.), and lost it fast, even being on Prozac. All has been well for the past 5 years on Prozac, until 3 weeks ago.. I had baby #3 in April. Everything has been fine, I always take prozac as directed. 3 weeks ago I had a blood test for possible High Thyroid, or possible adult arthritis? instead the ANA test came back elevated, this means I could have Lupus. I am seeing a specialist in 2 weeks. The Antibody that came back high was the anti-histone. Apparantley there is a small chance that prozac can cause drug induced Lupus! GREAT! My whole body aches, all of my joints, and I am sooo tired. I am switching to Lexapro now. (although it is in the same drug family, only Prozac, or flouxatine, have the lupus side effect) I have 8 lbs of baby weight to lose! Does everyone gain weight on Lexapro?

After 5 straight years on Prozac/Fluoxetine I have now been diagnosed with drug induced Lupus! Thanks Fluoxetine! I had an ANA test done, the anti-histone antibody is elevated, which explains my flu like symptoms and every joint aching as if my whole body has been struck with arthritis! I have an apt. with a Rheumatologist on the 28th. Long Term Prozac CAN cause this disease, so be careful & watch for symptoms! I am now having to switch to Lexapro (although in the drug family, only Prozac has the ANA side effect). Am I going to gain weight? I live at Golds Gym & only have 8 more baby pounds to go! UGH! Lupus & Obese!???

My son 12 has Tourettes Syndrome. Started taking Risperdal .5 mg 3 1/2 weeks ago. 1 week ago began taking Lexapro for anxiety. Since begining the Lexapro he started ticking almost right away. I am wondering if anyone else has experinece this or heard anything simular.

I wrote previously. For a month now, I have been tapering off the wellbutrin XL 300 mg and lexapro 20 mg dosages. I took what I intend to be my last 1/4 pill of wellbutrin this morning. Within the week, I plan to be off of the lexapro, also.

In the first 2-3 days of tapering off my meds, I lost 6 pounds out of no where. HOWEVER, I then began to gain weight. Within this month of tapering, I have gained 17 pounds after the initial loss. 187 down to 181...and today at 198 pounds!! I look hideous and feel even worse. This can't be normal, folks.

Also, my scalp or hair folicles on my head hurt/ache/feel prickly. It is hard to explain. I see more and more the effects of hair loss caused by one or both of those drugs. :(

Does anyone know if my hair will grow back once off the psychiatric meds?

Does anyone know if I will lose any weight once completely off the meds? I am horrified by my weight gains. When I started taking the antidepressants, I weighed a healthy 125-127.

I am single (divorced), and I feel like I will have no opportunities to ever find a partner if I maintain my current appearance. Who wants someone who hates their body, anyway?!

I am itchy, too, but I take benadryl pills to help combat that. Most of the time they work. Sometimes, I need to take an extra pill.

I am not sure if withdrawl effects are always immediate. For example, I just started to have headaches two days ago. I think the body has a large reserve of the drugs built up in the system and only when it starts to get depleted will it send your body negative signals. In other words, I anticipate the feelings to get much worse before they get better while ridding my system of these poisons.

Help if you can with any answers, please.

I am so glad I came to this site. Although I still don't know what to do!! I started taking Lexapro 2 years ago. I started out on 10mg which I did feel tired and had vivid dreams. I bumped myself up to 20mg for 3 days and had to go back to 10mg after the AWFUL vivid nightmares! I quit taking my lexapro 9 days ago (cold turkey). 4 days after being off I was so irritable, my own boyfriend told me he couldn't stand me. And we usually get along! I threw the biggest fit because he drank the last Coke! It was the absolute end of the world!! I was starting fights for nothing and have not wanted to do a thing for the past 5 days. I just want to lay around and be crabby. I thought about going back on Lexapro and decided I could beat it out. 2 days ago I started feeling the numb/tingling feeling in my upper body and head. Horrible/scary feeling! I was told today by a lady that I work with that my symptoms were from this. Who knew it would have these effects! I have since noticed also alot of extra hair in my brush, which is scary. I broke down and had a prescription filled at work today. Took one and symptoms went away within 2 hours. Needless to say the tired/frumpy feeling came back at the same time. This sucks. By the sounds of everyone elses input. Even weening yourself off this med doesn't help!
P.S. I was wondering why I got pleasantly plump:)

Hello everyone. I just needed to write a few things. I was on Lexapro for about 6 months and have been off for almost 2 weeks. The problem was my doctor only had me ween off of it for 6 days and now I am feeling the effects of the withdrawals. I am so nauseous, I just feel sick all day long. I cried twice yesterday for no real reason but the more I cried the more I started thinking of reasons I was crying which made it worse. How long does this usually last. I do not want to get back on it. I am on Wellbutrin SR and now I am scared of what the withdrawal symptoms will be like when I decide to stop taking that. Does this get any better?

i'm currently taking lexapro to treat mild depression that was triggered by a traumatic event. i've been on it for about 3 months now at 10mg. i feel fantastic and only noticed slight side-effects (dry mouth, trouble sleeping) for the first week or so. my doctor reccommends that i stay on for another 3 months but i'm starting to worry about how i will be once off the medication. will i be in withdrawal? will my symptoms of depression return? thank you to anyone for their feedback.
shari

can anyone tell me how long the lexapro side effect of shoulder and neck muscle tremors and jerking last? I was on lexapro for 4 days when they began and have now been off the drug for two weeks. I suffered from increased sweating in hands and feet, ten pound weight loss in one week, gastritis, jaw stiffness, dehydration and muscle weakness not to mention hot flushes and off the chart anxiety smptoms while on lexapro. I wish I would have never taken it.
Thanks, Care

this drug is awful

I've been off lexapro for a week after taking it for 9 months my doctor told me to stop taking it cold turkey my head hurts and I'm so dizzy I feel like I am going to pass out. She took me off it because they think that it may be causeing me to have breast milk and I am not PG because I just had a hysterctomy at the end of July. Has any one had this problem and if you did when did it stop atfer stopping the meds?

I have been off lexapro for about 1 week now. I was on 15mgs (1&1/2pills) prescribed by my doc for mild anxitiy and mild "depression" I had only been on lexapro for about 6 months, gained 10 pounds and decided I would rather try a holistic way to deal. I weened myself off (just as suggested by the good ole doc!) I have never felt so awful from stopping any medication. I didn't even know there was such thing as lexapro withdrawl!! Gotta tell ya... I'm pretty pissed off . Docter never mentioned it ,med lable doesn't say it. I had to learn about it by going threw it and getting info on line about it. So one week off lexapro and I too get dizzy, can't stand being a passenger in a car(car sick),bad headaches, vivid ..kinda scarey dreams, that wierd,(hard to put into english words) feeling connected with your eyes & your brain (brain zaps)I have them too. I hope this doesn't last long ..if anyone knows how to lessen the withdrawl effects or how long this will last.please please please let us all know!!

I have been on Lexapro since it came out in 2002. It has been good to me, except for the weight. Not gaining, but not losing. I joined a research group to test a new weight loss drug that also has SSRI qualities. So...I have to be off the Lexapro in order to be in the program. They asked me to be Lexapro-clean for three months before I can participate. I've been off for almost five weeks now and the problems I've been having are minimal. The brain zaps are the most annoying. I've also had short-term memory loss. Just have to write things down...faster, LOL. The new program is a two-year study. I'll try to post my progress to let you know if this new pill will be the new depression/weigh LOSS drug. Cross your fingers!

I just lowered my dosage from 10mg of lexapro and feel a little dazed at times. I also feel alittle anxious, is this normal. How long does it take to adjust to the dosage?

I really just want to warn people about the problems I have had with this drug.
I have had increased anxiety to the point of panic atttacks and insomnia. I have experienced severe night sweats. I have had the expected sexual side effects.
I have been trying to wean myself off of lexapro for the past month. I finally took my last pill this week. About 3 days after taking my last pill I experienced horrible withdrawl sytoms. My whole body ached like I had the flu. I have experienced nauseau and dizziness, or vertigo type symptoms.
I have had diarrhea.I have had severe headaches. It has been miserable and I really wish my medical doctor would have mentioned that this could happen.
I am now totally disgusted with the drug companies and the FDA. I am going to try ST. John's wort, a natural herb.

Think twice before trying this drug.

T.F.

I have been taking Lexapro for 8 months and it is the BEST thing that has ever happened to me I have had Panic attacks since I was a child and now no more. It took me a long time 2 months after filling the scribe to take the first pill. The reason was because of sites like this. Lexapro is not for everyone people need to understand that you need to find the right med for you and it might take a couple of times but hopefully you will find the ONE. Lexapro is the one for me. Also does anyone here consider maybe you are giving yourself these so called side effects from your overactive minds or that the depression/anxiety isn't effected by this med. I need this med and love it, I will go off of it within the next years because Chemical Inbalance CAN BE FIXED FOREVER

I took Lexapro for around a year and let me tell you...it was WONDERFUL!!! I felt so good, so great...full of energy and just a feeling that I was on 'top of the world'. It really worked. After about a year I noticed...along with my two mates that sexual desire decreased...in fact it nearly stopped. I told my doctor about this and they said it was 'normal' and started me on welleburtun, it however did not work as good as Lexapro. That was two years ago, since then I have tried a few others including Zoloft (caused massive depression for me) Paxil (diahrea that would not stop) and another that didn't work.

So I decided to not take anything at all. Its not like the 'good ole days' when I was takin Lexapro...in fact its rather hard sometimes...but sexual desire is back....now if only I could get rid of the anxiety/depression so I could go out in public and meet new people. LOL Its a hard/tough thing to beat....

would flouxatine give the impression when a test is done that it is cocaine or could be mistaken for cocaine when tested in a newborn

I am going to agree that Lexapro leads to weight gain. I have put on 8 lbs recently and I DO NOT overeat and I exercise on a fairly regular basis. It makes no sense that I would gain weight when at best I should be maintaining my weight. After speaking to my doctor I have gone from 10mg to 5. It has been a week now and I think I am having withdrawl symptoms. Lack of enthusiasm, constant fatigue, loss of appetite and I get aggitated easily. I hate the way this feels because all I "feel" like doing is crawling in bed and avoiding everything until I "feel" better and energetic again. And the kicker is, I very much need to exercise to get this weight off but my enery level is so low that when I get to the gym I am unable to give it my all because I feel so fatigued!!!! I do however feel better this morning than the last 2 mornings......maybe I have turned a corner in the "getting of Lexapro" process. I have decided to try Natural Body Diet by Global DNA Solutions which I found on www.theroadback.com. The website is very informative and I just stumbled on it one day. I am hopeful that I experience positive results with the Natural Body Diet. It will take effort on my part since its a change in eating behavior and taking supplements, but it may very well be worth it. My question.....have any of you experienced the same symptoms as me as you weaned yourself off Lexapro? Fatigue, aggitation, lack of desire for ANYTHING other than sleeping? Or am I experiencing depression since I have decreased my dosage? I first started taking Lexapro for situational depression and now all in my life is great! I have zero reason to be depressed (well this extra weight is annoying)which is why I have chosen to get off Lexapro. Thoughts anyone?

To all who want to withdraw from Lexapro -- including me, due to emotional flatness combined with bodily fatness (LOL) -- the best method I've learned about is to temporarily add a small amount of Prozac to your regimen. The reason is that Prozac has a much longer "half-life" than any other SSRI in your body, which will minimize withdrawal symptoms. If you taper Lexapro all the way down to five mg. or less, then you're no longer getting any clinical benefit anyway, so how Prozac works for your depression or anxiety is irrelevant. All you're aiming for is a cushioning effect from withdrawal.
The British psychiatrist David Healey, who has become a real advocate on behalf of his patients for what the drug companies fail to mention about withdrawal effects, has developed a step-by-step instruction for coming off these SSRIs. I have it as a PDF, so I can't post it here, but Google "David Healey" + withdrawal, and hopefully you'll find it.
I came off of Effexor last year after three years, and the effect was to spiral me into the worst, most intense anxiety and depression I have ever had in 42 years. This is why I had to go on Lexapro. I had to take one drug to get rid of the body-slam of the other. And with what result? I gained 20 pounds, began craving alcohol, and find myself feeling so blase that I could practically rob a bank without giving a shit about the consequences.
This cannot be the solution to learning to cope with anxiety in our lives.
I hope the Prozac solution helps anyone posting here -- including, of course, myself.

I was given Lexapro for anxiety in May 2006 after having two TIAs(ministrokes). I fought the DR as I am a recovering alcoholis for 25 years and am extremeley careful about what I take. After two months I told him I wanted off this drug, that I felt numb on it. He did not want me to do that but said ok but you have to wean off of it.

I cut the 10mg in half for over two weeks and then started taking that every other day and then stopped two weeks ago and my life has been a living hell since.

No one ever tells you about these withdrawal problems now do they? Profuse sweating, totally irrational anger/rage, burdsting into tears for no reason, rapid weight gain while on it and now I cannot take it off even on weight watchers for a month I gaine a pound. I feel out of control and scared. I have a very hard time sleeping.I called the dr and he wanted me to go back on a drug that does this to you. That is just insanity. He said well Lee sounds like depression to me. Wanted to know if I was suicidal and I told him no I love life too much but there are days I say if this is living who needs it. It is like a complete personality change. Please read all you can before going on or off this drug. It is extremely dangerous.

Anyone have any suggestions to get through these horrific days and/or how long it takes to feel normal again?

I took Lexapro for 6 months. I have to say it saved my life; not literally but figuratively. I was extremly depressed and anxious over my mother's illness and my father-in-law's death. I cound not sleep, eat or function. I cried all the time. The Lexapro made me feel normal again. I was able to function again, and be happy. I had never experienced true depression before and hope to never feel that way again.
I recently decreased my dose from 10mg per day to 5mg, then 5mg every other day for about 1 week, then stopped. I just took the last dose about 1 week ago. I am experiencing the "raw nerve ending" feeling that some here have reported. I also have trouble finding the right word, and am very tired. Sometimes my legs feel heavy and numb. I also noticed my fingers going numb from time to time. As bad as it may sound, these withdrawal symptoms are mild.
Depression is very serious and taking medication is serious; but for those of you that need it, it is well worth it. I have found the side effects a small price to pay to get my life back. Now that I am off of Lexapro I feel that I will function just fine, and hopefully not need another anti depressent ever again. However, if I find myself in the same situation at some time in the future, I would not hesitate to take it again.

Extremely tired. Have been on 20mg for about a year now. Don't know if I'm just getting used to the levels and it's symptoms of depression or if it's the side effect of the drug.

I’ve stopped seeing my psychiatrist for personal reasons and therefore losing the prescription to my ssri (lexapro) which I was taking for depression. The one and only symptom I had while using it was the initial nausea associated when I missed taking it with food, but in overall I had a good experience with the drug, while on it! But I wanted to stop using because I’m not a big fan of taking any drugs. As a result of not wanting to take the med anymore and not having the prescription anyways I made myself wean off it by halving a 30 days worth of 20 mil pills and that gave me the obvious 60 days to get off it. I’ve been off the lexapro for a month now. And it hasn’t been fun, have come to recognized that the creepy feelings I’m still experiencing are due to withdrawals… loss of attention, sleepy all day and insomnia all night, twitchy, constant headaches, and when I move my head a dizzy sensation if you will, an almost strange hollow feeling, like if I my brain is loose (some will say I do have a few screws loose in there) it’s a difficult sensation to describe, takes hold. Well… I’m looking for all of this to just go away. Hope this helps anyone to figure out that what they are experiencing may be the withdrawals of an ssri.

Took Lexapro for 6 months for anxiety symptoms, mainly insomnia, and mild depression symptoms. It definately fixed my insomnia and the depression symptoms. However, my sex drive plumeted and my ability to maintain an erection, let alone have an orgasm, went down the tubes. I have since stopped taking the drug. Even though I have slowly tried to wean myself off of Lexapro, I experience a high level of anxiety and have electric shock sensations with some diziness and nausea(paresthesia) multiple times per hour. I'm glad to know that other people are experiencing these withdrawal symptomes, especially the parasthesia. I thought I was losing my mellon. I do not recommend this drug. How long is this garbage going to last???

Ive been on lexapro for almost two weeks and im weening off of it now!..it has made me feel so tired in school during the day that if i try to fall asleep i feel out of it trying to wake back up...its making everything feel not real!..and im tapering off of it and im terrified of the withdrawl symptoms..ive only been taking 5mg. to ! please comment back if anyone can relate to my problems!

I was on Lexapro 10mg for about 1 year for generalized anxiety disorder. I do believe the Lexapro helped level out my anxiety. The side effects were not bad other than the constant feeling of tiredness. I am very sensitive to medications and this was the only anti-depressant/anxiety medication that did not cause me visual disturbances, lightheadedness and nausea. I chose to get off of the medication since I have been feeling better but also because over the past 6 months I have gained about 12 pounds (with proper diet and regular exercise). My doctor does not believe the Lexapro is the cause but I have had series of blood work drawn and there are no problems. Originally I thought maybe I had thyroid problems. I believe it is the Lexapro. I weined myself off over the past couple of weeks but I am suffering withdrawl. I read that it could last from one to eight weeks. I am nauseated, dizzy, at times I feel like I may have the flu and now my lips and hands are going slightly numb periodically. I haven't contacted my doctor yet. I can barely function on a daily basis without having to rest often. Fortunately I do not work but I have a husband who travels and 5 year old twins I need to take care of. If I had known how terrible I was going to feel and how much weight I was going to gain I don't think I would have taken this medication. I guess for anyone who desperately needs to be on this kind of medication the good can outweigh the bad. As for me, I am done with this and I hope these withdrawl symptoms go away soon.

Thank goodness for this site!! I am so angry at my doctors right now! I went on Lexapro a little over a year ago for postpartum depression after my second child. At first, I felt like I could cope a lot better with things and I stopped crying at the drop of a hat. But after several months, I felt as though it wasn't doing much for me. A new doctor prescribed WellButrin, but that made my muscles twitch like crazy with severe muscle cramps. Next was Zoloft, which made my blood pressure go through the roof. Next, back to 10mg of Lexapro, which is where I've been for the last 6 months. I've gained significant weight over the last year, 20-30 lbs, but was told that it was NOT from the Lexapro. Obviously, that was the wrong info. I couldn't understand why I wasn't trying to lose the weight, or clean my house, or take care of myself, or my kids, but I had no motivation whatsoever. All I've wanted to do is sleep (after I've stayed up all night) and constantly feel guilty about not wanting to do anything. I really think they need to tell you that this can be a side effect of the Lexapro! Also, the night sweats and frequent hot flashes have been driving me crazy, making me think I have high blood pressure. Even my post-menopausal mother thinks I'm crazy.
Well, all of the above, coupled with absolutely no sexual desire (I don't even miss it), helped me decide to wean myself off of the Lexapro. I had no idea I was in for such a ride! I was newer told anything about withdrawel symptoms with Lexapro and in fact, was told there were NO withdrawel symptoms with Lexapro. (The makers of Lexapro do not have any info on their website regarding withdrawel or withdrawel side effects. Apparently, you are never supposed to stop taking it!) I had no idea what was wrong with me until I got on the internet today. It's been 2 weeks since I went off the Lexapro completely and it has been horrible. The dizziness is the worst! It feels like my head isn't screwed on tight and when I turn my head, my eyes feel like they stayed where they were. I also have sensitivity to light and sound, very vivid dreams, all-day headaches, neck pain, hot flashes and night sweats. I hope all this goes away soon, so I can feel comfortable driving again and carrying my kids again. I would love to feel motivated and normal again. It's been a long time. Now, I also wish I would have just delt with the postpartum on my own and never gone on the Lexapro. Someone should hold the doctors and drug companies responsible for false or no information about what really goes on with these drugs. I shouldn't have to find it out here! Thanks for the info so I'm not feeling so crazy and scared anymore. Drug-takers beware!!

I've been on lexapro for 4 1/2 mo. 3 wks. ago I was on 30mgs. a day and went down to 20mgs. a day. Today I went down to 10 mgs. a day. How fast can I go off of that? The reason I want to go off is I think it is causign my headaches to worsen. I take topamax and botox ingections and they don't even help, so i believe daily headaches are causing anxiety not the other way around! I am handling anxiety very well!

I've been on Lexapro for a little over 4 months now. 10mg the first 2 months then moved up to the 20mg. The side effects from starting it were very mild for me, just some nausea for the first week and insomnia. I had something for the insomnia so it was no big deal. I have pretty much completely lost my libido though so I may switch to something else at some point. My husband fortunately is a very understanding non pressuring kind of guy so he's ok with the lost sex drive in exchange for me not yelling at him all the time. For the most part all the lexapro has done is remove all the negative thoughts in my head so I can really see whats around me in its proper perspective. I have to say that getting on this medication is one of the best things i've ever done for myself. I have suffered from major depressive disorder for as long as I can remember (i'm 30) and I just didn't know what it felt like to NOT want to die all the time. I've been resistant to taking any depression medication because its scared the crap out of me to mess with my brain. This is the first anti-depressant I've tried and I can't believe the difference it has made in my life. I'm a better mother, wife and person in general. Every little thing is not a major issue for me anymore. I still get sad and cry but now it's appropriate situations instead of crying over everything - even just waking up in the morning made me cry because I couldn't imagine getting through another day. And the anger and anxiety only pop up when there is actually something to be mad or anxious about. No more horrible mood swings and no more obsessing about how crappy i thought my life was. Now I just wish I had done something like this sooner.

I had gone on lexapro 2 years ago for social anxiety and depression that was brought on by an eating disorder. The pills did help me become less nervous and to be more confident in myself. Overall i felt more comfortable in my own skin again.
Now for three weeks or so i have gone cold turkey. I was taking 10 mg. pills. But i must admit...this withdrawl is the pits!!! All my nerve endings are super sensative...I feel like i want to break out of my skin...and worst of all i am feeling social anxiety again!!!
I am on the verge of refilling my perscription again even though my husband and I are trying to have a baby. I just dont think I can be off these pills and live a normal life...but i hear you shouldnt take the pills if you are trying to have a child. Is this true?
The worst part of this whole thing is that i thought if i went on this drug I would eventually be "me" again. That it would cure me of feeling crazy!!! Now I realize that I really do have problems and that from here on out I will always need to be on this drug. Does anyone else feel hopeless as well? Like you cant control your own life without a freakin little pill?

Lexapro is the first and only medication I have taken for my depression. I have been on it for going on 3 months or so.

When I first started taking it I felt the "slow eyes" feeling. I would turn my head and then my eyes would have to catch up to where I wanted to look. This soon passed.

Sometimes I think I have become "flat" in my emotions.

Although I have never had good sleep patterns, I have realized I am considerably drowsy after taking my 10mg dose (which is usually during the day) and really feel the need to "nap"

My doctor wants me on Lexapro for 6 months and to try and wean me off of it. However, I am terrified at the consequences of getting off of this drug.

I have gained 6 pounds so far.

My biggest concern, and question is....

I usually take my lexapro between 2-4pm and when I don't take it I will usually have an "iritable" moment where I snap at somebody, and immediately realize I haven't taken my Lexapro.

Does ANYONE else experience this? Or am I just crazy?

Please email me with your response!!
sweetlilchiklet3@aol.com

Thanks and God Bless.

I quit Lexapro because I felt I was developing mania while on it. I had bad issues with anxiety when I started it. It helped me level off and become more functional in the beginning, but my anxiety never quite left. I am still working on it. I feel my anxiety is still bad, but not as bad as six months ago.

I have a lot of eye sensitivity as a major withdrawal symptom. No brainzaps though. A lot of sensitivity to light and minor headaches. I am coming off slowly... and I hope that over the next two weeks I can quit completely.

I just felt the Lex reached it's peak with me a few months ago.

i have taken lexapro 10mg for thre years due to ptss .i have been off from it almost 4 months.i have had alot more then my share of poblems,i lost 2 years of my life walking in a fog,doctor tellin methe pills will work,any way could not get off the lexapro i ended up going to a neurofeedback clinic to get off,and still the withdrawls was a livin hell,drug free almost 4 month has been a long haul i am just now starting to feel better, and have learned alt about these drugs and the brain.i will never take another antidepressant as long as i live all thry do is mask the issues a person is going through.i know first hand and i would not want anyone to ever have to go through the withdrawls.i know everyone is different but these drugs should be illegal.

The withdrawl symptoms I have experienced, have been hell!! This is the worst anti-depressant ever!! I am so glad I found out what it does!

Lisa

hi EVERYONE
IM WRITNIG THIS WHILE IM IN CLASS TRYING TO FOCUS ON THE LECTURE
WHICHJ I CANT...I THINK IT HAS ALOT TO DO WITH THEIS DRUG
IT HAS SHORTENED MY FOCUS TIME AND COGNITIVE THINKING TO ONYL FEW HOURS
AFTER 5 HOURS OF STUDYING MY HEAD BECOMES LOCKED AND I START FEELING uneasy and cant focus anymore without my head being hurt
its very irritating specially during the exam time when i have to study alot
and alos druing long school hours
im only 22 and i hope to god my problem will be fixed one day
i dont know who else has my experience but please do share
msg me if there is any strategies i can use
ps. sorry for the capital letters i didnt realize they were on

I had a hysterectomy 3 years ago, and ever since then I feel I have no interest in sex. What's wrong with me?

I can say that Lexapro did help me greatly with the anxiety and insomnia. I did however experience excessive sweating, night sweats and hairloss. I will not accept hairloss, so i will not use it anymore. I would rather be depressed than bald.

Seems like everyone who has been on Lexapro has been blindsided by the side effects when getting off the medication. I will not go into the same gory details that everyone else has expressed. The bottom-line is the pain and suffering you have to go through to quit the medication should be a matter of choice. Doctors and the drug companies should warn you, period. The manufacturor does not provide any details on their web site to warn you or recommend how to withdraw from the medicine. That in itself reveals an attempt to hide the seriousness of the drugs affect. Time to contact the FDA. Do not allow these drug companies to make us dependent upon one of their drugs out of fear to quit.

can anyone tell me what causes the electric shocking sensations?

I am trying to stop taking lexapro, i wish i wouln't never start taking it.
side effects while on it are horrible, luck of motivation, feel like i am in a cloud, stupid. getting off it i am not sleeping, cant eat, my head hurts, brain zaps, suicidal thoughts, luck of interest, my mood is totally out of control, i feel crazy

I have been on Lexapro for four years (10mg for two years and 20s for the last two) and I can honestly say the only bad side effects have been erectile dysfunction and an ocassional severe headache. On the plus side, my almost uncontrollable rage has all but subsided and I am once again "safe" to be around. I am also sleeping better and my appetite has not been affected.

my boyfriend stopped taking lexapro about three weeks ago, and i am very concerned his lymphnodes are very swollen, and he gets nautious every single day. he's also getting zappy feelings in his head, his ballance is bad. are these symptoms of withdrawl from lexapro, or something worse.

Hi all,
After reading several of the posts written here I thought I would give some insight on my experience. I took Lexapro for 5 years at 10mg. Recently I had decided I no longer needed the medication and stopped taking it without tapering. I realize this it not advised.

I had a very minor withdraw mainly consisting of a constant headache and had some unsteadyness. I found out a lot of the time when I was busy the withdrawl symptoms were less.

My mood has been great and I feel much better to be off the drug "yeah". It may help to keep a positive attitude and stick with it. There is very little in medications that do not cause side effects. Start reading and learn even if you take an antiobiotic there is side affects.

was on lexapro for 2 1/2 months 5mg. a day.....just quit a few days ago however now I'm feeling nausea every day when is it going to stop? HELP!!!!!

I've been on lexapro for 2yrs.Recently due to insurance cut back i couldn't afford it.Now i'm dizzy headed and tired all the time.I've been without for about 2wks.I'm refilling my lexapro now.How long with it take for my symptons to go away after i get them ?Err not good times!Thanks

i stopped taking lexapro 10mg.i have been taking it for 5 yrs.I feel dizziness,nauses,electric feeling face&body.i went for tests in hospitalto no avail.after reading other blogs i relized symtoms i have been having are lexapro withdrawls.they are passing.thank all for the info.

I think this drug lexapro or any other depression drug are attacking symptoms and not the problems. You have to find out what is making you the way you are and change it within. Try God.

I have major depressive disorder and my doc first prescribed lexapro and I thought it worked okay. To save more money, he prescribed a similar drug called Citalopram. This shit sucks. It's cheaper for a reason probably. Citalopram made me really irritable and I would have pretty bad mood swings. I would be in a conversation in and literally dose off or look pretty high to a stranger....yea pretty bad.

Can someone please help? I have no idea if my condition has anything to do with the Lexapro I'm on but my voice has been gone for almost 4 weeks. I've been on Lexapro for a little over two months now. I just think it's odd that I lost my voice because there were and still are no symptoms to indicate anything. I've never had a cold, flu anything. I just magically lost my voice although I noticed my voice getting hoarse after a few days. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA IF THIS COULD BE RELATED TO LEXAPRO? I am so frustrated because I can't talk. My voice is beyond hoarse. Thanks you to anyone who has any answers!

I HAVE BEEN ON LEXAPRO 2.5 YRS I AM A RN AND I HAD HORRIBLE SIDE EFFECT WHILE STARTING THE DRUG, MAINLY NAUSEA, NOW AFTER I HAVE GAINED 40 LBS FOR NO REASON, I AM WEANING MYSELF OFF. I WAS ON 20, WENT DOWN TO 15 FOR 1 WEEK THEN 10 FOR 1 WEEK. I HAVE HAD SEGMENTS OF DIZZYNESS, AND SOME TROUBLE SLEEPING, XANAX HAS TAKEN THE EDGE OFF AND HAS HELPED ME SLEEP. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERE MUSCLE SORENESS IN MY LEGS AND BUTT. I WILL GO DOWN TO 5 MG IN A FEW WEEKS I WANNA SLOW DOWN THE WEANING THE LOWER THE DOSE GETS. I PLAN TO BE OFF IT BY THE END OF JULY. I STARTED TAKING IT FOR ANXIETY BUT THE XANAX FIXES THAT PROBLEM. I CANNOT TOLRATE THIS WEIGHT GAIN DOES ANYONE HAVE A WEIGHT LOSS SUCCESS STORY POST LEXAPRO?

i forgot to take my 10mg. of lexapro for almost 2 weeks, i started feeling like i had the flu and then realized it was probably because of not taking the lexapro. i have been on it for months.
I then starting taking it again, but i still feel like crap.Its been about 5 days now. Will This get better? Do I feel like this because of going off and then back on it again

omg i cant believe how crap i feel, I have come off lexapro which i was taking for nearly a year. The withdrawls are hell please anyone else out there who has gone though what i am going though now please help and tell me that things will get better thank you

MY INSURANCE WONT PAID FOR MY LEXPRO ANYMORE AND I WOULD LIKE TO STOP ALL TOGETHER BUT I CANT..I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A NAUTRAL HERB... BUT I HATE THE SIDE EFFECTS THAT I AM GOING THRU...MY WORST ONE IS HEADACHES... SOME ONE HELP ME SO I CAN JUST BE HALF NORMAL

BOY AM I UPSET WITH THE COMPANYS THAT PUT OUT THIS MEDICATION ...SURE IT DOES WORK AT TIMES BUT AGAIN I STILL HAD MOOD SWINGS.
MY INSURANCE COMPANY WILL NOT PAY FOR THIS DRUG NOW AND I AM SCREWED..ITS BETWEEN THEM AND MY DOC.
SO I HAD TO GO COLD TURKEY..BOY IS THIS FUN.
LUCKILY I WORK IN A HEALTH STORE WHICH I DO KNOW THAT SOME THINGS CAN HELP BUT MOSTLY YOU HAVE TO MAKE YOUR MIND UP TO GET OFF OF THIS..I HAVE BEEN ON THIS LEXAPRO FOR ABOUT 8 YRS AND THE DOC THAT PUT ME ON IT SAID I COULD JUST GET OFF OF IT AT ANYTIME... SURE... LIKE EATING CAKE.
WELL ITS BEEN TWO WEEKS AND I AM DOING OK...
I HAVE MY CRYING SPELLS GETTING THERE..
I CANT SLEEP AND THAT TWO WILL COME ALONG SLOWLY.
THIS TIME I WILL BE STRONGER AND NOT LET THIS DRUG TAKE OVER MY BODY LIKE IT HAS.
I HAVE BEEN TAKING ULTRA OMEGA 3 500 EPA/250 DHA
IT HAS HELPED ME TO THINK ALOT CLEARER AND I DO TAKE TRUE CALM AND GABA.. ALL GOOD FOR THE BRAIN.
ANYTHING THAT HAS FISH HELPS THE JASON NOISEY IN MY HEAD .. LIKE THE MOVIE WHERE JASON COMES AT YOU WITH A KNIFE.. Y..
SO I HOPE THAT ANYONE THAT WANTS TO GET OFF OF IT ,GO TO YOUR DOC.. DONT BE PUSHED INTO A CORNER AND HAVE TO GO COLD TURKEY LIKE ME..
AND IF YOU GET MAD AT YOUR DR... WELL..
SO GOOD LUCK TO YOU ALL..
I SURE TAKE THESE LABS.. TO COURT..
I FEEL LIKE I HAVE MISPLACE MY LIFE..
GOD BLESS YOU ALL....

I have been on Lexapro for about seven months due to extreme anxiety/stress with everything in my life, as well as depression which I'd had to deal with five years by myself because my mother didn't believe meds would help me nor that I had a real problem. My initial response to Lexapro was a very, VERY noticably positive change in my attitude on life. I had more confidence, my sex drive stayed healthy (much to my surprise, this had been a big concern of mine when I first read about the side effects) and my anxiety only hit on a few occasions that were usually self-generated because I tend to overthink too much.

Seven months was long enough. This past month I've noticed more anxiety attacks and more self-hatred than ever before, so I decided to quit and go to see the doctor. I didn't have the money to refill my rx before my appt, which was today, so I've been cold turkey without Lexapro for 4 days now. I hate everything all over again. My fingers are locking up now as I type this out, and my legs and feet have gone numb on several occasions while simply sitting still. I've been increasingly aggressive and agitated by absolutely everything, back to punching walls and throwing temper tantrums, not to mention bawling buckets about anything, most of the time for little to no reason. I haven't slept in three days, and my head zaps are intense and make me cry. It feels like cluster headaches, if any of you know what those are...

I absolutely loved Lexapro when I started it, but it is NOT worth the withdrawls I'm going through now. My doctor prescribed me Prozac, but since it is slower acting than Lexapro, I have yet to see results...

I'm happy to see that I'm not the only guy having issues with sex drive and Lexapro. It absolutely helped me with social anxiety and depression, although I experienced dizziness and vision shifts from time to time. I finally tapered off of Lexapro after being on it for over 4 years and being sick of the sexual side effects. So far, so good. I would rather deal with my anxiety than the depression of feeling broken sexually.

I have been taking Lexapro for 2 weeks now. I feel BETTER. I am far less affected by things outside of myself and less irritable. I feel mentally alert and capable. My self esteem has improved greatly and after having insomnia the first two nights, my doc prescribed 2.5 mgs of Zyprexa. Overall, Lexapro has been a God send for me.

DOES LEXAPRO CAUSE SWELLING IN LEGS HANDS AND FEET

is lexapro .5 ml one teaspoon too much for a 3 year old?and is clonidine .01 2 pills at night too much for a 3 year old??

I am off Lexapro after four years. I followed my doctor's advice on how to get off it. Now I am light headed and have a headache. Is this normal/ I am concerned and don't want to go back on the drug.

I went cold turkey off LEXAPRO 8 day's ago and I feel higher than a kite, chills, sweats...can't take the feeling, Dr put me on 20 this time last year for seasonal depression but it has affect on sex life and weight gain. Should I get them out and take 10mg. to stabilize...please help

I am on day 3 of stopping lexapro after 5 months on 10 mg per day for postpartum. The first 2 days were FANTASTIC!! I felt invincible and was definitely on the giddyup of the manic moods..day 3 I'm getting a headache so I took half a tab to ease off the drugs for good. I feel like the fog is lifting and am realizing how sleepy I felt all the time.

I got all the side effects and they never went away. 30mg Lexapro worked for me for three years but then wore off. The withdrawal is awful awful awful.

Dizzy spells - enough to fall over, lightheaded at the best of times, harsh irritability. And this was following the Doctor's specific instructions to wean off the drug.

lexapro/Cipralex is a powerful drug that has some powerful effects and withdrawal symptoms. tread lightly!

Been taking lexapro for a year.....had quad bypass 2 yrs ago.my lexapro rx ran out a week ago,and now im experiencing what i call "flash dizziness" its like a flu type flash behind my eyes,down my neck.it only lasts for a second,and starts after im awake about 5 hours.Not terribly painful,but its like a quick flash of my eyes.I do have bad eyesight ,im wondering if its a need for glasses,,,,but its quite weird,,,theyre like hot flashes in my head....I hope it is lexapro withdrawal,not something wrong with my brain...any ideas or like feelings?

Been taking lexapro for a year.....had quad bypass 2 yrs ago.my lexapro rx ran out a week ago,and now im experiencing what i call "flash dizziness" its like a flu type flash behind my eyes,down my neck.it only lasts for a second,and starts after im awake about 5 hours.Not terribly painful,but its like a quick flash of my eyes.I do have bad eyesight ,im wondering if its a need for glasses,,,,but its quite weird,,,theyre like hot flashes in my head....I hope it is lexapro withdrawal,not something wrong with my brain...any ideas or like feelings?

I am a 59 yr old male and have been on Lexipro for 7 years, before that Celexca 3 years. I went on it for anxiety and panic attacks which seem to be genetic on my fathers side of the family. Overall, Lexipro has given me a richer life that is much better on it than off it. I don't worry as much and am less likely to develop phobias because of the anxiety. I have some sexual side effects but usually I am able to ejaculate during sex, I have dry mouth at night, but probably more from snoring and I do get constipated, but dried prunes usually takes care of that. I have NO trouble sleeping and enjoy afternoon naps! That is the extent of my side effects on Lexipro. I have noticed that I am to lose my temper more, but I catch myself and then keep my anxiety low. I will probably stay on it because the benefits outweight the negatives for me. I have tried to cut back to 10ml form 20ml but eventually anxiety creeps in when I'm stressed so I go back up to the 20.

Started taking generic Lexapro for GAD on 5/3, was a walking zombie, with a myriad of emotions, raging. Ended up in the hospital with "unexplained" chest pains; initial EKG- infartion! 2 days in fear with never before experienced panic attacks. One provider said my symptoms were SSRI syndrome......Never again!!!

well may i add to all the positive reactions to lexapro , but i feel the negative out weighs the positive, i too am on lexapro but i was in need of it and at first i noticed a great improvement but now after 2 years ive noticed weakness in my hand my hand is week in certain positions , but all the previous bad symptoms are gotten over in a matter of months . so stick with it, but stay doing the simple things in life family are a great help too, and thankfully this site reasures the constant thought inside that theres something else going on inside me ... i hope u all will feel well again

I'm getting ready to move on June 30th. I'm already having bad anxiety feelings. I'm worried the 'helpers' won't show up?
My mind is just in a spiral. I hate it when this happens.
Any idea how to handle this week?

PennieInUtah

I have been in and out of behavioral health hospitals for years. I have bipolar disorder and my doctors have been struggling with finding the right meds for me. I am on mood stabilizers and anti depressant. I recently have been tapered down off of my lexapro, and my doctor is going to substitute it with trazedone so it will help my sleeping problems. My doctor made me go from 20mg to 10 mg in 7 days and after the seven days, I'm supposed to stop taking it. I am on my third day of not taking it. I am crying all the time without knowing why, I've been having to lay down to prevent fainting, I have nausea, brain zaps, numbness and sometimes I feel as if my body is being electrocuted. Can someone please tell me if my doctor tapered me off too fast? I've also been irritated VERY easily. I get very angry and tend to be rude to my parents for no reason at all. I have been researching forever and can't find any "treatments" to help me with my withdrawals. If I take a Xanax, do you think it would help? (I have a prescription).

I started Zoloft 6 days ago and the first 3 days I took 50 mg of Zoloft a day. The next 3 I cut that by a third. I the doctor to me to stop Zoloft completely and started me on escitalopram 10 mg. can I expect any side effects from Zoloft since I only have taken it for 6 days and replaced it with an other med?