Lexapro withdrawal

Hello, my physician who prescribed the Lexapro originally is the one who instructed me in how to ween off. I followed her instructions, which did not work, and am not on other meds. Several pharmacists have suggested weening off by smaller increments over a longer period of time and that is what I will do now. I just needed to have the oral suspension Lexapro to be able to reduce each daily dose by 1-2mgs. Thanks!

Hi, I am trying to get off Lexapro and currently take 10mg. I have been on it for over a year now. I was curious if you were successful in weaning yourself off, and how long the process took?

Hello, @helpmegetoffmeds -- welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'd like to introduce you to a few people who may have some thoughts on how the Lexapro withdrawal might go and how long it might take: @gman007, @johnbishop, @sadiesmom, @seaglassgirl ,@parus, @kdo0827, @jay_baruch, @godsgirl1969 and @bniemeier. Hoping you can all meet up here on this thread.

Also, here is some general info about antidepressant withdrawal from Mayo Clinic you may be interested in: http://mayocl.in/2m00irD and http://mayocl.in/2En0mxV.

What is your doctor saying about weaning off of this medication?

Hello @helpmegetoffmeds -- I would like to add my welcome to Connect along with Lisa's (@lisalucier) and the other members. I have not tried tapering off of Lexapro but I am working on tapering off of prednisone for the second time for a second round with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). From what I have read Lexapro is another one of those drugs you can't taper off in a short amount of time. I would discuss a plan with your doctor to see if they have any suggestions. I have no medical training or background but if it were me I would try reducing the dosage by tapering 2 mgs a month. That worked my first round with PMR that I started with a 20 mg dose. It was on prednisone for 3 years and spent the last year tapering to get off. The last 6 months I was going back and forth between 1/2 mg and 1 mg until I was finally able to stay off without the pain coming back.

I did find a few other places with others looking to taper off of Lexapro:

-- https://www.drugs.com/answers/has-anyone-ever-successfully-quit-lexapro-518883.html

-- https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Anxiety/My-Successful-Lexapro-Withdraw-Story-/show/488032

Hope this helps,

John

I can not speak specifically to lexapro, because I really don't remember, even though I did take it short-term. I really think it made me feel so much worse that I did not take it long enough to experience w/d's. I am currently trying to wean off Klonopin (clonazepam) as my new Psych thinks it has made me numb to everything and there is a double inhibition of breathing with my narcotics and that is really dangerous. I can tell you that after 5 days, I am not having much fun. I expect I will have two more months like this and then when we get me down by 50%, she will feel comfortable introducing a new anti depressant. I will be happy to offer you my experience and would really appreciate you doing the same.

Hi
I am new to the site and would like read about lexapro and how to withdraw from it safely. been on .20 for 5 months and believe it is giving me stomach pain
hip pain cold feet and a very cloudy head. Could be wrong are these some of the symptoms my doctors say no but I am not sure
is there a substitute for lexapro as I am also on ambien and xanax . I lost 50 lbs because i refuse to eat and have all tests that were negative by Gastro
All started from heart conditions in and out of hgospital.

Hi @max5647

Welcome to Mayo Connect. We are happy you found us. I'm repeating the links in the post directly above your post in case you didn't get a chance to read them.

Information from people who have been able to taper off of Lexapro:
— https://www.drugs.com/answers/has-anyone-ever-successfully-quit-lexapro-518883.html
— https://www.medhelp.org/posts/Anxiety/My-Successful-Lexapro-Withdraw-Story-/show/488032

Lexapro side effects:
-- https://www.drugs.com/sfx/lexapro-side-effects.html

@max5647 can I ask if you have discussed tapering off of Lexapro with your doctor? I think it's always a good idea to discuss it with your doctor to prevent further complications.

I'm tagging a few members who may have additional suggestions or information they can share with you. @positivelife, @mrmaid11, @holycow, @pankaj, do you have any suggestions or information you can share with @mamax5647?

Hope you find some answers soon.

~ John

I am an 18 yr old female that recently went off the antidepressant Lexapro. I have been on various antidepressants since I was fifteen. I never had a problem with my sex drive until now. Literally a week after I stopped taking the Lexapro, I just had no physical interest in my boyfriend. I just want to know if this is because I went off the medication, even though I never had problems from the meds before? I can’t think of any other reason why my libido is so low. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know.

Hi, @ejhoneybee -- I was thinking of you and also wanted you to meet @gailb and @gman007, two of our volunteer mentors on Mayo Clinic Connect, and also @jay_baruch @gman007 @max5647 @lorena1egas @shoregal45 @kdo0827.

Please note that I moved your post over to this discussion on withdrawal from Escitalopram Oxalate (Lexapro) so you can meet many others who have taken or are taking this medication and may have some thoughts for you on your question on low libido and going off of this medication.

How are things are going overall since you went off of Escitalopram Oxalate (Lexapro), @ejhoneybee? Is your libido still a challenge?

Hi, new to this forum and was needing help with Lexapro Withdraw. Im 18 and have been on Lexapro for about a year and a few months. I was on 10mg and tried going to doctor and he somehow convinced me to UP my dosage to 20. I wasnt even wanting to do this so I just started taking 15, I only did this for 2 months max.

I decided that I was going to try to taper off by doing 10mg for about 4 weeks-month and then taper down from there. It’s been about 4 days since I adjusted and I mostly feel super tired. And get occasional headaches. Feel pretty depressed but it’s managable for the most part if I have someone to support me, (gf). Im wondering How long the withdraws last and the peak of withdraws from tapering. I feel lightheaded when getting up but not nauseated or anything really. Only if I feel super super tired. Any tips would be great. Thanks