Lexapro

UPDATE: I weened off Lexapro totally. My Welbrutin has been increased to 300MG. My libido has returned and my creativity. For now, this is working.

I was on it for almost 2 years. It helped a lot with my anxiety and depression, but I lost a lot of my personality and I was uninhibited in ways that were not great. It made drinking alcohol very unpredictable. I went off it cold turkey which was a very bad idea, but after about of week of bad side effects, I was done. I later tried Pristiq, which I think is a better drug in general, but that's just my opinion.

Could not imagine also trying to go cold turkey the side effects could be so harmful. For me it was rage and I was only on 10mg. Anger and rage. I returned briefly to take it but in doing a little more research, I took the time to cut the pill in half, and for about one or two weeks, I only took half which is 5mg. I then was able to ween off Lexapro. I knew that I needed something to supplement my 150mg of Wellbutrin XL because it had after several years I can not recall how many, losing its effect on my anxiety and chronic depression. I shared this with my primary physician, she decided to increase my dosage of Wellbutrin XL to 300mg. After sharing with her my concerns about diminished creativity and loss of sensuality, I felt it was the Lexapro that was the cause. She said that there was a success with the increase of Wellbutrin XL and thus the increase to 300mg. For now, it is working much of the time. I do have times when I still feel depression, and still feel episodes of anxiety. However, I have found that I resumed my writing creatively. With some visual assistance, I have resumed being able to feel my sexuality so for me the pros outweigh the cons for now.

I have been on Lexapro for 10 mos or so. I have gone from 10mg to 20mg per advice from a doc who thought my anxiety was a little high. I found that I feel more tired on the 20mg and feel that my mojo is a little lower. I think it’s called emotional blunting where one feels emotionally dull. Is that what you experienced? What mg of Lexapro did you go off of when you quit cold Turkey? How was your mood after you went off? What sort of side effects did you have? We are moving in a week with our pup about 3 hours away from where we live now. Master bedroom
on 1st floor. I am a lil nervous. I am not a big pill taker so I just want to feel better. But I dont want to go off the pills b4 we move.
Best
Heidi

My suggestion would be to take it slowly and don't do anything until you are settled after your move. Moving is stressful and anxiety producing. I can't recall the dosage I was taking when I stopped as it was 2003-2005. I just know that I was feeling like I could stop taking it, and I didn't like the emotional blunting and loss of inhibition as well as weight gain. I went on a weekend trip and forgot to take my medication with me. I felt fine, so when I got home, I just didn't take it again. That was a hard few days of flu-like symptoms, vertigo, and chills. After that I was raging - actually yelled at a police officer who pulled me over for speeding (like 40 in a 30 or something). I threw the pen at him when he handed me the papers to sign. I'm surprised he didn't haul me off to jail. I felt so badly about it when I came to my senses. I was irritable for a while but that was about it. The depression didn't return for several years. I tried Prozac for 18 months and later Pristiq for about 2 years. Both times I weaned off slowly. I've been off antidepressants since 2012, and for that I am grateful. I would never suggest going off any antidepressant cold turkey. Side effects can be kept minimal if done slowly. A doctor should guide the process.

Thank you for your advice.
Quick question. Do you think that depression and anxiety are inherited? I ask because my grandfather had problems with depression and passed before I was born. My sister has I think manic depression , and is 12 years older than me at 74 and in a nursing home. I am just wondering. Here is a pic of my gsd. She just turned three. Ms. Xyla.
Have a nice day. 😉. keep up the good work.

I found that Trintellex was the answer. I had high stress and three deaths in 3 months and my local internist prescribed this. It worked wonders. I was able to go off it in decreasing doses to test my “mood depressed” feelings. My daughter has true years of battles with clinical depression.
Insurance paid comfortably until we went into a senior required plan of insurance then when I needed it again it was over $300 for a month as opposed to $40 yrs before. It’s at our physical, emotional and financial loss we have these health dilemmas vs insurance and big pharmaceutical business.

I believe they can be inherited, or at least there may be tendencies in families.

It worked wonders for my GAD for 11 years and now I’m off of all medication. I eventually got off of it to calm the reactions to it this year. It takes weeks to get off but I’m doing very well now.

Just personal opinion, but depression, and anxiety can be inherited. My mother has it, but of an age where you deal and keep surviving. It does not have to be inherited from your immediate family as it may also be passed down your family tree.