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Lexapro withdrawal
I am currently weening from 10 mg lexapro after 15 years of being on the drug. I was put on this drug due to post partum. Having a difficult time getting into psychiatrist due to wait list. I've been weening for 2months and taking .5 instead of 10 mg daily. I was doing fine until 2 weeks ago when severe anxiety hit, no appetite, flu like symptoms and very emotional. Doctor prescribed xanax to help with anxiety and I take only as needed but honestly I'm afraid to take another drug. I see an phych nurse this week and a holistic doctor as well. Taking a multi vitamin, fish oi, B12 and vitamin D as well. I'm trying to figure out if my severe anxiety is due to withdrawal or if I'm prone to anxiety attacks because I've never had anxiety before.
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I was able to taper from 20 mg to 10mg with no side effects by reducing 2.5 mg every week or two. Years later Tapering from 10 mg to total weaning took a lot longer as I did it 10% reduction at a time - each reduction for three weeks. I had no side effects doing it this slowly. I did not have fatigue from 20 mg, I just didn’t care about anything.
I went back on 10 mg Lexapro a few years later after a trauma. When my doctor wanted to increase my dosage to 15 mg., I just wanted to sleep. So I just was able to stop taking the extra 5 mg without any weaning or side effects. So the relief was immediate.
Trying to wean off this time (after 3, then 4 years)led to a very big increase in my ocular migraines. I ended up stopping the weaning at 5 mg to see if the number of migraines would stabilize. When I decide to totally wean off I will do it very, very slowly with smaller decreases and longer periods between decreases.
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2 ReactionsI am hoping people still read these posts. Lol. 52 years old. I've been taking lexapro for 20+ years. The older I get the worse the sexual side effects are. So I take lexapro vacations. I am usually good for 5 days. But if I get to day 6 without taking it, then look out. Anger outbursts like you wouldn't believe. Body aches, insomnia, suicidal thoughts, and feeling like I am in a fish bowl. I really want to be off of lexapro so I can enjoy the bedroom a little bit more with my wife. However the lexapro works like a charm (except for the weight gain and sexual side effects) when I am on it. My doctor and I have tried all the different meds. Everything from trintellix, Prozac, zoloft, Paxil, Celexa, Luvox, etc. I already take wellbutrin and Lamictal as well. None of my other meds give me sexual side effects except the lexapro. Do I have them try to keep prescribing different meds until i find the right one? Or do I have them ween me off of it? I just hate trying different meds because the lexapro withdrawal sucks. Even if I am weened off for a couple of weeks. I wish there was a physical test they could give me to see what med does and does not cause sexual side effects. 🤣 People have asked me, don't the positives of lexapro outweigh the negative sexual side effects? The answer is a resounding no! When i am off of the lexapro I feel sexually alive again. People say take the little blue pill. I don't have ED. No issues there. I just have trouble climaxing. I dont even remotely come close. It doesnt matter if i go without it for 3 months. Same thing. Any one have any suggestions? Just beyond frustrating
My partner has been taking Zoloft and has no problems, but he takes a low dose.
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1 ReactionThere is a genetic test you can take to see what rx is best suited for you. Out of pocket expensive and my insurance did not cover. I went got it for the withdrawal symptoms even taken over a month to taper off were horrendous. Unfortunately the drug prescribed still had many side effects and I had to get off it.
I never had suicidal tendencies so I feel you want / need to be on something. Are you receiving therapy to talk those thoughts out?
For anxiety / depression have you tried Transcranial magnetic stimulation?
Sorry you are going thru this and hope everything gets better for you.
Hi - I know there was a discussion about tapering off lexapro in this group but I didn't see anything about whether or not alternating between two doses for awhile was a good idea as a starting step. I'm trying to taper from 15 mg to 10 mg and so am wondering if taking 15mg one day, 10mg the next, 15mg the next, 10mg the next and so on for about a month is a safe way to start to reduce. Or is it better just to go directly to 10 and see how that goes. I've been taking lexapro at 15mg for about 11 years. Thanks for any help or suggestions.
Why are you tapering/stopping Lexapro. I’ve been taking 10mg for 2 months and my ears are constantly ringing. Is it too soon to feel any lift from depression?
I'm tapering Lexapro because my doctor added another antidepressant to the mix last year and I wanted to see if I could just reduce the does of Lexapro.
I felt a lift from depression after 2 months when I first started Lexapro. Sorry about your ringing ears and a lack of lift.