If you were on Lexapro for 4 years how bad would the withdrawal symptoms be if you slowly decreased your dosage and then stopped?

Answer 1

Hi there.... I was diagnosed with ptsd, depression and anxiety about 10 years ago. Anxiety and nightmares being the worse problem. I took Prozac for about a week and couldn't take the severe anxiety producing side effects. I took zoloft off and on for a few years (lowest dose)and didn't have side effects when not taking it, but sexual side effects (lack of desire) and fatigue while taking even a low dose. About 3 years ago, my dr prescribed lexapro (10 mg / day). The nightmares never stopped and I didn't like my true emotions being so suppressed. Also experienced severe fatigue during the day and increasing nausea.

So, the reason for my post is to share the painful effects of lexapro withdrawal. I began lessening the dose while on vacation- a three-month planned low stress vacation at the beach at the beginning of this summer. Over about two months, I slowly increased the days between dosages. Should have probably taken less mg, by cutting the tablet, but it didn't occur to me since it was a low dose to begin with (and apparently, serious withdrawal symptoms happen either way). Even after 2 months, I couldn't get past 4 days, without screaming pain... body "shocks", migraine type "shocks", severe motion sickness from just moving my eyes, additional nausea, etc. All this time, I was under little stress, mostly taking beach walks, yoga, reading, etc

After reading all the withdrawal symptoms others were having, I realized it was going to hurt, whatever method of tapering. So, five weeks ago, to the day, I quit lexapro. After 4 days, the physical withdrawals kicked in. The first three weeks were miserable. Took supplements, hoping to ease some of the pain. Finally, the fourth week, the electric shocks started to weaken, the nausea was gone (which is great since it was a problem while taking the meds), and my nightmares became less extreme, more coherent and lucid, and are occurring with less frequency (actually the nightmares started to improve after less than a week- nightmares I hadn't been able to control for 10 years, so I definitely think the lexapro was making my nightmares much, much worse). During this fifth week, I thought the shocks were gone for a couple days, but they returned, but in a very mild form. The main problem I'm now having, is insomnia. I have been a little more tearful and hope this isn't a sign of depression returning. I'm actually enjoying the added emotion, just hope the anxiety doesn't kick in. So withdrawal is possible, but a good four weeks before the symptoms are tolerable. I will NEVER take lexapro again. If I do get anxiety and/or depression again, I will need another method, even if a homeopathic method isn't quit as effective. If anyone has any good suggestions, please share. Tx