Ive heard you can be harmed if you stop all of a sudden without being winged off. I heard that you can go into convulsions. Is this true?
2006-07-03 18:10:34 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Other - Diseases
I did this cold turkey a year or so ago because lexapro personally wasn't doing anything positive for me and wow, I got major brain zaps all day long for like 2 weeks. They finally went away but it was scary. I can't explain it except that it felt like someone was sticking a skinny little sting gun in the back of my head. I don't know about the convulsions though.
2006-07-03 18:21:14 · answer #1 · answered by luckymamaof2 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would suggest asking your physician before discontinuing any medication, especially an SSRI medication such as Lexapro.
Depending on the dose and how long you've been taking it, you could experience some really bad side effects if you stop cold turkey.
I used to take Paxil which is in the same class of medication (SSRI) and when I stopped a 50mg per/day dose cold turkey after about 3 years, I felt like I was going to go insane for about six weeks. I'd get dizzy and disoriented first, like I had vertigo. Then, once that passed after about a week it felt as if my head was burning up. The discomfort radiated up from the back of my neck to the top of my head. It was incredibly uncomfortable, unsettling and something I'd never want to go through again.
2006-07-03 18:29:33 · answer #2 · answered by spinningtrax 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an SSRI, so it is best to taper off gradually instead of stopping cold turkey. I don't know if you can go into convulsions if you stop cold turkey. I guess that it's possible--since you are radically changing your brain chemistry instead of letting your brain gradually adapt to the lack of the chemical. You need to talk to the doc who prescribed it for you about coming off of it.
2006-07-03 18:15:55 · answer #3 · answered by Gestalt 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take it, and I don't think it's the best thing to do.
If you want to go off of it talk to the Dr that prescribed it they can make the decision with you. Most Dr's are more than willing to take there patients off prescriptions, unless there is a major issue that does require meds.
2006-07-03 18:14:57 · answer #4 · answered by Daughtry-luver 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it can be true. Stopping any medication suddenly can cause seizures. Talk to some one in the medical field for advice on how to safely ween yourself off of it. Good luck.
2006-07-03 18:13:38 · answer #5 · answered by mopargrapeape 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
im not sure, but find a website about lexapro and it should say it.
2006-07-03 18:12:24 · answer #6 · answered by princess_6972 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I have a friend who takes it. You have to gradually get off of it. A pharmacist can tell you how.
2006-07-03 18:13:47 · answer #7 · answered by SuzieQ92 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES! I tried it myself, had severe headaches, panic attacks, shaky all the time... not a good idea, the best thing to do is wean off it
2006-07-03 18:15:36 · answer #8 · answered by steveangela1 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this should explain the answers you need, but with any meds like this you should not just stop taking them without a doctors guidance.
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/drug_Ka.html
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a603005.html
2006-07-03 18:19:04 · answer #9 · answered by travelin_jalapeno 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
check with the pharmacist.
Some meds can cause seizures, that are VERy dangerous....
2006-07-03 18:14:57 · answer #10 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋