Antidepressants, Lexapro side effects if you decrease it or stop it?

Question

I've been on Lexapro for about 6 mo.s for depression. I don't notice a huge difference, I think it may have helped some. I still have the same anxiety.

I started gaining weight, 10lbs so far, and don't want to keep taking it if I could do without it, as I take so much other medication. I hope to get off of much of it; try more natural things, and most are very expensive.
I've heard of people taking it for a period.

I hope I can find information here about how it feels to get off of it, or even if I reduce it to 5mg. I take 10mg now.
What type of side effects, how severe, for how long. How long will I be a menace? Kidding.
I have been pretty sensitive to getting on and off meds in the past, meaning I get side effects. I can tolerate it and 'get through it' if it's not too horrible.

I forgot to take the Lexapro for a day or two in the beginning. when I was traveling. Boy did I have crying spells, which I've never had, and felt bad. I didn't make the connection until later.

Answer 1

You should never, ever stop taking Lexapro cold turkey. Talk to your doctor about tapering the dose down gradually instead.

I had to learn the hard way. One day a couple years ago I decided for myself that I didn't need it anymore, I was on the 20mg pill regimen. I wish I hadn't. I got very sick. I had a high fever, nausea, vomiting, chills and a very very stiff neck and headache at first. It was so intolerable I ended up going to the ER because I thought perhaps I had meningitis. It turns out I didn't. I had all the signs of a serious infection, but all tests came back negative. The mysterious illness resolved on it's own in about a miserable week.

But, after I got better from that the dizziness, headaches, and irritability lasted for another 3 weeks. My head tingled so bad everytime I turned it to look at something, all the way down my spine. I felt like I was going to pass out everytime I stood up. It was also intolerable. I went back to the doctor and she put me back on Lexapro, 10mg. I felt better almost instantly. I again had to stop taking it last year for financial reasons, and again had the very same mystery illness with all the same symptoms lasting for another month. I've since vowed to never take another anti-depressant as I still haven't ever felt the same as I did before I started taking any.

Answer 2

LAXAPRO-

You should never stop taking medications before talking to your doctor. Some meds have serious side effects if stopped cold turkey. Call your doctor.

lexapro, and all other selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRI's) should be tapered off. this applies to starting them as well. you may recall your doctor starting you on half a tablet or so for the first week, then moving up to the proper dose.

the question is how long have you been taking it? were you regular with your medication? if yes, your body is most likely adjusted to the higher than normal levels of serotonin. abruptly cutting or starting ssri's leads to what's known as seratonin syndrome.

this is particularly important with teenagers who are non compliant with these medications due to sexual dysfunction. please stop them slowly. they have a half life of around 2 weeks (which is why you probably didn't feel better till about a month or so after starting the medication). even if you were to withdraw from the drug, it will remain in the system of at least 2 weeks.

in regards to damage to your heart, there are none directly. however, you may experience problems which may worsen a current heart condition.

signs include


-altered mental states (eg agitation, confusion, including coma's) -restlessness or tremors -abdom pain, increased heart rate, sweating -hyper thermia, live and kidney failure

these are only examples of a few. these last between 6-48 hrs. depending on serverity.

bottom line, don't stop drugs unless you've talked to your doctor. second point, don't stop SSRI's abruptly either. if you want to do it personally, cut to half your normal dose for AT LEAST one week.

severe damage could occur after only four days but it depends on your original problem and the dosage you were taking. Lexapro causes serious rapid heartbeat in some people and other horrible side effects. -

Answer 3

I also suffer from depression.I am under the care of an excellent psychiatrist in Sydney ,Australia.I am taking a drug which is a M A O inhibitor,(mono amine oxidase inhibitor) which is an older drug but a good one .This drug does not accumulate in the body nor do you become dependent on it .If you have to come off it there are no unpleasant side effects if you gradually reduce it.I don't know if it is available where you live .Tranylcypromine sulfate is the name of the drug.