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Lexapro Withdrawal please help

Posted , 6 users are following.

taylor_17978
taylor_17978

Hey everyone, 

Can anyone tell me if you or anyone you know has had trouble quitting an ssri or more specifically, Lexapro. I've been tapering and I'm so close to being completely off and I'm suffering through mental agony. My dark thoughts, anxiety and irrational fears are insane. This all started about 3 weeks ago after I lowered my dosage again. I started getting really irrational fears that won't make sense to anyone and it's making me afraid to leave the house because I'll never know what's gonna trigger it. In the past couple weeks I can barely keep food down and falling asleep is damn near impossible because the anxiety is so intense. I've always been a paranoid person and had anxiety but I'm wondering if the tapering from Lexapro has made it worse? I literally feel like I'm dying right now. I seriously don't know how much more of this I can take 

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • diana57081
    diana57081 taylor_17978

    Posted

    Withdrawls are bad . sorry to hear you are going through that why are you coming off it anyways
  • Manny321
    Manny321 taylor_17978

    Posted

    I came off Trintellix 5mg - similar SSRi to Lexapro and I'm going through the physical side of the withdrawals at the moment. Stopped on July 14. Gone through the emotional aspect that match exactly what you've gone through.  and now the fatigue, constant headaches, visual disturbances, insomnia, are killing me.  I know the feelings you're experiencing at the moment. Just know, if you've gone to your primary and done a physical and everything came out great, know this will pass. 

  • heather52246
    heather52246 taylor_17978

    Posted

    I wasn't on this one but Zoloft and the withdrawals where bad.. I came off cold turkey as was only on them for 10 weeks and doctor told me to just stop taking them..had to come off as they made my anxiety worse not better.. but it took me a year to recover as they just totally set my central nervous system into overdrive... so come off slow let you body get used to little by little so you can recover better.. it's hard and you need lots of support love and care.. all that got me through to be honest was my faith.. had to keep telling myself there's light at the end of this dark tunnel.. I know how your feeling and it's horrific! Be kind to yourself and know you will recover.. its gonna take some time but you will get better.. sometimes diazepam at my worst helped take the edge off just to help come down from the worst so you can at least sleep as sleep is a great tool to for healing your body.. I pray peace to you and pray healing to all your symptoms God bless you

    • Jhow21
      Jhow21 heather52246

      Posted

      Hi I agree with everything you say except for taking Valium at times. It is important not to do this as re kindling can occur leading to paws.
    • heather52246
      heather52246 Jhow21

      Posted

      I wouldn't want to take anything but when I was at my worst and in deep distress it took the edge off so I could at least function it was only for a short week but it gave me enough down time to gain a little control back..after my bad experience with anti d I wouldn't wish them on anyone but I understand everyone is different and all our bodies are different..

  • diana57081
    diana57081 taylor_17978

    Posted

    You do what is best for you and how you feel we can say yes ir no or whatever in the end its your body we can only give advice on what we went through sure benzos are bad well from what i am reading so are the anti depressants they are giving out to just have to maybe learn how to deal with it natually .
  • Celia9050
    Celia9050 taylor_17978

    Posted

    Benzodiazepines are entirely safe if used short term and at a low dose. Many psychiatrists prescibe them for people going through withdrawal symptoms to take the edge off. It is when you take them long term and for a long period that you become addicted. Of course the people who use them recreationally and mix them with alcohol give them a bad rap. Google info on them. Many patients get relief from a small dose or doctors wouldn't prescribe them. Doesn't that make sense.

    • Jhow21
      Jhow21 Celia9050

      Posted

      can u expand on your statement and define what short term prescribing of benzos means to you please so that we are all clear on the speciifcs?

      I would hate anyone to think that benzos are ok drugs .

      Psychs do not prescribe benzos to get people off other drugs .

    • diana57081
      diana57081 Jhow21

      Posted

      I think what she meant was as needed not everyday .
    • diana57081
      diana57081 Jhow21

      Posted

      It ou know I was on ativan alot 5 years ago because my dad died tragically in my arms so I didnt know wtf was happening so I used ativan yes it did help me alot I was trapped indoors for 8 months so when I started using ativan it helped me live again got me out I soon stopped ativan and started smoking weed which helped alot for yearsbut everything only helps for so long I'm not saying benzo are good drugs all I am saying it they do help for a short time if I could find a way without any drugs id be the first to jump on bord

    • diana57081
      diana57081 Jhow21

      Posted

      Thanks was a hard time and still is I handle anxiety now with no.meds and its hard my daughter was in Prozac but wanted to kill herself so she got off so I get worried about thise drugs I know benzo are bad but sometimes having a day with no worry is nice to I do tapping ect which helps just need to address the cause
  • Celia9050
    Celia9050 taylor_17978

    Posted

    They are not prescribing benzos for long periods because idiots snort them and OD. They are not supposed to be used recreationally. Those idiots are the ones who ruin it for the people who could benefit by a low dose, short term.

    Taylor, I am sorry you are going through this. I would see another doctor and tell him your story or go back to the ED. Maybe you will see a different doctor there. I hope you feel better soon.

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