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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 3 of 3. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by jilldawg82 on October 10, 2004, at 21:46:09
I started taking 10 mg of Lexapro for depression about 5 or 6 months ago and was soon thereafter moved up to 20 mg. I eventually decided the medication was proving to be too expensive for me ($70 a month!) to continue taking & it never seemed to help me all that much anyway, so I quit cold turkey about a week ago without a second thought (my pills ran out - no big deal, right?). I had never been warned about any huge withdrawal symptoms from not taking the pills anymore & thought I would be fine. I didn't notice anything for about the first 3 days, then it hit me like a ton of bricks. As everyone else has said, the withdrawal is unbearable - extreme dizziness & nausea all the time. It's only relieved by the few hours of sleep I'm able to get each night when I'm not having hot/cold flashes. Every second of my day I'm reminded of how crappy I feel. I describe it to others as a combination of feeling extremely seasick & hungover at the same time. My body feels numb & I can't exert more then a little energy or I almost fall over. I don't remember ever feeling like this in my life & I hardly have the strength to do anything. I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow & did not realize until I found this site & others that what I'm feeling is obviously from the side-effects of withdrawal. I'm worried from what I've read because these symptoms may go on for quite awhile & I don't know how I'm going to survive it...what a nightmare. Anyone have any advice for how to get through this a little easier or how long it will last?
**PLEASE be careful...if you are currently taking Lexapro & ever decide to stop, see a doctor first and do it slowly (same applies to most other SSRI's I've heard). I wasn't warned & now I'm dealing with the hell-like after-effects - I wish someone had told me**
Posted by mcp on October 11, 2004, at 3:56:49
In reply to Lexapro withdrawal, posted by jilldawg82 on October 10, 2004, at 21:46:09
Jilldawg, I have extreme empathy for the situation you are currently in. The same thing happened to me. Right now it is really late, so I am headed to bed, but e-mail me tomorrow at mcpark@socal.rr.com and I can give you some tips on helping with the Lexapro withdrawal. All the best
> I started taking 10 mg of Lexapro for depression about 5 or 6 months ago and was soon thereafter moved up to 20 mg. I eventually decided the medication was proving to be too expensive for me ($70 a month!) to continue taking & it never seemed to help me all that much anyway, so I quit cold turkey about a week ago without a second thought (my pills ran out - no big deal, right?). I had never been warned about any huge withdrawal symptoms from not taking the pills anymore & thought I would be fine. I didn't notice anything for about the first 3 days, then it hit me like a ton of bricks. As everyone else has said, the withdrawal is unbearable - extreme dizziness & nausea all the time. It's only relieved by the few hours of sleep I'm able to get each night when I'm not having hot/cold flashes. Every second of my day I'm reminded of how crappy I feel. I describe it to others as a combination of feeling extremely seasick & hungover at the same time. My body feels numb & I can't exert more then a little energy or I almost fall over. I don't remember ever feeling like this in my life & I hardly have the strength to do anything. I'm going to see a doctor tomorrow & did not realize until I found this site & others that what I'm feeling is obviously from the side-effects of withdrawal. I'm worried from what I've read because these symptoms may go on for quite awhile & I don't know how I'm going to survive it...what a nightmare. Anyone have any advice for how to get through this a little easier or how long it will last?
>
> **PLEASE be careful...if you are currently taking Lexapro & ever decide to stop, see a doctor first and do it slowly (same applies to most other SSRI's I've heard). I wasn't warned & now I'm dealing with the hell-like after-effects - I wish someone had told me**
Posted by holymama on October 11, 2004, at 15:09:26
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawal, posted by mcp on October 11, 2004, at 3:56:49
JILLDAWG, Perhaps you should seriously consider going back on the lexapro and then slowly tapering off. I think that if you start taking your regular doses again the side effects should go away, and then you can reconsider your tapering off plan. Personally, I had to cut down my lexapro 1/4 of a pill every week or two or else my depression came back with a vengence. Tapering off slowly caused me no side effects. Good luck to you. It sounds awful.
This is the end of the thread.
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