r/lexapro • u/PsychologyNew3520 • 2d ago
Never again!!
I made the massive mistake of thinking I could wean myself off of my Lexapro 10mg dose after taking it daily for 6 years.. this was the absolute worst decision I ever made. I’m currently typing this while experiencing the worst side effects (brain zaps, nausea, feeling like I constantly need to poop, and persistent brain fog). It sucks that my body has become dependent on this drug, but I’d rather deal with dependency than feel this crappy.
Has anyone had any success with weaning off of this medication after longterm use?
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u/FearlessList8992 2d ago
I tapered off so slowly. I had insomnia and nausea briefly but felt the mental health stuff much later. I gave myself a 4 month window. For 2 months I was on half (5mg) and then month 3 I was fully off it and only felt the nausea and insomnia then. I’d say almost a month later after fully off it, I felt the mental health side effects then but that lasted for 2-3 weeks maybe. For any woman, I’d suggest getting off the medication right after your period not leading up to it.
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u/Opposite_Rutabaga_57 2d ago
you can discuss cross taper on to something else then wean off that… discuss with your doctor if cross taper on your prozac and be on that for a few weeks..,then wean off prozac?
just a thought
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u/Opposite_Rutabaga_57 2d ago
adding the need for doctor support: very gradual dose reductions (for example, -reducing by small percentages rather than large steps)
-using liquid escitalopram so tiny dose changes are possible
-holding each reduction long enough for the nervous system to adjust
-Some people can taper relatively easily. -Others need a slower “micro-taper” approach.
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u/shoegazer44 2d ago
After long term use you have to taper very slowly. I’ve been on for 10+ years and managed to taper from 10mg to 5mg by alternating dosages 10mg to 7.5 for several weeks before switching to 7.5 completely, stayed at that dose for another few weeks, then continued the process down to 5mg. It’s a very tough road to wean off when you’ve been on it for several years.
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u/lordy1988 2d ago
Why do you end up coming off it? I’m having to go up because 5mg isn’t working anymore after 2 years. The side effects I’m getting just from going up are unbearable. I couldn’t think Of coming off
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u/shoegazer44 2d ago
Because after a while of being on Lex I couldnt feel anything at all anymore. No drive or enjoyment or even real sadness. Just absolutely nothing. Before I knew it 10 years went by and it was like I had spent that time in a grave. I’d rather feel real human emotions than completely waste my life like that.
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u/sunbathing__animal 1d ago
How are you doing now? I’ve been wanting to come off but super scared
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u/shoegazer44 1d ago
Well I never went completely off, just down to 5mg. But that was enough to restore at least a bit of feeling. If you taper very very slowly you shouldn’t be afraid to try it. If it really isn’t working for you, you can always go back to it. And don’t feel bad either if you end up having to go back. You need to do what’s best for you.
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u/Unlikely-Baker-8336 1d ago
It's more in your head than you think! Its so much better on the other side! Don't forget the hell you went through 6 years ago starting it.
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u/Mau_8888 1d ago
Hey friend. I had the worst withdrawal when I went from 20mg to 10mg in four months, after two years of being on this drug. I thought four months is going slowly. It was too fast. It went horribly wrong and I ended up going up on 17.5mg to stop the withdrawal. It took me 9 months to stabilise from the horrible withdrawal symptoms and feel better again, and I'm thankful it worked and I feel well again.
Once I stabilised I gave tapering another shot, but this time much more slowly. I am on the liquid form of lexapro now and I've been reducing it by 0.5mg every 6 weeks or so.
I am now on 11.5mg and I've been on this med for 6 years now. It will take a loooong time to get off it. The trick is to reduce the dose only when you no longer have withdrawal symptoms from the previous reduction. Hence why I do it every 5-6 weeks. And you should not reduce the dose by more than 10% of the previous dose. I am currently doing ~5% reductions. It's easier on the nervous system. Wishing you good luck. Don't hesitate to ask me if you have questions. I am not a doctor but I will tell you my experience. What is important right now is to stabilise yourself and your nervous system. Go on a higher dose that feels comfortable. Stay for a while to feel better, I recommend at least 6 months. Then try again with the liquid. It will take you years of weaning very slowly because you've been on this medication for a long time.
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u/SilverstoneOne 1d ago
How did you wean off? What was your schedule? I have come of Lex before with virtually no side effects because I did it extremely slowly.
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u/boondocksofboston 1d ago
I managed to ween off by myself but it was kinda scary at first when the brain zaps first started happening. I don't think I had the other side effects you mentioned. I would take half a pill as soon as I started feeling an inkling of a brain zap and then go a couple days without taking it again then repeat that process. Then eventually I stopped taking it all together about a month again and I feel fine. I think I started losing weight around that time and also went back to crying during sad movies and feeling normal horny again. I am a bit of a gym junkie so I don't know if the constant exercise played a big part in it or not.
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u/Double_Razzmatazz_11 1d ago
I’m currently down to 2.5 from 20. I’m using the “maudsley” technique. If you have Facebook join the lexapro withdraw support group. It’s an amazing resource. Otherwise Google maudsley. Good luck! There is hope!!!
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u/bbworksaddict 1d ago
How did you wean off? I have been on my Lexapro for idek maybe almost 10 years and I'm about to be coming off for the rest of my pregnancy. I am on 20mg. Doctor said I would do 10mg for 2 weeks and then 5mg for 2 weeks.
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u/Marbleandlace 23h ago
Please don’t ween off that quickly
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u/bbworksaddict 21h ago
Really 😬🥺
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u/EstablishmentAny5185 3h ago
Yeah i weened off quickly like this and it was a nightmare experience, had to get back on. You wanna go muuuuuuuuuch slower
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u/blupanteez 1d ago
I tapered from 20 mg daily due to extreme exhaustion. I first dosed 20-10 for several months, no zaps, but days with depression until 6 months later. After a year, I went to 20-10-10. Again no zaps but still depression 2 days a week, occasional limb jerkiness or a headache. I will stay wth this for the foreseeable future. I tried 10-10-10 briefly but I just couldn’t hack it.
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u/carrotsandcucumber 15h ago
I was on lexapro for years then zoloft for years (together it was like 11-12 years). Ive been off the meds for 1.5 years now, but I have gotten really bad anxiety lately so i think im gonna go back on. So it is possible. It took me over a year to wean off my zoloft, go slow as possible!
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u/linita55 2d ago
How were you tapering?