what are the side effects of quitting lexapro?
113465
Josepa took the words away from me. Talk to your doctor before quitting your meds. You are evidentally taking the drug for a reason and it is never good to just stop taking something without the advice of a doctor. \n\nAnother thing is if you REALLY want to know there is usually a little pampthlet that comes with your meds and the pampthlet will go over that with you. \n\nHere's one website you can look at and then maybe you can go from there. Good luck to you :)
432185
Yes. I was on Zoloft and I actually just stopped taking it. I too was on such a small dosage that it did't effect me in any way. I now take Lexapro and love it. Ask your doctor about that it has less side effects than all other anxiety/depression medicine.
287102
check out side effects \nprobably heartburn
307233
Your body could have a withdrawal reaction and your symptoms could return. \n\nI have an aunt who wound up hospitalized because she tried to go off her medication all at once instead of easing off of them.\n\nI seriously recommend weaning yourself from the medication with the help of a doctor instead of going cold turkey - and only if you're ready to ease off the meds. If you are, that's GREAT! If you're not, there's no shame. Just keep working at it.
78136
Talk to your doctor. If you want to come off it, then ask him to help you. It is important to follow a gradual withdrawal program as stopping suddenly can cause an array of troublesome symptoms, the most common being dizziness, which can last for days on end. Flu-like feelings, including nausea, headache and fatigue, are also common, as are intense feelings of anxiety, irritability or sadness.\n\nIt is important to recognise that when you withdraw from a drug, many of these symptoms can also appear. Some people experience alarming sensations of tingling or burning in various parts of the body; ringing in the ears; blurred vision; or flashing lights before the eyes. Some people even describe a feeling of shock waves pulsing through their arms and legs, as if they had been zapped with a jolt of electricity, a condition sometimes called lightning-bolt syndrome. This is what is known as "discontinuation syndrome" and should NOT be misread as some form of "relapse". Make sure that your doctor is fully aware of Discontinuation Syndrome. There is plenty of information on the web.\n\nAs for needing more...personally, I don't believe ANYONE needs to take antidepressants. These drugs are inherently harmful (in a variety of different ways) and do not cure ANYTHING. It is no different to smoking weed to feel more relaxed, or snorting coke to get high. Psych drugs disrupt the normal chemical operation of the brain creating a false sense of mood. It cures nothing. And the longer you take it, the more likely you are to suffer from many of the drug's seriously ill effects.\n\nSeek non-drug solutions. Check out http://www.alternativementalhealth.com or perhaps http://groups.msn.com/psychbusters/alternativehealth.msnw for more info.\n\nMike\n\n--\nDecoding Psychiatric Propaganda\nhttp://groups.msn.com/psychbusters
1147995
Reported side effects of this medication include headache, drowsiness, dizziness, or clumsiness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, depression, muscle aches or pains, vivid or abnormal dreams, and amnesia (memory loss) after a dose.  Any other types of side effects other than listed above, need to be reported to your doctor.
478725
I dont recall if you mentioned your age, but mine started as my hormone levels changed in my 30's.  It was not everyday, but most days, and usually when I was finished for the day, and had time to relax.  Ended up on Lexapro... then switched to Wellbutrin.  (gained weight on lex)\n\nbest thing I ever did.  \nAsk your therapist to recommend a Psychiatrist.
794394
Yes I was on zoloft for 3 weeks.  Personally I hated the drug, not only did I twitch, I vomited, was a walking zombie, acting like I had Alzheimers.  I would stare at the tv with no sound going lost in space.  God , I hated that drug.  I even would call my husband and talk no sense to him, like I was hallucinating. \nEvery drug affects everyone differently though, I do know I could not take it after 3 weeks, My doc took me off and put me on Lexapro.  No side effects so far after 4 weeks.  My body must like it.  \nIf that twitching becomes too bothersome let your doc know. That is why you pay them.\nGood luck with that drug, personally I hated it.
941401
Side effects for Effexor (Venlafaxine), are:\n\nSide effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:\nRare or uncommon:\n•abnormal body movements, for example, of your tongue or upper body\n•difficulty breathing\n•fainting spells\n•problems passing urine (increase or decrease in frequency)\n•mania (over-active behavior)\n•rapid heartbeat, or palpitations\n•seizures (convulsions)\nMore common:\n•agitation, anxiety, or restlessness, especially in the first week of treatment or when doses are changed\n•changes in vision (blurred vision)\n•sexual difficulties (abnormal ejaculation or orgasm, difficult or painful erections, impotence)\n•vomiting\n\nSide effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):\n•anxiety\n•dry mouth\n•constipation\n•dizziness, drowsiness\n•increased sweating\n•loss of appetite, loss of weight\n•nausea\n•tremor\n•weakness or tiredness\n\n"If anti-depressants are discontinued abruptly, symptoms may occur such as dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, taste, etc. (Such symptoms even may occur when even a few doses of anti-depressant are missed.) Therefore, it is recommended that the dose of anti-depressant be reduced gradually when therapy is discontinued."
338952
Currently I am taking Xanex and Lexapro. The Lexapro is working so well that I rarly have to use the Xanex. Lexapro has side effects as all drugs do, and they are super bad for the first few days (nausia, tired) but once you get past that it is great. I have been on it for 2 weeks and I went to the bank today without freaking out, and without Xanex.So I love it. I took Zoloft for a while and it made me feel different. In a bad weird way. I love the way that Lexapro makes me feel. Well I am not as sexually aroused and can't climax right now, but hey it's not perminant and it is going to fix things.
735937
Lexapro is an antidepressant and it doesnt take effect immediately, takes approximately two weeks to level out a persons serotonin.  So, no it wont help you in any way.
919855
Going cold turkey in NOT a good idea. You could begin to experience a lot of bad side effects like dizzyness, nausea, headaches- to the point of being incapacitated. I would have to know what type of Effexor you are taking to know how long the withdrawl will continue- extended release, or regular?\n\nPlease talk to your doctor and tell him/her that you want to stop taking the Effexor- and find a way to gradually wean your body off the medicine.\n\nThere are tons of forums and Q&A sites on the web you might want to check out. Here are 2 to start with. Hope this helps!\n\nhttp://www.thedoctorslounge.net/psychiatry/forums/viewtopic.php?t=1013\n\nhttp://www.medhelp.org/HealthTopics/Effexor.html
952752
SIDE EFFECTS: The most commonly noted side effects associated with bupropion are agitation, dry mouth, insomnia, headache, nausea, constipation, and tremor. In some people, the agitation or insomnia is most marked shortly after starting therapy. Some patients may experience weight loss. Uncommonly, patients may experience manic episodes or hallucinations. Four of every 1000 persons who receive bupropion in doses less than 450 mg/day experience seizures. When doses exceed 450 mg/day, the risk increases ten-fold. Other risk factors for seizures include past injury to the head and medications which can lower the threshold for seizures. (See drug interactions.) \n\n"If antidepressants are discontinued abruptly, symptoms may occur such as dizziness, headache, nausea, changes in mood, or changes in the sense of smell, taste, etc. (Such symptoms even may occur when even a few doses of antidepressant are missed.) Therefore, it is recommended that the dose of antidepressant be reduced gradually when therapy is discontinued." \n\nIt has been suggested that bupropion and SSRIs may cause depression to worsen and even lead to suicide in a small number of patients. These potential side effects are difficult to evaluate in depressed patients because depression can progress with or without treatment, and suicide is itself a consequence of depression. Moreover, the evidence supporting these potential side effects is weak. Therefore, no conclusions can yet be drawn about the relationship between bupropion and SSRIs and worsening depression and suicide. Until better information is available, patients receiving bupropion or SSRIs should be monitored for worsening depression and suicidal tendencies.
455935
I am also on Lexapro and I am extremely tired too.  I thought it was just me.  I have been on it for over a year.  I think we both need to speak to our doctors.
1027245
Hello, I am a pharmacist from Oklahoma.\n\nFirst of all, he should definitely NOT stop the drug without seeking his doctor's instructions. This is very critical, despite how others have responded to this question. The withdrawal from discontinuing anti-depressants can be worse than the problems he is currently experiencing. \n\nSecond, yes, sexual side-effects of anti-depressant medications are some of the most common and troublesome known. It is possible that he has difficulty with ejaculation even if he is not experiencing erectile dysfunction. If it is troublesome, have him discuss his options with his doctor. There may be alternate therapies that could reduce the side-effects that he is experiencing.
1000160
The most commonly noted side effects associated with anti-anxiety meds are sedation, which is reported in approximately 1 in 2 people (one-half of patients), dizziness (one-third of patients), weakness, and unsteadiness. Other side effects include a feeling of depression, loss of orientation, headache, and sleep disturbance.\n\nLike all benzodiazepines, anti-anxiety meds can cause physical dependence. Suddenly stopping therapy after a few months of daily therapy may be associated with a feeling of loss of self-worth, agitation, and insomnia. If the medication is taken continuously for longer than a few months, stopping therapy suddenly may produce seizures, tremors, muscle cramping, vomiting, and/or sweating. Therefore, discontinuation usually is accomplished by tapering the dose.
225297
Well, I'm not middle aged, but i am on Lexapro 10mg.  Some spaciness is normal for the first couple of weeks, it will taper off.  There are some sexual side affects that i have as well, but nothing like the ones i was having on other anti depressants.  Those too should taper off the longer you are on the Lexapro.