Lexapro side effects are usually temporary. Many, such as dry mouth, headache, and nausea, go away within a couple weeks as the body adjusts to Lexapro. Unfortunately, severe side effects may persist longer. Serotonin syndrome typically resolves within two to three days of discontinuing all medications affecting serotonin, but the most severe cases may take several weeks before symptoms fade.
Treatment usually involves taking a diuretic and limiting water intake, but severe low sodium levels may require hospitalization. Some of the most severe side effects, such as angle-closure glaucoma, may evolve into chronic and lifetime conditions. Like any other drug that affects the central nervous system, Lexapro may cause problems in some people.
The use of Lexapro may need to be avoided in certain people depending on their medical condition and other medications they may be taking. Therefore, a healthcare provider should be consulted to determine if Lexapro is an appropriate antidepressant. Based on animal studies, the U. Food and Drug Administration FDA does not consider Lexapro a controlled substance that carries a risk of physical dependence, abuse, or tolerance.
There is no evidence that the drug is harmful when taken over a long period of time, but doctors and other healthcare providers may be advised to monitor people with a history of drug abuse to make sure any prescription Lexapro is not being abused or diverted.
An overdose of Lexapro can cause serious medical problems, especially if other drugs or alcohol are also involved. Symptoms of a mild to moderate Lexapro overdose include:. If large amounts of Lexapro are taken, serious side effects could include health-threatening changes to heart rhythm, seizures, and coma. A person experiencing a suspected Lexapro overdose should receive immediate medical attention.
Because of potential hazards, some people should never take Lexapro. I still get electrical sensations in my head and a little disoriented. So now I have to go back to crushing pills, diluting them, and weighing out very small doses on an analytical balance. Of course I hope that at some point I will not be getting the physical withdrawal symptoms and can just stop.
But the point is this is insanely difficult even for someone who can basically do their own pharmaceutical compounding in their house. The physicians clearly have no idea what people go through when withdrawing. Well, I was so emotionally charged again that I literally felt like slapping someone my neighbor again and others. My son said I was like a crazy woman. It was the worse experience with weaning off drugs ever. Paxil was hard but this was worse. My neurologist wants to have an appointment with me about Lexapro in 4 weeks and I have laughingly said he is going to send me to a detox program.
Yes, docs prescribe meds without telling you side effects or worse, withdrawal effects. I would never have settled for Lexapro as I was coming off Paxil if my doctor, a psychiatrist, had told me how bad it would be to stop this horrible drug.
This is my 6th day on 0mg. No appetite, and anxiety has been going through the roof. Anybody whos gone through similar, just please tell me how better its gotten for you. It feels awful. Anything would help. Hi there: You have tapered too fast.
Unfortunately psychiatrists and doctors are unaware of this. Please reinstate and taper 10 percent a month. You should use at least a year for tapering. Check surviving antidepressants for how. I was actually on it for only 4 months, which is what my psychiatrist said is the reason as to why I was tapered on only about a week.
Do you still think this is fast? There is a Facebook Group on Lexapro Withdrawal that is excellent — the administrators are very experienced and give you very specific information on a slow taper. Based on their advice, I am making my own liquid and tapering in very small quantities.
Good luck! Doc suggested a week of half dose then stop after 4 years at 10mg. I thought that was too quick and tapered for a fortnight. I have been on Lexapro for two years or so. Helped with my anxiety but about 6 months ago got into a relationship and was unaware of the sexual side effects of Lexapro.
My Primary care said, oh you are on Lexapro, your screwed. I have been completely off for about 10 days and wow. I am so irritable, the brain flashy things are constant all day long. I feel like running for the hills. I am just going to tough it out though.
I keep trying to remember I am grumpy because of the withdrawals and apologize every time I say something nasty. After stopping lexapro my body began to have a numbness Tingling sensation all over even my lower part of my face and Tongue.. I have been on 10mg for a year and had cut back to 5 and then nothing..
I was taking 5 mg Lexapro for 5 years. I weaned myself off in June. But probably not gradually enough. The withdrawal symptons have not eased at all. My anxiety is back, which i was expecting. Like my brain is misaligned. You know the feeling you get when you return home from vacation…that odd feeling you have for a day or 2 until you get back to your routine? And I feel disconnected from my body and my life. Do antidepressants permanently damage or change the brain and how it functions?
Have you tried specific vitamins to help your feeling off? Try B Complex. I have done tons of digging to treat anxiety naturally and B complex keep appearing. I recently starting taking it in order to wean off 10mg LEX. I took lexapro once after changing from Welbutrin. Called my dr the next day and was told to discontinue. Been feeling pretty terrible since but trying to remain hopeful.
Wish I never took this drug. I just want to feel like my old self again. Any time I move my head too fast I get dizzy and my tongue feels tingly and numb. My doctor has me tapering down over 14 weeks! Adult weight gain stable until Dr started me on Escitalopram 40 mg.
Never gained weight with Citalopram my previous med taken for 10 years. Instead of 2x 20 mg tablets daily I took one and a half 3 days per week, other days full dose. After 6 months I reduced further to one n half tabs per day. End of this month will Reduce to 20 mg 1 tablet per day. Then for 2 months half tablet per day. Aiming to be totally off Escitalopram by Christmas. So this is a Long, steady tritation down completed over a year.
I have felt it was time to ease off the dosage. I started on 10mg which was increased to 20mg about 10 months ago. I hope this is only temporary until my body gets used to the lower dose.
I was on 10 mg for one year I recently went off it with my doctors support. I went to 5 mg for 10 days and then 5 mg every other day for a week. Had runs for a few days, trouble sleeping and have hot flashes and sweats at night.
I feel really down and feel like isolating. Hang in there it will get better just be gentle with yourself. Reach out to friends and ask for support. You did it correctly half dose for weeks then half dose every other day for weeks. Good job!! When I started taking a 10mg dose of this medication I got really sick. At one point I had to go cold turkey on it as advised by my doctor because I had to take a very strong dose of antibiotics. A few months into taking it I noticed my period pain was worse and some months it was excruciating.
I started to ween myself off this medication after feeling like an emotional wreck and having thoughts of self harm every day for 2 months. It was really scary. I will never take this medication ever again. I have been using lexapro for a while but went several months without taking it. I then started up lexapro at 20 mg for three days and then got ringing in my ear so i stopped taking it completely.
Is it possible I coul be experiencing withdrawal symptoms due to the ringing? Charlie i get ringing all the time! I recently found out I was pregnant and after reading about effects on unborn babies, i made the decision to stop. It has only been 5 days, and i feel awful. Crying constantly, no focus, brain zaps, exhausted, irritable, prone to rage…. I have been on Lexapro for a year now.
It has been difficult getting off 10mg a day. A few times I tried going cold turkey and by the third day I was a mess. I was very dizzy even when sitting down and drinking plenty of water. My headaches became more intense.
The brain fog became real. I have been wanting to either transition to a new drug or get off them completely. While it helps me with anxiety, depression and panic attacks it also negatively impacts my sex life with my husband.
I never desire sex anymore and cannot get aroused or get anything close to an orgasm. I wish I can have the benefits of feeling level headed while also enjoying intimacy.
Going to visit my doctor again to see what other options I have. What can I use as a natural seratonin supplement? I did a very slow taper per my doc recommendation and am now a week completely off and crying at every little thing!
That was tough. Also so many body aches this time. Just managing to keep it together! Experiencing withdrawal for the first time right now. Typing on my phone to make this comment is barely manageable. I experience vertigo and some nausea regularly because of other medical problems but I could tell immediately that this was no my usual. This is very inconvenient. Really relating to everyone on here, I find myself reading these comments often. Seems like this will be a gruesome and long process, feeling for all of you as well!
I feel like this may take a year or more for me. Anyone else experiencing wird ticks or habits? I have this weird neck, hand, and diaphragm think. It gets worse when I get stressed out or frustrated. I had a couple days of like wow that was easy, then all this kicked in hard. These ticks are driving me nuts. Not sure about ticks, but my ears are summing Tinnitus after a month off the Lexapro, which is super annoying. It is hard to concentrate. Not sure if it means my anxiety symptoms are back or if it is withdrawal symptoms.
I hope your ticks will improve. Try meditation. That helps me sometimes. I started to take this medicine 8 years ago.
In April I started to taper off and did it pretty slowly, took my last dose 4 months later. Now after a month off the drug I have all the described withdrawal symptoms!
I am using cbd and I am also microdosing with psilocybin. Hoping this will help! People who take these drugs with Lexapro may experience:.
A person who wishes to stop taking Lexapro should speak to their doctor first. Stopping Lexapro too quickly may cause:. A person who takes Lexapro should contact their doctor if they have any symptoms that cause discomfort or do not clear up. If a person notices any serious side effects or drastic changes in mood, they should seek immediate medical help.
Although some side effects can be serious, these reactions are rare. If a person has concerns about Lexapro, they should speak to their doctor. Side effects come with many medications, so they may be impossible to avoid. However, people should make sure they do not take any medications that could interfere with Lexapro, to minimize possible side effects. A person can also speak with a doctor about lowering their Lexapro dosage to help reduce adverse effects.
Lexapro can trigger side effects in some people. These can range from moderate to severe, although more severe side effects are rare. A person should discuss other medications they take before starting Lexapro. They should also tell their doctor about any other health conditions. If a person experiences serious adverse effects when taking Lexapro, they should seek medical attention immediately. Lexapro is a type of antidepressant that helps provide the body with more serotonin.
Stopping taking Lexapro or drastically reducing the dosage can…. Lexapro is the brand name of a drug called escitalopram, which is a safe and effective treatment for depression and anxiety. Doctors strongly….
Common side effects of Lexapro include:. Children and adolescents may also experience the following side effects:. It's important to know that many side effects will appear within the first two weeks of taking the medicine and may subside as your body adjusts to it.
Generally, these common side effects are mild and can be managed. Your doctor may recommend strategies like:. While these side effects usually do not require medical intervention, you should report them to your healthcare provider if they continue for over one week or interfere with your daily routine.
Your doctor may decide to adjust your dosage or switch you to another medication entirely. Also, you may experience other less common side effects. If you do, alert your doctor. You should never stop or change the dosage of your medication on your own. If you experience any of the following side effects, you should contact your healthcare provider immediately, or seek emergency medical care. According to a black box warning the strictest warning for prescription drugs issued by the FDA , taking Lexapro can result in an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors, particularly in children, adolescents, and young adults, and especially when beginning treatment or changing the dosage.
Warning signs include new or sudden changes in mood, behavior, actions, thoughts, or feelings. If you or someone you love is having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor.
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database. If you want to deviate from your treatment plan for any reason, get in touch with your doctor. It's important to follow your doctor's instructions for taking Lexapro. The usual recommended daily dosage of Lexapro is 10 milligrams mg ; doses higher than 20 mg are not approved by the FDA. You may take Lexapro as tablets or an oral solution once daily, in the morning or evening, with or without food.
Depending on your diagnosis, your doctor may prescribe Lexapro for a defined period between six months and one year or for an extended period over many years. Ask your doctor or call your pharmacist if you have any questions about this medication. If you miss a dose , go ahead and take it as soon as you remember, unless it's close to time for your next dose. In that case, don't double up; just skip the missed dose and take your next dose as usual.
There are many precautions involved when taking Lexapro.
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