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Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms,
Escitalopram Side Effects, Withdrawal Help
It is assumed Lexapro causes serotonin to be suspended
outside the synapses in the brain and CNS (central nervous
system). Lexapro actions shuts down thoughts, feelings,
emotions, and decreases arousal and stimulation. Shutting
down these natural human traits can provide temporary
relief but eventually most individuals would prefer
to feel again. When a person begins to reduce Lexapro the
body naturally reacts and tries to adjust back toward a
normal balance once again. The body can't keep up with this
rapid change, a lack on neurotransmitters firing or now
firing erratically causes Lexapro withdrawal side effects.
Flu symptoms are the most common Lexapro withdrawal side
effects but it is the debilitating "brain zaps" that cause
at least 10% of those in Lexapro withdrawal to go back on
the Lexapro and never try to withdrawal from Lexapro again.
In 1999, our founder, Jim Harper, published how to reduce an
antidepressant and as of this date the drug manufacturers
recommend Jim's reduction approach. Reduce the Lexapro
slowly and gradually, if withdrawal side effects become too
much, go back up to the last dosage you were doing fine at,
remain at that dosage until you feel very stable again. When
you are ready to resume the reduction reduce the medication
slower and in a more gradual manner.
The Road Back recommends you only reduce Lexapro by 10%
every 2 weeks. Take it slowly to reduce the chance of
Lexapro withdrawal symptoms. To avoid the dreaded "brain
zaps" you need to take the correct omega 3 fish oil in the
correct quantity. In 2002, Jim Harper discovered the area of
the brain affected and the cause of the Lexapro brain zaps.
Our brain wants to use the fats from the oil in fish to
rebuild these receptors. This discovery has been a life
saver for hundreds of thousands of people in Lexapro
withdrawal.
Lexapro withdrawal symptoms can include:
This list of Lexapro withdrawal symptoms is a short list.
The manufacturer listed 196 Lexapro side effects after the
drug was approved by the F.D.A.
Brain zaps*
Suicidal thoughts
Dizziness, imbalance, vertigo, lightheadedness
Nausea, abdominal pain
Anxiety, panic, restlessness, lethargy, agitation, emotional
lability, dysphoric
mood
Insomnia, nightmares, vivid dreams, hypersomnia
Headache, muscle aches, myalgia
Akathisia, Parkinsonism, tremors, pyramidal symptoms
Confusion, amnesia, inability to focus or concentrate
Psychosis, visual disturbances, hallucinations, mania,
hypomania
Gastrointestinal upset (indigestion, diarrhea, cramps)
Sexual dysfunction, genital hypersensitivity, premature
ejaculation
Changes in perception, i.e., taste, smell, sound, etc.
Fever, chills, flu-like symptoms
For a complete list of potential Lexapro withdrawal side
effects and those side effects you may experience while
taking Lexapro as prescribed you can read the list in
Chapter 4 of How to Get Off Psychoactive Drugs Safely found
on this site.
Click How to Start link above and scroll to Chapter 4.
*The F.D.A estimates brain zaps will stop roughly 10% of
individuals from completing Lexapro withdrawal.
Lexapro has been
prescribed enough years and to millions of people now and
your physician should understand now that Lexapro
discontinuation has adverse reactions.
The Road Back has
provided expert help with antidepressant withdrawal for over
22 years. Our founder, Jim Harper, has lectured to and
trained physicians throughout the world. No matter where you
may find yourself at this very moment with Lexapro
withdrawal, we are here to assist. With all of our
information available for free on our site, in Jim Harper's
books, and the millions of people throughout the world that
have used The Road Back Program; we can only guess at our
success rate. You likely have a 99% chance of a successful
Lexapro withdrawal when using The Road Back Program.
Discontinuing/Quitting Lexapro (escitalopram)
As mentioned earlier, Lexapro needs to be reduced slowly and
gradually. Ideally, no more than 10% every 2 weeks and only
continue reducing if side effects are very manageable. We
can't stress how important this is with Lexapro. You want to
avoid the Lexapro side effects from being too severe. It
makes it a little more difficult to get off the Lexapro the
next attempt.
In 1999, The Road Back only used the slow and gradual
reduction method to assist people off medications. When
Lexapro was introduced to the market a few years later,
Lexapro withdrawal was not different than Prozac withdrawal,
Zoloft withdrawal or any other antidepressant.
Roughly 50% could get off their antidepressant with only a
slow and gradual reduction. The 50% that could get off of
their antidepressant still suffered withdrawal side effects.
It really did not matter how slow and gradual the reduction
was.
After assisting thousands off their antidepressant, Jim
Harper began looking
for other
solutions. The 50% that got off Lexapro could not be viewed
as a success by Jim. It was at this time Jim began to
explore nutritional supplements to help with the withdrawal.
You may want to read the Chapter 23, The Science to get a
better idea of why nutritional supplements and the work that
has gone into making the right ones for withdrawal.
Lexapro came out right at the time Jim introduced his first
supplements and the results were absolutely amazing. The 50%
that could get off of Lexapro now was much higher and those
getting off the Lexapro experienced little to no Lexapro
withdrawal.
Jim started a DNA testing lab to not only look at how
Lexapro metabolized but designed specific nutritional
supplements that would not interfere with the Lexapro
metabolism but would help the body regain a normal balance
again. Over the years Jim kept researching for better
approaches and has changed his formulas several times as
more DNA data became available.
With using The Road Back Program, you do not start reducing
the Lexapro until you are feeling much better. Many people
begin their Lexapro withdrawal feeling better than they have
in years.
The thought of another Lexapro withdrawal can be
overwhelming if you have tried before or if you are
currently in the middle of Lexapro withdrawal. How to Get
Off Psychoactive Drugs Safely addresses these points you may
be at. Click How to Start link on the navigation menu and
read the chapter that pertains to your circumstance.
With tapering Lexapro (escitalopram), gradually cutting the
dose rather than abruptly stopping Lexapro is the medically
recommended route to take as well.
Dangers of Quitting Lexapro Too Rapidly
I can't repeat too many times. A slow and gradual reduction
of Lexapro is vital. Once Lexapro withdrawal side effects
begin when reducing the Lexapro too quickly it can be
difficult to turn things around again. Not impossible at
all, but it is harder on you physically and mentally.
"I had been on Lexapro for 5
years. A death in the family sent me on a spiral down and I
could no longer function.
After 4 years on Lexapro my doctor and I thought it
was time to get off the drug. She had me taper the Lexapro
slowly, or so I thought it was slowly. I went from being
able to at least function again to an anxiety wreck in a
manner of days.
Insomnia began
on top of the anxiety. My head felt like it was on
fire with electrical jolts. All I could do was cry. I felt
hopeless.
Enter The
Road Back Program and Jim Harper. I was cautious and did not
want another letdown, I could not take another loss of hope.
I started the pre-taper not
knowing what to expect really, I just put my faith in Jim.
He was my lifeline now. I had questions and concerns and he
reassured me, there is hope and a solution. For a person
that felt no hope and could not dream of a solution all of
this was beyond my mental processes at that time.
Lexapro withdrawal was hell but
once I started The Road Back Program things began to ease up
and within a week I felt the Hope Jim mentioned. At the end
of two weeks I thought, just maybe there is a solution.
The supplements Jim had me take
were beyond amazing. The Omega 3 Supreme cleared my head and
the brain zaps stopped on the first day. Sleep took about a
week before it improved and along the way I noticed as my
daytime anxiety eased my sleep improved.
It has been 90 days since I took
my last Lexapro pill and I am back. My husband loves the
return of ME. My coworkers no longer cringe when I walk into
the room and wonder if I am going to bite off their heads.
Mr. Jim Harper, I can't express
in words what you and your program mean to me and my family.
Thank you from all of us." Jill
What is Lexapro (escitalopram) Prescribed For?
Lexapro (escitalopram) as of 2018 was the second most
prescribed medication in the US according to published
statistics. Lexapro is an SSRI that has been approved by the
US FDA for the treatment of MDD and GAD. According to
published research in the European Journal of
Pharmacology, It is also prescribed “off-label” for
certain other conditions, including:
·
Smoking cessation
·
Insomnia
·
Chronic pain
·
Eating disorders
The prescribing physician determines the dosage based on
age, medical condition, other prescription drugs being
taken, and additional factors of importance (if these are
tested for) such as sodium levels, underlying cardiovascular
or other compromised organ issues, and other considerations.
Ideally, the prescribing physician also had you take a P450
liver enzyme DNA test. This test will tell you and the
physician how rapid or slowly you will metabolize the
Lexapro. The physician can then prescribe you the dosage
that your body will metabolize with ease or possible
consider an different antidepressant.
With the DNA data in mind; if you smoke at the start of
Lexapro withdrawal do not stop. If you drink coffee at the
beginning of the Lexapro withdrawal do not stop the coffee
or switch to decaf.
While using The Road Back Program we run into a continual
problem. The person gets about half way off the Lexapro and
they are feeling fantastic. They want to get other aspects
of their life in order and begin dieting, exercising or any
number of things to improve their health and well-being.
WAIT! Wait until you are off the Lexapro 45-days and then
have at it. Otherwise you will likely upset this balance you
have achieved and the remaining taper will not go as
smoothly as it has.
Additional Lexapro Withdrawal Side Effects
As stated earlier, the manufacturer listed 196 potential
side effects when Lexapro was introduced. If we were to use
the Freedom of Information Act as we did for Zoloft, our
guess is the list would be as long as Zoloft was. It was 500
pages, single space with 5 columns per page.
Once you start using The Road Back Program you most likely
will eliminate the current side effects you have and will
not experience new Lexapro withdrawal side effects.
Again, read Chapter 4 of How to Get Off Psychoactive Drugs
Safely by Clicking How to Start
link at the top navigation bar. We have also defined every
Lexapro side effect so they are easy to understand. Note
down the Lexapro side effects you currently have. Start The
Road Back Program and during your first week have a look at
the Lexapro side effects you marked and see if they are
still present.
You can make it off Lexapro. There is Hope and There is a
Solution.
"I found out I was not very different from most others that
did The Road Back Program. Lexapro withdrawal had been
brutal. I tapered too fast and went back on the original
dosage I started at. The Lexapro withdrawal side effects did
not go away though.
My doctor wanted to switch from Lexapro to a new
antidepressant and when I asked him why, his response kind
of shocked me.
He wanted to see if the other antidepressant would get rid
of the Lexapro withdrawal side effects I was still having.
By this time I knew better and told him no way. Fix me, fix
what you started.
I went home angry. Would I ever be the same again?
Once home I searched for answers and happened upon The Road
Back site. It was so hard for me to focus and read anything
but I managed enough to order the supplements I needed for
the program.
I sent an email to Jim and he told me to just follow the
instructions on the labels with how much to take and when to
take the supplements. I like easy.
Jim told me it may take a bit longer since I was already in
withdrawal and had gone back up on the dosage.
Realistically, the positive changes began quickly. Within 2
days my head was clear and I started to be able to focus a
bit.
Jim let me know to not rush at all. Give my body and mind a
chance to calm down again. I followed everything he said to
the letter.
Over the next few weeks I knew I was on the right track and
by the time I reduced the Lexapro for the third time without
one bit of withdrawal I really knew I was going to make it
this time.
I have been off Lexapro for 4 months and decided I needed to
write this in case anyone else was in my place. The best
thing I can say to any of you going through Lexapro
withdrawal; there is hope and there is a solution. Thank you
Jim" Betty
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