ok i have been coming off lexapro for month now and took my last dose friday but yesterday i started getting this weird sensation thru my body and still have it ..its like volts of eletricity going thru and someone taking their good ole time in turning the fuse box off so i can quit being electricuted .... its the stragest feeling and then i want to cry .... im doing this with dr. help and advise but i wasnt prepared for htis and i was on ly on 10 milligrams of this such for 18 months .. am looking for experience and advice and anything to makethis go away ...i have never done drugs or alcohol and i assume this is what they feel like when they go clean just in a worst way. tia ...have to another one is coming on ...

By Babysitbarb on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:38 pm:

My Dh was on Lexapro and he gradually went off from it with no complications.
So sorry to hear how your feeling

By Tink on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 01:44 pm:

Have you called your Dr. and described how you are feeling? This sounds like more than your typical withdrawl symptoms. If this is being done under a dr's supervision and is from such a low dosage, there may be something that you can take to counteract this or something he or she can do. Lots of hugs, I can only imagine what you are going through.

By Christylee on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 02:04 pm:

Big hugs to you... What you're experiencing is what is commonly known as "zaps" and is common when weaning off medications such as Lexapro and Paxil. I experienced them along with dizziness and hot flashes when weaning off of Paxil. The DO go away but unfortuatly it's not a quick thing...

I'm currently taking Lexapro (10mg as well) for my panic/anxiety disorder and don't see myself going off of it anytime soon. Did you talk to your doctor about maybe halfing, then halfing again so you're not going cold turkey on it? I did that after I was almost bed ridden from the paxil withdrawls and it made my days MUCH more bearable.

Hang in there, if you need to talk feel free to email me at clw@houston.rr.com

((((BIG HUGS)))))

By Lorebunde on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 03:06 pm:

I am also on 10 mgs.lexapro w/klonopin since June.
I am weaning off klonopin right now. I check out
depressionforums.org everyday. I find it very helpful. How did you taper off? I have a Dr. appointment the end of this month and was going to see how long she wants me on the lexapro.
Maybe if you take just 1/4 tablet it willhelp?
I don't want you to take my advice, but check out that website and you will get a lot of responses.

By Jewlz on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 04:10 pm:

i tapered down to half a pill just took a quarter ..the dr has slowely reduced my meds for the last 6 weeks maybe it was slow enough but i hate this feeling ... the zaps are so strong sometimes i called the dr to get her advice she said well do it a bit slower to give the bodee a chance to react ... i could never handle doing drugs if this is the feeling of coming off them ... i have cried like ten times and my insides shake all the time ...the meds worked for what i needed i hope in the long it is worth it ... this is scarry to me

By Jewlz on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 04:11 pm:

btw thanks for the website and the hugs ...this is one of the tuffest things i have gone thru glad to have u all on my side today !

By My2cuties on Wednesday, November 3, 2004 - 11:22 pm:

so sorry you are going through this (((hugs))) I don't really have any advice but I hope this gets better for you.

By Nicosmom on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 01:24 am:

I've read about "zaps" but have never experienced them. Fortunately I rarely have any side effects to anything! I quit Lexapro cold turkey. Not a smart thing to do, but I couldn't not stand the fatigue. That was one definite side effect for me. I couldn't get off the couch.

By Lorebunde on Thursday, November 4, 2004 - 08:34 am:

That scares me - the fact that its been 6 weeks and you still get the zaps! You never stated why you were on it in the first place (not my business either) but from the things I read, drs. prescribe these meds so easy. I've been on it for 5 mos. and not looking forward to quitting.

By Maryg on Sunday, November 7, 2004 - 11:10 am:

Here is a real good site for user information about all kinds of drugs.

http://www.remedyfind.com/index.asp

By Lorebunde on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 02:37 pm:

Just following up on how Jewlz made out tapering off lexapro. I have been on since June and find my appetite has increased. I am seriously thinking of stopping myself. If/when I do, I will do it very slow.

By Jewlz on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 03:42 pm:

the dr and i decided to stay on it till after jan and then try again tapering off in a different way. she says the holidays isnt the time to do this and she will use other meds to help me come off of it.

By Kim on Monday, November 22, 2004 - 06:23 pm:

Lore, I am also on lexapro and one of the side effects should be appetite reduction. That's why my doctor chose it for me. Although meds can affect different people in different ways. It may be another facor.

The only side effect I have had from this meds is headache when I started it and will probably have more when it increases. I also feel spaced out, but I am not so sure that is the meds, lol!

I hope everyone tapering off is ok!

By Lorebunde on Tuesday, November 23, 2004 - 09:25 am:

Maybe I'm using it as an excuse. After binging at lunch yest. I decided I'm quitting it! But its true this is not the time of year to start tapering. I also started back with the wine drinking which I'm sure isn't helping me
Today I decided to be "good". No more halloween candy, nightly wine drinking, etc. I'm such a junk food junkie, I could live on cookies and wine. Not healthy. Plus I'm now 45 and this is not the time to be doing this (bingeing). I mentioned to my husband that I was thinking of tapering and he said " just stop taking them". I told him that is not how you do it you Have to take it slowly. I could tell he was upset and is upset that I started on these pills in the first place. I guess when the time comes I won't even tell him, I'll just taper. Just venting