Re: what to do about Lexapro withdrawal?

April 21, 2005

Leela,

Sorry to hear about the upcoming experience. For me,

if I miss one dose (24 hrs), I've never really noticed

anything. It's probably because the half-life is

something like 36 hours for Lex. But after 40-48

hours, I begin to get anxious and a bit irritable.

Thanks to the long half life, it shouldn't be too much

of a problem for you. But then again, every body is

different. In theory, you should be okay for the first

day plus a little bit of the second day.

Just try to remember that it'll usually pass if you

find something to occupy your mind. I'm sure it'll be

just fine. But pay attention to your mind and body

just in case. GL.

Mike.

--- Leela <leelawrites@...> wrote:

>

> Dear all,

>

> Have somewhat of an emergency situation because I

> will have to miss two doses of Lexapro. I am trying

> to prepare to deal with any symptoms of withdrawal I

> might have--do others have suggestions? (If you

> have scary Lexapro withdrawal stories please do not

> tell me--am scared enough as it is!)

>

> I am in Argentina and returning to the U.S.

> tommorrow night. My pills spilled and I lost

> several, and when I had a refill sent from the U.S.

> they were seized by Argentina customs and I cannot

> get them. I took the last dose last night, and will

> miss tommorrow night and Friday night (when I will

> be on my return flight). What do other Lexapro/SSRI

> users think--I thought that perhaps I can take

> sleeping pills on the flight, and hopefully I can

> sleep through any withdrawal. Or maybe sedatives?

> Any nonmedication suggestions that might help me

> through this?

>

> Thanks so much--any advice would be great!

>

> Leela

>

> lagunandn <lagunandn@...> wrote:

>

> Hi everyone, hope you're all doing fine with

> whatever your conditions

> may be. I have a little problem here and wanted to

> see if anyone had

> some insight or similar experiences.

> Problem:

> I've been on Lex for about 7 months with a 1 month

> break (March -

> April) with wonderful results for my anxiety. The

> only side effect has

> been insomnia which I take Sonata (starting Lunesta

> today) to help me

> fall asleep. Anyways, this year I have had a major

> attack of allergies

> (hayfever) and have been extremely lightheaded,

> groggy, and grumpy. I

> don't know if it's from the Sonata, or Lexapro. My

> doctor is out of

> town for the next week and I plan to speak to my

> pharmacist today, but

> I wanted to see if anyone else has had this problem

> before. I haven't

> had an allergy attack in about 6 years, so it could

> be from the

> allergies. I don't know. But it's really beginning

> to bug me. If it

> isn't the Lex then I guess it has to be the sleep

> aid. I'm thinking

> that the combination of the sleep aid and the

> tiredness from the

> hayfever may be causing the excessive grogginess. I

> haven't felt like

> this since the time I was on Remeron. Well, I'd

> appreciate any words

> of wisdom or insight from anyone.

> Thanks.

>

> Mike.

>

> ---------------------------------

>

April 22, 2005

no one should try to stop any ssri or ssni medication cold turkey. if you

are unable to contact a physician, you may well end up in an emergency room

within the next few days. 2 days is not enough time to feel the effects of

withdrawal from one on these drugs. but i garantee that within the next 7-8 days

you

will be thinking of nothing else but finding the closest emergency room good

luck

April 22, 2005

Yes sedatives will help you out alot, especially if you have benzos such as

Xanax or Ativan....you'll be fine. I stopped taking Lex cold turkey a month ago

and the withdrawals (in my case) didn't happen until two weeks. It's been hell.

If you are just going to miss a couple of days I think you'll be fine, just take

a sedative hon.

Leela <leelawrites@...> wrote:

Dear all,

Have somewhat of an emergency situation because I will have to miss two doses of

Lexapro. I am trying to prepare to deal with any symptoms of withdrawal I might

have--do others have suggestions? (If you have scary Lexapro withdrawal stories

please do not tell me--am scared enough as it is!)

I am in Argentina and returning to the U.S. tommorrow night. My pills spilled

and I lost several, and when I had a refill sent from the U.S. they were seized

by Argentina customs and I cannot get them. I took the last dose last night,

and will miss tommorrow night and Friday night (when I will be on my return

flight). What do other Lexapro/SSRI users think--I thought that perhaps I can

take sleeping pills on the flight, and hopefully I can sleep through any

withdrawal. Or maybe sedatives? Any nonmedication suggestions that might help

me through this?

Thanks so much--any advice would be great!

Leela

lagunandn <lagunandn@...> wrote:

Hi everyone, hope you're all doing fine with whatever your conditions

may be. I have a little problem here and wanted to see if anyone had

some insight or similar experiences.

Problem:

I've been on Lex for about 7 months with a 1 month break (March -

April) with wonderful results for my anxiety. The only side effect has

been insomnia which I take Sonata (starting Lunesta today) to help me

fall asleep. Anyways, this year I have had a major attack of allergies

(hayfever) and have been extremely lightheaded, groggy, and grumpy. I

don't know if it's from the Sonata, or Lexapro. My doctor is out of

town for the next week and I plan to speak to my pharmacist today, but

I wanted to see if anyone else has had this problem before. I haven't

had an allergy attack in about 6 years, so it could be from the

allergies. I don't know. But it's really beginning to bug me. If it

isn't the Lex then I guess it has to be the sleep aid. I'm thinking

that the combination of the sleep aid and the tiredness from the

hayfever may be causing the excessive grogginess. I haven't felt like

this since the time I was on Remeron. Well, I'd appreciate any words

of wisdom or insight from anyone.

Thanks.

Mike.

---------------------------------

April 22, 2005

I'll dito some of the others - I've gone 48 hours between 10mg doses with no

effects I could tell.

-Dan

> Have somewhat of an emergency situation because I will have to miss two doses

of Lexapro. I am trying to prepare to deal with any symptoms of withdrawal I

might have--do others have suggestions? (If you have scary Lexapro withdrawal

stories please do not tell me--am scared enough as it is!)

>

> I am in Argentina and returning to the U.S. tommorrow night. My pills spilled

and I lost several, and when I had a refill sent from the U.S. they were seized

by Argentina customs and I cannot get them. I took the last dose last night,

and will miss tommorrow night and Friday night (when I will be on my return

flight). What do other Lexapro/SSRI users think--I thought that perhaps I can

take sleeping pills on the flight, and hopefully I can sleep through any

withdrawal. Or maybe sedatives? Any nonmedication suggestions that might help

me through this?

>

> Thanks so much--any advice would be great!

>

> Leela

>

> lagunandn <lagunandn@...> wrote:

>

> Hi everyone, hope you're all doing fine with whatever your conditions

> may be. I have a little problem here and wanted to see if anyone had

> some insight or similar experiences.

> Problem:

> I've been on Lex for about 7 months with a 1 month break (March -

> April) with wonderful results for my anxiety. The only side effect has

> been insomnia which I take Sonata (starting Lunesta today) to help me

> fall asleep. Anyways, this year I have had a major attack of allergies

> (hayfever) and have been extremely lightheaded, groggy, and grumpy. I

> don't know if it's from the Sonata, or Lexapro. My doctor is out of

> town for the next week and I plan to speak to my pharmacist today, but

> I wanted to see if anyone else has had this problem before. I haven't

> had an allergy attack in about 6 years, so it could be from the

> allergies. I don't know. But it's really beginning to bug me. If it

> isn't the Lex then I guess it has to be the sleep aid. I'm thinking

> that the combination of the sleep aid and the tiredness from the

> hayfever may be causing the excessive grogginess. I haven't felt like

> this since the time I was on Remeron. Well, I'd appreciate any words

> of wisdom or insight from anyone.

> Thanks.

>

> Mike.

>

> ---------------------------------

>

April 22, 2005

elyeji, i don't know how long you have been on this medication or the

dosage. this has relavance. my therapist said that i could go off lex or any

other ssri also..... but i would like to talk to them they have taken this

medicine for 15 years and have themselves tried to quit this medicine also. i

think

the answer would be different. i have told other people about the first

incident i had with discontinuation of ssri in 1995. i quit cold turkey and

within

a week i had side effects that were what i could only say horrific. i called

my dr. and they told me repeatedly that this was all in my head...they were

sure!!!! that there were no withdrawel symptoms when discontinuing these meds.

that was 10 years ago. i'll never forget finally driving to my dr. and

camping myself on there doorstep until someone finally listened to me. they

still

didn't believe my symptoms were withdrawel. they just renewed my prescripton .

within a week i started to feel more normal. i'm sure at that time they

just though that she's sick and that's why she is feeling like she does. THAT

WAS 10 YEARS AGO. i think it is a good thing that you are tapering off of this

med. have you tried to quit cold turkey? untill you have done this and know

what it feels like i don't think you will understand. dr's just believe the

drug companies, and because they think they are always right, they don't even

have the curiosity to investigate what they hear from their patients. that's my

opinion. I COULD BE WRONG good luck d

April 22, 2005

I am going through withdrawls, I am on my third day without Lex and feel ok. I

know that on the 4th day, I might start to get those " head sensations " and

that's when I will pop a Lex. Then I will not take another for another four

days. That is the only way I see myself weaning off of this medication. Since I

have been working out in the gym, I feel less stressful, more motivated with a

peaceful mind. I plan on keeping this up and will continue to wean off Lex. My

reason for being on the lex is situational. So, I will also clean up that act.

Just FYI.

beldl@... wrote:I'll dito some of the others - I've gone 48 hours between

10mg doses with no effects I could tell.