Psycho-Babble Medication Thread 364061

Shown: posts 1 to 13 of 13. This is the beginning of the thread.

 

Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty

Posted by DMark on July 8, 2004, at 12:21:26

I was taking Lexapro for about 3 months and had good success with it how ever, certain side effects are making it impossible to continue with it. First off, I must say that this med has done more for me than any other SSRI and it kills me to have to stop. The main problems are excessive drowsiness and no sex drive. I have tried taking the lexapro at different times of the day and even adjusted the dose but i'm tired all the time no matter how I do it and i'm afraid i'm gonna fall asleep at the wheel one of these days. I've actually fallen asleep briefly while driving and its a scary feeling. The other problem kind of kills the relationship I have with my wife. I am a 37 yr old male and I have zero desire to have sex while taking this medication. With all that said, i'll be off it soon and look to another SSRI. I am decreasing the dose right now and am having a hard time with it. Just going from 10 mg down to 5 mg is having bad effects. I'm shaky, I have been getting spasms in the stomach that cause my whole body to shake, depression has been out of control and i've worried about everything that there is to worry about. None of these symptoms were there while on the 10 mg so its safe to say i'm having withdrawal. Has anyone come down off this? How long did it take? Thank you for your time.

DMark

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty

Posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 18:53:50

In reply to Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty, posted by DMark on July 8, 2004, at 12:21:26

Hi Dmark. You responded to one of my post and I just posted you a follow-up asking you all kinds of questions--and as I scrolled on the main page I found this post from you.

I am a 28 year old male and I know how SSRI's can mess with your Libido (sex drive). SSRI's are notorious for delayed ejaculation and other host of sexual problems. The thing is that in all my research Lexapro is suppose to have the lowest profile for sexual side effects out of the SSRI's (but medication effects people differently). Lexapro is actually derived from the med Celexa. The manufacturer Forrest Labs just isolated the activating ingrediant in Celexa and developed Lexapro (which is suppose to be stronger with fewer side effects). As far as the withdrawal since you are having so many physical side effects (I have been there). You may want to go back to the original dose and start tappering down in smaller increaments. It may take several weeks to months to fully tapper of of the drug. It depends alot on the medications half-life (that is how long it takes for the drug to be fully excreted from the body--whether it is via the liver or kidneys).

I do have a question. Are you taking yourself off of the medication or are your doing it under a doctor's supervision? Also, if you had good results with Lexapro you may want to weigh the benefits verses the side effects.

As far as Lexapro causing you to be so sleepy. I kind of envy you (if that makes any sense). Because I have the opposite effect I cannot go to sleep. As a matter of fact I have to take an additional medication at night just to fall asleep. That just goes to show you how differently these medication effect people.

I wish the best of luck and I am sorry to hear that you are having a rough go of it. If you have any more question feel free to ask. God Bless.

BRC

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out diffic

Posted by starflower on July 9, 2004, at 5:57:39

In reply to Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty, posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 18:53:50

I came off with minimal problems. I lowered it bit by bit and took small amounts if I experienced any withdrawal symptoms.

Katy

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty » DMark

Posted by platinumbride on July 11, 2004, at 2:48:16

In reply to Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty, posted by DMark on July 8, 2004, at 12:21:26

I was on lexapro for a while. Just not an effective drug for me, though it certainly affected my ability to orgasm......even when I added wellbutrin.

But getting off of it was no problem for me. I think I went from 20 mgs to 10 and then 5 within 10 days and then I was off.

However.....I have almost never had difficulties getting off of ADs.

Good luck

Diane

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty

Posted by BrittPark on July 11, 2004, at 14:37:01

In reply to Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty » DMark, posted by platinumbride on July 11, 2004, at 2:48:16

I did a six week trial at 10mg and when it was found to be ineffective, I stopped immediately. I had no withdrawal reaction at all. However, I've never had difficulty getting off of drugs, and I've taken many in my time.

Be Well

Britt

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty » BRC

Posted by DMark on July 13, 2004, at 12:41:42

In reply to Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty, posted by BRC on July 8, 2004, at 18:53:50

Thanks for all the replies everyone. I guess I have bad luck when it comes to medications. =(

BRC. My doctor advised me to stop taking the Lexapro as she saw the side effects mentioned unacceptable. I really want to stay on the lexapro but for the reasons mentioned, I can't. I really fear getting into an accident when at the wheel. I know how it is to not be able to sleep from a med too and thats no fun either. I wish you luck in the future. Keep me updated. My e-mail addy is Dlubben@hmwitt.com

 

Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty

Posted by pablo1 on July 14, 2004, at 10:59:50

In reply to Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty » BRC, posted by DMark on July 13, 2004, at 12:41:42

Maybe too late but have you considered adding another med to keep you awake?

wellbutrin, amineptine, stimulants...

Just another thought.


> Thanks for all the replies everyone. I guess I have bad luck when it comes to medications. =(
>
> BRC. My doctor advised me to stop taking the Lexapro as she saw the side effects mentioned unacceptable. I really want to stay on the lexapro but for the reasons mentioned, I can't. I really fear getting into an accident when at the wheel. I know how it is to not be able to sleep from a med too and thats no fun either. I wish you luck in the future. Keep me updated. My e-mail addy is Dlubben@hmwitt.com

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty

Posted by DMark on July 14, 2004, at 12:56:34

In reply to Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty, posted by pablo1 on July 14, 2004, at 10:59:50

I have actually been taking wellbutrin for many weeks. My doctor thought that it would be best in getting rid of the sexual side effects and drowsiness. I was supposed to wean myself off the lexapro over a months time but her plan didn't work as you all know. I'm still taking both and am afraid to even cut down on the lexapro. Is there anything besides another antidepressant that can help with the drowsiness?

 

New to Effexor XR, my side effects, anyone els

Posted by pablo1 on July 14, 2004, at 13:17:18

In reply to Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty, posted by DMark on July 14, 2004, at 12:56:34

> Is there anything besides another antidepressant that can help with the drowsiness?


Modafinil (Provigil, Alertec, Modiodal) is another one that sounds useful. I'm not clear on the action but it is prescribed for "wakefulness" with narcolepsy and more often off-label for counteracting sleepiness from other meds.

 

Re: New to Effexor XR, my side effects, anyone els

Posted by DMark on July 14, 2004, at 13:45:21

In reply to New to Effexor XR, my side effects, anyone els, posted by pablo1 on July 14, 2004, at 13:17:18

Thanks pablol. I'll see what my physician says. I'm really hoping I can stay on this medication. Dang side effects anyways. =(

DMark

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out diffic

Posted by cpallen79 on July 14, 2004, at 19:35:36

In reply to Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out diffic, posted by starflower on July 9, 2004, at 5:57:39

I'm supposed to wean off Lexapro to start a new SSRI and I'm terrified, especially with my anxiety still being high and after the fiasco I went through when withdrawing from Effexor. MY PDOC is going to have me stay on 5MGs of Lex while I initially start to go up on my new SSRI, hoepfulyl it'll at least keep me stable and not cause a good old fashioned case of serotonin syndrome.

> I came off with minimal problems. I lowered it bit by bit and took small amounts if I experienced any withdrawal symptoms.
>
> Katy

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty » DMark

Posted by LynneDa on July 15, 2004, at 9:07:45

In reply to Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty, posted by DMark on July 8, 2004, at 12:21:26

Hi DMark - I just withdrew from 20mg of Lex (9 months of usage) while starting on 300mg of Wellbutrin SR over the past 3 weeks. I gave up the Lex due to continuing sleepiness too! I really had no problems except some dizziness. Have you started on something else? Going off the Lex and/or going on the Wellbutrin has completely eliminated any sexual issues and is still helping my depression somewhat - not as good as the Lex tho.

Good luck!

~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>


I was taking Lexapro for about 3 months and had good success with it how ever, certain side effects are making it impossible to continue with it. First off, I must say that this med has done more for me than any other SSRI and it kills me to have to stop. The main problems are excessive drowsiness and no sex drive. I have tried taking the lexapro at different times of the day and even adjusted the dose but i'm tired all the time no matter how I do it and i'm afraid i'm gonna fall asleep at the wheel one of these days. I've actually fallen asleep briefly while driving and its a scary feeling. The other problem kind of kills the relationship I have with my wife. I am a 37 yr old male and I have zero desire to have sex while taking this medication. With all that said, i'll be off it soon and look to another SSRI. I am decreasing the dose right now and am having a hard time with it. Just going from 10 mg down to 5 mg is having bad effects. I'm shaky, I have been getting spasms in the stomach that cause my whole body to shake, depression has been out of control and i've worried about everything that there is to worry about. None of these symptoms were there while on the 10 mg so its safe to say i'm having withdrawal. Has anyone come down off this? How long did it take? Thank you for your time.
>
> DMark

 

Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty

Posted by DMark on July 15, 2004, at 11:38:15

In reply to Re: Has anyone withdrawn from lexapro w/out difficulty » DMark, posted by LynneDa on July 15, 2004, at 9:07:45

Thanks for the reply Lynne.

I am on wellbutrin right now and have been for about 3 weeks. I'll probably start my weaning (for the 3rd time) in about 3 weeks. The wellbutrin should be in my system by then and doing something. I'll keep ya posted.

DMark


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