Lexapro free for 3 months but still having side effects/withdrawals
I've been on Lexapro which worked well for my anxiety and depression, but I had SOOO many side effects which forced me to taper off gradually. I had severe withdrawals for almost 2 months - sickness, tummy upset, shaking, sweating, severe depression. That's all over now but I feel I've been left with some "damage" if you like. For a start, I haven't had an orgasm for months and months and I've got absolutely no urge for sex. This has never happened to me before and it started immediately on Lexapro so I know that's the culprit. I thought it would sort itself out but it's been more than 3 months since I stopped completely (and about 6 months since I started cutting down). I was rampant before, like a horny teenager, and it was fun.
I'm also suffering with short term memory loss to such an extent it makes me panic when I can't remember things. I've always had an excellent memory.
I can't concentrate to read or study and have had to put my college course on hold. My education has cost me a lot of money and I'm scared I'll never be well enough to go back.
I cry all the time, but I'm not depressed. I don't even feel sad, I just cry at the drop of a hat and can't stop. One of the reasons I quit Lex in the first place was because it deadened my emotions and I didn't cry while I was on it. Now I feel like I'm shedding all the supressed tears.
Sorry - this is far too long but if anyone's managed to read or skim this, do you have any advice? Has this happened to anyone else?
Thanks xxx
__________________ Dianette
Spiro 100mg
Zinc
EPA fish oils
Ground flaxseed (when I remember) and flaxseed oil on salads
Pure Inositol 3 grams a day (for panic disorder - thrilled to discover it could help with pcos as well)
Wooow that is really weird. I'm sorry that's still happening. You should go talk to your doctor about that. 3 months is waaaay too long to have withdrawal stuff still going on.
I agree...I've been off Lexapro for 2 months now but my doctor weaned me off slowly. You've got to get it checked cos I don't think Lexapro stays in your system that long after.
Long story short I was forced off cold turkey one rainy Friday afternoon. The worst of the withdrawal side effects seem to be over (I'm much less dizzy) but my irritability is off the charts! I swear my husband breathing will make me go crazy. What's worse is that I get frustrated with DD very easily and then I feel guilty for yelling at her. I hate feeling so irritable.
Sorry for the thread highjack! Definately get to your doctor to discuss those symptoms. You shouldn't feel that way this long afterwards.
As for the sex drive, it may not come back to the same extent -- and not because of the lexapro. Our hormones change as we get older and lessen to some degree. If your treatment has lessened the testosterone in your body you may not feel like such a teenager!! It's frustrating -- I know -- I've been on antidepressants for 10 years. What I found works for me is trying a lot of different things to get you "in the mood" (reading stories, etc). A bottle of wine always works well for me!!
__________________ Stacey-28 & John-31 Married October 15, 2004 Dx 12/03
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
Thanks for the good advice everyone. I'm going to see the doctor next week, but imagine they won't be much help as they just deny what can happen to people when coming off these drugs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tinkpatcherbell
Long story short I was forced off cold turkey one rainy Friday afternoon. The worst of the withdrawal side effects seem to be over (I'm much less dizzy) but my irritability is off the charts! I swear my husband breathing will make me go crazy. What's worse is that I get frustrated with DD very easily and then I feel guilty for yelling at her. I hate feeling so irritable.
Yep! I had that too, and I tapered off very, very slowly. I would wake up in the morning abolutely furious for no reason. It was awful, but subsided after a month or two.
__________________ Dianette
Spiro 100mg
Zinc
EPA fish oils
Ground flaxseed (when I remember) and flaxseed oil on salads
Pure Inositol 3 grams a day (for panic disorder - thrilled to discover it could help with pcos as well)
Hi there. I was on citalopram for only about a week. I had horrible side effects while on it so I stopped taking it and for months afterward I had horrible withdrawal and side effects. My doctors wouldn't admit or maybe didn't believe that I was having so many side effects after only being on citalopram for a short time and having withdrawal symptoms for so long afterward. Their answer was to just keep trying me on different meds until something worked.
My withdrawal symptoms subsided after awhile but it did take awhile. I started taking Lexapro too which helped.
I hope you start feeling like yourself again soon!
When trying to wean off Lexapro, I had withdrawal symptoms too. However, I was switched to Wellbutrin for ADD. I have no withdrawal symptoms from Wellbutrin if I'm off it for a while....other than more ADD symptoms. I hated Lexapro and only switched to it when Zoloft was no longer covered on my prescription plan. I don't know if that might be something you could try...take Wellbutrin for a short while and see if it stops your side effects.
__________________ Sincerely,
Clarissa
M/C 05/18/04 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
DS Gabriel 08/26/05 born 8 weeks early, 2 weeks in NICU, perfectly healthy 3 year old now.
Hyponidd x 4 a day
1000mg Cinnamon
500 mg Ginseng
250 mcg B12
1000 iu Vitamin D
Iron complex
Multi-vitamin
Hi there. I was on citalopram for only about a week. I had horrible side effects while on it so I stopped taking it and for months afterward I had horrible withdrawal and side effects. My doctors wouldn't admit or maybe didn't believe that I was having so many side effects after only being on citalopram for a short time and having withdrawal symptoms for so long afterward. Their answer was to just keep trying me on different meds until something worked.
My withdrawal symptoms subsided after awhile but it did take awhile. I started taking Lexapro too which helped.
I hope you start feeling like yourself again soon!
Thank you! Glad you're feeling better.
I actually had a semi orgasm the other day for the first time in so long I can't even remember. That's enough proof for me that this stuff can stay in, or affect the system for many months after.
__________________ Dianette
Spiro 100mg
Zinc
EPA fish oils
Ground flaxseed (when I remember) and flaxseed oil on salads
Pure Inositol 3 grams a day (for panic disorder - thrilled to discover it could help with pcos as well)
What a strange thing to say. I'm sure that if Pcosspot found it fun then she'd have stayed on it.
__________________ Dianette
Spiro 100mg
Zinc
EPA fish oils
Ground flaxseed (when I remember) and flaxseed oil on salads
Pure Inositol 3 grams a day (for panic disorder - thrilled to discover it could help with pcos as well)
Lexapro free for 3 months but still having side effects/withdrawals 
