Lexapro

[Latin Girl]

Does anyone know how long you can go without taking Lexapro 20mg. Before feeling withdrawl???????

Thanks

LG

[celestia]

Like Di said, it's not way up there with some of the other ADs. I'm on 20 mgs. a day and I sometimes will forget, or need a new prescription, whatever, and I probably have gone as much as 3 or 4 days without it with no real physical symptoms. I think one time I quit taking it for like a week and I did start to get depressed shortly after that. I'm also on Wellbutrin and I wanted to see if the WB would be enough--it's not.

[Latin Girl]

Well..................here's the sitch. My doctor want's to see me every 3 months. He wants to make sure I'm ok, before he refills the scrip which is ok by me.

I really like him, he seems to care. Asks what I've been up to we laugh etc.................

I've been pretty stable a year no depression, Nada!!!! So I ask him I'm thinking of going off Lexapro. Now I've been on lexapro since December 2004 10mg for about 6months then he upped to 20mg, where I am today.

I tell him I have no depression and was thinking of going off Lexapro. I was surprised he said NO keep on it.

Hmmmm.........was a bit stunned said ok. Gave me a new scrip for 3 more months of 20mg lex and xanax 1mg (as needed)

When I went to pharmacy I said only give me the xanax. I had a few Lex left.

When I was out, I thought, wow.............I'll see if I can just not take it. It's been 3 days. Then I started freaking out I don't know if it was my imaganition or what. I felt nausated, dizzy and a headache.

I went into chat just to see if anyone had info on lex. Luna was a huge help, she had some great options I could think about. I felt a lot better

So.................I sucked it up went to go get the lex and took one before dinner and then I will make a appointment with my Doctor and be stern and ask why he thinks I shouldn't.

Am I scared? Hell Yeah!!!!! I don't want to be crying again, not being able to get out of bed. But, do I want to be on Pills for the rest of my life????!!!! I still get, Well, maybe you feel good because of the lex which maybe true. But I've been on it since December 2004. it took that long????

I will take Luna's advice and run them by my Doctor. Thank you all for your replies.

PS: I hope this all made sense

[Kodos]

well . . . the way my psychiatrist put it is . . . there is research that shows that people who go off the antidepressants are more likely to have another episode of depression. The conclusion being . . . just stay on the cocktail that works for you. I personally have no problem with this. Other people don't like to take pills for some reason.*

Anyhow, your plan sounds like a fine one. Good luck.

*"This pill is making me feel great. I should probably stop it!"

huh?

:-)

[ArtGirl815]

I have been on Lexapro 20 mg for two years now. 31 year old female. I was misdiagnosed with depression since i was 18 and have been on all the anti's under the sun. FINALLY someone correctly diagnosed me with ADHD. So i am trying to get off the lex. Its hard i tell you. When i took my pills this morning I went from 20mg to 15mg. I took this at 7:00 this morning. ITs now 4:30 and the brain zaps have started. They can come on so violently that you will vomit. (i have tried to quit lex cold turkey and know this) I hope they stay weak and just annoying and not get to the point where i am running to the bathroom. Also i feel feverish..without a fever. Another withdrawal symptom of lex. I am thinking i may have to titrate down slower and do 15 mg one day and 20 the next and back and forth. Anyone have any exprience with titrating down and what their best way was to minimize the withdrawals?

[Maceo]

When I went off Lexapro I just felt tired and a bit run-down like I had a cold for a couple of days. That said I was only on it for a few months, if that. Also my doctors lowered it from 20mg to 10 then to nothing after a few days.