Stopping Lexapro - HELP

[aguerra29]

I have been on Lexapro for about a year and a half. It has done wonders for me. I am a completely different person. This phobia is still nagging me, but not as much as it used to. I can actually tolerate it. It had gotten to the point where it was ruining my life. I know the Lexapro is what "saved" me. Now, almost 30 pounds heavier (I wasn't too skinney to begin with) I am absolutely ready to get off this medicine. I am so dreadfully sick of being fat. I was on 20mg a day of Lexapro. I have weened myself to 5mg every other day. I am so very close to stopping completely. I have read a little about withdrawl symptoms and was wondering if any of you have gone through withdrawls after stopping a SSRI. ANy information would be great. oh , and if stopping the meds made the horrible weight gain go away tell me that too.

[emms]

I was on celexa (the more "potent" form of Lexapro) for several years. It was a great drug and when I decided to come off it, all of the weight I gained with it came off too (I like to think I was a "contented cow . I, however, did not ween (sp) myself. I am very happy to hear you are feeling better! Please let us know what happens! Good luck!

[kel12347]

I was on Paxil for several years, which is one of the worst drugs for withdrawal effects. I was on forty mg/day, and I weaned off over a year. I still had some withdrawal effects, mostly occasional dizziness and brain zaps, but it would have been much worse if I just quit cold turkey.

[2jo2]

I was on effexor a few years ago, and gained weight like you did, 30 pounds, and came off of it, with the withdrawls that were mainly the dizziness and a weird brain not catching up with what your eyes see when you turn your head thing... it was like things were in slow motion whenI looked at them. The weight stayed on for the most part... it's really tough to lose. But maybe you have much better metabolism than I do. I'm on Zoloft now, and I don't have the weight gain problem as much, Wellbutrin is even said to help people lose weight. So there are other options for you if you find you need to be on some sort of medication. For me, I went without anything for about 6 months and then went back on because I just couldn't deal. Good luck to you on this. It's frustrating I know.

[chibi]

just make sure you keep tapering off of it.

I stopped lexapro suddenly without knowing any better.. I was awful
dizzy for a week, so I called the doctor. They said QUICK take another
pill! Next morning I was V*, thats right. [img]smileys/smilies_12.gif[/img]
The medication that was supposed to help me made me sick in the end,
and I lost my job that day and went into a very traumatic time.

Be careful stopping any anti anxiety med... they do horrible things to you if you dont follow the instructions.