Help! Stories and advice needed for stopping lexapro or other SSRI

[Anonymous]

For those who experienced the weight gain with Lexapro, did u switch to something else, and have you seen a change? I have also gained 10 lbs on lexapro. It works wonders for me though, so I am hesitant to switch to something else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not Lexapro, but I am tapering off Effexor. I was on 225mg for 4 years and now am at 75mg. Tapered from 225 to 75 in 3 months I guess. One baby step at a time. Please don't quit cold turkey.

Effexor can be a really difficult drug to stop. Glad you are doing a slow taper. Just know that if you start experiencing mood symptoms - these may be part of withdrawal and not evidence of the underlying mood disorder resurfacing. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

I just wanted to post and say that in a way, I am glad I am not the only one. I was on Lexapro (20 mg) and have gained at least 25 pounds since starting it. I think it is a combination of things - hungrier, less sedentary, etc. But it is so upsetting because Lexapro has really helped me. I have weaned down to 10 mg and gained weight since weaning. I am so disappointed.

And like 9:43 said, I had MAJOR mood swings and was so angry/annoyed at people just from lowering my dose from 20 to 10 and am just now feeling better of at least 6 weeks just at 10 mg. I don't know if I can handle not being on anything (depressed, anxious, etc) or if I actually wean myself off completely and adjust, if I would feel better.

I am jealous of folks that have no mental health issues and have never had to take anything. It really makes you feel between a rock and a hard place...

[Anonymous]

I take 10 mg of lexapro in combination with 150 mg of wellbutrin. The Wellbutrin helps offset the weight gain from lexapro, I've found.

[Anonymous]

Yes, you definitely need to taper off any antidepressant instead of stopping cold turkey. I've never taken Lexapro, but I tapered slowly off Celexa over several weeks with no problems. I have a friend who stopped taking Lexapro cold turkey and had some serious withdrawal symptoms for a few weeks.

[Anonymous]

I am a woman who has gone off of two anti-depressants in the past. Paxil and Zoloft. Both were HELL to go off of. I gained a lot of weight and wanted my cute figure back. With the Paxil, I had hallucinations every day and with the Zoloft I had extreme nausea and even had to take motion sickness meds to deal with it. I had a lot of sick days at work and cried so much from the discomfort. But once I had the drugs out of my system, I got my figure back which helped my self-esteem. It took a few months though.

However, the depression, OCD and anxiety were too much to deal with and eventually I had to go back on my meds.

I would highly recommend getting off of them as gradually as possible and to do so ONLY under a Dr's supervision.

As for cold turkey, I would rather walk over broken glass without my shoes on!!!!

[Anonymous]

OP here. Day four of reducing my dosage, and so far, no noticeable side effects (slight headache).

Not sure about the weight yet, but I am hoping.

Follow up question---has anyone on wellbutrin had bad insomnia as a side effect?

Thanks for all the stories--looks like many of us are in the same boat.

[Anonymous]

let us know how the weight issue goes. i too am tapering off, mainly because i've gained weight...but also want to see if i'm ok without the pills. wondering if weight will fall off or if i'll really need to work on it.

only side effect from tapering i've noticed is a bit of insomnia. i feel much more awake in the evening than i usually do...

[Anonymous]

OP, update and asking for more help. So I tapered and am now five days totally off. The first 2 were okay, but the last three have been awful.

Dizzy, nauseous, horrific headaches and near uncontrollable crying and irritability. Insomnia. I have never felt this awful or emotional in my life.

Any experience on how long this part lasts? I feel like I have the flu and severe PMS at the same time.

I feel so awful for my husband and son. I have to know there is an endpoint to all this, for their sake.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like you tapered way too fast. Are you talking with your MD?

[Anonymous]

So the waves have seemed to pass. Been pretty even since last Sunday, no more crying jags. Sleeping well, feeling like myself.

Thanks for everyone's guidance.

SO now...weight loss. It has only been about two weeks without the stuff in my body. Any other stories about how long it took for the weight to come off?

[Anonymous]

any update on weight loss after coming off lexapro?
i too tapered off. have been off about a month. lost a few lbs but weight not falling off...

[Anonymous]

I was always fairly thin before Lexapro and gained 10 lbs very quickly when I was on it. I got off but it took work to get the weight off. It didn't just melt away. Exact thing happened to my brother. He gained nearly 20 lbs and it took him a year to lose it. He exercises a ton so it was definitely the meds. Now on Prestiq -- no weight gain.

[Anonymous]

Just wanted to update about my weaning off Effexor...I tapered off gradually from 225mg to zero, took me about 6 months (yes, a very long time because I tapered approx. 10% of granules per week. Each 75mg capsule has some 150-200 granules). Am officially Effexor free from Jan 1st 2013 and no drastic side effects. I can feel my original self now, I don't feel depressed anymore like pre-effexor days. The first part of weaning from 225mg to 150mg was tough, but it got better...
Just a suggestion for people getting to started with Effexor, please explore all alternatives before taking this drug. It seems good at first, makes you a completely different person with subdued emotions/feelings and everything. I am very glad I am Effexor-free.

[Anonymous]

There is a lot of info on the web about weaning off antidepressants. Difficult! The head shock jolts are unnerving. Yes, Lexapro causes weight gain.