OT: SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome

For the last four weeks, I have been weaning off of Lexapro (under my PCPs supervision.) I am hoping that discontinuing it will ultimately affect my tinnitus and a few other side effects.

Anyway, the detox is the pits. I am experiencing a rare SSRI side effect, which feels like electric shocks in my brain. Also, dizziness, headaches and fatigue.

When I was on Lexapro, I felt so wonderful. It is still hard for me to believe that I feel this crappy, like a cattle prod is in my brain!

Anyone else detox from Lexapro? I know that the drug has a short half life, but I am wondering how long this will last.

Kristen

Hey, I have alot of experiance in this department.  I have gotten on and off alot of anxiety meds.  The worst was Wellbutrin, that is the one that gave me the worst shocks in my brain.  Weaning off is the pits. It does sucks.  And after trying and trying again and again, I cannot be off of them.  I am currently on Zoloft and will probably have to just stay on it the rest of my life.  Good luck to you.  I hope your symptoms go away soon. 

Yikes, I am concurrently going "on" Wellbutrin. The symptoms appear to be worse at night, when I get further away from my last dose of Wellbutrin (I take it at night because it makes me sleepy). I think that the Wellbutrin takes over and makes the detox symptoms tolerable.

How long did the symptoms last for you?

Wow - it seems like a long time for the symptoms to continue.  I had similar symptoms/reactions (dizziness, nausea, fatigue) when I discontinued Paxil, but by two weeks post discontinuation, was totally asymptomatic.  This was over ten years ago, but it stands out as one of those really awful experiences in my life.  I did not wean (even though I was supposed to).  For me anyway, Paxil was a very BAD medication, and I stopped taking it "cold turkey" so maybe that makes a difference.  I don't know.  I'm sorry you're going through this.  Maybe give your doc a call and explain what's happening.   ~ Terri

Hi Terri,

Two weeks...hopefully I can stand two weeks. I was losing it tonight until I took the Wellbutrin earlier than normal. Also increasing my dietary choline since I have a depletion of acetylcholine in my noggin.

My hubby takes Seroquel and Loprazalom.  He never stopped his meds.  I was wondering why you have to?????