Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms and Treatment
People expect withdrawal when they are taking drugs that they know are addictive, such as opiates or illegal drugs. They do not generally expect it when it comes to antidepressants such as Lexapro (escitalopram). Lexapro is actually one of the antidepressants that may cause severe withdrawal. This is why it is important to both recognize Lexapro withdrawal and know your treatment options.
What is Lexapro?
According to Medline, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, Lexapro treats a variety of anxiety and depressive disorders. It belongs to a family of medications known as SSRIs or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These medications increase the amount of serotonin to help keep your moods even.
In order to stop taking Lexapro, you need to be under a doctor’s care. To find Lexapro withdrawal care, call 888-602-1971(Who Answers?).
Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms
Depression may worsen during Lexapro withdrawal.
According to the Mayo Clinic, some of the withdrawal symptoms associated with Lexapro are:
- Burning
- Tingling
- Increased anxiety
- Confusion
- Memory issues
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating
- Weakness
- “Brain zaps” a sensation of shocks through the brain
- Increased depression
- Dizziness
- Insomnia
- Suicidal ideation
All of these side effects can range in severity.
Serotonin syndrome is also a possible complication of withdrawal. Serotonin syndrome is a condition that occurs when there is too much serotonin in the blood. This very serious condition is relatively rare but can kill if it is not caught immediately.
Fortunately, serotonin syndrome is rare and usually only happens when your body is not completely free of Lexapro and you start a medication that reacts with the remainder of the Lexapro in your system. Some medications that you cannot take while still on Lexapro are:
- Wellbutrin
- Lithium
- St. John’s wort
- Fentanyl
It is extremely important to tell your doctor about your Lexapro use when you switch to another medication.
Factors Affecting Lexapro Withdrawal
There are several factors that will affect your Lexapro withdrawal:
- How much Lexapro you take
- The frequency with which you take it
- The amount of time you have been on it
- Whether or not you go cold turkey
- Your body make up, including your brain
These factors can affect the length and severity of your withdrawal. For instance, the longer you take Lexapro, the more severe your withdrawal is likely to be. These factors also help determine how a doctor treats your withdrawal.
Treatment for Lexapro Withdrawal
The treatment depends on whether you plan on continuing Lexapro or stopping it completely. In some cases, the side effects are too extreme or do not go away at all. In these cases, a doctor will want to take you off Lexapro completely. In other cases, the doctor will adjust your dosage to keep complications to a minimum.
When you need to come off Lexapro completely, the doctor will practice tapering, slowly reducing your dosage over time until you are completely free of the medication.
During this time, the doctor will ask you to continue any counseling you are using or start counseling. After the Lexapro has completely cleared your system, the doctor might choose another medication to treat your illness.
Finding Treatment for Lexapro Withdrawal
If you have stopped your Lexapro or are considering stopping, it is important that you are under a doctor’s care. Call 888-602-1971(Who Answers?) and we will help you find the withdrawal treatment you need.
