What Is the Timeline for Lexapro Withdrawal?
Sometimes, even effective and safe medications that help people manage or treat severe diseases or chronic mental health conditions can have significant side effects, including uncomfortable and even distressing feelings and sensations during withdrawal after quitting the medication. One common example of this is antidepressants, with many pills that help people feel better while suffering from depression, also causing a period of withdrawal if they suddenly quit. If you’re wondering why can’t I stop using drugs when considering antidepressants, for many people, it’s due to the fear of going through common Lexapro withdrawal symptoms and not knowing how to quit successfully.
Table of contents
» What is Lexapro
» What Causes Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms?
» What Are the Most Common Physical Symptoms of Lexapro Withdrawal?
» When Should You Seek Medical Help During Lexapro Withdrawal?
» Key Takeaways on Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms
» Resources
What Is Lexapro?
Lexapro is a brand name for escitalopram, one of the medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRIs. Drugs like this can help people with depression or anxiety and work by boosting the level of the neurotransmitter serotonin in their brains. Most frequently, patients will be prescribed Lexapro as an oral tablet in varying amounts:
- 5 milligrams
- 10 milligrams
- 20 milligrams
Sometimes, patients will instead be prescribed escitalopram as a 5-milligram oral solution instead of a tablet. No matter if it’s a tablet or oral solution, any dose of this medication can cause many common side effects, such as:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Difficulty sleeping
- Sweating
- Sexual problems, such as a lower sex drive and difficulty maintaining an erection or having an orgasm.
More serious side effects are also possible, such as seizures, severe allergic reactions, low sodium levels, mania (in people with bipolar disorder), increased risk of glaucoma, and changes to heart rhythm. Children, teens, and young adults can also be at increased risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors in the first months of taking escitalopram or shortly after changing the dose.
In addition, SSRIs can cause a condition known as serotonin syndrome – basically, there’s too much serotonin in the body – which can be life-threatening and can lead to symptoms like:
- Feeling confused or restless
- Sweating or fever
- Twitching and tremors
- Racing heartbeat
- Nausea or vomiting
- Delusions or hallucinations
- Seizures
If you or someone you love is showing possible symptoms of serotonin syndrome, it’s critical to get medical help immediately.
What Causes Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms?
Antidepressants like SSRIs are often taken by patients for long periods of time – months or even years—to treat and manage depression symptoms and help them avoid the risks of serious depression problems like suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Many people tolerate the medicine well, and the minor side effects they experience are outweighed by the positive changes the medication brings to their lives.
However, some people will eventually feel like they no longer need these pills or want to come off them to no longer experience unwanted side effects like fatigue, insomnia, headaches, and sexual problems. While that’s an understandable decision, suddenly going off an antidepressant can quickly lead to a condition known as antidepressant discontinuation syndrome, and that can lead to its own set of problems.
But why does this happen? Antidepressants, including SSRIs like escitalopram, slowly build up in the system after being taken for weeks or a couple of months. Over time, they cause the patient to have a higher level of neurotransmitters—in this case, serotonin. Their brains eventually adapt to these increased levels of serotonin and learn to operate normally with this in mind.
However, if the medication is quickly discontinued, levels of serotonin and other neurotransmitters can change rapidly, and that can lead to uncomfortable Lexapro withdrawal symptoms.
Typically, antidepressant discontinuation symptoms will start a few days or a couple of weeks after the medication is quit, or the dosage is lowered drastically. Discontinuation symptoms can include things like:
- Increased sweating
- Trouble sleeping
- Vivid or unusual nightmares or dreams
- Dizziness and lightheadedness
- Mood swings
- Feelings of agitation, anxiety, or irritability
- Confusion
- Return of depression symptoms
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Appetite loss
- Unexpected pain or numbness
- “Brain zaps,” or feelings of an electrical shock inside the head
- Paranoid or suicidal feelings
It’s important to discuss the risks and benefits of continuing or discontinuing antidepressants. If it’s decided that you should quit the medication, slowly lowering the dosage over time and tapering off the medication can help to prevent or minimize possible discontinuation symptoms. Medical professionals and experts at a medical drug detox program can also help patients come up with the best possible plan to quit antidepressants safely and more comfortably.
While these symptoms can sound scary, it’s possible to get off antidepressants with the help of medical experts. One study from Harvard Medical School tracked about 400 patients for a year after they quit antidepressants, and it was clear that those who quit rapidly were much more likely to have a relapse of depression as compared to those who slowly tapered off the drugs by gradually reducing the dose over several weeks or months.
What Are the Most Common Physical Symptoms of Lexapro Withdrawal?
While many of the Lexapro withdrawal symptoms are more internal feelings, such as anxiety, depression, “brain zaps,” fatigue, difficulty sleeping, and vivid dreams, they can also include some common physical symptoms as the person’s body and brain struggle to adapt to changes in the levels of neurotransmitters.
Physical symptoms can include things like:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Cramps or stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Sweating
- Tremors
- Poor control of movements (such as struggling to coordinate speech or chewing)
- Appetite loss
- Struggling with balance
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When Should You Seek Medical Help During Lexapro Withdrawal?
If you or someone you love is experiencing Lexapro withdrawal symptoms, it’s helpful to keep in mind that many of these antidepressant discontinuation symptoms will dissipate over a matter of weeks and typically aren’t considered to be life-threatening.
However, if the withdrawal process is causing extreme symptoms or severe impacts on daily life and well-being, it’s time to talk to a medical professional to see what can be done to help. One big thing to watch for is a return of or worsening of mental health symptoms like depression or anxiety, which can lead to an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Don’t ignore the warning signs—get help.
Key Takeaways on Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms
- Lexapro is a brand name for the antidepressant escitalopram.
- This medication is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, which helps people with anxiety or depression by boosting the level of serotonin in the brain.
- While SSRIs aren’t considered to be addictive, they can be habit-forming, and quitting these drugs suddenly can lead to Lexapro withdrawal symptoms.
- Antidepressant discontinuation symptoms can start just days or weeks after quitting an antidepressant like an SSRI.
- Symptoms can include physical things like nausea, vomiting, and coordination struggles, as well as anxiety, sleep problems, a relapse of depression, and “brain zaps” or other odd sensations.
If you’re trying to figure out how to help a family member with addiction or get help yourself, WhiteSands Treatment Center is here. Our network of drug and alcohol rehab facilities across Florida is staffed by knowledgeable, compassionate experts who know how to help. Call us at 877-855-3470 today to get started on your path to recovery.
Resources
- WebMD – Escitalopram (Lexapro) – Uses, Side Effects, and More
- Mayo Clinic – Antidepressant Withdrawal: Is There Such a Thing?
- Harvard Health Publishing – Going Off Antidepressants
If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.
About the Author
Jackie has been involved in the substance abuse and addiction treatment sector for over five years and this is something that she is truly eager about. She has a passion for writing and continuously works to create informative pieces that not only educate and inform the public about the disease of addiction but also provide solutions for those who struggle with drug and alcohol abuse.
