How Long Do Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms Last?
The antidepressant withdrawal timeline for Lexapro can widely differ from person to person. Some people will experience symptoms within a few hours of their last dose, while for others there may be a lag of up to a week before Lexapro withdrawal symptoms emerge. The severity and persistence of the symptoms will inform the timeline because of these and other factors. These can include how long you took Lexapro, the dose, general health, age, lifestyle, and other factors unique to each person.7
Lexapro has a longer half-life (27 to 32 hours) than some other antidepressant medications. A longer half-life means the drug exits the body slower. So some people may have less severe symptoms that don’t last as long compared to an SSRI with a shorter half-life. The psychological and physical symptoms may last one to two weeks for some, while others may experience lingering, and even worsening symptoms for months. Protracted withdrawal can last for years and requires its own special treatment methods. Discuss your options with your healthcare provider to get the medical advice you need for Lexapro withdrawal help.
What Is Lexapro (escitalopram) Used For?
The FDA approved the antidepressant, Lexapro, for the treatment of MDD (major depressive disorder) for persons 12 and older, and GAD (general anxiety disorder) for adults 18 and older. However, doctors prescribe Lexapro for many off-label uses such as eating disorders, premature ejaculation, pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, and hot flashes.2-4
Drug regulators classify Lexapro (generic escitalopram) as an SSRI. In fact, Lexapro is considered the “most serotonin-selective” of all drugs in its class.14 SSRI antidepressants are designed to target the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain. Lexapro blocks the reuptake — or reabsorption — of this neurotransmitter by receptors in the brain. Disabling the transport mechanism causes a build-up of serotonin outside the synapse. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (natural chemical) whose function is to soften the impacts of stimulation, impulsivity, rumination, and mood dysregulation. So the theory is that a build-up of serotonin will be therapeutic. And many find it is, but only temporarily. This is because of a compensating change that occurs in the CNS & brain as a reaction to chronic use of medication.1
SSRIs alter brain chemistry (neuroplasticity) over time. This change is why experts recommend that you not stop taking the drug “cold turkey” as you could encounter untenable symptoms of withdrawal. Always seek the advice of a medical professional before you stop taking escitalopram. In fact, never ever abruptly stop an antidepressant medication, and always ask your prescriber or chosen healthcare personnel for adequate Lexapro tapering help to minimize the symptoms of withdrawal.
What Happens When You Stop Taking Lexapro?
Lexapro falls into the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) category for antidepressant medications and is thought to block the flow-through of serotonin along nerve channels in the brain and the entire CNS. One way the CNS responds to this build-up of serotonin is to stop creating more serotonin and rely on the antidepressant medication to do its job. This is a simple description of the mechanics of drug dependence.13 As a result, when you stop taking the drug, your serotonin levels can drop quickly, which is a contributing factor to antidepressant withdrawal symptoms.7
As your body adjusts, you can experience mild to severe withdrawal symptoms, which can intensify if you stop taking Lexapro too quickly. To minimize these discontinuation symptoms, the FDA recommends that you be monitored by your healthcare provider when discontinuing treatment, noting that a gradual reduction over time provides the best approach, rather than abruptly stopping.2
Adverse Side Effects of Lexapro
Most antidepressant medications are known to cause unpleasant side effects. These drug reactions especially if severe may motivate you or a loved one to discontinue Lexapro. According to the drug label, these reactions to Lexapro can be severe.2,11-14
- Hyponatremia (low blood sodium): Too much water in the blood can cause your sodium levels to become diluted, causing your cells to start swelling. The resulting symptoms can include cramps, seizures, dizziness, lethargy, and confusion. Immediate medical attention should be sought if this occurs.
- Suicidality: As with other antidepressants, Lexapro is associated with increased suicidality, especially in children and young adults. This is why the drug comes with a black box warning specifying age restrictions of 12 and older. New research (2019) in the Journal of Psychotherapy & Psychosomatics reanalyzed previous FDA data and suggested suicidality in adults is also of great concern.15,17
- Bleeding: SSRIs such as Lexapro increase the risk of abnormal bleeding by blocking the reuptake of serotonin platelets.
- Sexual dysfunction: Lexapro can cause both male and female sexual dysfunction, including impotence, inability to climax, decreased libido, and can reduce fertility/sperm potency. One study showed that antidepressants may reduce the likelihood of a woman being able to conceive naturally.
- Hypomania: Studies reveal Lexapro causes heightened feelings of euphoria, excitability, delusional thoughts, erratic behavior, impulsivity, and poor judgment.
Rare Side Effect of Lexapro
- Serotonin Syndrome: Serotonergic drugs can activate too much serotonin in the system. This results in a life-threatening set of reactions, though is reportedly rare. These include sudden high fever, confusion, tremors, and other reactions that can occur very quickly after taking a serotonergic drug like Lexapro. Immediate emergency hospitalization can save the life of the patient experiencing serotonin syndrome.
Seek medical advice from your healthcare provider if you experience unusual symptoms while taking Lexapro. It is safest to seek medical guidance when deciding to stop taking the drug.
Withdrawal Treatment Options
Cessation Help
Coming off an SSRI drug such as Lexapro (escitalopram) involves gradually cutting the dose rather than abruptly stopping all at once. Adequate support can help ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce the risk of relapse.8 Seek the medical advice of your healthcare provider and seek inpatient care if that is possible for you. At the very least, choose a practitioner who is familiar with Lexapro withdrawal to help you. Don’t attempt to stop Lexapro all on your own. A healthcare professional familiar with the process can best help you cope with symptoms as you gradually withdraw from the drug. Many medical doctors lack familiarity or expertise so choose your doctor wisely.,9,10
Where To Seek Support
Perhaps you have already tried to reduce or get off Lexapro but ran into insurmountable barriers. You are not alone. Alternative to Meds Center is a specialist in safe and gentle Lexapro withdrawal and has helped thousands of clients with successfully getting off antidepressants. We are here to help you.
And, we do understand that not everyone is a candidate for inpatient treatment. Help is still available to you by reaching out to a directory you can find at IMMH.org for holistic-minded practitioners who may be able to assist you. You can search for caregivers by geographic location. The bottom line is you do not want to try Lexapro withdrawal all on your own. Seeking help from practitioners who are familiar with SSRI withdrawal can help you avoid being misdiagnosed as suffering a relapse of mental illness, or experiencing the despair that comes from imperfect methods of treatment, such as multiple prescription drugs, electric shock, psychedelic drug “treatments” or ending up hospitalized for long periods. ATMC is a strong supporter of holistic, gentle, effective treatments.
Lexapro Withdrawal and Tapering at Alternative to Meds Center
If you or a loved one is interested in our inpatient treatment program, we invite you to review a wealth of information on our services overview pages that will help you understand the various protocols used in designing a uniquely tailored program.
We have over 50 staff, all licensed and accredited in their medical or therapeutic disciplines, who are dedicated to your success and recovery.
The important pillars of treatment you can find out more about are orthomolecular-based nutrition, environmental medicine, neurotransmitter rehabilitation and neurotoxin removal, personal counseling, and trainer-led exercise. We blend into each program a wealth of comfort therapies such as acupuncture and spa services and many more that will make your journey stress-free and pleasant.
Please call us for more information on our wonderful programs and services, and get your questions answered including insurance coverage. It could be easier for you to enroll than you may have thought. We look forward to hearing from you.
