Depression and anxiety are treated with escitalopram, brand name Lexapro. It’s an antidepressant drug belonging to the type called SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. These drugs are effective because they raise levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. This article is a comprehensive guide to learning everything you need to know about Lexapro withdrawal.
According to a 2018 study in China, Lexapro is adequate for most people who take it for depression. The study measured the difference in the patients’ ability to function in society and their quality of life. Most patients showed an increased quality of life during the eight-week study.
For those who have lived with depression, anxiety, or other associated mental illnesses, finding the right medicine can be a time-consuming and uncomfortable process.
And because SSRIs like Lexapro help keep the serotonin levels in a patient’s brain higher for extended periods, it is crucial to decrease or discontinue the use of the drug slowly, carefully, and under the observation of a medical professional.
Key Takeaways:
Abruptly stopping Lexapro can cause various unpleasant symptoms, collectively termed discontinuation syndrome.
Changes to your Lexapro prescription should be discussed with and carefully monitored by your doctor or care team.
Withdrawal vs. Addiction
When someone abruptly stops taking an SSRI like Lexapro, it can cause something called discontinuation syndrome, which is not the same thing as being addicted to the SSRI.
What is addiction?
According to the National Institutes of Health, addiction is a chronic, relapsing brain disease marked by recurrent drug seeking and use despite adverse effects.
Because of the structural and functional alterations to reward, stress, and self-control pathways in the brain, it is classified as a mental illness.
Such alterations may last for quite some time, even after the individual has ceased using medicines.
Cancer and heart disease have many similarities with addiction. Both may cause significant problems by interfering with an organ’s regular function, and both are often avoidable and curable.
But, untreated, they may last a person’s entire life and can be fatal.
What is antidepressant discontinuation syndrome?
According to an article from the Harvard University Health Blog, abruptly ceasing treatment of an SSRI or serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) may cause withdrawal symptoms known as discontinuation syndrome.
Some of the discontinuation symptoms include:
- Nausea
- Vertigo
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Tingling or zapping sensations in the skin or brain
About 20% of people who abruptly stop using antidepressants will suffer some of the symptoms of antidepressant withdrawal. Those taking a particular medicine for over six weeks are more likely to have discontinuation issues. Longer-term use of a prescription increases the risk of this happening.
Some antidepressants leave the body rapidly once a person stops taking the drug, whereas others take much longer. In both cases, the discontinuation effects are possible, mainly if the medicine is discontinued suddenly.
There is often a delay of two to four days after quitting the medication before symptoms appear. Most people have a complete recovery within four to six weeks. However, sometimes they might linger for up to a year. The withdrawal timeline can vary from person to person.
Related: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding Lexapro Weight Gain
Is Lexapro Addictive?
While Lexapro itself is not addictive, it’s not uncommon for doctors to prescribe Lexapro for addiction treatment. In addition, many studies have shown that escitalopram may help lower alcohol cravings in persons with severe depressive disorder. Because of this, it will be used as a primary therapy for depression and secondary treatment options for addiction.
There is substantial evidence between the serotonin transporter gene to alcoholism. In addition, it is common for alcoholics to suffer from severe depressive illness caused by serotonin abnormalities. Treating this overlapping imbalance with Lexapro may reduce symptoms of both diseases, even if none can be cured.
Not all individuals who take escitalopram report a decrease in alcohol cravings and depressive symptoms. When in recovery, Lexapro may sometimes cause an increase in drug and alcohol cravings.
Much isn’t known about serotonin, addiction, and the effectiveness of SSRIs like escitalopram in treating these conditions. Patients who did not previously suffer from substance use disorder have been documented to develop an alcohol addiction while using Lexapro. The patient’s alcohol cravings returned to normal shortly after the medication was discontinued.
Lexapro Withdrawal Symptoms
Patients often use Lexapro for many years, either until they feel they no longer need the drug or until they experience intolerable side effects and decide to try something else.
Withdrawal may be dangerous and should only be attempted under medical supervision. If you suddenly stop using Lexapro, you may have significant withdrawal symptoms. Instead, the dose should be gradually reduced over time and monitored by medical personnel to avoid or lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
In the improbable event of a complication, clinical supervision is invaluable since it allows for the early detection and resolution of any issues that may arise. If you have any concerns about discontinuing Lexapro, you should discuss them with your doctor.
Discontinuing the use of Lexapro is associated with an increase in preexisting symptoms and the development of new ones. At this time, you can notice an increase in the frequency or severity of specific symptoms, such as:
- Agitation
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Nausea
As the name implies, “zaps” refer to the feeling of electrical jolts running through a person’s body.
After a few weeks of being off escitalopram, the second phase of withdrawal sets in. Yet, many of the disorders discovered now do not resolve independently. Uncomfortable symptoms accompany the withdrawal process, and many individuals would prefer to continue taking the drug permanently than go through it.
During the second stage, you may notice some of the following symptoms:
- Problems with anxiety
- Illnesses of a manic-depressive nature
- Depression
- Depression Difficulty Focusing
- inability to remember
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Tides of emotion
- Inability to cope with stress
What Happens When You Stop Taking Lexapro?
Lexapro (escitalopram) may cause withdrawal if it’s abruptly stopped being used. The medical community still uses the term “antidepressant discontinuation syndrome” to describe these signs and symptoms. However, many argue that this term underplays the severity of the issue.
If you and your doctor have agreed that you need to stop taking a medicine, you may find that doing so is challenging. Dizziness, muscular tension, chills, weeping, and cognitive fog are all common withdrawal symptoms.
What Are the Emotional Symptoms of Lexapro Withdrawal?
When a medicine affects your mood, changing or stopping it may be a complicated or upsetting experience. Lexapro is an antidepressant. Thus, it shouldn’t be surprising that its discontinuation causes feelings like:
Anxiety
The deficiency of serotonin in the brain causes this.
Difficulty focusing on details
The other withdrawal symptoms and the resulting neurotransmitter imbalance have a role.
Depersonalization
It’s hard to pinpoint what causes this strange feeling, but it’s clear that the person experiencing it is not feeling like themselves. Instead, they may be experiencing feelings of apathy or emotionlessness.
Depression
As Lexapro is often prescribed for depression, its discontinuation may lead to a relapse or worsening of the condition if the patient cannot access other therapies that may give comparable psychological support.
Moodiness or irritability
Some users of Lexapro and those who suddenly stop using the medication report experiencing episodes of irrational rage, along with other mood disorders.
Suicidal ideas
During withdrawal, you may find suicidal ideas more prevalent. Get medical help right away if this happens to you.
It might be challenging enough to cope with these impacts on its own. Yet, Lexapro withdrawal may have a variety of physical manifestations in addition to the aforementioned psychological ones.
What Are the Physical Symptoms of Lexapro Withdrawal?
You or a loved one may encounter a broad range of visible symptoms, some of which may be life-threatening, during Lexapro withdrawal. Among the potential outcomes are the following:
Hunger and satiety shifts (generally, this will be opposite the appetite you experienced while on Lexapro).
“Brain zaps” is the experience of having tiny electrical currents rushing through one’s head.
- Lightheadedness
- Exhaustion
- Brain fog
- Headaches
- Insomnia
- Fever
- Discomfort in the stomach or nausea.
- Sweating
- Modifications in Body Mass (often, weight loss)
- Chapped lips
- Urinating often
- Altered sensory perception of flavors and aromas
The severity of withdrawal symptoms may be affected by several things. For example, how long you’ve been using Lexapro, how much you take, and other variables linked to your body chemistry and physiology all have a role.
The longer you use the substance, the more difficult it will be to stop. Like the effects, the withdrawal will be more difficult the more significant the dose. The duration of withdrawal symptoms varies from one person to another. After around three months, many individuals see an improvement in symptoms, which may feel like an eternity if you deal with these issues alone. Having a medical specialist on your side throughout the gradual Lexapro withdrawal process is invaluable.
Timeline for Lexapro Withdrawal
How you go about gradually decreasing your Lexapro dosage is going to be different based on how long you’ve been on the drug and how much you’ve been taking. A lengthier, more progressive taper is recommended for those who have been using Lexapro for more than six weeks or at a higher dosage than for those who have been taking medicine for less time or at a lower dose. Six to eight weeks is a typical time frame for this procedure.
Is Lexapro Safe For Long-Term Use?
Escitalopram has no long-term side effects. It’s safe and effective when used as prescribed.
Tips for Coping with Lexapro Withdrawal
Never discontinue Lexapro without consulting a doctor and planning beforehand.
Doctors usually suggest gently lowering the dose and perhaps switching to another SSRI to ease weaning.
Lexapro withdrawal tips:
eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, taking all other drugs as prescribed, tapering, noting mood changes on a calendar or notepad, and informing a doctor about withdrawal symptoms, relying on friends, family, and community.
How to Prevent Lexapro Withdrawal
Tapering Lexapro gently prevents withdrawal. A doctor will assist someone in planning this.
Lexapro may be discontinued for numerous reasons. They may discover:
The drug is inefficient, has harmful effects, or the body has ceased reacting.
Doctors may prescribe faster-acting drugs.
They may use the alternate drug to taper SSRI withdrawal.
Even if they steadily lessen the dose, problems may persist.
Read Also: How to Use Wellbutrin for Anxiety and Depression
What Causes Lexapro Withdrawal?
A neurotransmitter, like serotonin, transmits signals between neurons in the brain. Mood disorders, including sadness and anxiety, may be alleviated by adjusting this mechanism.
Mood disorder treatments under the SSRI umbrella have a standard mode of action but a wide range of half-lives. This describes how long an active drug molecule stays in the bloodstream before being expelled from the body.
A medicine with a short half-life will need to be dosed more often to maintain the target level of the drug in the blood (and, therefore, the desired effect). On the other hand, a lengthy half-life means the state will be relatively stable and unchanging for a prolonged period.
Half-lives of SSRIs are typically relatively brief, meaning the drop-off after stopping the medication is quick and can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Is Lexapro Addictive?
As taking Lexapro does not provide euphoria or any other “high” and does not cause obsessive or drug-seeking behavior, it cannot be considered an addictive medicine.
On the other hand, like other antidepressants, abruptly stopping Lexapro usage might result in withdrawal symptoms. In these situations, you must discontinue the medicine as directed by your healthcare professional and consult them if you have any problems.
It’s not often made clear to patients on Lexapro that they’ll likely suffer withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly quit.
An uncomfortable bodily response that occurs when one stops using an addictive substance is called withdrawal.
Where to find help
A person experiencing Lexapro withdrawal symptoms may get help by consulting a reliable healthcare provider, who may provide referrals to medications, support groups, or rehabilitation facilities.
Someone going through withdrawal may find online support groups and forums helpful.
Speaking to loved ones about withdrawal difficulties might be helpful. They can take on additional responsibilities to ease a person’s burden and may monitor them for any worrying signs or changes to their mental health.
