I’ve been off escitalopram for about a week and I’m having some withdrawal symptoms, can anyone help

Mental health
1

I was on 10mg for a while and then I was upped to 20mg of escitalopram, which I took for around 8 weeks. I tapered down to the 10mg for 5 days (which my doctor was fine with) and then I stopped. I felt okay for a day or two and then the brain zaps began. They weren’t so bad at first, it was just a little uncomfortable but then they were happening every 30 or so seconds, as well as feeling very fatigued, dizzy and disoriented. I was also very spaced out. This morning I woke up with tight chest pains, some throat discomfort and a headache. I still have the brain zaps and everything else I said. 

Can anybody help? I know these are relatively normal but if anyone has some advice or comfort, that would be great!

Thank you

2

Rebecca

You say you have now returned to a 10mg dose. your GP would consider the withdrawal as going well, Has your GP discussed a 5mg dose. The reason I ask is eight weeks is not very long to be on 10mg then 20mg. I would suggest you need to consider why you feel spaced out, your GP needs to know, however it may be  it is side affects of a reduction in your medication. or part of your Anxiety. It may be you have not been on your medication long enough

BOB

3

Stick with it! It'll be worth it.

4

I think you might have stopped too quick Rebecca.I would try 5mg for a while, then half that amount for another while..when you feel comfortable on the low dose..then I would advise taking one every other day,..slowly stopping will stop the brain saps...Why are you doing it so quick..?

5

I suffer from migraines with aura, where the symptoms are essentially the same as having a stroke (but luckily it’s not, I just have some really traumatic symptoms), and the migraines started again after starting the escitalopram. So my doctor and I wanted to stop the antidepressants as soon as possible to minimalise the risk of getting a migraine. It’s not a great situation all around! 

6

I hope so, thank you! 

7

You might have tapered off too quickly. Can you break the pill into 5 mg sections and go with that for a few weeks?

These feelings are all quite normal when you stop taking an SSRI drug, that's why they recommend you taper off as best you can. You might have to adjust your weening off schedule a little bit, that's all. 

Keep us posted, I have been on Paxil for over 25 years and-if I ever have to change medications-I'd like to know what I have to face to ween off of the Paxil. After that many years I'm sure it's going to be a challenging withdrawal!