Help!
Help!
Help!
Help!
I took Lexapro 10mg for 2 days and had to stop it because I was having suicidal thoughts, not eating or drinking, horrible dreams, very tense, everything I thought about gave me a panic attack. I was only taking it to prevent panic attacks. I have never been depressed. I stopped the Lexapro 9 days ago and I am feeling better everyday but I am still anxious, my head is really cloudy and I am having horrible dreams that give me anxiety. I also find myself clenching my jaw, which I have never done. I find myself happy one minute and a little down the next, that has never happened to me either. I didn't eat or sleep for 5 days. I wish I could just feel normal again. Even with the low dosage and length of time I did take the Lexapro I keep hearing it could still take 2-4 weeks. Has anyone ever had this happen to them? I was way better off with panic attacks every once in a while. Please help!!
How long does it take for Lexapro to be totally out of your system and feel normal again?
Question posted by samjoshaddi on 2 Dec 2015
Last updated on 28 October 2024
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
93 Answers Page 2
05-03-2020
Hello -
How I wish I’d read this BEFORE taking Lexapro!
44 hours since my last of only TWO dose... First was the prescribed 10mg. than After a horrible night with electric shock feeling and sudden awakening, cotton mouth and ringing in my ears - I called the Doc In the morning who said it would be OK to start with 5 mg for a week. So the second dose was 5mg. Only slightly less problems with the 5 mg ! Thank god I stopped after that!
I’m in a similar mental situation to most everyone here - distressed and possible worse off with the ‘cure’ than what my problem was.
I’m a 60 year old other wise healthy male - I had what my doctor called ‘situational-depression’ and sleeplessness from five weeks on lockdown because of the virus situation...
I am so thankful and empathetic to read like minded ones going through the same thing.
** Does anyone have any suggestions how to somehow reduce this. I’ve been flushing my system with water and healthy juices... Does anyone have any other suggestions for reducing effects???
@Whitedog1
My sentiments were the same..I wish I found this forum prior to using Lexapro as well. I unfortunately ended up in the ER *twice* after taking my 1 dose,my 2nd visit I had a IV flush to help relieve the symptoms. Once I was home I essentially sweated it out... I took hot showers & drank lots of water. I also drank alot of herbal tea *green/chamomile *... I'm on my 3rd week after taking it & I'm just starting to feel like myself pre-Lexapro. I still have a few minor side effects like a little anxiety,heartburn,& really over active dreams.
@avaheard - Thankyou! Any other suggestions or helpful info I’d gratefully appreciated !!!
@Whitedog1
You're welcome..
I wish I did have additional tips, as I mentioned before I still experience the side effects, so I check back on here regularly for tips from other users to help me get through. I increased my vitamin intake *B12,Elderberry,MultiVitamins* to help with energy & immune health..& try to just breathe through the small panick moments I have *another side effect*. I hope you don't have to suffer as long as I have.
I'm now in the 2nd week after taking the Lexapro 10mg *only once* & experiencing the horrible side effects. I've started feeling more like myself again,BUT I still have a few symptoms still. It seems like it really will take 3 weeks *or possibly more* before it's completely gone from my system?! I have to keep reminding myself that I'm still feeling side effects to keep from panicking & wanting to go back to the ER! I still have shakes/tremors occasionally, I clench my jaw regularly now,& some days I still feel lethargic *today actually *. It's insane how something that was supposed to help me made me way worse off.
Ava! How I feel for you!!! I took Lexapro only one time on 3/20. It really did take me three weeks to a month to feel like I was semi-close to a pre-lexapro state. But please, just know, it DOES get better. Every single day I felt better. The jaw clenching, tremors, they WILL go away. It is so hard to wait it out. I had the WORST time ever. I'd say the first two weeks were the absolute worst, and week three I could really start to see positive differences. I think you are going to start to feel better in a couple of days. Hold tight. I'm here if you need to talk.
@Nattie88... omg,thank you so much for responding! I feel so much better when I get input frpm someone that has experienced the same things! My PCP still can't believe I'm feeling the residual effects from taking it only once! Today my throat had a lump & I have the worse heartburn,still having symptoms makes me anxious all over again.
Ava! I was so stressed out when new symptoms would come every day. I know exactly what you are going through. I stopped consulting with doctors after the first week. Nobody was helping me. Just prescribing me new anxiety medication. After one of the instacare appointments, I called in because I was STILL so sick (first 72 hours). I spoke with a dr that was available. She recommended I KEEP taking the pill! Except half it for four days. She said that it can make you sick for sure, but that it did NOT give me a panic attack. I KNOW what I felt, I know it caused all of this, and I couldn't believe she recommended I continue to take that.
I had three video visits, an instacare visit, an ER visit, and an ambulance called. Not in that order. But that was in just the first three days. The following week I swear I had a new symptom EVERY day. I had the throat thing too! I can't explain what it was because it wasn't sore, or agitated, there was just something there! I felt like I was the only one that had that specific symptom. I non-stop googled things, I thought I was going to die SO many times.
I kept coming back and reading one of the comments on here to give me hope. It was a guy who said that it took him 2-4 weeks to feel normal again - that the first week landed him in the psych ward. I read his comment SO many times to remind myself that this would pass. That it wasn't always going to be like this. No matter what, just try to sleep, try to relax. Going back to work might help keep your mind occupied as well. Just know you are not alone, and you WILL get through this.
@Nattie88..
I returned back to work this week,I was off all last week & a few days the week before *when I took the pill * Yesterday I could barely focus because of the new side effects,luckily I work from home & was able to kind of "wing it" all day. But,the heartburn feeling is giving me minor chest pains,I keep contemplating going back to the ER because I'm scared it's heart attack symptoms! When I called my PCP office the day after the initial symptoms started the nurse suggested the same thing! *stay on it* then after my ER trips I was given Ativan to help,I took it three times to help me sleep & woke up with the jitters the day(s) after! I'm so tired of feeling weird,I feel like a crazy person when I tell my family that I STILL feel this way
I was prescribed Ativan (lorazepam) as well at my ER visit. I wouldn't recommend continued use of it, even "as needed". I only say that from my personal experiences during that time. If it does help you, and others, then of course I wouldnt advise against it. It is a narcotic, and has effects on it's own. A lot of people dont have issues with this but it can cause dependency.
For me Ativan didnt cause dependency but what I'm realizing it did add to, was the racing heart and palpitations. The ONLY reason I know that now, is because I actually took one on the 28th of this month after feeling anxious. I had last taken it two weeks prior. I woke up on the morning of the 29th or 30th after sleeping for an hour, and my heart was beating out of my chest. I thought for a moment, again, that I was gonna have to go to the ER. I've read that it's a common occurence of the pill leaving your body.
It's hard to not take anything during that time... but for MYSELF, I cant take anything anymore. To me it only makes things harder and take longer to normalize. I cant say for sure that the Ativan is causing your tremors still, but for me I think that's what it was. Especially since I had one a month after the lexapro was out of my system, but only a day after I took another Ativan.
You are almost there though. You are gonna be right as rain in a few days.
Nattie88
I haven't taken the Ativan since my last ER trip *2 weeks ago*. I definitely felt like it added to my tremors & I feel like you,I don't want to take anything else! l tried to smoke medical marijuana to help counteract some of the side effects & I think it may have triggered a reaction to the Lexapro. I was a cigarette smoker prior to my reaction as well & stopped for the past few weeks ,I relapsed once & it seemed like that triggered the Lexapro side effects too! It's like the Lexapro is a ninja just laying & waiting in the dark ready to strike... I so appreciate your support through this,I feel better every time I read a comment from you... it's like peace of mind knowing I'm not just imagining it all!
Totally! I swear everything would set it off. I quit coffee for two weeks! I just couldnt do anything. Even though it's not in your system anymore, your brain is still adjusting. I tried to post an article here, but I dont think it will let me.
"A single dose of one of the world’s most widely-prescribed drugs for the treatment of depression causes quantifiable changes in the entire brain in a matter of a few hours. Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig have discovered that the active ingredient escitalopram, which influences the availability of the neurotransmitter serotonin, causes major changes in connectivity between functional networks at rest – in other words, the synchronous brain activity in various areas of the resting brain. Escitalopram influences which networks of the brain are activated simultaneously i.e. fluctuate in synchrony, when the brain is in a resting state.
This rapid and brain-encompassing effect of escitalopram is unexpected, as the antidepressant effects of this class of drug usually require two to three weeks to unfold. The current study suggests that the effect of the serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the brain’s resting-state networks begins just a few hours after initial intake of the drug."
I wish I would have researched more about this before I just blindly listened to my dr. I guess in his defense, many people are fine with this drug. My ER dr even told me most people have no issues. But for us unlucky few... just blows my mind.
I'm trying to use this opportunity to continue to combat my anxiety naturally. It is very hard, but anything is better than what we went through. Keep not smoking! That's the best thing you can do for your body and mind right now! (Cigarettes I mean). No opinion on the medical marijuana. It helps tons of people but I can't handle it.
First of all I’m sorry you’re feeling this way. I have sever anxiety and yes I know it is not easy to control unless you find a medication that’s right for you. I was taking Lexapro for a month and it made me lash out on people so I just switch to Cymbalta. The side effects are rough from switching but just try to give it about a week to a week and a half and hopefully start feeling better. If not contact your doctor. Hope this helps!
@HaleyW13
Thank you so much for your input,I appreciate any & all suggestions/help through this horrible process.
I'm so glad I found this thread. I was prescribed Lexapro 10mg & took 1 dose which caused the worse side effects. I had almost every one that it could cause over the course of little over a week..vomiting, dry mouth, diarrhea, shakes,chills,dry cough,small lump feeling in my throat, flushing, soreness,strange dreams,more anxiety,heartburn..ect. I had to go to the ER twice due to them & my private doctor couldn't believe the Lexapro caused it. After doing my own research I found this thread & I'm glad to know that I'm not alone,I haven't taken anything else since the Lexapro *9 days ago*,but I still have a few side effects. This has been horrible & I literally can't understand how something prescribed to help does so much harm! I just can't wait to feel like myself again, I'm sorry that we all had to experience this! *hugs*
omg i had the same but no vomiting it feels like I'm dying hiw many days before u started feeling even a little normal... and did they give u anything to relive it..thank u help help
This is exactly how I am feeling and I only took this drug twice now I’m on day 2 of not taking it I wish I had never taken it. Praying I’ll feel a little better tomorrow day 3
How r u now..please
Hi Sam,
I'm really hoping you can shed some light on a situation of mine. I took ONE 10mg pill (friday 6:30am) prescribed for anxiety/depression. That was 78 hours ago. I stopped because it made me incredibly sick and caused me to have a massive panic attack which I've never experienced. I called an ambulance because I couldnt breathe. The next day I went to instacare because I was still so incredibly sick and just not normal. They prescribed me Zofran (nausea) and hydoroxine (anxiety) to help... then that night (Saturday). I woke up after falling asleep for an hour. My heart was pounding and again I thought I was gonna die. Went to the emergency room. Vitals were good everything showed good. They prescribed me Lorazepam and called it sort of antidote and said it wouldnt interfere with the other medications. He didnt know if it was an allergic reaction, or just a case of the bad side affects.
He just said it would probably be a couple more days of side effects (sunday) I'm on monday now. I am petrified to take any pill because of the horrible side effects this has given me. I've tried to eat, drink, to make sure I'm not making things worse. Sleeping is interesting and I dont feel like it's real sleep. The lorazepam have helped for a moment today. I was wanting to go back to the emergency room again today but I dont know how they can help. I just want it to be gone! Am I going to be okay? And how long until these terrible symptoms subside? Just feeling sick and off. Want to feel normal again. Is it weird that we are on day four and still feeling bad things?! I just need piece of mind that it will eventually go away.
It will go away... I ended up in a psych ward because I was ready to take my life after I took just one pill. I refused all medications in the psych ward because I was the same didn’t want to take anything else because I was scared of the side effects of what this one did to me. I would say it took a good 2 to 3 weeks off of that one pill for me to feel completely normal. Feelings of nausea and hopelessness the racing heart everything like that took about a week for me. I still deal with anxiety but after what I experienced on that pill now I feel like anxiety isn't that bad after dealing with the freak out I had on this stuff. Everyone’s body is different. This is just my experience with it. Just know you’re not alone
I literally had the exact same reaction to just 1 dose of 10mg Lexapro! I ended up in the ER twice from the side effects & now 7days later still having a few of them!!! When will it stop?? This is horrible
@Nattie88
I literally had the exact same reaction to 1 dose. I'm currently on day 8 & still feeling side effects. How long was it before you felt "normal" again? I wish I never took the Lexapro, I never felt depressed before taking it & it has made me feel so horrible.
In my experience it took all of two weeks if not three to feel normal again. It will go away. Just from that experience I am now terrified to take anything. I can so relate with you all
@ Kvoelkers..omg,I hope not 3weeks! I planned on returning back to work Monday,I want to be back to normal
Hi! I have only taken 10mg for three days and then 5mg for one day. I’ve just decided in going to stop because I’m not comfortable with feeling dependent on anything. Plus, I HATE the way the medication makes me feel. I just feel blah. And my stomach is cramped and my jaw is constantly clenched. I was prescribed for depression and anxiety but now I feel even worse!
Same here. I have had the 4 worst weeks of my life.. panic attacks, suicidal toughts, dread every moment.. i think i have developed ptsd as i have flashbacks. Last days have been a little bit better, i hope im making progress in the next days.
Romeno182 I’m hoping your feeling better ASAP. It’s such a horrible feeling to experience. When you say it’s been happening for 4 weeks do you mean it’s been 4 weeks since you stopped the tablets?
Hello. I experienced the exact same thing. I only took two pills. Never had any of the other symptoms was taking it to help with panic attacks. It made me much worse off of only two pills. I can tell you it took all of four weeks for me to feel completely normal again. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I don’t wish this upon my worst enemy. The longer you go without it the better you will feel. At least that’s what happened in my case.
If you don’t mind me asking what kind of symptoms did you have for those 4 weeks? I only had 3 tablets and I haven’t had one in 10 days but I’m just feeling horrible. I’m starting to get concerned it has had a permanent impact on me.
A lot of the same. Suicidal thoughts. Ups and downs, nausea feeling constantly but actually vomited for 5 days. Foggy in the head( if that makes sense. Literally felt worse than I’ve ever felt. Clinching jaw or grinding teeth. Absolutely no sleep for a good 10 days. When I was dozing off nightmares would wake me up. As I said I don’t wish it upon my worst enemy. I really thought I was crazy. How could only a couple pills make me that Bad for that long?
I only took one 10mg dose on 3/19 - My experience and comment is still in this tread. it took me 3-4 weeks to feel normal again. I felt better in the middle of April. Then all of a sudden I had similar symptoms again at the beginning of June. No as extreme but similar... without taking the pill or anything. I felt the cloudiness, and other symptoms that I only ever experienced after I took that pill.
Did you ever have it come back like that - after almost 1.5 months of semi normalcy? I'm getting scared that something is really wrong with me that my doctors aren't catching. :(
Maybe it was PTSD from the hell I went through in March? Ugh I wish it would just go away. I felt like maybe I had gotten sick, and my brain just reverted back to the last time I was sick... and made me feel the same way? I'm seeing drs and trying to get answers... but I'm scared they are missing something.
Just wondering if your still on this page if you could tell me how long it took for the effects to be fully gone. Or if anyone who has had similar effects can tell me how long they were effected for. Thanks
I am so glad to find this thread. I have been prescribed 10mg a day, 2 days ago I took 2.5mg because I know 10 is too high for me. it’s been 50hrs already I can’t sleep, eat, muscles are weak, my head is foggy, having horrible thoughts, diarrhea. I just want this medicine out of my system, I’d rather live with my severe anxiety. I don’t know what to do
I am happy to see I am not the only one. I was prescribed lexapro earlier this week and it has been the worst week of my life. Nausea, dizziness, insomnia, 2 panic attacks, total loss of appetite...
I do not think I can continue this medication. This is the worst Inhave ever felt and will seek an alternative.
My dad and brother both did well on Lexapro. I know some people have commented that it has done wonders for them. Everyone is different and has a different reaction to different medications.
I can't wait to rid the negative side effects from this medication.
I know what you are going through. I took Lexapro for a month and my anxiety shot up and I was grinding my teeth and had lump in my throat all the time plus constant dry cough. I stopped 5 day ago. I found great book on Amazon "Hope and help for your nerves" by Dr. Claire Weekes . There are tons of information on youtube regarding Dr. Weekes plus you can hear her audio on youtube. This one simple book has completely changed my thoughts on anxiety and how to heal myself. I feel I am on my way to recovery from Anxiety disorder. I don't fear Anxiety anymore and it has no hold on me. I have accepted my anxiety and when it happens I just relax and let it do it's thing. I don't fight it.
Hope it helps you like it has helped me.
I'm in the same boat. I took Lex for anxiety for 8 days. First few days were alright. 3rd day the night terrors started along with insomnia and horrible nausea. Stuck with it though. The seventh day (which happened to be Christmas) I just sat all day and stared at the wall totally emotionally numb. Then the weird intrusive thoughts started. Next day took another. (Stupid me) I could not get off the couch was so depressed. Never like that in my life. Horrible. Crying all day. I had to pop a klonopin. Next day stopped taking. Still so depressed, crying, scared of the nightmares and thoughts. Called my psych and she said stay off it a day or 2 and I'll write you a script for zoloft. I was like are you kidding me I. Am not taking anything like this again. After 5 minutes she was like - well, I have another patient I have to go. Happy new year see you at the next appointment (mid Jan.) and hung up.
Needless to say I'm pretty sure I'm not going back to her.
Anyway, I couldn't work for the next 4 days. Majorly depressed, crying, worrying if I was going to get suicidal. I thought I was going to have to check myself in at the hospital. Even called a crisis # just to talk to someone.
Ive been off it now for 8 days. Actually feeling a little better each day. Still depressed feeling and still haven't slept to good yet. Still fuzzy in the head. I thought the drug ruined my mind. But reading through some posts realized I'm withdrawing even after being on it for only 8 days. Hoping it will totally be back to normal in the next week or so. Anxiety came back a little too but I'd rather have that than feel like I did this past week. Got in touch with a therapist too so I start that soon. No more of these drugs for me. To everyone who is having trouble, hang in there!
I'm sorry your going through this. I was on them for almost 3 years. I weaned off them . Have been off them 3 weeks. I didn't get no side effects. Go to the doctor and ask for something else. I would try a herbal supplement like valerian. I'm holistic now.
You are lucky you didnt experience any side effects. I would go to the doctor but am still affraid of trying any new pills..
Sam, if you are still watching this thread I'd like to know your experience with Zoloft after such a long time. And if anyone else tried another medication after Lexapro I'd like to know your experiences. Were you affraid of taking new meds because of the bad experience with lexapro?
Hello everyone. Like you I also had an awful experience with Lexapro. Started with 2.5mg one week and then 5mg the second week. After second week I took 10mg, which was a big mistake. I woke up at 4am to a terrible panic attack that lasted whole 3 hours. This was my first panic attack. I've been taking lexapro for anxiety. The panic attack scared me so much im still having lots of anxiety even now after 5 days of not taking lexapro. I'm also having trouble sleeping at night because of the intrusive thoughts and being scared of another panic attack. Yesterday I took a valerian root pill which almost gave me a panic attack again, because im so scared of taking any pill now that I scare myself even if I take an aspirin. I just really hope that these anxious feelings will soon pass as I can't take it for much longer.i hope all of you are doing well now.
Related topics
lexapro, depression, anxiety, generalized anxiety disorder, system
Further information
- Lexapro uses and safety info
- Lexapro prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lexapro (detailed)
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