SSRI dependance & withdrawl? (lexapro)

[Wolffangblackfoot]

hello everyone, although SSRI antidepressants are not a drug one can really abuse, I have been prescribed lexapro (30mg) for about 3 years now. Due to insurance changes I was off the drug for a few months, but decided to find a place that accepts my new insurance to get reperscribed.

I will without a doubt say I am dependent on this medication, I am also taking 70mg vyvance but this I am able to go weeks without and I don't normally take it everyday unless I have a heavy work schedule with 8-12 hour shifts for multiple days in a row. I take it in the morning, and when I forget I can almost always tell by days end. The past 3 or so days I didn't take it because I needed to refill my perscription, and my mood and outlook went down the shitter. I was able to make the time and refill it today, which is good, but I'm worried about my dependence on this drug. I have done other drugs, mostly weed, but I was NEVER dependent on any of them. I actually haven't smoked weed for a good 3 weeks any don't have the desire too unless it's around and I'm with friends. The only thing that comes close to my dependence on lexapro is my cigarette addiction, but even then I can easily last a day if needed without terrible side effects.

I'm thinking about talking to my pdoc about this, although I find no reason to taper off the medication because it does help me, but I'm just worried that I'll be on it forever seeing that the withdrawl effects are terrible.

If anyone has some insight on this that would be lovely, even though I should always have access to this medication it's scary to think about what I would become if suddenly I was unable to take it.

 

[luvaluvagirl]

Hardest drug I ever came off of was Effexor. True story. When I got down to the smallest dose they offer and tried to stop taking it after a week at that dose I was STILL getting ridiculously sick. Nausea, chills, headache, dizzy, etc. I had to open up the capsules and count out the beads decreasing by 1/6 each week. It was horrible and seemed so silly over something as benign as an antidepressant. I guess the only good thing is that I wanted to get off of them because I felt better and like I didnt need them anymore... Theres no real cravings or mental addiction or anything. Just remember to get your refill before you run out and if you feel like you dont need it anymore I doubt you will forget to taper. :D

 

[MatthewD]

I had a horrible time coming off Escitalopram, which is an SSRI that I was prescribed for Anxiety, after specifically stating I wasn't depressed. I was on an escalated dose of 20mg per day for a few months, and taking 10mg+ for around 4 months prior to that, making my total use just over 6 months. By the second week of quitting 'cold turkey' I was getting 'brain zaps', which feel like a very awkward and unexpected electric shock to the back of the head; somewhat of the caliber of the zapping mechanism in lighters, if anyone's ever used them for fun. I also got constantly light-headed, and suffered from a large amount of fatigue. I'm stoked to be off them now, I realized that feeling normal feels a LOT better...

I'd recommend tapering, as I would do if I could rewind time.