Cipralex withdrawal symptoms

Tapering has it's positives but the negatives are the withdrawal symptoms you will experience could go for months.

When i was trying to get to off benzo's by tapering i felt physically ill all day for 2 month, i just went cold turkey and took it for a couple weeks then it was over. Every time you lower your dose you will go through hell and feel like you are really sick. It is dangerous to go cold turkey though off certain drugs but at least the withdrawal symptoms are not there permanently. Two weeks of hell is better than a few months.
 
As with any SSRI you should never simply stop. Even if you need to take 3/4 tablet then 1/2 then 1/4 then 1/4 every send day and spread it out over 3 months it can be done without side effects but it must be done gradually.

I was on mega-doses of a RLS (restless leg syndrome) drug. These things can also mess one up big time. The label says even fatal if suddenly stopped. I tapered it off over 5 months and no side effects at all. Slow and steady is key.
 
I decided I couldn't live with another 3 months of hell so I gritted my teeth and stuck it out. Within 2 weeks I was a new person. I was on pretty low dose though and had only been on it 9 months or so.
 
Phew! Thought I was the only person in the world having these symptoms... Been on 10mg Cipralex/Lexamil for almost 6 years and have been reducing the dose since December - presently on 2,5mg every two days. The dizziness is the pits! Eventually thought I should check whether these withdrawal symptoms are "normal" - hah hah!. Some forums even liken it (escitalopram) to LSD.

Have been reading up on chemical imbalance - helped by input from a couple of buddies who are inveterate researchers in the natural health field, and am about to embark on a regime to reduce copper and increase zinc intake. Will comment again if this helps me. The various fora have really been great. Especially when people have fed back about what has worked for them.
Sterkte all! Good health!
 
stabilo said:
Hi

I've been tapering off my intake of the anti-depro, Cipralex, to the point where I've been totally off it for 4 days now. Been on 12.5 mg for 4 years. The side-effects / withdrawal symptoms are awkward and I'm wondering how long these feelings of brain 'storms', nausea, hypo - hyper mania, dizziness will last. If you've been through this, pls let me know. It feels as if I'm losing it OR have already lost it. Whatever IT is. It literally feels as if a circuit spike happens where my brain was before.:confused:
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Here's the big question. Why are you going off your medication? Seems to me if you were doing it as per doctors orders he/she would be answering these questions for you.
 
Nick333 said:
Here's the big question. Why are you going off your medication? Seems to me if you were doing it as per doctors orders he/she would be answering these questions for you.
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Unless the doctor has been through it - they just would NOT have a clue...
 
stabilo said:
Hi

I've been tapering off my intake of the anti-depro, Cipralex, to the point where I've been totally off it for 4 days now. Been on 12.5 mg for 4 years. The side-effects / withdrawal symptoms are awkward and I'm wondering how long these feelings of brain 'storms', nausea, hypo - hyper mania, dizziness will last. If you've been through this, pls let me know. It feels as if I'm losing it OR have already lost it. Whatever IT is. It literally feels as if a circuit spike happens where my brain was before.:confused:
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You have to wean it out of your system over weeks and what your suffering from is the cold turkey sudden stop.

Those SSRI's have been artificially boosting your brains seritonin levels and i have done some research on this, it can permanently alter your brains neurochemistry.

I recommend you go back to your doctor and in the meantime start taking omega 3 vitamins daily as means of naturally boosting the seritonin levels, thus making you feel happier while you come off the meds.

I know you don't want to go into your problems here, but if the meds were working why did you stop taking them?

4 years is a long time and perhaps you are better off on them.

If you were to relapse,with your problems the medication would have to be increased to sustain the same effect.

If it ain't broke don't fix it, but i suppose nobody wants to stay on meds forever.

You will get out of this, it will take weeks though.

Regards.
 
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stabilo said:
Hi

I've been tapering off my intake of the anti-depro, Cipralex, to the point where I've been totally off it for 4 days now. Been on 12.5 mg for 4 years. The side-effects / withdrawal symptoms are awkward and I'm wondering how long these feelings of brain 'storms', nausea, hypo - hyper mania, dizziness will last. If you've been through this, pls let me know. It feels as if I'm losing it OR have already lost it. Whatever IT is. It literally feels as if a circuit spike happens where my brain was before.:confused:
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I've been on Cirpralex, 25mg. And stopped (didn't taper off, cold turkey). While I was on the meds though, I made a point of working through my depression and have actionable goals I wanted to accomplish. Sure, I didn't accomplish them all, but I'm now at a stage where I'm comfortable that my life is moving in a direction that I want it to move.

I had no side-effects. Personally I think this might just be a psychological thing, however everyone is different so I'm not saying this is what is happening, but I've seen a lot of people freak out and develop "symptoms" after being on medication they think they need (mostly as a safety net)

Make sure you drink enough water, eat regularly, exercise etc
 
Thread necro fail.
Also, my pretzels taste like catfood, better stop storing them in the same cupboard.

Anyone on prescribed medication for pyschological issues should cosult their doctor before coming off the meds.
Searching the internet is a good way to get a lot of bad information (including this).

Please consider that if both you and a doctor thought you needed medication, you most likely needed medication. You shouldn't cold turkey this.
 
demon angel said:
...and in the meantime start taking omega 3 vitamins daily as means of naturally boosting the seritonin levels, thus making you feel happier while you come off the meds.
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Good advice - this does work!
AcidRaZor said:
Make sure you drink enough water, eat regularly, exercise etc
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More good advice...
Scooby_Doo said:
What is a brain storm?
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No idea - haven't had any of these LOL!

Regarding the possibility that withdrawal symptoms might be psychological - Nah I don't think so. Personally am too keen to get off of the meds to have any longing for them - the withdrawal issues are fairly well documented in scientific (peer-reviewed) journals.

SSRIs are very good drugs for those who really do need them - on condition that therapy and a strong will to deal with the issues personally are part of the program. But enough is enough - have worked hard on the issues and feeling very thrilled to be most of the way off of the Cipralex. Haven't had any for over two days now and the dizziness I had this morning has disappeared - yippeee!!!
 
Right! Last post for me on this topic!

Reporting that for the past month and possibly a bit longer - absolutely NO symptoms of cipralex withdrawal any more.

Depression is a thing of the past too! Yippeee!

So for anyone (like myself) wanting to know whether these crazy symptoms of dizziness, etc. do disappear - they do - just persevere.
 
Indigogirl said:
You wanted me to start a brand new thread on a topic which has a number of posts already? Personally I prefer using older threads which remain pertinent or relevant than starting a new thread just for the hell of it. Heh heh heh - hope some other folks get some help from it too.
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Absolutely, this makes perfect sense...
 
Indigogirl said:
Right! Last post for me on this topic!

Reporting that for the past month and possibly a bit longer - absolutely NO symptoms of cipralex withdrawal any more.

Depression is a thing of the past too! Yippeee!

So for anyone (like myself) wanting to know whether these crazy symptoms of dizziness, etc. do disappear - they do - just persevere.
Click to expand...

well done
 
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