misstraci Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 So, I had a physical today for just a good all around check up with the PCP. It's a long story but he originally prescribed my lexapro but I didn't decide to take it until after the POTS diagnosis from someone else. The PCP says that since I haven't seen any kind of improvement (which I'm in such bad shape right now, I don't remember from a year ago if it helped anything or not) He said to stop taking it. He said just quit it, but I always thought I heard you should gradually ween off.Please share your experiences with stopping an SSRI. Did it help, hurt, cause symptoms, etc etc???ThanksTraci Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoj Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 i would definitely not stop cold turkey, and i would not listen to that guy! i have weaned very slowly in the past, and yes, it does cause symptoms like dizziness. how long have you been on it? if you google you will see lots of information about tapering off of antidepressants slowly.i recently tried to get off of mine and failed miserably. my dysautonomia got worse when i weaned off. but everyone is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misstraci Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thanks Anoj. Which one do you take?I've been on 10mg for a little over a year now. I just did google and now I'm more freaked out, I read all the possible side effects, arrrg. Part of me wants to not mess with it and just stay on. But maybe there is a chance I could feel better by not taking it, who know, like you said, everyone is different. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaos Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I have just weaned off Wellbutrin (which is not an SSRI technically). Have been off 2 1/2 weeks. Weaned off over the course of a month. I had been on it for 8 years. It was (and still is) a major struggle getting/staying off it. Lots of symptoms although they seem to be more intense versions of what i was already having rather than a lot of new ones but now I'm a lot more emotionally labile as well. Hasn't been fun. BUT- I always found Wellbutrin to be really helpful. If you didn't find the lexapro to be helpful, you may not have an issue stopping it.Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darlene Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 when i try to get off of it, i get this burning sensation inside my body and feel like i am going to pass out. not sure if its trying to come off of it or i have another disease process going on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anoj Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thanks Anoj. Which one do you take?I've been on 10mg for a little over a year now. I just did google and now I'm more freaked out, I read all the possible side effects, arrrg. Part of me wants to not mess with it and just stay on. But maybe there is a chance I could feel better by not taking it, who know, like you said, everyone is different.don't freak out. you can handle this. i am on zoloft. i take the lowest therapeutic dose, 50 mg. when i weaned, i alternated a full pill with a half pill every other day for about 3 weeks, then cut down to a half a pill a day for about 3 more weeks, etc. that is slower than a doctor will tell you to wean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HopeSprings Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 (edited) I can't believe Doctors are still doing this - telling patients to go cold turkey. I did it in the 90's -when I guess they didn't know any better- and I suffered terribly. I definitely recommend tapering off. Edited July 17, 2012 by corina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misstraci Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thank you thank you guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
corina Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Hi Misstraci!I've been trying to get rid of the SSRI's I'd been on for some years a few times and didn't succeed. When I tapered off to 10mg's my doctor thought I could just quit the 10mg's, but it turned out I couldn't. So I called him and we agreed on tapering further. In the end it didn't work out for me (hr shot up again) and I got back on them.What I'm trying to say is that I think tapering off might be better than just stopping but if I were you I'd call my doctor to discuss this. Wishing you good luck!Corina Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misstraci Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thanks Corina and everyone! I hope I don't have any issues with it. I'm going to try and taper down slowly and hope it works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mytwogirlsrox Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 I found my SSRI very helpful with my symptoms. In fact I recently weaned off celexa (lexapros cousin?) and found my symptoms returned. I started back on it, but now I know for sure that it was helping me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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