SSRI withdrawal

Dear Reader,

When stopping certain medications that you've been taking for a while, it's common to feel some withdrawal symptoms. Lexapro (generic name: escitalopram) is a drug in the family of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and is often used to treat anxiety and depression. When folks on these types of medications feel it's time to stop taking them, it's recommended that you speak with the prescribing provider. They might help you gradually decrease your dosage so that withdrawal symptoms might be minimized and managed. They may also help ensure that by going off your medication you're not at risk for relapse. Symptoms of withdrawal typically end when about 90 percent of the medication is out of the body — which may take days to weeks of decreasing and stopping the dosage. While this might seem like a long time, it’s a critical period for your body as it readjusts to not having the medication.

Before discussing withdrawal symptoms and what you could do to make your transition easier, it may help to think about why you want to wean yourself off of your medication. Is it no longer working? Do you feel like you no longer need it? Are there negative side effects? Is it possible that the nervousness you describe could be related to the reason you began taking it in the first place? It may be useful to consider the answers to these questions before your appointment with your health care provider. They may ask you similar questions when talking with you about discontinuing your use. All that said, time to talk more about SSRIs!

SSRIs work by altering serotonin levels in the brain. More specifically, it works by increasing levels of serotonin and thereby decreasing the impact of depression and anxiety. When someone starts taking SSRIs, they typically take a few weeks to begin feeling the effects. Health care providers often prescribe gradually increasing doses until the intended dose is reached so that the body may adjust; this process could take up to six months. Likewise, when ending SSRI use, health care providers often use a process to gradually decrease dosage (for up to eight weeks) because of the possibility of withdrawal symptoms (also known as discontinuation symptoms). Withdrawal symptoms often mimic ones associated with the flu and could include:

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Excessive sweat, flush, or intolerance of hot weather
• Headache or “brain-zaps” — a feeling that resembles an electric shock to your head
• Nausea, vomiting, cramps, diarrhea, or loss of appetite
• Difficulty sleeping and unusual dreams or nightmares
• Tremors, restless legs, uneven gait, and other movement issues
• Mood swings or feeling agitated, anxious, manic, depressed, irritable, or confused — even paranoid or suicidal

List adapted from Mayo Clinic.

It’s worth noting that some discontinuation symptoms might resemble depression, which could make you feel like you’re relapsing. But fear not, as there are some clear differences between discontinuation and relapse. Relapse symptoms typically develop later and more gradually, compared to the shorter time frame (about one to two weeks) of discontinuation symptoms. Also, discontinuation symptoms decrease as the body adjusts, but depression symptoms continue and may get worse over time. People who are going through relapse also typically don’t experience physical complaints such as flu-like symptoms. Finally, those experiencing discontinuation symptoms usually find that taking a dose of their antidepressant medication resolves their symptoms quickly. For those experiencing relapse, medication may take weeks to have an impact.

If you make the decision to discontinue the use of your SSRIs, there are some additional factors that may help you during this time. If you haven't already, you may want to consider psychotherapy during this process, as this may help decrease the chances of experiencing a relapse. In addition to considering the guidance of your prescribing provider as you stop your medication, you may also reach out to trusted friends and family. Finally, there are also ways you could boost your serotonin levels through everyday activities including eating well, getting regular physical activity, and reducing stress.

Take care,