I Quit Lexapro | Why I stopped taking Antidepressants + My Anxiety Medication Story
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2023
- After one year, I quit taking Antidepressants or SSRIs. I was on 20mg of Lexapro (Escitalopram) and now I'm sharing how and why I was ready to quit.
Watch My Mental Health Story here - • Anxiety Medication Cha...
Watch My Lexapro Q&A Here - • Answering your QUESTIO...
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Welcome to my channel. I'm Mars, a black, 28-year-old, queer, first-time homeowner. My pronouns are she/her and I'm Aries.
I make content for people like me. Young adults just trying to figure out how to live their best life. We know everything you see on social media isn't the full picture. Just because I may seem like I have it all together, couldn't be further from the truth! I want to show the realistic side of homeownership, houseplants, and honest living (on a budget).
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I Quit Lexapro | Why I stopped taking Antidepressants + My Anxiety Medication Story
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This video is not sponsored.
DISCLOSURE
All opinions are my own and I am not a professional. Please complete all projects at your own risk, as I am not responsible for any damages that may occur in connection with the information in this video. Please consult a professional.
Thank you for this video. I so wish you well. You seem like such a lovely person and thank you for sharing your story and helping others❤
I am happy for you. Thank you for sharing your journey.
I certainly needed to hear your story, I’m weaning off, trying to do mon, wed, fri.. then eventually stop. I so appreciate you for this. This helps me figure out my next steps. Your experience is appreciated. Thank you
Thank you so much for this video! It was really helpful. I'm presently on Fluoxetine an SSRI for social anxiety disorder. Watching your video made me very comfortable taking the drug. I really believe i will be fine at the end of it all. Thanks alot!
You are inspiring, thanks for sharing your experience, very informative.
"I almost didn't want people to perceive me" I feel this.
Thank you for sharing your experience, it took so much for me to watch this video bc I didn't want to hear the negatives about lexapro. But weight gain is a no for me. I have been thin my entire life and enjoy being able to feel good when I go shopping. I gained weight during the pandemic like most of us and I was couldn't even bare seeing a photo of myself, so I know gaining weight under any circumstance will destroy my mental health. I will definitely start the meds but I will monitor what I eat waaaaaay more and go to hot yoga everyday instead of a few times a week. Knowing about the weight gain will give me even more motivation to monitor my weight.
I was also very thin and took lexapro for a while, and I’m still quite thin and have a relatively fast metabolism, though I do walk a lot and exercise some. I also tend to stick to a normal 3 meals a day plus 1 snack if needed. It definitely depends on the person.
Thank you for sharing. It's appauling the doctor wanted to add more medication for symptom management. That type of indescriminate prescription writing is what keeps me from seeing doctors. I wouldn't feel safe trusting someone who wants to push symptom suppression, even if they "accepted my choice not to".
Thanks for being so open and honest!
I’ve been on lexapro 15mg for 7 years!!! Started weaning off 1 mg at a time for the last couple of weeks. So far so good but I can feel different. I’m doing it VERY slow. But yes, the weight gain is REAL. I’m trying to lose the weight now and it’s working but damn. I also agree that when I started it, I needed it. It saved my life. But these videos are so good. People should feel free to openly talk about all these issues and normal things most people don’t talk about.
Do you have any follow up on your progress? Starting to wean off this week.
@@chadmiller6487 I finally feel better! I went through some awful withdrawals. Insomnia, anger spouts, uncontrollable crying, fatigue… I almost went back on them at one point. Then I said, this has to be the worst of it. Tomorrow HAS to be better. I dont recommend doing it alone! Make sure someone is with you. Or at least talk to a close friend or somebody who can check on you.. it was dark and I now know it can be extremely dangerous. I’m completely off now and haven’t been on for a few weeks. I’m still re learning how to try and calm down when something gets me agitated, but I do feel better. I’m so happy it’s over with. Good luck to you! I know you can do this but be very aware that it’s not easy. (I originally commented above with my other channel.)
Do they make 15mg pills?
@@snowps1 you can take any amount really with the liquid. But you have to take 1 10mg and 1 5 mg for 15 mgs
@@chadmiller6487how is it going for you?? I am 100% better. The first few weeks were absolutely terrible. Nightmares, sweats, panic, anxiety.. anger. For some strange reason. It was bad. But after a couple weeks, I started to sleep better. I started to wake up and smile at the sunlight outside or the birds chirping. You will get through this. But I won’t say it was easy for me at least.
You are such an inspiration ❤🎉
Great video! You sound so smart and intelligent when you speak but it was very valuable hearing you share your experience coming off of lexapro👍
Thank you!
Thank you for this video! Roughly a year ago, for the first time in my life, I slipped into a depressive state. I tried as hard as I can to fight through it without meds but couldn’t as I became suicidal and ended up having a mental breakdown. I ended up on Escitorpam 10 mg and they saved my life! The first month on them was rough but six months in now, I want to taper off them as I ended up gaining 80 lbs with them. I also feel like all my emotions quieted down, so much so that even the happy emotions simply feel, normal. I can’t explain it.
I understand EXACTLY what you mean !!
I'm glad you figured it out, I am taking lexapro now it's helping a lot in my own experience, 6:47 i'm glad =)
Really helpful video! Thanks
Thank you for sharing your story 🖤
Thanks for watching!
Thanks for your story. I went down from 20mg to 10mg and Doctor wants me to wait to go down further for 4 to 6 weeks. I plan on going to 0 again. I think im goijg to go for a higher dose of 5htp this time. I was off Lexapro a couple of years ago and used 5htp 100mg as an alternative and made it 9 months then struggled when my daughter got cancer. This time im going to add counseling too and hopefully can be off Lexapro long term. I hear you, the weight gain is real. Im whole food plant based but still struggle more to maintain a healthy weight when on Lexapro
You are so clear and articulate. You would make a great college professor. Thank you.
I have been rx'd Lexapro but after you mention weight gain, too risky for me. Did you find that dieting helped you stay on the med and not gain weight?
Very inspiring video. Just perhaps a short note, antidepressants are meant to be taken daily. Taking one occasionally won't work as it has no acute or fast acting effects. To work, it needs days or even weeks to build up in your system. Taking it once in a while only when needing it will leave you with no measurable benefit and probably only side effects. If you need something ocassionaly on an off day, rather try something like a calming drug prescribed by your doctor.
Hi I have no idea how this video came to me. However when I saw that it was about lexapro I got very interested. I am somebody who suffered greatly like you did and like what you were explaining in the beginning of your video. I never got involved in self-harm but I have complex PTSD And it was horrible I was extremely traumatized continually as a child and I had a lot of suicidal ideations I did not want to die I just didn't know how I was gonna handle not being able to function. I tried I would say 20 different antidepresents and at ucla they told me literally you are a lost cause the last thing we can do is give you Electro convulsive therapy ECT that was simply not going to happen so I have just a lot of disregulated emotions, a lot of meltdown from the complex PTSD just a lot of problems and no anti depressants were working. So 1 day I was in a different state I was in Tennessee and I went to see a psychiatrist and the doctor asked me have you ever been on lexapro and I said no I've been on everything else but I have not been on Lexapro and he said let's give it a try and I said definitely And I'm gonna tell you this medication changed my life. it was a miracle the most miraculous part was I wasn't thinking about dying all the time and that was a big amount of freedom for me and and I just have been on lexapro now for I started in 2007 I'm still on it And I am not willing to go off of it because I am so severely depressed if I'm not on a medication well Lexapro, none of the medications worked for me that I don't want nmto chance it or even have to see what happens. I think it is a weight gainer for sure, it is a weight gainer at least For me.
16:12 I was very interested in the way you told your story because before lexapro you were really in a lot of pain I mean you were self-harming you had all kinds of other issues. To me it sounded like you were really struggling and suffering so you've only been on lexapro a year and you're willing to get off of it and I don't understand when you get off of it and then I'm having a hard time I just take it for a day. Hlpow can it work in 1 day And then are you okay after that I'm just so curious how that works for you It really just doesn't make sense to me that you could go a month without taking it and then you took it like a couple of days and then you're still fine or better and didn't last without going back on the lexapro? A very interesting way of using Lexapro. Thanks for sharing your unique way of using meds. Stay well.
Yes! Advocate for yourselves people! I think Black women, especially, deserve that encouragement! We DO know our bodies! I have had a lot of the rare side effects to a few anti anxiety/depression meds. My dr always takes my lead and is very mindful in their approach so i felt empowered to say absolutely NOT to some of them. I was nervous to start Pristiq cuz a lot of ppl had bad side effects, but my intuition said it was worth and eveyones body is different. Of course its the one that works for me! I still have ADHD symptoms, but the lack of motivation has really lessened and my emotions dont take all my energy anymore. Im also no longer debilitated by decision making or intrusive thoughts.
i want to say i belive we all. " Call man are created equal. And all humans deserve/ the same amont of Encouragement." Like the Bible says.
People should always do what they feel is best for them👍
I was on lexapro for 4 months and I gained so much weight and I was also sleeping all day. I eventually switched to Prozac which makes me feel productive and confident. Everyone is different, but SSRI’s are notorious for weight gain and as someone who dealt with binge eating disorder this would make me more anxious. I personally took an appetite suppressant and I’ve lost a lot of weight and I didn’t feel that I needed to restrict certain foods.
@@ashleys6218 no killed my appetite. Apparently at the 60 mg level it’s sometimes used for bulimia.
which appetite suppressant did you take?
@@shubhcheema6519 phentermine
Did u still take lexapro while using an appetite depressant?
Thank you for sharing. I think youre very level headed when your doc tried to push another kind of meds on you and you rejected it. I find it almost evil everytime i hear medical professionals just throws more meds in patients face
My doctor just prescribed Lexapro im so anxious about taking it. Im going to pick it up at the pharmacy today. Whew ill let you know how that goes!
I totally get that starting a new medication can be nerve-wracking, but you're taking a brave step toward feeling better. Hang in there. Can't wait to hear how it goes - you've got this!
Any updates?
I had horrible withdrawals getting off Lexapro. I wanted to get off it because I thought it caused weight gain, but I didn't lose any after I stopped. I am also struggling again and I am thinking about going back on.
i take sertraline for the past 4 plus years it helps me i take hydroxizine too i have tried different once and it works for me
I’m here to give y’all my review. I am quite the hypochondriac lol. I work retail and was having panic attacks very often. What panics me is if I can’t get out of a situation and be by myself Examples (passenger in a car., a groomsman, working retail when I’m the only one at the store and have customers. Getting a haircut etc ). I started taking Lexaoro(the generic version) starts with an E I’ve been taking it for two months. Didn’t feel nothing first week. Second week I noticed it took a lot longer to ejaculate (which isn’t such a bad thing) lol. It did not make me soft. I’m good on that dept lol. It hurt my stomach a little bit if I didn’t take it with food. Now I can take it with food or not. I was the person who googled all the side effects and was so scared to take this. After 2 months of taking this. I can be at work and all of a sudden my brain will be like what if u had a panic attack. Usually I’d start to freak out. NOW my brain immediately dismisses it. Right away! It’s hard to describe. I have not had 1 single attack since taking this medication. I was told to take 5mg. One pill a day for a week then go to ten mg which is 2 pillls. I did not do that. I stick with just 1 pill a day. And I’m doing great! I am the type of person that has panic attacks all the time. And I’m doing great. Also just in case you are wondering if you can drink alcohol while taking this, you def can. It has not affected me at all. It actually makes my hangovers way less bc my heart doesn’t race all day. I hope this helps some of you! This has given me a confidence I haven’t had in a long time.
Thank you so much for sharing
It’s been a few months since you left this comment but how do you feel? Still the same or any changes? I’m thinking about getting on it
I've been struggling with my mental health since i was 15 years old. at that time i was treated by a psychiatrist who didn't care about me and his way of "treatment" altered my brain chemistry in a bad way, and i didn't realize it until July this year. I'm from Ukraine and never left country since the beginning of war, so my depression and anxiety worsened a 100x times. Last month i decided that i really need to take care of my mental health and went to a psychiatrist again, this time as a 22 y.o. She prescribed me Escitalopram 10mg and Trazodone. i have big hopes it will help me be myself again after all these years. Thank you very much for your videos, it made me feel so safe, understood and not alone. Now i feel much more confident on my journey with antidepressants and healing, and thank you so much for sharing yours. 💙
I was just prescribed the same thing let me know if it works for you .
I started around the same age too. Now I'm almost 30 and am off it for a month now. The side effects are quite horrible (headache, brain zaps, acne problems but depression and anxiety are worse) but I'm trying to hold out for another month or 2 and then decide if I should get back on. I hope someday you find the chance to get off of it as well
I just been subscribed this med.I immediately went to CZcams for research and you popped up..
I’m so scared because I just started my weight loss journey and I’m afraid I’m going to gain tons of weight and defeat my purpose..Any advice would be helpful..Thanks ❤❤❤
Good for you. I think most doctors would just prescribe you anything for any reason and not care or give further instruction
Yea, I don’t like the idea of being on medication JUST because my doctor says so. I have to make the best decision for me.
Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I've been on lexapro and I've put on 50 lbs in the last few years & i hate it...but im grateful not to have severe anxiety or 24 hour panic attacks now. I was so fearful of taking anything, but i couldn't live like that or it would have pushed me off the edge & that wasnt a good option. I need help with my weight because im feeling so uncomfortable with this kind of weight..it makes it harder to be 50 lbs heavier. Ugh
If you are looking to lose weight, I would take it slow. Focus on one thing at a time. Your diet, your exercise, your mental health. Alot of work out/weight loss content out there is really toxic. And you can end up pushing yourself too hard.
@Housewarmin thank you. I'm not one for working out except for walking. I'm trying to focus on healing my relationship with food..its been hard.
I was on lexapro 10 mg for 2 weeks but my anxiety came back and had cruise coming up so I went to 20 mg for 3 weeks. I was feeling great at first but then I started feeling hypersensitive to things I was never sensitive to in the past. so many highs and lows. it was so scary. I’m not sure if it was too high of a dosage or what but I went back to the 10 mg and feel a little better. I kinda wanna get off and just fix my diet, take vitamins, and continue with therapy.
Update?
How many drops you take of Lexapro to chill cause I take 8 drops mixed with 3 /4 of rivotril and I honestly feel like Lexapro is strong and is the one that increase more anxiety a little. And especially if I drink alcohol i don't feel like is a medication that work faster to calm down because honestly it took at least 2 weeks 3 to do something so.. I don't understand how taking it one day will do something and calm you down can you explain me this please. How many drops you were taking ? Maybe since my psychiatric knows I'm hypochondriac and paranoid he gave me low doses started eith little small doses and I have insomnia issue too
I'm switching from Zoloft off 17 years i feel it's just not working anymore to lexapro. With cross tapering. It's been 5 days and I feel like I'm making myself crazy thinking of side effects. Was being really tired a normal thing and maybe a little numb in the beginning
Yes, Lexapro causes drowsiness so I took it at night.
Lexapro. Takes a long time to kick in properly.
I took lexapro yesterday but i dont want to take medications now what to do?? Can i stop taking medications?
I been off SSRI for 5 months the damn hot flashes the sweaty. 🥵 and my periods were bad heavy… I did smoke less .. but I just started again because I’m not feeling better I think my body just needed a detox I did stop because it felt like it wasn’t working
Thank you .
I’m having the same problem, it’s like I can’t stop gaining weight and I don’t know what’s going on. I’m on Prozac and lamictal and despite working out with a trainer for 4 months I’ve actually gained weight. Im considering stopping these meds altogether
I am in the same boat. I’ve been on lexapro for 6 months. I’ve gained nearly 80 lbs on it. While it did save my life, literally, I want to begin tapering off it.
I gained too. Lost about 25lbs due to extreme anxiety but put it all back on once Lexapro kicked in and worked. I have since gained the 25lbs plus more, I won’t even look at the scale at this point. Coming off Lexapro now since I believe the anxiety (from a traumatic event) has greatly subsided but the withdrawals are really awful. Extreme dizziness and fatigue but a dizziness that comes from just glancing to the side or looking up. Hope it all goes away soon.
@@cam4840 Oh no! I’m sorry your feeling withdrawl. What is your tapering method. I am doing three week increments of 10mg-> 7.5mg-> 5mg-> 2.5mg.
Antidepressants cause weight gain even tho doctors dont like to admit it. I never had a weight problem. was 120lb. but after lexapro, etc at my highest I was 142 lbs. quit cold turkey years ago and I remain at 120lbs or less. The truth.
you lost the weight after quitting? I experience exactly the same and it's so horrible! I am tapering since April 2023!@@triciadaily4512
Did you have to take it everyday and it worked like all day? Even at night to sleep?
Yes you take it everyday. Once you’re on the medication for a while, it builds up in your system. So, it doesn’t have the ability to wear off. So it works all day and all night.
I have been on Lexapro (generic) for almost two months. My anxiety and depression has improved. It has been very difficult with the extreme tiredness and feeling hungry. Has anyone had the same issues? My thought is to go to 5mg instead of 10 mg to see if this helps. But not sure how long I should wait before I decrease. I have spoken to my doctor. he said I could try but know that my anxiety and depression could return in some form.
Try taking it at night to help with the tiredness 🤍
NOTE 📝: The more and more times you stop and start medications (or switch medications) makes you vulnerable to akathisia. If you survived the exposures don’t stop and start them.
Can you please provide sources on where you’ve heard this? I’m not finding a link between this and taking SSRIs.
@@HousewarminLook up zoloft akathasia
@@HousewarminAkathasia Alliance
❤❤❤❤❤❤
Were you working out consistently while you were on Lexapro?
You definitely should have consulted your doc before you decided to ween off the medication.
Did your doc say you could stop for a month and take one tablet again, randomly?
Yes, I was working out about 3 times a week. And it was my choice to ween off Lexapro, as I saw I didn't need to take it regularly. My doctor told me that I could take it as needed. Of course, I monitored my symptoms and was careful not to harm myself in any way. But 2 months later, I feel fine.
@Housewarmin thank you so much for your videos they give me hope 🙏🏽
I’m curious about you taking it as needed. I’ve been of for a month now but I’ve been having pretty bad withdraws, not really anxiety but irritability, trouble sleeping, and muscle twitching.
My doctor told me it’s not an as needed medicine but that you have to take it every day to see a difference.
I am so scared to start the 5mg of lexapro. Can someone please talk to me please
What is your biggest concern?
After quitting Lexapro, were you able to lose the weight?
Yes, but not all the weight I've gained. I am currently going to the gym and on birth control. I have lost about 10lbs. But weight loss isn't my main concern, just feel good.
How did it cause you to gain weight? Does it just increase appetite?
Partly because it slows down your metabolism
I am scare to take medication 💊 I have lexapro 5 milligrams I am so scare!
You got this! I promise I was scared too.
I am Terrified. Any Updates?
@@tonyanthonyironman4352hey Tony,
I was off cipralex specifically for like 5 years but going back on today.
Honestly I was scared the first time but there comes a point where you need the pills.
I know myself now to know that I will not catch a break mentally without taking this step.
I stopped because of the side effects but at the moment I just need to have a calm mind.
You know yourself best. All I will say is get past the first few weeks. The first few dont reflect the best of the drug.
Journal a lot so it can help you reflect next time.
I have to go grab my prescription now. I am looking forward to having calm again.
Ur so damn pretty ❤ thx
Do you feel as though being on it helped you “heal”
I feel that therapy helped me start that process
To be fair the only reason I want to stop taking lexapro is because it ruins my orgsms
I started suffering from nausea from Lexapro after being on it for 15 years. Debilitating nausea. I'm working on coming off and just using lamotrigine and things are going better. I have not had nausea in the month since I stopped taking it.
But yes the inability to orgasm is so frustrating.
Any issues with getting hard, or just issues ejaculating?
You have this way about you, right? What at the beginning when I started watching and you start speaking. I'm gonna watch You from now on. Do you have a common way about you
Stop taking it. 6 weeks ago.i cant sleep
Have you lost the weight you gained on lexapro?
Not really. But since then. I’ve started birth control and I have an eating disorder. So there’s other factors contributing to my weight right now.
It’s been 2 month now I stopped lexapro I feel sad 😔
Maybe you should consider going back on it. But I’d talk to your doctor first.
Lexapro and any other SSRI’s are not an as needed medication just to be clear. I cannot imagine any Provider agreeing that it is to be used like that. I am a nurse and have been on these types of medications for years. I just recently switched from being on Celexa for years and it used to work but simply was not working anymore. I am on week 3 of Lexapro, not quite regulated yet, but hopeful that it will get there. Weight gain does not happen with the medication itself, the weight gain comes from overeating. If you control your eating habits weight will not just magically appear with the medication alone.
Thanks for your comment!
Gotta disagree with you there. Ive been a shapely 120lbs all my life. Gained the freshman five first year at college and went up to 123. In middle age I didnt gain with menapause, maybe small flucuations. Later after Lexapro, etc, at my highest I was up to 142 . Went off cold Turkey, no problem and remain at my regular weight. Anti depressants cause weight gain
Lexapro caused intense hunger for me. I gained a lot of weight on it, although I had no problems being overweight ever in my life before. I could just not loose any weight on it however hard I tried. Getting off lexapro and the pounds are suddenly dissapearing effortlessly. SSRI's are prone to cause weight gain, and many studies have been relased proving that. But I agree, it is meant to be taken continously - it has no acute fast acting effects. You would probably only end up with the short term side effects taking it occasionally.
@@triciadaily4512did your weight go down? I’m also typically 120 and now that I hit 145 I’m absolutely convinced it’s because of lexapro. Same thing happened to be with a hormonal IUD!
Hi may I ask how did the switch go from celexa to lexapro ? Did you have to taper off celexa first or did you just stop and take lexapro ? I’m about to switch and need some advice
can u drink coffee on it?
I don’t drink coffee, so I’d ask a professional.
Lexapro didn't work for me at all!
Hasn't worked for me either. My therapist said it could cause weight gain, but that it would help me feel better and motivated to workout. That's hasn't been the case at all. I'm tired all the time, still feel all my anxiety, and now added weight gain. I was so worried about the weight gain before I started this medicine because I've been work so hard at losing weight. But everyone reassured my the medication would help so much. And it made my insomnia worse. Idk what to do anymore.
It doesn't cause weight gain, if it does it never has caused it but I never have a weight problem. That's just something no med can take care of, I believe u have to want that for urself and it's easy to say a med caused it but I believe if u don't do anything to loose or control it, u will always have a problem
I spoke with my doctor, who confirmed that Lexapro does cause weight gain. Even though you did not gain weight, it does not mean others may experience those side effects.
Lexapro I was always eating and I gained weight. Not for everyone but some definitely did gain
It definitely does cause weight gain. Soon as I got off I started sweating like crazy and the weight came off. I ate less and still put on about 30 lbs in 6 months.
This is false. Especially if you know how this particular drug works. It absolutely does cause weight in about 20-30% of users. Doing a little research will show you that.
It can cause weight gain. I took Lexapro a few years back and gained 20 pounds on it. Lost the weight when I got off. I've been taking it again for the past year and suddenly started to gain weight about six months ago. I gained about 20 pounds again. I spoke with my doctor and I'm either going to switch to a different med that does not cause weight gain or get off of the meds completely. It sucks because it definitely helps me with my anxiety. But it makes me feel like the progress I made with my weight loss journey has been thrown out the window.