Withdrawls from Lexapro?

Hi there - So I recently stopped taking my 50mg of Lexapro and I stopped cold turkey. I started experiencing some weird symptoms. Symptoms I couldn't really describe or put a name on. And on top of that, I didn't know why I was experiencing these symptoms. (Lexapro withdrawals didn't even occur to me) After doing some research I finally am able to put a name to my symptoms! Vertigo and "brain zaps". I've been off the Lexapro for about two weeks and am still experiencing this. Along with extreme fatigue. (I usually have to nap everyday around 3) On top of that, my doctor just started me on a very new drug called Viibryd. I told him that I stopped taking the Lexapro suddenly which he wasn't happy about. But I didn't tell him about the symptoms because, again, I didn't know how to describe them. But I started the new medication 2 days ago and I am having pretty bad nausea, which he said would likely happen in the first week. But I'm just wondering if it's bad to be starting a new drug while I'm still experiencing withdrawals from the old one? Has anyone been in a similar position? I just left a voicemail for my doctor to ask him these questions. But I wanted to get some insight from other people who have maybe experienced all of these things.

Any input is appreciated! Thanks!

Hey there - Thanks for that info. I did JUST speak with my doctor and he said the same. That likely the Viibryd will end the withdrawal symptoms. And either way, both the withdrawal symptoms and the nausea from the Viibryd are very temporary. So I know I just need to stick with it! I'm not MISERABLE or anything. Just getting a tad annoyed with the fatigue and vertigo. Tho I have to say, all this research and information is very calming in that now I know I don't have a brain tumor or something! ;) The brain zaps really had me fearing something terrible was going on in my head. I just had no idea there was even a name for such a feeling or that it was associated with SSRI withdrawals. I just fear sometimes that I'm screwing so much with the neurological part of my brain that I'm gonna have a seizure or something. I also know that I need anti-depressants. But there's the part of me that always wonders how good or bad this stuff is for my body. But what's the alternative? Depression? No way!

Anyway, I'm definitely gonna stick with the Viibryd and hope for the best with side effects!

Thanks for the quick reply and support!

Thanks so much! I will update on my progress. I noticed there isn't much out there on forums regarding Viibryd, since it's so new. So hopefully I can share some insight.

Well, allow me to update you a bit on my first 6 days on Viibryd. The good news is, it has definitely stopped the side effects from the Lexapro withdrawal! Thank goodness. And mentally, I feel great. After stopping the Lexapro, I didn't slip back into depression per se, but I was VERY irritable and just generally not happy. But I feel MUCH more psychologically balanced even in this first week! So that's excellent. The nausea has also subsided. HOWEVER.....

I'm experiencing TERRLBE restlessness and insomnia. When I started the Lexapro, I dealt with Restless Leg Syndrome for about the first 2 weeks or so but it eventually passed. It's back. And this time, it's not just my legs it's my entire body! It's like Restless Body Syndrome, if there is such a thing. I even tried taking a sedative the other night along with Gabapentin (which my doctor prescribed to me when I was suffering from RLS) and all that happens is I get EXTREMELY tired but I cannot for the life of me fall asleep because I can't stay in one position longer than 1-2 minutes. It gets so bad that all I can do is thrash around violently in my bed to try and "get it out". It's terrible. When I do eventually fall asleep, I wake up every hour or so STILL agitated. It's just awful. I'm assuming (and HOPING TO GOD) it's transient as it was when I started the Lexapro. But if it's not gone in another week or so I'm going to call my doctor again.

What's strange is, I started anti depressants (many different kinds) when I was 16 and stopped when I was 23. During that time, these meds didn't seem to effect me very much, positively or negatively. I definitely felt "better", but I was so screwed up (mostly with bulimia) that it was almost like my body didn't know WHAT to do! Or I just didn't notice negative or positive changes because I was too busy being ill. But I most definitely never had any extreme side effects. Now I'm 26, back on meds for the first time in 3 years (while still battling bi-polar and depression, I'm in a much more "together" state of mind) my body is responding so differently. The positive effects are VERY noticeable which is great. But I'm also dealing with side effects that I NEVER had before when I was on some of these same meds years ago. It's strange. I guess it's just a matter of my chemistry changing?

Anyway, now I'm just venting. But I did want to give an update on the Viibryd! All in all, GREAT!....minus the restless body :(