Wooo-hooo! I'm off of Lexapro! I feel great. Sleeping better now, no

[Ilsa]

side effects, just a feeling like I'm getting my "edge" back, and my libido, too. I think my REM sleep is better.

I want to point out, I asked for a med. I have been through depression before, and usually, diet and exercise and cognitive therapy (my own) did the trick. But the last round of depression was a year after having my second child, having my first child diagnosed with autism, and the death of my mother. I was a mess. Exercise didn't help, neither did stopping drinking, watching sugar, etc. The Lexapro helped me sleep better (after I figured out when I should take it during the day), helped control my night sweats almost immediately, and yes I felt much better. I needed something to jumpstart my brain chemicals.

The downside of taking Lexapro: I was "going along to get along." I stopped directing my life. I lost my professional ambition. I lost my desire to assert myself positively. And I mostly, not completely, lost the desire for sex.

It took me over a year, but I gradually reduced my dosage, then started taking it three of four days, then two of three days, then every other day. I finally forgot to take it for three days. Then I realized I was done with it. During this time, I was mostly vegetarian, taking lots of vitamins and omega complex.

BTW, my libido isn't just back. I think it's rebounding. I don't know how long that will last, but I hope it lasts forever!!! LOL

[earcandle]

1. Wow! Great news! Here is a song for your recovering libido!

Haystack

So glad to hear people are weening their way off pharms.

[Ilsa]

4. Thanks! that is so cool! Yes, it's great to be off pharms. I'm grateful

to be able and lucky enough to do it!

[rurallib]

2. here is to a happy, healthy life

:fistbump:

[xultar]

3. Same thing happened to me. I asked to get off it because it was crushing me...

I'm on Cymbalta now and I like it. I've been on it for almost a year and it doesn't decrease libido and it keeps me from wanting to smack most people.
It's a win win for me.

[Ilsa]

5. I tried Cymbalta, and it didn't do a thing for me. It was like abruptly going

off Lexapro. Left me feeling despondent. So, I had to go back with Lex for awhile. My brother had the same reaction to Cymbalta, so it misght be a genetic reaction.

[liberal N proud]

6. Good for you and your sex life

[StarfarerBill]

7. Good for you! :)

I took Lexapro (and later Effexor, with the same results) for a few months a couple of years ago, and it did next-to-nothing to help my depression and/or sleeplessness...and while it didn't dramatically reduce my sexual desire, it certainly put the kibosh on my ability to achieve orgasm.

And stopping it gradually; that sucked, too: the bouts of dizziness were frustrating and even frightening, when they happened while I driving.

Never again!