How long is it supposed to take for your brain to get back to normal after taking an SSRI(like lexapro)

[lovestonned]

I was on lexapro for about a month but came off of it because it made me feel strange. I told my doctor how it made me feel but he said it was impossible for the drug to make me feel that way. Now, after 2 terrible weeks of panic for no reason(possibly withdrawal, idk), I'm still not feeling better. I'm really spaced out all the time and I feel as if I am partially trapped inside my body. I've never felt like this before and its been going on for a few weeks. What's wrong with me? Everyone thinks its just my normal problem coming back, but I know it isnt that.

[Southern Comfort]

I am normal on lexapro.
I have been on it for several years.
After about 3 yrs. I even went up to 20mg.
Perhaps you should have given thelexapro a longer trial period.
See your Dr. again and think about starting the lexapro again.

[Butcher]

Everyone responds differently to medication and it's awful stupid of your doctor to tell you that what you felt was "impossible" when we don't even understand how these meds work!! I'd believe you if you told me that while you were on it you thought you were a frog and needed to ride a racehorse.
Anyway, there are all sorts of withdrawal symptoms that can be highly unpleasent and it can take a few weeks to get back to normal- remember, these drugs mess with your brain's chemicals. When I was withdrawing from Celexa I had this sensation like there was a piece of floss connecting my lower left portion of my brain and the upper right portion of my heart and periodically it would tighten causing this terrible sensation. My heart kept twitching, I felt like my brain was a marble and my skull walls were all trampolines, I couldn't go anywhere that wasn't quiet, dark, and still...it took me about 3 weeks to feel mostly normal again.
The good news- not all SSRIs will do this to you.

Now, can I give you a piece of advice? If you aren't already, please see a psychiatrist for your next prescription. General doctors just aren't experienced enough in mental health. Usually what happens is they pick about 3 drugs to prescribe. Usually Welbutrin (because it's different than an SSRI and has the least amount of side effects presumably), an SSRI that they've taken successfully in the past (since almost everyone has been on one at one time or another and med school can be stressful) and another SSRI that someone has come to their office with free samples of. They really don't know what medications are good for certain people and how to match up the symptoms. A psychiatrist DOES and they deal with hundreds of different medications- and are comfortable with what they know about them. I remember my general doctor prescribed me Welbutrin, Paxil, Celexa, Lexapro, and then Elavil. I had told her specifically that I refused to take a tricyclic and she swore to me up and down that Elavil was an SSRI- hello! I have a degree in psychology! You can't lie to me about this stuff! I did not take the meds. Instead, I saw a psychiatrist who said "you have atypical bipolar disorder so take this anticonvulsant that has antidepressive qualities to it." You know what? In THREE DAYS I was 100% normal with no problems since. My problem was purely biological and with the right meds (prescribed by a knowledgeable doctor) I was "cured." Anyway, one thing that we have been taught in my classes was to make sure to refer patients always to a psychiatrist for these reasons.

I believe what you're going through and I hope the sensations pass quickly. I used to do all sorts of drugs and the withdrawals from Celexa were the worst- worse than heroin and cocaine. Good luck and please see a psychiatrist because there are meds out there that work really well and they can help you but you've got to get to someone who can prescribe you something based on YOU and not just pick one out of a hat.