Can you stop Lexapro (escitalopram) cold turkey?
In most cases, stopping Lexapro abruptly is not recommended. Lexapro is taken for depression and anxiety, and sudden discontinuation can cause discontinuation symptoms (withdrawal-like effects) such as dizziness, nausea, headache, irritability, anxiety, chills, or flu-like feelings, and sleep problems. These symptoms can start within days and may feel unpleasant enough that people restart the medication even when they don’t want to.
If you’re considering stopping, the safer approach is to taper under a clinician’s guidance rather than stopping all at once.
What happens if you do stop suddenly anyway?
When people stop an SSRI like Lexapro abruptly, they may experience SSRI discontinuation symptoms, which can include:
- Dizziness or “brain zaps”
- Nausea or stomach upset
- Headache
- Anxiety, agitation, or irritability
- Sleep disturbances
- Flu-like feelings
Another issue is that stopping suddenly can also allow the original depression or anxiety symptoms to return or worsen. So the problem can be both withdrawal-type effects and a return of the condition being treated.
Why tapering is usually preferred
Tapering helps your nervous system adjust gradually and reduces the chance and intensity of discontinuation symptoms. The exact taper schedule depends on things like your dose, how long you’ve been taking it, and how sensitive you are to dose changes.
How should you taper Lexapro?
A taper plan should be personalized by your prescriber. Clinicians commonly reduce the dose gradually over weeks or longer, with slower tapers for people who have had discontinuation symptoms before, who take higher doses, or who have been on the medication for a long time.
If your goal is to stop, tell your clinician:
- Your current dose (and whether you take it daily)
- How long you’ve been on Lexapro
- Whether you’ve tried stopping before
- Any previous discontinuation symptoms
- Whether you also take other antidepressants or medicines that affect serotonin
When is it especially important not to stop suddenly?
Talk to a clinician urgently before stopping if any of these apply:
- You’ve had severe depression, panic attacks, or prior episodes of suicidal thoughts
- You’re taking other psychiatric medications (especially other antidepressants or mood stabilizers)
- You have significant withdrawal symptoms history
- You’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding (medication changes need careful planning)
Can you switch to another antidepressant instead?
Sometimes clinicians taper Lexapro and/or transition to another medication to reduce discontinuation symptoms. This depends on your diagnosis and response to prior medications.
What should you do right now if you’ve already stopped?
If you already stopped cold turkey and you feel unwell (dizziness, nausea, agitation, sleep problems, or a spike in anxiety/depression), contact your prescriber or an urgent care service for guidance. Don’t change doses repeatedly on your own. If you have severe symptoms, worsening depression, or thoughts of self-harm, seek emergency help immediately.
Quick next step
If you share your Lexapro dose and how long you’ve been taking it (and whether you’ve stopped before), I can explain what a typical taper conversation with your doctor might look like and what symptoms to watch for.