Helped Over 500,000 patients with 98%+ satisfaction.

Connect & Get Personalized 1-to-1 Answers from Expert Doctors

DoctorSpring > Question Home

Severe PANIC ATTACKS after stopping LEXAPRO abruptly.

Resolved Question:

I had been in 20mg of Lexapro for 3months and it wasn't working well, so my Dr. switched me back to 200mg Zoloft. I abruptly stopped taking the Lexapro and began taking 200mg of Zoloft. I am having severe panic attacks and feel so sick. I am suppose to start a new job and I can't even leave the house Is this normal

Category: Psychiatrist

Ask Your Own Question

 31 Doctors Online

Hello.
Thanks for posting your query at DoctorSpring.com
I have gone through your question in detail and I can understand what you are going through.
What you are experiencing is a withdrawal effect of lexapro leading to exacerbation of panic attacks. Even though both zoloft and lexapro belong to the same group of drugs, they can still have withdrawal symptoms. The best option would be to get back to lexapro 10mg along with zoloft 100mg and then after a week reducing lexapro to 5mg nd increasing zoloft to 150 mg and then taking only zoloft after 1 week. this procedure is called cross tapering and is most effective in controlling withdrawal side effects. For your cute panic attacks, the best immediate relief would be to take some benzodiazepines like clonazepam or alprazolam or etizolam which will reduce the panic attacks immediately.
Hope I am able to answer your concerns.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.

Wish you good health,
Kind regards
Dr. Srikanth Reddy M.D.


Patient replied :

Is this just a reaction to the medicine and not me getting panic attacks on a regular basis again? I have been rid of these for 25 years old patientand dont want to live with them again. Will they go away for good? I am living in a new city and was suppose to start a new job and I feel incapacitated. How long withh i take for these to stop?



Dr. Srikanth Reddy
Category: Sexologist
Experience: 
Doctor of Medicine (MD), Psychiatry Residency Program,2001 – 2012
M.B.B.S,Mahatma Gandhi Institute Of Medical Sciences, Sevagram

Certificate Course in sex Therapy and Counselling, Sexology and Counselling, A
Sexology,Medikon Sexual Sciences, Mumbai

Training in Advanced Neurology at a leading corporate hospital (CARE hospital) in Hyderabad

Child Psychiatry Training in National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences, Bangalore

Sex Therapy and Counsellingat MEDIKON Sexual Sciences, Mumbai.
Dr. Srikanth Reddy and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

Users who read this, also read:

Make informed and better medical decisions.

Join the 500,000 people who found a smarter, quicker way to get Answers, Recommendations & Expert Opinions.

Expert Doctors at fingertips

Recommendation on next step. Second-opinion.Multi-specialty.

Save Time

Average time for answers: 6 hours.

Save Money

$35 for typical specialist consult vs. $120 for a local appointment.

Free Follow-ups

Clarify, ask further questions for free in private conversation.

100% Satisfaction

Money back guarantee for the 1st reply. MEDNET Quality Board.

Start My Consultation

CHAT NOW

About DoctorSpring.com

Doctor Spring is a novel online Doctor consultation platform where you can get your medical questions answered by leading Doctors. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. Once you submit the question, the Doctor from the concerned specialty will reply within hours. You can always ask more questions or add details with follow-up question options and make it an online doctor chat. You may use this service to consult a specialty or for getting medical second opinion. All paid services come with a MEDNET quality assurance and 100% money back guarantee.

DoctorSpring in news