Lexapro vs Zoloft Withdrawal: Timelines Compared
Compiled from cited sources · not yet medically reviewedUpdated 7 sources
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For information only, not medical advice. Talk to a doctor before stopping or changing any medication. Medical disclaimer
⚠ Medical warning
Don’t stop either antidepressant suddenly or change your dose without talking to your prescriber. A gradual taper lowers the risk of withdrawal symptoms. If you have thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 now.
Quick answer
Lexapro (escitalopram) and Zoloft (sertraline) are both SSRI antidepressants, and their withdrawal timelines look broadly similar. Symptoms usually start within a few days of reducing, stopping or missing doses and are most noticeable in the first 1 to 2 weeks. Common symptoms include dizziness, “brain zaps”, irritability, anxiety, nausea, headache and poor sleep. For some people symptoms pass quickly; for others they last months. We could not find good head-to-head research showing one is easier to stop than the other.
Lexapro vs Zoloft withdrawal at a glance
| Lexapro (escitalopram) | Zoloft (sertraline) | |
|---|---|---|
| Drug type | SSRI antidepressant | SSRI antidepressant |
| When symptoms may start | Within 1 to 2 days of a reduction, stop or missed dose | Within a few days of stopping or lowering the dose |
| Most noticeable | First 1 to 2 weeks for many people | First 1 to 2 weeks |
| Common symptoms | Dizziness, brain zaps, anxiety, irritability, vivid dreams, poor sleep, nausea, headache | Dizziness, numbness or pins and needles, anxiety or agitation, nausea, shaking, headache, sleep problems |
| How long it can last | Weeks to months for some people, occasionally more than a year (RCPsych) | The leaflet says usually under 2 weeks, but 2 to 3 months or more for some people |
| What official guidance says | The FDA label recommends a gradual reduction; the NHS says your doctor will reduce the dose over weeks or months | The NHS advises reducing gradually over several weeks or months with your doctor |
| Full timeline | Lexapro withdrawal timeline | Zoloft (sertraline) withdrawal timeline |
Is one easier to stop than the other?
Honestly, the evidence does not say. The labels and NHS pages for both medicines describe similar symptoms and similar timing, and we did not find a good-quality study comparing withdrawal from escitalopram and sertraline directly. A systematic review by Davies and Read found that antidepressant withdrawal effects are common, can be severe, and can last much longer than the 1 to 2 weeks often quoted, but it looked at antidepressants in general rather than ranking these two.
What matters more than the brand is usually your own history: how long you have taken it, your dose, how quickly it is reduced, and whether you have had withdrawal symptoms before. Withdrawal symptoms can also be confused with depression or anxiety coming back, which is one reason to stop with your prescriber rather than alone.
What they have in common
- Both can cause discontinuation symptoms after a missed dose, a reduction or a stop.
- Both are usually reduced gradually over weeks or months, at a pace agreed with your prescriber. We do not publish taper schedules.
- For both, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, severe agitation or feeling unable to stay still (akathisia) need urgent help.
When to see a doctor
Talk to your prescriber before you stop or change the dose. Get help quickly if symptoms are severe, if you cannot function day to day, or if depression or anxiety seem to be returning. If you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 now. In an emergency, call 911.
Tools for either timeline: Withdrawal calculator · My quit tracker · Printable symptom log. They show general timelines only, never a personal forecast or a taper plan.
FAQ
Are brain zaps more common with Lexapro or Zoloft?
Brain zaps (brief electric-shock sensations) are reported with both, and we did not find reliable data showing they are more common with one. Tell your prescriber if they are frequent or distressing.
I missed a dose and feel dizzy. Is that withdrawal?
It can be. Discontinuation symptoms can start after a missed dose of either medicine. Take your next dose as your prescriber or pharmacist has told you, and ask them for advice if it keeps happening.
Can I switch from one to the other to make stopping easier?
Switching antidepressants is a medical decision. Ask your prescriber; do not swap or combine them yourself.
Next steps
Talk to others going through it. Share your experience or ask questions on the Antidepressants & Other Prescriptions board in our community forum. Forum posts are personal experiences, not medical advice. Please read the community guidelines.
Related timelines
Sources
- FDA-approved label: LEXAPRO (escitalopram), via DailyMed
- FDA-approved label: ZOLOFT (sertraline), via DailyMed
- NHS: Escitalopram
- NHS: Sertraline
- Sertraline patient information leaflet (electronic medicines compendium, product 5760)
- Royal College of Psychiatrists: Stopping antidepressants
- Davies J, Read J. A systematic review into the incidence, severity and duration of antidepressant withdrawal effects. Addict Behav. 2019;97:111-121
Last reviewed: October 29, 2026. Researched and written by Withdrawal Timelines from the cited sources, which are the same sources used in our individual timelines. This comparison has not yet been reviewed by a medical professional. See How We Review and our Medical Disclaimer. This is general information, not medical advice.
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