Lexapro Withdrawal

[tavee]

SARITA SKYWALK AND EVERYONE!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR U GUYS!!

I HOPE U GUYS ARE FEELING WELL AND I HOPE THAT 2007 IS A NEW YEAR FOR ALL OF US AND THAT WE CAN ALL GO ON LIVING NORMAL AND FEELING NORMAL AGAIN!!

SARITA- IM SO PROUD OF U GIRL!!! THANKS FOR FILLING ME IN ON EVERYTHING AND THINKING ABOUT ME.U ARE GOING TO GET THRU THIS AND JUST LIKE U SAID ITS PROBABLY GOING TO BE BAD AROUND PERIOD TIME. HOPEFULLY THAT IS IT.

I STARTED 4 ML TODAY. I WAS LOOKING BACK AND THINKING, DAMN!! IVE COME A LONG WAY FROM 10 ML. THAT IS A FRICKEN ACCOMPLISHMENT. I AM ALMOST THERE. IM OK SO FAR , BUT I KNOW I SHOULDNT BE THINKING ABOUT WHEN I AM COMPLETELY OFF. IF SARITA CAN DO IT, I CAN DO IT!!! RIGHT GIRL???


SKYWALK- HOW ARE U? IT SEEMS LIKE U ARE GETTING BETTER DAY BY DAY. SLOWLY BUT SURELY RIGHT? BY THE END OF THE SUMMER (MAYBE EVEN BEFORE THAT) WE WILL ALL BE OK!!HANG IN THERE!!


I HOPE U GUYS ALL HAVE A HAPPY NEW YEAR WITH LOTS OF HEALTH , SANITY AND BEING NORMAL AGAIN WITHOUT DRUGS!!! WE CAN DO IT!!!

I LOVE U GUYS!!THANK U FOR ALWAYS BEING THERE!!


TAVEE

[sarita]

tavee and skywalk,
sounds like we're all doing GREAT.....

day 10 off lexipro...and today i'm doing awesome.(besides cramps) i have passion again, and my creativity is coming back. i've been happy, positive, and i can feel again. it's really awesome. the headaches are the worst part. they are debilatating. my business went down hill for the two years i've been caught up in this nightmare losing thousands of dollars, but i'm coming back with fire and desire.

tavee,
thanks for the encouragement. you are awesome and doing awesome.
we can do this!!!!!! we're almost there!!!!!!!!!

[amk01]

Hello all. Hope your Holidays have been nice.

I just finished my 2nd month off Lex. I am still irritable one minute and crazy-mad the next. It is getting better. How long/does the weight come off? I packed on about 30 pounds on Lex.

Thanks

quote:Originally posted by sarita

tara and db3,
happy new year. are any of the head medicines working? nothing really works so i'd rather just suffer than add addition medications.

well, my good news was that the cold sweat,dizziness,and nauseous, and last nights headache is typical for me during pms. i had forgotten i was getting my period!! and i did this morning so i am so relieved to tell everyone especailly Tavee that besides the terrible, terrible, terrible, headaches, i've been doing great on the taper.

the mood swings are typical too. tell your husband that's what it is and have him rad some postings. like, last night, i pointed out to my husband db3's e-mail about headaches.

[rubiek]

Wow, Sarita, I am so happy to hear that you are feeling awesome! Take it easy! I too felt pretty good today--and my challenge begins tomorrow as I have a couple of very important things to do before the semester starts within a week.

Just FYI to everyone--

Peppermint: Natural remedy for stomach & breathing problems

Health Benefits of Peppermint

1) Soothe Your Tummy with Peppermint

In the world of health research, randomized controlled trials have repeatedly shown the ability of peppermint oil to relieve symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome, including indigestion, dyspepsia, and colonic muscle spasms. These healing properties of peppermint are apparently related to its smooth muscle relaxing ability. Once the smooth muscles surrounding the intestine are relaxed, there is less chance of spasm and the indigestion that can accompany it. The menthol contained in peppermint may be a key reason for this bowel-comforting effect.

2) A Potential Anti-Cancer Agent

Interest in peppermint has extended well beyond the digestive tract, however. Perillyl alcohol is a phytonutrient called a monoterpene, and it is plentiful in peppermint oil. In animal studies, this phytonutrient has been shown to stop the growth of pancreatic, mammary, and liver tumors. It has also been shown to protect against cancer formation in the colon, skin, and lungs. These animal-based studies have yet to be matched by equally sound human studies, however.

3) An Anti-Microbial Oil

Esssential oil of peppermint also stops the growth of many different bacteria. These bacteria include Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enteritidis, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It has also be found to inhibit the growth of certain types of fungus as well.

4) Breathe Easier with Peppermint

Peppermint contains the substance rosmarinic acid, which has several actions that are beneficial in asthma. In addition to its antioxidant abilities to neutralize free radicals, rosmarinic acid has been shown to block the production of pro-inflammatory chemicals, such as leukotrienes. It also encourages cells to make substances called prostacyclins that keep the airways open for easy breathing. Extracts of peppermint have also been shown to help relieve the nasal symptoms of allergic rhinitis (colds related to allergy).

5) A Rich Source of Traditional Nutrients

Our food ranking system also showed peppermint to deliver a wide range of traditional nutrients. Peppermint is an excellent source of manganese, vitamin C and vitamin A, the latter notably through its concentration of carotenoids, including beta-carotene. Both vitamin C and beta-carotene seem to play a role in decreasing colorectal cancer risk. Vitamin C, the main water-soluble antioxidant in the body is needed to decrease levels of free radicals that can cause damage to cells. Some studies have shown a link between increased vitamin C intake and a decreased risk for colon cancer, possibly by as much as 40%, while other studies have shown that vitamin C intake can help to decrease the incidence of colon tumors. Beta-carotene and other carotenoids have been shown in some studies to decrease the risks of developing both colon cancer and rectal cancer. Carotenoids have also been shown to increase cell differentiation and protect cells against carcinogenic chemicals that could damage DNA. Vitamin A, which is structurally similar to beta-carotene, may help to decrease risk by preventing excessive colon cell proliferation and tumor formation.

In addition to all of the above healing properties, peppermint emerged from our food ranking system as a very good source of dietary fiber, folate, iron, magnesium, and calcium, vitamin B2 (based on its few calories and high nutrient density). This high nutrient density and low calorie status qualified peppermint as a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B2, potassium and copper.

How to Enjoy

For some of our favorite recipes, click Recipes.
A Few Quick Serving Ideas:

A cup of fresh mint tea can help to soothe your stomach and your nerves.

Toss cubes of cooked eggplant with chopped mint leaves, plain yogurt, garlic and cayenne.

For a quick and easy salad, combine fennel, onions, oranges and mint leaves.

Give fruit salad a unique perk by adding some fresh mint leaves to it.

Add chopped mint leaves to gazpacho or other soups that feature tomatoes as the freshness of the mint complements the sweet acidity of tomatoes very well.

(Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...spice&dbid=102)

I will start adding some mints to my diet!

[wtwagz]

Not sure if this is related to the lexapro withdrawal, but I suppose it could be.

I was on Paxil for 2 years, and then 10 mg Lexapro for another 2 years. About 6 months ago, I decided to try to get off of Lexapro as I was feeling great.

I tapered the lexapro dosage very slowly and got down to a plateau where I was taking 5 mg lexapro daily. Eventually, I tapered down to a 2.5 mg lexapro a couple times a week. I was virtually symptom free until I finally made the move from 2.5 mg lex once a week to no more lexapro.

Well, about 2 weeks later all hell broke lose.

I started out having some heart palpitations, which made me worried that I had an issue with my heart. Went to see the doc and EKG was fine as well as the checkup. A few days later, it got even worse. When trying to fall asleep, I am always aware of my heartbeat and as SOON as I doze off, I wake up spontaneously with either heart palpitations, chest pains, or a gasping feeling like I'm having a panic attack. Now I'm so nervous about being unable to sleep that I virtually can't. I'll be able to fall asleep for bits and pieces of a time, only to be woken up in a panic with high anxiety.

I'm going to meet with the doctor again today to see if this is anything physical or if it is anxiety manifesting itself in a physical way. I'm really considering going back on in a small dosage form.

[sarita]

wtw,
what you are feeling is very typical for withdrawals. don't worry, you are not having a heart attack.

rubiek,
thanks for the info. i did buy some peppermint but forgot about it!! glad you're doing well....

skywalk and tavee?
how r u?

amk,
i hope to god the weight will drop. have you lost any at all? i'm going to stay CLA tomorrow. it's supposed to help you lose weight.
i gained 30 lbs. UG.....

[Skywalk]

wtw,

I've had the racing heart and what feels like heart drops after getting off Prozac, Paxil and Lexapro. It is alarming and I've gone to the ER room for it (they couldn't figure it out but said I would not die!). I later found out that it was the withdrawals. I know it's scary, but calm down. Tell yourself "it's just withdrawals" and accept it. It should get better soon.

Hi all:

I'm doing OK. Still tough in the morning as I usually awake from a nightmare. And then I have some stomach issues. By noon I pull myself together and for the past five days now have been able to work on an apartment that I'm getting ready to rent out (my fiance's family own and old apartment building and I've been managing the tenants). It makes me happy to have enough energy to do some work again. Still a little dizzy and don't feel right yet, but glad there has been some improvement. I also think the depersonalization is finally getting better. I don't constantly think about now which is a good sign, I think. Things are starting to look like they are really there! But I still got a ways to go. I also worry that I'm going to crash again...I gotta stop doing that and stay positive.

At this point I feel traumatized still. I have fear of going off on my own too far and that really bothers me. I gotta go in baby steps once I feel a bit better.

My mood is very stable now, but I still feel boring. Plus, I live in Oregon and it's been really rainly and gloomy. That does not help matters.

Hey...I read a very old post from Aunty and she said this site on Lex withdrawals has received more that 100,000 hits! What does that tell you? She also has a theory (and I thought about this before I read it) that many are on this drug now because it is new, but haven't tried to come off of it. Watch, in time, there will be more people going through this when trying to get off.

I stopped 10mg Lexapro cold-turkey Oct. 1 after a six week trail.

[db3]

hello sarita and all..

2nd day without a headache..
and the dizziness is almost history..
the mood swings are definitly not as severe butthey are still there..
i try to control them!!
sarita, sounds like ur doing well also!

fill me in.

db

[amk01]

Hello to all!
I would like to mention that peppermint DOES really help with stomach problems. I have been on Zelnorm for over a year and it works wonderfully. Sometimes for just a plain old belly ache, peppermint does the trick.

No,unfortunately, I have not lost any weight. WIth the holidays just ending, I wouldn't know if I actually lost any LEX weight a long the way. I figure I will be able to tell in the next month or so.
Does it take about 2-3 months to get LEX out of your system?

quote:Originally posted by sarita

wtw,
what you are feeling is very typical for withdrawals. don't worry, you are not having a heart attack.

rubiek,
thanks for the info. i did buy some peppermint but forgot about it!! glad you're doing well....

skywalk and tavee?
how r u?

amk,
i hope to god the weight will drop. have you lost any at all? i'm going to stay CLA tomorrow. it's supposed to help you lose weight.
i gained 30 lbs. UG.....

[db3]

by the way..

PEPPERMINT works wonders when youre feeling nauseous!!!

[tavee]

sarita and skywalk!!

hey guys!! how are u?
well its day 3 of 4ml.
today i was feeling down.

sarita- i dont know if this is normal but i guess i felt a little like i did before i went on lex.is it normal to feel like this?
i was a little bummed and thinking do i have to go back on this to be normal??? i know its very early to tell and i should wait and see to see how the other days will be like.

skywalk- did u feel down like that? i was sad and felt really bummed and not happy.
god u guys i hope this goes away soon. am i looking into things too much??

tavee

[tavee]

DB3

ARE U FEELING DOWN AT ALL? ARE U COMPLETELY OFF?

I AM DOWN TO 4ML. I FELT REALLY DOWN TODAY.

IS THIS NORMAL?

TAVEE

[db3]

Tavee..no i dont feel down..ive been completely off since christmas..the dizziness is almost gone .. i do get moody but it passes quickly.the past 2 nights i felt it hard to fall asleep, but once i did, i slept fine..I must tell everyone this, and i truly believe it, the weaning is strange, you are on different levels of something(mentally and physically), but the real deal comes when you are TOTALLY off this drug..i could be wrong but i think anything under 5 mil is a waste of time ..its prolonging the inevitable..once u stop u need to be strong and face whatever challenges come your way..and deal with them..again, its only my opinion.. Dont get me wrong, I was frightened to end it..it was a crutch for me, and i was afraid of the unknown, but like the majority of people here I WANTED MY LIFE BACK!! I still cant believe i am off Lex..I am proud of myself!! I hope all of you feel as good as I do right now.. who knows, maybe next week something will hit me like a ton of bricks, but i am ready!!!!

XO
DB

[sarita]

tavee,
it's PMS time for you, remember? i do!!! that's all it is. i'm almost positive i know your cycle. isn't that funny?

i'm doin awesome. I FEEL SO ALIVE!!!!! I'M FULL OF ENERGY. I'M FULL OF CREATIVITY!!! YEEEPPIEEEE!!!!!

i think i'm healed ya'll!! you guys will get through this. i never thought i would ever feel good again, but i do. it's amazing. for 2 years, my business went from thousands to hundreds $$$. but now i'm back in it!! it's amazing.

HANG I NTHERE PEOPLE!!!!!

[tavee]

sarita!!

i love u girl!!i started reading ure email and i cried and laughed at the same time!!!

i was just thinking 5 minutes ago why i am like this today?
i think u might be right girlfriend!! and i hope u are.
i am due to get my period in like 6 days. thats probably it huh?
u are sooooooooooo funny!! i know our cycles our very close!!!

i just dont want to fall in this depression again. is it possible to feel like that once u are completely off the drug?what have most of the people said about this?? i just wish i knew what was going to happen.i have a three year old to raise and i dont want to be like this.

thanks for listening sarita!! u are the best!!

tavee

[TPayne4shizzy]

I haven't posted in a long time but I just wanted to give everyone an update. I am doing fine now and I'm off the lexapro completely for about a month. I went cold turkey off of the 10mg to try it out for a week and I had some minor depression but nothing too major so I kept going.

I was originally on the 20mg and tapered down to the 10, 2.5 mg at a time. I was successful in cold turkey with the 10mg and I feel great. Its good to feel alive again. I'm taking Tryptophan and Fish oil for my depression and anxiety. It works great.

Good luck everyone.

Tyler

"Day by day, in every way, I am better and better"

[sarita]

tavee,
it's amazing how we always forget when we are pms. my husband reminds me usually. when i'm nice ladyy, down, teary, tired, etc....

you will get through this. take omega 3's amd a multiple. you're almost there. you'll feel good once your period is over....

there are lots of people who get off this stuff and are fine. i kinda wish they'd stick around to help us out. but now i'll be one of those people in a week or so to help.

[rubiek]

I agree with you Sarita on the PMS. PMS messes up my mind so easily, and I feel that it has gotten worsen in the past two years, which coincides with the period I was clinically depressed. Taking Fish Oil/Omega 3 and multi-vitamins have been helping me going through the withdrawals.

BTW, I am very happy to hear that some of you have tried peppermint and find it works really well to ease some of the withdrawal symptoms Yes, it really helps to easy my dizziness and brain zaps, and to help clarifying my mind.

After two years of being depressed and not taking care of myself, I am in a very bad shape now--though I used to be very active, doing a lots of exercises regularly. I have lots of muscles, lost much weight AND gained weight irregularly over the course of period, and I feel weaker physically.

A friend of mine who knows so much about natural herbal remedies is highly recommending me to start eating brown rice (organic brown rice is better, she says) for its powerful nutritional value and its weight-stabilizing effect. I will go down to the store this afternoon to buy some to start brown-rice based diet, and will keep you posted.

Here is the info on Brown Rice--
(Source: http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?t...spice&dbid=128)

Brown rice

In some parts of the world, the word "to eat" literally means "to eat rice." All varieties of rice are available throughout the year, supplying as much as half of the daily calories for half of the world's population.

The process that produces brown rice removes only the outermost layer, the hull, of the rice kernel and is the least damaging to its nutritional value. The complete milling and polishing that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. Fully milled and polished white rice is required to be "enriched" with vitamins B1, B3 and iron.

Health Benefits

Why Brown—But Not White—Rice is One of the World's Healthiest Foods

The difference between brown rice and white rice is not just color! A whole grain of rice has several layers. Only the outermost layer, the hull, is removed to produce what we call brown rice. This process is the least damaging to the nutritional value of the rice and avoids the unnecessary loss of nutrients that occurs with further processing. If brown rice is further milled to remove the bran and most of the germ layer, the result is a whiter rice, but also a rice that has lost many more nutrients. At this point, however, the rice is still unpolished, and it takes polishing to produce the white rice we are used to seeing. Polishing removes the aleurone layer of the grain—a layer filled with health-supportive, essential fats. Because these fats, once exposed to air by the refining process, are highly susceptible to oxidation, this layer is removed to extend the shelf life of the product. The resulting white rice is simply a refined starch that is largely bereft of its original nutrients.

Our food ranking system qualified brown rice as an excellent source of manganese, and a good source of the minerals selenium and magnesium. The complete milling and polishing that converts brown rice into white rice destroys 67% of the vitamin B3, 80% of the vitamin B1, 90% of the vitamin B6, half of the manganese, half of the phosphorus, 60% of the iron, and all of the dietary fiber and essential fatty acids. By law in the United States, fully milled and polished white rice must be "enriched" with vitamins B1, B3, and iron. But the form of these nutrients when added back into the processed rice is not the same as in the original unprocessed version, and at least 11 lost nutrients are not replaced in any form even with rice "enrichment."

Here are some of the ways in which the nutrients supplied by brown rice can make an important difference in your health:

Manganese—Energy Production Plus Antioxidant Protection

Just one cup of brown rice will provide you with 88.0% of the daily value for manganese. This trace mineral helps produce energy from protein and carbohydrates and is involved in the synthesis of fatty acids, which are important for a healthy nervous system, and in the production of cholesterol, which is used by the body to produce sex hormones. Manganese is also a critical component of a very important antioxidant enzyme called superoxide dismutase. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is found inside the body's mitochondria (the oxygen-based energy factories inside most of our cells) where it provides protection against damage from the free radicals produced during energy production.

Women Who Eat Whole Grains Weigh Less
A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition underscores the importance of choosing whole grains such as brown rice rather than refined grain, i.e., white rice, to maintain a healthy body weight. In this Harvard Medical School / Brigham and Women's Hospital study, which collected data on over 74,000 female nurses aged 38-63 years over a 12 year period, weight gain was inversely associated with the intake of high-fiber, whole-grain foods but positively related to the intake of refined-grain foods. Not only did women who consumed more whole grains consistently weigh less than those who ate less of these fiber-rich foods, but those consuming the most dietary fiber from whole grains were 49% less likely to gain weight compared to those eating foods made from refined grains.

Brown Rice is Rich in Fiber and Selenium

For people worried about colon cancer risk, brown rice packs a double punch by being a concentrated source of the fiber needed to minimize the amount of time cancer-causing substances spend in contact with colon cells, and being a very good source of selenium, a trace mineral that has been shown to substantially reduce the risk of colon cancer.

In addition to supplying 14.0% of the daily value for fiber, a cup of cooked brown rice provides 27.3% of the DV for selenium, an important benefit since many Americans do not get enough selenium in their diets, yet this trace mineral is of fundamental importance to human health. Selenium is an essential component of several major metabolic pathways, including thyroid hormone metabolism, antioxidant defense systems, and immune function. Accumulated evidence from prospective studies, intervention trials and studies on animal models of cancer has suggested a strong inverse correlation between selenium intake and cancer incidence. Several mechanisms have been suggested to explain the cancer-preventive activities of selenium. Selenium has been shown to induce DNA repair and synthesis in damaged cells, to inhibit the proliferation of cancer cells, and to induce their apoptosis, the self-destruct sequence the body uses to eliminate worn out or abnormal cells.

In addition, selenium is incorporated at the active site of many proteins, including glutathione peroxidase, which is particularly important for cancer protection. One of the body's most powerful antioxidant enzymes, glutathione peroxidase is used in the liver to detoxify a wide range of potentially harmful molecules. When levels of glutathione peroxidase are too low, these toxic molecules are not disarmed and wreak havoc on any cells with which they come in contact, damaging their cellular DNA and promoting the development of cancer cells.

Not only does selenium play a critical role in cancer prevention as a cofactor of glutathione peroxidase, selenium also works with vitamin E in numerous other vital antioxidant systems throughout the body. These powerful antioxidant actions make selenium helpful in the prevention not only of cancer, but also of heart disease, and for decreasing the symptoms of asthma and the pain and inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis.

Lower Cholesterol with Whole Brown Rice

Here's yet another reason to rely on whole foods, such as brown rice, for your healthy way of eating. The oil in whole brown rice lowers cholesterol.

When Marlene Most and colleagues from Louisiana State University evaluated the effects of rice bran and rice bran oil on cholesterol levels in volunteers with moderately elevated cholesterol levels, they found that rice bran oil lowered their LDL (bad) cholesterol.

The study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, was divided into two parts. First, 26 subjects ate a diet including 13-22g of dietary fiber each day for three weeks, after which 13 switched to a diet that added defatted rice bran to double their fiber intake for five weeks. In the second part of the study, a randomized crossover trial, 14 subjects ate a diet with rice bran oil for 10 weeks.

While the diet including only defatted rice bran did not lower cholesterol, the one containing rice bran oil lowered LDL cholesterol by 7%. Since all the diets contained similar fatty acids, the researchers concluded that the reduction in cholesterol seen in those receiving rice bran oil must have been due to other constituents such as the unsaponifiable compounds found in rice bran oil. The scientists suggest that the unsaponifiables present in rice bran oil could become important functional foods for cardiovascular health. But why extract just one beneficial compound from brown rice when you can reap all the cardioprotective benefits supplied by the matrix of nutrients naturally present in this delicious whole food? In addition to unsaponifiables, this whole grain also supplies hefty doses of heart-healthy fiber, magnesium, and B vitamins.

Significant Cardiovascular Benefits for Postmenopausal Women

Eating a serving of whole grains, such as brown rice, at least 6 times each week is an especially good idea for postmenopausal women with high cholesterol, high blood pressure or other signs of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

A 3-year prospective study of over 200 postmenopausal women with CVD, published in the American Heart Journal, shows that those eating at least 6 servings of whole grains each week experienced both:

* Slowed progression of atherosclerosis, the build-up of plaque that narrows the vessels through which blood flows, and
* Less progression in stenosis, the narrowing of the diameter of arterial passageways.

The women's intake of fiber from fruits, vegetables and refined grains was not associated with a lessening in CVD progression.

Phytonutrients with Health-Promoting Activity Equal to or Even Higher than that of Vegetables and Fruits

Research reported at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) International Conference on Food, Nutrition and Cancer, by Rui Hai Liu, M.D., Ph.D., and his colleagues at Cornell University shows that whole grains, such as rice, contain many powerful phytonutrients whose activity has gone unrecognized because research methods have overlooked them.

Despite the fact that for years researchers have been measuring the antioxidant power of a wide array of phytonutrients, they have typically measured only the "free" forms of these substances, which dissolve quickly and are immediately absorbed into the bloodstream. They have not looked at the "bound" forms, which are attached to the walls of plant cells and must be released by intestinal bacteria during digestion before they can be absorbed.

Phenolics, powerful antioxidants that work in multiple ways to prevent disease, are one major class of phytonutrients that have been widely studied. Included in this broad category are such compounds as quercetin, curcumin, ellagic acid, catechins, and many others that appear frequently in the health news.

When Dr. Liu and his colleagues measured the relative amounts of phenolics, and whether they were present in bound or free form, in common fruits and vegetables like apples, red grapes, broccoli and spinach, they found that phenolics in the "free" form averaged 76% of the total number of phenolics in these foods. In whole grains, however, "free" phenolics accounted for less than 1% of the total, while the remaining 99% were in "bound" form.

In his presentation, Dr. Liu explained that because researchers have examined whole grains with the same process used to measure antioxidants in vegetables and fruits-looking for their content of "free" phenolics"-the amount and activity of antioxidants in whole grains has been vastly underestimated.

Despite the differences in fruits', vegetables' and whole grains' content of "free" and "bound" phenolics, the total antioxidant activity in all three types of whole foods is similar, according to Dr. Liu's research. His team measured the antioxidant activity of various foods, assigning each a rating based on a formula (micromoles of vitamin C equivalent per gram). Broccoli and spinach measured 80 and 81, respectively; apple and banana measured 98 and 65; and of the whole grains tested, corn measured 181, whole wheat 77, oats 75, and brown rice 56.

Dr. Liu's findings may help explain why studies have shown that populations eating diets high in fiber-rich whole grains consistently have lower risk for colon cancer, yet short-term clinical trials that have focused on fiber alone in lowering colon cancer risk, often to the point of giving subjects isolated fiber supplements, yield inconsistent results. The explanation is most likely that these studies have not taken into account the interactive effects of all the nutrients in whole grains-not just their fiber, but also their many phytonutrients. As far as whole grains are concerned, Dr. Liu believes that the key to their powerful cancer-fighting potential is precisely their wholeness. A grain of whole wheat consists of three parts-its endosperm (starch), bran and germ. When wheat-or any whole grain-is refined, its bran and germ are removed. Although these two parts make up only 15-17% of the grain's weight, they contain 83% of its phenolics. Dr. Liu says his recent findings on the antioxidant content of whole grains reinforce the message that a variety of foods should be eaten good health. "Different plant foods have different phytochemicals," he said. "These substances go to different organs, tissues and cells, where they perform different functions. What your body needs to ward off disease is this synergistic effect - this teamwork - that is produced by eating a wide variety of plant foods, including whole grains."

Lignans Protect against Heart Disease

One type of phytonutrient especially abundant in whole grains including brown rice are plant lignans, which are converted by friendly flora in our intestines into mammalian lignans, including one called enterolactone that is thought to protect against breast and other hormone-dependent cancers as well as heart disease. In addition to whole grains, nuts, seeds and berries are rich sources of plant lignans, and vegetables, fruits, and beverages such as coffee, tea and wine also contain some. When blood levels of enterolactone were measured in over 850 postmenopausal women in a Danish study published in the Journal of Nutrition, women eating the most whole grains were found to have significantly higher blood levels of this protective lignan. Women who ate more cabbage and leafy vegetables also had higher enterolactone levels.

Reduce Your Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

First we were told, "Don't eat fat, and you'll stay trim." After following this advice only to see obesity expand to never before seen proportions, we're told by the food gurus, "Eating fat is fine. Shun carbohydrates to stay slim."

In our opinion, neither piece of dietary advice is complete, accurate or likely to help us stay slim or healthy. Just as different kinds of fats have different effects in our bodies (e.g., saturated and trans fats are linked to increased risk for cardiovascular disease while omega-3 fats decrease cardiovascular disease risk), some carbohydrates, such as whole grains, are healthful while others, such as refined grains and the foods made from them, are not.

The latest research is clearly supporting this vital distinction. Refined grains and the foods made from them (e.g., white breads, cookies, pastries, pasta and rice) are now being linked not only to weight gain but to increased risk of insulin resistance (the precursor of type 2 diabetes) and the metabolic syndrome (a strong predictor of both type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease), while eating more wholegrain foods is being shown to protect against all these ills. Common features of the metabolic syndrome include visceral obesity (the "apple shaped" body), low levels of protective HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides, and high blood pressure.

In one of the most recent studies, which appeared in Diabetes Care, researchers who analyzed data on over 2,800 participants in the Framingham Offspring Study, found that the prevalence of both insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome was significantly lower among those eating the most cereal fiber from whole grains compared to those eating the least.

Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 38% lower among those with the highest intake of fiber from whole grains. Conversely, study subjects whose diets had the highest glycemic index and glycemic load, both of which are typically low in whole foods and high in processed refined foods, were 141% more likely to have the metabolic syndrome compared to those whose diets had the lowest glycemic index and glycemic load. In other words, compared to those whose diets were primarily composed of whole high fiber foods: whole grains, legumes, vegetables and fruits.

The researchers concluded, "Given that both a high cereal fiber content and lower glycemic index are attributes of wholegrain foods, recommendation to increase wholegrain intake may reduce the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome." Our perspective at the World's Healthiest Foods is that a way of eating that relies on the healthiest foods from all the food groups—the whole foods that contain the healthiest fats, carbohydrates and proteins—is the most effective, intelligent, and most enjoyable way to not only lower your risk of developing the metabolic syndrome, but to stay slim, vital and attractive throughout a long and healthy life.

Brown Rice and Other Whole Grains Substantially Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk

Brown rice and other whole grains are a rich source of magnesium, a mineral that acts as a co-factor for more than 300 enzymes, including enzymes involved in the body's use of glucose and insulin secretion.

The FDA permits foods that contain at least 51% whole grains by weight (and are also low in fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol) to display a health claim stating consumption is linked to lower risk of heart disease and certain cancers. Now, research suggests regular consumption of whole grains also reduces risk of type 2 diabetes. (van Dam RM, Hu FB, Diabetes Care).

In this 8-year trial, involving 41,186 particpants of the Black Women's Health Study, research data confirmed inverse associations between magnesium, calcium and major food sources in relation to type 2 diabetes that had already been reported in predominantly white populations.

Risk of type 2 diabetes was 31% lower in black women who frequently ate whole grains compared to those eating the least of these magnesium-rich foods. When the women's dietary intake of magnesium intake was considered by itself, a beneficial, but lesser- 19%- reduction in risk of type 2 diabetes was found, indicating that whole grains offer special benefits in promoting healthy blood sugar control. Daily consumption of low-fat dairy foods was also helpful, lowering risk of type 2 diabetes by 13%. Rice pudding-quickly made by simply adding low-fat milk, cinnamon, raisins, a little honey and 1/4 teaspoon of finely grated orange peel to a cup of cooked rice, then cooking over medium heat for 5 minutes-is a delicious way to enjoy both rice and dairy.

Tune Down and Bone Up on Brown Rice

Magnesium, another nutrient for which brown rice is a good source, has been shown in studies to be helpful for reducing the severity of asthma, lowering high blood pressure, reducing the frequency of migraine headaches, and reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke. How does magnesium accomplish all this? Magnesium helps regulate nerve and muscle tone by balancing the action of calcium. In many nerve cells, magnesium serves as Nature's own calcium channel blocker, preventing calcium from rushing into the nerve cell and activating the nerve. By blocking calcium's entry, magnesium keeps our nerves (and the blood vessels and muscles they ennervate) relaxed. If our diet provides us with too little magnesium, however, calcium can gain free entry, and nerve cells can become overactivated, sending too many messages and causing excessive contraction. Insufficient magnesium can thus contribute to high blood pressure, muscle spasms (including spasms of the heart muscle or the spasms of the airways symptomatic of asthma), and migraine headaches, as well as muscle cramps, tension, soreness and fatigue.

But that's far from all magnesium does for you. Magnesium, as well as calcium, is necessary for healthy bones. About two-thirds of the magnesium in the human body is found in our bones. Some helps give bones their physical structure, while the rest is found on the surface of the bone where it is stored for the body to draw upon as needed. Brown rice can help you keep those storage sites replenished and ready to meet your body's needs. A cup of brown rice will give you 21.0% of the daily value for magnesium.

In addition to the niacin it supplies, brown rice may also help raise blood levels of nitric oxide, a small molecule known to improve blood vessel dilation and to inhibit oxidative (free radical) damage of cholesterol and the adhesion of white cells to the vascular wall (two important steps in the development of atherosclerotic plaques). A study published in the British Journal of Nutrition suggests that diets high in rice protein can help protect against atherosclerosis by increasing blood levels of nitric oxide. In this study, when researchers gave mice bred to be apoliprotein-E deficient a purified diet containing either casein, the principal protein in dairy products, rice protein or soy protein, the mice given casein developed the largest atherosclerotic lesions. (In humans as well as animals, apolipoprotein E plays an important role in cholesterol transport, so a deficiency of this protein increases risk for the development of atherosclerosis.) Mice given rice or soy protein fared much better.
In trying to understand why, the researchers evaluated blood levels of nitric oxide. Mice fed either rice or soy protein diets were found to have increased blood levels of L-arginine (the amino acid that the body uses to produce nitric oxide) and nitric oxide metabolites when compared to those given casein-based feed. However, the L-arginine content of the rice and soy diets was not high enough to explain the amount of protective benefit they conferred, so the researchers concluded that these foods must also contain other cardioprotective compounds.

A Good Source of Fiber

The health benefits of brown rice continue with its fiber; a cup of brown rice provides 14.0% of the daily value for fiber, which has been shown to reduce high cholesterol levels, one more way brown rice helps prevent atherosclerosis. Fiber also helps out by keeping blood sugar levels under control, so brown rice is an excellent grain choice for people with diabetes. As we mentioned above, the fiber in brown rice can also help to protect you against colon cancer since fiber binds to cancer-causing chemicals, keeping them away from the cells lining the colon, plus it can help normalize bowel function, reducing constipation.

Help Prevent Gallstones

Eating foods high in insoluble fiber, such as brown rice, can help women avoid gallstones, shows a study published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

Studying the overall fiber intake and types of fiber consumed over a 16 year period by over 69,000 women in the Nurses Health Study, researchers found that those consuming the most fiber overall (both soluble and insoluble) had a 13% lower risk of developing gallstones compared to women consuming the fewest fiber-rich foods.

Those eating the most foods rich in insoluble fiber gained even more protection against gallstones: a 17% lower risk compared to women eating the least. And the protection was dose-related; a 5-gram increase in insoluble fiber intake dropped risk dropped 10%.

How do foods rich in insoluble fiber help prevent gallstones? Researchers think insoluble fiber not only speeds intestinal transit time (how quickly food moves through the intestines), but reduces the secretion of bile acids (excessive amounts contribute to gallstone formation), increases insulin sensitivity and lowers triglycerides (blood fats). Abundant not just in brown rice but all whole grains, insoluble fiber is also found in nuts and the edible skin of fruits and vegetables including tomatoes, cucumbers, many squash, apples, berries, and pears. In addition, beans provide insoluble as well as soluble fiber.

Meta-analysis Explains Whole Grains' Health Benefits

In many studies, eating whole grains, such as brown rice, has been linked to protection against atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, obesity, and premature death. A new study and accompanying editorial, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition explains the likely reasons behind these findings and recommends at least 3 servings of whole grains should be eaten daily.

Whole grains are excellent sources of fiber. In this meta-analysis of 7 studies including more than 150,000 persons, those whose diets provided the highest dietary fiber intake had a 29% lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to those with the lowest fiber intake.

But it's not just fiber's ability to serve as a bulking agent that is responsible for its beneficial effects as a component of whole grains. Wheat bran, for example, which constitutes 15% of most whole-grain wheat kernels but is virtually non-existent in refined wheat flour, is rich in minerals, antioxidants, lignans, and other phytonutrients—as well as in fiber.

In addition to the matrix of nutrients in their dietary fibers, the whole-grain ????nal includes a wide variety of additional nutrients and phytochemicals that reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Compounds in whole grains that have cholesterol-lowering effects include polyunsaturated fatty acids, oligosaccharides, plant sterols and stanols, and saponins.

Whole grains are also important dietary sources of water-soluble, fat-soluble, and insoluble antioxidants. The long list of cereal antioxidants includes vitamin E, tocotrieonols, selenium, phenolic acids, and phytic acid. These multifunctional antioxidants come in immediate-release to slow-release forms and thus are available throughout the gastrointestinal tract over a long period after being consumed.

The high antioxidant capacity of wheat bran, for example, is 20-fold that of refined wheat flour (endosperm). Although the role of antioxidant supplements in protecting against cardiovascular disease has been questioned, prospective population studies consistently suggest that when consumed in whole foods, antioxidants are associated with significant protection against cardiovascular disease. Because free radical damage to cholesterol appears to contribute significantly to the development of atherosclerosis, the broad range of antioxidant activities from the phytonutrients abundant in whole grains is thought to play a strong role in their cardio-protective effects.

Like soybeans, whole grains are good sources of phytoestrogens, plant compounds that may affect blood cholesterol levels, blood vessel elasticity, bone metabolism, and many other cellular metabolic processes.

Whole grains are rich sources of lignans that are converted by the human gut to enterolactone and enterodiole. In studies of Finnish men, blood levels of enterolactone have been found to have an inverse relation not just to cardiovascular-related death, but to all causes of death, which suggests that the plant lignans in whole grains may play an important role in their protective effects.

Lower insulin levels may also contribute to the protective effects of whole grains. In many persons, the risks of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity are linked to insulin resistance. Higher intakes of whole grains are associated with increased sensitivity to insulin in population studies and clinical trials. Why? Because whole grains improve insulin sensitivity by lowering the glycemic index of the diet while increasing its content of fiber, magnesium, and vitamin E.

The whole kernel of truth: as part of your healthy way of eating, whole grains can significantly lower your risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Enjoy at least 3 servings a day. No idea how to cook whole grains? Just look at the "How to Enjoy" section in our profiles of the whole grains, or for quick, easy, delicious recipes, click on this link to our Recipe Assistant and select brown rice or whichever whole grain you would like to prepare.

For all the health benefits brown rice can provide, don't forget to make this delicious, nutty-flavored grain a frequent addition to your meals.

[end quote]

[TeachinNV]

Hi all...

I started tapering my 10mg dose on Sunday night. I've been taking 7.5mg since then. I haven't any side effects other than a persistant headache which could actually be because of my sinuses.

This morning, while I was drying my hair, I had the strangest feeling come over me. I thought I was having a stroke. It started at the base of my head behind my left ear. The sensation, which felt like a "buzzing" moved up and over my head. I kept looking in the mirror because I was sure that my face would look droopy or something. I looked perfectly normal, and even kept drying my hair.

The sensation lasted less than 5 minutes, wasn't painful, but left me feeling very strange. Since then, I've had 3 or 4 less intense episodes during the day.

I'm pretty sure that it has to do with reducing the dosage on my Lexapro, but I'm going to call my doctor tomorrow and let her know what's going on and what I'm doing.

If I hadn't found this forum, I might have panicked this morning.

Thanks!!
Lori

TeachinNV

[tavee]

TEACHINNV

WHAT U ARE FEELING IS CALLED A BRAIN ZAP!! THAT IS A WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOM. DONT WORRY. TRY TO TAKE OMEGA 3 AND A MULTIVITAMIN EVERY DAY. THIS WILL HELP WITH THAT. I AM ON 4 ML AND I HAVENT EXPERIENCED THAT, HOWEVER WHEN I DID IT COLD TURKEY ONE YEAR AGO I WAS A MESS AND I FELT THE BRAIN ZAP/ELECTRIC SHOCK 7-8 TIMES A DAY, MAYBE MORE.
HANG IN THERE AND WHATEVER U DO TRY TO GO REAL SLOW WITH URE TAPER. DO NOT QUIT COLD TURKEY. TRY TO STAY ON EACH DOSE 2-3 WEEKS BEFORE U LOWER IT.
ALSO, GOING FROM 10 TO 7.5 IS TOO MUCH. U MUST REDUCE 5 TO 10% EVERY 2 WEEKS OR SO.

I WENT FROM 10, 9, 8, 7, 7.5, 7, 6.5, 6, 6.5, 6, 5.5, 5, 4.5. 4
I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS SINCE OCTOBER. WHATEVER U DO, DO NOT BE IN A HURRY TO QUIT. GO SLOWWWWWWWWWW. U WILL REGRET IT AND U WILL NOT BE ABLE TO FUNCTION.
GOOD LUCK
TAVEE

[Skywalk]

Hi guys,

That's funny that we're all on the same cycle (Tavve, Sarita). I don't get PMS, though. Not that I'm aware of. I think I should start around the 11th unless my body has another idea. I'm so messed up that nothing would surprise me at this point.

I bought the Anne Blake Tracy book about SSRI's and while it's got a lot of good info about these drugs, she focuses on extreme cases (people going violent and stuff) which I don't care to read about so I only read parts of the book. I also ordered a book by Peter Breggin (I think that's his name). He seems to have a good take on why these drugs are so bad. And not as scary as the Tracy book from what I can tell. My family seems irritated that I'm researching so much, but I want to know why this is happening to me! It makes me feel better!!

Well, I've been taking advantage of the energy I seem to have now between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. I've been fixing up an apartment to rent and it's nice to have something to do. But I'm still really struggling. I feel sick to my stomach so much that it's hard to go for car rides. I also feel nervous all the time even though my mood is pretty good. I'm just so tired of being sick and tired. I knew it might get like this. Feeling this way into the third month is not easy. I try to remember that I don't have any more painful head sensations anymore, just very mild headaches in the evening. So there has been change/improvement. And my personality is back for the most part. I still don't like that I sleep so much and have unremitting dreams all night.

My naturopath has me on Omega-3 (I grind flax seeds) and she gave me liver support drops. I was scared at first but am starting them slowly. She's been great help.

Sarita...so glad you're feeling passionate again! I miss that so much, but you give me hope. It really sucks to lose feeling. My sex drive is worse than ever. It was OK the first month off the drug but now is almost gone. The drug is still "active" if you know what I mean...every time I'm on an SSRI my sex drive is like this -- empty.

[anonymous79]

I started taking 10 mil of Lexapro back in 2002 for severe depression and it really helped but after I started feeling less depressed I just stopped taking it. I didn't go through any withdrawel either. I've taken a lot of the SSRI's but nothing worked as well as the Lexapro did and should I ever become severely depressed again I would have my doctor put me back on it.

[OutbackJack]

did u guys ever think its not wd? its return symptoms of dep???

[TaraD]

Good evening to everyone

I hope this finds everyone well!!

Last night, I laughed my ass off for the first time in I don't know how long. Of course we were watching Jack Ass II, but still, this morning I woke up and my stomach and sides were still sore from laughing. It felt GREAT!!!! 1 month off Lex and I feel myself finally coming back. Knock on wood, I haven't had any panic attacks coming on, THANK GOD!! I just tell myself that I can deal with it. I'm fine, I'm healthy, and everything is going to be OK. If I can get thru withdrawals from Lex then I can conquer my attacks and anything else that comes along. I look back and I know that I'm in a different place with my life then when my Dr. put me on Lex and I am so glad I quit. The feelings that I was missing, or not realizing that I was missing. IT'S AMAZING. Everyone will get there, it will just take time. Don't give up. There were so many times at first that I wanted to go back to my Dr. and start something back, but I didn't and I'm glad.

We will all get thru this!!

[sarita]

HI PEOPLE!!!!
15 days off lexipro and i'm feeling fabulous!!! it's getting better and better. i'm alive, passionate, patient, happy, and i'm ready to face the world. i had sex. it was good. the sex part is taking the longest to come back. today i made a new friend, talked to lots of strangers, etc.....there is hope....

to answer outback....ALL THOSE SYMPTOMS WERE WITHDRAWAL.....however, you may be right that maybe, just maybe, some people are better on it. i went through that too, thinking i needed it, but LOOK AT ME NOW!!!!

skywalk,
yes. you get your period last. me, tavee, then you..you're so lucky you don't have PMS. i get period headaches.

teach,
hang in there. you are brain zapping. you'll get a little panic too but it shouldn't last long. just take a deep breath. stay calm and BELIEVE it when i say, it is only withdrawals.

[whiskey]

I am so glad I found this site...

I also finished tapering off Lexapro on Sunday and I've been on Wellbutrin for two and a half weeks....

And I am miserable!

I am an ICU nurse, so is my sister, and my dad is a pharmacist and NONE OF US or my doctor knew how bad this could be.

I have the same old symptoms I keep hearing mentioned, brain zaps, dizziness, nausea, etc.

My doctor put me on Meclizine (Drammamine) for the vertigo-like symptoms, but so far no relief.

I picked up some b-vitamins and omega 3's today.

I haven't looked at the last 200 pages of this (I mean, really, I can barely see straight or walk through the house without feeling sick, so can you blame me?) so if anyone has any more advice, let me know.

Is this going to end?

[Valroca]

Hi, I am a female 42 years old from Mexico, I´ll try to explain my self the best I can, my doctor put me on 10 m lexapro for 6 months, for panic attacks, but stayed on it for one and a half years, the first time I took this drug I felt like I was burning inside out, and felt like I wanted to die, nobody told me about this side effect,I started to feel ok after a month, but at first I started to lost weight, then everything changed,I gained a total of 37 pounds, so I talked to my doctor about no taking the medication anymore but he told me that even tough I never had a depression,I will always feel happy with the help of this little pill,o yeah he was right, because my car was stolen and yeah I didnt feel anything at all, this medication makes you like a sombie, no feeling, no sex, only food and my tv was enough for me, sounds familiar? well I saw my self in the mirror with this horrible weight I deside to taper , first from 10m to 7.5 for a week then I tried 5 but felt bad so I returned to 7,5 for another week , so after 15 days on 7,5 then tried again 5.0 felt alright,for a week , then 2.5 for another week, then only licking the rest of the pill that I left while cutting it, side effects? head aches, swetting at night, bloating, my eyes felt like I haven´t slept for a while, then after 10 days off the medication, my stomach felt like I had a desease, like I ate something bad, my last dose was in june , so I spend a summer feeling like a ballon, the only things I took to survive was omega 3 and multivitamins, that really help me a lot, but after 6 months off this drug I can tell you that you can really help yoruself feeling good by eating weel, fruits and vegetables,no caffeine,no chocolate, no cigarretes and a most...exercise, you have to move yourself off that couch, and try to exercise in the morning no after 5 oclock, because exercise keeps you alert,if you do it after 5 , you won´t sleep, that woul help for pms too, well, thank you for alla the help I got for teaching me how to get off this awful drug, and I hope that this information I write here will help others, like I did from this forum, god bless you

Rosalf

[aussie mum]

Hi,

I found this site last night as I was unable to sleep the entire night...to explain, two days ago I was prescribed Lexapro by my doctor for anxiety/panic attacks which come and go and the fact that I said that I have at least one day per week/fortnight where I am totally incapable of doing anything due to depression and feeling totally paralysed.

I have always resisted meds and have tried everything else under the sun to try to conquer my anxiety, but as I have been dealing with this since as long as I can remember and the fact that it has been exacerbated in the last 6 years due to having two children (age 3and 5) with a man who is emotionally abusive and controlling and who has fathered two children to another girl in that same time, I am emotionally bereft and thought it might help. I also resisted meds as I took zoloft breifly when I was 19 (I am now 27) when pot smoking, binge drinking, taking estacy, acid and a bit of speed for a few years had messed me up as had being in love with a chronic pot smoker who most likely was clinically depressed if not bi polar or something. Anyway, the zoloft made me feel so crazy and hyped up that I remember stopping it after just a few days.

nearly 8 years later, and with the huge stress of keeping things together for the sake of my boys, I had a major panic attack, I guess you would call it, over christmas/new year, from being alone, and the kids and I all coming down with some kind of virus. I decided that perhaps I should give meds a try. So on thurs my doctor heard the story and recommended Lexapro. I was to take 5 mg per day for four days and then up it to 10mg. That afternoon I took 5mg and felt spacey and a bit speedy for the rest of the day but was ok and was able to sleep. THe next day I worked in the morning and was still spaced out but handling it. Around lunch time I took the other half, so another 5mg. Was out in the sun for a few hours, then had to take the kids home and we all had a sleep. Felt pretty good and optimistic for the rest of the day, even was able to go out for dinner with friends and thought to myself I can actually enjoy this, rather than being racked by anxiety over what the kids are doing etc.
Then things started to go bad. At home i went to bed feeling exhausted (before dinner I had trained for 2 hours doing hard cardio stuff) at around 11pm. I couldnt sleep and had that lock jaw feeling and felt quite speedy. My head also had this intense pressure and when I closed my eyes i felt they would just spring back open. I lay there for a while and told myself it was just the brain being "flooded" by seritonin, as my doctor had told me would happen in the beginning ( I dont know if I interpreted that part right). However I contined to lie there feeling quite trippy but couldnt sleep. I got up and found that it was nearly 4am! and I was wide awake!
So I got up, started looking lexapro up on the net and found you guys. hmmm. I am thinking that there was not much wrong with me to begin with, besides some faulty coping mechanisms which in all honesty I could and have changed a fair bit on my own.

This drug has made me feel like I am on speed and acid at the same time. Granted, I dont feel anxious at all about this unfolding of events, but the wise voice inside tells me that perhaps my anxiety and depression, given a pretty **** situation was far more "normal" and managable than what this drug could potentially do to me.

My question is, does anyone know if there are any lasting effects on the body if you have only taken 10 mg of the stuff? As I could not drop off to sleep until 9.30am today, and spent the rest of the day sleeping on and off while checking on the kids now and then, I really cant justify taking it anymore. Will I have withdrawals from such a small amount? or is a little bit enough to do the damage? I realise that this is not a panel of experts, and the scary fact that noone really knows what these drugs do to the body, but any replies will be appreciated.

I still feel pretty trippy and concerned that I too will be having to cope with getting this drug out of my system for a while. I have to work on monday and I am hoping that this will serve as a timely learning experience that I get over before then and which reminds me that there really is no answer "out there" with anyone or any doctor, but that inside I have always had the resources to choose calm over anxious as a response to life, its just taken me a bit longer than I would have liked, to figure that out.

Thanks for reading.

[whiskey]

Aussie mum,

Get out while the gettin's good!

I wouldn't imagine you should have too many effects at this point. I think it takes a good couple of weeks to reach full effects anyway, so stopping now I should hope wouldn't hurt.

But I would DEFINITELY stop. I'd rather have panic attacks and be depressed than feel like this!

But I think the omega 3's and b-vitamins are helping. I feel ten times better today, although the day is young....

[sarita]

aussie,
i'm so sorry mostly for accepting an abusive man and hope you are working on that. i dont know your story, but i do know drugs, social or not, can mess with your seratonin levels. i beleive if you eat correctly, and learn to deal w/your stress. like me,..all my life i had a controlling mother. when i stood up for myself, we wouldn't talk for months even years cause she's just a nice lady. but, now, i just let her control me, say ok...whatever...i have to go...and then know it's just her, not me...and to not take it personally.
i wish you luck. i'd get off the lexipro if i were you, but if reality is too hard right now, there's nothing wrong with getting on it for awhile and then taper off slowly.

val,
everything you described i have felt. now, i am so happy to be off of it. i still have 30 days left for the drug to get out of my system but it's been 2 weeks off. and i'm so happy. i'm creative again. you don't need the drugs. eat healthy. take vitamins. omega 3 if you need it, and enough your life.