[tavee]

SARITAAAAAAAAAAA
HI SWEETIE!!

HOW MANY OMEGA 3'S DO U TAKE AND WHEN DO U TAKE THEM?
ALSO, WHAT KIND OF A MULTIVITAMIN ARE U ON AND HOW MANY DO U TAKE?

SO U ARE FEELING GOOD HUH? OH SARITA, I HOPE I WILL FEEL THE SAME ONCE I AM OFF IT. ITS DAY 6 ON 4ML. I STILL HAVE A WHILE TO GO.

GOOD LUCK HUNNY BUN!! IM SO HAPPY FOR U!

IM DOING OK EXCEPT FOR BEING A B***H CUZ OF PMS. EVERY LITTLE SOUND AND NOISE AND PERSON ANNOYS ME RIGHT NOW!!!I NOTICED THAT AFTER TAPERING PMS SYMTOMS LIKE THIS ARE MORE EVIDENT THAN WHEN I WAS ON LEX, I WONDER WHY???

TAVEE

[Skywalk]

Valroca,

Thanks SO MUCH for coming on these boards to tell us you got better. It's so helpful for the rest of us suffering. Sarita has stayed around and that's great too. I've read so many stories and it seems like those who went off cold-turkey or tapered fast start to get better at 5-6 months. I'm three months and one week off 10mg cold-turkey after being on it for 6 weeks and my stomach is killing me. I have pain in my gut most of the day now and have several bowell movements and there is a fealing of fear along with the pain. This started about 3-4 weeks ago. Sometimes I get a break from the pain and I notice that the fear goes away too. I'm sure it's related to the serotonin receptors in the gut. The first couple of months I had head pain/pressure, but that is almost gone now. Oddly, I felt better with head pain! The stomach is worse!! I'm eating well and taking Omega-3's and that's all I can do right now. Exercise is just too hard right now.

Sarita...so happy for you! Are you sure about the Lex going out of body after 45 days? I tend to think it's up to the body...and how fast the liver can kick it out. I know it's still in me. I'm in the body. Either way, sounds like you are out of this for good! Yay!

I just can't believe what a zombie this drug makes so many people. I realize a lot of people like it, too, and that's fine. But sadly I'm reading so many stories about people losing interest in their life and there is such a pattern of eating and TV watching!!! My friend's mom has been like that for four years on this stuff! She was active before Lexapro. She has no clue what has happened to her.

Tavee,
You are so cute! Glad you are doing OK too. Sorry about the PMS. How much longer do you have to go before you are tapered off this stuff?

Aussie mum,
How many days did you take Lexapro? It doesn't take long for the Lexapro at 10mg to cause problems. Sounds like you didn't take it for long, so you should be OK if you stop now. I got the spacey feeling on the drug and that's why I quit for the most part. I still have the spacey feeling (but I was on it for six weeks). I also had the jaw clenching and the insomnia, also more anxiety which really made me mad. It was awful. Now I have a whole host of different withdrawal problems. I sleep too much now and have terrible dreams all night.

[aussie mum]

thanks so much for your replies! Yes I am so lucky I found this site. It is quite ironic that I just went and took the lexapro, based on an assumption that it would help and the false sense of confidence that my gp would know what she was doing! Normally I read up on everything before jumping in. Ha ha, luckily I had the sense to google it and see what I was really getting into.

to answer your questions..I only took 5mg on thursday, then another 5 mg on friday. I felt ok but could definately feel something happening to me. Friday night I was as wired as somebody on speed and felt like I was on a mild acid trip. I havent done any drugs since I turned 20 and that was nearly 7 years ago. I havent even had a drink or smoke in that time either. I was completely wide awake until 9.30am the next day!!!!! So I didnt take anymore.

I was able to sleep at around 3 or 4 am last night but was lethargic all morning and had to drag myself out of bed. Its funny because this has made me realise that there is no answer OUT THERE, and whatever help you can get outside of yourself, you will always eventually exhaust (ie, friends, of which I have none left, family, of whom I have very little to do with etc etc) so for me, this lexapro trip has renewed my determination to make positive choices in my life and take responsibility for real, for changing the way I cope with life.

By getting through this lexapro thing without freaking out I realised how well I really do know myself and my anxiety habits and depressive tendancy. Ive been working on myself for 6 years and Ive realised that I do know what I need to do to improve my situation and I do have the power to stop feeling so powerless and thus anxious, overwhelmed and demotivated. Ive left a destructive relationship before, I quit recreational drugs cold turkey, I cured myself of an impulse control disorder (trichotillomania - hairpulling) and I have several times before broke free from the physcological trap of giving this man all my power...
So I am sure I can do it, as can all of you! It is nice however, to know you are not the only one struggling. What did people do before the internet??
Thanks for all the info and for reading my story. I will check back on here soon and have a read and also let you know how I am doing. I feel mostly ok but still feel like my insides are gently pulsing to a rythym that is not quite normal. One more thing - at the peak of my experience with lex I could swear I could smell this weird putrid smell, but my kids couldnt smell it and it felt like it was emanating from inside my own head - I am thinking it might have been a hallucination? also I still have this chemical taste in the back of my throat which comes and goes and basically feels really metallic and industrial. Perhaps I am just super sensitive to it or something - I also have come up with a rash of little lumps all along my fingers. It itches a little. Did anyone else experience anything like that?

Anyways thanks for reading such long posts and I wish everyone well for their recoveries xx

[rubiek]

Originally stated by aussie mum:
"this lexapro trip has renewed my determination to make positive choices in my life and take responsibility for real, for changing the way I cope with life."

Amen to that, aussie mum!

Almost three weeks off the Lex, and having passed the worst phase of withrawal, I clearly feel that it is totally up to me to get my life back and I have to make conscious efforts in doing so, carefully strategizing every single aspect of my life to break that vicious cycle. That's quite a challenge but the key must be not to overwhelm myself, and taking one small task at a time.

I too have noticed that my sense of smell has changed after taking Lexapro. My favorite shower gel does no longer smell nice, and it has not changed during the withdrawal phase.

[Seasick]

I really am anxious to know about when I can expect the weightgain to stopa nd for me to start to loose the weight I have gained over the last year being on Cymbalta for 4 months and then swtiching to Lexapro for another 5-6 months.

I am currently tappering off ([xx(])(and expect (after reading this message board) to be done taking Lexapro in the next 4 weeks (optomistically)

I seen many people asking about when they can expect to loose and no repsonses...

Please help!!!

[sarita]

seasick,
i was told you will lose some weight once you stop but there's not that much info on it. go to www.theroadback.org and find the link for weight loss help. they sell a product called CLA which i'm going to start tomorrow. it explains why that product works. i've gained 30 lbs myself. since being off lexipro for 2 weeks, i know i've lost the belly fat. i'm eating well but haven't worked out yet.

changing your attitude. being positive. being present. getting rid or the bad seeds or learning how to deal with them if you can't get rid of them. eating healthy.not stressing out over the little things. all these things will help the healing.

[Seasick]

Sarita,

Thanks for the response. I went out today and purchased a mulit-vitamin, EFA's and I had some Vitamin B complex, so hopefully that will help.

I have definetely gained alot in my stomach, my whole life Ive had a great stomach, my friends lovingly hated me for it....now I have rolls of fat. Glad to hear that for others the stomach fat goes pretty quickly.

[tavee]

SARITA AND SKYWALK

I JUST REMEMBERED THAT WHEN MY DOCTOR PUT ME ON LEX HE TOLD ME THAT THIS DRUG IS THE ONE WITH THE LEAST SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS!! YEAH RIGHT!!

WELL LET ME TELL YA, AND NOT TO BE PERSONAL. SEX SEEMS TO BE AMAZING RIGHT NOW!! IT IS MUCH MORE INTENSE THAN WHEN I WAS ON THE 10 MG.
IT SEEMS LIKE THE ORGASMS WERE NOT REALLY THERE BEFORE??? SARITA I DONT KNOW IF U KNOW WHAT I MEAN??? U HAD MENTIONED SOMETHING ABOUT THE SEX.

ANYHOO, I FORGOT TO TAKE MY 4 ML YESTERDAY AND I FELT IT A LITTLE SO I TOOK IT EARLY THIS MORNING AND I ADDED ANOTHER OMEGA 3.
IM DOING OK EXCEPT FOR PMS. HEY AS LONG AS THIS IS THE ONLY THING I FEEL, IM OK WITH THAT!!

HAVE A GREAT WEEK U GUYS!!WE CAN DO THIS!!!

TAVEE

[ineedhope]

Hi all
I myself seem to be suffering from withdrawals from Lexapro due to what i have read here... I was orginially on 20 mg for about 1 1/2 Before I decided to go off Lexapro I did a google search on withdrawel symptoms, and so i decided to wean off, i went from 20 to 10 for about 3-4 weeks.. and honestly didn't notice much in the way of side effects.. I do realize now i did have dizziness, thought it was a sinus infection but now that i'm off Lexapro completely I realize it wasn't a sinus infection at all... anyways i dropped from 10 to 5 for one week and a week ago i stopped all together, at first i was fine, but after about 5 days i started getting extreamly dizzy again thought it was a sinus infection, but after about 3 days on antibotics i now realize it is not a sinus infection, i notice when i sleep, when i first get up i'm not dizzy as i move around i start spinning, i'm totally losing hope here, i have a 12 year old daughter to take care of and a job to hold but i find it completely disheartening, my dizziness and pounding headaches are hard to get through.. I'm leaving right now to pick up some omega 3 and maybe some B12, and i may try some dramamine also. Does anyone have an answer for how long this will last or any other herbal anwsers, I can not stand being dizzy I have called my dr and waiting to hear back from her on options i can take. I've got one week under my belt so i'm not going back, and I keep telling myself "this too shall pass" but HOLY ****, someone help!

[Tamela11]

Hello all,, Just found you guys and wanted to give my story as well. I am 37 year old Female and I started 20 mg of Lexapro about 2 years ago.. I went to my GYNO about low libido.. He saw that I was on Lexapro and told me to get off.. Never said anthing about weaning. I am also on 150mg of Wellbutrin for smoking cessatation. Started that Nov 11th.. No smoking so far YEAH.. I had noticed that I went from 120 lbs at 5'4 to 145 today.. I am pretty sad about the weight gain. I tried to go cold turkey 2 weeks ago on the Lexapro and got the heart pounding, dizziness, hot flashes, and those Darn BRAIN ZAPS>. those are the worst. The back of my neck hurts and I have terrible headaches.. I went from 20mg to 10 mg for about a week. Felt terrible but that could have been because I got a really really bad cold that turned into Broncitis. Was on antibiotics for 3 days stayed in bed an entire week. My sleeping pattern sucks. I will go to bed at 11:00 and wake up at 4:00.. Then I am up for the day. I have been taking naps during the day for about 2 hrs. At night I have tried melatonin and benedryl and Alprazolam. I am wondering If I am being counter productive by taking the Alprazolam. ANyone else know the answer to that one? I have seen people using Omega 3.. How much do you take, When do you take and what does it help with? Also what about the mutivitamin. What kind do you use? Has anyone thought of a CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT??? IF so give me the info because I did not sign up for this withdrawl stuff. Sorry had to vent on that one. I am going to see my chroprator this evening and see if he has any advice for me.. I will post that later. I have since tapered from the 10mg to 5 mg for the past 3 days.. I am just feeling better from the cold and I still have the brain zaps.. Not as frequent but still there. Headache and dizzyness still there and that whole eyemovement jerking sensation. I also have tingly electric sensations in my legs.. Could that be restless leg syndrome or withdrawls? I know that I have posted alot here but wanted to get my story out.. Any advice would be appreciated especially with the omega 3 questions and the brainzap heartdrop sensations. Thank you and have a great day. Tamela

[Skywalk]

Tamela,

Everything you are going through is Lexapro withdrawals. I had (and still have some) of all the symptoms you mentioned. I even believe the bronchitis is a result of it. I still have sinus issues now. I remember the neck pain, but that went away or me after about a month. I still have a few heart drops once and a while -- I know they are scary, but they won't hurt you. Anyway, Tavee, Sarita and myself have been around for a while and we suggest reading old posts form Auntybiotic; page 46 has some good info. She sort of started this and did extensive research and I learned a lot from her postings.

Omega-3's are great during this. I get them by buying flax seeds (buy and keep in fridge) and grinding up 1-2 TBS daily in a coffee grinder. Some people do it from a fish source but that in itself can have toxins. But either way should be OK.

I also recommend a chiropractor and naturopath doctor. Sadly, most medical doctors are clueless about withdrawal symptom.

Xanex is probably OK but I have read that in rare cases the mix can cause seizures. But I have taken it throughout this ordeal and it seems fine. You should be fine if you already took it. Not sure about the melatonin. I had insomnia the first 6 weeks after getting off the drug, but now I sleep too much.

Withdrawals can vary in time. Most people can recover fast, but I;m a slow metabolizer and this drug was toxic for my liver so it's been 3 months off the drug for me and I still have issues. But the drug also did not work for me and I think that is part of the problem. And I quit cold-turkey. Hang in there...you'll get through.

Tavee: Sounds like you are doing well...that's great. Glad you have a good sex drive. I'm jealous. Mine is worse than ever right now and I'm not sure why. I mean, I know it's from the Lex, but it was never this bad. As soon as I got the stomach problems a few weeks ago the sex drive went to nothing. I guess it's realated. I can only function now between noon and 6 p.m. because I wake up trying to pull myself out of a bad dream and then for a couple hours I deal with stomach problems. After about 6 p.m. I'm exhausted and have some anxiety and more depersonalization. Ahh...I can't believe all of this. Be so glad you are going off this drug slow!!!

[Skywalk]

P.S. ...Tamera...forgot to mention, you can spread the Omega-3 on food, you don't have to eat it straight. I didn't have a coffee grinder, but it was worth it to buy one. You will not get the benefit from Omega-3 in flax seeds unless you grind them. It's easy to do.

I FOUND A GOOD OLD POST FROM BODYELECTRIC AND THOUGHT I WOULD PASTE IT BELOW. IT REALLY HELPED ME TO FIND IT TODAY SINCE I HAVE SOME ISSUES WITH MY FAMILY NOT BELIEVING THAT MY PROBLEMS ARE WITHDRAWAL RELATED:


I don't have to tell you what the withdrawal symptoms were like. And in addition to the physical symptoms (nausea, brain zaps, etc), there are emotional symptoms as well. Feelings of worthlessness, lack of motivation, lack of energy. I thought I was "losing it." That's when I found Aunty and this forum.

The withdrawal symptoms would seem to go away a little bit, then they'd come back. Or I'd get new withdrawal symptoms. This messes with your head, because you start to wonder if you're making them up -- and so does your family. You start to wonder if you're whining unnecessarily, and if you really SHOULD be medicated. You wonder if you should give up and just go back on the meds and rely on pills to make you feel somewhat decent for the rest of your life.

Hey -- give yourself a break. You're not making it up. Your life really does suck right now, but the symptoms will pass. It gets better, but sometimes it gets worse first. So go ahead and feel sorry for yourself for about 5 minutes, then make a commitment to do what you can to help the process along. There's no use fighting it, so accept your situation and work from there.


It's only now -- 6 months after my last Lexapro -- that I have been able to exercise and really make a commitment to healthy living. I lost some weight while in the hospital early this year and then from having the flu, so now I'm trying to rearrange the weight I have and then add some more in the right places.

My advice? Let time do the work. Don't force yourself to do things your body doesn't want you to do. Just go along for the ride and believe things will get better. Things happen when they're supposed to. When it's time for you to exercise, you will exercise. When it's time for the symptoms to go away, they will go away.

There are few things we really have control over -- just make the most of those few things, and this process will be much easier on you. Stuff like diet, supplements, keeping a regular schedule, and most importantly...attitude.

[ineedhope]

Thanks Skywalk, Even though the response wasn't for me, i'll take the advice, i'm really at the end of my rope, and just really losing the battle, i keep looking at the bottle of lexapro just knowing i could take it and feel normal again, my head and eyes hurt so bad and i can't stand up for more than 1/2 hour, maybe i am going a little crazy

[VA Help]

I posted in this forum back in November and just wanted to give an update. I had only taken Lexapro for 4 weeks and stopped in mid October. Most of my withdrawel issues pertained to brain zaps and headaches which lasted for about 8 weeks. Finally in late December for a few weeks I was feeling good again and thought I had kicked the withdrawls. Unfortunately the headaches are back and at their worst. So now three months off of Lexapro and I am turning to a neurologist because my doctor still does not believe that Lexapro is the cause. I have no idea when this ordeal will end and if it has caused any lasting damage to my brain.

[sarita]

VA,
I too suffer from migraines. I went to a neurologists who wanted to put me on meds of course. I decided to keep a journal and i discovered most of them were hormonal. i'd get them during pms and during/after my period. i also get a few others, and this week i'm going to an allergists to see if it's food. i did get a mri of the brain just to get sure. also, i'm going to a sinus specialists cause lots of the headache is in my sinus.
hope this helps....

tavee,
you are TOO funny. i had great sex too and it's been like 2 years since i had an O. hee hee. it's so awesome.

for all you suffers, use me as hope. i too have had most of the symptoms you all have, but now, thank god, i am happy, healthy, full of energy, creativity, life, and my husband has his wife back, the one he married.

[WillSing4Gumbo]

Wow, am I glad I found this msg board!!!!

I started 10 mg Lexapro about a year ago following Hurricane Katrina. Like everyone else in this devastated area (The Mississippi Coast), we lost everything and have to look at the reminders daily. It just got to be too much for me, so I went to my doc and got an Rx. Well, I don't know if that was the right idea. I have tried to get off it twice with mixed and unpleasant results. I have always been a believer in overcoming problems and situations with willpower and determination, but Katrina and Lexapro proved me wrong.

My withdrawals have made me feel manic and anxious. I don't have the vertigo, but the hot flashes and sweats are HELL!! I also have brain farts and memory lapses. Today, after being off about 10 days, I drove into New Orleans and liked to have freaked out. The sadness was overwhelming- kinda just like the day the storm hit. I thought I was gonna have to pull over and regroup. I have also been short tempered and cannot sleep. When I DO sleep, I have these weird, vivid dreams that trouble me long into the daytime. I will even "flash back" to these nightmares during the day, and it causes me great distress. PTSD is a possibility, but when I am on the Lexapro, the feelings and dreams stop.

Like many of y'all, I have wanted to be free of the drug for some time now. My doctor is very sympathetic, but since he is also a dear friend and almost died in the storm, he probably is dealing w/ some of his own demons. If I DO get back on it, I feel like I have let myself and my family down for becoming dependent on the meds. Right now, NOT being on it is not cool. Each time I quit, the nightmares and stuff start again. I do not drink alcohol or use any drugs. Is there any way to do this without losing my mind? Is a runny nose and malaise a symptom of withdrawals? I am really worried about this!! I have a grandbaby on the way and I don't want him to see his Mimi like this. There are days I feel I am losing my mind.

Thanks y'all. I do feel for those of you who are also suffering thru this and about the teenagers having a rough go of it. My daughter was on Lexapro for only a couple weeks after the storm, and thank goodness she didnt feel she needed it and quit w/ no adverse reaction. And y'all are right, our teenagers can behave strangely, so how do we know if they are just being teens or really have a serious problem? How can those of us in the Gulf know if we are reacting normally to what happened here 8.29.05 or if we really need the meds?

I hope I can tough it out.

Shalom and thanks to everyone.
[8]

WillSing4Gumbo

[Skywalk]

Iminneed,

Glad my post helped. This is an open forum for anyone looking for help. I don't know what I would do without it. You tapered very fast so no wonder you are having a tough time of it. Unfortunately, the withdrawal symptoms don't often show for about 5-7 days after the last dose. By then you wonder if you should go back on it or stay the cold-turkey course. I stopped cold-turkey and it's been a living nightmare. You may want to think about going back on it if the withdrawals get too hard. But I'm no expert on that since I didn't taper. Sarita and Tavee know a lot about tapering. If you stick it out, know that it will pass, but it can be a long road. I'm very sensitive so I've been hit really hard. Others often get better in days/weeks...not months, like me.

[Skywalk]

Don't be fooled...runny nose, sinus issues/headaches and fatigue are all symptoms of side effects ON the drug and withdrawal OFF the drug.

[Seasick]

WOW!!

Everyones stories are really inspirational....but I have to say, I didn't expect this am realizng now whats ahead.

I spoke with my doctor after deciding to go off Lexapro and she said to go from my prescribed 10, to 5 for one week, then 5 every other day for one week, then quit. The End. That is all she said...and that was on my voicemail...... After quitting completely for 4 days I started with what you all have, vertigo, sick to my stomch, overly emotional.....

so my new husband (poor thing) found this message board and now Im just depressed even more. What the hell, weeks and months of symptoms...it's rediculous. seeing that after 8 weeks some people are having trouble is so aweful. It pisses me off actually. I should have just dealt with it on my own and never tried the drugs. Cymbalta made me twitch and I moved around so much in my sleep that my husband actually videotaped me because I didn't believe him (he is a jokster...) so my doctor said that Lexapro could cause "some" weight gain. "Some" turned out to be me going from 132ish to 154.... I have managed to sqeak down to 150.5, but I have had to fight like hell to accomplish that and if I even breath NEAR chocolate Ill gain that back.

So right now I'm just plain pissed off that this is our deal.

It's funny, all I can think of right now is "Put on your big girl panties and deal with it"

uhhhg.

Thanks for the vent session

[auntybiotic]

Hi Everyone it's Aunty, I started this post quite a while ago and am so glad that it continues to help so many....including me!!

My daughter is still tapering SOOOOOOOO SLOW! She has been doing very well with very little symptoms except for mood liability and stomach cramps that last about a week after the taper. For those that do not remember, she was put on 20 MMg of lexapro for TMJ problems they thought were stress related..she had a drug interaction with the antibiotic Biaxin that affected the P 450 system and the body actually INCREASED the levels of the lexapro due to the interaction..................thus the nightmare began.

For those of you that cold turkeyed....it can take about 18 months before you may begin to see a definate improvement in your stautus........similiar to a stroke victim.

After being off the lexapr cold turkey for 5 weeks there is no turning back.................prior to 5 weeks you can sucessfully reinstate after a cold turkey and begin a slower taper. The damage done to neuro transmitters in the brain after suddenly stopping lexapro can be compared to pulling a rug from under your feet.......very hard to go back to normal as the neurotransmitters in the brain began functioning with the aid of the reuptaked serotonin. By very slowly tapering you are enabling the brain to get acclaimated to functioning with lesser and lesser amounts of the lexapro. There are still withdrawals but believe me....even with a 5% withdrawal............the symptoms can be devestating.

My daughter can handle a 1 to 2 % decrease about every two weeks and still maintain a A average in school and have miminal symptoms but it takes SO long. My end result is to have her brain able to function well after the lexapro..................that is the important factor.

Ask any questions and i will try and answer to the best of my knowledge. I have talked to hundreds of lexapro withdrawers and have heard so many stories...they are all so similiar.The ones that cold turkeyed have the symptoms that seem to linger on for about 18 months. The symptoms wax and wane.

Omeg3 would start at a dosage of 1,000 Mg as directed by manufacturer and could increase to 3 a day.

I want to thank everyone for making this post one of the most visited on the Forum...........your experiences have helped me to cope with the sometimes frustrating reality of lexapro withdrawal.

Good Luck to all of you.

Aunty

[chrissy87]

Hi, I just found this thing, and wow.. I had no idea there were so many people out there having the same problems I am. I'm 19 years old and on lexapro, my doctor put me on it a few months ago because I had lost so much weight from gastrointestinal problems, and had gotten really depressed about it. I just recently found out what the side effects are, and I wasn't warned at all so I was completely clueless as to what was happening to me. I had been through so much already that I didn't really think about it.. I just liked that the lexapro was making me "feel good". Well, it was for a while, at least..

I honestly don't remember much. All I know is that about a month ago I started getting frustrated because didn't seem to be moving in a positive direction (I've been really suffering from digestion problems and have been trying so hard to figure out what foods can help me gain some weight back. I got so far down I could barely walk.) I have gained some weight since then, but after reading a book about antidepressant side effects and withdrawals, I started to freak out.

It's like the drug that was supposed to help me has actually acted like a road block to gaining my health back. I've had just about all of the serious side effects, I think. I may have had some sort of mental illness before, but honestly, I'd give anything to be back the way I was. I think the lexapro really helped me out of a slump I was in.. but I just wish the doctor had warned me about side effects.

I tried getting off a couple times. I would explain how but I don't remember exactly.. all the psychiatrists say is go down to 5 mg for two weeks and then 5 every other day. But every time I go down to 5.. I can't even handle it for one day. I've been starting and stopping for a while. I think if I wasn't physically sick as well it would be a lot easier.

I tried taking this "mood formula" to help, but I don't know if it's a good thing or not. It has SAM-e, St. John's Wort, N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine, GABA, Chamomile, Valerian, 5-HTP, and DMAE in it. I'm going to stop taking it right now, I think.. I'm afraid it may be making things worse. Seems to be a trend with medications..
Oh well. I really hope I'm making sense. I haven't been doing that much lately. If there is any advice/information about lexapro/basically any help anyone wants to give would be so greatly appreciated.

I'm just trying to get through the day without going completely crazy. If I do that I feel like I've accomplished a lot..
This board is like a lifesaver. I hate that other people are going through the same things, but it does feel really good to know that I'm not alone.

I'll take all the guidance and support I can get right now. I'll try to post more when I feel like I have a better grip on reality.
Thanks auntybiotic (cute name, by the way) for creating this board and thank you all for any help you can give me!

[Skywalk]

Aunty,

Wow! I've wanted to thank you for all your info and for starting this post, but thought you were long gone. You're an amazing mother for looking so hard for answers to make your daughter's nightmare easier to deal with. I've gone off of Paxil and Prozac before with few problems, so when deciding to stop Lexapro 10mg cold turkey after a six week trial, I didn't think much about it. But like so many others, I got the manic reaction right after stopping and then mood swings, carb craving, dizzy/headaches, neck pain, insomnia, bad anxiety and depersonalization/derealization (had the last three symptoms while on the drug and that's why I quit).

It's now been 3 months and 1 week off the drug and while my mood is stable I have terrible stomach problems, exhaustion, vivid dreams, too much sleep, anxiety and depersonalization. The depersonalization is the worst and the reason I depend on my fiance for care. I can't even get around a grocery store on my own with this symptom. I'm very lucky to have him care and support me as my parents and a couple friends of mine think this might just be "my own anxiety" or a mental illness I have developed. I only had panic attacks while driving on the freeway and that's why I started this drug. I was happy and had very little anxiety before Lexapro. If others around me knew knew I had hit my head in a car accident, would they expect me to drive and do normal things? Of course not! But that's how bad I feel and the reason I don't ever drive far at all right now. The withdrawal makes me feel like I have a brain injury. Another symptom I think I got from Lex and have not mentioned before is floaters in my vision. I have brown spots in my vision and I'm almost certain now it has something to do with the Lex.

Anyway, thanks again for helping so many. By reading old posts and relating myself to posters like Redbled and Miss Lee I find comfort knowing this nightmare will end. I know I'm a slow metabolizer (I did well on very small doses of Prozac and Paxil before and probably why I did not have bad withdrawals). I had no idea 10mg of Lex was high. I can't believe your daughter was started on 20mg. It's really a crime.

I take my Omega-3's and have read Tracy's book (a little scary, though). I also stay on these boards to help myself and others since the medical community is so clueless about this.

From all my research is sounds like the first turning point (for those who cold turkeyed) comes at six months, and then gets better at the one year mark, and then really ends at the 18 month mark...does this sound about right? I know we're all different, but this sounds like the case for those like myself that got hit hard.

Glad you're back! Thanks so much!!

[ineedhope]

Hi Aunty,
I have read through the whole forum and read your story I was actually unsure if you still visited. I'm curious on what dosage your daughter has made it down to now I see you started this mess back in 2005 and i have been praying for her wondering how she was doing. I'm 34 and i'm unsure how to handle this, i'm just thinking of how difficult it must be for her... I have started the omega 3/6 it already stated on the bottle to take three daily you think that is too much? they are 1200 mg, I noticed you said to start with one a day? I went from 20 to 10 mg with few to minimal side effects I do realize now i was dizzy for about 2 days but that is it..then i remained on 10 mg for about 2 months then three weeks ago i went to 5 mg for one week then the thursday before new years i stopped, like you said I did not feel any side effects until the following wednesday, so it was about 6 days since last wed i have been extreamly dizzy, i must say i have had no other side effects, luckily, no brain zaps no sweating, the dreams are normal dreams just really vivid no nightmares, I'm wondering if you advise i should go back on 5 mg for a while and then cut them into 2.5, do you consider what I did "cold turkey" I do NOT want to suffer for 18 months nor do i want permanent damage done, I am going to see my dr tomorrow but i'm unsure if she will even have any idea of any of this, and it seems you have more expirance (sadly) than any of us. My husband has been good but i'm unsure how long his patience will last, as for my little girl, 12, I am unsure how long she will understand mommy isn't feeling well. Please let me know what you think, i'm very curious... I would hate to have to go back on this, but if you think it will prevent further damage to myself, nor do i think i can live with this dizziness for much longer.

Skywalk
I'm so sorry to hear that you are still going through all this, I do not know how you've kept your strength, but I pray that god continues to help you through all this, Keep your chin up, i guess we all know it just can't get any worse!

Sheri

[tavee]

SKYWALK

THATS SO WEIRD HOW U SAID THAT U HAVE NIGHTMARES. I EXPERIENCED SOMETHING LAST NIGHT. I DONT KNOW IF THIS HAS TO DO WITH PMS EITHER BUT IT COULD. I HAVE BEEN SOOOOOO TIRED THESE LAST 2 DAYS THAT WHEN I WAS SLEEPING LAST NIGHT, I HAD NIGHTMARES AND I COULDNT WAKE MYSELF UP. EVEN WHEN I WAS NAPPING IN THE AFTERNOON, I WAS HAVING BAD DREAMS. IN MY DREAMS, I WAS TELLING MYSELF I HAVE TO WAKE UP, BUT I COULDNT CUZ I WAS SOOOOOOOO SLEEPY. IS THAT WEIRD OR WHAT?

I KNOW A LONG TIME U HAD MENTIONED VIVID NIGHTMARES. IS THAT WHAT U MEANT?

TAVEE

[Patience]

Hello Skywalk and others,

I just want to thank you for taking the time to write your experiences down for the rest of us. It has been my only sort of salvation to be able to read through these postings and know that I'm not crazy or going to die!
I actually took Effexor for about 8 weeks and then quit cold turkey on Sept 15, 2006. My withdrawals have been really weird, as they change almost daily and wax and wane in severity. I have experienced bad muscle tightness and pain, dry eyes, fatigue, nasuea and abnormal skin sensations (kind of like a burning sensation under and on my skin. Last wekk I had weird chest pain/burning. WEIRD!! I too and waiting for it to end. My feelings of depersonalization finally went away about 3 weeks ago and have not returned, so that's nice! But I still have major muscles soreness in my back, shoulders, neck and back of my legs...?!

This article has REALLY helped me too (it talks about actually having a reaction from the antidepresant):

http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/reaction.htm

Thanks!!!

[rubiek]

Patience -- Thank you for sharing the wonderful article! It's so specific about what to do, and no to do, during withdrawal period, which is great. I never knew that taking much B-vitamins during withdrawal actually does harm.

Tavee & Skywalk -- I too have just had a nightmare! I always see very vivid dreams as if I were in a movie theatre (there is a plot, everything is in color, lots of actions--very exciting indeed), but still dreams I see nowadays are bit weird. At the end of this dream, I was with total strangers in the early 19th century "Little House on the Praire"-esque setting, hiding myself under the table in the middle of the airborne raid. Thank god, it was a dream. So weird!

So, after reading the article provided by Patience, I now clearly see that nightmare is part of the reaction to the nervous system sensitivity experienced during withdrawal. Hmmm, interesting. I am definitely committed to have healthy diet to help ease the recovery.

Speaking of alkaline acid diet is helpful for the recovery, here are the symptoms of excess acidity diet, just FYI:

[b]Who is this diet (alkaline acid diet) for?[b/]

This diet is for people who feel unwell on a high fat, low carb diet. It is also for people lead stressful lives and who consume large amounts of acidifying foods such as protein, sugar, processed food, cereals, starches, and caffeine, with little alkalinizing vegetables.

What are the symptoms of excess acidity?

* Low energy, chronic fatigue
* Excess mucous production
* Nasal congestion
* Frequent colds, flus, and infections
* Nervous, stressed, irritable, anxious, agitated
* Weak nails, dry hair, dry skin
* Formation of cysts, such as ovarian cysts, polycystic ovaries, benign breast cysts (fibrocystic breasts)
* Headaches
* Joint pain or arthritis
* Neuritis
* Muscle pain
* Feel better after a detox diet
* Hives
* Leg cramps and spasms
* Gastritis, acid indigestion

(Source: http://altmedicine.about.com/od/popu...kalinediet.htm)

Best wishes to you all

[ineedhope]

Hi all,
I just wanted you to know i took 5 mg last night, i woke up this morning wonderful.. dizziness is gone!!!!!!! Thank you skywalk for your suggestion, I am going to the drs today and will ask for liquid and go off the 5 mg MUCH SLOWER!!!!!

[Skywalk]

Patience...thank you so much for the link to that article! That's exactly how I feel! I started to cry as I read it. I try to push myself every moment I feel better only to crash again. Now I feel like I'm validated when my gut says "take it easy" so my body can heal. I just didn't want my family/fiance to think that I was going to be permanently sick. Now I can print that article and give it to them. Although, I'm so lucky to have such an amazing fiance. He says he knows I will get better and to take care of myself. I'm so glad I did not have a job when this happened (but was starting a business I have to delay now). But I have reached acceptance that I'm in this for the long haul and I vow to make my life richer and fuller and healthier (!) after this.

Also, Patience, glad to hear your depersonalization is gone! That gives me hope. That is my single worst symptom. Everytime I go into a store with bright lights everything looks like a dream world to me. I feel like a mouse in a maze. Sometimes it's so bad I have to hold my fiance's hand. Things just don't look real. At least now when I talk to people one-on-one they look real (in natural or low light). So there has been a slight improvement. I know you took Effexor but it's a close cousin.

I will never take any of this poison again. There are other ways to manage anxiety; ways not promoted because drug companies cannot profit.

[Skywalk]

Hey...if anyone is interested, I wrote to the PBS show "NOW" about exposing the truth about anti-depressant withdrawal. They are non-commercial and often touch subjects other media outlets will not. Anyone reading this interested in backing me up, please write to them about the devastating withdrawals. Here is a link to their comment page: http://www.pbs.org/now/feedback.html. It's worth a shot and the more people who write in the better. Thanks!

[Polar Bear]

Hello!

I typed this message last night and meant to respond to this topic and accidentally started a new one called Lexapro. I wanted to share this with everyone in this topic too.

I just found this forum tonight because I have been on 10 mg of Lexapro for about 3 years. I was diagnosed Bipolar in October. I found a med (Lamictal) that works well and my psychiatrist said to go down to a 1/2 pill for a week once I got to a certain dosage of my other meds and then stop. I have been off less than a week and I am having those shocking sensations in my head and I was crying all day yesterday and couldn't understand why because my bipolar meds have really helped. I noticed the change when I went off the Lexapro. I have tried to quit cold turkey a couple of times for a few days and went back on. I experienced that same shocking sensation in my head and moodiness. I didn't know then that you were supposed to taper off and this was before my bipolar diagnosis. I called my psychiatrist tonight and he said that it is a side effect of going off Lexapro and said it should be better in a week. Then I read what everyone was saying in this forum and took a 1/2 Lexapro tonight. I am going to taper off much more slowly. Why doesn't a psychiatrist know this? I don't understand how doctors could not know about tapering off slowly. That is really disturbing to me.

I feel better that I have an answer to the way I have been feeling. I believe it is better to trust our bodies rather than doctors. I want to thank everyone for sharing, it really helps.