[Seefour]

quote:It makes me so sad thinking about how hard this is for so many people coming off lex and other drugs. I hate the way our world now doesn't know how to really help people with there feelings so we are given pills to take away the pain. I saw a shrink who wanted me to take another antidepressant because lex was seriously messing up my sleep. Then what about the side effects of the other antidepressant? I'm sure he'd want to give me another pill for those.

I hear that, I have a doctor appt on monday, and I know as soon as I tell this doctor that I stopped ssri treatment cold turkey, he will want to put me on another anti-depressant. I know better now though, I will never touch these things again, all's they did for me was turn a mole hill into a mountain, and prolong my anxiety for at least 2 months now, which they where supposed to treat. These drugs should be seriously investigated, and like someone else said, reserved for those who TRUELY need it, those in the deepest darkest pits of depression, not those who are simply having panic attacks, which can be overcome in so many different ways, or those feeling a little bit down, which can also be beaten by other means. It boggles the mind how they give these dangerous drugs out like candy, And something needs to give, restrictions need to be put on these things, those in the know should be the ones to prescribe these pills. I actually did ask questions when I was being prescribed lexapro, and you know what I got? "I'm not an expert on this medication" That should have set up a warning flag for me right there, but I was so desperate to be over my anxiety I wasn't thinking straight. "I'm not an expert on this medication" that's a phrase that should never come out of someone's mouth before they prescribe you life altering drugs with dangerous side effects and prolonged withdrawal potential.

Wow, sorry for the rant. lol

[MaryB]

Thanks Mr. Spock! Very good information...

Good luck Seefour at the doc... I haven't told my Doc yet either that I quit mine. I have fibromyalgia which (better find some wood to knock on) has been very tollerable. Not bad enough to have meds anyhow. I totally agree with you felly on them handing out these kinds of meds like candy. I wasn't even depressed and my doctor prescribed this for a symptom of my fibromyalgia. (embarassing to say but I had extreme constipation) I am only able to say that to agree with your posting.. My Doc said almost all patience with fibro are on SSRI's so this should help. Well... as I said, I was doing quite well WITHOUT any meds except for that slight problem. I wanted a quick fix and though. So, I agreed. Now I am depressed! Luckily, I will get past this but geeesh! Now if only I can lose the 10 pounds I gained in the last 4 months. (I know, only 10 pounds... I am 5'1" and normally about 113 pounds. Regular weight but 10 pounds on this small body is ALOT... especially around the stomach area) The point is... Yes, these Docs really should try to not hand out these so much... I think she thought I would just take this drug forever tho with my fibro...
I think I vented to, lol.... BTW felly.... I haven't had the cravings until the last 2 nights... Never gonna get rid of those pounds that way[] GL!

[Skywalk]

wOW...

[Skywalk]

Oops! I started to type and I posted before I could finish

[Skywalk]

Anyway...I was starting to write...wow, sounds like a lot of us woke up frustrated with the way we've all been duped into taking this stuff. My fiancee and I talked about it for a long time when we woke up. We try to stay positive knowing that we will NEVER take any drug without doing serious research. The FDA cannot be trusted.

I know what you mean, Patience, I wish we could all get over this together in a commune! I'm currently looking for an adultsitter for myself as my fiancee will be traveling for work again. I have too much anxiety at night and my depersonalization is bad at night, too. I fear I might need to go stay with my parents, but that in itself can drive me crazy. Ugh!

Mr. Spock...nice to hear from you! I feel like I already know you because I've read the whole forum. So did all your Lexapro related symptoms go away? I'm sorry to hear you have CFS; that's tough. I wish you the best and hope you beat it. Thanks for the reminder about being patient. I am such a go-go-go gal and staying around my house all day because I'm so sick is almost intolerable for me.

Felly and Seefour: Are you both about a month off of Lex? Try to remind us sometimes if you can, it helps to know where you are at. The first and second month off I had serious carb cravings. I was bloated and gained weight. Today I have no cravings and I'm back to my normal weight with no bloating. But I was not on the drug long enough to gain weight. I just gained while I had the carb cravings off the drug. Don't worry, it will go away. Soon you won't have to run to the kitchen at 3 a.m. to get a snack.

Getting: Yeah, glad to know I'm not the only one dealing with sinus issues. I've been coughing and sneezing and blowing my nose a lot lately. And I'm 100% sure it is not a cold. It's...different.

Rub: How are you?

I'm almost 4 months off of Lexapro after taking 10mg for six weeks.

[Skywalk]

Oh, yeah...the insomnia should improve, too. I've been sleeping normal hours for two months now. I remember being awake feeling like a drug addict, too. I think I could only get four hours of sleep a night on and two months off the drug. I sleep now, but I live a whole other life with the vivid dreams!

I also can relate to family not understanding. My parents are still puzzled. And since I have a mild form of panic disorder, I must "have issues." Give your family a copy of the antidepressantfacts that I posted a link to a few pages back. It's got info about how to tell your family about this condition.

[Seefour]

Yep skywalk it's been about a month for me off of lex.
I find when I get to sleep, I generally sleep around 7-8 hours, which isn't bad. But, I have to be to the point of total exhuastion to drift off to sleep. I'm starting to suspect that my swallowing problem is somehow related to my stomach, as earlier today I was having pretty horrible heartburn that lasted at least 20 minutes, also when I wake up, there is clicking in my throat when I swallow, which usually goes away within an hour. So the main suspect is lexapro induced GERD, does this make sense to anyone else? I used to get heartburn before lexapro, but it was nothing major. I'm gonna leave it to the proffesionals to decide though.

Also probaly dosen't help that I smoke. I actually tried quitting about a week ago, but two withdrawals at the same time really did me no good. I started getting violent rage, I still get angry easy, but nothing like when I was trying to quit. The ciggeretes are gone once this is all over though!

Anyway, just checking in too, hope everyone is feeling at least some sort of relief.

[sarita]

HI EVERYONE!!!
i miss you guys. how is everyone? i just wanted you all to know that i'm [u]STILL</u> doing fabulous. i'm healthy and happy. no depression. no anxiety. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!! hang in there. it'll get better.

still haven't lost weight and the libido is still hmmmmmmmm// ok...not great. but i heard it takes 90 days for all that to start going back to normal.

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!

[Seefour]

Sarita that's great news, so there is light at the end of the tunnel..
how long have you been off?

[auntybiotic]

Felly, Getting better and Everyone,

Thanks for the prayers...............she is from 20 Mg to 7.4 but I have to go so slow because she is sensitive to the horrible withdrawals if I speed it up.

Mr. Spock,

This is reunion week!!! How is Austrailia and you? I think about you often amd miss hearing your words of wisdom and encouragement. Glad you are doing better.

I do not still have your email. Had to get a new computer. I think my other one was bugged but that is a story in itself............you know the break up relationship syndrome.

Email me thru this site and I will get back to you.

Felly, Now what do you think I look like. I am so curious. I have visions of what Mr. Spock on here ooks like....a handsome, sexy dark hair hunk driving a fast sports car.....am I right?

aunty

[Getting Better]

I CAN'T STOP EATING!!!

And I'm not even premenstrual

[Mr Spock]

Hi Aunty,
I was unable to e mail you through the forum. I think I remember getting a message from Drugs.com stopping general access some time ago. Anyway, I have a couple of e mail addresses, so I'll give you the Yahoo one on the forum here, and my "real one" when I reply to you privately. The Yahoo address is idg3h2@yahoo.com, so write to me there...
As Felly (another Aussie will tell you), its pretty hot over here being our summer. I live about 700 metres (or yards) from the beach, here on the Central Coast, about an hour north of Sydney on our east coast. Its a beautiful sunny day, but I think the water is a bit cold, so I may wander down tomorrow. As for what I look like, I'll let you use your imagination until I respond to you privately...
Following on from yesterday, I do have some other suggestions for you all, which I also try to practise.
First of all, good sleep, and detox. So cut down or stop coffee tea, alcohol, nicotine etc.
Second, modest exercise. Try and go for a walk every day if you can. You may feel better in the evening rather than the morning, so go then.
Next, try some relaxation techniques and strategies. I quite often lie on the couch (sofa), close my eyes and count breaths to say 500, and then maybe back. Of course your mind will fight it or try and sabotage it, but persevere mindful of the fact that this practice is lessening the strain on your mind and body and also helping you heal faster. It may help lessen any anxiety... The other excellent relaxation strategy is to hop in a nice hot bath and stay in there for at least 45 minutes, preferably an hour. Make it a celebration of indulgence and luxury, perhaps some bath salts, some relaxing background music, or a good book. We are all aware that the mind and the body are one, and studies have shown that if you can relax your body, which a hot bath will do, your mind will benefit as well.
Finally look at your diet and consider supplements. You may have a sensitivity (for instance to preservatives) or you may not be getting enough of what you need. I wouldn't go overboard, but just make sure you eat some fruit and vegetables every day, and take it easy on the carbos!! As far as supplements go, a good multi-vitamin and mineral, and maybe some omega 3/6/9 (which is really good for the brain)could be enough. I also take magnesium, which is also really good for the nervous system, and helps sleep.
I'll pop in again at some stage, until then keep at it, you will win.
Peace and long life.

[Rissy]

I'm so happy I found all of you! This forum is a godsent!

I was on 10 mg of Lexapro for about a year and quit cold turkey two weeks ago. I now know that I should have probably tapered off but at this point I feel I've endured too much to turn back.

My first week was filled with dizziness, nausia, headaches, etc.

Oddly, day 10 and 11 were great. I felt on top of the world and thought the battle was over.

Then the depression, axiety, irritability, anger, crying fits, etc. set in. I sat here at my computer at wept while reading all your stories. I'm soooo happy to find a place to go to for strength and encouragement.

Just a few questions...

how have your families dealt with your withdrawals. My boyfriend is frustrated with my behavior and obviously doesn't understand what this feels like. Any advice?

Also, I've heard some of you have had body aches/pains, etc. Here's a strange and embarrasing question for you women out there. Have any of you experienced any tenderness in your breasts, particularly your nipples? Mine are so sore that I cringe at the thought of a bra. At first I thought this might be PMS but I've never experienced such pain in the past.

Thanks Again!

[Patience]

Rissy:

I have felt that weird tenderness on my breasts just the past 2 weeks. It feels like the nerve related pain. odd though and different than PMS tenderness.

I quit cold turkey and have been off for 4.5 months already.

[Rissy]

Well, I guess I spoke to soon when I said the diziness and nausea had subsided... wrong! As I was flossing my teeth tonight the nausea came back with full force...ugh!

Patience:Thank you for your response! I'm glad to know I'm not the only once experiencing the weird tenderness... ouch!

[db3]

HELLO EVERYONE!

I havent been around in weeks ..because ive been out enjoying my life again!!!! My last dose was Christmas Day..and it feels like years!! Ive been feeling fine! Withdrawal symptoms are HISTORY!
A lot of it is on our minds..we anticipate the worst..just relax, stay calm and life will return to normal for all of you guys too!!

Sarita, looks like you've been feeling great too!! Yayyyy!!



DB

[dooger]

I was on Lexapro 5mgs a day for 2 years. I weaned myself off. It has been almost 2 months and I still get what feels like electric current zaping my brain. It feels like a tv being turned off. I get that sound too. I wonder if this is going to go away.

quote:Originally posted by kris22

I am so glad I found this website. I have been on SSRIs for 3 years for anxiety and panic disorder. I started on Zoloft, but the extreme weight gain (60lbs in one year while dieting and exercise)I was switched to Lexapro. I must admit it helped my anxiety very much. However the weight gain and inability to lose weight still remains a problem on the Lexapro, so I have decided to see if I really need this medication and if I can lose this weight. I have weaned myself off Lexapro, and the withdrawl symptoms have been unbeleivable!! The irritability, the what I like to call "brain zaps", the dizzines, the emotional outbreaks....I feel like I'm going crazy. But hearing that other people are going through the same thing is so comforting. I would like to know, has anyone lost weight they gained on an SSRI anfter discontinuing it and will the withdrawl symptoms finally go away, I have been dealing with them for a week now, I want to hang in there, but it's hard!!

[Skywalk]

Rissy,

You're definitely going through withdrawal. You mentioned feeling "on top of the world" for a couple of days. That's common from what I have learned...not to mention my own personal experience. I felt manic (excited) for a few days around the 7th - 10th day off of Lexapro cold-turkey. Then I crashed. It's hard to say how long withdrawal will take. Seems like so many get over it within a few weeks and others, like myself, are still going through it after weeks and weeks and weeks!

The breast change is very common, too. Lexapro disrupts hormones.

Hi Patience! How are you? I'm OK, but my lungs hurt from all the coughing. Yuck.

[mgiusamg]

hello there. i have been on Lexapro for 2.5 yrs and i have had enough i want to stand on my own two feet. i took advantage of an overseas trip i am on and its now been 9 days w nothing, i have felt these shocking, electrical shocks in my head and i am very very tired. anyone had anything like this and, if so how long do they last?
Thank you

[felly]

Hi Everyone

Thanks so much for including me in your forum! It's great that we are all supporting each other through this.

Mr Spock seems like we are in close proximity. I am from Newcastle. I'm supposed to be going back to uni in a couple of weeks and a bit freaked out about it! Really hoping I'l be able to concentrate.

Skywalk, thanks for asking about my lex experience. I got the oral solution last week and this morning realised that even though I thought I'd been taking 3mg for the past 5 days, I've actually only been taking 0.3mg!! How totally dumb am I! Not really sure what I should do. My story is:

Have had bad anxiety. You know what it's like. I worry about everything. Make myself spew from worry. Worry about worrying. Took a week of 10mg lex in november. Went off cold turkey. Got REALLLLLY bad anxiety. Went back on (10mg) for 2 days in december. Went off cold turkey. REALLLLLY bad anxiety and withdrawal symptoms. January: took 5mg for 3 weeks. Took 4 mg for 1 week. Took 0.03mg (what i thought was 3mg) for 5 days.

Now i'm at a miss about what to do. Do I go back on 3mg or do i cold turkey?? What do you reckon guys? I was starting to feel pretty good on 5mg. At the moment I feel calm but pretty crook (dizzy, bloated, gas, really sensitive to noise and light, fart waaaaay to much, reflux, dermatitis, zits, sweating, body aches especially in the morning).

Hmmm maybe I'm just best to stick it out without lex now, cause my system has been totally messed by going off and on the drug. After 5 days pretty much off lex, should I expect to get worse before better?

Have started to take l-theamine (stuff in green tea). Its supposed to be good for cortisol (bloating, gut bulge & the sweats) and for anxiety. Have felt pretty calm since taking it but not sure if that's a placebo. Anyone else taking it?

Aunty, do you have red hair? I am picturing that you have red hair!

Mary how are you going? I am sorry about your lex experience. That really sucks.

Since November and my journey with Lex, I have probably gained a few kilos and pretty much all on my gut! ARG! I am pretty skinny (172cm, 48kg), but this whole tummy issue is weird. My gut sticks out more than my boobs! Not to mention the flatulence issue...

[Getting Better]

Felly:

Don't go cold turkey. Especially not if you're going to go back to school. If you go cold turkey, prepare to be too sick to get out of bed for about a month. Then the anxiety hits and it's bad. If you got on the Lex for anxiety (I did) then the anxiety you're going to experience if you go cold turkey will be horrible. I'm speaking from experience.

Honestly, I keep joking about thinking that I have cancer. It's not a joke. For two months I was certain that I did, for no good reason. Also, when you quit cold turkey crazy things happen to your body. Combine the weird happenings in the body with the anxiety side effects in the mind, and you will freak yourself out. It won't be just you. We've all been there. Learn from our mistakes.

From everything everyone on this forum has written, it seems like the best thing to do it taper slowly, with some of the supplements from theroadback.org. Now that may be complicated for you considering you're in Aus, but you might be able to call them and see what they recommend taking that you can find at your local health food store.

Those of us who went cold turkey had a much harder time that those who tapered. Even though it takes so much longer to taper, you'll spare yourself so much grief.

As for the extra weight, I've just ordered Relacore. I'll let you know if it works.

[Getting Better]

Rissy

I had weird tenderness in my breasts also. Not really around the nipple, more in the general outside area. It had no correlation to my cycle. Just came and went. That's since gone away.

As for telling your family: Honestly, have them read this board. Your symptoms match ours and we can't all be making this up. I found my family and husband to be very supportive in the beginning when I was so sick I could barely stand up. But as the months go on, they all think I should be better by now and it's a little harder. The truth is, I think I should be all better now, too. I just know that I'm not.

What are they giving you a hard time with? If you can be more specific, I'd be happy to share any experiences I've had.

[Getting Better]

Skywalk: Can I ask what kind of cough you have? Mine is not too deep, but phlegmmy (and now to be really gross--the plegm is clear). It hurts my throat more than my lungs. I've had it pretty consistently since I stopped lex. The congestion finally went away a few weeks ago but the cough remains.

I hope you feel better!

[swizz977]

ok i was on lexapro for quite some time now 20 and i just stopped cold turky cuz my doc said to switch to paxil ccr or w/e sooo im on that now but im getting bad lexapro withdrawels like head cold light headness i hate this so i was wondering if it was safe to take like 10 miligram of lexapro while im on the paxil just to feel better and wend off lexapro also im on ativan wat do u think is it safe?

[Skywalk]

Felly:I feel for you about going back on the drug. Sounds like Lexapro does not work for you, either. It never worked for me and I felt awful while I was on it, but I feel worse off of it. It was too late for me to get back on it when I found out about these withdrawals. Maybe you could start back on 5mg and then taper?? The anxiety is horrible, I know.

Getting Better: I know what you mean about feeling like you should be better. It's hard to believe it can take this long, but I've reached acceptance. I'm starting to get some feeling back as of yesterday -- like some of the emotional withdrawal lifted -- I have some interest in tasty food, sex and other personal interests. You know, the stuff that makes us want to live life!

My cough is pretty deep and phlemy (is that a word?). Anyway. I have a new pain with it, too, and that's freaking me out a little. Hard to explain, sort of a sharp pain when I breathe deep. This pain is also worse when I have a lot of gas. Ahhh! Will this ever end?!! Seems like I have new symptoms that come and go. At least my eyes are fine now.

Anyone have really bad chapped lips? It's the least of my problems, but they've been cracked and bleeding for 4 months. Geez.

[Skywalk]

Swizz: It is NOT OK to take Lexapro with Paxil!

[tavee]

SKYWALK, AUNTY AND EVERYONE!!
how are u guys?
yesterday i dont know what happened but by 11 am i crashed. i could not keep my eyes open and my body was exhausted. its day 13 on 3.6 and monday i am going down to 3ml.

today i snapped at everyone. i was soooooooo annoyed. i think it might be because in about 1 week i get my period and this is when this stuff starts. im irritated. everyone annoys me, noises annoy me.
i need sarita to remind me that it is pms~!!!

oh when is this going to be over????? i need to start a journal to know how and when my emotions act up.
i have to get thru this. sometimes i think im going nuts!!

EVEN THOUGH I AM AT 3.6, I HAVE A LONG WAY TO GO!! GODDDDDDDDDDDDD!!

TAVEE

[felly]

Getting better and Skywalk, thank you soooooo much for your advice. I really appreciate it. Getting better I can TOTALLY relate to the anxiety over weird **** happening to your body thing! Last time I took lex for 2 days and then went off cold turkey all this crazy **** started happening and I totally flipped. The reason I went on it in the first place was because of anxiety over this burning sensation i've been getting in my cheek and not knowing what it was. When I stopped lex last time I got burning on both sides of my face, my veins all started becoming much more prominent, not to mention SERIOUS insomnia, the sweats, zits, conjuntivitis, bloating, the list is endless and I'm sure you've heard it before not to mention experienced it! I just hope hope hope hope we can all be free of this drug safely.

Guess the best thing for me to do is to go back on that drug again. NOooooooooooo! With the tapering, should I reduce it by 10%?? So say, go back on to 4.5mg for 2 weeks and then to 4mg etc, reducing by .5mg each time? Is the best way to stick it out on your current dose until the withdrawal symptoms subside before progressing to the lowered dose?

Thanks sooooo much!

[spiderc52]

Hi,
i was just wondering how long it would take me to get off of lexapro i am down to 2.5 from 15 .i have been shaving a small amount of of the 2.5 for about four days and i seem ok.should i just stop taking the lexapro.
Rebecca

[Rissy]

Skywalk and GettingBetter, Thanks for sharing your knowledge! The pain in my nipples has traveled throughout my entire breast. I'm small chested but my breasts feel like they weight about 20 pounds each and they're painfully itchy. aaahh! Make it go away!

Today I was in a great mood... much different than the emotional rollercoaster I was on last night. But now, as this evening progresses, I can feel a bit of anxiety coming on... maybe it's 'cause I dreading going to work tomorrow...ugh!

GettingBetter: When I go through one of my irritable/angry bouts anything my live-boyfriend does drives me nuts. One minute I want him to hug and hold me and the next minute I feel suffocated and don't want him near me. I snap at him for no good reason. And all he can say when I'm angry is, "snap out of it; lose the attitude; just don't let yourself get depressed; you have no reason to be anxious." His lack of understanding, of course, makes me even more irritated and frustrated. He takes it personally and makes it about him. I'm sure it's not easy for him to deal with me. But c'mon, I don't want to be in a bad mood, I don't want to be angry, I don't want to cry. And sometimes, I don't even know what I want or what will make me happy... I'm just a mess and I just want to be normal! Ugh! None of us signed up for this... it just isn't fair!

Phew... okay, thanks for letting me vent! It's the anger setting in. LOL!

Getting Better: How long did you say you were off of the lex for? Was it 4.5 months?

Wow... lex is poison!

Thank you all for your continuted support!