[Skywalk]

Aunty...they also said that her son was taking Lexapro and Zoloft at the same time, but I would bet that he had switched meds and was only taking one and that the other was still in his system. I know it was the methadone that caused the fatal mix, but the media claimed that he should not have been taking both antidepressants at the same time. Just a guess...as you know, these drugs are highly protein bound and that means it can take a long time to get them flushed out of the system. Another reason I think women should wait a while before getting pregnant after stopping the drug.

[felly]

Hopefulthanks for writing about the dry skin. I have had heaps of skin changes since going on lex. One of the reasons I went on lex was because I had this traumatic experience with what was happening to the side of my face:
I got an oil burn on my cheek. Picked at the scabs. It was getting inflamed for weeks (docs thought it was infected so gave me heaps of different courses of antibiotics). I ended up in hospital from severe gastro from the antibiotics and also fell down the stairs in my terrace house and hurt my back. I also lost 8 kilos and in hospital they weighed me in at 40kg (i'm 172cm tall). Anyway, turns out my cheek wasn't infected, just inflamed as a normal part of the healing process. A little while after I started to get broken capillaries near the burn and started freaking out it was rosacea. So anyway, I ended up on lex and now since my on-again, off again battle with lex, I have developed mild acne, broken capillaries and dermatitis around my nose and on my eyelids. I went and saw a dermatologist who told me I had dandruff in my eyelashes. I tell you what, if I wasn't self conscious about my face before, I certainly am now!!

cristyI am sorry about your battle with lex. I can appreciate that it's really hard to deal with the weight gain when you've had an eating disorder (I had anorexia for about 2 years). I think the whole obsession with how ugly I feel my face looks, is similar to the anorexia thing. I feel so repulsive, and when I say that to my doctor she laughs at me. she says I'm seeing things which aren't there, and I'm not. I'm just blowing them out of proportion. This is called 'body dysmorphia'. I had to cover all the mirrors in my house because I couldn't bare looking at myself. Body image is hard. I don't want to care, but I do. People think it's about vanity, but it's not. It's about self esteem. It's about loving yourself enough to feed yourself properly. It's about feeling like your more than your body and feeling like your worthwhile enough to look after yourself and give yourself the things you desire.

Oh, and apparently skin changes can be really related to what's happening in your gut. My gut has been chucking a wobbly. I have had the splats so badly, yet I still feel bloated and my tummy gurgles. Seeforehow's your gut? How did the doc visit go? Did you find any of those acidophilis bifidis tablets?

Anyone having trouble with sleep, I've heard that melatonin is good. Has anyone tried it? They don't sell very potent stuff in Australia.

Wow, sorry if thats been a bit of a rant.

thanks terrible about Anna Nicole Smith

[Hopeful285]

Felly,

There is a side effect of Lexapro that is called Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis which is mentioned on www.webmd.com. This resembles dry skin. I am no doctor but, I typed this in on a search and read about it. You may want to check on this if you got this problem after starting Lexapro. This can be serious and if this is what I had, I am alot better since I discontinued the Lexapro. You can hardly see it now. Cortisone cream did wonders for me. You can overdose on this cream, so if you use it don't put it on a large area. I was told by my doctor that this cream is not good for you and to quit using it as soon as it gets better. I would use it and it would clear it up and it would come back when I quit, but the longer I'm off Lexapro the less I've had to use it.

Hopeful285

[tavee]

HEY SARITA, SKYWALK AND EVERYONE.

JUST CHECKING IN. IM FEELING A BIT BETTER SINCE I GOT MY PERIOD. SO I GUESS U CAN SAY IT IS DEFINITELY BAD AROUND PMS TIME.
I SAW MY THERAPIST YESTERDAY AND I WILL BE SEEING HER WEEKLY WHILE I AM TAPERING SO SHE CAN HELP WITH SOME STRATEGIES ON MY ANGER.

I KEEP TELLING MYSELF THAT I CAN AND WILL GET BETTER AND I WILL TRY TO DO AS MUCH AS I CAN ON MY OWN TO DEAL WITH ALL THESE ANNOYING PEOPLE THAT BRING OUT MY ANGER!! LOL
SELF TALK SELF TALK AND SELF TALK!!
I WILL GET THRU THIS DAMNIT!!!

I HOPE U ARE ALL FEELING OK.

SKYWALK- HOW ARE U DOING SWEETIE?? ARE U TRYING TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE A LITTLE? U KNOW I WAS THINKING U NEED SOMEONE TO BE WITH U WHEN U GO OUT AND TO TALK U THRU EVERYTHING. THAT IS GOOD PRACTICE FOR U. I WISH I WAS THERE GIRL TO HELP U!!! WE WOULD HELP EACH OTHER!! HANG IN THERE SWEETIE PIE.

TAVEE

[Patience]

Skywalk:

Please remember the article and read it whenever you start to doubt yourself or when you family starts to wonder.

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

Also, "Prozac: Panacea or Pandora?" by Ann Blake Tracy PhD

Your going to be okay!!!!!!!!!! Go back to your old tools of the bean dip and Probiotics/acidophilus. Remeber Redbled and Miss Lee

I am doing pretty good, muscles still sore, but not as bad. For about 2 weeks all of my tendons were inflamed and ached and yesterday and today, gone! WEIRD. They will come and go and eventually go away for ever.

xoxo Patience

[Skywalk]

Hi Patience and Tavee: Thanks for the encouragement! This new symptom of depression is killing me. The only thing that saves me is to know that this is normal and that it will pass. Ann Blake Tracy says just that in her book when talking about withdrawal. I read about it over and over again to calm down. I really have sympathy for those who suffer from depression now. I never knew it was this bad since I've only suffered from anxiety in the past. I just don't want to do anything and feel stuck inside a dark place in my head. On top of that I still have stomach issues and feel quite weak and tired. A lot of physical stuff has gone away, so guess that is good. I wish I had better news, but I feel pretty awful. I just tell myself to "tough it out" and try to get through the day.

I'm sorry you guys are still having so many issues, too. Keep writing on here so we can all get through this together. It's amazing how long these drugs can stay in the body!

Tavee: I just started my period a couple of days ago and that made things worse, too. This drug messes with our hormones so much. I am going to remind you to be strong next month when you get PMS!!

hugs...skywalk

[sarita]

hi all!!! i'm back and i know FOR SURE now that all that drama was due to my period and it's hormonal imbalances. i have serious issues with pms and menstration. i'm back to normal again. that was very scary.waking up in the middle of the night, confused, crying hesterically, etc...

how is everyone? tavee? sounds like you and me are similar when it comes to that.

so, i'm feeling great again, sleeping great, etc..... just SO DAMN FAT!!!!!!!!!!!!! it's terrible and i'm not losing any weight and eating healthy as ever.

[sarita]

AUNTY
actually, there is one question i have for you. sometimes my face turns red. what is that?

[Hopeful285]

FYI

Drugs that may induce serotonin syndrome when taken with antidepressants (not a complete list)

[u]www.healthyplace.com</u>

ecstasy
cocaine
lithium
St John's wort (Hypericum) - herbal antidepressant
diethylproprion - an amphetamine
dextromethorphan - found in many cough suppressants
Buspar (buspirone) - for anxiety
Selgene, Eldepryl (selegiline) - for Parkinson's Disease
anti-epileptics - Tegretol, Carbium, Teril (carbamazepine)
analgesics - pethidine, Fortral (pentazocine), Tramal (tramadol), fentanyl
anti-migraine drugs - Naramig (naratriptan), Imigran (sumatriptan), Zomig (zolmitriptan)
appetite suppressants - phentermine and fenfluramine
tryptophan - an amino acid


Hopeful285

[auntybiotic]

quote:Originally posted by auntybiotic

sarita,

Keep a good eye on your blood pressure. Lexapro use (and after having taken Lexapro) your blood pressure could be unstable and get extremely high at times. This can cause your face to turn red. For the next few months take your blood pressure morning and evening and make a chart. Also when your face turns red take a BP reading, Many exlexapro users are now plagued with high blood presure.

Many people that used Lexapro need to take blood pressur medication. High blood pressure can go unnoticed without symptoms so be aware of it.

Also have your adrenal system checked for inability to loose weight. Lexapro usage also damages the adrenal system.

[swizz977]

ugh this sucks i was on 20 then 10 now im taking 5 and if i dont take it every day i get brain zaps and my heart feels wierd n my head too but i have to try to fight it i guess rite i cant take 5 every day cuz then ill never get off it hmm idk im tryin to get off this **** and switch to paxil this sucks im also on ativan

[Hopeful285]

Lexapro Legal Problems Mount Against Forest Laboratories
November 15, 2006. By Evelyn Pringle digg Del.icio.us

[u]http://www.lawyersandsettlements.com/articles/lexapro-lawsuits.html</u>

Fair Haven, NJ: According to Forest Laboratories' Annual Report, for the year ending March 31, 2006, Celexa and Lexapro, accounted for 68% of the company's sales.

The drugs belong to the class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

Sales of Lexapro, the filing notes, increased 16% in the 4th quarter to $464,100,000, compared to $399,381,000 in the same quarter a year ago.

However, the Report filed with the SEC on June 14, 2006, also says that Forest Labs is currently a named defendant in approximately 25 active SSRI related lawsuits, with most of the cases claiming that Celexa or Lexapro caused or contributed to persons committing or attempting suicide.

On November 7, 2005, Forest moved to consolidate all of the cases pending in Federal courts into a multidistrict proceeding, and on February 6, 2006, its motion was granted and multidistrict litigation was established with the cases then pending transferred to Judge Rodney Sippel in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri.

But the company's legal troubles by far are not limited to a few civil lawsuits. The US Attorney's Office for the District of Massachusetts is investigating whether Forest has committed not only civil violations but also criminal violations of the Federal Anti-Kickback laws with "off-label" promotional activities in the marketing of Lexapro and other products.

As part of the investigation, Forest first received a subpoena from the Office of Inspector General of the Federal Office of Personnel Management requesting documents relating to Celexa, but the company has since received another subpoena from the US Attorney's Office related to Lexapro and other products.

The subpoenas request documents relating to a broad range of the company's marketing and promotional activities dating back to January 1, 1997, all the way up to the present.

The truth is, right along with all the other SSRI makers, Forest has been marketing Lexapro for the off-label treatment of a wide variety of ailments in part, by promoting the notion that every uncomfortable feeling is caused by a "chemical imbalance." However, according to Dr David Healy, "none of the SSRI manufacturers can tell us what constitutes a proper chemical balance of serotonin in the brain."

"Thus," he says, "the truth is that Lexapro and its serotonergic cousins lie somewhere on the continuum between "magic bullets and snake oil."

Dr Healy is one of the world's leading authorities on SSRIs and the author of, "The Antidepressant Era," and "The Creation of Psychopharmacology."

To expand the market for SSRIs, the drug companies have transformed everyday sadness, stress, and worry into mental disorders that demand one cure: drugs. Strong emotions felt after the death of a loved one, or a divorce, or job loss are now irrational and symptoms of mental illness.

In fact, over the past 15 years Big Pharma has managed to cultivate the development of a whole new batch of mental illnesses, with names like generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, by simply greasing the palms of the so-called psychiatric "experts" who determine the criteria for the inclusion of a disorder in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders (DSM).

Other more recent additions to the DSM, intended to further widen the customer recruitment net to specifically target children, have names like reading disorder, mathematics disorder, disorder of written expression, and oppositional defiant disorder.

And with the inclusion in the DSM, comes the guaranteed payment for the drugs to treat the disorder from public and private health insurance programs. The first edition of the DSM had a little over 100 disorders; the latest edition lists close to 375.

The mass marketing of mental illness has led many people experiencing minimal symptoms of distress to believe they need drugs to exist. And because most doctors are not trained on the side effects of SSRIs, patients can exhibit a wide range of actions or behaviors that appear to be symptoms of another "disorder," and are then prescribed more drugs to counter the unrecognized adverse reactions to the first.

Even the medical education courses that doctors must take each year to maintain their professional license are most of the time sponsored by drug companies which means the courses are intended to increase the sale of specific drugs, and to educate doctors on their adverse effects would defeat the whole purpose of the seminar.

In fact, experts say the drug makers continue to ignore and discount all of the adverse effects associated with SSRIs. For instance, sexual dysfunction, such as lack of libido or interest, orgasmic dysfunction in women, and delayed ejaculation in men, are extremely common but seldom mentioned. Studies have shown that as high as 70% of patients on SSRIs experience sexual side effects.

According to WebMD, on July 2005, these side effects cause significant problems of their own. "For both men and women, this means being unable to initiate, participate fully in, or enjoy sex," the article states, "and that can lead to a crippling loss of self-confidence that can, in turn, undermine depression recovery."

But then not to worry, because a study in the January 1, 2003, Journal of the American Medical Association says that people experiencing SSRI related sexual dysfunction may be helped by simply taking another pill, Viagra.

And, although the FDA has not approved Viagra for women, some "experts" recommend that women experiencing SSRI related sexual problems should give it a shot anyways.

Whenever possible, patients are convinced that they need to take SSRIs for life. It would be interesting to see the results of a survey that asked patients if they would be willing to begin a life-long drug treatment if it meant waving good-by to a normal healthy sex life.

As a follow-up, a survey should also be conducted on the partners of SSRI patients to find out how long they will be willing to remain in what often becomes a sexless relationship.

The drug companies have also tried for years to discount the many studies showing an increased risk of suicide in patients taking SSRIs, when compared to patients taking a placebo, by claiming that suicide is a side effect of depression.

This claim is an insult to the intelligence of consumers. If that assertion were true, there would be more suicides by people taking placebos, not the other way around.

An FDA patient information sheet for Lexapro now says: "Persons taking Lexapro may be more likely to think about killing themselves or actually try to do so, especially when Lexapro is first started or the dose is changed."

"People close to persons taking Lexapro can help by paying attention to changes in user's moods or actions," the paper says. "Contact your health-care professional right away," it warns, "if someone using Lexapro talks about or shows signs of killing him or herself."

"If you are taking Lexapro yourself and you start thinking about killing yourself," it instructs patients, "tell your health-care professional about this side effect right away."

That simple warning, critics say, added to the doctor and patent information sheet for SSRIs when the problem was first discovered could have saved tens of thousand of lives.

One of the Lexapro-induced suicide lawsuits mentioned in Forest's Annual Report, was filed by Raymond Badyna, as the administer of his deceased son, Ray Badyna's estate.

The action was filed in the US District Court for the District of New Jersey on September 25, 2005, by attorneys, Derek Braslow and Harris Pobust, of the Pogust & Braslow, LLC law firm in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania.

On September 30, 2003, Ray was prescribed Lexapro by his primary care physician who noted that Ray was experiencing anxiety, depression and was having problems relaxing and sleeping at night.

Ray's doctor said that he prescribed Lexapro because he believed the drug was effective in treating depression and anxiety based on research that was distributed by Forest Labs.

However, the drug did not help and Ray's condition immediately began to deteriorate. Friends and co-workers spoke with Ray concerning his use of Lexapro and they recall that Ray said that he was not feeling himself and feeling very strange.

At his sister's birthday party on October 4, 2003, the family observed Ray as appearing extremely withdrawn, tired and isolated. His sister noticed that he was pacing back and forth throughout the house, looked uneasy, and that his hands were shaking.

His sister became convinced that something was seriously wrong with Ray and she was right. Unbeknownst to his family, Ray was suffering from suicidal ideation and had expressed thoughts about harming himself to others.

In a conversation with his friend, Ray complained that Lexapro was making him "feel weird" and said that he "had very strange thoughts running through his mind."

On October 7, 2003, while at work, Ray got what should have been great news when he was notified that his year to date performance had qualified him to receive the, "Countrywide Circle of Excellence Award," for the second consecutive year in a row.

Two days later, on October 9, 2003, Ray, age 32, committed suicide by overdosing and cutting his wrists. An autopsy showed the presence of Lexapro in his bloodstream.

Ray's death was senseless. He life was a model for the all-American success story. He was popular, outgoing and sociable and had a loving close relationship with his family.

Ray had a college education, and a good career in real estate and owned his own home, as well as four other investment properties, and even a boat.

Family members, friends and co-workers alike, all say Ray was outgoing, had a great sense of humor, enjoyed life and seemed to everything to live for, prior to being prescribed Lexapro. If Ray's family members had been told to watch for the warning signs that Ray was exhibiting, they would have intervened, and he would be alive today.

The family's lawsuit alleges that in "the last decade there has been a host of peer-reviewed scientific literature linking the SSRI drugs, of which Lexapro is one, to violence - both self-directed and directed towards others."

Among others, the complaint specifically cites a peer reviewed article published in 2000, on an epidemiological study, funded in part by Eli Lilly and SmithKlineBeecham, that reports that the incident of deliberate self-harm of people on SSRI medications is 5.5 times higher than that of people on the more traditional tricyclic antidepressants.

"Had Ray or his physician known of the increased risk of suicide and suicidal ideation from Lexapro," the family's lawsuit states, "Ray would have never taken the drug."

Next year's annual report will have new additions to the list of lawsuits against Forest. For instance, in July 2006, Mark Bibbee, filed a lawsuit after losing his only 2 sons to Lexapro-induced suicides. The family's attorney, Charles E Grisi, filed the action in Summit County Ohio Common Pleas Court.

David Bibbee was only 27 when he killed himself on February 23, 2003 at his fathers home, and Brian Bibbee was only 24, when he committed suicide 17 months later at his mother's home on July 24, 2004.

The lawsuit charges that Forest Labs knew of the increased risk of suicide, yet failed to conduct tests to see how often the problem occurred and failed to properly warn doctors, pharmacists and patients of the risk, or provide ways to reduce the risk.

The lawsuit points out that a link between SSRIs and suicide was first noted in 1990, even though the FDA did not issue a public health advisory until March 2004, more than a year after David's death and about four months prior to Brian's death.

"Strong warnings and instructions, coupled with reasonable effort to 'get the word out' could still have saved Brian Bibbee's life," the lawsuit states.

"Unfortunately," the complaint charges, "Forest took the path of least resistance and greatest profits by doing only the minimum amount that the FDA urged it to do."

"Therefore," the lawsuits states, "this warning was 'too little, too late' for David and Brian Bibbee."

These three cases of unexpected suicides by young people taking Lexapro are not isolated incidents. Jo Ann Kelly has been trying to raise awareness about the increased risk of suicide associated with SSRIs since her son, David died of a self inflicted gun shot wound after he was prescribed Lexapro for an anxiety disorder.

A few days before his death, Jo Ann noticed a dryness of skin and an increased agitation in David, and her son-in-law noticed a yellowish appearance in David's eyes.

Jo Ann became frantic and feared that her son might not be metabolizing the Lexapro correctly so she called to schedule a doctor's appointment but could not get in for 2 days.

The day of the appointment came too late; David had already shot himself.

Over the past several years, studies have shown that SSRIs are associated with serious birth defects in babies born to women who use the drugs during pregnancy. Within the last year, the FDA has added warnings to the labels on SSRIs about the risks of heart birth defects and a life-threatening lung disorder.

As a result of the new revelations about birth defects, lawsuits are now being filed against the SSRI makers on behalf of injured infants.

Medical professionals say the value of any drug must be determined by weighing its benefits against its risks. In the case of SSRIs, the benefits, if any, are a topic of great controversy. An analysis of studies submitted to the FDA between 1987 and 1999, on the six most popular SSRIs, found that approximately 80% of the positive responses to the drugs were the same in patients participating in the placebo groups.

Simply put, with all the known harms identified over the past 20 years associated with SSRIs, they do not even work.


Hopeful285

[Seefour]

quote:Seeforehow's your gut? How did the doc visit go? Did you find any of those acidophilis bifidis tablets?

Still rumbling away, I missed my appointment to find out the results to my barruim swallow, due to insomnia, having terrible trouble sleeping, it's like when I drift off, my body and brain start to feel very odd, like my whole body is numb, but as soon as I get up and out of bed I am fine, sometimes It's better then others, I find eating dark chocalate a few hours before going to sleep generally helps with this, weird? I don't know what it is, mabey my blood sugar is low during the night???

The only thing I've been putting in my body is omega 3 which seems to enchance my mood some, and makes me think less about my problems.
Other then that, I just want my body to heal natrually.

[Mr Spock]

Hi All,
Just popping in briefly (for a change!).
I will say something that might be helpful, and correlates with my own experiences on chemotherapy, SSRI withdrawal, and now CFS. The most important thing is to try (easier said than done I know!) to consider than you are a pilgrim on a journey rather than a helpless victim. Certsinly when one is "powerless" to change the way they feel physically, it is not hard at all to feel like the latter...
I suppose the crucial thing to adapt to is that things are not in your control, and rather than rally against this, I would encourage you to use it as a learning experience instead. They say that there is no substitute for adversity to challenge our beliefs and I myself have gained a fair bit of wisdom through my adventures. Elements of this inclide much greater compassion, consideration and humility, and I am a much stronger person than what I was a few years ago. I'm sure there is a bit of stuff on the web relating to SSRI's but as far as CFS goes (which one could apply to any situation such as your own), have a look at DR Collinge's articles, particularly one on reflections at www.healthy.net/collinge, I think. Good luck and take care.
Now Aunty, I still haven't heard from you, you slacko! The email address is idg3h2@yahoo.com. I actually use an alias on it, but will give you my main email address in my reply and you remember my name... By the way, I am 5'10", average build, and scrub up fairly well for my age (this sounds like an introduction agency spiel!!!). I would love to hear from you. As mentioned before, your Yahoo address does not appear valid, and we can't send emails through this forum.
So, until then take care of yourself and your courageous daughter.
Peace and long life.

[nipper80]

I have quit Lexapro cold turkey and my biggest problem is the shocking of the eyes which has just started a few days ago. Is there anything I can do to get this to stop without having to take more lexapro. I have been taking 20mg for about two years now. I have mild flu like symtoms such as congestion and bad sinus problems, dizziness, achy body and a short temper which is very unlike me. The main reason I am quitting is because Lexapro has made me completely emotion free. No matter what happens I dont have emotions and it is effecting my business tremendously. I have become like a walking zombie and I use to be full of life and very outgoing. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Hang in there it always gets better, so I hope.

[Seefour]

Nipper how long have you been off? two days? I don't recomend going off of this drug cold turkey, It's very dangerous! I did the same thing after only 3 weeks of taking lex I've been withdrawing for about a month and a half. I had the temper thing BAD at times, really bad, if this is starting after only 2 days You should go to your doctor, go back on the lex and taper very very slowly, cuase lemme tell ya, it gets worse after about the 5th or 6th day, and the people who taper off of this drug seem to cut their withdrawal time down tremendously.

you have a high dosage too, I'd go see your prescriber a.s.a.p and talk about options for getting off.

[Skywalk]

Seefour: Sounds like you're having some of the same problems I did at about 6 weeks off. I had insomnia and then low blood sugar. I kept running to the kitchen during the night. I finally bought a bunch of balance bars and kept them by my bedside. I think I started to sleep at about the 2 month mark after quitting the drug. I also had a temper. I yelled at everyone in my family and the drug company (but they deserved it). It was bad. That went away, too. Now I wish I could get mad; I'm just very dull and blank now. I also noticed that you are getting your letters mixed up in your posts...maybe you're just writing fast, but at the stage you're at now I kept getting my letters mixed up a lot and it really scared me. That went away, too. Phew. I hope you don't have to go through what I'm going through now...the bowel movements and stomach cramping and depression is awful at my stage...all that started at the end of the 3 mark and I've now been off 4.5 months.

I've also noticed that those us having a hard time seem to be the ones who only took the drug for a short time and had a bad reaction to it, not always, but often. In fact, the antidepressantfacts sheet that Patience posted is directed towards those of us that had a "negative reaction to an SSRI."

Nipper: You should taper...the withdrawals can be hell.

Starlitt: How are you today?

Hopeful: Thanks for posting that legal info. It was sad to read, but I'm glad to know that the lawsuits are mounting.

Hi Patience, Tavee, Aunty, Felly, Sarita...

ps. I'm better since my last post. Turns out I was sleep deprived. I managed to sleep in Sunday after my usual trip to the bathroom at 7:30 a.m. every morning. I woke up without the fatigue and my stomach was better. I managed to go out some and did not feel the real bad depression. It was still scary since I very much feel like I have a brain injury. I think it's best for me to stay home most of the time and heal.

[Seefour]

I mix my letters up because I'm a bad speller, and even worse typer

What's weird is I only had 1 or 2 brain zaps through the whole proccess.
And from what I understand, the brain zaps are receptors in your brain misfiring. So my brain only had 1 or 2 misfires. Skywalk, have you had problems with brain zaps, or any vertigo while you drifted off to sleep?

My stomach and throat seem to get better every day, no perfect days yet, but I'm sure they'll come soon. I'm really starting to think the withdrawal is giving me gerd, this is going to be gross, but I bent over and burped last night at the same time, and I could feel something very hot and nasty tasting in my throat, I'm thinking this might be related to alot of other stomach problems cuased by lexapro, mabey it makes the stomach produce more acid, who knows...


Skywalk, you should really try a change of scenery, get out as often as you can, get some air. I'm feeling the same way, must stay home and cope with this. But I went to hang out with some friends 50 miles away for a few days, the driving made me sick, but once I got there, I generally felt a little bit better after socializing, and relaxing in a different setting other then my house. If you hve friends that are understanding about what you are going through, It would be a good idea to hang with them even for a few hours.

[Texdolfan]

Ok, I am really freaked out. I started on Lex last Friday, 4 days now. I thought I would do a little research today, and found this thread.

My doctor said that the drug was clean, non addicting and would help with my anxiety. None of these symptoms or side affects was mentioned to me. The only thing she told me was to not stop taking the meds until I consult with her.

Does anyone know if I should stop now, if I do, will 4 days of taking the meds affect me like others on here?

I have never taken any meds like this before and after battling anxiety for about 3 years now thought this might help. Really, just admitting I had a problem to my doctor was hard enough, I am a man and the pride thing got in my way for a long time.

Now I am confused as ever, some advice would be appreciated!

[starlittkiss]

skywalk, I'm doing pretty ok actually, thank you. I've been getting out of the house which is nice, I even drove the car a little. The only real problems I'm having right now are depersonalization, anxiety, some dizziness (treated with dramamine it pretty much goes away) and maybe a bit of depression. It hasn't been too terrible for however. I have been having trouble sleeping which is awful because I have mono so I'm exhausted but can't sleep until about 6 am and then sleep all day. I've started seeing a psychologist who recommended Adovane for my anxiety. It really helps and I recommend asking your doctor about it if you are suffering. Pretty much if you feel an attack, pop one of those pills and it calms you right down. It also gets out of your system very quickly so you don't have to worry about the withdrawals and what not. It should only be taken when feeling anxious though. Did anyone have trouble eating with their withdrawals? I feel like everytime I eat I feel naseaous but it might just be the mono... hope everyone is well!!

[Seefour]

quote:Originally posted by Texdolfan

Ok, I am really freaked out. I started on Lex last Friday, 4 days now. I thought I would do a little research today, and found this thread.

My doctor said that the drug was clean, non addicting and would help with my anxiety. None of these symptoms or side affects was mentioned to me. The only thing she told me was to not stop taking the meds until I consult with her.

Does anyone know if I should stop now, if I do, will 4 days of taking the meds affect me like others on here?

I have never taken any meds like this before and after battling anxiety for about 3 years now thought this might help. Really, just admitting I had a problem to my doctor was hard enough, I am a man and the pride thing got in my way for a long time.

Now I am confused as ever, some advice would be appreciated!

What mg are you on? And have you tried everything to combat your anxiety? exercise, diet, meditation, relaxation techniques?
I've heard some stories of lexapro actually helping people.

I remember reading about someone in this thread that took lex for a week and got withdrawal after stopping cold turkey for months? I would talk to your doctor if you really want off, it might not be too late to try other means to combat your anxiety, I sure as hell wish I knew what I was getting into when i got on this drug. 4 days is probaly nothing, but I wouldn't chance stopping before talking to your doctor. Even if you get an appointment next week, lex takes about 2-3 weeks to build up in your system. But cold turkey is BAD.

[Texdolfan]

"What mg are you on?"



I am taking 10mg, like I said I have only been on it for 4 days and have not been able to sleep worth a **** since. After reading this forum I decided not to take the med today. I am going to try to get in to see my doctor later today.

I will have lots of questions for her after reading this forum, and she may not like allot of them. Thank god I found this thread before getting to far down the road.

I feel bad for all of you, I hope you all get better soon!

[Skywalk]

Tex: I've been on these boards a long time because I'm having horrible withdrawals from a bad reaction to Lexapro; I was only on 10mg for 6 weeks and I'm still suffering 4.5 months after my last dose. If you have already taken four doses and feel OK, then you should not have many problems if you stop. It's not my place to say what you should do, but I am someone who has struggled with anxiety for years. I have been on Prozac and Paxil and liked them for a while, but after so long I would quit due to side effects. Before this reaction to Lexapro I thought that I would always need to be on and off of meds my whole life to deal with anxiety. I hate what Lexapro has done to me temporarily, but thanks to this experience I have had time to read and learn so much about anxiety and the dangers of anti-depressants. Please do your research to make your own conclusions. Please google Dr. Peter Breggin and Ann Blake Tracy. There are only a few people willing to expose the truth about these drugs and I feel lucky to have the knowledge so that I will never touch these drugs again. There are better ways to deal with anxiety. I really recommend Lucinda Bassett's Anti-anxiety program. You can purchase it on ebay (it's a little spendy, but worth it). It's also a little corny when you first listen to it, but it's helping me get through this withdrawal because I can use what I have learned to deal with my anxiety in the future.

Now, your doctor will probably tell you to not read forums like this. Most doctors are in denial and have not done their research about these drugs. Even if you don't have a bad reaction or withdrawal, I have talked to many people that claim they felt apathetic on Lexapro and could not get excited about anything. Sure, they didn't have anxiety, but who wants to lose feeling? Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

[Skywalk]

Starlitt: Did you get depersonalizion on the drug, or just after you quit the drug?

[auntybiotic]

Just checking to see if this is still taking posts to the forum. Hope everyone has a Happy Valentine's Day.

[auntybiotic]

Mr. Spock,

Check your private email address that you gave me. Where is everyone at?

aunty

[Hopeful 285]

Auntibiotic,

I have been falling alot and I knew it was from the Lexapro but I could find any evidence of falling.

Thanks to you on page 79 of this forum, I have something that does say this is a side effect.

It says:
Lexapro withdrawal Fall - To suddenly lose your normal standing upright position as if you were shot.

This has been happening for months and I have been off the drug since 11-9-06 which is over 3 months. This has not went away. When I couldn't find any evidence of anyone else having this issue, I thought that maybe I had an additional health problem.

Even though, it is a burden, I am so glad to know what is wrong with me for certain.

You have been so helpful to so many people. I can't express my gratitude enough. I know I am speaking for everyone.

I was so afraid last night when I couldn't find this thread again because this is the only place I can feel normal right now.

I will be praying for you, your daughter and everyone else every day.

[Hopeful 285]

I feel like I am deteriorating. I was so happy. Everyone told me I smiled all the time. Now I feel like I can't get through another day. What does this really done to the mind and body? Do the receptors resemble corkscrews? Will my mind heal? I feel like I am going downhill. I felt like I was getting better but how can I be getting worse?
My joy in life is helping others and now it is a task to help myself. I wanted to live like a servant. I wanted to help others before they asked. I barely watched TV because it took time away from doing for someone else. If someone entered my mind, I would call them or pray for them.
It took me years to realize that this is where my happiness would come from.
I would anonymously go to the church early in the morning to shovel the whole parking lot, side walk, and steps. I would be bundled up to where no one driving down the street would recognize me.
If someone needed help, I was ready to work. I still can do some things but it takes me so much longer.
I am the editor of a employee magazine for a large company and I feel like I may have to change positions. This job has become more than my mind can handle.
I have a supportive family and a loving husband. My husband has told me to suck it up and called me a punk which is unlike him. This really hurt. I try not to cry in front of him and I talk optimistic. I try to act like I'm normal. It's hard when I'm falling on the floor. I tell him I had a good day even when I didn't. I don't want to burden him with complaints.
I miss....me.

[auntybiotic]

Hopeful,

So glad that info I posted was able to help.

I came across a great web site that I would HIGHLY recommend that everyone with Lexapro Withdrawal will visit and do the check list a tramautic brain injuries.

Lexapro Withdrawal changes the chemisrty of the brain due to the serotonin reuptake that took place by lexapro use. The brain had gone thru a "traumatic brain injury" in a sense after lexapro use.

This web site will help everyone understan why withdrawal takes so LONG. It is not getting the lexapro out of the sytsem but rather the brain REPAIRING after lexapro use. Which some days are better, other days symptoms appear.

Look over the check list.........it is scary that eveyone of them are what all Lexapro users have experienced after stopping lexapro. Read the list and the entire web site on healing after a brain inkury and you will better understand more then most doctors WHY it takes SO long to recover after any SSRI use.

This site explains so many questions that people have asked. Lexapro causes a reaction in the brain that is similiar to a brain injury and the recovery is that of patients that are going thru a tramautic brain injury.

PLEASE READ THIS SITE. I would have psoted but this new forum had a limit on how many characters in a posting and it would not allow me to.

Read this and do the check list.......................PLEASE!!!
http://www.headinjury.com/checktbi.htm

aunty

[auntybiotic]

Hi again,

Going with my belief that Lexapro Withdrawal can be compared to a tramautic brain injury due to the brain's attempts at repairing neurotransmitters.

I feel that hope and understanding can come from reading any of the books written by people that have come thru and survived tramautic brain injuries.

If you doubt my beliefs all I can say is do the preceding check list on brain injuries in the previous post and compare your symptoms.

This is actually a sign of hope that in time the "withdrawal symptoms from lexapro" will improve as the brain repairs.............that is why it takes so long.

So many doctors who do not understand question why one would be having symptoms months and even a year after lexapro use has stopped.

The answer is the "withdrawals" are actually the brain's injuryies and attempts at repair.
I More than just a bump on the head! Though not always visible and sometimes seemingly minor, head injury is complex.
Some common impairments include difficulties with memory, mood, and concentration. Others include significant deficits in organizational and reasoning skills, learning, cognitive, and executive functions.
Recovery from a head injury can be inconsistent. In many cases gains may be closely followed by setbacks and plateaus. A "plateau" is not evidence that functional improvement has ended. Typically plateaus are followed by gains.
Changes in memory and organizational skills after a brain injury makes it difficult to function in complex environments. The publications on this page will provide answers and guidance concerning many of the most puzzling aspects of traumatic brain injury. ------
Survivor Publications
From the Ashes, Constance Miller & Kay Campbell - http://www.headinjury.com - Free copies available for support groups. email requests to: brain@headinjury.com

Awake Again, by Martin Krieg, Two bike rides across America after two months in a coma, right side paralysis and clinical death. A Timeless True Story! url: http://www.BikeRoute.com/AwakeAgain
Brain-Damage by Dick Schmelzkopf - A Book About Overcoming Cognitive Deficit and Creating the New You -
url: http://dickwrites.homestead.com/files/drooling.html

Brain Injured and Thriving -

Brain Injury Guide -- Brain Injury Guide contains recovery information, articles, and interviews with professionals, survivors, care-givers, and family members. 1996 url:http://members.aol.com/bigkate4/big.htm
email: bigkate4@aol.com

Brainlash: Maximize Your Recovery from Mild Brain Injury, by Gail L. Denton, Ph.D.
Attention Span Books, P. O. Box 788, Niwot, CO

Confronting Traumatic Brain Injury, by William J. Winslade, MD, PhD, Yale University Press, 1998

Coping with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, Diane Roberts Stoler, EdD and Barbara Albers Hill - A survivor's how to book on coping with mild brain injury, 1998. url: http://www.health-helper.com/

Gifts from the Broken Jar, by PJ Long, a former psychotherapist who incurred a TBI. EquiLibrium Press, Inc. 2004
Phone (310) 417-8217 -

I'll Carry The Fork, by Kara L. Swanson - A first-person account of recovering a life after brain injury. October 1999, 205 pages, $16.95 url:http://www.risingstarpress.com/catalog.html#carryfork

Invisible Illnesses and Disabilities, by Sharon E. Smith, - Rebuilding your life by learning to live with a non-terminal, life-altering situation.

Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A Survivor's Handbook, by Robin Murphy Davis - 28-page, non-technical guide to dealing with and overcoming MTBI.

Objects In Mirror are Closer Than They Appear - by Sol Mogerman, Tells the story of his accident and recovery from brain injury in a direct personal manner that draws the reader into the experience. This story highlights the loss of his self-image as the most devastating outcome of his injury. People with Disabilities Press url: http://www.youwilldreamnewdreams.com/

Over My head, by Claudia L. Osborn - A doctor's own story of head injury from the inside looking out, 1998.
url: http://claudiaosborn.com

The Way Back -- by Jamie Crawford. Observations and experiences (with humour) that I made/went through during the initial stages of my recovery. It is intended to help others and their friends/families who are unfortunate enough to find themselves in a similar situation. url: http://www.geocities.com/headinjuryuk/index.html

This will give everyone a better understanding of the patience required after using any SSRI.