[Hairyarmadillo]

Azureblue, I have experienced the stomach discomfort. In fact, initially it felt like my stomach was literally twisting at times. Not painful, but weird. And I lost my appetite because of it. I don't know if apathetic is a word or not but I felt that on the medicine. Which is why I knew I had to get off it. I got that way bad with the Paxil and didn't know it was the Paxil, found out by accident when I got off it. I swear, I let everything go when I was on that. It was a little better with the Lexapro but there was still an overall feeling of apathy. Now I have to fix all the stuff I let go. Like my body

[skyer]

Azure: Your reaction to Lexapro is very common. That's why I can't figure out why Lexapro is such a big hit right now??? My friend's mother has been on Lexapro for about five years and she went from being a busy, interesting person to a lazy, T.V. watching, overweight woman. We thought she had depression, but now we know. She is in total denial about the Lexapro. I was on Paxil and Prozac and niether one of those made me apathetic. In fact, like you, they made me quite happy within a couple of days...too happy...and too bold...looking back I can see that now. All of these drugs are mind-altering, in my opinion.

[azureblue]

Skyer: It is a relief to know that others had this same lazy reaction to Lex. I used to be bubbly and outgoing, but then I became EXTREMELY lazy! I wish I would have known other alternatives BEFORE I became addicted to Lex.

Hairyarmadillo- So are you still "apathetic"? I feel A LOT better since I have been coming off the meds... but I get VERY sleepy! I hope I don't EVER go back to just not caring about anything... it is HORRIBLE! Also, how long did your stomach pains take to go away? Oh yeah, I have the weight thing going on too. I hope I want to stop eating! I need to get back in shape!

Hopeful- Your Hocking Hills are BEAUTIFUL! Thank you for sending me the link. What a lucky person you are to live in such a beautiful place!

[scootchu]

Sorry Guys I didn't want her to rush into cutting back too fast either. She said she hasn't felt anything much in the past week. Today she continued with 5mg, half her normal dose.

Now with that being said does going off this drug cause a rebound effect that causes more dramatic mood swings or depression? Or is it that someone that suffers from legitimate symptoms has a harder time dealing with them when coming down off of Lexapro?

The reason I ask this is because I want to know what I am dealing with. I believe my wife was prescribed Lexapro waaaaaaay too quickly. She was stressed, yes I can believe that, but she was also getting depressed over things that I believe to be quite normal. I can sympathize because I have been way down there in my late teens and 20's. Just so you know that I am not pooh-poohing her depression or feelings. I just believe that most of the time these feelings come and go. So I will make sure she doesn't quit cold turkey or even cut the present dose in half. I would just like to know if there are people out there that come off of Lexapro like nothing happened.

Believe me I am listening. It's a lot to digest.

[Hairyarmadillo]

Hmm, scootchu, I don't know if the rebound depression would be less if someone didn't have problems with depression prior to taking the medication. Let me say that I have always had bouts of depression, but when I started taking the medication I was really not in one of my worst bouts. ON the medication, I returned to having some of the worse bouts I have had in years. I am glad your wife is getting off it because it definitely does seem to have more of a hold the longer you are on it. IMO anyway.
Ok, totally nonprofessional opinion here, but if she is doing ok with the 5mg cut, maybe it won't affect her as dramatically. I am sure some people do come off these things without going through an ordeal. But I think she should stay alert to the possibility of negative side effects, including that of possible depression or moodiness. Once I realized that the moods/depression may be a side effect, it was a lot easier to deal with. I don't know if she ever has pms, but tell her to think of the moods as pms and keep telling herself that it will pass. And of course, she knows she has your support so if it gets too bad, then she can rethink her withdrawal tactic. I am also thinking that it may be worse for her to increase the dose again now after she has been on the lower dose for a bit. Any thoughts on this guys? But I also think she should stay on the 5 mg for a bit before cutting back anymore. that will give her body a chance to adjust to the changes. I know that we all have had the negative side effects of the withdrawal but I have wondered if everyone is different. After all, some people don't have problems on this medication. My friend at school (who was the one who told me about this wonderful drug Lexapro) went off of it cold turkey a couple of months ago. She didn't have any weird physical problems, didn't want to sleep all the time, didn't have nightmares. But she did tell me she went back on it because she was feeling moody and crying. I told her about the possibility of rebound depression, but she isn't game to try to get off of it again since she didn't have any real problems on it either. Anyhow, the point I was making that even though she did have the moodiness which may or may not have been a withdrawal side effect, she didn't go through the physical issues. So prayerfully she will be able to keep decreasing without too many issues. I am just so wary now after everything I have read and what little I have experienced. And again, good for you sticking by her.
azureblue, after about 2 weeks of reduction from 10 mgs to 5, the apathy decreased tremendously. Now, though I am noticing it again. I will be glad when I can decrease some more. I am so sick of this feeling. This is not me. Not that I was ever a big bundle of energy but now I am a couch potato. I don't even like to watch tv but now I will sit mesmerized. And I am so sick of not remembering anything. I am glad though that my sugar and carb cravings are gone. There have been times when I could not eat anything or just eat salads but then I start feeling nauseous, so I go back to eating normal food.

[Hopeful 285]

A friend of mine at work has been sharing my issues with others.

There's a lady she knows who is 7 months pregnant with her 3rd baby. She is having headaches and nausea which could be from the preganancy, but with her 1st 2 pregnancies, she was not having these issues this late in the pregnancy. She is taking 10mg of Lexapro.

Do you think she should start tapering very very slow? The baby may have discontinuation syndrome now and after he/she is born. I wonder if she waits that it may put the baby in cold turkey state.

I have read that these drugs can cause babies to be born with heart defects.


The doctor told her that it is fine to take Lexapro while you're pregnant. I can't believe that doctors tell patience this.


I don't want to scare her to death. She is wanting advice. All of you know more about this than than her doctor.

Thank you in advance for your help. All of you are great!

[Patience]

Hi all! I have missed you guys!

Just wanted to check in and tell you how I have been lately. I am definately a lot better, here are some of the things I still deal with:

-skin sensitivity: comes and goes
-muscle tension: still sore along my spine and my shoulders, but about 60% better
-ate some curry last week and my stomach was upset for about 4 days everytime I ate. It burned and I got a taste of what you all go through with stomach issues.
-not to depressed, but every once in awhile I get this uncontrollable down feeling. Not crazy, but I really have to talk myself out of it.
-tendons still a little sore. My chiropractor said that it is bacause of the constant muscle tension which in turn causes your joints and tendons to compensate in weird ways. Cannot wait for that to go away.
-realized that I am still a little fragile: I went to the gym and did one of my old workouts of running, squats, sit-up etc ...it set me back! I didn't feel horrible, which was a good thing, but I definately had more muscle and tendon pain. It made me think of an old poster, Redbled, he tried to get back into basketball at the 6 month mark and realized that he wasn't quite there yet.

Things that have gone away:

-"Tourette's syndrome" feeling.
-tremor in left hand
-extremely dry eyes
-sticky joints
-extreme fatigue
-stomach bloating
-extreme muscle pain
-hung over feeling in head (get it sometimes, but not as bad)
-horrible pain in lower back
-horrible pain and restlessness in calves
-brain fog/lack of memory
-depression
-general malaise every morning
-dizzyness
-a buzzing in the back of my neck when I move it
-hair has stopped falling out as much as it was
-less to almost no rash bumps on my arm and hands
-My skin is looking healthier
-I can move my neck without pain
-nausea
-chest pain
-sensitivity to loud music--loud noises I'm not expecting still bother me
-depersonalization
-Extreme apathy
-Extreme irratibility
-lack of balance

If I think of anything else, I will let you know!!


Skyer: great article! Its amazing how much we are finding out on this forum! I love it!! We are heroes!!

Hopeful/elizabethmaria: You will get better....it just takes a lot of time.

hairyarmadillo: your muscles will start to get better. I have been told that the muscle tension is from mineral deficiency. Get a supplement that is more "food-like", like "Iron and Herbs" or a magnesium product. These wont hurt you because they are like food and dont have b vitamins.

AzureBlue: what you described about the euphoria when first on the drug is not good, because it is draining your adrenals. They all do that to all of us.

xoxo
Patience

[azureblue]

Patience- I never thought about that! "what you described about the euphoria when first on the drug is not good, because it is draining your adrenals." I had nooo idea why I was so hyped up, I just thought the Lex was working really, really well... but that didn't last long! Thanks for your advice on this!

Hairyarmadillo- I am not as "apathetic" anymore, but I am soooo sleepy! And I know I am getting more sleep than I should! But I yawn all day, and as soon as I get home from teaching I fall asleep on the couch. When will my energy come back? Is there something I can do to help it... work out? I heard it is not good to do a heavy workout, and that you should just walk or do yoga, but I am decreasing vvvverrryyy slllooowwwlllyyyy. So does this apply to me? Any advice?

Hopeful: I have also heard really bad things about getting pregnant on this drug, but I don't know what should happen if one is already pregnant and still taking the drug. Maybe Tavee would know something, she has a lot of great advice! Also, Skyer is amazing at researching this stuff! Let me know what you find out. My doctor told me when I started Lex. that it was perfectly safe for pregnancy and breast feeding, boy am I glad I decided to stop now! Good luck on your search!

Hey everyone! Hope all is going well with you!
Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well!

[tavee]

Hopeful- What The Heck Is Wrong With Ure Friend's Doctor??? According To My Doctor, No One Should Take Antidepressants While They Are Pregnant. Are These People Stupid???
I Want To Get Pregnant In The Summer If All Goes Well With My Tapering And That Was One Factor Why I Wanted To Stop Taking This Drug. I Am So Dumbfounded!!!!

Azureblue- How Are U Feeling? Are U Down To 17 Yet. Let Em Know If U Need Anything.

Tavee

[mrvernon]

Wow, it's nice to know I am not alone. I've only been off it three days after tapering, and I feel awful. Not as bad as some others here! But the flu-like symptoms are here.

Sigh.

[azureblue]

Tavee- I am down to 18 right now- have been since Sat. Should I go ahead and go down to 17? I am a little emotional and moody, not over the top, but I think it could just be that time of the month. Who knows. Not feeling great right now... a little sad. I am really proud of you though! I am sooo excited to hear that you want to have a baby this summer... THAT's GREAT!

mrvernon- Welcome to the thread! What is your story (if you want to share)? Have you been on here before? I am still tapering (from 20), and I am a big wuss, so I am only at 18. How did you taper? and from what dosage? Sorry about all of the questions, I just like to hear about everyone else's stories. Nice to meet you!

[Hairyarmadillo]

Hopeful, I am afraid to say one way or the other about the pregnancy situation. Since she is already at 7 months (and please don't tell her I said this) if damage is done it probably has already been done. I can't recall all the pregnancy milestones now, but so much development has been underway, with organs, etc. Can't believe that docs are still saying no problem with antidepressants and pregnancy. I'm seeing info on these lawyer commercials all the time now. Also, it is scary thinking of the effects of the withdrawal on her body and if that could affect her pregnancy. THEN I am thinking of the depression phase she could go through that could hit superhard postpartum. I would worry about the baby going through the withdrawals, but don't know what would be the best way to go with this. If anything, should she decide to get off the Lexapro, I would definitely advise the liquid and doing it slowly. Even if she didn't get all the way off of it before the birth, she would have a lower level in her system and the baby would have less of a withdrawal to go through.

Patience- I just read that your hair has stopped falling out as much! That is the best news (well, I guess the other side effects that are now gone were probably worse, but I am having hair loss and thought I wass just going bald.)
I'm so happy to find out you had hair loss! I thought I was just going to have to buy a wig because my hair was falling out from old age at 37 years of age. I feel so much better. And of course, I hate you had to go through losing hair-I am just thrilled that it is something that is going to resolve. You can see my scalp in places

Azureblue, I swear after teaching all day I can't even do a little workout. I did order a yoga dvd thinking it will help me get my muscles in shape gradually. I have 3 more days of standardized testing this week, will have the tests I am responsible for collecting "packed up" by Friday. I am going to bite the bullet and decrease my 5 mgs in half this weekend. Hopefully, I will get rid of more of this feeling of "not caring" enough to jolt myself into a regular exercise routine, whatever it will be. Am thinking the yoga and the walking though. Easy and still effective.

Mrvernon-you are definitely not alone. I haven't been posting that long but once I saw all my symptoms were also shared by others I felt so much relief. Mind you, I love all you people, but I was so happy to hear you guys have muscle pain, hair loss, fatigue, etc. I thought I was falling apart and was a hopeless case. Stick with the tapering though, mrvernon. It is definitely worthwhile. and we are all "here" for you!

[mrvernon]

Originally Posted by azureblue

mrvernon- Welcome to the thread! What is your story (if you want to share)? Have you been on here before? I am still tapering (from 20), and I am a big wuss, so I am only at 18. How did you taper? and from what dosage? Sorry about all of the questions, I just like to hear about everyone else's stories. Nice to meet you!

My new pdoc has given me a different diagnosis (probably a more accurate one), and so I've been tapering off from 20mg. I just cut it in half every month or so; once I was at 2mg or so, my doc said to just stop. That was last Friday.

When tapering I seemed to have a lot of symptoms - anger and depression mainly. Hopefully that will go away once I am off, but I assume it will take some time.

[elizabethmaria]

Hello everyone,
Well, it's not going so good here.. ... I'm ok, but haven't been able to write since last week... sometime? last week wasn't too good, thought was getting worse, but tried to keep going... but started walking funny, hands curling, then Sunday somone stayed with me, and started having seizures... had 8 or something on Sunday, took me to emergency, .. so don't know what is going on.. but my head is so weak!!! they fortunately are not full seizures , . nice way of checking is when it happens, they stick a stick down your throat and if you respond, then its not a full seizure ... so that is good! But it is soooooooo exhausting when they happen, I'm at someone elses home and they are taking good care of me here, just trying to be real quiet so to keep them from happening, as they keep coming back w/ stimulation... ahhh.. so am not talking much with anyone... Thursday I have an MRI and EEG scheduled, so am hopeful.. but I'm really scared they will put me on medicine, and I will lose what little brain I have left!!
Has anyone else had anything like these..? my body is good, but my brain is completely fried - I don't know what to do! I don't know if my brain can heal, it has taken such a hit -- but will just keep praying and trust...
hope you are doing well -- I read your note skyer and am glad you are feeling a little better!! take care Tavee, Hopeful, Azureblue, Patience, Lisa, Scootchu... Aunty,, everyone! have been thinking about you all...
blessings
Elizabethmarie

[skyer]

ElizabethMaria: I am SO sorry you are having such a hard time. I really feel for you. To be honest, I was quite worried when you said your parents were leaving for a long trip because I know how hard the fourth month is. But it certainly was not my place to tell you to ask your parents to stay back! During the third month you think, "this can't get any worse" and then it does!!! A few posters from last year and some others I have made contact with ALL said the fourth month was hell. I just know you will get better and you are doing the right thing by resting with NO stimuli. Can somebody read and write on the post here for you?

Of course, I'm no doctor, but from all my reading it sounds like the pineal gland in our brain took a big hit and it's trying to heal. It's believed to be responsible for seizure activity (I think) and other phenomenon like depersonalization and out-of-body type stuff. Historically, is known as the "third eye." Take care, YOU WILL get better. I also thought my brain might be a lost cause, but this past week has given me a lot of hope. I'm not right at all, but am way better than I was just a month or even a couple of weeks ago.

xoxo

[Patience]

Oh Elizabethmarie, I am so sorry you are going through this. Just the fact that you are able to type and put sentences together shows that you have a lot of brain function. Something is not firing correctly or something like that...you will get to the bottom of this. It will just take a while for your brain to heal. I know that lexapro can bring on seizures in epileptic people and can cause seizures in people without epilepsy as well, so its entirely within this lexapro nightmare.

Please let us know how you are doing and how your MRI goes. You're in my prayers.

xoxo Patience

[lisabb]

New thing....
I broke the smaller bone in my leg right before Christmas. I thought everything was doing ok. Well Monday the doc took Xrays. He said I should have had a lot more bone growth then I had.

So I come home and start investigating......There was a study done in 2004 on baby mice and SSRIs. The mice had a lot of bones not grow correctly and such.

Great....another reason I have to get Lex out of my system.

When I try to take a Calcium supplement, it get the bad muscle pains back. Can't win.

Take care.

[Patience]

lisab--What about a liquid calcium combined with magnesium? That works well to actually take away my muscle pains.....You can get it at whole foods, etc...lemon or berry flavor...not bad at all

Skyer: I am writing you back...in the process

[tavee]

elizabethmarie- im so sorry about ure condition. u are fortunate that u have someone to watch u.

please take care and keep us posted on whats going on.
i will pray for u my dear.
i dont understand what happened. i wonder why???

tavee

[Hairyarmadillo]

elizabethmaria, that is scary about the seizures. I am frustrated enough with the minor things I have encountered. I am thinking of you and sending up prayers. I know it is hard, but don't get discouraged. I have faith that you are going to make it through this. Doggone Lexapro I also can sympathize with the way you feel about your brain. Mine is gone. I blamed it on fatigue from work, etc, but now know it is the Lexapro. Today has been a bad day for me with all that. I just keep telling myself that it will improve. So, use that as your own personal mantra-it will improve, it will improve. I just hate that you have to go through this. Doesn't this make everyone else more angry at the Lexapro people?!!

lisabb, I swear, every little thing that goes wrong with me I can trace back to lexapro. What did your doctor advise to do about the bone growth? this is unreal! Who would have thought such an innocuous looking pill can cause so much havoc? I am no fan of the muscle pains. I need to exercise but hurt too much. Maybe the liquid Patience recommends will do the trick since the regular calcium is causing problems for you.

This is how bad my mind is-I had a question and can't remember it now for anything. Are you all sure my brain will get back to normal? I hope it does so before anyone at work figures out I am operating with half a brain...

[azureblue]

elizabethmaria- You are in my thoughts and prayers. You have probably answered this already, but how old are you, and how long ago did you start taking Lex.? Have you ever had problems with seizures before? Keep your head up, I know it is hard, but there are people here that are praying for you .

Last night was really rough on me. I know this is nothing compared to what elizabethmaria is going through, but my depression was SO HEAVY! I cried for a solid 4 hours- at least. I just kept thinking about how horrible of a person I am and how much I hate myself. I was praying the Lord would just take me right then and there... now I feel so foolish. It makes me dislike myself for the way I acted last night. It just seems like I can't win. Am I still depressed? Do I need the meds? Or is this part of withdrawl? I am down to 17. That's not very much. I am being a big baby about dropping down to 17, and some of you all have made it soooo much further. Am I really just messed up- with or without the meds

You guys are wonderful. Don't know what I would do without your constant support and advice.

[tavee]

Azureblue- U Are Going To Be Fine. How Long Have U Been On The 17ml?
Give Me A Breakdown Of Ure Taper So Far. Are U Pmsing At All?
I Think That It Might Be The Withdrawals. Now This Is Where All The People On Lex Who Did Not Know What To Do ,go Back To The Dotor And They Put Them Back On The Drug Cuz Doctors Are Idiots And They Have No Clue!! Do Not Do That!!!!!! Hang In There.

U Have To Be Patient Now And Go Slow. Stay On The 17 For Like 10 -14 Days And See How U Feel. Then Go Down To 16ml.

Please Dont Be In A Hurry. I Know U Are Probably Like Me Where U Just Want To Get This Over With. Remember, I Started To Taper In October From 10 Mg And I Am At 2.2ml Today. If U Want To Get Thru This Without Any Major Probs, U Have To Go Slow.and Take Ure Supplements Every Day. That Will Help With Moods. (omega 3) Take Like 3 In The Morning Along With Ure Multivitamin.
Are U Doing That Young Lady????

Let Me Know If U Need Anything. I Should Have My Email On This Site. If U Want To Email Me Just Click On Tavee. It Should Be There.

Im Here For U Girl!!

Tavee

[Hopeful 285]

Hi everyone,
I am reading Peter Breggin's book, The Antidepressant Fact Book.
It says, women taking SSRI' in the 1st trimester have a significantly higher birth defect rate. 3rd trimester there are higher rates of premature delivery and these babies have poor neonatal adaptation, including respiratory difficulty, cyanosis ( blue discoloring caused by lack of oxygenation) on feeding, and jitteriness.
Doctors that say it is ok to stay on Lexapro are giving their own personal opinion. There is nothing anywhere stating you can take Lexapro while pregnant according to Dr. Breggin.

I am so angry with these drug companies. There are so many of us suffering and no one gave us a warning. The more I learn the angrier I get.

Elizabethmaria,
I am so concerned for you. You will be so much better in a few months. Just hang in there. Don't give up. This is the peak and you will heal. It takes time. I am praying for you.

Azureblue,
I know exactly what you are feeling because I am like that today. I am not tapering. I went cold turkey on November 9th. Until we heal we'll have our weaker days. Don't beat yourself up. This is not your fault. It is so wonderful that you are tapering. Hang in there and read the posts. It does get better with time.

Skyer,
Is you depression starting to lift any? The depression part is starting to hit me now. You are about a month ahead of me.


Patience,
Thanks for the encouragement.



I did get the 2 Peter Breggin books I ordered and the prognosis for me doesn't look too good.
When you start getting movement disorders on the drug, the doctor is supposed to take you off right away.
I got the movement disorder 8 months before I went off the drug. The doctors did not take me off the Lexapro.
I still have the movement disorder and if you have it for this long, it usually does not go away and there is brain damage.
There are people who get better but I've had the disorder for a year. It has improved and I hope it improves more. It is something I could have to live with.
What I have left are jerks and tics. I can deal with them. I just hope the apathy goes away. I just feel like a part of my brain is dead. There is a numb tingly part right in the middle of my head. I guess I'm just feeling sorry for myself today. Tomorrow's another day. Hopefully a better one for all of us. Sigh....


I am going to call Peterson's Lawfirm and see if they will start a class action lawsuit. I am so sick of these drug companies getting by with this.

[Hopeful 285]

Information pertaining to everyone from Peter Breggin's book:

Not all drugs circulate freely in the blood stream. Many are bound to proteins in the blood. When a drug is bound to plasma proteins, it remains temporarily unavailable and therefore inactive. SSRIs have a tendency to bind especially tightly to circulating proteins, leaving less binding room for other drugs. As a result, other drugs will circulate more freely in the blood and have a greater than expected effect. The list of potential interactions is so extensive that most textbooks don't even try to list them all. They have to be checked on a drug-by-drug basis in sources such as the annual Physicians' Desk Reference, but this is a tedious process and the results are not necessarily comprehensive.
Overall, I hope that physicians and patients alike who read this book will approach SSRI antidepressants with much greater caution than is now customary among professionals and consumers.

These are the words from his book. I wondered why I had become so sensitive to medications.

[skyer]

Hopeful: I think it is good to be aware of the possible movement damage, but don't accept it as permanent yet. That's why I posted the link to that story about the guy who endured a long withdrawal with symptoms similar to yours. While Breggin's books are very good, they tend to be quite scary. I actually only read through it once or twice and put it away. Try to get Ann Blake Tracy's book. She is a lot more optimistic about healing. Even though the outside of her book looks scary, it's not as scary as Breggin's. I am a month ahead of you and you're doing just what I did a month ago. I had so much apathy and depression all I could do was research to the point it made me sick. My apathy and depression started to lift last weeked. At first I didn't believe it, but I've been better all week. It's SO nice to care about stuff again. I mean, it needs to lift a lot more before I'll be happy, but I'm starting to do and care about other things now. It's like waking up from a coma. I've been out more and working on my house and my muscles are in total shock from it. Now...if I could just get to stage four of sleep so that the dreams will go away along with my depersonalization I will be in good shape.

Even if your movements are permanent, it sounds like from what I've read that they will be mild and few and far between. I truly think people like us need to wait out the whole 18 months to evaluate any damage. But it's not fair. I am so angry, too, but cannot dwell on it right now as hard as it is.

Azureblue: The crying is ALL withdrawal. Lexapro suppresses your emotions, so when you taper or quit the drug you open the flood gates of emotions, thus the crying and anxiety. Please don't blame yourself or think you NEED meds. Don't go too fast. That is a sign that you are tapering too fast. If you want a successful taper you need to accept that it will take a long time.

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by azureblue

Last night was really rough on me. I know this is nothing compared to what elizabethmaria is going through, but my depression was SO HEAVY! I cried for a solid 4 hours- at least. I just kept thinking about how horrible of a person I am and how much I hate myself. I was praying the Lord would just take me right then and there... now I feel so foolish. It makes me dislike myself for the way I acted last night. It just seems like I can't win. Am I still depressed? Do I need the meds? Or is this part of withdrawl?

Azureblue, these are the same thoughts that got me back on the Lexapro, but now I know it is not me, it is the meds and part of the withdrawal process. And also I now know about the rebound depression. I know it is going to hit again and I am just going to tell myself during that time that it will pass and is not me. So, please, when that feeling hits, don't for a minute think it is you or your fault for feeling that way. You are going to battle your way down to being off this medicine and then you are going to be stronger than you ever thought possible. Fight it off and don't let those negative thoughts take over-that is the med talking. It is going to pass

[Hairyarmadillo]

Tavee, I know you are serious but I had to laugh at your "young lady" remark to azureblue. You guys are the best! You are so right about what the doctors would do if someone goes back having those symptoms. Just like that ER doc did when I had a reaction to another medication and later told that I had stopped taking Paxil. He said "If your doc put you on it, it was for a reason and you need to take it" Well, the reason was that I asked for it. No formal diagnosing done, just patient request. Of course, I weaned off that, then when I had a bad spell went to Lexapro, thought it was out of my system, then had the crying spells so thought I needed it. Thought it was me and I would have to stay on Lexapro forever. Went back on it, and went back to having extreme apathy and other issues. So, listen to dr. tavee, azureblue-don't give in. It's going to pass, I know it will. And, if you do give in and go back on it, you are going to have negative effects from taking it. You can beat this and you have all of us here behind you! We are all in this boat together and darned if we are going to let ANYONE drown!

Skyer, you were so on target with this statement "Lexapro suppresses your emotions, so when you taper or quit the drug you open the flood gates of emotions, thus the crying and anxiety. " When I first started tapering this time, all these thoughts and feelings just popped out. In fact, I spent the first few days being really angry at some things that had happened about 8 months ago! It was as if these issues were fresh, but I knew then that I must not have dealt with them at the time. I realized then that the Lexapro had not helped me deal with things productively, but had merely let me block them out. How healthy can that be?? There are people in psychiatric treatment for not dealing with emotions/issues. How good is it that a medication for depression makes one suppress things that need to be dealt with?!
I am tired but otherwise ok. elizabethmaria, I am still thinking/praying for you. Hope things are going better

[tavee]

hairyarmadillo-
I WAS LAUGHING SO HARD READING URE POST!! DR. TAVEE!!! I LOVE IT!!

I JUST DONT WANT ANY ONE TO SUFFER ANYMORE AND IF THAT MEANS TO TELL THEM EVERY LITTLE DETAIL I WENT THRU AND CONVINCE THEM IN ANY WAY THAT I CAN, I WILL DO IT!!!
WE WILL GET THRU THIS DAMN IT!!
I STARTED 2.2 ML TODAY!!! SO LETS SEE WHEN THE WITHDRAWALS WILL HIT!!I DREAD THIS PART ALL THE TIME. EVERY LITTLE THING THAT I EXPERIENCE, I 'M LIKE , OH NO, THE WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS KICKED IN. I GET SO SCARED CUZ I DONT WANT FEEL LIKE ********************.

I KNOW THERE IS NO COMPARISON TO ELIZABETHMARIE AND HOPEFUL AND SKYER.

HAIRY ARMADILLO- URE STORY SOUNDS FAMILIAR WITH THE ANGRY ISSUES. ALL THIS STUFF LIKE COMES BACK, MAN. LEXAPRO JUST SUPRESSED EVERYTHING. I ACTUALLY CRY AT COMMERCIALS WHILE BEFORE I WAS LIKE A COLD STONE PERSON. ISNT THAT WEIRD?

OK GUYS WE CAN DO THIS!! LETS GET THRU ANOTHER DAY!

ELIZABETHMARIE- HOW ARE U ? WHATS GOING ON? PLEASE KEEP US POSTED.

DR. TAVEE

[elizabethmaria]

hi everyone, (dr tavee,skyer,lisa, hopeful, patience, aunty where are you? you guys are The best, i Love you all!!!!!
Had MRI today, and eeg -- they flashed lots of lights at me, which hurt, but went ok... I don't know if they will find anything, they should! but I can't really know now.. am still having 'seizure's, had about 5 today? it is very uncomfortable, as I am starting to not to know when they end and begin, it all runs together some hours... I really don't know if it will heal, it is sooooo strong..and takes over! but keep on praying, I feel like i'm in a nightmare that never ends! oh gosh, but sometimes i'm like fine for a short while, which is really weird, and nice. it's such a bummer, my aunt is here at home now takin care of me, but she won't talk much , because it triggers it... not a very excitin life! oh well... gosh, i hope it gets better because thisis Bad. Skyer, you said the 4 month is worse????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????? I'm at 3.5, Ill be dead at 4!!! it's so scary, i reallly, I mean really really don't know if I'll make it at all. truly. but that's ok if i don't i guess.. i feel like it wouldnt be much different!.. sorry for being down, but i'm not really, just totally lost! oh well.. ok, take care all, love you all, you are angels!!!
love
elizabethmarie

[elizabethmaria]

hi,
I just turned 28, and was on xanax,,celexa and trazodone 3 days only...
bye... in december