[tavee]

how beautiful!! u made me cry!! how true that is.

u know its funny when we are going thru things in life, when u read poems like this it just gives u such hope.

thanks for such a wonderful poem.

i hope u are feeling well.

have a great weekend my dear

love
tavee

[tavee]

Hairy-i Bet U Are Going To Be Fine When School Starts. U Still Have Another Month And A Half. Thats A Long Time To Heal And Start Feeling Better. U Will See My Darling.
Keep Ure Head Up, Think Positive, And Pray Every Night.every Day That Goes By Will Be In The Past And U Will Feel Better.

U Know The Other Thing I Am Experiencing During Tapers Is Hallucinations While Sleeping Or Half Awake. I Am Going Thru It Now But Since It Has Happened So Many Times Between Tapers, I Know Im Ok.
I See Cracks In The Walls And Creepy Crawlers Like Snakes And Worms, And It Looks Like Seriously( I Know U Are Probably Laughing Cuz It Is A Little Humorous) Like The Walls In My Bedroom Are About To Collapse Cuz Of All The Cracks. It Is Almost Like A Horror Movie. I Am Almost Embarrassed To Tell This Story. Aunty Says It Is Common. She Once Heard That A Woman Was Seeing Dead Bodies Hanging From Trees While Trying To Get Off ( I Think) The Medication Or Even On It.
Is That Weird Or What? It Is Amazing What These Mind Altering Drugs Can Do To U.

Now My Plan Next Week Is To Go From 1.3ml To 1. We Will See What Happens. I Just Hope I Dont Have Any Bad Reactions.

Take Care Of Ureself.
Love
Tavee

[Hopeful 285]

Hi everyone,
July 9th was 8 months off Lexapro cold turkey. I had been doing so much better but this week was a very bad week.
I moved in slow motion all week and fell several times over a period of 3 days. One day I was basically paralyzed for half the day. I would fall and get up and fall again. I had an MRI so I know I don't have MS. So this must still be from the Lexapro.
I am so angry. How could these drugs still be on the market?
My MRI test shows that I have problems with the back of my neck. I have to go to a specialist for that now. She said it was bad and but didn't know if I would need surgery.
Lexapro effects your bones. I just know it caused this problem too.
Is it a coincidence that my sister-in-law who has been on antidepressants for years had to have a rod put in the back of her neck a year ago? I don't think so.
My neurologist is finally asking me about the Lexapro. She is also sending me to a movement disorder specialist. I believe the movement disorder and falling are related to the same part of the brain.
If any of you have an autoimmune disease, these drugs can be a trigger to cause you to get it. It is genetics plus an environmental trigger. You can have the genetics and never actually get the disease unless you get the trigger.


Hi Skyer,
Wondering about you. How have you been? I haven't posted much lately. Seeing several doctors about an hour away trying to get help for movement disorder. I go to the doctor for one thing and they find out something else is going on. I've been trying to stay upbeat but this week was really trying. Well tomorrow is another day.


MH4,
Sorry for not getting back to you sooner.
Concerning the hashimoto's and antidepressants, if you read
Prozac Panacea or Pandora? -Ann Blake Tracy, it will tell you that these drugs can be associated with every body system and organ from arrhythmia of the heart to inflammation of the liver to dysfunction of the thyroid gland.
It tells you that these drugs effect your metabolism which is associated with the thyroid. It tells you that these drugs effect your immune system and that you can get autoimmune diseases such as Lupus. It also says that it changes your cells so your body believes the cells are enemies and tries to destroy them.
Her book says that the newer SSRI's should be labeled prozac #2, prozac #3, etc. suggesting that all SSRI's do the same damage as prozac.


This article tell you that antidepressants effect the thyroid gland.

http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/...urcetype=HWCIT

Take care,

[Freazytek]

Elizabethmaria is your headache getting better after your 7 months of healing??

[ernurse18]

2 months lexapro free for me yesterday! To all those who are struggling, hang in there, it can be done but is VERY difficult. I'm exercising and have lost 5# thus far and am starting to feel human again. I do have my moments of feelings of depression, but then remind myself that i quit taking my premarin about 3 weeks ago(i started taking post hysterectomy 9 years ago). I'm trying to be drug free, although i struggle horribly with allergies. God made our bodies perfect and gave us everything to properly care for ourselves, why put in chemicals?...hang in there, you can do it!

[elizabethmaria]

Freazytek,
I'm sorry to say this, but no, the headaches are still here, 7 months out. My case, however, is unusual, as I had a very severe reaction, and have had many many other problems since then. I have headaches when I have seizures, or post seizure, when I have dystonia 'attacks' and when I do too much with my brain. I don't have migraines though! thank heavens -- it just hurts, that's all.. and again, it's the VERY least of my pains! I don't know how bad your headaches are, but I'm absolutely sure they will improve! Everything of mine has improved, but I had a whole lot of bad stuff going on.. so, rest assured that they will pass... it will take time though.. and I wouldn't take anything for them, as we're not supposed to take any drugs for a year following an ssri reaction, if possible.. Do you have migraines? I don't know what they are like, but they sound like no fun! take good care of yourself..
love, EM

Dear Hopeful,
I am so sorry that you are having a rough week.. but I'm sure it will pass, and you will continue to improve so well as you have been. I'm so happy that you had some very very good weeks! that is so wonderful! It's good that you are seeing a movement disorder expert - I hope they help.. Could you tell me what happens to you with your movement problems exactly? I seem to have dystonia 'episodes'... different from seizures.. my right hand and arm just curl up, and my neck twists to the side, and my right leg drags - this can happen as an 'attack' where it just is really tight and cramping for like, 5-10,20min or so, then it relaxes slowly and releases and goes away..(does this happen to you, or is it constant, all the time?) Or, I can overexercise or exert, and the more I walk, the more I have trouble putting my right leg down right, and my shoulder and hands slowly get more and more bound up, but upon stopping/relaxing, it goes away. Many days it doesn't happen at all. Sometimes I have parkinsonism, where I'll be walking, and my shoulders constantly shrug, legs kick funny directions, arm jerks out, for no particular reason.. but that happens very very rarely now... I actually don't mind that one, if it is temporary.. it's quite a kick in the pants, and makes going for a walk kind of fun, actually -- that probably sounds bad, but it's true! I pretend I'm Micheal J Fox...
I just wondered what your difficulties were... I don't know if anyone else here has the movement problems... I know that the doctor/ssri expert I spoke to did confirm these as being from the drugs (obviously!).. but he did say that they can take a long long time to heal.. parkinsonism up to even 5-10 years.. but, I think the healing must be a curve, so it may linger, but improve much, hopefully..
I'm so sorry to hear about the thyroid/Hashimotos... that is so hard.. but there is treatment, right? so that you can remain in a good balance? I hope so. I understand how hard it is to have an illness that is chronic -- the CFS will probably never go away for me, and there will be many many things I can't do because of it, even if I feel recovered, it is still there, and I have to be very very careful. But, overall, it has really been a blessing, and has helped me to really appreciate people and activities, and everything so much more... I had really taken my health for granted, so it is a constant reminder of how precious life is..
I just wanted to thank you for all your posts, and uplifting messages.., your words have carried me through so much!!...I couldn't thank you enough ..

I had a question.. does anyone feel like when they overexert, that they are dying?? I know that sounds like a very weird question, but that's the best explanation I can give, if you've had it, I'm sure you would know what I mean. I'm trying to figure out if its the CFS, or if it's the withdrawal/damage... Whenever I do too much, not only does all the symptoms get worse.. there is this feeling like my body is actually dying, I can't explain it, but it's awful! I don't know if some hormones or something aren't being released or whatever, but it feels that way, all over deep inside.. hmmm then obviously I don't die, but sit quiet, and my body starts to feel better again... I wish I knew what it was, or mostly that it would go away.. but I think the answer is just to be really careful and slow.. oh well, lots of fun, this.. !
take care everyone, Hi Tavee! -- I'm so glad you liked that poem!! that's the story of my life right now, I think God sent it straight to my heart too... it's beautiful, isn't it? So hopeful, and TRUE!
take care,
Elizabethmarie

[Freazytek]

ElizabethmariaWell,its a constant headache.Like someone puts pressure on my brain but only at my right side.always at the same place.Its really a weird sensation cause its always present.I guess it will reside one day.What could be the cause of this,damaged neurons??

[sweet-thang]

Hi--

I just wanted to check in and let everyone know how I was doing. A brief summary: Been on ad's for 14 years (ssri's), lexapro, 5 mgs, for the past 4 years. I've just started to taper. Went to 4mgs and had mild withdrawal (foggy-headed, cotton eyeballs, TIRED, sore, more emotionally vulnerable feeling and irritable) it was all dealable though. The symptoms peaked at 7 days and cleared within 14 days, right on schedule. My next taper has been to go to 3.8 mgs....so far so good. Seemed like the withdrawal symptoms peaked earlier this time, like on day 2...it was pretty intense and I almost thought I might be moving too fast and might have to go back up to 4mgs...but by the next day I felt a lot better and continue to feel pretty good. I'm not quite on day 7 yet on this dose, and I will stay on it for at least 2 weeks.

I have found some things that have eased my withdrawal. One is eating a whole foods, low glycemic diet--keep away from anything that spikes your blood sugar. Two, taking gentle walks with my dogs, preferably out in nature, in the quiet. Mild exercise. I get on the Nordik Track for 20 minutes, enough to break a sweat. I NEVER _feel_ like doing this. I have to force myself. But if I do it, I feel 200% better. I think sweating is good. I think of it as getting the toxins out. In addition, for awhile I was having a glass of wine at night to help ease withdrawal---I learned that was actually making me feel worse. It might have soothed anxiety short-term, like for the evening, but I would feel worse in the daytime--even from just one glass. So I cut that out, and felt MUCH better as well. Lots of water....Lots of fiber...all these things help the body rid itself of toxins. Also, really working on being super kind and super gentle with yourself...even when you feel like your'e a mean ogre...that's when you need kindness the most.

I am very fortunate in that I work part-time, doing extremely easy, undemanding work. One of the jobs, I"m in the office by myself, so if I burst into tears, or throw a fit, no one ever has to know. I'm grateful for that. Otherwise, I'm not sure how I'd manage to go through this process. I think about that sometimes: what if I had a 40 hour a week, demanding, "real" job? Or kids?

My hats off to you all.

Ruth (Sweet Thang)

[gremlin]

I know this is the Withdrawl board, but i've seen some posts about adverse events here so i figured i'd tell my story for what it's worth.

About the middle of November 2006 i was having trouble sleeping and had ask my doctor to prescribe a mild dose of xanax to take as needed. I explained that i thought stress caused by work was the underlying reason. The doctor (really just a nurse practitioner) refused, claiming how addicting xanax was and said i should try an SSRI. I expressed a concern about the sexual side effects of this kind of medication and so she recommended lexapro, stating that of all the SSRI's lexapro seems to cause less side-effects. Boy, was she wrong.

After only taking 4 10mg doses i had a severe reaction. Just sitting in front of the TV one day playing video games with my daughter i had a feeling that i can only describe as "feeling like i was going to die". It felt as if my whole body was on fire. Obviously this feeling through me into a fit of panic and i so i popped about 2mg xanax and tried to relax. Eventually i fell asleep. When my daughter woke me up i had a ringing in my left ear and still wasn't feeling all that great. I was also experiencing muscle spasms in my chest. spasms that to me felt like they were originating from my heart.

The next week i went back to my doctor, who refused to believe that Lexapro had anything to do with my problems and would do nothing for me but refer me to a psychiatrist and an ENT doctor.

After waiting about a month to get an appointment with an ENT i was told that i had a "slight" hearing loss in my left ear at the high frequency range. I've heard that tinnitus and hearing loss can go hand in hand, but that tinnitus is primarily a neurological issue. Blood work came back normal, except for slightly low Free T3 and T3 uptake was at the very high end of the range. No auto-immune, no lyme.

Since then i've had a neurological exam and an MRI with no findings. I started to see a psychiatrist because i could no longer sleep or funtion effectively at workl. She prescribed zoloft to deal with the obsessive component, but i still couldn't sleep and i suggested Desyril which worked. I dropped the zoloft because of the sexual side-effects and am now taking Ativan .5 as needed and 50-100mg Desyril for sleep. I feel that these two medications are the only things that are keeping me sane, all because i was stupid enough to listen to a GP that prescribed a med for depression to someone to was having a simple sleep problem. The tinnitus has it's good days and it's bad days, but it doesn't appear to be getting any better, if anything i'd say it's getting worse.

[Hopeful 285]

Hi Elizabethmaria,
Thank you for your kind words. You are always so sweet.
The movement disorder that I have is my head jerks to the left or it bobbles back and forth. If I am talking to someone and am smiling and it starts bobbing, the person starts laughing. I know I must really look goofy.
I believe the falling is movement disorder. It is my left leg that causes me the problem. My knee just bends and I fall.
I get worse on exertion or if I have stress.
My mom and I walked around the block and about half way started falling and fell several times and she had to hold on to me for us to get back home.
It is so strange because I have even mowed grass twice this year. Of course I pace myself when I do something like this because I know what can happen.
Back when I was having alot of brain zaps, I would get a zap and fall.
Early on I would walk with a strange gait, swaying back and forth. I looked like a severely handcapped person. I guess I was.
Sometimes my eyes draw shut and my head pulls down.
Does your neck ever crunch when you move it? I think that with the effect Lexapro on the bones and the head jerks I have damaged my neck. Damage showed on the MRI.
I have vertigo when I bend over, walk on unlevel ground, bend my head back in the shower or look over a hill.
My coordination is very bad on some days on others no one else but me can tell.
I don't feel like I'm going to die any day but sometimes I wonder if this drug has shortened my life span. You saying that it takes a long time to heal from Parkinsonism helps me because I think well at least we will heal. A few months ago if I did anything I thought I would die that night. I will not give up hope because I know that God is bigger than this.
I used to have Parkinsonism when I first went of Lexapro. My whole body would jerk. I would even bend uncontrolably at the waist.
I feel like I should be able to control my jerks and falls and sometimes I wonder if people think it is put on.
I told my husband that I need a job that is flexible and I don't have to be dependable (he laughed). I really can't work right and I may have been able to last month.
The problem with going to work is even if you are enjoying your day, your body gets stressed and starts misbehaving and then the stares and then there's more stress. This is what was going gone before I took the leave of absence. The business is large and my desk is by the front door and even though I'm not a receptionist I greet everyone as they come in and if my head is bobbing, they mock me and laugh. They are nice people and are only kidding but it gets a little embarrassing because they don't know why I'm doing it.
Is CFS an autoimmune disease? It must really be hard with the Lexapro and CFS.
I was blaming issues on Hashimoto's, but according to 2 doctors, I should not be experiencing symptoms. My hormone levels are normal.

Your poem is beautiful written. This is a special gift from God. I needed this.
You are one of God's messengers, an angel.

[overtherainbow]

It's 7 weeks this weekend, down from 5 to 2.5 between April and end of May, then off cold turkey. I had had enough, and didn't have the patience to do the slow taper. Plus I just didn't want to take any more of the evil drug. That's me. YMMV.

The central nervous system stuff drove/drives me buggy. Crazy. Tense, nervous, aggravated. Work was crazy and stressful too. The more stress I had, the worse my symptoms. Interrupted sleep as well, hot flashes galore. I had to do something.

And so, I decided to start taking 5-HTP (5-hydroxytryptophan) - been doing so for about a week. This is the precursor to serotonin. I think the general consensus here is not to do this, and indeed I was headed for serotonin syndrome, when I was taking something with 5-HTP in it as I was just beginning to try and get off Lexapro in April. That was scary.

But now, all seems to be well with taking it 6-7 weeks after discontinuing. Really, I'd have to say it's a godsend. Better, smoother mood, better sound sleep. I had done some reading of earlier posts in this thread, that 5-HTP was okay at 2 weeks. (I kept notes.) Author bodyelectric wrote some about it on page 12. I had kept that thought in my back pocket.

The movement disorder stuff people talk of here has me intrigued. I was on Prozac about 10 years ago, and have been on antibiotics on and off in my life, as well as for Lyme's disease. Thought that my movement stuff was Lyme-related. Also interested in how this all affects the immune system. The puzzle seems to fit together. The movement stuff used to perplex me - came and went in intensity, right side moreso. More of a muscle stiffness, like everything was glue. Hard to stretch, get limber, flexible, gain in strength although I would do yoga, walk, stretch. I have had really bad neck pain too. The 5-HTP is helping in this regard, I think, as well.

I still have some brain zaps and dizziness in the AM but this is much less. I've learned to live with it, recognize it, oh it's still here, but it doesn't affect my life.

I do love being drug free. Eating better. Still taking magnesium malate daily; always will. Other stuff I take intermittently (Lecithin, multivitamin, fish oil).

Making good food choices is important. I've gained a few pounds during the withdrawal, I wanted to eat, craved barbs, which was a switch from my usual quasi-anorexic self. But I hadn't gained weight while being on Lex.

I do hope the movement/body stuff heals in time. I'd love to get back in shape again, and always thought the effects of having Lyme was holding me back.

Blessings and good health to all. Hang in there. Hope my story helps some. It's not easy but it does get better.

OTR

[Hopeful 285]

Hi Overtherainbow,

How long have you had the movement disorder?

This is what I have learned reading Dr. Ann Blake Tracy and Dr. Peter Breggins Books.

Antidepressants cause bone marrow suppression which adversely affect your immune system.

Also the protein binding of these drugs cause your cells to change in turn making your cells appear differently so your body starts destroying your own cells.

If you have the genetics for an autoimmune disease this can be the trigger that makes it kick in. Dr. Ann Blake Tracy says you can get diseases like Lupus which is autoimmune.

Antidepressants can also cause cancer.

I was having really bad neck pain a few months ago and it still crunches. When I rub along the right side of my neck I feel a hump. I had ignored it and thought it was my muscle. The MRI was to see if I had MS and they found this. It is serious enough to see a specialist. If you have any of these problems you might want to get checked.

These drugs also cause bleeding disorders. My sister-in-law died from a platelet disorder from taking antidepressants. I had nose bleeds from taking Lexapro.

These drugs affect every system in your body.

Even if no autoimmune genetics are present these drugs do a lot of damage, probably things we will never know about and that will heal on their own.


http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/pinealstory2.htm

Tardive Dyskinesia & Parkinsonism
Other frequently reported neurological side-effects from SSRI-AntiDepressants, involving loss of motor control, are called Tardive Dyskinesia/Dystonia and Parkinsonism. Tardive Dyskinesia/Dystonia is the collective noun for various abnormal involuntary body movements like: tics and twitches in the face or/and around the eye, muscle spasms, muscle contractions in the neck, jaw, tongue, or/and shoulders and irregular jerking movements in body parts. Parkinsonism is a term used to indicate symptoms similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease like: apathy or indifference, tremors and muscle stiffness.

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen (Prozac Backlash) introduced us to these terms and defined them as related to damaged dopaminergic neurons in the limbic system. The SSRI-AntiDepressant induced increased serotonin would cause a down regulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine and therefore cause the same damage at dopaminergic neurons as observed with neuroleptic (anti-psychotic) treatment.

However, in 4 PubMed articles (1; 2; 3; 4), Tardive Dyskinesia and Parkinsonism are associated with disturbances of serotonin and melatonin secretion and a malfunctioning Pineal Gland. The represented cases involve neuroleptic-induced movement disorders related to Pineal Gland calcification. There were "significant differences between the severity of dystonic movements in patients with no Pineal Gland calcification and those with pathologically enlarged Pineal Gland calcification."

Could there be a similar existing pattern in (former) SSRI-AntiDepressant users? Further research will be needed to establish if (former) SSRI-AntiDepressant users who have more or less severe Tardive Dyskinesia/Dystonia and Parkinsonism, are actually suffering from a malfunctioning Pineal Gland, whether or not calcified. This research could involve measurements of plasma melatonin levels.

Chapter 4 on this site discusses this movement disorders. Dr. Ann Blake Tracy's booke 'Prozac Pancea or Pandora' gives a more hopeful aspect.
http://www.breggin.com/brain-disablingch4.html

After reading this you might want to go out and do something uplifting.
Elizabethmaria and I are better than we were and you will be too.

Take Care.

[mcbrkrrltr]

Hey All,

Kimberoo, it was nice to read about you husbands symptoms. Please tell him to rest assured that he has a friend who understands and that we will be ok. This is only the withdrawl syndrome. It will not hurt us, it is just annoying.

I have suffered from severe eye pain, dizziness, lightheadedness, brain shocks, shooting pain through my eyes and head, numbness, weakness in legs and arms, severe flu like symtoms, bad body aches, , nausea, etc etc etc. and many times I almost passing out, I also have tremors, pounding heart and more. I almost went back on, but figured I would only prolong it

I suffer from Generalized Axiety Disorder and Panic attacks and I know as I have always none panic attacks and axiety disorder will not kill you, just scare you. Even though you think it will. I have feared everything from walking out the door to fear of eating . I started Lexapro when I had a bad few months and a practical nervous breakdown from continual overwelming fear of everything,

What I hope will help your husband as it saved me, is this, I have always been anxious and a worrier, When the panic attacks and severe anxiety started I kepted it in. except for my partner which I was trying to convince I had every deadly condition know to man, It was so bad I was afraid to role over in bed as I might die, when I finally went to the doctor, I was put on lexapro which did its job as prescibed and it was the best thing I could have done, on top of that I became open about my condition, it is amazing how many people understand and or are suffera of anxiety and panic attacks well

Telling the world what was going on was my best medicine, when I am feeling really wierd or have any classic panic attack symptoms, I tell who ever is with me, ofcourse the know my condition, we usually end up laughing and joking about it and it is gone in an instant, or if I am alone I tell myself, Matt this is stupid and you are fine and it vanishes, I have learned that anxiety will not hurt me and that I do not have every medical problem under the sun.

To me anxiety is a negative way of expressing our energy, for some of us we use it in the wrong way which results in over thinking something, which creates the anxiety, I think, the reality is we are all going to die one day, I have 2 beautiful children that I want to watch grow up and I will be darned if I am going to waste this short life that we all have here, worry about what could happen!

I have had enough of pills and I teaching myself Anxiety can only control you if you let it. It is a vision of our imaginations, I know we have the control. If I start to panic or worry, I have learned to say hey Gil I am numb, or ready to pass out and he reassures me, Matt you are healthy as an ox per the many test you have already made the doctor run. LOL and you are just
making yourself feel the silly physical feelings, we laugh and it goes away.

Sharing is the best healer, all of Gils family understands my condition, I can say to them , yeah I am very axious today, they talk about it and it helps me let it go. My father is a huge supporter and my friends. I have friends with the same situation and when Gil and I had our ceremony, Misty and Brooke and myself were all seriously about to faint from the increased anxiety of walking down the stairs, we didn't think we would make it. We all three knew our hearts were coming out of chest and we were going down, but in the end we laughed because we knew it was not real and we had each other to share it with, we very rarely have any attacks now, but if we do we have learned what to do, I will stand in a cold shower, or misty will walk out butt bald necked in the snow, but in the end we know it is just our body make up and there is nothing medically wrong with us, except for anxiety.

Have your husband research like I did about all the axiety symptoms that are out there, I read some people lose hearing during attacks, isn't that funny, mine are tingling, numbness, heart papiltations, light headedness, dream like state, weak extremities, burning between my shoulders and the list goes on. I also suffer from the fear of having an anxiety attack in public or around people I know, but by being open about it with them it makes it subside.

I will tell you, I am 32 and have learned that enviroment does play a large part in anxiety, I believe we suffers channel the energy in the wrong way, I have seen a lot of sickness and horror in my short 32 years. for instance my mother was dianosed with Multiple Sclerosis at 24, it was six months after I was born, It was a very progressive form and she died at 52, she was everything to me, as well as my father and kids and other family.

Lord girl I have been married to a woman and now a man, now tell me who in their right mind would not have anxiety after experiencing what is like to live with a woman and man. LOL. I am going to right a book called "The Grass is greener on bothsides of the fences" LOL LOL LOL, believe me it is hard to live with both and great to live with both, I have had the neat opportunity to experiences both worlds. But don't tell I told you , but men are worse. LOL, LOL, LOL, by the way My son lives with me and visits his mother during the summer and my partner and I have adopted a beautiful littler girl. She thinks she is Queen though. I have to remind her there are only room for two Queens in this house, LOL LOL

Any way the withdrawl symptoms from lexapro has been very hard for me but with the support of family I know it is only withdrawl symptoms, again, I am up right now at 2:12 AM because my chills and body aches are so bad I can't sleep, I have bad flu like symptoms, body aches, tremors, shakes, pain, sharp pain in eyes and head, bad eye pain which is sensative to light, heart burn that would make you slap your mama, numbness, facial drops, weakness, tingling, very vivid dreams, insomnia and yes increased anxiety, and around 4:00 OR 5:00 Everyday I become very fatigued, not tired but fatigued, and if I don't watch myself it will start to make me feel worried and anxious, but I constantly tell myself it is withdrawl symptoms and then I am fine, and just rest,

It has affected my ability to make it to work everyday, but I told work that I was withdrawling from a anti axniety medicine which is causing my condition and they fully understand and are working with me diligently.

I was on lexapro for about 2 years and weened off in a week and a half, now please don't think I recommend it, I am not a doctor, but my doctor was very honest about what I would experience and he told me that if I tappered off for quit a while or quickly the withdrawl symptoms would still occur and most be the same.

I have been reading lately and I see alot of people are going through what your husband and myself are going through, but there seems to be a lucky few who do not suffer any withdrawl, Lucky HUH. : )

Everything will be fine with you husband, he will get through the withdrawl symptoms and learn to control his anxiety, I have been walking everyday and watching what I eat, I gained alot of weight this year, and this is helping me to get back my normal wieght as well as it is a fantastic way to channel your energy, I find that if I occupy myself with good things, I don't have time to sit around and worry about the bad.

Good luck to both and I wish you both love, peace and joy,

,

[SchnauzerTime]

Aunty

I think it was you that said you could smash your pills up and mix with liquid and that be the same as liquid Lexapro? I'm asking because it sounds like my Dr. is going to be a pain in the you know what and not prescribe the liquid for me...says I can go off it fine on the pill. Even though I tried to explain it made me sick going off it in bigger amounts at a time.

So anyways, I know I read something about it on here but can't find it...about mashing the pill and mixing with water or some kind of liquid then measuring it out with a syringe to get it down to small increments? I'd really love for you to explain to me how to do that again because I want to do the slow 10 percent taper and I REALLy don't want to get very bad sick again doing it faster

Thanks alot!

[auntybiotic]

Schnauser Time,

To get a liquid Titration from a pill....Here is a example:

If you are on 10 Mg of Lexapro. Take the 10 Ml pill and crush it in a mortar and pestle. Then take 10 Ml of cranberry juice and add it to the lexapro powder and continue mixing until all powder is disolved. (Make sure there is no powder chunks remaining).You now have equivilent to 10 ml of lexapro liquid.


The syringes for measuring can be obtained from Walgreens Pharmacy free for the asking. You need to ask for a 5 Ml syringe and a 1 Ml syringe. Explain that the ones for sale are NOT accurate enough and that you need the pharmacy measuring syringes. I always am given 5 at a time for free from Walgreens Pharmacy Dept. remeber youu will need a 5ml syringe and a 1 Ml syringe.

Now if you want to decrease by 10% of the 10 Ml of the made lexapro liquid....you would take your 1 Ml syringe and withdrawal 1ML from the cranberry lexapro liquid and discard it Then drink the remaining mixture which is equivelent to 9 ML of lexapro liquid and a 10% taper. After drinking add more cranberry juice to the mortor and pedestle so that you are sure that no powder residue was left behind.

The next taper you would do the same with mixing the 10 Ml lexapro pill with 10 Ml liquid. You current taper would be 10% of 9 Ml which is equiv to 8.1 Ml.
of lexapro. So from your mixed lexapro 10 Ml cranberry lexapro liquid you would withdrawal 1Ml and then an additional .09 Ml (to line 9 on the 1 ML syringe)...and discard the mixture. This would leave a balance of 8.1 Ml of lexapro liquid that you would take. This would be a 10% reduction of your current 9Ml dose or 8.1 Ml.
Next would be 10% of the 8.1 Ml and so on until you are off.

I am not a doctor so please check with your physician before following any advice/suggestions on the internet.

[Atlasmark]

Hi All,
I have been off lexapro for a week now. I had started taking wellbutrin, but decided to stop after 4 days because I want to be drug free completely.
I am doing well - nothing that I can't tolerate - because I WILL NOT take this anymore!!!!!
I went on a mini beach weekend retreat with my boyfriend ( a very understanding man) and we relaxed most of the time. Did a little shopping and a lot of eating. (was a rainy weekend.....)
Mainly had problems with the following....

The bad.....
Couldn't stand to be in bright light or around a lot of noises - very annoying...
Got dizzy when standing up and when walking too quickly or turning around. too fast or multiple times.
Had a hard time in stores because of the maze like clothing racks.
Some nausea - but food helped.
Major electric type jolts and tingles all over. The tingles were awful!!!!! Same with the dizzy!!!!! However, I was able to conduct myself normally - I just carried on as though nothing was happening. ( My boyfriend said I was fine and pleasant all weekend, so he didn't notice any changes in moods etc....)


The Good...
Had energy - although I was dizzy.
I felt fine - happy etc..
Had no problem sleeping.
Had no problem with bowels - was very bloated, but it is that time of the month for me, and the food was delicious so....I ate a lot....The bloating could have been due to those combinations.

I did drink a little - had a glass of champagne and a glass of wine on Saturday. I am not a huge drinker, so was slightly buzzed in a relaxed way.
Had 2 glasses of champagne on Sunday during brunch ( giddy, but not drunk) and a half of a Corona with dinner...No ill effects. I even drove home in the rain and I was fine. Slightly dizzy and nervous, but not in an impaired way...

When driving the dizzy seems to get worse if I look around too much. If I keep my eyes on the cars and road in front of me, I don't feel as dizzy. (of course look both ways at 4 way stops etc...)

So far so good for me......... I didn't taper off like most of you, and I was very worried about how I was going to react. I think knowing that what I was feeling was due to my stopping lexapro truly helped me to deal with the side effects.

Thank you all so much for telling me about your experiences. Hopefully these withdrawal symptoms/reactions will remain tolerable for me from here on out and they will dissipate eventually.

Trying to keep your mind occupied and riding out each dizzy spell, nausea spell, jolt, tingle, and zap is my recommendation so far because it will pass. Even if you have another one later - that one will pass as well. WISH I COULD DO THAT WITH NICOTINE - I think I may be able to handle a nicotine fit much better now that I have made it through some of these SSRI fits.

Want to mention that I have been drinking LOTS of WATER and taking a mega multi vitamin, Vitamin E (fish oil), Amino Acid Complex, and a B complex.
I haven't exercised prior to getting off of lexapro, so I didn't do anything strenuous this weekend.

Take care all, good luck and God Bless!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[kimberoo]

Hi Everyone!

I'm so sorry that it has been a few days since I have been on. My daughter left for Italy today and I am so miserable right now. I've had tons of things to do in the past few days in preparing for her to go and haven't had a moment to myself to get on the computer.

In regards to my husband, he had me call the Drug & Alcohol Commission this weekend to see if they had any rehab for what he's going through and as you all can imagine we hit another brick wall.

I spoke to a nurse at the local community mental health center and she is going to speak to the psychiatrist to get his thoughts. I just want to find someone who can validate what he's going through.

He is up to 10mg and has yet to feel any relief. Yesterday we went to Circuit City and thankfully there were no fluorescent lights, he was fine. We then to WalMart and he had to run out of there within 5 minutes!

I went to answers.com and typed in SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome and found 8 pages with really good information that covered every symptom he has had. You guys should check it out.

Aunty

Yes, his doctor is an uneducated idiot!! How did you convince your doctors to do a blood test for your daughter through the p450 pathway, were they already aware of it at the time? Did they find out how and where to do it themselves or did you find out for them? I'm really interested in how you went about it because we're at the same spot that you were a few years ago and even though I have you to help me understand I still feel very clueless to this p450 pathway and need the right words to convince somebody, anybody, to agree to test him. Also, you've mentioned mania a few times, what exactly is mania? Until now I thought that his sensitivity to fluorescent lights was depersonalization but the pages on answers.com made me aware of the fact that it isn't. It is a whole other symptom.

This is his 4th day on 10mg. We were hoping that the dizziness would go away, but instead it seems to be getting worse. I don't know if it is too soon to tell yet, should we still wait it out before he reinstates anymore? Is it normal that when he closes his eyes when he's lying down that he gets vertigo spells?

By the way, is your daughter back yet? I hope that she is safe and doing well with her tapering. It is so hard knowing your kids are so far away. My daughter is only 15, but I have peace in knowing that she is with her cousins on the way there and with family once she gets there, but the worrying never goes away. I can't stop crying today, she was so pretty this morning when she left. We were supposed to go as a family but my husbands illness has prevented that. I'm happy that at least she got to go, she loves Italy.

Thanks for letting me get it all out here, ok, not all of it, I'm still gonna go somewhere and cry but writing it down helps a little bit.

Kimberoo

[kimberoo]

mcbrkrrltr

I had just gotten done posting when I scanned upward & read your post, wow! Thanks so much! Your personality really shined through your writing and as depressed as I am today I have to admit you made me laugh at least 3 times, I really needed that today.

You have certainly been through a lot and the fact that you're using how stress affects you to helps others is a great feat in itself. You know, the worst part of this all is feeling as though you're crazy. As much as I've read from other people's experiences my husband is still not happy because he wants to find someone whose experiencing the same exact things as he is and that's an impossibility, you read into that and I thank you for giving us your experience, the closest thus far...................do fluorescent lights make you nauseous? lol
I tried to explain it to him like this.........just as there are no two chicken pox pustules on the same place on two people,you can't expect to have the exact effects as another person, just consider yourself one of the unlucky ones who happens to have every possible symptom. ( In other words, you're the guy with pox all over your body, while the next person got away with only 4 of them)

Your best defense, seems to be to me, is your humor, God love you for that! The hardest thing to do is to not be scared that you don't have anything worse that the doctors have overlooked. I mean, my husband is on the phone with his friend right now who just had his second attempt to remove kidney stones in the last 2 weeks. His x-rays show that he has 4 stones, when they went in there with a laser the doctor stopped counting at 85 stones!!!! Imagine that, an xray shows only 4! Now he has to have surgery through his back and he may even lose his kidney!! Doctors are not Gods and even technology has a long way to come.

Thank you so much for sharing your life story and experiences with me, I really appreciated it and needed a good laugh. Keep us informed of how you're coming along, you tapered pretty quickly so if you're needing help to get through this ordeal, well, you've come to the right place! This is the best bunch on the net, that's for sure. My husband and I talk of them all as though they are friends.

Kimberoo

[SchnauzerTime]

Aunty

Thanks soooo much for all that info! That's really going to help a ton My question is: Where do I get a mortar and pestle??? Like a department store or does the drugstore have them too?

Thanks again for everything...now I'm not so worried...I was horrified I would have to try to get off of the Lex in bigger doses and be sick forever, lol!

[SchnauzerTime]

Kimberoo

Yes the dizzy is normal when getting back on the full dose. I got back on my full dose of 10mg almost 2 weeks ago from a too fast taper and I got worse dizzy spells also. This will go away...it may take a week or 2 but will get better. Mine is just starting to get better after about a week and a half...but tell him to hang in there. My dizzy spells were worse lying down...he may feel better if he sits up more or trys to lay on his side when he sleeps. He may also get some other side effects from starting back the full dose as well. I also got some nervousness/anxiety...diahrea..loss of apetite..restless legs , especially at night..and muscle aches. But most of this is at it's worst for the first week of reinstating the full dose. Just tell him to hang in there and he will feel MUCH better after about a week and a half to 2 weeks.

Good luck

[auntybiotic]

Kimbertoo,

I went to a child's Attention Deficit Disorder Physician who is very familiar with SSRI's and similiar meds. He was aware of the P450 system but was very interested in knowing where to get patients tested.
I had already spoken to Dr, Black of the Mayo Clinic and had gotten the Code numbers for the P450 testing from his secretary and had already called our local hospital to confirm that they would do the testing so I had all my ducks in a row when i asked for the tests.

He also made copies of my paperwork with medications that interacted with the P450 system and was impressed that I had done so much research. So I had no problem at all.

There is much written on the P450 sytem if you Google. Very interesting how the liver filters the medications and if you take two medications using the same pathways (as your husband is doing ) it explains how levels of one medication my go higher and cause interactions (as with your husband's dizziness.

Why not call Dr. Black at the Mayo Clinic and ask his opinion. He was very helpful and spoke to me for about fifteen minutes and then referred me to the "chemist" at Mayo who also was kind enough to speak to me.

My daughter has returned from Italy and I am just getting her back on track. I had the liquid lexapro compounded into capsules so as not to have to carry liquid lexapro over Europe. The compounding pharmacies are "allowed a 15% variation" in the contents of the capsules......so needless to say she was not getting precise lexapro measurements while taking the lexapro compounded capsules...............................she has had a rough week getting back on the liquid and being stable.

I DO NOT recommend compounding pharmaies because of the 15% variation allowed by the FDA.

[auntybiotic]

You can purchase a mortar and pestle at any kitchenware store at the mall or online for as little at $5.00. I have included a link for purchasing at various stores.

Do not get the wooden ones as the liquid could get absorbed. Only the metal or porceline/stone ones for mixing the lexapro liquid.
http://www.calibex.com/serv/calibex2...DID=4639299011

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

Kimberoo

Yes the dizzy is normal when getting back on the full dose. I got back on my full dose of 10mg almost 2 weeks ago from a too fast taper and I got worse dizzy spells also. This will go away...it may take a week or 2 but will get better. Mine is just starting to get better after about a week and a half...but tell him to hang in there. My dizzy spells were worse lying down...he may feel better if he sits up more or trys to lay on his side when he sleeps. He may also get some other side effects from starting back the full dose as well. I also got some nervousness/anxiety...diahrea..loss of apetite..restless legs , especially at night..and muscle aches. But most of this is at it's worst for the first week of reinstating the full dose. Just tell him to hang in there and he will feel MUCH better after about a week and a half to 2 weeks.

Good luck

Yey, SchnauzerTime-I was wondering how you were doing! This time should go much better. I hated to hear the deal with the liquid Lexapro, but with the liquid conversion you should do fine. You sound a lot better

[Joslyn]

hi everyone,

"Both sides of the fence" comment was funny!

Anyway, I went down to 8ml. (I have the liquid lexapro where they somehow mix it so that 5mg=5ml, so it's the same numbers, even though mgs are different measurements than mls...very confusing. At first I was all worried that I would have to do the math, but the pharmacy mixes the liquid so I don't have to do calculations...they make it equivalent.)

Anyway, I went down to 8mg from 8.75. Was originally at 10. I went down to 8 thursday morning.

I do get little headaches sometimes, but that could be because I was traveling this weekend, perhaps got dehydrated? I also have disturbing dreams sometimes. Not nightmares, just dark dreams. Or weird dreams. Then I wake up feeling off. I felt off this morning, but was fine once I got to work.

I do not feel depressed though. Just in the morning, I feel off if I have one of those weird dreams. But my husband's morning hugs are great therapy!

So far so good. I hope this goes ok. I guess I will do my next taper in 2-3 weeks.

I have also cut out caffeine, but sometimes I do sneak some! Only one or two glasses of diet soda a week. I am sure diet soda is bad for other reasons too. I just get sick of water all the time.

I am taking omega 3s and a multivitamin. I'm also trying to exercise a bit more. I gained about 10 pounds being on SSRIS, though I am not technically overweight. I could stand to lose 5 pounds.

Well, just jotting down my thoughts as a kind of journal. One thing I have noticed about a lot of us...the worrying. I worry about things, always have. When I was single, I worried I would never get married. Now that I am married, I worry, what if something happens to my spouse?

There is always something a person can worry about so it's best not to go down that rabbit hole. Hard not to though. The myth that worrying in advance will help is tempting.

[tavee]

Joslyn- I Am Very Happy U Got The Liquid And U Decided To Do It The Safer Way.
U Will See That This Will Be So Much Better For U And U Will Feel Less Effects Or Maybe None.
There Is Absolutely No Comparison With The Cold Turkey Or Other Ways That Are Fast.
You Are Doing The Right Thing.
I Wish U All The Luck And Keep Us Posted On Whats Going On.

Regarding The Worry Part, I Started Experiencing That And I Still Do Especially In The Middle Of The Night When I Am Lying In Bed. I Get Scared And I Think About Dying Or Something Happening To Me Or My Hubby. Its Weird But That Is Part Of The Withdrawals. Also The Vivid Dreams U Will Experience In Between Tapers. Dont Worry Though They Are Just Dreams.

Take Care
Tavee

Ps I Am On 1.3ml And Friday I Will Start The 1.1. Wish Me Luck!!

[auntybiotic]

Tavee, Joslyn, Kimbertoo and anyone that has thoughts of excessive worrying.................I highly recommend the Bach Flower essence in White Chestnut. It will suprisingly turn off the obsessive worrying and thoughts of doom and gloom.

It has no adverse effects.

I am not a doctor but can say that this product is excellent but please research anything recommended on the internet and make your own choices.

Category: Bach Flower Remedies > White Chestnut: Unwanted thoughts

Product: Ainsworth White Chestnut Bach Flower Remedy, 10ml. Flower Essence.

Price: £3.39 | €4.90


Description

Ainsworth White Chestnut Bach Flower Remedy. White Chestnut Flower Remedy, 10ml.

Keywords for White Chestnut Bach Flower Remedy

UNWANTED THOUGHTS; MENTAL ARGUMENTS

White Chestnut Bach Flower Remedy is indicated for obsessive, worrying thoughts that seem impossible to control. Sufferers cannot let go of unhappy events or arguments and keep reliving them mentally.

Persistent, unwanted thoughts and mental arguments go round and round like a stuck record, leading to a troubled mind. It is difficult to concentrate during the day, or to sleep at night. The sufferer may therefore appear inattentive and may not answer when spoken to (see also Clematis).

The positive potential of White Chestnut is peace of mind. The head is clear; thinking is under control and can be put to positive use in problem-solving. Worry is replaced by trust in a positive outcome.

What are the Bach Flower Remedies?

Dr Bach discovered 38 remedies, each for a specific emotional and mental state. They take effect by treating the individual, not the disease or the symptoms of the disease. They work specifically on the emotional condition of the person concerned.

The effects of taking the remedies is not to suppress negative attitudes but to transform them into positive ones, stimulating one's own potential for self-healing and freeing the physical system to engage fully in fighting disease and stress.

Directions

Once the Bach Flower Remedy or combination of remedies have been chosen, take two drops in a cup of water and sip at intervals, or two drops of each chosen remedy in 30ml bottle of mineral water and from this take four drops four times a day until relief is obtained. It's quite safe to take these as often as needed. Hold the dose in the mouth for a few moments before swallowing.

Drops can be added to a baby's bottle or child's fruit juice.

Caution

The Bach Flower Remedies have no adverse effects. However, like other forms of natural medicine, they may allow suppressed symptoms to surface. These could include such things as rashes while the body is being cleared of toxins, or an awareness of emotions which have been denied expression. These are an important part of the healing process and are only temporary.

Note:

The Bach Flower Remedies can be taken alongside medication, including homoeopathic remedies, without any interference at all.

Ingredients

240 parts Brandy to one part infusion of flowers in water. Alcohol 40% by volume.

[SchnauzerTime]

Aunty or anyone that knows?

Can any supplements cause nervousness/jitteryness or is it just the Lexapro?

I have reinstated my full dose of 10mg Lex and been on it for 2 weeks now. I do get side effects from starting it at the full dose...I got them when I first went on it 5 months ago too. Like the dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea...all that fun stuff.

This past week I've been jittery...especially in the morning ( I take the Lex in the morning too along with all my vitamins). The vitamins I take are a multi-vitamin, Omega 3 fish oil (2k mg), Magnesium Malate (just started that about a week ago), and Body Calm (I take 1 pill in the morning for nervousness and sometimes 1 at night).

Strangely, the Body Calm doesn't help that much...My husband has trouble sleeping sometimes and took 2 capsules an hour before bed one night and said it didn't help him at all. Said it made him tired, but still took him like 3 hours to eventually get to sleep and he still tossed and turned all night. I had heard such good things about the Body Calm I was kind of expecting it to be better

Anyways, is the nervousness just my Lex getting back into my system again or can any of these vitamins cause it too?

Hairy

Hey Hairy! How are you doing? Haven't seen you in quite some time. I AM feeling sooo much better compared to 2 weeks ago for sure I am still having dizziness at night with the hot flashes a little but it's MUCH much better. I expect it to take a full month to go away or even a month and a half...at least that's how long it took all the side effects to go away when I first got on it months ago. Anyways, hope you are doing well!

[Atlasmark]

I've had a couple of bad days...... Dizzy dizzy tingle tingle sleepy sleepy all of the time. I just hope tomorrow is a better day. I have been "crashing" around 3 to 4 in the afternoon and I HAVE TO lay down and snooze. This is messing with my normal night sleep just when I am starting to get used to the vivid dreams (kinda enjoy em or some of them I should say...). Hope you all are well. Would give words of wisdom, but I am at a loss.

Take care.......

Does anyone else's tongue tingle? Mine is crazy tingles all the time.

[overtherainbow]

I had about a good week's worth of sleepy sleepy, naps in the afternoon (I was working at home though). Tingly in the extremities, feet, mostly, not tongue. It should pass. And I've been enjoying the dreams as well, they come and go.

[overtherainbow]

Originally Posted by Hopeful 285

Hi Overtherainbow,

How long have you had the movement disorder?

This is what I have learned reading Dr. Ann Blake Tracy and Dr. Peter Breggins Books.

Antidepressants cause bone marrow suppression which adversely affect your immune system.

Also the protein binding of these drugs cause your cells to change in turn making your cells appear differently so your body starts destroying your own cells.

If you have the genetics for an autoimmune disease this can be the trigger that makes it kick in. Dr. Ann Blake Tracy says you can get diseases like Lupus which is autoimmune.

Antidepressants can also cause cancer.

I was having really bad neck pain a few months ago and it still crunches. When I rub along the right side of my neck I feel a hump. I had ignored it and thought it was my muscle. The MRI was to see if I had MS and they found this. It is serious enough to see a specialist. If you have any of these problems you might want to get checked.

These drugs also cause bleeding disorders. My sister-in-law died from a platelet disorder from taking antidepressants. I had nose bleeds from taking Lexapro.

These drugs affect every system in your body.

Even if no autoimmune genetics are present these drugs do a lot of damage, probably things we will never know about and that will heal on their own.


http://www.antidepressantsfacts.com/pinealstory2.htm

Tardive Dyskinesia & Parkinsonism
Other frequently reported neurological side-effects from SSRI-AntiDepressants, involving loss of motor control, are called Tardive Dyskinesia/Dystonia and Parkinsonism. Tardive Dyskinesia/Dystonia is the collective noun for various abnormal involuntary body movements like: tics and twitches in the face or/and around the eye, muscle spasms, muscle contractions in the neck, jaw, tongue, or/and shoulders and irregular jerking movements in body parts. Parkinsonism is a term used to indicate symptoms similar to those seen in Parkinson's disease like: apathy or indifference, tremors and muscle stiffness.

Dr. Joseph Glenmullen (Prozac Backlash) introduced us to these terms and defined them as related to damaged dopaminergic neurons in the limbic system. The SSRI-AntiDepressant induced increased serotonin would cause a down regulation of the neurotransmitter dopamine and therefore cause the same damage at dopaminergic neurons as observed with neuroleptic (anti-psychotic) treatment.

However, in 4 PubMed articles (1; 2; 3; 4), Tardive Dyskinesia and Parkinsonism are associated with disturbances of serotonin and melatonin secretion and a malfunctioning Pineal Gland. The represented cases involve neuroleptic-induced movement disorders related to Pineal Gland calcification. There were "significant differences between the severity of dystonic movements in patients with no Pineal Gland calcification and those with pathologically enlarged Pineal Gland calcification."

Could there be a similar existing pattern in (former) SSRI-AntiDepressant users? Further research will be needed to establish if (former) SSRI-AntiDepressant users who have more or less severe Tardive Dyskinesia/Dystonia and Parkinsonism, are actually suffering from a malfunctioning Pineal Gland, whether or not calcified. This research could involve measurements of plasma melatonin levels.

Chapter 4 on this site discusses this movement disorders. Dr. Ann Blake Tracy's booke 'Prozac Pancea or Pandora' gives a more hopeful aspect.
http://www.breggin.com/brain-disablingch4.html

After reading this you might want to go out and do something uplifting.
Elizabethmaria and I are better than we were and you will be too.

Take Care.

Hi Hopeful !

Here's the story, mostly:
Yearly antibiotics from child up until 20s I'd say, bronchitis, but I lived in a smoking household.
Prozac and trazodone for about 3 years (10 years ago)
Allegra for allergies many years (but have been off for a few years now!)
Lyme disease 2001, 6 week course of antibiotics, and things sharply went downhill from there on.

I mention all this, as I think it might be possible that taking all of those prescription products helped set the scene for what was to come.

My immune system has been compromised, for sure, in that I did get Lyme disease (not everyone who's been exposed does), and testing later showed that my immune system was indeed still compromised.

Then, enter, Lexapro and Flexeril (muscle relaxant with structure similar to tricyclic antidepressions) for about 2 plus years.

Can't remember when the movement disorder stuff started, but I would definitely have to say it was while on the Lexapro and Flexeril, and it was getting worse.

Post-Lyme I was most affected by the lack of stamina and intolerance to exercise, among other things ! Muscle stiffness (glue) and neck pain have both been prominent symptoms.

While thinking it was Lyme-related, I was not feeling like I wanted to go through the "mill", doctors, and testing, as no one I had talked/communicated with, seemed to think that doctors found anything, or were helpful. I don't have the time, or energy. And I just want to focus on getting better.
(Quite frankly, I hope I never have to see another doctor again. Between this, and another unrelated episode of being put through the mill, I've had enough of 'em. The bottom line is, it is a business, and a corrupt one at that. Strong words, but there's a lot of truth there.)

I haven't checked that link out, but thanks so much for all that information, and the discussion.

I feel for you and EM for the severity of your symptoms. Mine are not as severe, but they have affected my quality of life. I do believe it is all getting better though. With each day that passes, since getting off the drug(s).

Kind regards,
OTR