[auntybiotic]

Sorry, I am always busy and can just fit one post in at a time.

Switching from pill to liquid had NO adverse effects on my daughter at all so I do not know why THE ROAD Back advises against this.

Has it been over three weeks since you reinstated to your full dose. If after three weeks you are still having episosdes of feeling really bad I would think it may be something other then reinstating. You should begin to feel "normal" after 2 to 3 weeks of reinstating. Remember that you did have a few weeks of "crisis" after you tried quitting quickly so your body has been emotionally and physically taxed.

Can you think back to when you first began the lexapro and can you remember if you had similiar effects as you body was building up a tolerance to it? If yes this may be the case with getting used to the changed doses.

There are no ill effects to crushing the tablet as lexapro is NOT time released............. so crushing it in cranberry juice should not effect you but the BEST OPTION would be to get the liquid version prescribed to be extremely accurrate...........but if that is not possible...............the conversion of pill to liquid is better then chopping the pill into pieces. Wait another two weeks and see if your dizziness stabalizes. Do NOT taper until you feel normal.

Again I am not a octor. You may try calling new physicians and explaining that you are tryong to taper down your dose of lexapro and if they would be willing to prescribe the liquid form. You may find someone who would agree to this over the phone so that when you do make your appointment..................you will know in advance that they will honor your request. Blue Cross does cover the Liquid Lexapro and it is on the formulary.

[elizabethmaria]

Hi Hairy,
PLEASE don't worry about it! you are technically right in the middle - 16 weeks is in your 3rd to 4th month range... If I got severe depression at that time, and it lasted for several months after, and I never have been depressed before EVER EVER EVER, and didn't even take the meds for anything but sleep for a few days, then anything you feel now IS THE DRUGS.. ok? got it? Remember, you've got to steel yourself, it may be very rough, but you are absolutely going through the wonderful classic withdrawal at this time... yay! your body is reacting normally! Give yourself at least through month 8.. (remember, it's by months, not weeks - that made a big difference for me when I recalculated) As you go through this, the deep depression IS signalling your body to start working really really hard to get that serotonin receptors up and running again.. but remember, it takes TIME.. Just do whatever is most comforting, even just curling up in a ball for hours.. It will improve. Mine is improving lots, with ups and downs, but the general trend is higher and higher... This is intense time to trust yourself and your body. We're all here for you, and you're so blessed to be able to know that what you're going through is completely normal! I went through severe depression stages, plus psychotic stages... but I truly feel as if of a few weeks ago, I've passed the worst, and though there will be ups and downs, things are smoothing out - you can just feel it inside.. But before then, it was a mess. Think of nerve damage to an extremity, say your hand... how long does it take to heal that damage? not a few days, or even weeks - nerves take a long time to heal, and they misfire, etc etc. while going through it, so that's just what we're experiencing, only in our heads - so be very very very gentle with yourself! Pushing makes it MUCH WORSE! And remember, DON'T try to think reasonably at this time.. Maybe you have it easier than me, but I couldn't even know who I was, what I was, if I was, and couldn't even string thoughts together at that time. I still have that problem, but it's improving. The worst mistake one could make is to take your misfiring brain seriously!! Just let it wander and rest - it may be longer than you would think, or like, but it's just the way it is (that's what I've had to tell myself, over and over). It's just like we have broken legs, and no matter how MUCH we would like to be healed and run around sooner, it just isn't going to happen, healing has to take the amount of time it takes...
Just keep praying! I'm praying for you - and I believe in you Hairyarmadillo -- you're going to make it, ok?? Remember, withdrawal is an EXTREME sport - kind of fun to think of it like that -- you've been doing really well - just hang on to that, that is the real you, not this!!

I've just spent the last 4 days in a hospital bed, with 30 + wires attached to my head, and then attached to the wall - WHAT FUN! Seizure testing... all from this wonderful stuff.. but, boy, am I rested!!! I had a tough nurse part of the time, that wouldn't even let me wrinke my forehead, as it messed up the signal! Rest really helps at this time, total brain rest will make the symptoms lessen, most of the time - though at the beginning its yucky most all the time. Anyways, that's what I've been up to -- Good thing is I don't have epilepsy - yay! and they don't know why I have the seizures still - and the doctor admitted he didn't know much at all about drug reactions... so, back to square one, but at least no epilepsy on the outer part of my brain! But, if you have seizures, you do have to have that test, so that's good to get it out of the way... plus the seizures are getting farther and farther apart - only had one mild one during those days, and before that, went 1.5 weeks with none... so, it's getting better...

Sorry for this long post, but just hope to cheer and boost you up Hairyarmadillo - you'll be feeling better soon, and this will all just seem like a bad dream, ok?
take good care,
love,
Elizabethmarie

[Joslyn]

Just checkin in. Today I went down to 7.5 from 8 lex. (I'm on the liquid.) I am tapering much slower than my dr's one-month taper plan, but a bit faster than recommended here. If it weren't for the biological clock ticking, I would go super slow, but I will be 41 in January, and would at least like to have a chance of trying to conceive, if that's God's will. I know some studies say minimal risk, but wouldn't want to take the chance.

Moodwise I feel fine, thank God. However, I am craving carbs big-time. It's really hard to keep it under control. Also have weird dreams sometimes.

I saw the recco for the White Chestnut extract, but I don't want to take anything that has alcohol. (It had brandy in it.) Lots of alcoholism in my family so just don't want to risk depending on something with brandy in it. Thanks anyway though.

Question: Did I read somewhere not to take ibuprofen? Would it really be so bad to do that just for one day, while dealing with menstrual cramps? My drug directions didn't say to avoid it.

Oh, also, I do find that avoiding caffeine does help. I am completely off diet soda and caff tea now. I should have done this a long time ago, I actually feel better in many ways without it, especially diet soda.

[SchnauzerTime]

When I first started the Lex I did have side effects of going on it...but they were things like the muscle cramps, insomnia, restless legs , headaches, and some dizziness but not bad dizziness. As far as how I feel now, I didn't have that while going on it in the first place. I feel like I'm getting worse and worse over this last couple days...I had the bad dizzy spell with nausea and sweating yesterday...I HAVE had those before, but not normally that bad. I had bad ones like that while on Paxil though. But ever since that spell I've been getting worse. Now I'm weak and a little nauseous with no appetite...I just want to sleep all the time, I'm exhausted. I feel like I did 2 to 3 weeks ago. And yes, it's been 3 weeks since I've started back on the full dose...I think this is day 23 or something.

Why it it doing this? Is it just side effects that I didn't have before? Please give me some comfort...I'm miserable and depressed about this . Thanks Aunty.

[Hairyarmadillo]

Elizabethmarie Thank you and this time I copied and pasted your post in Word for future reference. Today is a whole new day moodwise. I am awed by the change. Yesterday I was having a meltdown, stressing and everything looked overwhelming. Out of the blue my friend sent me this email with "You Say, God Says" dealing with scriptures that addressed everything I was freaking over. UNCANNY! So, even though I was still shaky emotionally and irrational feeling, it helped. I was so afraid this was going to hang around for days and weeks in a row but at least now the next time I can draw on this experience to remind me it will pass. For a bit though, I thought that WAS the real me. I am finally keeping a daily journal to note all I am going through, moods, etc. Also (ha ha and I am ashamed to admit it) I got off the supplements again. For about 2 weeks I have gradually gotten to taking them scarcely at all. Don't know when I took Omega 3 last. I had been doing the BodyCalm at night but got to where I was drained feeling all day. So I stopped that and even stopped the magnesium since I thought it was dragging me down. Well, am still off the Body Calm but am back on Omega 3 and will do the magnesium tonight. And my Noni juice has been shoved to the back of the fridge I just wanted this to be over and, when I started feeling better, thought maybe I didn't need them. Thanks again for your words. I was sinking very low and it got scary. I give it some time before I hop on here and post in a panicked state but this is my lifeline. Oh, don't know if you saw my post a bit ago, but I am finally taking your advice and just dealing with the insomnia. The BodyCalm was wonderful (sorry everyone didn't get the same effect) but I did start getting tired feeling and then the moods came back. The second night as I was almost asleep, I had the leg twitchy feeling and my heart was pounding. I just started thinking of everything else (pleasant) and went on out. If I can kick the Lexapro, I can kick the otc sleep aids.

SchnauzerTimeAw, what is this?? I thought you had made it over the adjustment hump! Have you consumed anything different than normal? I know some things seemed to reactivate my symptoms (ha they still do randomly) I've been trying to keep up with your progress but have been in a bit of a fog. I really think the reinstatement is the way to go but cannot imagine why these symptoms are cropping up. Ha-just read back in your post about the multi-vitamin switch. Can't say for certain but maybe this is the culprit. There was a long time when I totally went without the multivitamin and did JUST the supplements. I LOVED my GNC vitamins but then when I started back taking them I felt like dog doo-doo. EVEN NOW I cannot take them and they were good vitamins. I just admitted to ElizabethMarie about not taking the Omega3 and I feel personally it does make a difference. TRUE CONFESSION TIME Ok, I have held my tongue on saying this for fear someone else would NOT take the Omega3 and it was just my problem but there was a time when I took the Omega 3 and thought it was making me feel worse. I can sincerely say after at least 2 weeks (probably more) of not taking it that it does make a positive difference. But did you have a problem with it or did you just stop taking it? I am thinking you posted why but can't recall for certain. Personally, I would stop the multivitamin and see if things improve. Now I can tolerate a Centrum but only every other day or so. If I take them daily after awhile I start feeling yucky. could be coincidence but since it has happened more than once, I am not taking them daily.
AussieGirl yep those Tim Tams might do the trick! Unfortunately i am on roll with my eating habits so I will not yield to the temptation (though I will end up ordering some to try eventually-also got hooked on this squash that someone told me about-called Choko(think that is right)). I had such a negative experience with so many antidepressants that i have decided they are not for me. The Paxil was wonderful at first but ended up numbing me to the point of being a zombie. Prozac did nothing. lexapro was good but then I saw myself going the way of Paxil. Once I got off them I realized they were numbing me rather than allowing me to deal productively with the issues that were causing problems. In fact, I tolerated some negative situations that I would have dealt with, had I not been so apathetic and accepting of everything. Evidently SSRIs were not the ticket for me. Since stopping I am getting my old insight back and realizing some of the negative thinking habits I have engaged in. It is a learning experience but I am dealing with things more productively-ha except when I have those meltdown days.

I have now lost a total of 19 pounds since going off Lexapro in April. It does come off!! I am eating healthy, not starving myself. More or less the same eating that I was doing trying to lose weight while on Lexapro. Haven't increased my activity drastically. So take heart if you have gained weight. it will go!!

[elizabethmaria]

Hi Hairy,
So glad you are feeling better. That is how it is! Crazy how bad those awful times are - I've had some that last for days and days and weeks... that's when you really start wondering. But then, it does pass - may come back obviously, but you get relief. Best just to mentally prepare yourself for a LONG time - ie several months, then you won't question yourself or get upset as to how long it's taking. Of course if it's shorter, that is AWESOME, but if not, you don't get worked up about it. Can't really tell it seems, but so common. Aunty says the deep depression bouts usually last 4 months or so, from onset - puts it at about 7 months out - that's what Skyer said.. and it really seems just about right, for many, and me at least, give or take some.
So glad you're hanging in there well! Lots of blessing and hugs from me
Elizabethmarie

[SchnauzerTime]

Sorry you went through a rough patch. The Omega 3 is suppossed to help with depression and moods and if you hadn't taken it in a couple weeks I bet that's why you are having the moods and such.

Yeah...the only thing I've done different since getting sick is I changed multi-vitamins and quit the fish oil. I was on GNC Women's multi-vitamin and was taking 2k mg of the GNC fish oil a day. I THOUGHT the fish oil was making me have a bad taste in my mouth and was maybe making me nauseous...it WAS making me burp fish taste (yuck!)...so I stopped taking it. But the bad taste continued...and I switched my multi to Centrum cause I thought the B vitamins were making me hyped up some. After I changed all that I got REALLY drained and tired...could barely open my eyes during the day. Sometimes I HAD to sleep...just couldn't stay awake. Then I got worse over 3 to 4 days til I had the horrible dizzy spell with nausea and sweating yesterday. Ever since then I've just felt as bad as I did 3 weeks ago...been extremely weak, nauseous, can't eat...it's all coming back .

Do you think it's the vitamin change? Should I maybe try to go back on everything I was on when I was feeling better? Or could it be just freaky side effects from starting back still? It's been around 22/23 days though since I've reinstated the full dose.

I'm glad you are feeling better...keep taking those Omega 3s!

[Hairyarmadillo]

SchnauzerTime I am betting that it is the vitamin switch but that is just my unprofessional guess. And then again-haha sorry to say it but who knows it could just be a weird thing with the Lexapro and totally unrelated to vitamins at all. Myself, I would be tempted to try NOT taking the multivitamins at all for a few days and see what gives, then you could try them again later and see if the same problems come back. I'm thinking you said the anxiety decreased after you stopped the first multivitamins with the higher B doses-if so, I definitely wouldn't take those again. Did you know there is fish oil with lemon flavoring that doesn't make you burp the fish taste? I did check for that because years ago I got others and couldn't take them because I felt like I was tasting fish all the time. I LOVE seafood but that wasn't pleasant. I think I have finally learned my lesson about not taking the Omega 3 though. I say that but i still forgot to take it today. Somewhere on here I read not to take it in the evening. Do you know why?

[Atlasmark]

Hey everyone
It has been 2 weeks and 4 days for me being off lexapro completely. Didn't do the weening off so much, and I just want to say I feel awesome. I do get a little dizzy now and again, but it is nothing that I can't handle.

Wanted to let you all know I am not coming back to this thread. I know some of you are having a difficult time getting off this stuff (we are all effected in various ways and extremes), and I understand some of you are new to this thread and need to know about lexapros withdrawal symptoms. But I have to say, I think some of you who have been here a while are either just complainers or hypocondriacs.

Took me 2 and half weeks to get over most of the hard core symptoms.I was on this junk for a year. 20mg mainly then went to 10 for a few months, but dropped down to 5 a little less than a week before I quit completely.

The first week felt good for 2 days then bad for 3 days then good for 2 days then really bad for a week. After that - just dizzy every so often.

Good Luck and God Bless!!!!

skorpeo72 is the best!!!! I will always appreciate your support. Thank you

[Freazytek]

Its been 3 months and 1 week now since my bad reaction on the SSRI called lexapro.
Still have that 'pressure,burning' feeling on the right side of my brain.
Are you guys positive it will heal cause its like its getting worse at times.
The author of antidepressantfacts had this kind of feeling to if you read his story,he referred it as a rock inside his head must be the pressure he was feeling.
I'm taking Fishoil and magnesium everyday and 3 kinds of fruit for the needed vitamins.
Skyer had this feeling to if i remember correctly but not 24/7 wich is rare cause in my case it is 24/7.
What a poison is this SSRI,man wish i could turn back time.

[SchnauzerTime]

I have heard about taking the Omega 3 in the morning or before 4pm. There is something about when it was tested if taken after 4pm it causes a negative effect instead of a positive. They didn't go into details. Also The Road Back program says to take it before 4pm. All I know is if you take it before 4pm the effects should stay positive.

I ordered the Carlson's fish oil and it is the ONLY one I have found to make me not feel icky. All the others I've taken (GNC brand and drugstore brands) make me burp the fish and feel nauseous even sometimes too. The GNC brand was lemon flavor and still made me burp fish taste. I only tried the Carlson's for one day so far (yesterday) and was expecting the same thing to happen but it didn't, so I'm going to swear by that one I think.

I think what I'm going to do is go back on all the vitamins I was on when I felt good, including the ones with high B in them. I'd rather be a little hyper than feel like this . Then when I feel better I might see if I can switch to something with lower B...but if that makes me sick too I may just stay on what makes me feel closest to normal and take some extra Body Calm along the way. I sure HOPE it's the vitamins and not just the Lex acting up...it was so discouraging to feel better and better for a couple weeks then this happen. I just want to get stabilized so I can get off this junk!

Thanks for the support and listening to me complain .

And to any NEGATIVE posters...if you don't like this site, no one is forcing you to stay.

[SchnauzerTime]

Forgot to say in my other post...CONGRATULATIONS on the weight loss!! That is excellent...will definatly give others hope too .

[sweet-thang]

Hi--

I was wondering if it's okay to make a big batch of liquid titration, rather than crushing up each individual dose and then discarding the rest? I don't have health insurance and have to pay for this stuff out of pocket, and since tapering is going to take quite awhile, I hate the thought of discarding that costly stuff down the drain when it could go towards my next dose....

Also, someone mentioned a possibility of having problems taking ibuprophen when tapering--is that true? I thought I noticed something (feeling even MORE lightheaded when taking ibuprofen while I've been tapering).

Thanks,

Ruth

[sweet-thang]

Just wondering...

[Hairyarmadillo]

I FINALLY broke down and ordered the Carlson's Fish oil. Is anyone taking the kind with the orange flavoring? I am taking some other brand with lemon in it and am hoping the orange works well to mask the flavor

[LINDA_ECKLE]

Having spent most of the day researching my newly diagnosed "underactive thyroid" condition (Hypothyroidism) - I decided to google on 'Lexapro and Thryroid.'

I was led to this thread(last updated in 2005) but, some useful information.

An Article at www.ALLTHRYOID.org
entitled:Bipolar Depression by maurizio Fava, M.D.

suggested: Lexapro...and other related anti-depressants of SSRI type(Paxil, Prozac, Celexa, Effexor, Cymbalta, may have a similar effect(alter thyroid function by blocking the synthesis and release of thryoid hormone.

I am now taking SYNTHROID Pills, artificial thryroid hormone T4.

Since Lexapro is the only medicine that I take daily(for about 3 years now) -
I was curious about it's effect on thryoid.

My Problem is this:

I cannot "get off" of Lexapro. I am only taking 5 mg.
I have tried 4-5 times over the last year to reduce the dosage(Small as it is) - but, I absolutely CANNOT SLEEP without it, I am angry and emotional and just not pleasant to be around. Also, I am exhausted from not sleeping.

But, if the drug is going to ruin my thyroid..I need to do something.
Because, low thryoid affects cholesterol, metabolism, weight gain, energy, fatigue, can contribute to enlarged heart, and just play havoc with the body.

I need the Lexapro it seems. Perhaps, I will always need such a medication.
Lexapro was perfect for my anxiety and sleep problems.
I am taking it for Generalized Anxiety, a result of a prolonged traumatic physical illness about 3 years ago. I lost 30lbs in 4 months and I swear I could not sleep for almost 9 months. My doctor told me I probably did not have a bit of serotonin left in my body from the stress of the illness.

Paxil and Effexor had too many side effects for me. Prozac made me shake.

Lexapro worked almost immediately and my appetite and sleep returned.
Unfortunately, my appetite became good. My activity level decreased.
And then I got hypothyroidism..which is affecting my health terribly!
I am overweight.

In 2-3 years, My usually normal cholesterol shot up to 260(*underactive thyroid will do exactly that, I am told.) and I am FAT


*Makes me wonder - Lots of people complain about weight gain with antidepressents. I wonder if low thryoid is to blame?

I supposed I am grateful for Lexapro and at the same time very upset that the Lexapro may have been contributory to the development of endocrine problems.

Does anyone have any similar experiences. Any Help?

I wonder if there is something I could do...to lessen Lexapro SSRI's effect on my endocrine system.

always hopeful

[kimberoo]

Aunty

Thank you for your response. I agree with you, my next quest is to have him tested. Here is the reason:

Thursday turned out to be one of his best days, not perfect, but best so far. Then that night I realized that maybe he needs to go to 20mg as there is the 6 week window to reinstate to where one was once stable. If it were 15mg he should've felt better within 24 hours. We checked the calendar and realized that Saturday was the end of his 6 week window, so he decided that Friday he would go up to 20mg.

Friday he was fine until 6 hours after taking the 20mg, he crashed! All of the usual symptoms magnified 10 times. In fact, he has been on the couch when he rests for this whole 6 weeks, last night he was in bed in the dark instead. Today has been the same. So, after 2 doses and 36 hours, worsening symptoms, certainly no relief. When he gets like this he takes a .25mg klonopin b/c it is the only thing that gives him some relief. I'm hoping that he will feel better around day 6 as he did on 15mg. His reasoning for being worse now is that up until now he has reinstated by 2.5mg at a time, but Friday he reinstated by 5mg. Could the larger jump in mg be the culprit? He wanted to go back down to 17.5 for 2 days and then up again to 20, but I told him to stop playing, you're here at 20, just stay put.

We had a follow up with the neurologist yesterday (remember the one who prescribed Elavil), well needless to say he was mad that my husband never even gave it a shot. When my husband told him that he was scared to take it b/c he was scared to go off the Lex so fast & start another antidepressant, he was writing and said, "Scared to follow advice, scared to leave the house" as you can imagine I got fired up and told him that he was making this into a psychological issue, not a medical issue, "of course he's scared, he's been dizzy for 1 & 1/2 years! I'd be scared too!" Anyhow, here was another Dr. that said that he can't do anything else for him and that the only thing he can do is to send him to someone "smarter" than him. Luckily, he mentioned Dr. David Zee, (he specializes in dizziness, imbalance and vertigo and is at Johns Hopkins). He will be setting up an appointment for him. I wish Dr.s could see past their egos and become compassionate again, it is too easy for them to pass the buck. Well, at least it is a step in the right direction, I think.

You don't happen to have Dr. Black's office number do you? I can't seem to find it. You've helped us so much already I hate to burden you any further. Consider me your royal pain in the culo!! lol I will definitely keep you updated on his progress and my progress on getting him tested. Thanks!

Kimberoo

[auntybiotic]

Here is a link to Dr. Black. Just call the Mayo Clinic and ask to speak with Dr. Black's secretary about the CYTOCHROME P 450 genetic testing codes. Explain that you want to have the testing done at a local affiliated hospital lab so that your insurance will pay the full cost of the testing. She will give you the proper codes to have your doctor write on the script. then take the script to your local hospital and they will send it to the Mayo Clinic and this way your health insurance will pay the cost. (At least my Blue Cross did).

Possibly Dr. Black can shed some light on the situation. He is very informed. Dr. Black, director of Mayo. Clinic Rochester's Psychogenomics.

http://www.mayo.edu/pmts/mc4400-mc4499/mc4409-0406.pdf

Phone number link:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/contact/

Article on Cytochrome testing:
http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/tp/cyp450tp.htm

http://www.labcorp.com/services/hcp/...ogenetics.html

I do think your husband is right. The fact that he increased by 25% AT ONCE WOULD CERTAINLY CONTRIBUTE TO HIS DIZZINESS AND SIDE EFFECTS ESPECIALLY IF HE IS SENSITIVE.

[auntybiotic]

Most Fish Oils are contaminated by mercury or have turned rancid in the gel pill and would make one feel worse due to toxicity after time.

Carson's is the only Omega 3 Fish Oil that DOES NOT have any mercury contamination or can not turn rancid so therefore it is the ONLY Omega 3 Fish Oil that I would recommend. Others have not been tested so one never knows what may be in the gel pill.

[SchnauzerTime]

I am taking the Orange flavored Carlson's fish oil and it's the ONLY one I've found that I do not burp fish taste. Sometimes if I do burp it tastes like oranges so yes, it does mask the fish taste.

This is my 2nd day on the multi-vitamins I was taking when I felt my best before. So far so good...yesterday I noticed I felt better, not as nauseous or weak, am still having slight light-headed sensations but not bad. It seems like the vitamin change did upset me for some reason...so to all out there on vitamins, stick to what you feel best on. These multis do make me feel jumpy/antsy but I'd rather feel that then being sick all the time I guess.

Aunty

Thanks for the info on the fish oil. If it was something like that that made me sick how long should it take to get back to normal again? This is my 2nd day on my normal multi vitamin and the Carlson's. I'm wanting to go ahead and start tapering...but I know I have to wait til I'm better again. I just hope I STAY stabilized this time and not back and forth.

How long should it probably take to get back to normal?

[kimberoo]

Aunty

Thank you so much! You're absolutely amazing!!! As soon as I get started on this I will keep you informed. Now that he is on 20mg, should he continue to take the vitamins (Omega 3, Magnesium and Inositol)? Seeing as though he seems to be hypersensitive to meds I don't know if they are doing more harm than good at this point. Thank you again!

SchnauserTime

I'm sorry to hear that you've had a few rough days. I follow your posts closely as you too are on your full dosage again. You've really seemed to have learned so much since first posting here. I've begun taking B-50 Complex since my husband got sick and it gives me a lot of energy and has taken away my need to take a nap in the afternoon. I don't get physically tired anymore, just mentally. When I do forget to take it, I feel drained and end up needing a nap. I think that it is too stimulating even for me, so I believe that you're right in assuming that it was your multi. I hope that you start feeling better soon.

Linda

I am not familiar with hypothyroidism, meds used for it and any interactions that it could have with the Lexapro. I do know, however, that your doctor was wrong in suggesting that you needed the Lexapro for MORE serotonin. SSRI's do not produce more serotonin, what they do is keep the serotonin that you already produce for longer periods in your brain so that the neuroreceptors are soaking up the serotonin for longer amounts of time.

Lexapro does cause weight gain, in my husbands case, it was 30 lbs. It does come off though, slowly but surely, once you stop taking it. It creates more cortisol so most people gain weight in the belly and face. As for cholesterol, I don't know of anyone else's experience, but in my husband's case, he never had high cholesterol until he started taking SSRI's. He has been on them for 13 years and is now 49, so it could be age or diet related too, but I tend to blame the Lexapro. (which I seem to be blaming everything on anymore....even his hair loss lol!)

If hypothyroidism causes weight gain & raises cholesterol, then taking Lexapro which can do the same is not going to help your situation. There are so many side effects to this medicine and getting off of it is very hard. Whatever you do, please do not quit cold turkey, do more research, you'll find much info here and many helpful links to help you. Above all, talk to your doctor about how you think the medicine has been affecting you and your concerns now that you have this disorder and see if he/she has any suggestions for getting off of it and/or switching to something with a longer half life. Luckily, you're only on 5 mg, but unfortunately you've been on for 3 years, you can expect withdrawal because of the length of time you've been on it, but quite possibly you will not suffer as bad as most as your dosage is small. We're here to help each other, you're not alone. I wish you the best of luck!!

[SchnauzerTime]

Ruth,

I had the same question about saving the liquid that you make from crushing the pill and Aunty said it was not safe to save it in bigger batches. I know that stinks about it being expensive...I have insurance and it's still 50 bucks to fill it out of my own pocket so I feel for you. But think of it as an investment towards your health in the long run...think how good you'll feel when you get through it all and are off of it.

Also, are you already tapering? I am curious as to how it is going with the "homemade" liquid Lex since I am going to be tapering the same way.

Tavee

I'm also curious to see how you are doing...haven't heard from you in awhile...how is the new dose treating you?

Kimberoo

Thanks for the sympathy . Yeah...those B vitamins are really making me hyper now that I've reinstated my old multi with a ton of the B in it. But...I AM feeling better it seems so far...not as bad side effects with the nausea and flu-like stuff so that's good. If it gets intolerable then I do have some Body Calm I can take...I'm scared to switch around again though to another multi in fear I'll become sick again. Sorry to hear your hubby is going through such a rough time...I'll be curious to see how his test results turn out. Good luck to him from me .

[SchnauzerTime]

Neither me nor my husband were getting much relief from the Body Calm from The Road Back program...it would just make us tired but we still could not get to sleep at night.

Aunty's post that they had come out with Body Calm Supreme got me interested and I bought some. We both took some last night...my husband took 2. He hasn't been able to sleep well in over a month or so. He went right to sleep about 30 minutes after taking them last night...every time I awoke during the night he was snoring! I also had some insomnia last night and took just one...in 15 minutes I was asleep.

I HIGHLY recommend the Body Calm Supreme if the regular Body Calm is not working well enough to help you sleep.

[auntybiotic]

When reading the posts with weight gain in belly and face, hair loss, high unstable blood presure, high cholestrol , purple stretch marks, moodiness, depression.....etc..... it reminded me that the cortisol that lexapro increases in the body causes the body to react and the syndrome is called Cushing Sydrome.

I am sure those with hypothroid problems have this Cushings Syndrome.
http://endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/pubs/...s/cushings.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cus...ndrome/DS00470
http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/topic117.htm

Read up on it as anyone taking lexapro for 6 months or more has most likely developed Cushings.

[auntybiotic]

I would not suggest saving the liquid titation lexapro as there is nothing in it to stabalize it after mixing with cranberry juice or even water.

You can try it and see how you react..........and if money is a issue and its either save it or taper quickly.....................but in my research the bottom line was to throw away the excess. Lexapro tablets and liquid must be maintained at temperature between 55 degrees and 85 degrees.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

I am taking the Orange flavored Carlson's fish oil and it's the ONLY one I've found that I do not burp fish taste. Sometimes if I do burp it tastes like oranges so yes, it does mask the fish taste.

This is my 2nd day on the multi-vitamins I was taking when I felt my best before. So far so good...yesterday I noticed I felt better, not as nauseous or weak, am still having slight light-headed sensations but not bad. It seems like the vitamin change did upset me for some reason...so to all out there on vitamins, stick to what you feel best on. These multis do make me feel jumpy/antsy but I'd rather feel that then being sick all the time I guess.

Aunty

Thanks for the info on the fish oil. If it was something like that that made me sick how long should it take to get back to normal again? This is my 2nd day on my normal multi vitamin and the Carlson's. I'm wanting to go ahead and start tapering...but I know I have to wait til I'm better again. I just hope I STAY stabilized this time and not back and forth.

How long should it probably take to get back to normal?

As I can recall you went thru a upsetting time when you quickly tapered so in light of this I would think that 4 to 6 weeks to become stable. I am not a doctor so please check with your physician.

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

Neither me nor my husband were getting much relief from the Body Calm from The Road Back program...it would just make us tired but we still could not get to sleep at night.

Aunty's post that they had come out with Body Calm Supreme got me interested and I bought some. We both took some last night...my husband took 2. He hasn't been able to sleep well in over a month or so. He went right to sleep about 30 minutes after taking them last night...every time I awoke during the night he was snoring! I also had some insomnia last night and took just one...in 15 minutes I was asleep.

I HIGHLY recommend the Body Calm Supreme if the regular Body Calm is not working well enough to help you sleep.

I might order some of that later to keep on hand. I was taking the Body Calm nightly and then started getting sluggish during the day. The going to sleep part wasn't as dramatic as what you describe with the Body Calm Supreme though. I also started feeling moody, probably from feeling sluggish. The past three nights I have been sleeping without anything and am even getting to the point of getting sleepy at a regular bed time. Hope it lasts, but it is so good to know there is something out there as an alternative. I was going to let my sister-in-law try the Body Calm that I have to see if it helps her and I TRIED to get my restless hubby take it, I wanted to see if it was something that worked with everyone-lol. Evidently not, though, huh?

[Hairyarmadillo]

Aunty, thanks for the tidbit about fish oil going rancid. I can't wait until the Carlson's gets here.

[SchnauzerTime]

In your opinion, do you think it was the vitamin change that made me so sick or just Lexapro acting funny? I am STILL not feeling well...maybe even worse. I thought I was getting better but now am feeling the flu-like symptoms again. What is going on?

Also...should it take 4-6 weeks from NOW to get stabilized or from when I started back on the full dose? It's been about 4 weeks from when I started the full dose already and I just go back and forth between feeling like I'm getting better and being sick again.

I'm very frustrated and don't know what to do.

[auntybiotic]

Please give me a brief synoposis of what happened with your dose and tapering including time frames.

Example, when you tapered, by how much and your reaction.

Then let me know how quickly you reinstated with dosage and time periods.

I can then offer a opinion as to what may be causing this setback.

Also tell me again your lexapro history with dosage and length of time taken.

I think it is the lexapro............ but when I reread the facts I can answer this with more factual knowledge. Again I am not a doctor and my opinions are that of a lay person.