[Rosalinde]

Hi! I post rarely, but I come on here frequently to read and be encouraged by you lovely ladies! You are doing such a good work, helping more people than you will ever know.
I have been tapering down from 10 mg by 10% every two weeks. I use the suggested nutritionals for tapering from www.theroadback.org and they really seem to help. My head is more clear and I have better energy. My symptoms of withdrawal have been mild - fatigue, occasional headache or nausea, a dazed feeling. Mostly, I have been able to carry on ok - I believe due to the nutritionals and the slow taper.
I'm at 6.5 mg and am getting ready to go down again Tuesday.

The worst thing about this for me has been the weight gain! 20 pounds in six months. I don't seem to be losing any with the taper! I was hoping it would begin to fall off. I hike up to 11 miles once a week, I exercise an hour five days a week, and I do folk dancing for three hours every Friday night. I also eat very healthy. I can't believe it makes no difference. I feel trapped. :P

Can anyone tell me when the weight might start to come off? Should I expect it during the taper or immediately after? Please don't say it might not come off even after I finish...

My second question is - what do I do when I get down to 1 mg? I don't want to keep doing 10% off indefinitely. This could go on forever!

Thanks again for chatting so openly about these things. I've learned so much here. I was getting ready to get off Lex in 2 months as suggested by my dr when I found this site. I attribute my ability to function and relatively painless tapering to you guys and the info you share. I am so grateful!

[carolleah]

Originally Posted by elizabethmaria

Hi guys,
It happened again today - I walked two times, though just for a short distance, normal! boy, though, it makes my head sting or something, and then I fall...but it seems like it is trying -- the rest of the time I don't feel good, so have been just resting a lot (can't do much else) and sleeping - it is going through some hard changes, and is really off... but I'm getting more hopeful that it is for the better !!!! I pray!
IF it was low iron that accentuated all that, I can only imagine how it has been affecting everything else - I hope that as my iron levels improve, everything will get so much easier - thinking, strength, stability, etc... not being able to walk is like an extreme, so maybe as it continues to go up, I'll be feeling lots better and more stable all the way around.. I can only hope at this point. I know I should have been feeling a whole lot better at 9.5 months off! and I've been steadily going downhill for quite some time... I hope it isn't coincidence that the iron was dropping dramatically too -- it seems so silly, but when you have CFS, you get really affected by anything being off I guess too...

Please keep praying for me! My mom said that if I don't improve, they are worried that I may need to go to a nursing home or something because they cannot take care of me so much... (they are older)... so.... I know it has been really hard on them, plus having CFS for 3 years prior as well - I feel soo bad, but they are just really worried and don't know what to do -- please pray that we have light at the end of this tunnel, or that at least there is some more hope and answers along the way! I really don't want to have to go there, but if that is what has to happen, I know God will be there too... please pray for me!
thank you!
you're in my prayers ,
love, EM

EM

I said a prayer for you last night with my son. One of the spiritual leaders at my dojo offered consolence to my husband when he was suffering from Bell's Palsy, she said that as long as your heart and brain are working then you will be okay. And I think you will too. You are an amazing person and leader to this forum and to many people that come to this site. Is it possible that your parents bring in a caretaker or resbid person just a couple times a week instead of thinking about a nursing home? Please email me directly if you need to or would like to. I can offer you whatever emotional support I can muster. Maybe it is a possiblity that this site could start a nonprofit fund to help those that have suffered in a debilitating way until they get better. I mean, if everyone sent in just one dollar to this fund then people like you would never have to consider nursing homes. What does everyone think about this idea?

Anyway, it is disheartening to hear about what is happenning to you, but I do think that you are starting to get better. It is just going to take time. I don't know if you have ever studied Buddism or martial arts. It teaches how to become a "spiritual warrior" in life when facing hardship. It's really important to tap into your spiritual strength when facing hardship....I do see that "warrior" in you. And I do think that you will defeat all of this and come out a real hero, which in my mind you already are! Please, please be okay. Tell your parents to be patient, that it sometimes take time to heal, and that you plan on getting better.

Email me privately if you need to. Every sentence that I send to you will be hopeful and positive, I promise.

[RaeSB]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

It's not too late for you to get back on it and taper slower. I hate to say this because I don't want to depress you but I want to be honest. You're not over it yet. You will have more waves of withdrawal. It will come and go...the hardest part is normally around 3-5 months and then it will start to get better. But since you cold turkied you still have alot of healing ahead of you. I have no idea how bad it will be for you since everyone is different but it's usually worse if you were on a higher dose, took the meds for a long time, were on several meds over the years, and are not too healthy (eat junk food,etc.). I'm can't see the future, but just from what I've seen a ton of other people go through you still have awhile yet to heal completely.

This doesn't mean you won't have periods of feeling good...you will. But just don't expect withdrawals to be over yet. I just wanted to be honest and warn you of what is more than likely to come and that it will take awhile for it to permanently pass. If you don't want to reinstate the medicine and go slower to forgo the withdrawals then I wish you luck and just baby yourself and take your vitamins and eat healthy .

oh i'm definitely aware it's not over yet, no worries, but it's nice to see the effects dwindling down. and i appreciate the support.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by Rosalinde

Hi! I post rarely, but I come on here frequently to read and be encouraged by you lovely ladies! You are doing such a good work, helping more people than you will ever know.
I have been tapering down from 10 mg by 10% every two weeks. I use the suggested nutritionals for tapering from www.theroadback.org and they really seem to help. My head is more clear and I have better energy. My symptoms of withdrawal have been mild - fatigue, occasional headache or nausea, a dazed feeling. Mostly, I have been able to carry on ok - I believe due to the nutritionals and the slow taper.
I'm at 6.5 mg and am getting ready to go down again Tuesday.

The worst thing about this for me has been the weight gain! 20 pounds in six months. I don't seem to be losing any with the taper! I was hoping it would begin to fall off. I hike up to 11 miles once a week, I exercise an hour five days a week, and I do folk dancing for three hours every Friday night. I also eat very healthy. I can't believe it makes no difference. I feel trapped. :P

Can anyone tell me when the weight might start to come off? Should I expect it during the taper or immediately after? Please don't say it might not come off even after I finish...


Thanks again for chatting so openly about these things. I've learned so much here. I was getting ready to get off Lex in 2 months as suggested by my dr when I found this site. I attribute my ability to function and relatively painless tapering to you guys and the info you share. I am so grateful!

I know everyone is different, but I lost ALL SSRI weight after I gave up.I decided let it stay if I can do nothing about it. I even didn't do much - I went to yoga classes and ate healthily, but that was all. It was stubborn to go, but then on 2-3 months I lost 10 pounds or so, then the rest. Don't push yourself too hard, it will go off at its own time.

[SL500]

SM - Thanks. 12.5 was the original dose I was on. I am just on it for 4 days so I figure that it'll take a little while to kick back in. Thanks for the support! It's just a little nerve racking.

[SL500]

Oh, and I started to go to church - I am not a religious person - just during the holidays and thought that I may need some spiritual guidance through all of this, so I will say a prayer for everyone!!!

[elizabethmaria]

Thanks Schnauzertime -- I hope so too! I pray that it is getting better, just wait and see for the next while I think...
Carolleah, thank you for your support and prayers...! Yes, I'm a devout Catholic, so I've got my spiritual warfare going - .. It keeps us strong in all the storms and is a sure rock to hold on to - things like this definitely challenge and then strengthen our faith, but sometimes growing pains are a little uncomfortable especially when you have a long ways to go like me!... I'm feeling a little better today, and my dear friend who is just about to be ordained a priest in a few months called yesterday and talked to me for a good while - that really helped too, just in time - I think God sent him a message that I needed some extra help, and he told me that he felt like he needed to call me ... so that was very very good...!

I'm sorry I don't like to complain, it's just been rough this last while... I really appreciate your kind and hopeful words Carrolleah - I'm sure like everyone here I hold onto the words people say more than they think when going through a dark time!..
I just pray it does get better, because I don't want to have to leave, I don't think it is meant to be that way, and I know that they just care so much, but are afraid if something happens to them that I'll be alone... But, some of the ladies at our parish told my mom not to worry that if something happens to them, they will all help take care of me if it gets worse - so that made me feel a LOT better, (I was needless to say more than a little worried when she mentioned that!) they are very dear... I know they have taken care of a number of people when they were very ill or housebound so that they could be home and have good care and company... I never realized just how significant that was until this!
Ok, sorry for all this me stuff... It will be ok, just got a little traumatized!

take care everyone, hope everyone is doing better and better!
love, EM

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by Danx

Well I'm up to 18mg now of lex. I have good days and bad days, but the bad ones are not as bad. The heart palpatitions are few and far between now. But I seem to have a big problem with trapped gas whenever I drink anything. It feels like I need to burp real bad but it just won't come out. This was never a problem for me in the past.

I'll stay at 18mg for a couple weeks more before I cut it down.

Seems like mostly women post here, I guess that's because more women seek help for anxiety and depression then men. As for the Libido, the lex hasn't effected mine at all. Maybe it's because I'm a guy.

As for the problem with the new kitty and the dog.. Well this is a topic I actually know some about. I have 5 cats and 4 dogs, the dogs range in size from a small shakey dog to a 120lb beast of a dog. And they all get along with all the cats just fine. They have seen many new cats come and go because I rescue them whenever I find one in need. They have always accepted the new cats without issue.

Putting the kitten in a seperate room and letting them see each other under the door will just drive the dog nuts and get it too excited and curious about what's on the other side. It's okay for a day or so until the new cat is more comfortable being in a new place, but then you need to get them together. Hold onto the cat or dog and let them see each other out in the open. Be careful at first and not let them hurt each other, but once the dog realizes that the cat is a friend, not a foe, he/she should be okay with it.

At least that's how it's always worked for me. And be extra carful if your holding the cat, if the dog gets excited and scares the cat, you could be hurt, even a small kitten can rip you up if it gets scared. You will have more problems bringing in an adult cat into the house then you would a kitten. Kittens seem to adjust to other animals much easier. Unless of course the adult cat has been around dogs before.

I wish I wouldn't have brought the kitten back now . I was following the rules of introducing new pets on this free DVD the shelter gave me about keeping it in another room by itself for awhile. Thanks for the input though...I'll know for next time if I ever try it again.

Yeah, stay on the 18mg until you're feeling good again. It could take up to a couple weeks but I think you should even out on that dose. Good luck .

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by Rosalinde

Hi! I post rarely, but I come on here frequently to read and be encouraged by you lovely ladies! You are doing such a good work, helping more people than you will ever know.
I have been tapering down from 10 mg by 10% every two weeks. I use the suggested nutritionals for tapering from www.theroadback.org and they really seem to help. My head is more clear and I have better energy. My symptoms of withdrawal have been mild - fatigue, occasional headache or nausea, a dazed feeling. Mostly, I have been able to carry on ok - I believe due to the nutritionals and the slow taper.
I'm at 6.5 mg and am getting ready to go down again Tuesday.

The worst thing about this for me has been the weight gain! 20 pounds in six months. I don't seem to be losing any with the taper! I was hoping it would begin to fall off. I hike up to 11 miles once a week, I exercise an hour five days a week, and I do folk dancing for three hours every Friday night. I also eat very healthy. I can't believe it makes no difference. I feel trapped. :P

Can anyone tell me when the weight might start to come off? Should I expect it during the taper or immediately after? Please don't say it might not come off even after I finish...

My second question is - what do I do when I get down to 1 mg? I don't want to keep doing 10% off indefinitely. This could go on forever!

Thanks again for chatting so openly about these things. I've learned so much here. I was getting ready to get off Lex in 2 months as suggested by my dr when I found this site. I attribute my ability to function and relatively painless tapering to you guys and the info you share. I am so grateful!

WARNING: Remember to NOT taper until you're feeling completely normal again. Don't go on a "timeline" of tapering every 2 weeks. Some tapers may take longer than that once withdrawal starts to get out of the withdrawals. Just don't ever taper until you're feeling 100% well again.

The weight normally starts coming off when you get down to a low dose like around 2mg or lower or when you get ccompletely off it. You will still have to excercise and eat right though...it won't just magically come off. Rarely it does for some people but normally you have to eat healthy and exercise too. But don't despair...it will come off.

OK..when you get down to 1mg don't stop it cold turkey there. Keep doing 10% tapers. After 1mg, a 10% taper of that would be 0.9mg then 0.8mg and so on. I know it's a low dose, but it's what your body is used to and if you take that dose away it would be like stopping cold turkey. You can taper this way all the way down to about 0.15 or 0.1mg.

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by SL500

Oh, and I started to go to church - I am not a religious person - just during the holidays and thought that I may need some spiritual guidance through all of this, so I will say a prayer for everyone!!!

It's always good to have some sort of religious background through this no matter what it is. Actually, I've been reading all kinds of books on religion and different religions too just because I've been curious. It is really interesting to see what alot of different people have as their religion and alot of it is very very similar. But whatever makes you find joy and comfort is great to do through all this. It seems through my withdrawal I crave Knowledge like chocolate! I don't know why...it just hit me and I want to learn and know all I can. I read everything from Shamanism to Wicca to Celtic druidism to books by Siliva Brown on spirituality and the Bible too. I'm wanting to read the Qu'ran just to see what it's about too. I'm just so curious through all this, it's strange .

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by Rosalinde

Hi! I post rarely, but I come on here frequently to read and be encouraged by you lovely ladies! You are doing such a good work, helping more people than you will ever know.
I have been tapering down from 10 mg by 10% every two weeks. I use the suggested nutritionals for tapering from www.theroadback.org and they really seem to help. My head is more clear and I have better energy. My symptoms of withdrawal have been mild - fatigue, occasional headache or nausea, a dazed feeling. Mostly, I have been able to carry on ok - I believe due to the nutritionals and the slow taper.
I'm at 6.5 mg and am getting ready to go down again Tuesday.

The worst thing about this for me has been the weight gain! 20 pounds in six months. I don't seem to be losing any with the taper! I was hoping it would begin to fall off. I hike up to 11 miles once a week, I exercise an hour five days a week, and I do folk dancing for three hours every Friday night. I also eat very healthy. I can't believe it makes no difference. I feel trapped. :P

Can anyone tell me when the weight might start to come off? Should I expect it during the taper or immediately after? Please don't say it might not come off even after I finish...

My second question is - what do I do when I get down to 1 mg? I don't want to keep doing 10% off indefinitely. This could go on forever!

Thanks again for chatting so openly about these things. I've learned so much here. I was getting ready to get off Lex in 2 months as suggested by my dr when I found this site. I attribute my ability to function and relatively painless tapering to you guys and the info you share. I am so grateful!

My weight loss started happening within a couple of weeks of being off. It is slow going, but at least the scales are budging. I have lost a total of 30 lbs since April. Just eating healthy. if I would exercise, probably would lose more.

[Rosalinde]

Thank you very much to Julia77, SchnauzerTime and Hairyarmadillo for answering my post. It helps tremendously to know what your experiences have been with the weight gain and loss. I am encouraged! Amazing that you've lost 30 pounds so quickly without exercise Hairyarmadillo. Wow. That must feel great! I am an avid exerciser and healthy eater, so this has been devastating for me.

Thanks for the warning SchnauzerTime. I seem to be doing ok on the two week taper. I will keep an eye on things and slow down if I seem to be getting more severe symptoms. I am not working currently, so on days that I feel flu-ish and exhausted, I am able to draw the curtains, slip into bed and rest.

Thank you also for letting me know how to taper at the end. I can't believe how long this is going to take. When I get down to 1 mg, I'm wondering if I could handle .9, .8, .7, .6, .5 and so on.

[Danx]

The hardest part for me with the withdrawals is keeping myself relaxed to try not to panic when I start to have symptoms. I took up knitting. I know it sounds dumb, I'm a 32 year old guy and I knit, but it really helps me relax. I have a bunch of knit hats now. lol, maybe I should learn to make something else.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by Danx

The hardest part for me with the withdrawals is keeping myself relaxed to try not to panic when I start to have symptoms. I took up knitting. I know it sounds dumb, I'm a 32 year old guy and I knit, but it really helps me relax. I have a bunch of knit hats now. lol, maybe I should learn to make something else.

Keep on knitting. For me, the crucial part was to understand that they are the withdrawals, not the 'original illnesses back, and you have to stay on that med forever' as my GP was convinced.
Knitting massages your fingers' cushions and helps the brain to relax. It's a proven fact that when you massage your fingers' ends you feel more at ease.

[elizabethmaria]

Originally Posted by Danx

The hardest part for me with the withdrawals is keeping myself relaxed to try not to panic when I start to have symptoms. I took up knitting. I know it sounds dumb, I'm a 32 year old guy and I knit, but it really helps me relax. I have a bunch of knit hats now. lol, maybe I should learn to make something else.

I think that's cute!! Keep on knitting!!! I think I had better try to start as well, but I dont' know if I can even attempt a hat...!
love, EM

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by Danx

The hardest part for me with the withdrawals is keeping myself relaxed to try not to panic when I start to have symptoms. I took up knitting. I know it sounds dumb, I'm a 32 year old guy and I knit, but it really helps me relax. I have a bunch of knit hats now. lol, maybe I should learn to make something else.

That's not dumb at all! It's one of the smartest things you could do going through this. I also took up knitting a couple months ago...just doing the same stitch over and over, the repitativness of it helps so much! I haven't knit in a month or so though...I need to start again. It really helps to get the mind off withdrawal and just gets you into a "zone". Any kind of hobby is good though as long as it doesn't stimulate you with bright lights or loud noise through this. It's also nice if you don't have anyone to give the things you make to, to give to a shelter or needy people .

[SL500]

danx - thats a fantastic idea!! I think I might start doing that - I hear its supposed to be relaxing. I have a godchild coming soon so maybe I'll try and make a blanket or something!!!

st- i was reading through some of the previous posts - why did you have to get rid of your kitten????

So im back on my regular dose 5days now. I still don't feel a whole lot better - no crying today which is a def plus!! Could it still take a little while longer for my body to get used to the dose again?

[VLL]

Hi Everyone,

I must say, I messed up.
I have been on Lexapro for over six years and I think that I have only forgotten to take my pill maybe once (?). *besides the days that I didn't take it on purpose when I started to wean myself off the wrong way.

But for some reason, I forgot to take it last Wednesday and turned around and forgot to take it Thursday as well! I remembered Thursday night and took my half pill before I went to bed. I took another half on Friday morning and then another half on Saturday morning. All was well.

On Saturday night I was in the worst mood ever! I was a first class b****!
I felt like my head was going to explode with rage. My daughter wanted to watch a movie and I thought it would be a good idea to calm me down. I don't know if any of you have seen 300, but that is what we watched. It was awful! So full of violence! It just made me feel worse. ( I heard that this was such a good movie too ).

Sunday morning, we woke up and went to church like normal and even the people at church annoyed me. My husband bothered me, my daughter bothered me, and even my cat bothered me! My husband decided to work out at our hunting camp ( just to get away from me I'm sure ) and my daughter and I got into a huge arguement about nothing important. I said some really mean things to her about her and her boyfriend. After all was said and done, I felt terrible! I hurt her feelings and made her cry. I went to my bedroom and cried myself.

I spent the whole rest of the day cleaning. I cleaned everything! I even cleaned the clean!!! It was like I had all of this nervous energy! My daughter and I did make up. ( but I still feel so bad about what I had said ).
So Sunday night we thought we would try to watch a movie again. This time we watched "I am Sam". I cried, and cried, and cried!

I am an emotional wreck! I didn't even go to Curves yesterday morning or this morning. I have been going almost everyday and have been enjoying it.

Just when things were going good (well at least I thought that they were).

Oh well. Sorry I rambled again. Good-bye. VLL

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by SL500

danx - thats a fantastic idea!! I think I might start doing that - I hear its supposed to be relaxing. I have a godchild coming soon so maybe I'll try and make a blanket or something!!!

st- i was reading through some of the previous posts - why did you have to get rid of your kitten????

So im back on my regular dose 5days now. I still don't feel a whole lot better - no crying today which is a def plus!! Could it still take a little while longer for my body to get used to the dose again?

Yes...it's going to be a couple weeks or so until you're back to 100% normal and feeling good again. But you will see small improvements until then like you did today about the not crying. For me it was about 3 weeks til I was myself again...but I had small improvements along the way. If you're on the full dose you started with you'll definatly be OK again...it will just take a couple weeks or so, then when your better you can try the slower tapering.

I had to take the kitty back because my dog would try to chase her . So I guess it wasn't meant to be. I was depressed for awhile but am doing better now. I just know for the future my dog doesn't like cats, hehe.

[SchnauzerTime]

How are you doing on the 1/2 pill? Did you stop having withdrawals until recently? If you were feeling better gradually and then this hit you when you forgot to take the pill for a few days it's probably just that kicking in. If you don't forget anymore and just stay on the dose you're at , it will even out and you'll feel better in a couple days.

Be careful cutting the pill though. The best way is to do the liquid...either getting it from your doc or making it yourself. When you get down to a lower dose like you're at right now it is harder and you don't want to keep cutting it in half. Because now if you cut the half in half...tha'ts a 50% drop which will probably give you some bad withdrawals and they will last a good while. As you go lower in dosages you'lll need to start decreasing slower so try to get the liquid now and try 10% decreases.

[SL500]

st - Thanks. I actually went to my doc tonight and he said it might take a little while. But he can't tell me definitly. I have to wait it out. But what you said definitly makes me feel a lot better - knowing you went through it....I just have the "my head is in a cloud" and the "no concentration" feelings. It's scary. I am going to stay on this and once I feel better, I am getting off of the klonzapan first and once that is done then the lexapro. It's going to be a long process....

I would be sad if that happened to me. I actually have a cat - and I am not a cat person. I just fell in love with him when I got him as a kitten. We have no other animals because of him. My brother has a boxer who is a puppy and we babysit her once in a while, but have to keep them seperated because the puppy goes after him and he buggs out. So it is a little difficult. So just think that it is for the better - for both of them......

[elizabethmaria]

Schnauzertime,
I can't remember who wrote you about how to get the kitten and doggy to like each other, but it seemed like that was a good post -- I just feel bad for you with no kitty there! I wanted to tell you about my dog and kitties -- We had (he died a few months ago, .. but it was ok).. a big mixed breed dog, who actually liked to eat bunnies in two gulps - yep, we'd just see a little white poof tail between his teeth and then it was gone! always before we caught him.. he was fast!.. (i love bunnies too!).. He also chases all the deer, and killed two raccoons in our yard outright - bloody awful...anyways.. I got a little kitten to take with me to college actually, in the summertime, and brought her home.. well, Ben (the dog) seemed really excited, I thought he was going to eat her too! we were so careful, but let him sniff her, and held her and told him to be 'nice'... and kept petting her, and him.. etc.. well.. he did mouth her a lot, but you know what it turned out to be? He thought she was his baby! He wouldn't leave the house for at least two weeks - even to go potty, because he couldn't leave her by herself!! (and this dog was a walk-a-holic! He stayed right by her, and anytime our other cat would come up to her, he would chase him away! She was a tiny thing too, very sweet! So, in all the few years afterward while we had the two of them, he was her protector - she would even go on the doggy walks with him, all the way around the block, and he wouldn't go if she wasn't right there... always chasing other kitties away, and if he felt the two cats were playing too hard together, he would push the older male cat off of her to leave her alone..!! always on guard!
So.. anyways, I know this doesn't have anything to do with lexapro, but that's a good story -- a lot of times it seems the dog can get super excited, and seem rough, but it can be ok if you show them how to be nice, and then you may have an inseparable pair! Sometimes they are just really excited, and don't know what to do, and actually want to play, but it is kind of biting at first, but it's ok...

Sorry I forgot to say this when you still had your kitten, but if you rethink it, maybe it might work? I don't know how your dog is, but we seriously thought Ben would eat her at first!

Animals are so great ! I just wish it would have worked out, but I know every pet is different - Ben was a bit of an attention/jealous dog, VERY VERY good boy, but liked to be #1, but he really loved his kitties...

Ok, take care then, back to the ssri trenches !!!
love, EM

[carolleah]

Schnauzer

Thank you for being you. I just had to say that. You are atop my gratitude list. You have given so much of yourself to this forum and are so wise and knowledgable. And so dedicated to serving others. It is a privilege to be able to be part of this forum with you. I just needed to say that. You make a real difference in the lives of many people coming to this site and looking for answers. Your hopefulness, openness, guidance, consolation has really provided the light for so many. This forum has meant so much to me during this past year and you have been a big part of it.

[SchnauzerTime]

You 3 have made my day!! Thank you soooo much for your kind words . I've been feeling a little icky this past couple days...kind of like withdrawal may be sticking it's nasty head out to play, but it's too soon to know. But your posts just made me smile and feel so much better!

SL500

Yes, it will be a long road...but a road WELL worth it. Most things in life, you have to go through hard times to get to the good times. And most things aren't easy that are worth having.

Thanks for the story about the puppy and cat. I think now I should have given it more time, but I was so scared the kitty would get hurt.

EM

Thanks so much for that story! It was sooo cute. I just love animals...anything really, and that was so cute how the dog would guard the kitten! I wish I would have given it more time between my dog and the kitty, but I was so terrified something would happen. And I actually think withdrawal was making my feelings 100 times stronger. It seems like any emotion I have withdrawal just makes it horrible! Anyway, your story was so cute and made me smile.

Carolleah

Thanks for all your kind words! You always can express emotions so well. I'm glad for this forum too and have learned so much since being here. Your post just made me smile and made me feel so good that I'm appreciated. And you couldn't have posted at a better time because I've been feeling like withdrawal may hit again...I'm not sure yet, but I've just been feeling a little yucky this past couple days and those kind words were exactly what I needed! I hope I can go on helping others on here for a long time. I just feel the need to prevent people as much as I can from going through this.

[elizabethmaria]

Schnauzertime,
I'm glad you liked it those two were pretty cute!.. Maybe when the withdrawals wear off in a few months, you can try it again - probably would feel better too - I know when the emotional feelings are hard those months, it wouldn't be good if something DID happen to the kitty, that would've been awful! but, when things clear up, I'd give it another try maybe - kitties are so nice ... I was thinking about it, and I know lots of dogs with best-friend kitties, ... so who know!
take care,
love, EM

[SL500]

so just when I thought things should be getting a little bit better cause I went back onto my regular dose, I feel horrible. I woke up with the worst anxiety and depression - I was crying and shaky all morning getting ready for work! My head is all cloudy....this is just so frustrating...and I am still tearing as I am writing this. I had to take a piece of xanax this morning just to calm me down!! When is this all going to end?????

Sorry, I just need to vent - there is only so much I can vent to my mom or bf - they just dont get it....

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by SL500

so just when I thought things should be getting a little bit better cause I went back onto my regular dose, I feel horrible. I woke up with the worst anxiety and depression - I was crying and shaky all morning getting ready for work! My head is all cloudy....this is just so frustrating...and I am still tearing as I am writing this. I had to take a piece of xanax this morning just to calm me down!! When is this all going to end?????

Sorry, I just need to vent - there is only so much I can vent to my mom or bf - they just dont get it....

It's only been 7 days so far...it may take another week or so for all the crying and stuff to stop. OK..I found your first post about how you tapered. You went from 15mg to 7.5mg in a month...WAY too fast. Are you all the way back on 15mg...not just 12.5? If not, go back up to 15mg. If you are on 15mg, then it will just take awhile. You cut the dose in half right off the bat so no wonder you went through such horrible withdrawals. Then you stayed on that dose for about a month, is that right? So your body has gone through horrible stuff. It needs time to readjust. It took me 3 weeks when I did a too fast taper...I cut the pill into fourths, not halves. So, I'm thinking it will be at least another week for you to start seeing an improvement. So just try to keep positive, you'll feel better...it just may be another week or so.

Are you on any vitamins? If not, take a good multi vitamin. I'm on Formula Plus from Supralife. Let me get that number for you. It's 1(800)359-3245. Get the Formula Plus and the Mineral Toddy.

Also, for the crying fish oil is VERY good. Get the Carlson's brand fish oil. Get it at http://www.taoofherbs.com/products/3...angeFlavor.htm

For anxiety/muscle aches take Magnesium Malate from www.vitacost.com . Take one table with food every 3 hours or so...about 3 a day. Also, from vitacost get some coral calcium. If you have trouble sleeping at night this will help. Take 500mg before bed. You can also get Calms Forte, it's a passionflower homeopathic remedy and you can take one or 2 throughout the day ...I take 3 at night before bed to help me sleep.

But get started especially on the multi vitamin and mineral and fish oil...you'll see a difference.

[SL500]

st - thats ok - I was on effexor and weaned off fast and completely stopped that to go on lexapro in Feb 07. From that point on I was on 12.5 mgs. In mid July, I went from 12.5 - 10 for two weeks. After that I went from 10 - 7.5 for about four weeks (From 8/16- 9/14 I was on 7.5). Then I went back up to 10 for 6 days and then 12.5 - Since last friday. I also take klonz .25 at night - which I had weaned down a while ago from .5 and do not want to increase that. I have to get off of that first.

[SL500]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

It's only been 7 days so far...it may take another week or so for all the crying and stuff to stop. OK..I found your first post about how you tapered. You went from 15mg to 7.5mg in a month...WAY too fast. Are you all the way back on 15mg...not just 12.5? If not, go back up to 15mg. If you are on 15mg, then it will just take awhile. You cut the dose in half right off the bat so no wonder you went through such horrible withdrawals. Then you stayed on that dose for about a month, is that right? So your body has gone through horrible stuff. It needs time to readjust. It took me 3 weeks when I did a too fast taper...I cut the pill into fourths, not halves. So, I'm thinking it will be at least another week for you to start seeing an improvement. So just try to keep positive, you'll feel better...it just may be another week or so.

Are you on any vitamins? If not, take a good multi vitamin. I'm on Formula Plus from Supralife. Let me get that number for you. It's 1(800)359-3245. Get the Formula Plus and the Mineral Toddy.

Also, for the crying fish oil is VERY good. Get the Carlson's brand fish oil. Get it at http://www.taoofherbs.com/products/3...angeFlavor.htm

For anxiety/muscle aches take Magnesium Malate from www.vitacost.com . Take one table with food every 3 hours or so...about 3 a day. Also, from vitacost get some coral calcium. If you have trouble sleeping at night this will help. Take 500mg before bed. You can also get Calms Forte, it's a passionflower homeopathic remedy and you can take one or 2 throughout the day ...I take 3 at night before bed to help me sleep.

But get started especially on the multi vitamin and mineral and fish oil...you'll see a difference.

I dont take vitamins - I should start. I am just scared of putting anything in my body cause of any reaction. As for the fish oil, is it the omega that helps? My doc gave me a prescription for omicore - its almost like pure omega 3. He told me I could take two a day. Is that any different than fish oil?

By the way - I appreciate your quick reply and also your advice and posts. I am only 27 and I have so much ahead of me and this is a big damper on my life right now - I feel like it is my life right now- and having someone who went through/going through this is a BIG relief. Even reading everyone elses posts and their replys to me - its such a wonderful support group. I do have my bf, friends and fam, but they only understand so much. So thank you and everyone else again for going through this with me......

[jdavis46]

Hey everyone!

I have been on 10mg Lexapro for about 5 months now. I ended up in the emergency room with an extremely debilitating panic attack on the highway. So from then on I have been this med for panic disorder, and minor OCD. It worked wonderfully for me with hardly no panic or even anxiety. The biggest side effect was an obsolete sex drive, which was something I was willing to deal with. The first week of getting on the med was rough with extreme dry mouth, constant headaches, nausea, etc. but it didn't last long. I have recently decided to research alternative meds and in doing so, I found passion flower supplements. My grandma actually has this plant and I tried boiling the leaves like tea and drinking it. It worked wonderfully. I take it at night because it acts as a mild sedative. You get a wonderful nights sleep, and when I wake up I feel wonderful. I wanted to stop taking Lexapro because with my insurance it costs me around 50.00 and being a full time worker and full time student I can't afford this medicine every month. I thought this would be a short term deal being on the meds. So far I have been off Lexapro for one week tomorrow. I stopped cold turkey, and just started taking the Passion Flower at night. I have been experiencing extreme dizziness, and those "brain zaps" especially when I'm at the grocery store or at school. It's horrible!! I am scared to drive, I have missed two days of school so far. I can't focus. Every time I move my head I see everything in slow motion. Anyone have suggestions on making this dizziness go away or is this something I will have to ride out?

I have also notice that I have more of a temper and I get mad easily and in result break down and cry easier. I'm sure that is another side effect. Well I'm off to go lay down and miss another day of school....can anyone help?