[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by Julia77

It seems like I am depressed..I had a little distressing episode a couple of days ago, ( Schnauzer, I mentioned it in my e-mail to you-, but it seemed like it all alone could hardly have been a reason for it. But ever since, third day in a row I've been feeling down. Today I hardly slept.

I am in my 5th months since starting to taper off 2.5 mg. Right now I am on as low as .08 mg of liquids. Can it be a wave a withdrawal and if it was triggered by normal human emotions, would I ever be able to handle stress without medications?

Anyways, what do I do about it now? I keep doing things, but in a little automatic way. I take Fish Oil , what else can I take to help me go through this now? I also exercise and will drag myself out for a little walk now.

Sorry for this.

It sure can be a withdrawal wave. It sounds like it is. How long ago did you decrease your dose to .08mL? If it's been about a week, now is the time withdrawals should be hitting you. Usually they start about a week after you taper and last a couple days to a week.

As far as what you can do , there really isn't much. You kind of just have to be patient and wait for it to pass. Just keep eating healthy (no sugar/caffeine, greasy/fattening foods), drink LOTS of water, and take your vitamins. This will all help to lessen the withdrawal.

But it will pass in a couple days to a week. Just DON'T taper again until you are back to feeling 100%. That's the most important thing. And don't worry, it's totally normal to have withdrawals even at such a low dose.

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

[SchnauzerTime]

I think I will be signing the contract to close the deal on a house we found today. Wish us luck!

P.S. SOrry to hear about EM...I hope she is Ok now? I'll be thinking and praying for her, tell her that.

[auntybiotic]

Thyroid, Depression and Mental Health
Psychiatric, Psychological and Emotional Aspects of Thyroid Disease i.e. it's not all in your head!"

http://www.stopthet hyroidmadness. com/thyroid- depression- mental-health/

It's a common scenario for hypothyroid patients, especially when you are undiagnosed due to your doctor's over-reliance on a faulty TSH range, or treated with thyroxine T4-only medications: You go to the doctor; you complain about your depression, or your anxiety, or your emotional swings, or your inability to concentrate, and onto your doctor's favorite anti-depressant, anti-anxietal, lithium, or bi-polar med you go-beginning with the freebies on the shelf from his friendly and suited pharmaceutical rep. Sound familiar??

But the problem with this scenario is that your depression or anxiety or other mental health problem is not a unique and unrelated illness. It's most likely due to having a low free T3, the active thyroid hormone, and/or adrenal insufficiency. And this is especially common for patients treated with Synthroid, Levoxyl and other thyroxine medications.

And this problem is not limited to depression. Low thyroid hormones, and the common occurrence of sluggish, poorly functioning adrenals, can play a role in a variety of emotional and behavioral symptoms and disturbances, including anxiety, excessive fear, mood swings like bi-polar, rage, irritability, paranoid schizophrenia, confusion, dementia, obsessive/compulsiv e disorders, and mental aberrations. So if your physician or psychiatrist failed to check your thyroid function with the correct tests (free T3 and free T4, plus antibodies), and your adrenal function with a 24 hour adrenal saliva test, and instead prescribed his or her favorite band-aid psychotrophic medication, you are left with medications that can include unneeded fluoride, that can clash with your other meds, that can make your hypothyroid worse, or can leave you with classic side effects, besides the cost.

The mother of the creator of this site is a classic example of the tragedy of poor assessment or treatment of thyroid function. After she battled clinical depression and anxiety for years while on Synthroid (and we now know due to the thyroxine treatment), she relinquished all control of her health to a doctor who gave her electric shock therapy-a treatment which only slightly lessened her chronic depression and dulled her memory and intelligence for the rest of her life.

Dr. Ridha Arem, in his book, "The Thyroid Solution: A Mind Body Program for Beating Depression and Regaining Your Emotional and Physical Health", states:

Scientists now consider thyroid hormone one of the major "players" in brain chemistry disorders. And as with any brain chemical disorder, until treated correctly, thyroid hormone imbalance has serious effects on the patient's emotions and behavior.

Thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4, as the storage hormone) and triiodothyronine (T3, as the converted and direct active hormone) not only play a part in the health of your metabolic endocrine, nervous and immune system, they in turn have an important role in the health and optimal functioning of your brain, including your cognitive function, mood, ability to concentrate, memory, attention span, and emotions. On her website, Christiane Northrup, MD states that T3 "is actually a bona fide neurotransmitter that regulates the action of serotonin, norepinephrine, and GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid), an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is important for quelling anxiety." She also states that "If you don't have enough T3, or if its action is blocked, an entire cascade of neurotransmitter abnormalities may ensue and can lead to mood and energy changes, including depression."

Dr. Barry Durant-Peatfield, in his book Your Thyroid and How to Keep It Healthy, states

"Brain cells have more T3 receptors than any other tissues, which means that a proper uptake of thyroid hormone is essential for the brain cells to work properly."

He feels that up to one-half of depression is due to unrecognized hypothyroidism. And this figure could be higher when you consider the high amount of thyroid patients who are suffering from depression while on the inferior treatment of T4-only.

A classic article written in 2003 by Heinrich MD and Grahm MD, and found in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, outlines the relationship between thyroid disease and pyschiatric and psychologic manifestations, titled:

"Hypothyroidism Presented as Psychosis: Myxedema Madness Revisited: "

http://www.psychiat rist.com/ pcc/pccpdf/ v05n06/v05n0603. pdf

Low cortisol can be an additional problem

In addition to low T3 levels causing psychiatric and psychological disorders, low cortisol levels can be an additional culprit-even when you feel you are adequately treated for your thyroid. Low cortisol results in cell receptors failing to adequately receive thyroid hormones from the blood, and can explain certain emotional and behavioral symptoms even when a patient is on thyroid meds, such as the need to avoid leaving one's house, seeking peace and quiet, unable to tolerate stress, low tolerance to loud noises, rage, emotional ups and downs similar to bi-polar, panic, obsessive compulsive tendencies, hyper sensitive to the comments of others, phobias, delusions, suicidal ideation..and more.

What's the solution?

If you recognize any of the mental health issues mentioned above-or even have friends or family members who have been trying to point these out to you-find a doctor who will test your free T3, plus antibodies. If you find your free T3 below mid-range, or if you have an autoimmune attack going on against your thyroid (which will make labs useless since you vascillate between hypo and hyper), you need to discuss the addition of Cytomel (synthetic T3) to your current thyroxine medication. There is a growing body of doctors and researchers who are using T3 as an adjunct to anti-depressive therapy, since improving your T3 levels can raise brain levels of the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine to the optimal level they need to be.

Even better, according the experience of many, is switching to desiccated thyroid, which gives you the entire complement your own thyroid would be giving you-T4, T3, T2, T1 and calcitonin. There are numerous testimonies of patients ridding themselves of chronic depression and other emotional problems when they dosed high enough with desiccated thyroid to put their free T3 towards the top of the range.

[ NOTE: Armour is the other type of thyroid pills, not synthetic

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

It sure can be a withdrawal wave. It sounds like it is. How long ago did you decrease your dose to .08mL? If it's been about a week, now is the time withdrawals should be hitting you. Usually they start about a week after you taper and last a couple days to a week.

As far as what you can do , there really isn't much. You kind of just have to be patient and wait for it to pass. Just keep eating healthy (no sugar/caffeine, greasy/fattening foods), drink LOTS of water, and take your vitamins. This will all help to lessen the withdrawal.

But it will pass in a couple days to a week. Just DON'T taper again until you are back to feeling 100%. That's the most important thing. And don't worry, it's totally normal to have withdrawals even at such a low dose.

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

I decreased my dose on Wednesday. Today is Monday... I still feel down, but I slept at night. This time it feels like heartache and my heart seems to be skipping beats.
Coral Calcium is great. I took it last night before I went to sleep and it worked wonderfully on me.

I can't believe I am having withdrawals at this little dose..

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

I think I will be signing the contract to close the deal on a house we found today. Wish us luck!

P.S. SOrry to hear about EM...I hope she is Ok now? I'll be thinking and praying for her, tell her that.

Good luck to you guys! I told you it was worth it I am happy you found what you wanted!

I missed the posts about EM... Is her condition due to the withdrawals..?

[skyer]

Hi Aunty,

Sorry I didn't post sooner, but I work at my store Wed - Sun and it takes all the energy I have. Did you find my one-year post on Paxil Progress? If not, here is the link: http://www.paxilprogress.org/forums/...ad.php?t=30901. I don't post on that site very much; I find it hard to stomach at times even though I'm thankful it exists.

Aunty, I seriously can't thank you enough for your guidance and support. I think if I had relied soley on Paxil Progress for help I would not have been able to keep my chin up at all during the horror that plagued me every day for months. You always had answers for me and information to share that kept me optimistic during the worst of times. I am so relieved to have most of the pain behind me. Unfortunately, I still have lingering symptoms and I struggle with trauma that's left me questioning whether or not I can trust my brain. But I believe that will improve in time.

How is your daughter? I can understand why she would want to quit the Lexapro taper after all this time, but she's come this far and so it's probably best just to stay the course. When will she be finished? Does she have the strange dreams? I still do and I haven't touched the stuff for a year!

You asked about my supplements...as you might recall, I have been a nervous wreck about taking anything, but I did start Carlson's Fish Oil around month seven and it helped a lot. I also have Bach's Rescue Remedy, a formula without the booze that my N.D. makes for me. It really does stop the negative, obsessive thoughts! I haven't needed it for a couple of months now. I feel pretty decent mood-wise. I still stay away from any medications or stimulants. I can tell my system is still very sensitive so I don't take anything my liver needs to break down.

Take care...Skyer

[lexa amatuer]

I was on Lexapro for about 1-1/2 years 10mg -I cut back to .5 for a week and have been completely off it for 17 days! I thought I was going crazy at first until I went on line and found out that my withdrawal symptoms were shared by many others! I have the brain "zaps" and sweating and mood swings (mostly anger and depression) The withdrawal symptoms are reducing a little each day so that is encouraging. Lexapro worked well for me when I was on it, but I had no idea I would have withdrawals and how much they would effect me. To anyone experiencing them, hang in there, they do get better slowly.

[Tryn]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

The safest thing to do would be to wait a year, but personally if it was me and I had only taken an SSRI for 5 days I would try after 2-3 months. And it's only the Sam-E and St. John's-wort you have to worry about, not other supplements.

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

Thank you so very much for ur opinion..this is all new to me...I have only taken one half of a xanax and have not taken any more...I am on day three after going off lexepro..and the wds are at least tolerable...I am mostly feeling tired..and some dizziness...I have not taken a xanax since Friday night...my prayers are with each and everyone here..it is so reassuring that I am not the only one going through this.

[CrashNBurn]

I think my withdrawal side effects after stopping Zoloft were Akathisia (restless anxiety and depression that feels like someone is burning my flesh and mind leaving me praying for death). I did some reading on wikipedia about it and it said there are 2 drugs that can help with this. One is Cogentin and another one is a antihistamine called Cyproheptadine. Does anyone know about these 2 drugs? Oh, and there are also beta-blockers that are supposed to help but I don't know if I want to go there.

Today is day 8 since I stopped Lex (only 5 days at 2.5mg) and I'm feeling like a dense fog has settled in my brain. I don't feel the anxiety or depression yet but I do fear it will eventually arrive. It can hit at any moment without warning so I'd like to find something to take that is safe and effective. I've taken antihistamines before and I know they are safe, I just haven't heard of Cyproheptadine.

Tryn - keep us/me posted on how you are feeling day by day.

[Tryn]

Originally Posted by CrashNBurn

I think my withdrawal side effects after stopping Zoloft were Akathisia (restless anxiety and depression that feels like someone is burning my flesh and mind leaving me praying for death). I did some reading on wikipedia about it and it said there are 2 drugs that can help with this. One is Cogentin and another one is a antihistamine called Cyproheptadine. Does anyone know about these 2 drugs? Oh, and there are also beta-blockers that are supposed to help but I don't know if I want to go there.

Today is day 8 since I stopped Lex (only 5 days at 2.5mg) and I'm feeling like a dense fog has settled in my brain. I don't feel the anxiety or depression yet but I do fear it will eventually arrive. It can hit at any moment without warning so I'd like to find something to take that is safe and effective. I've taken antihistamines before and I know they are safe, I just haven't heard of Cyproheptadine.

Tryn - keep us/me posted on how you are feeling day by day.

I sure will...I bought some omega 3 fish oil gel caps today and I have been drinking some chamomile tea just before bedtime..it seems to have helped..I to dont feel the full strength of the anxiety..but I feel some of it..and that is when I just try to focus on something positive..today I got a new job that pays well..so that helped...the chamomile seemed to have relaxed me enough to sleep. I had two cups through out my day today. Hang in there...u can do it

[SL500]

Hi All,

Question - So it's going on my third week of being reinstated on my original dose of lexapo and I am not feeling any better - emotionally - mostly depressed - all day long. I have been crying everyday since last thursday and I have also been waking up with my usual anixety. I remember it being said that if you were off of your original dose for 6-8 weeks, it would be ok to reinstate the dose, but if more than that, it can make it worse....I just looked through all of my things and found that I was wrong about being off of my original dose - I was in fact off of my original dose for longer than 8 weeks - it was around 11-12 weeks....Now I am scared that it is not the time to let my body get readjusted to my original dose that is making me feel this way, but that going back to my original dose could have screwed me up...can this be????

ST- Congrads on the new house - Best of luck!!

[Tryn]

Originally Posted by CrashNBurn

I too was only on it for 5 days (2.5 mg each day). How much did you take? When was your last pill? How long did it take before withdrawal kicked in and what kind of withdrawals did you have?

I'm now starting day 7 since taking my last pill and I woke up weak and a bit out of it. Mostly I've been feeling dazed, confused, dizzy, with concentration problems, and at times becoming emotionally distressed and anxious but not too bad. It's still early days yet so I've got a ways to go yet. I know that after I took 4 days of Zoloft then quit I was fine for exactly 2 weeks then CRASH! I shouldn't have ever gotten back on an SSRI.

Hello Crash...today is day 4 since I went off of my 10 mg...things seem to be getting much better...the past three days were rough..yesterday I felt better then around early afternoon...got realy dizzy..felt clamy..broke out in sweat..kinda as if after u have had a cold for a week..and a fever just broke..felt drained..and wiped out..last night before bed..I took my second dose of Omega 3 1200 mg then just before bedtime I drank a cup of my chamomile tea...went to bed...took just a lil while for my tight muscles to relax..but once they did..I slept very well..today I woke up refreshed..a lil dizzy when I first got up..but am able to clean house..and in pretty good spirits...I am not sure if it is the omega 3 helping..but..I just started taking them yesterday..and today I have noticed a big difference in my mood..I still have the depression moments..but am able to work through them. I have spoke with my dr and told him I had stopped taking the lexapro and that I am planning on going on the herbal Amoryn...he said u know ur body..if u cant handle it anything is worth a try..and to keep him informed as to how things are going. I am going into see him in two weeks..for a complete physical...I will not start the Amoryn until I see him then..as he will do some blood work.
I will keep u posted as to how things are going I seem to still have that nasty taste of the meds in my mouth..I have been spotting between meds since I stopped taking the lexapro nothing I am alarmed about it is one of the symptoms...the pins and needles sinsation seems to have completly stopped..I am not experiencing to much dizziness today..so all in all..I am seeing a light at the end of the tunnel Knowing this...even if I have a bad day or two later on down the road...I will just roll with the punch..as I know this will pass Take Care..God Bless

Thank you Aunty and Schnauzer for ur comments...the Omega and Chamomile tea seems to have helped a lot.

[tavee]

IF U GO BACK TO MY POSTS I HAD SOME INFO REGARDING HIMALAYAN GOJI JUICE(www.try.freelife.com)


that will help with ure dizziness in the morning. i have been taking it for 3 and a half months and it has helped me a lot with the dizziness and the nausea.

tavee

[Tryn]

Originally Posted by tavee

IF U GO BACK TO MY POSTS I HAD SOME INFO REGARDING HIMALAYAN GOJI JUICE(www.try.freelife.com)


that will help with ure dizziness in the morning. i have been taking it for 3 and a half months and it has helped me a lot with the dizziness and the nausea.

tavee

Thanks Tavee...I will check it out.

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by Julia77

I decreased my dose on Wednesday. Today is Monday... I still feel down, but I slept at night. This time it feels like heartache and my heart seems to be skipping beats.
Coral Calcium is great. I took it last night before I went to sleep and it worked wonderfully on me.

I can't believe I am having withdrawals at this little dose..

Yeah, those are heart palpitations. I get those alot. That's definatly withdrawals and it's in the time period people would normally have them, about a week after you tapered. It probably won't last too long...maybe a couple days to a week, so hang in there until it all passes before you taper again. Yeah, it's so weird how people get withdrawals at even that low of a dose, but it's what your body is used to now...so that little bit, how ever many drops it is, is 100% of what your body is used to taking.

Glad the calcium is working for you...different people find different things to work for them. It's good you didn't have to experiment alot before you found that. Hope this little withdrawal spell passes quickly for you .

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by CrashNBurn

I think my withdrawal side effects after stopping Zoloft were Akathisia (restless anxiety and depression that feels like someone is burning my flesh and mind leaving me praying for death). I did some reading on wikipedia about it and it said there are 2 drugs that can help with this. One is Cogentin and another one is a antihistamine called Cyproheptadine. Does anyone know about these 2 drugs? Oh, and there are also beta-blockers that are supposed to help but I don't know if I want to go there.

Today is day 8 since I stopped Lex (only 5 days at 2.5mg) and I'm feeling like a dense fog has settled in my brain. I don't feel the anxiety or depression yet but I do fear it will eventually arrive. It can hit at any moment without warning so I'd like to find something to take that is safe and effective. I've taken antihistamines before and I know they are safe, I just haven't heard of Cyproheptadine.

Tryn - keep us/me posted on how you are feeling day by day.

If it was me in your position I wouldn't treat my withdrawal effects/side effects with more meds. Most meds will give side effects, so you'll more than likely be having side effects of the new med, even if it does treat the old side effects. Withdrawals are tough, but since you were only on it for 5 days if I were you I'd really just wait it out. Take the vitamins, eat healthy, etc. It's your decision for sure, but just be mindful about treating side effects with more meds. Are you still having the burning? If not, I would suggest just waiting a month or 2 and see where you are at that time.

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by Tryn

I sure will...I bought some omega 3 fish oil gel caps today and I have been drinking some chamomile tea just before bedtime..it seems to have helped..I to dont feel the full strength of the anxiety..but I feel some of it..and that is when I just try to focus on something positive..today I got a new job that pays well..so that helped...the chamomile seemed to have relaxed me enough to sleep. I had two cups through out my day today. Hang in there...u can do it

Chamomile works great for anxiety/sleeplessness, but for me it seems to wear off in about 10 minutes. If it's working well enough for you that's great...but if you ever need something else try taking about 750mg of coral calcium at night about an hour before you go to sleep. Also passionflower (Calms Forte) works great for me. Take 3 about an hour before bed. You can get both at www.vitacost.com .

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

[SchnauzerTime]

Originally Posted by SL500

Hi All,

Question - So it's going on my third week of being reinstated on my original dose of lexapo and I am not feeling any better - emotionally - mostly depressed - all day long. I have been crying everyday since last thursday and I have also been waking up with my usual anixety. I remember it being said that if you were off of your original dose for 6-8 weeks, it would be ok to reinstate the dose, but if more than that, it can make it worse....I just looked through all of my things and found that I was wrong about being off of my original dose - I was in fact off of my original dose for longer than 8 weeks - it was around 11-12 weeks....Now I am scared that it is not the time to let my body get readjusted to my original dose that is making me feel this way, but that going back to my original dose could have screwed me up...can this be????

ST- Congrads on the new house - Best of luck!!

I think since you were taking it though and not just quit cold turkey that it shouldn't matter about being off the full dose for that long. You did have some in your system still.

How were you when you originally started the Lexapro? Did you switch from one SSRI to Lex or was that someone else? Have you had any side effects from being on the Lex? If you had no problems when starting the Lex you should get used to this dose and be OK. Was there ever a period of time when you were 100% side effect free on the Lex and feeling good and pretty normal? If so, you should get used to it again. It just may take longer since your body went through so much when you decreased your other med (Isn't that one Klon?).

You may want to consider increasing your other med you decreased at the same time that you decreased the Lex. That could be what's keeping you in withdrawals. You decreased that other med too fast also. If it was me, I would probably increase that other med up to the original dose also and see if that would help get you out of this withdrawal. That's the only thing I can think of that would be keeping you in withdrawals. The other thing is being a slow metabolizer....but if you had a period of time when you were stable on these meds, I don't think that's the problem. Try increasing the Klon.

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

[SchnauzerTime]

I could have kicked myself for forgetting to take my Lex yesterday (or the day before, I can't remember). Anyway , I did find out something good from that. The day I forgot to take it I realized I didn't feel the anxiety and that nervous/hyper feeling of having to go go go all day long. Also the light headedness I feel sometimes at night with the slight nausea were both gone.

So basically, all that I've been feeling this past month or so wasn't lingering withdrawals...it's side effects from the Lex. This makes me feel soooo much better, because now I know after I move and get situated, I can start to taper. I'm sure a couple months ago at month 4 being off the Paxil/Wellbutrin WAS withdrawals though. But all the nervous energy and slight light headedness/nausea since then has been side effects and not withdrawal.

And I want to thank you Aunty...because I remember you telling me alot of people get the common side effects of anxiety and nausea from Lex. So I realized that's what had happened to me. I'm just so happy now that I don't have to wait to get better...I already AM! And can't wait to taper off this stuff...and I KNOW now when I get off it that all those side effects will be gone for good .

P.S. THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE CONGRATS ON THE NEW HOUSE .

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

I could have kicked myself for forgetting to take my Lex yesterday (or the day before, I can't remember). Anyway , I did find out something good from that. The day I forgot to take it I realized I didn't feel the anxiety and that nervous/hyper feeling of having to go go go all day long. Also the light headedness I feel sometimes at night with the slight nausea were both gone.

So basically, all that I've been feeling this past month or so wasn't lingering withdrawals...it's side effects from the Lex. This makes me feel soooo much better, because now I know after I move and get situated, I can start to taper. I'm sure a couple months ago at month 4 being off the Paxil/Wellbutrin WAS withdrawals though. But all the nervous energy and slight light headedness/nausea since then has been side effects and not withdrawal.

And I want to thank you Aunty...because I remember you telling me alot of people get the common side effects of anxiety and nausea from Lex. So I realized that's what had happened to me. I'm just so happy now that I don't have to wait to get better...I already AM! And can't wait to taper off this stuff...and I KNOW now when I get off it that all those side effects will be gone for good .

P.S. THANKS EVERYONE FOR THE CONGRATS ON THE NEW HOUSE .

Yeah! I am so happy for you if this is true!! I had horrible side effects starting my Lex... I was in deep depression for 3 weeks, I had insomnia, heightened anxiety, all the symptoms for which I was put on this med seemed to get only worse. I finally felt better around 2 months on the med. So what you are describing does sound like side effects of starting Lex.

And it's a nightmare to get off this med. It's my fourth day of feeling a lot down and there is a feeling as if there is a knife in my heart and all my left side and left ear feel numb, and there are also so many sore spots near the heart area...There are also odd feelings as if there is water in my heart, too!I generally feel so vulnerable that even a casual word can hurt me and bring to tears.

I am not tapering more.....I am being patient and waiting. By the way, a week before I experienced this funny feeling of go-go-go all the time, two or three days in a row I couldn't stop running around the house. I understand this is also one of the withdrawal symptoms?

When are you moving in? I cannot thank you enough, you, Tavee and Aunty. For all that guidance and for always having a supportive word...

[SL500]

Originally Posted by SchnauzerTime

I think since you were taking it though and not just quit cold turkey that it shouldn't matter about being off the full dose for that long. You did have some in your system still.

How were you when you originally started the Lexapro? Did you switch from one SSRI to Lex or was that someone else? Have you had any side effects from being on the Lex? If you had no problems when starting the Lex you should get used to this dose and be OK. Was there ever a period of time when you were 100% side effect free on the Lex and feeling good and pretty normal? If so, you should get used to it again. It just may take longer since your body went through so much when you decreased your other med (Isn't that one Klon?).

You may want to consider increasing your other med you decreased at the same time that you decreased the Lex. That could be what's keeping you in withdrawals. You decreased that other med too fast also. If it was me, I would probably increase that other med up to the original dose also and see if that would help get you out of this withdrawal. That's the only thing I can think of that would be keeping you in withdrawals. The other thing is being a slow metabolizer....but if you had a period of time when you were stable on these meds, I don't think that's the problem. Try increasing the Klon.

*I'm not a doctor and this is just my opinion.

Hey....I switched from effexor directly to lex - it took about a month or two to get used to it. I used to gag and be nausous every morning for about a month or two - they thought I was prego!! But I wasn't. It was the med. I have been getting that again in the morning, so I guess it is the med getting back into my body. The only thing that bugs me is the crying and feeling down. I haven't had that since I switched the meds a few months back now that I think about it. I am also tired all of the time. I don't remember being 100% side effect free because I still had some anxiety and was always tired. I tried to up the klonz the other night, but it did nothing. I have been reading up on it also (aside from the lex) and found that this drug can do this to you also, so I found a way to taper off of that through a yahoo.com site about benzos. Its a water titration taper. I am going to probably start it on 11/1. To give myself another few weeks to stable out. Its a daily taper 1% a day (for the most part).

I also stopped taking the omega fish oil, it was making me feel weird and it's supposibly not good to take with the benzos. Once I am off of that, I am going to start with the additional vitamins/supplements. I also ordered those multi-vitamins you suggested - I'm just waiting for them to arrive. I had emailed that woman Catherine that you told me about and posted on her site. I heard back from her once and never seen my post on her site. It was a little weird.

Aunty or anyone else - are you familiar with any type of benzo w/d's

Julia - How much lex did you start off with when you first went on? As I read in another post, it took you about two months for your body to get used to it?

Thank you everyone for your support through this...there is only so much family and friends understand when they aren't going through this.

[tavee]

Are U Sure U Are Having Side Effects From The Lex??

I Dont Know If Missing One Pill Would Determine That U Are Having Side Effects From The Lex.
That Doesnt Make Sense, But Then Again U Know Ure Body.
I Didnt Have Any Side Effects When I Went On It And When I Missed A Pill One Night I Didnt Feel Anything.

That Would Be Great If U Start Tapering. Im So Excited For U But Be Careful.

Im Here If U Need Me.

Tavee

[ejc15]

hi everyone. I just found this site today. it's day 5 of being off of Lexapro for me. I started about a year ago and was on 10mg. About 1 month ago I decreased to 5 mg, and then last week came off of it altogether. I didn't realize the dizziness and lightheaded feelings I was experiencing was a result of the withdrawl. It was definitely a relief to read about others having the same problems. Does anyone know about how long they last? Also, can I expect more side effects in the coming days/weeks? I just want to prepare myself as much as possible. Thanks so much for your help!!

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by SL500

Hey....I switched from effexor directly to lex - it took about a month or two to get used to it. I used to gag and be nausous every morning for about a month or two - they thought I was prego!! But I wasn't. It was the med. I have been getting that again in the morning, so I guess it is the med getting back into my body. The only thing that bugs me is the crying and feeling down. I haven't had that since I switched the meds a few months back now that I think about it. I am also tired all of the time. I don't remember being 100% side effect free because I still had some anxiety and was always tired. I tried to up the klonz the other night, but it did nothing. I have been reading up on it also (aside from the lex) and found that this drug can do this to you also, so I found a way to taper off of that through a yahoo.com site about benzos. Its a water titration taper. I am going to probably start it on 11/1. To give myself another few weeks to stable out. Its a daily taper 1% a day (for the most part).

I also stopped taking the omega fish oil, it was making me feel weird and it's supposibly not good to take with the benzos. Once I am off of that, I am going to start with the additional vitamins/supplements. I also ordered those multi-vitamins you suggested - I'm just waiting for them to arrive. I had emailed that woman Catherine that you told me about and posted on her site. I heard back from her once and never seen my post on her site. It was a little weird.

Aunty or anyone else - are you familiar with any type of benzo w/d's

Julia - How much lex did you start off with when you first went on? As I read in another post, it took you about two months for your body to get used to it?

Thank you everyone for your support through this...there is only so much family and friends understand when they aren't going through this.

I started on 2.5 mg and then was moved to 10mg in about a week or so. I didn't realize then that the way I was feeling was due to side effects of the med, but it seemed like I was getting worse and worse for about 2-3 weeks or so. I cannot remember now because it was 1.5 ago. In 2-3 weeks the symptoms stopped to worsen, but little did they get better. It took me 2 months or so to stabilize and I quit cold turkey ( I didn't know any different at that time ) in about 6 months or so. I had to reinstate the dose because I was bed ridden due to withdrawals, and that time I stabilized on 2.5 mg.

Withdrawals, even from this little dose, are still horrible. But you've got so many resources now and help of all those who are on this web site. Just hang in there.....you can do it. I always say to myself now: it is not you, it is the meds.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by ejc15

hi everyone. I just found this site today. it's day 5 of being off of Lexapro for me. I started about a year ago and was on 10mg. About 1 month ago I decreased to 5 mg, and then last week came off of it altogether. I didn't realize the dizziness and lightheaded feelings I was experiencing was a result of the withdrawl. It was definitely a relief to read about others having the same problems. Does anyone know about how long they last? Also, can I expect more side effects in the coming days/weeks? I just want to prepare myself as much as possible. Thanks so much for your help!!

It sounds like you tapered too fast. It seems like you might have withdrawal problem for weeks or even months. I am not saying for sure, because we are all different. I felt very sick when I tapered your way last summer. The first two months I was feeling nauseous and lightheaded/dizzy, and in my month four I became so sick that I had to reinstate the dose. I don't want to scare you, because as I said everyone is different, maybe it was just me being that sensitive to the drug.

How long did it take you to taper off completely?

[Tryn]

Hello Everyone...I found this reading and thought I would share...it scared the heck out of me..but yet..let me have an idea of what I could experience.

http://www.theroadback.org/lexapro_side_effects.htm

This totaly freaked me out when I first read it..and yet..the dr's say..it is the mildest antidepresant?

I am on day four since I last took lexapro...still dizzy...have sweats...loss of appetite..but still hangin in there Hang in there everyone

[CrashNBurn]

Hey Tryn and everyone, I think anything can happen in withdrawal. Just looking back on this message board is proof. There are some pretty scary stories on here. The last few days I had severe "brain fog", it was as if someone poured glue into my head. That's gone away since last night and now on day 11 since stopping, I'm having more of a psychotic reaction. I couldn't sleep last night and felt anxious, nervous, had racing thoughts, and today reality seems so strange like something is not right which makes me all the more anxious. My biggest fear is that this will get worse.

I went to the drug store and asked the pharmacist about something to take to combat akathisia and he didn't understand what that was so after I explained he said, "Oh, you need Lexapro. It's new and it has very little side effects." WTF?!?!?! Is this the invasion of the body snatchers? It's a very scary world where everyone is pushing these drugs on us and label us crazy when we tell them they are dangerous. I resisted taking drugs for 9 months. I was and am convinced that my depression and anxiety stem from hormonal issues (I'm male) but my GP wouldn't agree to do all the hormonal tests I requested even though I have low testosterone. Instead, he kept pushing Zoloft and Lexapro as the cure to my problems. Now I'm worse off than I was before! The only way I can understand prescribing this type of drug is as a last resort AFTER every possible cause is looked into and therapy is tried for a few months.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by CrashNBurn

Hey Tryn and everyone, I think anything can happen in withdrawal. Just looking back on this message board is proof. There are some pretty scary stories on here. The last few days I had severe "brain fog", it was as if someone poured glue into my head. That's gone away since last night and now on day 11 since stopping, I'm having more of a psychotic reaction. I couldn't sleep last night and felt anxious, nervous, had racing thoughts, and today reality seems so strange like something is not right which makes me all the more anxious. My biggest fear is that this will get worse.

I went to the drug store and asked the pharmacist about something to take to combat akathisia and he didn't understand what that was so after I explained he said, "Oh, you need Lexapro. It's new and it has very little side effects." WTF?!?!?! Is this the invasion of the body snatchers? It's a very scary world where everyone is pushing these drugs on us and label us crazy when we tell them they are dangerous. I resisted taking drugs for 9 months. I was and am convinced that my depression and anxiety stem from hormonal issues (I'm male) but my GP wouldn't agree to do all the hormonal tests I requested even though I have low testosterone. Instead, he kept pushing Zoloft and Lexapro as the cure to my problems. Now I'm worse off than I was before! The only way I can understand prescribing this type of drug is as a last resort AFTER every possible cause is looked into and therapy is tried for a few months.

Did you taper somehow or just quit cold turkey? Sorry I don't remember from your previous posts.

[CrashNBurn]

I took Zoloft for 4 days (25mg). Had chest pains so stopped taking it. 14 days later had akathisia and was given Lexapro. Took Lex for 5 days at 2.5mg, had terrible burning in face and body so I quit. Now it's day 11 since being off and the akathisia/high anxiety is returning. It's scary as hell!

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by CrashNBurn

I took Zoloft for 4 days (25mg). Had chest pains so stopped taking it. 14 days later had akathisia and was given Lexapro. Took Lex for 5 days at 2.5mg, had terrible burning in face and body so I quit. Now it's day 11 since being off and the akathisia/high anxiety is returning. It's scary as hell!

Oh yeah, I remember your story. I agree with you that all those meds give horrible side effects, and btw, looking back I now realize that lots of my symptoms were side effects of the med rather than real depression. As I said, my condition worsened when I started the medication, but this is what you should expect when you start those meds. They do have side effects. We are all very different, and I personally don't regret taking it even though I am a lot under withdrawals now.

You just hang in there. Remember that depression and anxiety do not last forever, 6 months at best. Your body starts to heal. For me it was important to understand that all my life is not go-go-go all the time, and at times it's good to pause or stop down. Be patient with yourself and you will be there. People on this forum have been a well of knowledge for me.

Are you taking any supplements?