[Shakespeare]

Originally Posted by ronja

After my last writing I was reading about your complaints. I also feel like I.m loosing strength in my arms hands and leggs during the trembling. And it also starts with that weird noise in my head. I have read about your advice to let me check my blood. But what is it they have to search for? Here in Holland you first have to see your doctor and he or she must order a bloodtest for me. Please tell me what they have to check. I know that you all are much further with these things than we are.

I am far from any expert on this, but my point is simply this: Let the doctor run a lot of blood tests to check you for common diseases like diabetes, hypoglycemia and others that _could_ cause any symptoms related to Lexapro withdrawal. Then you can relax more, knowing that at least you don't have any serious illness. I did that, and it has helped me a lot.
Shakespeare

[Survivor23]

Originally Posted by auntybiotic

Thank you. We do have specialist helping with tapering off the lexapro. I do believe her family doctor made an error putting a 15 year old on 20 Mg Lexapro for TMJ pain due to clenching her teeth.

She has decreased the Lexapro by only one milligram the last month, she is now on 19 Mg and has had flu like symptoms that kept her out of school for several days.

She has had excessive sweating, then chills, horrible temper outburts, anxiety, restless leg syndrome. Last night she had no side vision, but vision in front was OK. Today while going up steps at school she was unsteady because the steps appeared to curve upward.

Tonight she is manic again, talking a mile a minute and nervous.
Also since I started the reduction, her appetite has increased.

I hope I am doing this right, I hit quote to reply so, we'll see I guess.
I am actually 3 days clean from taking mass amounts of vicoden and loratab with the help of suboxone. *Miracle Pill* If you ask me.
But I saw some of the symptoms this girl is having, lack of sleep, manic outbursts, and so on. Well anyway when the doctor put me on suboxone, he said that a lot of times people like me will still have a very hard time sleeping and a lot of the times insomnia borderlines on manic. So he put me on seraquil (sp?) 25 mgs before I go to sleep. So it really has worked out for me, it not only helps me go to sleep - it helps me out through out the day keeping my moods in line. AND...It is non narcotic and has no risk for addiction but with any drug your doctor would know the best so I would suggest maybe asking him (or her) about it, and who knows maybe it will help her as it has helped me

[Hairyarmadillo]

Hello, everybody! I have been thinking of you guys a lot but this school year has been a doozy. I am usually at work by 6 and don't get home until 6 at night, but am trying to back off some.

Words of encouragement for people who are in the midst of withdrawals-IT DOES GET BETTER! I am doing a lot of things I would not advise anyone withdrawaling do-not getting enough sleep, consuming coffee (occaisionally),tons of stress, little exercise. BUT I am not having the terrible effects I would have experienced a few months ago had I done these same things. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot I can do about the sleep and stress which, imo, is the most draining part of my lifestyle now, but even so I am coping WITHOUT lexapro or feeling like I am going crazy. the periods of anxiety are rare and, when they do occur, they are minor-just the normal types of anxiety felt when under stress. No big mood swings,other than a once in awhile grouchiness. That can be expected from any teacher-haha. All is not 100%-I still feel my memory is not up to par but that can also be contributed to working too much and not sleeping enough. I am convinced it will continue to get better.

SOOOOOOOO, how is everyone here? It has been too long since I have taken time to use internet for "fun" and wanted to check up on all my friends here. Oh, haven't lost any more big weight-my total is now 34 pounds after stopping Lexapro in April. Hopefully, once I get back to exercising, that will improve.
Aunty, JUST got your email-that is how long it has been since I even checked email. Sent you one back but the address is from my hughes. net account. let me know if you get it!

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by Hairyarmadillo

Hello, everybody! I have been thinking of you guys a lot but this school year has been a doozy. I am usually at work by 6 and don't get home until 6 at night, but am trying to back off some.

Words of encouragement for people who are in the midst of withdrawals-IT DOES GET BETTER! I am doing a lot of things I would not advise anyone withdrawaling do-not getting enough sleep, consuming coffee (occaisionally),tons of stress, little exercise. BUT I am not having the terrible effects I would have experienced a few months ago had I done these same things. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot I can do about the sleep and stress which, imo, is the most draining part of my lifestyle now, but even so I am coping WITHOUT lexapro or feeling like I am going crazy. the periods of anxiety are rare and, when they do occur, they are minor-just the normal types of anxiety felt when under stress. No big mood swings,other than a once in awhile grouchiness. That can be expected from any teacher-haha. All is not 100%-I still feel my memory is not up to par but that can also be contributed to working too much and not sleeping enough. I am convinced it will continue to get better.

SOOOOOOOO, how is everyone here? It has been too long since I have taken time to use internet for "fun" and wanted to check up on all my friends here. Oh, haven't lost any more big weight-my total is now 34 pounds after stopping Lexapro in April. Hopefully, once I get back to exercising, that will improve.
Aunty, JUST got your email-that is how long it has been since I even checked email. Sent you one back but the address is from my hughes. net account. let me know if you get it!

This is so inspiring the story of yours. I read your postings and it's so inspiring for those who are in the midst of withdrawals. It is amazing how people can recover from this kind of mental shake-up.

Wish you well.

[CrashNBurn]

Hi everyone, I'm now on day 18 since stopping Lex. To recap: I took Zoloft for 4 days then stopped cause of the sides. Exactly 17 days later I had this whiplash depression come back and scared me into trying Lex. After only 5 days (2.5mg a day) I had to stop that too cause of the sides. Over the last few days I've had extreme moments of anxiety but just today I've been hit with nausea, headaches, depression, anxiety, and a strange disconnect with reality! It's frightening! I hope this is all from the withdrawals and it goes away soon cause I can't handle this! Something must happen around the 2-3 week mark when the drug is completely out of the system where the body starts having a hard time. Just beware of this point in time. Has anyone else felt this way? Take care everyone!

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by CrashNBurn

Hi everyone, I'm now on day 18 since stopping Lex. To recap: I took Zoloft for 4 days then stopped cause of the sides. Exactly 17 days later I had this whiplash depression come back and scared me into trying Lex. After only 5 days (2.5mg a day) I had to stop that too cause of the sides. Over the last few days I've had extreme moments of anxiety but just today I've been hit with nausea, headaches, depression, anxiety, and a strange disconnect with reality! It's frightening! I hope this is all from the withdrawals and it goes away soon cause I can't handle this! Something must happen around the 2-3 week mark when the drug is completely out of the system where the body starts having a hard time. Just beware of this point in time. Has anyone else felt this way? Take care everyone!

I know exactly what you've been describing. Around last Christmas time I cold turkied from 2.5 mg of Lex because I was told it's pretty safe to quit this dose. I experienced exactly the same you've been through.

Disconnection with reality is called derealization and it a part of anxiety you've been going through. I can't tell you though when it starts to get better because I had to reinstate my dose to start to feel better. All I can tell you it's a side effect of quitting Lex.

[Julia77]

There is a friend of mine who was on 2.5 mg Lex for about three months or so. I don't even think she should have been prescribed this because she was going through a difficult time but was doing ok, just getting too emotional, but was functioning.

Anyways, the story is: she was able just to quit and didn't feel any side effects at all. It was about a year or so ago, and she is doing just fine.

Any thoughts on how it is possible?

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by CrashNBurn

Hi everyone, I'm now on day 18 since stopping Lex. To recap: I took Zoloft for 4 days then stopped cause of the sides. Exactly 17 days later I had this whiplash depression come back and scared me into trying Lex. After only 5 days (2.5mg a day) I had to stop that too cause of the sides. Over the last few days I've had extreme moments of anxiety but just today I've been hit with nausea, headaches, depression, anxiety, and a strange disconnect with reality! It's frightening! I hope this is all from the withdrawals and it goes away soon cause I can't handle this! Something must happen around the 2-3 week mark when the drug is completely out of the system where the body starts having a hard time. Just beware of this point in time. Has anyone else felt this way? Take care everyone!

This is very common. I usually felt the withdrawal effects around 7 days after I tapered a dose and then it took around 3 weeks to start feeling halfway normal. The smaller the tapered dose, the better this was but it still wasn't a great feeling.

I had severe issues at times with the depersonalization and found that Noni juice did wonders for this. It wasn't very yummy but the dose was small and it was only once a day. It made a big difference!!

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Hairyarmadillo

This is very common. I usually felt the withdrawal effects around 7 days after I tapered a dose and then it took around 3 weeks to start feeling halfway normal. The smaller the tapered dose, the better this was but it still wasn't a great feeling.

I had severe issues at times with the depersonalization and found that Noni juice did wonders for this. It wasn't very yummy but the dose was small and it was only once a day. It made a big difference!!

Hi Hairy,

Where did you purchase the Nanoi Juice and how much did you take, I know it helps many but they sipped it through out the day for the depersonalization.

aunty

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by auntybiotic

Hi Hairy,

Where did you purchase the Nanoi Juice and how much did you take, I know it helps many but they sipped it through out the day for the depersonalization.

aunty

I bought mine at Walmart. It was Naturally Organic brand distributed by Agrolabs. I was afraid to spend a lot in case it was too nasty to bear-lol. There are supposed to be some better brands at GNC but the less expensive one helped. I only took 1 tablespoon a day. I will say on some bad days I took more than that, but can't say how much. I don't know if the extra doses helped or if it was just a placebo effect. It is supposed to be good for a person anyway, so I didn't think it would hurt!! I still swear by this and Omega 3! I haven't taken the Noni juice for awhile now but still do the Omega 3 faithfully!!

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by Julia77

There is a friend of mine who was on 2.5 mg Lex for about three months or so. I don't even think she should have been prescribed this because she was going through a difficult time but was doing ok, just getting too emotional, but was functioning.

Anyways, the story is: she was able just to quit and didn't feel any side effects at all. It was about a year or so ago, and she is doing just fine.

Any thoughts on how it is possible?

I have a friend who was on 5 mgs for several years and got off it entirely within a 4 week period. No side effects and (so far) no rebound depression. She got off it around the time I did and I have given her all the possible things to look for, including rebound depression but-so far-she is doing well. I am convinced that there has to be people out there that do not have these horrible withdrawals-otherwise the doctors would more readily accept that getting off these meds is not necessarily a cakewalk.

[terry0444]

Originally Posted by crazygal

I am finally free from withdrawal symptoms from the lex. Hang in there folks it does get better. I have been sinking into a bit of a depression of late but i am trying to battle it with talk therapy, diet and exercise. it is hard but i'm struggling through. i'm determined to stay off meds. i went to the doc last week and they prescribed more meds for me even after i explained i didn't want them. sometimes they just don't listen. anyway i haven't taken them but things are improving a little. on the weight issue I have started losing a little - but a lot of this could be due to the fact that i was off my food for a while because of the withdrawal. my appetite then returned to normal but for the last week or so i haven't had much of a stomach for food. now i am trying to eat a bit healthier because i imagine that lack of food = lack of energy = more change of depression creeping back and taking a hold.

try and keep healthy and positive. take care all

I was on Lexapro for 5 yrs., 10 mg. I had bad head noise the first four weeks of withdrawal but it got better. Now into the 6th week, some of the noise has returned and I'm having episodes of anxiety, annoyance and crying jags of sadness. However, I'm determined to stay off or if it gets too bad, I'll try that Sam E! Good luck to all. Hope it all goes away, especially the weight, soon.

[tavee]

DO NOT TAKE SAM E NOW.
it is deadly if it is taken now. u must be off antidepressants one year completely before u take SAM E OR ST. JOHNS WORT!!

TAVEE

[Jhebs]

I just wanted to say that I've been listening to this Online Radio station
and it is helping me keep positive and it might help some others.

http://www.hayhouseradio.com/

And go to Show Hosts then to Dr. Wayne Dyer he has an hour show
where people can call in and it's pretty amazing actually.
A friend gave me one of his books and it has helped me in dealing with depression. Actually thats an understatement his books have changed my life
for the better.

Hope that helps to the people who are struggling
I know how hard it is.

Jess

[Hopeful 285]

Hi everyone,
I found this article and I believe it can help a lot of people.
Lexapro causes you to get vitamin/mineral deficiences as we know.
Our bodies are not absorbing the nutrients we need. Please read this article. I believe there are a lot of us this article can help.
There is so much in it I can relate to and I am making a doctor's appt. 1st thing tomorrow to get tested. Some doctors believe 50 percent or more people have this.
On November 9th, it has been 11 months since I quit taking Lexapro and I am getting sicker.
I believe it is malnutrition. I believe I have low stomach acid due to taking Lexapro. Increasing stomach acid will help to digest food properly and lead to healing.
Even if you think this doesn't pertain to you, after reading it you may be surprised.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/printabl...d=1G1:78900837

Information on testing and natural remedies:
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/heal...hlorhydria.htm

[SL500]

Originally Posted by Hopeful 285

Hi everyone,
I found this article and I believe it can help a lot of people.
Lexapro causes you to get vitamin/mineral deficiences as we know.
Our bodies are not absorbing the nutrients we need. Please read this article. I believe there are a lot of us this article can help.
There is so much in it I can relate to and I am making a doctor's appt. 1st thing tomorrow to get tested. Some doctors believe 50 percent or more people have this.
On November 9th, it has been 11 months since I quit taking Lexapro and I am getting sicker.
I believe it is malnutrition. I believe I have low stomach acid due to taking Lexapro. Increasing stomach acid will help to digest food properly and lead to healing.
Even if you think this doesn't pertain to you, after reading it you may be surprised.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/printabl...d=1G1:78900837

Information on testing and natural remedies:
http://altmedicine.about.com/od/heal...hlorhydria.htm

how is it that you are getting sicker being off of the lexapro...especially 11months...i thought it was supposed to get better as time went on...???

[Hopeful 285]

SL500,
Most people do get better quicker. I took the drug for months not knowing I was having a reaction and then quit cold turkey. The combo really hurt me.
Here are some of the details:
I took Lexapro for 2 years. I started having issues at 16 months (movement disorder). The doctors did not recognize it as being from the Lexapro so I continued taking it and they doubled my dosage at almost 2 years. I discovered on my own that my issues were from Lexapro and my doctor said I would be just a little sick from quitting cold turkey. A little less than a month later I was taken to the emergency room. My bp was 206/116. I was falling and couldn't walk. They did a CT Scan and couldn't find anything. They told me to go to my doctor the next day for my bp.
I shook like I had Parkinson's for a while and I still have a movement disorder and am very sick. I did seem to get better but I believe it did something to me to prevent me from absorbing nutrientsvery well.
Since taking Lexapro, I have developed anemia, electrolyte problems, Hashimoto's (thyroiditis), digestion problems, cervical radiculopathy, high bp, insomnia, restless legs, dyskynesia, falling episodes, nail ridges and dents, lethargy, etc.
As we age our stomach acid declines, well I believe Lexapro accelerated it up for me.
Since I have so many problems and I feel weaker again, I believe it has to be an issue with absorbing nutrients.
When I read this article and realize I have at least half the problems and these are due to nutrition. I recognize myself when I read this article. I am getting weaker everyday and I have to believe this is my problem. I was so thrilled to find it because I believe I can reverse some of these diseases that are attacking my body.
You don't have to be in the condition I am to be helped by this.
This is not a rare problem, but something that many people get even if they don't take SSRI's.
You can't be healthy without a healthy gut.
I didn't send this out to scare anyone. My circumstances are different. I just want to help anyone that is interested in this information.
I gave it to my physical therapist that has never taken SSRI's and she plans to get the test.

My sister took Lexapro and developed rebound depression after she quit taking it and is doing much much better now. Don't let my case scare you. Every case is different.
Tapering helps your body adjust better, so it won't be thrown into a shock. I only wish my doctor was informed.


Take care

[stillsearching]

Originally Posted by Shifty

I haven't felt the need to use the Xanax since I've been on Lithium and I did quit Lexapro cold turkey a few days ago.

I just don't want you to worry about me. I was only on lexapro for 3 weeks, so I'm not expecting a massive withdrawal.

Today was the first day I experienced any ill effects, but I suspect it is more related to my sleep depravation. I was told by the doctor that not getting enough sleep is a big trigger for my disease. After a 2 hour nap I am feeling much better now. (I was really agitated and snappy with my family before)

As I've said many times before, my worst day on Lithium is better than my best day on lex. I was still able to clean my entire trashed house in one day, which would have been completely impossible before I got ahold of that litium. (it never wouldve been trashed in the first place if I had possessed the will to clean it before)

---

I have taken :
Paxil, Lexapro, Xanax, and Lithium

Currently:
450mg Eskalith CR (Lithium)

I was mis-diagnosed for 3 years. They thought I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder with a Major Depressive Episode. The real problem was Bipolar Disorder.

Quit Lexapro cold-turkey Dec 22, 2005

Ask me anything, nothing is off-limits.

Shifty

I don't know if i am doing this right but what you said sounds like my issues-the possible misdiagnosed general anxiety disorder and depressive episode but I am also not completely sure but i do get angry a lot on lexapro really angry but I have three kids that drive me crazy too- The bipolar thing I am curios about but I also beleive I have fibromyalgia and that I am hurting on Lexapro which makes me on edge. I am trying Trazadone and it helps me sleep and takes the edge off. I do get confused on it though. The lexapro did seem to keep me thinking clearly like which makes sense if I have bipolar b/c it treats bipolar. So does trazadone. anyway i am glad you got yourself figured out. I am curious as to if I have bipolar and fibromylagia. I just wonder if I need lithium or what. Guess I'll talk to my psychiatrist. I tend to get really angry and sped up if i take anything more than 5mg of lexapro...I did OK on Paxil for about 4 years and then got dizzy spells, then took Zoloft for 6 months at night, then switched to Lexapro 5mg for a year, now i am on trazadone 50-75 mg at bedtime to help me sleep. it helps but it gives me weird dreams and nausea the next morning but i have less pain and increased energy and less anger and I am calmer but sometimes confused and can't keep up with all my daily routine at times. All i know is you sound alot like me with the misdiagnosis and all. We'll see I will talk to my doctor. Thanks

[VLL]

Hello There Everyone!

I know that it has been awhile. At least a month I think.
I hope you all are doing well, I have missed you.

Things have been going well for me. (My first post was at the bottom of page 189)

I finally went to see my doctor and told him about weaning myself off of the Lexapro. He said that I had done it correctly and that usually people do not have a problem with any type of withdrawls. I told him about my moodiness, bad nightmares, lack of sleep, dizziness and numb tingly arm/hand. I also told him about the friends that I found on-line that were going through the same thing as me. He didn't say too much about it.

My doctor just told me over and over how lucky we all are to have this medicine so we do not have to suffer with depression and anxiety anymore. He also told me about how back in the old days, people like Abe Lincoln had to suffer.
He was glad that I was trying to get off the meds and he wished me "good luck", but he also said that I may have to be on it the rest of my life and that would be fine.
He wrote me an RX for the generic form of Prozac. He said to start taking that and it will be very easy to get off of it. He knew of no known liquid Lex.

He was also concerned about my blood pressure being high. Now I have to go there once a week for three weeks to have my blood pressure checked because I might have to start takeing blood pressure meds!
Now I remember why I don't like to go to the doctor......It seems as though that there is always something wrong.

Anyway, I am feeling pretty good! I have been sleeping good, I have not been moody, my arm/hand still gets numb and tingly but that still just might be a pinched nerve or something.
I took my last half of Lexapro almost two weeks ago, and now I have been taken that other stuff (I cant remember what it's called but it is a generic Prozac).

So far so good. I will keep you posted.
God bless you all! I will continue to pray for all of us!

p.s. I am still going to Curves and have lost a total of 11 pounds!

[SchnauzerTime]

Guys

I'm going through a very hard time. I just found out that the doctors are 90% sure my brother has cancer...Acute Lukemia.

I watched my mom from age 4 suffer with breast cancer and she died when I was 10. I can't handle this. My withdrawals are coming back from stress...the nausea, loss of appetite, night sweats...the whole 9 yards.

The doctors are doing a bone marrow sample from his back Monday to find out if it's Lukemia so they will know 100% then. But all the testing they've done so far points in that direction.

My brother is such a sweet person like my mom was and doesn't deserve this. I don't talk to my dad ...haven't seen him since I was 18 ( i'm 27 now), and my brother is the only family I've got. I cried so hard yesterday I popped a blood vessel I think because I blew blood out of my nose and I threw up also I was so upset.

I know this istn' drug related but you all are so supportive on here and right now I need all the support I can get.

My grandma is almost 91 and it will be me dealing with all the technical stuff...I don't know if I can do it all.

They say there are 2 kinds of Acute Lukemia...one kind he will have chemotherapy for 4-6 weeks and have to stay in the hospital that whole time...the other kind is only 7 days.

I know there are tons of people out there that have had family members die of cancer and tons that have made it too. I'm not trying to say I'm the only one with a brother with cancer....but I just need some support and loving words right now. I'm feeling sicker and sicker with withdrawals too through all this.

Please pray for my brother...he needs all the prayers he can get. I love you guys.

P.S. He's only 32.

[sctschk]

Originally Posted by ronja

After my last writing I was reading about your complaints. I also feel like I.m loosing strength in my arms hands and leggs during the trembling. And it also starts with that weird noise in my head. I have read about your advice to let me check my blood. But what is it they have to search for? Here in Holland you first have to see your doctor and he or she must order a bloodtest for me. Please tell me what they have to check. I know that you all are much further with these things than we are.

Hey there. I come and go from this site and it's been my only saving grace for my sanity. I myself am now at 8 months and I went through periods of weak limbs and tingling. Sometimes it was my legs/feet, other times it was my hands and arms. If you go back and search my posts, you'll find when I was freaking over them too. Because I had never had anything like it before Lex, I attribute it to that. I have had full blood workups, ultrasounds of my arms (to rule out bloodclots) and a brain MRI - all normal. I would probably get yourself checked out too for peace of mind, but if it were my guess, it's the Lex.

Hugs.
Jo

[sctschk]

Sending my prayers for yoy and your brother sweetie. From what I know, acute leukemia can often times be cured(controlled) with treatment so I'm hoping this can be the case for him. I'm sorry to hear you're going through this.

Jo

[sctschk]

Originally Posted by auntybiotic

Hi,

I really hope that you will continue to post. You have helped so many and I truly do not have as much time to answer questions.

I know you are house hunting but everyone here needs your knowledge and compassion.

I also am not a doctor but I did work 25 years in the medical field in a hospital setting....but still tell everyone to research any advice offered on the internet as I am writing these posts as a "mother". Everyone is different but normally any serotonin booster should not be taken with any SSRI for about a year after the final lexapro dose, as it can be deadly.

I have read case histories of someone just starting paxil and ended up in the ER with serotonin syndrome after only taking paxil for three days and mixing it with a cold medication.. You just never know............. so to be safe, I say do not take St. John's Wort or Same E. or ANYTHING without double checking. Even Nizoril shampoo has a drug interaction with lexapro. I posted a link previously showing about two hundred medications and herbs that should not be taken with lexapro.

I know earlier in these posts BODYELECTRIC did take St. Johns Wort or Same E shortly after a fast taper off lexapro..............he continued posting for awhile after that. Never mentioned that he had ill effects from it................... but I am so careful.

You are doing a great job..................this forum needs you. Please continue to help as you will be missed. I always end my posts with I am not a doctor so please research any advice.............to play it safe. I am not a doctor and any medical background I had was NOT related to SSRI's......I am learning just as everyone here is about the dangers of lexapro.

aunty

I will vouch for the not taking any seratonin boosters during Lex w/d. Before I found this site, the salesperson at Vitamin Shoppe swore by Tryptophan for SSRI w/d. I took his word for it and after just a few days, the w/d got so horrendously worse that I stopped taking it. I do believe it had prolonged my w/d which was all ready really bad as it was. I also learned the hard way about OTC meds and Lex w/d - I have been taking Excedrin Migraine for my migraines for many many years with no problems. During Lex w/d, the EM became almost toxic to me and although fixed my headache, left me so anxious, trembly, and out of it for several days. It's almost as if my body could no longer metabolize it. I still can't take it yet. Same effect with Sudafed. The ephredrine in it makes me all wacky, which never happened before. I have learned in my 8 mo of w/d that ALL drugs seem to react w/Lex w/d so I take nothing now. It's hard at times, but it's not worth the days and days of extra suffering...

Just my thoughts and experience.

Jo
RX's lexapro for severe panic disorder 2/07
Took 5mg for 6 weeks w/toxic reaction
Too-fast taper from 5mg to 2.5mg to 0 in less than 1 week
8 months post Lex

[ronja]

Hai schnauzer and sctschk!

Sctschk, thanks for your message to me. I sometimes feel like I'm going crazy! Only one day of Lex and then all these complaints! People say it's "between my ears" that it is something I do to myself by only thinking about it. Tomorrow I'll call my doctor for some check ups. Just to ease my mind. It's great that you are supporting me. Feel as if I'm the only one on the planet with these problems over here (in Holland).


Schnauzer!

I'm very sorry to hear about your brother. After all you've been going through this must be devastating. I'll think about you and will pray for your brothers health!

Ronja

[Mom2Girls]

Wow! I am so glad to FINALLY find a forum, board, etc... that is current! Everything else I have Googled has been 2+ years old!

Anyway, here is a short history. I am a 45 year old female. My dr put me on Lexapro about 3 years ago because I was having trouble "turning off the world" at night and could not sleep. I have 2 young daughters and just could not stop worrying about things I had no control of. My dr said it was anxiety, gave me a prescription for 10mg of Lexapro and sent me on my way.
Lexapro made it easier to wind down at night - in fact I could fall asleep anytime!
Here I am 50lbs heavier and ready to ditch this drug.
I started weaning off about September 28th. I started with 3/4 of a 10mg pill for 10 days, 1/2 pill for 10 days and I have been taking 1/4 pill for the last 3 or 4 days.
So far my only withdrawals have been slight dizziness, brain zaps (though not too bad) and nausea that feels better if I eat something sweet (so much for losing weight right away!). My night sweats have stopped, I feel a bit anxious sometimes (that is just me) and my thinking has been a bit clearer since my withdrawal process.
Should I change my dosage to every other day now or cut the pills down to 1/8 size? I am doing this on my own as I think my doctor is too quick to give out the drugs. He just gave me Provigil for energy after I was diagnosed with sleep apnea (which is a result of my weight gain from Lexapro). I ditched that too. I want to get my energy from sleep, diet and exercise.
If you read this far - thanks! It will be comforting to know that there are others going through this withdrawal and know that there is light at the end of this bumpy Lexapro tunnel!
Jeanne

[SchnauzerTime]

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers...and nice to meet new people. I've been trying to help out on this board for awhile but with my brother going through this and me visiting him in the hospital I won't have time. The hospital is about an hour from my home.

It's encouraging to hear acute lukemia is curable/controllable. That makes me feel better and also they have good speacialists at this hospital in that area.

I was going to visit him today and made it through all the heavy highway traffic...then as I was parking in the hospital lot, I hit the side of a car, lol! So I left my info on the windshield. It didn't do much damage to the other car...just left paint dust on it that I could wipe off with my fingers. And they haven't called me yet so I'm hoping they don't think it's a big deal.

Seems like when it rains it pours .

Thanks again for the kind words.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by Mom2Girls

Wow! I am so glad to FINALLY find a forum, board, etc... that is current! Everything else I have Googled has been 2+ years old!

Anyway, here is a short history. I am a 45 year old female. My dr put me on Lexapro about 3 years ago because I was having trouble "turning off the world" at night and could not sleep. I have 2 young daughters and just could not stop worrying about things I had no control of. My dr said it was anxiety, gave me a prescription for 10mg of Lexapro and sent me on my way.
Lexapro made it easier to wind down at night - in fact I could fall asleep anytime!
Here I am 50lbs heavier and ready to ditch this drug.
I started weaning off about September 28th. I started with 3/4 of a 10mg pill for 10 days, 1/2 pill for 10 days and I have been taking 1/4 pill for the last 3 or 4 days.
So far my only withdrawals have been slight dizziness, brain zaps (though not too bad) and nausea that feels better if I eat something sweet (so much for losing weight right away!). My night sweats have stopped, I feel a bit anxious sometimes (that is just me) and my thinking has been a bit clearer since my withdrawal process.
Should I change my dosage to every other day now or cut the pills down to 1/8 size? I am doing this on my own as I think my doctor is too quick to give out the drugs. He just gave me Provigil for energy after I was diagnosed with sleep apnea (which is a result of my weight gain from Lexapro). I ditched that too. I want to get my energy from sleep, diet and exercise.
If you read this far - thanks! It will be comforting to know that there are others going through this withdrawal and know that there is light at the end of this bumpy Lexapro tunnel!
Jeanne

Jeanne,

You've been tapering too fast. This way of tapering will give withdrawals to MOST people, but you might be the lucky one who won't feel them too much.

I wasn't able to taper your way and had to stay on 2.5 mg for 7 months and then do slow tapers. Maybe you want to consider tapering 10% of your 2.5 mg because 10% is the maximum taper your brain can adjust to. This way you would still be feeling withdrawals, but they will not be life altering. You can do this by getting liquid Lex.

This is just my experience, and you might be very different.

Wish you well.

[tavee]

Hi Guys

Well I Finally Stopped Last Night And I Am Really Scared.
I Dont Know What Will Happen But If Anything I Will Feel It Soon.

I Stopped Last Night And Did Not Take My Dose. I Was At .15 Ml.

Please Pray For Me And Hope That All Goes Well With This And The Conception Thing!!!

I Have A Feeling That I Will Have Withdrawls.

Tavee

Schanuzer- I Am So Sorry To Hear About Ure Brother. Just Remember That U Guys Found Out Right Away So That Is A Good Thing. Hang In There. I Will Say A Prayer For Him. Please Keep Me Posted.

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by tavee

Hi Guys

Well I Finally Stopped Last Night And I Am Really Scared.
I Dont Know What Will Happen But If Anything I Will Feel It Soon.

I Stopped Last Night And Did Not Take My Dose. I Was At .15 Ml.

Please Pray For Me And Hope That All Goes Well With This And The Conception Thing!!!

I Have A Feeling That I Will Have Withdrawls.

Tavee

Schanuzer- I Am So Sorry To Hear About Ure Brother. Just Remember That U Guys Found Out Right Away So That Is A Good Thing. Hang In There. I Will Say A Prayer For Him. Please Keep Me Posted.

Tavee-I was JUST about to ask how you were doing! Wow! Don't be scared. You are going to be fine. I have total faith that this is going to work out and this ordeal is going to be behind you. I will send up prayers regularly starting now-though I do always remember you guys in prayer. You all are like my family, after all we have gone through. Oh, am also praying you have sextuplets. wouldn't that be cool!!

Schnauzer, I hated reading thatabout your brother. I know that has to be tough. Am praying for him and you as well. How are you doing otherwise? I think about you a lot!!

[HolleyGirl]

Schnauzer Time-Just read this and you better bet your whole family is in my prayers. Stay positive in your thoughts. Believe it or not positive thinking helps the body and mind heal and be able to handle stressful things that might be going on in our lives. Pray, pray, pray!!! No matter what some people say or think, there is a God up there and he knows what is best for everyone of us, he made us and knows what we can and can't handle. Have faith in him to bring you all closer and to help cure this! With God all things are possible, I know that is true, he has proven it to me and my family!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I will never believe he is not there, HE IS!!!!!
With all my love, hugs and prayers,

HolleyGirl