[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Ohwell

I'm in a panic, my liver enzymes went up again, been off for 2 months now, do you think it is a withdrawal? I have to have a ct scan done in a few days. I'm sooooo scared my cancer may be returning.....anyone else have high liver enzymes during withdrawal. My enzymes were going up, and thats part of the reason I got off Lex. I'm thinking my liver just couldn't take the Lex. Sure hope I'm right! Anyone????? May God bless us.
oh well.

Oh Well,

I know lexapro is very hard on the liver because it is metabolized in the P 450 ctyochrome system in the liver..................it would not suprise me if with a suppressed immune system, as may have from fighting cancer, that your liver would have to work harder, thus raising enzymes.

Milk thistle is excellent for bringing liver enzymes down. It is used a lot with people being treated for AIDS and Lyme Disease which require multiple antibiotics for LONG periods of mpnths/years. The Milk Thistle helps these patients because antibiotics are hard on the liver and the enzymes usually rise.I have seen Milk Thistke bring Liver Enzymes down inn a weks time.

In your case with the cancer treatment, one does not know for sure. Worrying does not help, so see what the test results show. Good luck.

[Ohwell]

Aunty, thanks so much for the reply. I started taking 1 milk thistle yesterday. Should I just take 1 a day? With food or without? Also, do you know if fish oil could harm or help the liver? My ct scan is in 2 weeks, and my pet scan is in 3 weeks. God willing they will be normal! I am normally not a worrier, but feeling so tired lately has kind of made me think...what if.
Do some with withdrawals get elevated liver enzymes? again thank you for your time! I soooo wish I would have never went on Lex. I do feel it has hurt my body. oh well.

[teachnc]

Taking the cymbalta for anxiety. Was on lexapro, did not like the weight gain. Anything "safe" out there to take???

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by teachnc

Taking the cymbalta for anxiety. Was on lexapro, did not like the weight gain. Anything "safe" out there to take???

If I HAD to take a SSRI, my choice would be REMERON. It is one of the mildest and coming off is nothing like Lexapro,Celexa, Paxil, effexor or zoloft. It helps with sleep but there can be a slight weight gain. The two people thaI I personally know that are taking it have not gained weight and it helped them both with depression.

So if my life depended on it, I would feel confortable taking Remeron.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by auntybiotic

Oh Well,

I know lexapro is very hard on the liver because it is metabolized in the P 450 ctyochrome system in the liver..................it would not suprise me if with a suppressed immune system, as may have from fighting cancer, that your liver would have to work harder, thus raising enzymes.

Milk thistle is excellent for bringing liver enzymes down. It is used a lot with people being treated for AIDS and Lyme Disease which require multiple antibiotics for LONG periods of mpnths/years. The Milk Thistle helps these patients because antibiotics are hard on the liver and the enzymes usually rise.I have seen Milk Thistke bring Liver Enzymes down inn a weks time.

In your case with the cancer treatment, one does not know for sure. Worrying does not help, so see what the test results show. Good luck.

It may help to start with one capsule and then work up to two after about a week. I do not know of anyone mentioning their liver enzymes but some may have had high levels but were not tested. Stop worrying.

The Omega 3 will not hurt you, if you bought Carson's Brand. If not, I would stop taking them because many brands can contain mercury or may have gone rancid on te store shelf. Mercury contamination or rancid oils can cause the liver enzymes to elevate as it is a form of toxin entering the body that the liver must process.
Carlson's are the best!.

I am not a doctor so keep this in mind and research any advice given on the internet.

[gem1]

I am hoping I have found you all in time.
I have been on 10mg Lex for only 8 days. As with others of you, I was told it was not addictive and no problem to go off. Dr. gave it to me for anxiety. Here is my scenario.
By bedtime I am feeling calm and not anxious at all. I take the lex and 4 hours later I wake up with a knot in my stomach and go through massive temperature fluctuations. My anxiety increases in the morning, and then starts decreasing, and again by bedtime I am fine. Sure seems to be related to the lex to me. I am also having to jump out of bed in the morn. and run to the bathroom.
The doctor wants me to take it in the morning to see if the same thing will happen in reverse, meaning, will I get anxious in the afternoon, wearing off by the next morning. I will not put myself through that!
So, here is the question - after 8 days, will I experience withdrawal - or have I found you and your warnings in time? I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am one of the lucky ones!

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by gem1

I am hoping I have found you all in time.
I have been on 10mg Lex for only 8 days. As with others of you, I was told it was not addictive and no problem to go off. Dr. gave it to me for anxiety. Here is my scenario.
By bedtime I am feeling calm and not anxious at all. I take the lex and 4 hours later I wake up with a knot in my stomach and go through massive temperature fluctuations. My anxiety increases in the morning, and then starts decreasing, and again by bedtime I am fine. Sure seems to be related to the lex to me. I am also having to jump out of bed in the morn. and run to the bathroom.
The doctor wants me to take it in the morning to see if the same thing will happen in reverse, meaning, will I get anxious in the afternoon, wearing off by the next morning. I will not put myself through that!
So, here is the question - after 8 days, will I experience withdrawal - or have I found you and your warnings in time? I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am one of the lucky ones!

I do not think 8 days of lexapro will have significantly changed your brain chemistry. If you choose to stop taking it, that would be fine and if you suffer withdrawls they should be short lived. Usually the rule of thumb is 21 days of lexapro will change yur brain chemistry...isn't it interesting that Forrest gives out Doctor sample packs with a 21 day supply!

This is my opinion and I am not a doctor,

[gem1]

Since posting the last time, I have spoken to my doctor. (This current doc. is not the one that prescribed this.)
I love this new doctor because she listens - and she actually told me that if it were her, she would go off - and that she is not a fan of Lex., or any other anti depressant. She said that it seems they are already causing more problems than they will be solving.
She also told me pretty much what you did. She has never seen any problems with use of less than 14 days or so. If I have issues, they should be mild. I am taking massive doses of a good multi vitamin, and B vitamins, along with coQ10, and I will proceed with my fingers crossed.
Thank you for being out there -

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by auntybiotic

Normally I woul dnot say just stop, but because of the compounding pharmacy and the low dose of .01 and your not being able to stabalize, I do not think that low dose is helping. The fact that you are getting possible 15% flucuations in dose may be hurting. Why did you doctor not just prescribe Lexapro liquid, it would have been exact.

I do think you are in withdrawals from stopping the larger dose quickly and I really don't think taking .01 will be enough to bring you out of withdrawls. Since you said it has been over twenty days and you have not stabalized. It usually takes a week or two after a taper to stabalize.

I don't think you want to go back to 2,5 again since six weeks have passed. You can try the lexapro liquid and continue to taper precisely, if you do stop you may experience a exaberation of your withdrawals for a few weeks.

I am not a doctor, so you may want to ask your physician why he did not prescribe the lexapro liquid,

Thanks Aunty for answering every time I need help. 0.1 was prescribed by a specialist, and she really did not think I would need to taper off from that. What I do think is that that dose was helpful to help me out with physical symptoms, but not enough to bring me out of the emotional part.
I can not be seen by her again, and if I go to my GP he will say 'it's all in my head'.
It's scary to stop altogether. I must say it does get better. I freak out less and less every day, today I freaked only once with extreme sadness for 15 min or so and then a crying outburst. I work with people, and it's obviously hard to hide ( I was questioned today why I looked down, lol).

I guess I want to see another couple of days or so, and then see what to do. I want to harm my body as little as possible.

[Ohwell]

Hey. don't you just hate it when doctors/nurses just dismiss your symptoms. They need to LISTEN and realize these withdrawals are real. Sometimes I think they think they know everything! (they don't)! I think you should stay on your low dose as long as you need to. Don't rush yourself. I wish I would have tapered! Hope you have a nice Halloween everyone. oh well.

[Shakespeare]

I am 5 months and 3 weeks after tapering rather abruptly due do terrible fatigue bouts. I was ok in month 3 and 4, no tired spells at all, and now, in month 5 its been just terrible, almost makes me cry. Sometimes I am fine, and sometimes I am so fatigued and lethargic that I can hardly move my arms! Is this really "normal"? It makes me so afraid that I will never kick this. It really scares me. Anyone who wants to comment? Anyone who has been through this and "survived"? I still have the zaps, but they dont bother me at all compared to this fatigue and squeezing head ache.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by Shakespeare

I am 5 months and 3 weeks after tapering rather abruptly due do terrible fatigue bouts. I was ok in month 3 and 4, no tired spells at all, and now, in month 5 its been just terrible, almost makes me cry. Sometimes I am fine, and sometimes I am so fatigued and lethargic that I can hardly move my arms! Is this really "normal"? It makes me so afraid that I will never kick this. It really scares me. Anyone who wants to comment? Anyone who has been through this and "survived"? I still have the zaps, but they dont bother me at all compared to this fatigue and squeezing head ache.

Hey! What you are experiencing now is the 'emotional' part of withdrawals which is pretty 'normal'. Many people on the forum have experienced that. Don't get scared, you're on your way to recovery. no one can tell you though how long it will last, but they will subside. First you will be emotional and depressed most of your time, then you will start to get windows here and there and then finally they will get longer and then you will have rare 'bouts of sadness and fatigue'. They those will subside too. unfortunately no one can tell you how long it will take you to start to feel better, withdrawals last UP to 12-18 months.
But it's 'normal'. You are over physical numbness and the emotional part has started. That's quite a known scenario.

PS. My fatigue was 24/7 with me and it was mainly in my forearms.

[NorthernLad]

Thanks Julia, I have been reading everyone's replies and the symptoms have gotten worse, not better, so I went back on the 10mg of Lexapro tonight.

What supplements do you advise taking?

I have been on Lexapro for about 7 months at 10mg, what should my tapering schedule / regiment look like?

Thanks a million, this is some scary ********************, I wish I had known about this before I took the drug or I would never have tried it.

Originally Posted by Julia77

I hope you'll read this. I am a healthy 29-year old female who had been on 2.5 mg of Lex for 7 months and then decided to taper my own way since I didn't know any better. In the beginning I felt 'zaps', nausea, sleeplessness, just to mention a few. But because my pain and sickness tolerance threshold is obviously high, I didn't suffer much. But I didn't know it was the tip of an iceberg... when months 4 hits you WILL regret , I promise you. I am saying this because you are already going through stage 1, and once you're over you will naively think it's all over. But month four it's when almost all the physical symptoms subside and the emotional part starts. I personally am depressed ( I wasn't before Lex, lol), so this is a new issue to deal with, have crying spells, angry for no good reason, have extreme heart palps which sometimes make me think about driving to an emergency room, disoriented in the morning and very, very tired. I also get euphoric at times... I don't mean to scare you, I am just sharing my story.
You might think as I and my GP thought that this is initial illness creeping up back, but that is not it. It feels at times as if a lamp is turned on in your head and you just feel normal for some time, but then - baaaaam, another something hits you on the head.
I am naturally a very calm and placid person who exercises and eats healthy. I hope to get back to myself one day.

I am writing all this to warn you to learn from other people's misery. All those symptoms can go on and off for 12-18 months... you still can reinstate your dose and taper slowly.. 5-10% at a taper is what your brain can handle.

If you want people to help you taper, please let us know on this forum. There are lots of people who can help you do so.Also, are you taking any supplements?

[NorthernLad]

And for what it's worth, I have also experienced weight gain while on Lexapro. I am going to make an appointment with my regular doctor to have bloodwork done in case anything is off kilter there.

I started out with Cymbalta, but it made me so incredibly nauseous that I had to stop taking it after the 2nd day.

It blows my mind that these drugs are legal and prescribed to people. I have been in constant contact with my psychiatrist and he says he has never heard of anyone having trouble coming off of Lexapro. So I forwarded him a link to this thread.

[Goodlife]

Hi all,

I'm on day 13 having gone cold turkey off Lexapro.
In the past few days, after finishing the flu-like stuff, my main symptoms have been:

1) Occasional brain zaps-- I mostly must *try* to get them now, by looking far to the left/right and turning my head.

2) A persistent high-pitched ringing noise that seems to be not in my ears, but in the middle of my head.

I offer this speculation because I feel it might be of some help to someone.

My main bad withdrawal symptom is the ringing. Want to know what it feels like? Open your jaw as wide as you can, or clench your jaw as hard as you can, until you hear a high pitched noise in the middle of your head. I have that almost constantly. It goes away sometimes, but not or long, and when it's bad, it's bad enough that I want to start pounding my head.

However, I've been noticing a few things, and I want to speculate that all these "neurological" withdrawal symptoms from lexapro are actually muscle symptoms. Remember that your face, head, and neck are FULL of muscles-- everything from the muscles that move your eye to the muscles that can cause your ears to twitch.

So much lexapro withdrawals seems to involve face, tooth, and neck pain (I've had all three). I know I've found myself clenching my jaw and hands like a madman. For my first few days on lex I thought I needed a root canal, my molars hurt so much.

A funny thing happened, though-- my wife came in and massaged my face and jaw, and said "you feel like you're holding a lot of tension in your jaw-- your jaw muscles are all bunched up." She gave me a jaw massage, and when she had finished, the ringing had stopped.

As time went on, I found I could sometimes suppress it by changing my neck posture, or other postures. It's impossible for me to relax completely, but when I make a try for it I can sometimes toss the ringing for a little bit.

So I started speculating about the "brain zaps." I haven't read up on the brain much, but aren't all brain misfires manifest as something *other* than "a sensation in the brain?" Flashing lights in the eyes, or phantom sounds, or tremors, or purely passing out?

I think these brain zaps might actually be muscle spasms, possibly the small muscles that control the eyes, since the zaps are so easy to bring on with lateral eye motion.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Could the withdrawal not involved misfiring neurons at all, but merely muscles bunched up so tight, right in your head, so that any twitch by theme feels like a lightning bolt sent right down throught your brain? Especially any twitch of eye motion muscles, which are basically inside your head?

I also find that the very top of my head hurts-- not like a headache, but like I've been raising my eyebrows up and down for a long time period.

I also had a panic attack yesterday, and afterwards had no symptoms whatsoever for almost four hours. Adrenaline? I've read some other people say that after exercising or a panic attack they feel better. Could tiring out these head muscles help something?

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has had any luck using a muscle relaxant or something like that to make the symptoms go away.

Well, thought I'd drop in my two cents.

An update on me:
On day 13, I am having equal parts "Very good" times where my mood has lifted and I say yes! I can beat this! And equal parts "Very bad" times, where I hunch, holding my head for the ringing and start thinking about filling my emergency prescription so that I can take a few pills and taper normally.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Shakespeare

I am 5 months and 3 weeks after tapering rather abruptly due do terrible fatigue bouts. I was ok in month 3 and 4, no tired spells at all, and now, in month 5 its been just terrible, almost makes me cry. Sometimes I am fine, and sometimes I am so fatigued and lethargic that I can hardly move my arms! Is this really "normal"? It makes me so afraid that I will never kick this. It really scares me. Anyone who wants to comment? Anyone who has been through this and "survived"? I still have the zaps, but they dont bother me at all compared to this fatigue and squeezing head ache.

It may sound as if lexapro affected your thryoid ( it often does) and that you now have hypothroidism. Severe bouts of fatigue, depression, unable to lift arms at times due to lack of strenth, loss or thinning of outer third portion of eyebrows, thinning hair, dry skin...etc.

If you can have your doctor do a thryoid panel he can tell if your T4 levels are high. If they are and you do need to be treated, do not take synthroid a synthetc T4, ask for armour thryoid a natural replacement that replaces both T3 and T 4..

I am not a doctor and this is only my opinion.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Goodlife

Hi all,

I'm on day 13 having gone cold turkey off Lexapro.
In the past few days, after finishing the flu-like stuff, my main symptoms have been:

1) Occasional brain zaps-- I mostly must *try* to get them now, by looking far to the left/right and turning my head.

2) A persistent high-pitched ringing noise that seems to be not in my ears, but in the middle of my head.

I offer this speculation because I feel it might be of some help to someone.

My main bad withdrawal symptom is the ringing. Want to know what it feels like? Open your jaw as wide as you can, or clench your jaw as hard as you can, until you hear a high pitched noise in the middle of your head. I have that almost constantly. It goes away sometimes, but not or long, and when it's bad, it's bad enough that I want to start pounding my head.

However, I've been noticing a few things, and I want to speculate that all these "neurological" withdrawal symptoms from lexapro are actually muscle symptoms. Remember that your face, head, and neck are FULL of muscles-- everything from the muscles that move your eye to the muscles that can cause your ears to twitch.

So much lexapro withdrawals seems to involve face, tooth, and neck pain (I've had all three). I know I've found myself clenching my jaw and hands like a madman. For my first few days on lex I thought I needed a root canal, my molars hurt so much.

A funny thing happened, though-- my wife came in and massaged my face and jaw, and said "you feel like you're holding a lot of tension in your jaw-- your jaw muscles are all bunched up." She gave me a jaw massage, and when she had finished, the ringing had stopped.

As time went on, I found I could sometimes suppress it by changing my neck posture, or other postures. It's impossible for me to relax completely, but when I make a try for it I can sometimes toss the ringing for a little bit.

So I started speculating about the "brain zaps." I haven't read up on the brain much, but aren't all brain misfires manifest as something *other* than "a sensation in the brain?" Flashing lights in the eyes, or phantom sounds, or tremors, or purely passing out?

I think these brain zaps might actually be muscle spasms, possibly the small muscles that control the eyes, since the zaps are so easy to bring on with lateral eye motion.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Could the withdrawal not involved misfiring neurons at all, but merely muscles bunched up so tight, right in your head, so that any twitch by theme feels like a lightning bolt sent right down throught your brain? Especially any twitch of eye motion muscles, which are basically inside your head?

I also find that the very top of my head hurts-- not like a headache, but like I've been raising my eyebrows up and down for a long time period.

I also had a panic attack yesterday, and afterwards had no symptoms whatsoever for almost four hours. Adrenaline? I've read some other people say that after exercising or a panic attack they feel better. Could tiring out these head muscles help something?

I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has had any luck using a muscle relaxant or something like that to make the symptoms go away.

Well, thought I'd drop in my two cents.

An update on me:
On day 13, I am having equal parts "Very good" times where my mood has lifted and I say yes! I can beat this! And equal parts "Very bad" times, where I hunch, holding my head for the ringing and start thinking about filling my emergency prescription so that I can take a few pills and taper normally.

Hi,

I agree that many lexapro withdrawal symptoms are related to muscle spasms.............but muscle spasma are caused by a imbalance of electrical signals coming from the brain and spinal cord, in essence the misfiring of the neurotransmitters would cause this imbalance.
I have pasted a article on mutiple schlerosis. In essence, cold turkeying off lexapro created a self induced form of a chain of events similiar to what happens in those having mutiple schlerosis.
http://www.clevelandclinic.org/healt...sp?index=11606

Controlling Muscle Spasms
Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience spasticity, or muscle stiffness and spasms. It usually affects the muscles of the legs and arms, and may interfere with the ability to move those muscles freely.

Spasticity can occur either as a sustained stiffness caused by increased muscle tone or as spasms that come and go, especially at night. It can feel like a muscle tightening or it can cause severe pain. Spasticity can also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause low back pain. It may vary depending on your position, posture, and state of relaxation.

What causes spasticity?
Spasticity is the result of an imbalance in the electrical signals coming from the brain and spinal cord, often caused by damage to these areas from MS. This imbalance causes hyperactive muscle stretch reflexes, which result in involuntary contractions of the muscle, and increased muscle tension.

What triggers spasticity?
Spasticity may be aggravated by extremes of temperature, humidity, or infections. Tight clothing can even trigger it.

How is spasticity diagnosed?
To diagnose spasticity, your doctor will first evaluate your medical history, including what medications you have taken and whether there is a history of neurological or muscular disorders in your family. To confirm the diagnosis, several tests can be performed to evaluate your arm and leg movements, muscular activity, passive and active range of motion, and ability to perform self-care activities.

How is spasticity treated?
Spasticity can be treated using physical therapy, medications, surgery, or any combination of these treatments. Your doctors will consider the severity of your condition, your overall health, and the following factors when prescribing an appropriate treatment plan:

Is the spasticity affecting function or independence?
Is the spasticity painful?
What treatment options have already been tried, and how did they work?
What are the costs of the possible treatments?
What are the limitations and side effects of the treatment?
Will the benefits outweigh the risks?
How does physical and occupational therapy help spasticity?
A basic physical therapy stretching program is the first step in treating spasticity. A daily regimen of stretching can lengthen muscles to help decrease spasticity.

An occupational therapist may prescribe splinting, casting, and bracing techniques to maintain range of motion and flexibility.

If physical and occupational therapy do not adequately control the spasticity, medications may be added to the treatment plan.

What medications are used to treat spasticity?
Common medications used to treat spasticity include the muscle relaxants Baclofen and Zanaflex. Baclofen prevents the nerves in the spinal cord from sending a message to the muscles to contract.

Another drug that might be used to treat spasticity is Valium, which is often helpful when taken at night to relieve spasms that interfere with sleep.

If oral medications are not effective, a pump can be surgically implanted to deliver the medication (such as the Baclofen pump). Botulinum toxin can also be injected locally into the affected area to relax the muscles.

What types of surgery are available?
When other treatments fail, two surgical procedures--rhizotomy and tendon release--can be used to treat spasticity.

Rhizotomy involves surgically cutting away part of the spinal nerve. It is performed to relieve pain or decrease muscle tension.

Tendon release, also called a tenotomy, may be performed to help reduce the frequency or magnitude of the spasticity, depending on the age of the patient. The surgery involves cutting severely contracted tendons away from the muscles to which they're attached.

Tendon release may need to be repeated. It is usually done only in cases of extreme pain that do not respond to other treatments.

[auntybiotic]

Stopping lexapro quickly causes "Misfirning of neurotransmitters" which in turn results in a electrical imbalance in the brain and spinal cord which results in what we all come to relate to "lexapro withdrawals".

This electrical imbalance causes muscle spasms, in the gut causing cramping, in the intestional tract causing loose stools, in the eyes causing the zaps, dizziness and imbalance, in the extremeties causing some people, like possibly Elazabeth Marie to fall down.

Lexapro withdrawal done too quickly or by cold turkey can also, in my opinion, induce symptoms similiar to epilepsy and multiple schlerosis and a stroke. Epilepsy is caused by a discharge of electricity in the brain.
http://www.athleticadvisor.com/Injur...j/epilepsy.htm

Stopping lexapro quickly is not just getting "over the withdrawals". Lexapro causes chemical changes in your brain...............stopping lexapro causes chemical and electrical changes in your brain and spinal cord resulting in "lexapro withdrawals".

I am trying to show how serious "cold turkeying off of lexapro" can be to your body............it can take 12 to 18 months for the brain to "rewire itself". So many say I can wait out the withdrawals........................it is "waiting for the brain to rewire itself without the chemicals that lexapro contained that reuptake serotonin.

Can readers now see why slowly tapering allows the brain a chance to readapt to lesser amounts of the "chemicals" in lexapro thereby resulting in withdrawls that are not damaging to ones brain. TAPER No more then 2 to 10% of your current lexapro dose every two to three weeks,

[Goodlife]

Oh, well, I agree completely that cold-turkeying is not the right thing to do.

In my case, my doctor had told me (at the time of prescription), sure go off any time, 10mg is a tiny dose, won't have any effect. I am very angry at him, because I have specifically avoided all mood-enhancing drugs because of the need to go off them slowly. I only went on lexapro on the assurance that the effects of the pill was "just like eating a couple chocolate bars a day."

(Ironically, now, 20lbs later, I probably would have had less weight gain by just eating a couple chocolate bars a day)

I was off for a week before I suddenly said, wait a minute, maybe all these problems are withdrawals. The first time I ever typed 'lexapro withdrawal' into google was last friday-- a full week after going off the pill. And I only went off the pill because I was would have had to go to my doctor to renew the prescription, and didn't feel like it.

Given the choice to do it again, I would not cold turkey. However, now having put almost two weeks into it, I feel that going back on might do more harm that good-- especially when I read that people who taper often have the withdrawals too.

Also, I had several side effects while on the pill that I didn't realize I had until I got off them. Most prominent being a TREMENDOUS restless leg syndrome. I won't try going back on it unless I go too many more days without improvement. Obviously there's a point (probably week 3, but possibly earlier) where I will say, okay, going back on to do the slow taper. But if there's any chance I'm one of those lucky people who only have two week withdrawals, then it's probably worth it at this point to see, before going back to endless leg cramps and dull emotions.

[SL500]

Hi ... So i reduced my lexapro by 10% of 12.5 last friday. I am having an extremely bad time and feel like this is never going to go away and feel that I am going out of my mind. I have been having the worst anxiety - waking up with this feeling in my chest which radiates down my arms. I have been up since 6am hysterical crying with this. Like I said in an earlier post, I just got engaged and want to enjoy it, but I can't with this ******************** happening. I can now understand how people cannot deal with this...this is so hard. Does anyone know how long this will last?? And will this subside??? My doc also mentioned something to me about a beta blocker...anyone know about this???

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by NorthernLad

Thanks Julia, I have been reading everyone's replies and the symptoms have gotten worse, not better, so I went back on the 10mg of Lexapro tonight.

What supplements do you advise taking?

I have been on Lexapro for about 7 months at 10mg, what should my tapering schedule / regiment look like?

Thanks a million, this is some scary ********************, I wish I had known about this before I took the drug or I would never have tried it.

Well first wait till you reinstate completely and see if you are doing better. You will most probably after 2-3 weeks, and then see if your doctor can prescribe liquid Lex.
AUNTY, IS 10 MG =10 ML?

I am not sure how you count that, so double check. You can also research threads here, people have posted about how you can make your own liquid Lex and then reduce slowly by 5-10%.
If you crush your pill and dilute it in 10 ml cranberry juice, you've got your own liquids. 10% off 10 ml is 9.0 ml. That's your first taper. Remember to always discard the rest of the solution which you don't need. It's not good to store and use it again.
Once you start taking 9.0 ml it will take about a week for withdrawals to start to kick in, and then a week to clear out. Many people like to give themselves a couple more days to make sure they are fine and then taper more. So the time between the tapers should be 2-3 weeks.
Your next taper is 8.1 ml. ( You'll need to figure it out with the calculator).
Do not taper if you are not 100% normal.
yes it's a long process, but you will have a chance to work and be yourself throughout all this time.
It gets tougher close to the end, and then your tapers will need to be 5% or so.
Right now, just see how you are doing when reinstated, and do not start tapering until you are 100% normal.

[Ohwell]

I'm at 2 months off today! (almost cold turkeyed, tapered only 3 weeks) from 10mg taken for almost 2 years. Fatigue has been my constant companion. The one symptom that refuses to go away. I do have good days, but mostly I'm puney. My liver enzymes are elevated, and I go for a ct scan in a few weeks. I am also a cancer survivor. I'm 44. Was put on Lex. to help with the dark moods cancer can bring. Wish I would have never taken it! I hope I will have energy when I'm where you are Shakesphere! oh well.

[desp4help]

I started taking Lex last year after losing my Mom and my job of 16 yrs within
5 mos of each other... I gained 15 lbs in one year called dr and he said to take one every other day for a week and then go off well mistake he put me on wellbutrin and still having night sweats /dizzy /flu symtoms and extremely irritable [/FONT] I just called him again today after reading this forum and his nurse called back and they said to give it some more time how much time?/ I asked if I should still take Wellbutrin and theysaid just give it time wish I would have known all this b/4 I started taking anything ARGGGGHHH

[Ohwell]

Hey, I'm not Aunty, but she will need more info. to help.....how much Lex. were you on and for how long? And I'm not sure how quickly you have tapered? I'm sorry you are going through this. It is very hard and real. Please try to relax and rest as much as you can. I'm sure Aunty will answer you soon. Let us know how you do....we all care here. oh well.

[desp4help]

I was on 20 mg and then my dr upped it to 30 I really am hating this
my mother's 1 yr anniversary was oct 4th and I felt ready to go off
this drug in 1 week (my dr suggestion buy was I wrong been 10 days now and life is miserable is there any hope should I start taking 5 mg a day to help subside these awful symptoms of hot cold sweat dizzy nausea and
EXTREME short temper!! PLease help me

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by desp4help

I was on 20 mg and then my dr upped it to 30 I really am hating this
my mother's 1 yr anniversary was oct 4th and I felt ready to go off
this drug in 1 week (my dr suggestion buy was I wrong been 10 days now and life is miserable is there any hope should I start taking 5 mg a day to help subside these awful symptoms of hot cold sweat dizzy nausea and
EXTREME short temper!! PLease help me

Thirty Mg of lexapro is a VERY high dose. You just basically went cold turkey by skipping to every other day and then stopping?

Wellbutrin will NOT take away the withdrawals of lexapro. In fact you will only be adding a new set of side effects from the Wellbutrin and muddying up the waters.

In order to avoid SEVERE withdrawals, and because of the high 20 to 30 MG dose of lexapro you were on, the withdrawals from lexapro will be extreme.......you should reinstate the full dose of lexapro and then wait until you are stable again before tapering. This could take 3 to 4 weeks. How long were you on the 30 Mg.? You may be able to stabilize on 20 Mg if you were not on the 30 Mg for very long.

I have NEVER heard of anyone taking 30 Mg of lexapro. VERY HIGH DOSE.

Once you are stable you should taper by 5 to 10 % of your original dose. So if you reinstate 30 Mg then taper to 27 Mg and remain at that dose daily for two to hree weeks until the withdrawls go away. ( If you reinstate 20 M then taper to 18 Mg..............etc). You will need your physician to prescribe Lexapro liquid and get yourself two syringes, a 5 Ml and a 1 Ml to measure out your doses. Your pharmacist will provide these for free. 20 Mg of lexapro equal 20 Ml of lexapro liquid.

You will get moody and anxious and other typical withdrawals, but it will only last about 3 to 6 days. The withdrawls will start about the 4th to 7th day after you taper.

Expect that it will take over a year to get off such a high dose of lexapro. As for the Wellbutrin,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,do you want to have another drug to have to taper off of?

Wellburtin and lexapro combined can cause serotonin syndrome which can be fatal. I personally would not want to play with fire and take two SSRI's right after another. You will continue to have lexapro in your system for a long time..................the addition of wellbutrin could spell trouble.

Please be careful about taking many over the counter drugs because they interact with lexapro. There is a list of what to avoid on this thread so spend time reading, very valuable info can be gained.

I am not a doctor so please check with a physician or do your own research before following any advice given on the internet.

Keep us informed. IN my belief, your withdrawls will continue to get worse in the upcoming weeks if you continue on the path you are on.

aunty
Start the supplements mentioned in this forum to help with your moods and anxiety. Don't have time to rewrite them all but they have been written hundreds of times on this thread.
Good luck....things will get better if you taper correctly.

[desp4help]

Thanks so much I was on 20 mg for about 7 mos and was upped to 30 mg in the last
8 mos I am very concerned now I will start up again on 20 mg for a week and see what happens then go to 18 after that and so on I am SOOOOOOOOO glad I found this website I felt like Iwas going crazy and dr and also my grief counselor-- upped my dose to 30 mg are of absolutely no help I am 36 yrs old just about to finish college after my lay off last year and looking for a job I don't need this right now I'll let you know how it goes and I WILL NOT be taking the wellbutrin

[Julia77]

I am FREAKING out... Today was a relatively good day, but now I am crying non stop and it seems like everyone around me is unreal. I don't know what I should do.

[desp4help]

I am so sorry you are feeling this way sometimes a walk in the brisk nite
air helps me takes away the anxiety and dizzy feelins for me just hope my family can
handle this withdrawal we all seem to be in I can't believe that with this many people affected that this drug is still prescribed so readily I truly wished my doc had warned me b/f he gave this to me

[Hairyarmadillo]

Originally Posted by Julia77

I am FREAKING out... Today was a relatively good day, but now I am crying non stop and it seems like everyone around me is unreal. I don't know what I should do.

I HATE it when that happens. This will pass. I remember initially I had a lot of days like that, but even the worst ones passed. As more time progresses, the bad days will get fewer and more time will be between them. You essentially have to talk yourself through these times. Keep telling yourself that this is a phase of your recovery and you are going to beat it. Find something positive to do-a fun activity or a mindless television show. Soak in the tub. BABY yourself. Hang in there.