[RedPA]

I've read through a couple times, but my memory isn't so wonderful. I still don't understand the de-personalization situation.

[RedPA]

I dropped from 20 mg to 15mg - stayed at 15 for this past week or so. Now, I'm dropping to 10 mg. I think MD said to stay there for 2 wks, then to 5 mg. I am trying to cut pills best I can.

[Scotty]

Miss Lee,

Thanks very much for the reply and advice. The good Lord knows I'm trying to do this the 'clean' way. I will try the bible passage along with some meditation tonight to see if it helps.

I've been taking Milk Thistle 3 times a day 30 mins before meals to help keep the bile flowing out of my liver and I believe this is helping the detox process along.

I am very tired right now. Hope my body releases tonight and takes a well deserved break.[|)]

God bless everyone.

[RedPA]

I'll be travelling for a few days, so hopefully someone will respond.

[Craigre]

I am confused about what depersonalization is too. I probably had it but didn't know it had a name. I felt a lot of weird things when I started taking lexapro.

I definitely had that floppy heart feeling while I was trying to go to bed just about every night. Sometimes I just wouldn't get to sleep. Then the next day I would be shaky and anxious. Lack of sleep is a major problem with this stuff because if you arent well rested then you will feel more anxious throughout the days.

I am very fortunate to not have to worry about anything right now. I took an extended leave from work and school and my parents are taking good care of me. All I have to do is sleep and eat. I can tell you that sleep really really helps me stay less anxious and i feel like im making good steady progress. I haven't had any panic attacks in a while.

I know most of you HAVE to work and do alot of other things. I BOW DOWN TO YOU! I dont think I could do that. Since you don't have the time to get good sleep and relax the anxiety just builds up. I would recommend that, if you can, try to take a week off and just do nothing the whole time. Try to relax. [8D]

For those of you that can't take time off, try sleeping in a different place. For some strange reason I can fall asleep alot easier if I am on the couch, on a different bed, on the floor, or any other place that isn't my bed. Rearranging the furnature in my room to put my bed in a different place has a similar effect. Maybe its just me but I thought I would share that so you have something else to try.

Don't drink any caffein ever. Even if you are feeling sleepy during the day don't drink it. It only makes things worse. Also, if I were you, I wouldn't take those sleep aids either unless absolutely necessary. If your body starts expecting a pill everynight in order for it to sleep then what will happen if the pill stops working or you stop taking it? I know some of those sleep aids claim no withdrawals but I don't really trust those claims anymore after taking lexapro. I don't have any experience with sleep aids so I could be wrong about them. I did take xanax for a little bit and that got me well rested. Its not exactly a sleep aid but if you are taking that everynight to help you sleep then you will get addicted.

[auntybiotic]

Red,

Depersonalization is feeling like you are not a part of your body. like you could be watching what is happening from a distance. Imagine feeling disconnected..................possibly not recognizing loved ones..............feeling like you don't belong.

These feeling could come and go. Disassociation could be another way of explaining the feeling. Sometimes people may comment that your "eyes" give the appearance that you are "miles away".

One girl explained it "I don't feel like a human being".

Valium should NEVER be taken with the Lexapro. Look at Flockhart's Drug interaction chart (google it in and see the interations with Lexapro). They both comete for the same enzyme in the liver, as does caffeine.

The anxiety and nerverousness is coming from the Lexapro raising the cortisol/ andrenaline levels within a hour after taking. When are most taking the Lexapro.morning or night?? You may have to move your dose to mormings or very early evening so that the adrenaline is not being released just befor ebed, if it is a evening dose of lexapro.

For those bothered by the fishy taste with Omega 3's. There is a brand called "SUPERCRITICAL DHA100" by www.mewchapter.info They are expensive about $25.00 a bottle. There are no chemical solvents in the pills and no fishy taste, and they are small and easy to swallow.

I have found benadryl to be the best aid in sleeping and it is not addictive as is Ambien, lunesta and the benzos.

Please be careful of the trazodone as it also affects the serotonin in the brain and could possibly cause a serrotonin syndrome reaction with the lexapro.

Acupuncture helps the liver to release toxins which can cause immediate worsening of withdrawals.
You may want to read up a Chitosan. It is a supplement that draws toxins and fats out of the system and they bind to the chitosan and are not reavsorbed in the bile and recirculated into the body. You can read up on it online using google.

You may also wamt to read articles on Dr. Shoemaker on toxins in the body and how to get rid of them. His office is located on the Maryland Eastern shore. He is a advocate of "questran" to remove toxins from the body. This is a RX medication for high lipid levels and binds to the fats so that they are not recirculated in the body. I believe his book is called Desperation Medicine by Dr. Ritchie Shoemaker.....it is well worth reading.He helped people who were poisoned by contaminated fish clear their body of the toxins.

Gotta run.
Aunty

[Craigre]

Well I had the "depersonalization" very badly when I was on it. I just sat in my room all night and stared at nothing and thought about stuff really slowly. Before I knew it hours had passed and I was still just sitting there. It made me sick how slowed and detatched I was.

[auntybiotic]

For newcombers,

In reading the forum, just wanted you to know I am not a doctor I am a parent who has spoken to many Lexapro users and gotten their feedback as well as read many books on SSRI's. Anything that you read here should be discussed with your doctor or researched by you.

Dr. Anne Blake Tracy's books are excellent and will provide you with so much useful information on how to safely get off of antidepressants. You can find how to order by going to www.drugawareness.org if you may be interested.

[nancyjeannes@comcast.net]

quote:Originally posted by auntybiotic

We are weaning her off one milligram a month but she wants me to try two milligrams this month because of the long withdrawal process.Her dpocors are not very imformed on the process of stopping Lexapro/

I am so sick and angry that her doctor never warned us of any of this. Her jaw was painful and that is why she was put on this med.

The withdrawal has been so painful even by just one ,illigram. Mania, cramps, sinus congestion, agitation, insominia, mood liability.

Has anyone sucessfully gotten of 20 Mg Lexapro??

nancy

[nancyjeannes@comcast.net]

quote:Originally posted by auntybiotic

Does anyone have any experience from withdrawaing from Lexapro 20 Mg for one and a half years?? Mydaughter is having a tough time weaning.
She is getting sweats, anxiety, moodieness and manic like actions.

Let me know if anyone has sucessfully weaned off a SSRI and what happenedalong the way.
Thanks

[curiousNY]

Thanks Aunty,

Thank you for your words of wisdom...its scary to think that discontinuing half of a pill can have those effects. Just to let you know, I myself am a psychologist and believe that anecdotal advice from those that have first-handedly experienced something is much more meaningful than anything you can read in a book. My thanks again.

[Miss Lee]

Thanks Aunty for your great explanations!

So I am skipping my fish oil today to see if the shakiness subsides. I only took one yesterday.

One here is a good thing. I went to Wal-mart (lets not get into it. i hate wally world and all their politics, but ....) and bought a mini-trampoline. I read the "rebounding" (thats the fancy name for jumping on the thing) help with body detox. Hey for 19.99 I'll try anything. Plus getting exercise is key, and I am always short on daylight time. Google rebounding. It is nice and compact and I live on a top floor and no complaints yet. Jump for about 10 mins. You will be exhuasted!

Scotty-
Hang in there. What sucks is if you are a "do-er" like me and like to be in control, this is the worst thing to happen because you have no control of your body. All you can do is be pro-active about natural cures and let your body heal. I know this first hand. For goodness sakes, I am on week 8!!!!!

Craigre-
You situation seems peaceful. Where do I sign up????

Thoughs and prayers are will ALL of you!

Miss Lee

[anxiousbabe]

Aunty - I wish you luck with your surgery and will keep you in my prayers for a fast and speedy recovery. Please don't stay away from us for too long as you know you will be missed. As a matter of fact where has body e been????

Craige - I can't believe you said the couch is better for you to sleep. I can't sleep in my bed lately - I don't know what it is. It just seems like the couch is a safe haven for me especially when I am anxious. My husband gets mad at me now and then for not sleeping with him in the bed, but for the most part he is understanding. I am free and clear of the Lexapro for about 4 wks now and I think that he thinks it should be over by now and I should be back in bed everynight, but some nights I just can't.

I went to my regular doctor yesterday, the one who put me on the poison a year and a half ago and gave her a piece of my mind. I told her how bad this drug was for me and how bad the withdrawel effects were and she kind of looked at me like I was nuts or something. I told her she should warn patients before putting them on this stuff. If I had found this site first I would have never taken the lexapro. I only have anxiety/panic with no depression, but now that I gained 32 pounds from the lexapro I could see how some of us can get depressed from this medication if you not already.

I have tryed to get off the Lexapro twice before this time with no success, the anxiety attacks starting creeping up before I was totally weaned off so I always went back on. This time I was so determined to get off totally not matter what because I was getting heavier and heavier. I went from 130 to 162 and no matter how I excercised or ate it never came down. I tried accupuncture this time and I have to say it has worked wonders. It is like my anxiety is gone. I will continue with the accupuncture forever if I have too. It is a God send. I encourage anyone having problems weaning off Lexapro to try it and see what happens.

I am going Monday to have my accupuncturist detox my liver too. I am still waiting for the weight to come off. I am following Weight watchers and working out 4 to 5 times a week and walking around my neighborhood everynight, although I noticed the other night my neighbors and I walked late, like 8:30 and that night I couldn't fall asleep until 3am and I had a little bit of anxiousness so I didn't know if that was from my blood pumping or my metobolism coming back from the dead.

Let me know if anyone else has experienced this sorta thing after working out late.

I hope this weekend finds everyone well and feeling better.

Be well,
Florence

[Miss Lee]

Anxious-

I have the same effects in working out late. The liver will release after exercise, so the jittery anxious feeling could be a liver dump. I have it to.

PS I still have this electirc feeling in my body. I do not feel anxious (remember I was put on this med not for anxiety or depression) but my body is constantly buzzing. Anyone else???

I don't know where oh where our little writer has gone. He is ghosting a book. Maybe he is busy, busy.

Miss Lee

[anxiousbabe]

miss Lee,

How long does it take for the liver to dump all this stuff out and how can I make it dump faster???? anyone???

Body E and aunty, where are you????????

[lara955]

I'm so glad to have found this site! I was just put on Lexapro a little over a month ago, 10mg per day. I started feeling "better" after one - 1 1/2 weeks, but the past 2 weeks I've been disconected, exhausted. I've had bouts of insomnia in the middle of the night (if I wake up I can't get back to sleep) but am tired and worn out all day. I don't feel like doing anything and have to make myself do regular every day stuff. I could just sit and stare at a wall and be content. Another wierd side effect (I've read other people have this happen too) is I've been craving alcohol, beer specifically. I used to drink beer a lot, but quit 6 months ago when I quit smoking, hadn't had a beer since. I did drink a few glasses of wine occasionally. When I started the Lexapro I couldn't stand the taste of wine all of the sudden, but craved beer after months of not having any! Any one else experience this? I really want to stop taking this stuff. I'm considering trying 5 mg a day for a week, then 5 mg every other day, then 5 mg every 2 days - does anyone think this is a good way to go off it since I've only been on it about 5 weeks? Any other suggestions? Thanks so much.

[Scotty]

Hi everyone,

Feeling a little better today. I had a migraine all day and dizziness but the agitation factor seems to be getting better. Still a little spacey.

Miss Lee,
Thanks for the bible passage. Tried it last night and it really helped to calm me. I let God have control and gave up trying to control it myself. Slept a little but that's better than nothing. I am finding exercise to be a blessing as well. I'm a runner and after a 3 mile run I feel very good although it increases my dizziness a lot. That's probably my liver dumping some more of this poison.

auntybiotic,
Thanks so much for the info about valium competing for the same enzyme that clears out this SSRI. I had no idea. I'm going to use the Lunesta only on an as needed basis and drop all the benzos. At least the Lunesta clears the system quickly and doesn't compete with the enzyme.

Things that have helped the most really are:

Concentrating on my work ( I'm a programmer ). It really helps me forget the symptoms if I just put my headphones on and work away.
Exercise.
Prayer.
And, of course, support at work and through this forum.
Do not suffer alone. Talk to anyone who will listen.
Trying crying too (not that I can help it will all this serotonin in my system). It's really a great release.

The Lord made us so he can re-make us.
Going to try to relax and watch something cheerful on TV.

God bless everyone.

Scott

[Gmice2000watts]

I was on lexapro 10mg for about a month due to stressfull and depress related to my old job. It wasn't hard for me at all to discontinue it. I think you guys just have to try to be confident in withdrawing and not have fear if u feel like you need to stop taking it. You'll feel a lot better after you relieve stressors no matter what u have to do. It's you're health that's more important than anything. The only side effects I recieved from it were sleepiness and I felt like a zombie in a daze.

[Craigre]

Can someone explain the liver detox? I don't understand. Does the lexapro stay in the liver after you stop taking it? How long does it stay there? If you detox your liver with accupuncture or exercise do you feel a little better for a long time or for a short time? How many times do you have to detox your liver for all of the lexapro to be gone?

[TrishCA]

Thanks CraigRe! I have the same questions plus one more: Does accupuncture hurt when they put needles in your liver?

[butterfly3]

I wonder whether a liver-cleansing diet just before starting to come off Lexapro might be a good idea...

Also, is there anyone out there who hasn't had any significant side effects while trying to come off Lexapro?

[anxiousbabe]

Hello everyone,

Scotty, I just got back from a 3 mile run myself and although it makes me feel better I have a headache and some dizziness and just when I thought my brain zaps where gone I just got two. I am glad to hear that you are feeling better today.

Trish- I am currently going for accupuncture and the needles don't hurt, it's just a little pin prick sensation, but not even that hard. They don't stick the needles in your liver. There all different spots in the body which controls different things, like when I go for my anxiety she puts them in my ears and then when I had pms she stuck one needle in each toe and she puts them in my ankles and on the inner parts of my knees. I am not sure if all those points are for anxiety, but I know for sure that the toes were for PMS. I am sure the liver has a spot all of it's own. If anyone knows please let us know, otherwise I am going Monday at noon and will report back with the exact location.

I had a flu shot on Wednesday and fell a little weird the past two days. I don't know if it has something to do with the shot or the fact that I missed my accupuncture appt. this week. Did anyone else get the flu shot yet? and any side effects? Last night I felt a little anxious, but yet so tired with a headache.

Anyone losing any of the Lexapro weight yet????? I really need to hear it if you have. I am on week four of NO lexapro and have been dieting and excercising the past two weeks faithfully and really haven't loss a significant amount of weight yet. The Lexapro belly bulge is really bothering me.

Well I hope everyone feels a little better today.

Be well,
Florence

[TrishCA]

AnxiousBabe,

Thank you for your response, I'll be interested in knowing every detail of your accupuncture liver detox. I have lost about 5 pounds since I stop taking Lexapro (42 days tomorrow). Mostly in the stomach area. My jeans, size 8, fit a lot nicer now. After reading about your running, I may start doing that myself!

[bodyelectric]

Hey -- sorry, I'm around. My dad's in the hospital, I've had some deadlines, and my wife and I are house hunting, so we've been awfully busy. But that's good news: the withdrawal symptoms go away slowly but surely, and you'll get back to life.

I had a bad day yesterday, but it's been awhile, and it might be unrelated to Lexapro -- been spending a lot of time in the hospital and might have picked up a bug. I still get a zap on occasion, but nothing bad at all. It's been 5 weeks now off the stuff. Life is good.

Hang in there everybody!

[Miss Lee]

Hi all-

Trish and Craigre- Acupuncture doesn't hurt at all. The most pain I have had feels like plucking out a eyebrow. On my protocol they target my liver, central nervous system and I'm not sure what else.

Scotty- I am glad that that passage helped a little. I am also glad you have forgone the benzos. That will help greatly with cleaning out your liver.

Running?? You guys are animals! I have had a ankle reconstruction so I'll use that as my excuse for now......

My symptoms are very reluctantly digressing. I still have that all over "electric" feeling. I always get sick after acupuncture. Anxiety has waned, but flares up (like in traffic arghhh) I also talked with my counselor about secondary anxiety and hypersensitivity. I guess this means I have axiety about the whole ordeal (think a small version of PTSD) and I am hypersensitive to anythingthat happens in my body (like cold shivers-I think "WHAT"S THAT) Well duh, this has been very trying. So They say I need some distance from the episode. I am still on the market for a great nautropath. Maybe they can restore balance.

So this hypoglycemia thing...I see that there are studies that link Lex to it. DOes that mean it will go away??? Or do I have it for life???

Hang in there and remember to send positive thoughts Aunty's way. Knee surgery bites!

Happy Friday night!

PS I started taking just one of my fish oil a day. I detect that two was a little much for my system. I can't say anything for the weight issue. My reaction was so bad, I lost 27 LBS. I swear I look like Nicole Richie (So i am trying to fatten up!) Hang in there anxious, you are doing all the right things, your body just needs to regulate. I know it is frustrating.

Miss Lee

[Miss Lee]

Wow- am I the only dork who check this site 100 times a day???

Where is everyone?

I have good news. My symptoms from the original problem (that looked like GAD< so they put me on Lexapro- in which i had an extreme reation) were caused by hypoglycemia. The electric feeling (now called internal trembling) that I have is caused by Low blood sugar. The effects of lexapro made this condition way worse. I am now on the mend and seeing a diabetic dietician on Friday. PLEASE TAKE NOTE! Sypmtoms of a hypo crash look like anxiety attacks and panic (for me anyway). Get your levels checked!

Miss Lee

[bodyelectric]

Awesome news. Glad you're doing better. Sounds like you'll be able to manage without meds. Hypoglycemia is easy to handle through diet. That's super.

[Craigre]

How do you get checked for hypoglycemia? What were your original symptoms before the lexapro Miss Lee? Did you have panic attacks or was it just above normal anxiety?

I check this site alot too Miss Lee. I would give anything to feel normal again. Any info that this site gives helps me alot because I want to be doing EVERYTHING that I should be doing to recover quickly.

Last night I had 5-10 medium (but scary) panic attacks in waves, one after the other before i fell asleep somehow. I don't know if i am feeling a delayed reaction from stopping lexapro, a new reaction from starting zoloft, or if im not taking enough zoloft to help with the panic feelings.

[Miss Lee]

Craigre-

I was accident prone, couldn't sleep, heart palpitations, dizzy, panic attacks (only on occasion) bad breath, forgetfulness, blackouts, crying, nervousness, really tired, craving for SWEETS!!!, blurry vision, and some more. SOunds like something really familiar, huh. I had a blood test done that showed my fasting glucose levels were around 60 (normal starts at 65, but that is a low normal.) I had it before (undiagnosed) but the lexapro spun it out of control. Lexapro will lower your blood sugars (adreal glands come into play as well with this disease).

Body- how's the house hunt??

[bodyelectric]

Just came back from signing an offer. We're very excited.