[gerstner23]

yes i know this is not what you were talking about but i have a serious question that needs answered now i take 100 mg of methadone a day now i have klonopin i just took the two and i feel high is this normal please tell me an informed answer not just yes please i need your help i am high as hell need to know if this is normal

[erinkj]

MARY, MARY! ha,ha; I have always wanted to say that, ha,ha. SORRY . I wish I could lift the clouds and make you'r world all sunshine and smiles again. I can soo relate to how you feel and how you "don't feel". The emotional numbness, apathy and fatigue are the primary reasons that I want to get off of SSRI med's. That and the lack of a sex drive.....Sex drive?...hmm, what's that?.....my poor husband. Maybe I could qualify for the nunnery! (that was probobly blasphemous). The years of emotional blunting have sapped my creativity to the point that my "ART" feel's more like a chore and I am less imaginative. (that has gotten better just since reducing my celexa 10 mg. my dose equals 15 mg of lex) I still have my dream's for the future, I have never lost that although, my dream's have changed a bit. I think about the future much more than I should, I think because the "here and now" kinda sucks. I envision being retired and living on a small, laid back, tropical island with a little, brightly colored house on the beach. A hammok in the back strung between 2 palms and sand; glorious sand....AHH....A little piece of paradise where I can sit on the beach and paint the sunset and fish with my husband! (I was born a beach bum)
I have been on Effexor before, I think I took that one for 4 months about 6 years ago?! anyway, I don't think effexor did much for me one way or the other and I have never taken bu-spar. I believe that bu-spar works similar to benzo's but much weaker. (?) I understand why you want to know you'r options, I have asked myself those questions to. What if I need to take med's again? etc. Julia has wrestled with the same worries to, I think we all have and do but, I think you should wait and see how you feel over the next 2 weeks with your raised dose. If you are going to explore medication option's for the future maybe you should read up on Remeron and see what you think. Try not to worry about xanax addiction Mary, you'r dose is so small and I don't think you are in ANY danger of getting hooked. I currently take 1 mg total xanax a day. and that is a reduction. 2 months ago I was taking 1 and a half to 2 mgs xanax a day. I am prescribed 2 mgs per day at .5 x's 4 daily. I only take .5 x's 2 daily though. Of course I am a smoker to and smoking reduces the effectiveness of xanax.
Our live's are quite different and yet, the same in many ways. I am 34 and my husband is 43, this is the second and last marriage for us both. We were both divorced for several years before we met. We have been together for 6 yrs and just got married June 07. He moved in right after we got married. So, here we are at our age looking to buy a house and start over. I have 3 children: Girl-18, Boy-16, Boy-11. He has 2 children: Boy-23, Boy-21. So, together we have 5 but only 3 still living at home. ( although they are never home) At 34 yrs old I am going to be a GRANDMA! My oldest step-son and his girlfriend are having a baby boy in July. (Like we need any more BOY'S in this family....I have the ONLY GIRL on ALL sides of the family) It seem's I have lived my life in reverse. I had my children young and now I am in college, end of my junior year and I will be going on to get my master's degree also. My daughter and I are both in college...wierd! I could be 40 before I get settled into a career which, kind of freak's me out. I think well, if I feel this cr*ppy at 34 how am I going to feel at 40? I may begin my career with menopause...WOW...How would that look on my resume?! ha,ha. I will be in menopause at 40, all the women in my family were...Oh JOY! My sleep has been screwed up for many years. I sleep 4-6 hours at night and take a 2 hour nap during the day when I can and It has been this way for at least 3 years. Gee, no wonder I lack energy. I used to work 15-30 hrs a week during my school year and 40 hrs wk in the summers. Last year my husband talked me into quitting my job and I am glad that I did. So, now I have more time to be productive and I still get nothing done...ERGH...Our live's may be different but, the problems are the same! Hang in there Mary, it HAS to get better...For us all...Peace...Erin

[Julia77]

Erin,

I would probably not take Inositol while on Lexapro... you wouldn't be able to feel your withdrawals and therefore, if you're doing it right and are on the right path if you take Inositol.
1 mg is like what? Is it less than 10% of your original dose? Sorry, my math is really bad. I am troubled by your Xanax, do you know that it's highly addictive? May be you should taper off Xanax first? Do you know that extreme irritability and feeling like being on the wall are first signs of being addictive to Xanax, in case you skip your doses? May be you should try substituting them for Bach remedies now.

Withdrawals are tough, but that's the only right way. We will all be here to help you.

[ivysphotomom]

Hi there!

Happy Equinox/Easter/Purim everyone!

Erin, thanks so much for the letter! Wow, you have FIVE kids! You really did have your kids young!!! I kinda did the opposite. I had my first daughter at age 29. She's now 16, and a young junior in high school. My son is 12, a daughter 8, and a little boy who just turned 4. I had him when I was 42! I'm now 46, and a LONG way (I hope) from becoming a grandma!!!

I put myself through art school at a prestigious (expensive) college, worked 2 jobs at the same time, then got a masters in teaching at Univ. of Pitt., then went on to Yale to get a masters in architecture. I had to take breaks, to earn money between years, because Yale was so expensive. Then my mom dies. Committed suicide in 1990. Then my friend, former architecture professor, the one who died in Aug., calls me and tells me I can come back to my home city to work in his architecture firm that summer, so I'd be closer to my dad. That's the summer I met my future husband. And by Dec. of that year, I was pregnant with my daughter! So in one year, I lost my mother in January, boyfriend of 4 years in April, kitten dies in my hands, and my boss bottoms out on me. But, I ended up gaining a husband, and daughter. What a year! I was 28. Was my first Saturn return. What a year....

I fell into photography after my 3rd child was born. I wanted something to do one night a week, so bought a film camera, and signed up for darkroom time at the local center for the arts. Well, friends started asking me to shoot their kids, then eventually it grew into weddings, etc. I built a darkroom in my basement, and printed by hand for hours at nigh! Eventually, I moved into digital, and now have a studio in a 2BR townhouse, just 2 minutes from my house! It's kind of like having my own house!

I meet with clients here, do shoots, and have all my computers set up. Everything was going smoothly, until two Decembers ago, when I got hit, out of the blue, with an anxiety attack before a wedding. Then that spring, I became wracked with anxiety, just thinking about all my weddings that year! I started seeing a holistic therapist, and was gradually getting better, and then my rock/father figure/best friend/confidante died suddenly, at age 59, of a sudden heart attack. The trap door below me opened, and I fell into a deep abyss. That is when my GP put me on lexapro. I wish I had never started on it. I really don't think it ever helped me, one bit. Then as you know, I tried to stop, which was the wrong way to do it.

Oh, I just wanted to say, Julia, regarding your concern about xanax, I researched it quite a bit, and most sites I read, said it's generally only addictive at doses around 4mg a day. I have a good friend and neighbor, who's been on about 2mg a day for years, along with some other meds, and has not noticed a need to take more, or for resistance to it. That's just what I've read. I've had female friends at the little league field, tell me, that half a .25 xanax is NOTHING. Seems they've had some experience with it too. I don't know. I mean, if I can take a total of up to .5mg a day, so I don't feel miserable all day, is it worth it? Yes, to me it is! Just my thoughts on the matter. Part of why I'm feeling so miserable, is the ups and downs of being on and off an SSRI. So what's one more tiny amount of a substance, that's working well to try and balance out my brain chemistry, so I'm not freaking out all the time.

Well, I'd best get going. Oh, Erin, I mentioned remeron, or whatever that other med was you mentioned to me, because a psychiatrist I saw a few months ago, mentioned either Buspar, Nortriptilin (sp?) or Remeron to try...my psychologist last week told me Remeron is very sedating, from what he heard. Does anyone know if that's true? I haven't looked that one up yet, because I haven't seriously considered trying it.

Day 3 or 4 on 10mg of lex. We'll see how that goes. I'm seeing my GP for the first time in a while, on Tues. Am looking forward to catching her up on everything, including my suspicion I may have fibromyalgia. Fun fun.

Talk to you all later!

~Mary

PS Erin, I realized yesterday, when driving back from getting stuff for the kids Easter baskets, I do have at least one dream for the future. Number one - to eventually get better, and be able to feel like my old self again!!!

[Julia77]

Hi there! Not sure about doses of Xanax, so I won't say anything about that...The only thing I know is that if you have a chance of supplementing Xanax with Bach remedies, it's worth it.

I just needed to post again about your concern about fibromyalgia. 100% be sure your doc will tell you that you have it. Be aware of more drugs added to your combo already.PLEASE DO NOT TAKE MORE PSYCHIATRIC MEDICATIONS IF YOUR DOCTOR TELLS YOU SO... You might end up being polydrugged and have an extremely difficult time tapering off.

Please be aware that all of us, all of us will be diagnosed with fibromyalgia once we stop SSRI, wait till w/d hits, and reinstate it. Was I diagnosed with it? Yes. Was I offered more drugs? Yes. Fibromyalgia is a 'normal' condition once we change the dose of SSRI.
If you wait it out, you'll see that those were only the side effects of SSRI. Once you taper and sufficient time passes, you will notice no sign of this mysterious illness.
I know exactly what you're talking about, please stay assured it's a side effect of altering your dose.

[ivysphotomom]

Hi Julia,

Thanks for the info. I had no idea fibro. could be related to SSRI usage! I learn something new here everyday!

At first, I thought I had these sore spots on my legs from leaning on them with my elbows while sitting in bed in the morning reading the paper cross legged...then I noticed them on my hips, and one day had a real sore one on my lower forearm, near my wrist. When I googled fibromyalgia a few weeks ago, and read the part about 'alpha wave sleep interruption' and IBS, the light bulb went on. Bingo!

No, I really really do NOT want to add anything or switch to anything. In fact, in my naivete back in December, I wanted to stop the Lexapro and just rely on a bit of xanax, while working to get better with my therapist. Little did I know I'd end up in w/d hell. That's when I found this life saving board!

I'm not so sure up suddenly from 5mg to 10mg was such a good idea this week. I sat up last night and cried and cried about my friend who died. I mean, there's grieving that has to be done, I realize that. But when I wake up, I'm filled with this sense of dread, and can't be happy about anything! Even watching my children play! It really is a catch 22.

I'm wondering if I should bite the bullet, and get a bottle of 5mg tablets, so I can more carefully fine tune my dosage of lex over the next several months...for instance, maybe trying 7.5mg rather than 10mg. Because the more lex I take, the more screwed up my sleep is!

At this point, I would really caution anyone I know before going on any type of anti-depressant! I really thought it was going to be the 'magic pill' it was promised to be!

I do think I have a genetic tendency toward anxiety. As I fell into my first episode, at the age of 10, a week or two after my grandfather suddenly died of a heart attack. I wasn't especially close to him, as he was gruff and cold, but I was very close to my grandmother, and she was devastated. I was at her house one day after he died (how sick is this - they made me sleep with her, in her bed, on his side of the bed, as a kid, to keep her company a few nights after he died!!!), anyhow, we were baking cookies - something pleasant. And out of the blue, it hit me like a ton of bricks. This horrible, sick, thick feeling of dread, feeling disconnected from any sense of hope, love, warmth, peace. Was then and still is hard to describe.

I remember it gradually went away, but it took weeks, maybe months.

Then when I was 17, a week or two after a sudden, minor operation, where they gave me demerol before surgery, and my mind started to panic, as it almost paralyzed my body....I was sitting in a youth group meeting, looking out the window into the dark Nov. sky, and boom. Again, out of the blue, like a ton of bricks! This time, it lingered for months. The only escape was sleep.

After my mom committed suicide in 1990, this dread didn't hit. Nor after my 32 yr old brother died of a heart attack 5 years ago.

But after the most important person of my entire adult life, who gave me unconditional support, caring, conversation, appreciation, advice, etc., who had this incredible life force, just disappeared at the age of 59, the day after we had lunch. It's just surreal.

I feel like part of me died with him. Like I'll never quite be the same.

Then throw on top of it the physical and mental hell going on and off and on an SSRI. At times, it's almost unbearable. And very very lonely. And very very scary. That's when I take a half a .25 xanax. To at least try to lessen some of the pain, so I can somewhat cope, and interact in a healthy way with my kids, while I work to patiently get off of this drug.

Thanks again for your help. And duh, I carry around my rescue remedy and sweet chestnut, in my bag with my other meds., and hardly ever take it! I will now.

Take Care,

~Mary

[ivysphotomom]

Not sure if I'm imagining things...

But I took one dose of Rescue Remedy about 20 minutes ago, then did two doses of Sweet Chestnut (brings optimism and peace of mind when anguish overwhelms you and you can find no way out), and I realized, things were lifting! I could almost feel somewhat normal for the first time today!

So I just took another dose!

If it was in fact the flower essences going to work - you were my angel today!

Let's hope it's progress...!

~Mary

[Augusto99]

Hello everyone. I am now 8 days without lexapro (after taking it for 2 years, weaning down to 5 mg every other day for 4 months then off) and feeling for the most part good about the step I have taken. I have read up about withdrawal and have had some like dizzyness, mild brain zaps, insomnia etc.. and I am taking those all in stride. But the one thing that has truly bothered me is I keep having "evil" thoughts. They come randomly and they scare me and make me feel like I am going crazy. So I decided to do some research and came across the topic of pure-o OCD. What I have read has made me feel so much better that this is only a condition and I am not really going crazy. So my question is if this could also be a possible side effect of coming off the lexapro. Thank you for your answers!

[_jaxx_]

Hi everyone,

I am so glad I have found this forum, I am suffering from Lexapro withdrawal symtoms, and am so glad to see I am not totally alone.

I have been taking Lexapro for nearly 2 years now. I was prescribed the drug for anxiety attacks, basically I went from someone who enjoyed running their own company and meeting new people everyday, to someone who was terrified of even leaving the house.

After 6 months of anxiety attacks, I then fell into a deep depression, at the time I was taking 10mgs of Lexapro and 2 x 0,5 Xanax everyday. My doctor urged me the whole time to get off the Xanax as quickly as possible as he told me it is highly addictive. I personally have to say, that I am not sure how I would have got through the first months without the Xanax. I weaned myself off the Xanax a year ago and haven't taken it since.

I started therapy a year ago and, it really has been a great help, I think a huge step for me was to stop wanting to feel the way I did before the illness, but to make the best of my life and feelings now.

Now to the reason I am online today and looking for help, I am tapering off the Lexapro and it really is a nightmare. About a year ago I went from 10mg to 5mg which was real hard work, all of the symtoms I have read here I experienced too. My doctor then gave me drops instead of tablets as he said they are easier to take than trying to cut up tablets, and so I started reducing, ten drops, then nine, over quite a few weeks time.

Now I am down to 3 mgs, and it is really so awful, dizzy spells, sore muscles, burning feet and legs, panic, a down feeling (am of course scared the illness is coming back), I often have stomach problems too. Feel as if I could cry for hours.

About 10 months ago, I went to my doctor and got a physical check up, as I was convinced I had a major illness, but everything came back ok.

Really, I suppose I am just looking for sympathy, some support to help me get through this awful time, I am orginally from London, England, but live and work in continental Europe, and I think having to discuss this with non-native speakers, doesn't help. My doctor seems to think I have to grin and bear it, until the feelings pass.

I would be grateful for any tips, on how to cope with these symtoms, if any homopathic medicines, which they are big on here helped you.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by _jaxx_

Hi everyone,

I am so glad I have found this forum, I am suffering from Lexapro withdrawal symtoms, and am so glad to see I am not totally alone.

I have been taking Lexapro for nearly 2 years now. I was prescribed the drug for anxiety attacks, basically I went from someone who enjoyed running their own company and meeting new people everyday, to someone who was terrified of even leaving the house.

After 6 months of anxiety attacks, I then fell into a deep depression, at the time I was taking 10mgs of Lexapro and 2 x 0,5 Xanax everyday. My doctor urged me the whole time to get off the Xanax as quickly as possible as he told me it is highly addictive. I personally have to say, that I am not sure how I would have got through the first months without the Xanax. I weaned myself off the Xanax a year ago and haven't taken it since.

I started therapy a year ago and, it really has been a great help, I think a huge step for me was to stop wanting to feel the way I did before the illness, but to make the best of my life and feelings now.

Now to the reason I am online today and looking for help, I am tapering off the Lexapro and it really is a nightmare. About a year ago I went from 10mg to 5mg which was real hard work, all of the symtoms I have read here I experienced too. My doctor then gave me drops instead of tablets as he said they are easier to take than trying to cut up tablets, and so I started reducing, ten drops, then nine, over quite a few weeks time.

Now I am down to 3 mgs, and it is really so awful, dizzy spells, sore muscles, burning feet and legs, panic, a down feeling (am of course scared the illness is coming back), I often have stomach problems too. Feel as if I could cry for hours.

About 10 months ago, I went to my doctor and got a physical check up, as I was convinced I had a major illness, but everything came back ok.

Really, I suppose I am just looking for sympathy, some support to help me get through this awful time, I am orginally from London, England, but live and work in continental Europe, and I think having to discuss this with non-native speakers, doesn't help. My doctor seems to think I have to grin and bear it, until the feelings pass.

I would be grateful for any tips, on how to cope with these symtoms, if any homopathic medicines, which they are big on here helped you.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Jaxx, you are speaking my language buddy. I took was weened off Lexapro from 10mg from my doc and warned me about the symptoms that might occur. I am close to week 4 from my last pill and it does get better. I don't get the brain zaps/shivers as many have described. I don't have the irritability either anymore. I do break down easier if I want to cry. i do have weird sleep - it is not as refreshing. Sleep feels like I take one blink and bam, its morning time. Just hang in there.

I too go to a psychotherapist and have read a GREAT book on nervous illness. The book, Help with your Nerves by Dr. Claire Weekes, basically advises us to accept our feelings. It's how we THINK, not how we FEEL. Basically, the thought comes in your mind first and then the feelings trail quickly right behind it. For example, if you wake up one morning and say, wow, what a nice gorgeous day...and then you think about the day you had an awful anxious moment, your body will quickly react to that by sending out adrenaline. So, let the feelings just flow through you man...let your hands get clammy, your muscles tighten up, your stomach churn, etc. And as this is happening, just think, "Yes yes, flow through me baby...my body is working as its suppose to!". Like they say, its all in the mind!

Let time pass and the withdrawal symptoms will vanish...I know mine will. E-mail me if you like, aerodjjc@yahoo.com

take care...

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by Augusto99

Hello everyone. I am now 8 days without lexapro (after taking it for 2 years, weaning down to 5 mg every other day for 4 months then off) and feeling for the most part good about the step I have taken. I have read up about withdrawal and have had some like dizzyness, mild brain zaps, insomnia etc.. and I am taking those all in stride. But the one thing that has truly bothered me is I keep having "evil" thoughts. They come randomly and they scare me and make me feel like I am going crazy. So I decided to do some research and came across the topic of pure-o OCD. What I have read has made me feel so much better that this is only a condition and I am not really going crazy. So my question is if this could also be a possible side effect of coming off the lexapro. Thank you for your answers!

I had them,and still continue to have them, but less intense and less frequent. But the thing is I used to have them even before Lexapro, but coming off Lexapro definitely worsened it off.
A string of obsessive and scary thoungts that are hard to ignore in a distinctive feature of coming off Lexapro. Educate yourself about them and don't get scared. As more times passes you will start to notice that they dissipate. Did you also have them before Lexapro?

Meditation and Bach essences do help. (Check Aunty's post on them - either this or previous page). Take some drops under your tongue and see the difference. While meditating, observe your thoughts- and teach yourself that you are much more than your thoughts, and you're basically only witnessing your thoughts. You are not a part of them. In case of OCD, they are produced by some chemical imbalances which fall in place with time.
You are not what you think, you are what you feel.

Feel free to ask more.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by ivysphotomom

Not sure if I'm imagining things...

But I took one dose of Rescue Remedy about 20 minutes ago, then did two doses of Sweet Chestnut (brings optimism and peace of mind when anguish overwhelms you and you can find no way out), and I realized, things were lifting! I could almost feel somewhat normal for the first time today!

So I just took another dose!

If it was in fact the flower essences going to work - you were my angel today!

Let's hope it's progress...!

~Mary

YOu are not imagining it. Nature has some wonderful things in stock for us, and only if we were so wise to use it more, would we have so fewer illnesses. With Bach essenses as Erin was mentioning here it's hard to find the right one, but once you do, you should feel the difference. I remember the time when I was hit with real panic the first times and I started to take St. John's Wort and it was working!! Only until I allowed my doctors to talk me into Lexapro, because 'flowers give temporary effect'. I am sure, had I been more assertive, I would be doing better being just on herbs.

I read many of your posts and I feel a need to talk about them. It sounds like you really need to do a good job for yourself and try and change the way you see this world. Otherwise, you'll never get over it. Maybe you can see you friend's death not as the greatest grief everm but as his/her choice and respect it. Maybe she went to exist in a different dimension and is still hearing you and can give you advice once you really ask for it. ( Or it's a he?) Next time when you badly need her help, talk to her and look for answers - in the next song you hear, in the next article you read, in the intuitive talk you talk to yourself. Life is all light, including death. Death is the step to a different reality, which we don't get to see here until a certain day. Love is transcendent and it goes thru death.
I still talk to my grandma and ask for her advice. Of course, I miss her here. But she is like my angel, and I know, I feel it that she is still there for me. Sometimes I feel like she is loving me! I got this feeling again in the middle of the classroom full of kids today - my grandma just sent me love. She loves me. Sorry if I sound crazy or blasphemous; I know to some of us I will, but it's worth it if it's gonna help you.

Now, also about the ways you work and rest. It sounds like you are putting yourself under too much pressure, however if you take more time to rest nothing will happen! I mean, good things will happen. Feeling more rested and yourself you're giving quality time to your loved ones, you know what I'm talking about?? Stop pushing yourself too much. Relax and wait out your turns

Anyways, I just needed to say that. Oh yeah......and something else. Being on drugs will eventually push you more and more over the edge. They are not a solution. That's a topic or a whole different post. They mess up your system and end up producing the effects that they are supposed to treat. ( Why do we have so many people depressed on SSRI, wound up on benzos and inattentive on Retalin?) Yes, they do help FOR A WHILE, and don't help many people at all, only making the situation worse for some of us. Do not look into drugs as into your constant solution.

[Augusto99]

Originally Posted by Julia77

I had them,and still continue to have them, but less intense and less frequent. But the thing is I used to have them even before Lexapro, but coming off Lexapro definitely worsened it off.
A string of obsessive and scary thoungts that are hard to ignore in a distinctive feature of coming off Lexapro. Educate yourself about them and don't get scared. As more times passes you will start to notice that they dissipate. Did you also have them before Lexapro?

Meditation and Bach essences do help. (Check Aunty's post on them - either this or previous page). Take some drops under your tongue and see the difference. While meditating, observe your thoughts- and teach yourself that you are much more than your thoughts, and you're basically only witnessing your thoughts. You are not a part of them. In case of OCD, they are produced by some chemical imbalances which fall in place with time.
You are not what you think, you are what you feel.

Feel free to ask more.

Julia77, I did have these wierd nasty thoughts before lexapro but only very randomly I think pretty much like anyone. I think they only manifested when I was upset, but now when I think about or takl to certain people I get this bad thoughts about them and it makes me sick and anxious. I just hope they go away like you said. It's almost now a sense of overwhelming guilt I have now that I even thought this stuff in the first place. Any more advice you have would be awesome. Thank you so much!

[erinkj]

Ahh Jules, you realy are the best you know! The ways in which you watch out and worry for us are beyond kind; it is true caring! Heartfelt thanks to you.
As to the xanax usage. I know that you care and are worrying for me which I deeply appreciate and thank you for. You'r support means alot to me. I want to put you'r mind at ease on the xanax issue though. I agree 100% that natural alternatives to medication are the best choice and I am exploring them. Yes, xanax can be addictive and it can also cause dependance, I do not dispute that. However, there is a big difference between dependance and addiction. The criteria set forth in the defenition for addiction requires that the substance (in this case, xanax) must be "craved" and used for non-theraputic reasons, ie:not used to control physical symptoms for which it was prescribed. Basicly taking it "just because".
Example: smoking- I crave cigarettes. I seek them out and purchase them for the specific purpose of smoking them to feed my craving. This is addiction. I AM addicted to cigarettes. (I WILL beat this addiction soon, I hope) I am however, NOT dependant on cigarettes.
The distinction between addiction and dependance is one of great confusion for many. Many people use these words interchangably as if they mean the same thing which, they don't.
Dependance is an issue which we are all familiar with as we are struggeling with that very problem as we taper off of Lexapro or any SSRI medication. Dependance manifests itself in 2 ways, physical and emotional/mental both of which need not be present simultaneously. Example: withdrawl symptoms from missing a dose of medication denotes physical dependance. Inability or refusal to miss doses of or stop taking a medication do to fear of relapse or physical symptoms, denotes mental or emotional dependance.
Then there is tollerance which is something else alltogether ( although usually relevant) but, I think most people understand that defenition. So, for myself I can confidently say that I am not addicted to xanax and likely never will be. ( Not that I think that is what you were saying as I know you were not ) The risk of dependance is always present but, I have that risk under firm control and have in fact, reduced my xanax dose by half because I have not needed it. Keep in mind that I have been on SSRI medications for 11 years. Aside from occassionaly missing a dose, the longest I have been without an SSRI during the past 11 years was for 2 months of pure h*ll about 6 or 7 years ago. And then again for 4 and a half weeks when doctor had me stop cold turkey (more or less) toward the end of last year which was when I started posting here. I have also had scripts for xanax for the entire 11 years although I rarely used it until last november so, I do have experience with this particular medication as well as years of research on it's use.
Remember the Breggin book? your drug may be your problem? He advises to "remove drugs one at a time" and that withdrawling more than one drug at a time should be reserved for cases of "acute, serious toxicity". He also discussed "which drug should be stopped first? and what to consider. For me personaly I am more concerned with getting off of the SSRI than my benzo. I think that it all boils down to our individual comfort levels and ability to function. Some of us do fine without a benzo and I think that is wonderful and in some way's I envy those people. I will taper without my benzo as much as I comfortably can and I will try alternatives to the benzo. If I find an alternative that work's I will use it instead. Julia, I just don't want you to worry. I only want for you to know that I am fully aware of any and all risks and that I keep them in mind ALWAYS. Thank you for caring, I do TRUELY appreciate it...God Bless...Erin

[erinkj]

Hello All. I am writing a re-search paper for one of my classes concerning anti-deppressants, anxiety, panic etc. I would like to know if anyone would be interested in participating by way of a question and answer type of forum and if you are willing to be quoted in said paper? I will post more details on this later. The natives are getting restless so, I will go feed them now before they mutiny ....Erin

[Ohwell]

Been off site for awhile. Doing well, but now, after a trip during spring break, (home now)
I'm feeling extremely tired (did on the trip too)....felt hot, and No appitite again. I mean none. Been off Lex. for almost 8 months now, so don't think its from that. I think I may be depressed? I still have obsessive thoughts about my cancer returning as well. Finding it hard to get excited about anything. So darn tired! Not sleeping well either. Anyone? ohwell.

am taking my supplements (planning to add a good mulitvitamin soon)

[Ohwell]

Anyone else have that? I also have hypothryodism.....ohwell.

[Hopeful 285]

Hi everyone,
I haven't posted awhile and thought I would give an update. I have some of the same symptoms of 8monthslater. I quit cold turkey November 9, 2006 after taking 5 mgs for two years and the doctor raised my dose to 20 mgs shortly before I decided to quit cold turkey.
I was having movement disorder issues for a long time before I quit and the doctors didn't recognize it as being caused by Lexapro and neither did.
I have ringing in the ears, flashes of light, depersonalization, burning sensitive tongue.
I also have a sensation in the center of my brain that never goes away, but I have learned to deal with it. I have shortness of breath, movement disorder, still have my faith but it is hard to feel spiritually. I fall suddenly like I've been shot.
I don't feel like the same person, but I have learned to accept the new me. I am functioning. I work two days a week in an office. I take things slower now. I think there may be something else wrong that isn't diagnosed, but whatever it is, I feel Lexapro was the trigger. My doctor said that I possibly could have early Lupus, but I am not claiming this.
Lexapro can cause autoimmune disease. People with allergies are especially susceptible because they already have a compromised immune system.
8monthslater, keep searching you will find your answers.

Aunty, I see you are still posting. You are an angel. I don't post too often because I think that it will scare people if they see I am still sick. I just believe that I am one of those that is extra sensitive because most people do getter better than I am right now.
I found out that my aunt had a bad reactions to estrogen and she got an auto immune disease that causes a blood clot disorder. Thank you for all you do!

[Unbelievable]

Originally Posted by erinkj

Hello All. I am writing a re-search paper for one of my classes concerning anti-deppressants, anxiety, panic etc. I would like to know if anyone would be interested in participating by way of a question and answer type of forum and if you are willing to be quoted in said paper? I will post more details on this later. The natives are getting restless so, I will go feed them now before they mutiny ....Erin

Erin, I'm happy to help but I wouldn't want my full name quoted...

[Unbelievable]

I'm sure it doesn't help that PMS is setting in and this will be my first PMS month not at 10 mg Lex.

I am really irritable and flying off the handle pretty badly. It then leads me to feelings of severe depression. Is this normal? How long will this go on??

Thanks.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Hopeful 285

Please don't quit cold turkey!!!
This is one of my scariest posts that I've shared and you may not want to read it if you can't handle the stress right now. I have not revealed the extent of what I am going through until now. I did not want to bring anyone down, but I need to tell the truth to anyone who is wanting to quit cold turkey.
I quit cold turkey November 2006. Although I have had some better days, I am still having some very difficult days.
My hardest is in the center of my brain I have sensations that never go away. I have had these for 11 months. Sometimes it is hot and painful, sometimes tingles, sometimes numb, sometimes it feels very smothering like someone took a cloth and put around the center part of my brain. It makes me feel much panic. The smothering is worse than when I feel the pain or numbness. If I over react it gets worse. My brain is smothering and I'm trying to remain calm. If I cry it intensifies and I feel like the center of my brain is swelling and getting tighter.
I feel like I can't breath when I have the smothering feeling and I pray to God I won't die and I won't become paralyzed.
It is hard to sleep at times. Lately it has been bad again.
I tried taking melatonin to sleep. Don't ever do this. It gives you so much anxiety and makes you feel out of control. I take honey and it helps if I am not having too bad of a night.
If I stay busy the sensations don't go away but it helps me to try to ignore it. I feel weak because of anemia and I go through bouts of falling but I keep going because I don't want to feel the sensations so strong. Stillness makes it worse. I feel claustrophobic.
I still feel disconnected and sometimes I think I should get on Xanax but I think that I won't get better with another toxin in my head. I am a different person than I used to be. No one knows just how different because I try to act the same. I laugh and joke just like I used to. When I do this it feels louder than the sensations in my brain and it helps me to ignore it. Sometimes I wonder if it is eating my brain. I wonder if it is like a disease that is growing.
If you met me in person you may not even know there is anything going on if I am having a better day with the movement disorder.
Everyday I have uncontrolled movements. I have tourette's-like tics (uncontrolled respiratory gasps and voice blurts uncontrollably louder), head jerks and bobs, left leg dips, shoulders shimmy, butt shakes, I bend over, my whole body jerks when I lay on my right side, I go into complete squats and come back up, and I fall on some days.
Sometimes I get a weird gait. A man told me that I walk like a duck. Sometimes I use a cane.
Everyday is different. If you have iron deficiency you are more vulnerable to the movement disorders. If my iron level gets low, movements are worse.
I feel very ill. I don't think I look ill except for the dark circles under my eyes. I am very stubborn and I still do things. I want to try to stay productive. I am unable to work right now because I am not dependable and do things as I can on a day to day basis.
I feel very alone except when I get on this site. No one understands how debilitating this is to your mind. I am afraid that my brain being so unhealthy may make me vulnerable to mental illnesses such as Altzheimers an Parkinson's.
These are things I am feeling now at 11 months cold turkey. It is still very dark, but I still have hope and believe God is leading me in a direction to help others. He didn't give this to me, but he can turn bad into good.
If I can help others to recognize what SSRI's can do, all this is well worth it.
I have not given up and am fighting everyday. I am struggling to be healthy again.
I read in Dr Ann Blake Tracy's book that she witnessed someone in withdrawal at 3 years. I hope I am not one of those but if I am, I will still be fighting the fight. We have to.

Don't feel sorry for me. I have a wonderful God and a wonderful family and I have plans to make it. I only wanted to write this because I don't want you to quit cold turkey.
One day I'll be a witness for all the long term sufferers that you do get better.
All of us here witness to someone.

God Bless,

It is so great hearing from you, I was truly wishing you felt better. If you would ever like to talk one on one give me a way of reaching you. have you tried lecithin for the movement disorder. You will be in my prayers. I am short on time so I cannot answer the others that had questions for a few days.

I posted Hopeful's post on COLD TURKEY those considering quitting lexapro without tapering off. PLEASE realize that cold turkeying off of SSRI can cause damage to the neurotransmitters in the brain similiar to having a stroke................PLEASE DO NOT JUST QUIT LEXAPRO, not even from 5Mg or 2 Mg or even 1 MG>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>SLOWLY TAPER OFF by no more then 5% of your current dose every two weeks down to .01 of a Mg.!!!!.

Please learn from others that have cold turked off of lexapro that the damage can last a long time so please LISTEN and taper VERY SLOW off of lexapro.
aunty

[_jaxx_]

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question, did any of you suffer from stomach problems while taking lexapro and during withdrawal?

I feel as if my stomach is on fire, and have been to the bathroom much more than usual. As you probably know, panic patients hate to feel they may vomit, something to do with losing control. The fact that I am not at home isn't making it any better.

Did anybody find natural remedies which helped generally with withdrawal, I really want to get off this drug.

Thanks for your help.

Jax

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by _jaxx_

Hi everyone,

I have a quick question, did any of you suffer from stomach problems while taking lexapro and during withdrawal?

I feel as if my stomach is on fire, and have been to the bathroom much more than usual. As you probably know, panic patients hate to feel they may vomit, something to do with losing control. The fact that I am not at home isn't making it any better.

Did anybody find natural remedies which helped generally with withdrawal, I really want to get off this drug.

Thanks for your help.

Jax

Many serotonin receptors are in the gut and stomach cramping and loose frequent stools are very common. Garden of Eden PRIMAL DEFENSE worked great for my daughter to reduce these problems. You can buy it at any Vitamin Shoppe but is a little costly, about $38 a bottle. She took it a few months and symptoms were improved.

Please remember that Lexapro can cause gallstones so if the pain is severe please get a exam (ultrasound) to rule out gallstones. When they are stuck they can mimic stomach (or back or chest pain) and can cause vomiting.

How exactly are you tapering and what dose of lexapro are you on and for how long? I am NOT A DOCTOR so please check with a physician before following any advice given on the internet.

[auntybiotic]

I am doing a survey for my own knowledge. Please let me know how many have movement disorders, including restless legs during or after lexapro use. How long were you on lexapro and what dose of lexapro. Exactly how did you taper, what % over what period. Has the disorder continued or did the movement disorder go away. Please try and describe when the movement disorder began and what exactly happens.Thanks for any input, I am researching this aspect of lexapro damage.

Lecithin, as directed on the bottle, was recommended by Dr. Breggins in his book to help prevent the movement disorder.

[bcarrigg]

Hello to all; I am new and this is my first post. I really wanted to get off lexapro and so I read all of the information posted here before starting... Here is what I know:

I am a 42 year old female that started on Lexapro 4 years ago; first 10mg for 2 years and then upped to 20mg for the last 2 years. I gained 35 lbs and suffered chronic debilitating migraines on Lexapro.. I decided the time had come to get off this horrific drug.

One week before the weaning process I started taking 3000mg of Omega 3 a day(professional grade; 1500mg in the morning and 1500mg at lunch along with 400mg of L-Theanine in the morning and 400mg of L-Theanine at lunch and one more 200mg tablet of L-Theanine around 5 pm.

The next week I cut my Lexapro in half to 10mg per day for 5 days and then cut it out completely and added Stressassist by futurebiotics once a day. This is a great product and should be taken at least 4 hours before bedtime. I also take a good multi vitamin once a day and two tylenol pm's around 8:00 for a great nights sleep. I have had a few weird dreams, but nothing violent or unsettling.

Today is day 7 off of Lexapro all together and the ONLY SIDE EFFECTS I have had is a little dizziness (very little) and a very dull headache. The answer to this problem is to ask your physician for a Rx of Imitrex. Get the lowest dosage of 25mg and you can even cut that in half. I have taken 1/2 pill a total of three times in seven days to "cure" the headache and any light headed feeling! I have slept very well with the Tylenol pm's and have begun to feel really good again.

I work full time in a very stressful job, have three kids ages 8, 14 and 22 and a wonderful husband which is essential to getting through this process. Have them read everything on this forum in preparation...... I also had my executive assistant and my senior team know what they might expect out of me just in case..... All has been well! I hope this information helps because I was terrified of trying to get off this medication after reading all the posts on this forum; my experience has been a good one.

Be dilligent about taking the supplements and I wish you all good luck!

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Hopeful 285

Hi everyone,
I haven't posted awhile and thought I would give an update. I have some of the same symptoms of 8monthslater. I quit cold turkey November 9, 2006 after taking 5 mgs for two years and the doctor raised my dose to 20 mgs shortly before I decided to quit cold turkey.
I was having movement disorder issues for a long time before I quit and the doctors didn't recognize it as being caused by Lexapro and neither did.
I have ringing in the ears, flashes of light, depersonalization, burning sensitive tongue.
I also have a sensation in the center of my brain that never goes away