[hope for the best]

Hopefully you have read through alot of the posts on this thread about tapering. You might want to consider tapering smaller amounts to see if that helps you avoid too much withdrawal. Generally here people suggest tapering 2-5% but no more that 10% at a time and staying at the new dose until withdrawal symptoms level off (2-3 weeks is suggested or however long it takes) if you're having problems getting off Lex.

There are supplements that you might want to check into such as Omega 3 fish oil, magnesium and calcium. There are others to check out such as inositol and passionflower as well. If you haven't already, spend a little time reading through the posts, it's very informative.

It's great you have a supportive family behind you.

[jca1928]

i just got off the phone with my dr she told me to just switch back to lexapro today she said that i mite feel some withdraw from the celexa . ive heard these word before like when i switched to efexor and then to celexa. i'm hoping that since lexapro and celexa are so close to each other it's not to bad. ive read so much on here about these drugs and some of it i uderstand and some i don't. mostly cause by the time i found this place i had gone off lexapro and my mind hasn't been to graet since so hope fuly when i get all balanced out again i can read most of it again get a better ideia of whats going on and what to do to get off of these drugs for good. aunty if you have any more thoughts on what i may go through in the switch back please let me know. or if any one els has any thoughts let me know. aunty how is your ankle doing? hope it's getting better. thanks AJ

[lexiejax]

I am so glad I came across this thread. I did not think about the dizzy feeling and flu like symptoms being related to the Lexapro weaning. At least I know I am not the only one. Thanks for your post!!

[8monthslater]

Originally Posted by auntybiotic

Hi,

These are common for those that cold turkey and unfortunately it may go on for about 6 more months. Do you have a break in the anxiety and feel normal ever? What type of vision disturbances, seeing things that are not here such as spiders and cracks in the wall? One person I spoke to saw a large black empty spot in her field of vision for a year and a half after cold turkeying. Suprisingly she got pregnant and the change in hormones cleared up her withdrawal symptoms.

Are these new symptoms are have they been ongoing? Are you takng anything for anxiety? The ear ringing is definately caused by the lexapro cold turkeying..some even have it when they start lexapro as a side effect. How many months have you had it?
If you have a chart written down with your symptoms and when they began it would help me to understand.
What dos eof lexapro and how long were you on it. What supplements do you take.
aunty

I do have days where I feel normal, but my symptoms remain. I am not sure why some days I seem to deal with them better than others.

As far as my vision disturbances go, I don't see things that aren't there (thank goodness), but I do seem to have a shimmering effect in my vision that makes objects semm to shake back and forth very quickly. This symptom is always with me although some days are better than others.

I have had the ear ringing constantly since I took Lex the first time which was in December of 2005. I quit taking it in March when I became pregnant. After my 9 months of pregnancy I got back on Lex and then the humming and pain in my left ear started after I had been taking it for a couple of months.

I took 10 mg of lex for approximately 4 months both times I took it. I am so afraid that the damage done is permanent. I do take xanax occasionally (.25 mg) but am afraid that I am not allowing my brain to heal by doing so. Sometimes I really feel like I need something to help with my anxiety.

Right now I have the flu or something which is making me feel even worse. I have a barking cough along with the shortness of breath and my temp just now was 102.F. I don't know what is wrong with me.

[lexiejax]

I have gone from 10mg to 5mg for a week. Do you think I should start everyother day or spit the 5mg?? Thanks for your help!!

[Ohwell]

Listen to me....do not miss a dose of your lex. do not alternate doses, ever. You will go into immediate withdrawals. You will get a floatly, dizzy,flulike, feeling. You need to be on 9mg. for 3-4 weeks period. You need to get the liquid lex. from the pharmacy. Some here do "shave" their pills, but it is hard to get the right dose. Don't taper too fast or you will regret it later. Take it slow and let your brain heal...ohwell.

[Unbelievable]

This week is going much better than last week. Last week I was weepy the entire week...an emotional wreck.

I am feeling much better but really tired. To the point where I fell asleep today standing up at work!!

I've been having stomach issues and I didn't put 2 and 2 together until reading some of the gut posts. I've been having diarrhea for about 2 weeks now. That has also improved but was a problem for a while.

I still find it shocking that all of this relates to the Lex...but doctors won't recognize it.

[8monthslater]

Should I get back on clonazepam (.25 mg) daily or just take xanax as needed. I have taken it every day for the past three days. UGH! Am I ever going to feel better?

[taeon]

hey guys... blast from the past...

im doing well... i just had a relapse i believe due to an increase in my zoloft 100 to 150 mg... i was huge depressed yesterday and today. No reason... it scared the ******************** out of me and i almost went to the hospital to get help. i powered through it and doing better. i talked to my therapist and that seemed to help. i also stopped by my psychiatrist and he said to move the zoloft to the morning and it will balance out. also to go back to the 100. what brought me to this forum again was 2 things. 1, dunno if it's possible but maybe the psych side effects finally hitting from the lexapro from back in January? and 2, when im hit with HARD CORE depression like that, what can i do to combat it?

You can read my story here:

http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-...tml#post194183

[Mechelle poling]

Hi AJ
What problems were you having with Celexa? Lexapro is made by the same company as Celexa, Forest labs. If fact Lexapro is really just stronger than Celexa but almost exactly the same. 10mg of Lex is the same as 37.5mg of Celexa. When I had to quit lexapro due to adverse reactions and I asked my doctor about Celexa he told me that I would have the same reactions. I am not suggesting to quit taking a anti depressant but perhaps a totally different kind may be better for your body if you were having problems on Celexa. My Doctor wanted to put me on Effexor after I went cold turkey for 2 weeks off Lexapro...no thanks,, Im done with these drugs. I am suffering terrible after effects 1 month 4 days later, in fact having to see several doctors for hormone imbalance and too many red blood cells. I will "never" put my body through anything that resembles a mind altering drug..but this is me. Best of Luck MnP

[Mechelle poling]

Hi Aunty Thanks for the Reply.To answer your question about other medications, I do not take any other drugs other than Lasix 10 mg for water retention. As far as vitamins, I was taking fish omega oil, flax seed oil, along with a daily vitamin and calcium I was on Lexapro 5 mg for 3 weeks, that's it but keep in mind I had a violent reaction to it so with that being said, here we are 1 month 4 days out..and now I am on my way Thursday morning to see a Hematologist for high red blood cell count. My gynecologist will not touch me with estrogen until they know for sure that now I am not going to have a clotting problem. Also my estrogen was normal 6 months ago, it was 60 and is now 6 the only factor was the lexapro. My menstrual cycle has stopped ever since I ingested this medication. Unbelievable!!! I began taking black cohash, and soy isoflavones along with vitamin E 400 units but honestly, it was making the hot flushing worse so I discontinued all naturals until I have more blood work done to determine what is the real problem. I am going to take a saliva hormone test in the morning that will also measure my cortisol, I cannot begin to imagine, me personally if I had taken this drug longer what my condition would be today, or who knows, I might have been a statistic. Aunty I too have a Science education, I have begun, on my own much research on the effects of lexapro. Needless to say, I am appalled. This drug Lexapro is a real monster, if you are the percentage of the population that can not tolerate it. It can literally be lethal. I also read that our Superior Court may rule that "if the FDA has approved a drug, then any lawsuit against drug manufactures will be non existent and be thrown out state to state in any and all litigations". What the general public really needs to understand is that under this current administration, the CEO's of major pharmaceutical company's have been appointed by president Bush over the past 8 years to be the FDA, so really any "new drug" I would not trust at all due to the fact that they are pushing FDA approvals without enough clinical trials and testing's of drugs. We have become a drug pushing nation and one that is "using" Americans as guinea pigs. This is outrageous to say the least. I will keep you updated after my findings from the hematologist. Thank-you for your time, information and consideration, Mechelle

[Ohwell]

Good to hear from you. Have you read the book "The Chemistry of Joy"
by Henry Emmons, M.D.? (2006) if not you should. He gives lots of good insites and hope for depression. And explains how one may get that way to begin with. Very insiteful for me, although had some Zen stuff I didn't like, but take the good out of it. He teaches we can control our thoughts with practice. ITs really a good book, I hope you'll check it out.

Take care of yourself, rest when you need it. Take your supplements. Try to see yourself getting better. God Bless. ohwell.

[Ohwell]

Don't add anything! Just take what you must have. (my opinion)
Hoping you feel better soon! ohwell.

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by taeon

hey guys... blast from the past...

im doing well... i just had a relapse i believe due to an increase in my zoloft 100 to 150 mg... i was huge depressed yesterday and today. No reason... it scared the ******************** out of me and i almost went to the hospital to get help. i powered through it and doing better. i talked to my therapist and that seemed to help. i also stopped by my psychiatrist and he said to move the zoloft to the morning and it will balance out. also to go back to the 100. what brought me to this forum again was 2 things. 1, dunno if it's possible but maybe the psych side effects finally hitting from the lexapro from back in January? and 2, when im hit with HARD CORE depression like that, what can i do to combat it?

You can read my story here:

http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-...tml#post194183

Hi there, sorry you've been feeling so low. The reason you're feeling this way are dual: first, increase in your dose, second, 3d-4th months after c/t Lexapro are the most difficult ones emotion wise. I mean tough even after slow taper like I did, and still I do feel emotional after effects.

There is nothing you can do being on SSRI and getting depressed, and yeah, you're getting depressed after altering your dose, stopping even after a careful taper, and when you;re feeling side effects. I don't personally think they do any good, especially when we know they are producing such drastic discontinuation symptoms.

You first stop panicing and realize your symptoms are from the drugs, not from you. Don't change Zoloft dose for now, stabilize on it and consider tapering.

Lots of healing,
Julia

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by Ohwell

Don't add anything! Just take what you must have. (my opinion)
Hoping you feel better soon! ohwell.

Hey, how are you feeling there?? Did you start to feel any better?

Erin, what about your update.

[erinkj]

Thanks for asking. I am "hanging in there" I have good and bad day's. More bad day's of late although, that has more to do with disk and nerve pain in my neck and stressing over final exams and projects, etc. All of this attributing to "No SLEEP" geting by on ice packs, ibuproffen, adjustments and traction several times a week. I WILL NOT take RX pain pill's. I am on celexa and xanax which is more than enough med's for me. I take my supplements of course and, I have added passion flower. I am building that up slowly. One in the a.m. and one in the p.m. next week I am going to double that to 2 capsules twice a day. I decided to finish off the last of my celexa pills. I think I have enough for one or two more weeks then, switch to the liquid ( which I now have) wait a few day's to see if I have any trouble going from pill to liquid form....If all goes well then, I will drop 1mg dose putting me at 29mgs. From there I will have to wait and see. This is going to be a LONG process. How are you doing? still getting the racing thoughts? you said something before about posting on another site, are you still doing that? I would be interested in checking out some other sites as well but, I am looking mostly for those that pertain to panic and anxiety type issues. It helps me ALOT to help others and panic/anxiety as well as the science of, are areas in which I am well versed...There are a few threads on this site concerning that but, they are not active. Any reccomendations? I realy do hope that you continue to get better...Keep in touch Julia....Peace...Erin

[erinkj]

8monthslater: Hello, I posted to you a few pages back about some tinnitus supplements, did you read that? Sorry you are going through more rough spells...I wish I could fix it all for you ...never stop searching for answers!

Ohwell: I agree that you should'nt ADD anything to your supplement list at this time however, you can safely double your fish oils and that may help alot. I know I have some info here somewhere about the effective dosage of fish oils for deppression and, I will post it when I locate it. I cannot remember the exact reccomendation but, I know that it is at least double what you currently take so, check that out okay. Also, the passion flower dose is much higher than 350mgs daily for anxiety, I believe it is between 2 and 4 grams...Again, check that out. I do have a print out from my pharmacist that states the above passion flower dose but, you will get more "sleepy" at the higher doses. I will post more as soon as I can or, you can ask Aunty. Hang in there dear....Peace...Erin

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by 8monthslater

Should I get back on clonazepam (.25 mg) daily or just take xanax as needed. I have taken it every day for the past three days. UGH! Am I ever going to feel better?

Have you tried taking passion flower capsules?

[moosemoosemoose]

I have taken lexapro 10mg for 30 days for mild depression.
I ran out of medicine about 4-5 days ago and before i could go get more i have started having withdrawal symptoms: sweats, dizziness, anxiety, loss of appetite and nausea.

I just found this thread and am freaking out, i've been reading through posts for the past two hours and am scared out of my mind at some of what you have been through. What should i do? start taking again and taper off (how long would that take starting from 10mg a day?) or go cold turkey since i've only been on it for 30 days (or has the damage already been done).

any advice is much appreciated.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by moosemoosemoose

I have taken lexapro 10mg for 30 days for mild depression.
I ran out of medicine about 4-5 days ago and before i could go get more i have started having withdrawal symptoms: sweats, dizziness, anxiety, loss of appetite and nausea.

I just found this thread and am freaking out, i've been reading through posts for the past two hours and am scared out of my mind at some of what you have been through. What should i do? start taking again and taper off (how long would that take starting from 10mg a day?) or go cold turkey since i've only been on it for 30 days (or has the damage already been done).

any advice is much appreciated.

If you were a family member, I would say do NOT restart lexapro. Thirty days have changed the neurotransmitters but to taper off would take over a year and I am just afraid that that would be the worse of two evils.

Play it by ear. If the withdrawals are SO BAD that you cannot tolerate them then there is no other choice but to taper off for the next year. I think it take s baout 6 weeks for lexapro to make its changes in the brain.........you are on the brink.
So how the next few weeks go.............if you are going to reinstate you must do it within six weekes of stopping for it to help with withdrawals. The thirty day mark is so iffy....................see how you do. If the brain zaps, sweating, naseau and dizziness are not able to be tolerated..................you will have no other choice but to reinstate.

I am NOt a doctor.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by erinkj

8monthslater: Hello, I posted to you a few pages back about some tinnitus supplements, did you read that? Sorry you are going through more rough spells...I wish I could fix it all for you ...never stop searching for answers!

Ohwell: I agree that you should'nt ADD anything to your supplement list at this time however, you can safely double your fish oils and that may help alot. I know I have some info here somewhere about the effective dosage of fish oils for deppression and, I will post it when I locate it. I cannot remember the exact reccomendation but, I know that it is at least double what you currently take so, check that out okay. Also, the passion flower dose is much higher than 350mgs daily for anxiety, I believe it is between 2 and 4 grams...Again, check that out. I do have a print out from my pharmacist that states the above passion flower dose but, you will get more "sleepy" at the higher doses. I will post more as soon as I can or, you can ask Aunty. Hang in there dear....Peace...Erin

I was just reading some research on tinnitus. It has been proven that supplementing with zinc 50 mg a day will improve the ringing by about 80% but can take a few months. Well worth a try.
I am not a doctor.

[auntybiotic]

Originally Posted by Mechelle poling

Hi Aunty Thanks for the Reply.To answer your question about other medications, I do not take any other drugs other than Lasix 10 mg for water retention. As far as vitamins, I was taking fish omega oil, flax seed oil, along with a daily vitamin and calcium I was on Lexapro 5 mg for 3 weeks, that's it but keep in mind I had a violent reaction to it so with that being said, here we are 1 month 4 days out..and now I am on my way Thursday morning to see a Hematologist for high red blood cell count. My gynecologist will not touch me with estrogen until they know for sure that now I am not going to have a clotting problem. Also my estrogen was normal 6 months ago, it was 60 and is now 6 the only factor was the lexapro. My menstrual cycle has stopped ever since I ingested this medication. Unbelievable!!! I began taking black cohash, and soy isoflavones along with vitamin E 400 units but honestly, it was making the hot flushing worse so I discontinued all naturals until I have more blood work done to determine what is the real problem. I am going to take a saliva hormone test in the morning that will also measure my cortisol, I cannot begin to imagine, me personally if I had taken this drug longer what my condition would be today, or who knows, I might have been a statistic. Aunty I too have a Science education, I have begun, on my own much research on the effects of lexapro. Needless to say, I am appalled. This drug Lexapro is a real monster, if you are the percentage of the population that can not tolerate it. It can literally be lethal. I also read that our Superior Court may rule that "if the FDA has approved a drug, then any lawsuit against drug manufactures will be non existent and be thrown out state to state in any and all litigations". What the general public really needs to understand is that under this current administration, the CEO's of major pharmaceutical company's have been appointed by president Bush over the past 8 years to be the FDA, so really any "new drug" I would not trust at all due to the fact that they are pushing FDA approvals without enough clinical trials and testing's of drugs. We have become a drug pushing nation and one that is "using" Americans as guinea pigs. This is outrageous to say the least. I will keep you updated after my findings from the hematologist. Thank-you for your time, information and consideration, Mechelle

Winning a lawsuit against any drug company is almost impossible because they pay so many people off to lie and testify in their favor. Money talks and they have so much of it from screwing with our lives and getting all of us to continue to take drugs such as Lexapro because we cannot stop without horrible effects.

Ther are SO MANY kickcacks in the drug industry......evryone gets something for prescribing their drugs. Please let me know your cortisol testing. If you write to the administrator and let her know that I have given you Mechelle permission to have my email address. I do not want to post it publically. A few others have gotten it that way.

[hope for the best]

Aunty or others, I was just reading on another forum where someone is on their third try tapering off Lex after problems trying before and the only thing they've done different this time is to take 1000mg Vit D. Sounds like they are slow tapering but having no problems this time.

From what I've read I think I'll have my daughter add it to her supplement list as the only Vit D she's getting right now is from whats in her calcium supplement that she only uses occasionally. She doesn't spend much time outside so doesn't get much naturally. I think I'm going to take some myself too.

I swear I've read every post in this thread but can't for the life of me remember if Vit D has been discussed before (stupid perimenopausal memory lapse). Anyone have any comments on it?

[sara o]

Hello all,
I am new to the forum and hoping someone can offer some help. I have been taking Lexapro 10 mg for about 10 months. It really helped with my anxiety but caused so much fatigue and grogginess I could hardly get through a day. I have also gained 20 pounds since starting this med. WIth my doctor's assistance I have been tapering my dose for about 6 weeks and am down to 2.5 mg. This week I have had severe headaches and muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. It has been debilitating. Last night I actually had to take a muscle relaxer to be able to move my neck. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience. Maybe it's just the anxiety coming back which is causing the tension. I can't tell. Also I have started Weight Watchers again to try and lose the weight and am having no success ( I had great success with this twice in the past before Lexapro). Does anyone have any advice for weight loss that has worked despite being on Lexapro?? Help!!! I want off this medication!!

[Aeroman]

Just when I thought I was pulling out of the withdrawal symptoms!!!!! Last week, I started feeling dizzy and it doesn't go away! I move my eyes to my left or right while sitting down and I get whoozy. Know what I mean? Or I stand up focusing on my work and then I get "light" in my head. Tell me I am not alone! It's annoying. I did have the brain shivers but 95% of them are gone. I can tell I still have them after I lay down, ready for bed. I also feel this pressing squeezing tightening feeling on my scalp - maybe a tension headache? Hang in there everyone!!! (I'll take my own advice)

[hope for the best]

Since I'm not here for myself (daughter is tapering) I can't say that I have first hand experience but from reading the posts it sounds like lots of others have had what you are going through.

I read on a post you made that you don't want to hear about supplements (yeah I know they aren't a "cure") and I do admire and agree with you on letting the body heal itself. (I've found supplements helpful for other issues I have so I can't pooh pooh them though.)

Anyhow....I have tried to keep in mind things recommended by others that might help for various withdrawal issues to pass on to my daughter if she needs them. (She doesn't want to read these posts because she figures it'll scare the ..... out of her). So have you considered Dramamine non drowsy or Bonine? Some say they help.

Just wanted to let you know that someone was rooting for you and sorry this is not a fun time.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by hope for the best

Since I'm not here for myself (daughter is tapering) I can't say that I have first hand experience but from reading the posts it sounds like lots of others have had what you are going through.

I read on a post you made that you don't want to hear about supplements (yeah I know they aren't a "cure") and I do admire and agree with you on letting the body heal itself. (I've found supplements helpful for other issues I have so I can't pooh pooh them though.)

Anyhow....I have tried to keep in mind things recommended by others that might help for various withdrawal issues to pass on to my daughter if she needs them. (She doesn't want to read these posts because she figures it'll scare the ..... out of her). So have you considered Dramamine non drowsy or Bonine? Some say they help.

Just wanted to let you know that someone was rooting for you and sorry this is not a fun time.

Thanks for the reply. No no, you are correct...sorry if I discounted supplements. I guess I want to be off everything, you know, drug free. I don't consider supplements drugs but I have been popping pills for the past 3-4+ years for this or that. Believe it or not, I have written down magnesium and other items listed on my "To Buy" list. I feel they will help ease the withdrawals.

These SSRI's are powerful drugs. I have never given much attention to that statement until I had to go through my own drama. Sure thing, the feeling sucks and the horrible mind set that goes along with it. However, I am letting time pass until I can finally say, "Wow, I'm not feeling ______ anymore". Yep, that's life - we all go through something...it's how we deal with them that makes life interesting.

Dramamine non drowsy, I didn't consider that. I'll try it out....thanks!!!

[Unbelievable]

After 1.5 years, I am finally getting results from diet and exercise. When I was on Lex, no such thing. My trainer commented that I look much leaner. I haven't lost a ton...probably 4 pounds. But to see the scale dip down into the next category of second digits made my heart soar. The weight gain on Lex really depressed the hell out of me. I am now hopeful I can shed some of this weight before my wedding. Just thought I'd share (I know the weight was one of my huge concerns).

ETA: I just went back to my post to see my date of going off of Lex. I am actually on Day 20, not 26. Maybe wishful thinking on my part. Oops!

[hope for the best]

Originally Posted by sara o

Hello all,
I am new to the forum and hoping someone can offer some help. I have been taking Lexapro 10 mg for about 10 months. It really helped with my anxiety but caused so much fatigue and grogginess I could hardly get through a day. I have also gained 20 pounds since starting this med. WIth my doctor's assistance I have been tapering my dose for about 6 weeks and am down to 2.5 mg. This week I have had severe headaches and muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. It has been debilitating. Last night I actually had to take a muscle relaxer to be able to move my neck. I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience. Maybe it's just the anxiety coming back which is causing the tension. I can't tell. Also I have started Weight Watchers again to try and lose the weight and am having no success ( I had great success with this twice in the past before Lexapro). Does anyone have any advice for weight loss that has worked despite being on Lexapro?? Help!!! I want off this medication!!

I was hoping someone else would be along to give you some of their very helpful advice but until then....from reading the posts here it sounds very much like you are having problems similar to those other people have had.

Even though it sounds like you are tapering slower than some doctors would have you do, it's faster than many on this board would recommend. You might want to read back through, especially the posts by auntybiotic. Before you reduce anymore you might wait for your symptoms to level off.

You also might try some of the supplements talked about here. Even though I'm not on Lex (my daughter is) I have had good results from taking magnesium for the last few years for muscle spasm problems. You might at least consider that one as well as Omega 3 fish oil and others such as calcium and lecithin.

Unbelievable just posted about weight loss after weaning so there is some first hand info.

Good luck and hope you feel better soon.

[Debbie Steffens]

I recently quit taking lexapro and have had several of the withdrawal symptoms such as dizziness, a fluttery feeling in my chest, not sleeping, a dull headache, etc. I also have noticed that the area around my lips and mouth feel numb and a little tingly. Has anyone else ever had this problem? Is it true that this will begin tapering off after a couple of weeks? Should I take a lexapro every few days to keep the symptoms from being so bad or just tough it out?