[mims]

Hi, Anti-Drugs.

I'm still worrying about internal tremors even though I was very relieved to hear you had a similar experience that improved with time.

I feel like my bones are vibrating and sometimes my jaw, and even my hands sometimes. Mostly in my neck, back and hip, and mostly on the left side. Is this the same experience you had? I visited my neurologist again, and he has recommended more tests based on being unfamiliar wtih this as a withdrawal effect of Lexapro. I think it must be one of the less common withdrawal effects; I don't see many complaints about vibrations on this forum.

Did you feel like you had a motor running inside, near your bones, like maybe a motorized toothbrush vibration? Sometimes it's a very fine vibration like a tuning fork, other times it's more of a battery-operated toothbrush motor, and sometimes it's almost like a little jackhammer knocking.

Does this describe the sensation you had?

It's driving me nuts at night. Did you find any medicine or other remedy to help with this? I thought I was better for a while, but now it seems to be getting worse again. I'm trying to avoid drugs like sleeping pills or tranquilizers, but lying awake with motors in my body is making me crazy.

Thanks so much -- I'm looking for any reassurance I can get, and trying to avoid another MRI.

Mims

[Lost83]

Hi Everyone,

I personally do not take lexapro however, I am worried about my husband. He has been going through a rough time and the doc put him on lexapro early this year. I recently learned he was addicted to opiates for 18-24 months and he has now been clean for over 60 days (YAY ) But he is so depressed, the doc raised his dose from 10 to 20 mg a couple months ago. It seemed to do the trick but the past few weeks have been touch and go with him. He is getting up in the middle of the night, can't sleep, overwhelmed (he does have a lot on his plate between work, NA meeting, court ordered classes and our 1 year old). I notice him nodding off (like he used to when he was using) but it's near impossible or he would be in jail by now as he is drug tested multiple times a week.

His boss called me this morning and asked if something was going on with him because he is usually very positive at work but he said the past week or two he seems to be down in the dumps and irritable, he is concerned about him and so am I. I just chalked it up to him running constantly and being a little overwhelmed but it seems to be more than that. I asked him if he thinks the lexapro is making things worse and he isn't sure. When he brought this up to the doctor last time, he increased the dose but from what I understand 20 mg isn't an unreasonable dose.

I have been reading on this thread occassionally and think from others experience that this drug maybe hurting him more than it's helping......

[anti-drugs]

Originally Posted by mims

Hi, Anti-Drugs.

I'm still worrying about internal tremors even though I was very relieved to hear you had a similar experience that improved with time.

I feel like my bones are vibrating and sometimes my jaw, and even my hands sometimes. Mostly in my neck, back and hip, and mostly on the left side. Is this the same experience you had? I visited my neurologist again, and he has recommended more tests based on being unfamiliar wtih this as a withdrawal effect of Lexapro. I think it must be one of the less common withdrawal effects; I don't see many complaints about vibrations on this forum.

Did you feel like you had a motor running inside, near your bones, like maybe a motorized toothbrush vibration? Sometimes it's a very fine vibration like a tuning fork, other times it's more of a battery-operated toothbrush motor, and sometimes it's almost like a little jackhammer knocking.

Does this describe the sensation you had?

It's driving me nuts at night. Did you find any medicine or other remedy to help with this? I thought I was better for a while, but now it seems to be getting worse again. I'm trying to avoid drugs like sleeping pills or tranquilizers, but lying awake with motors in my body is making me crazy.

Thanks so much -- I'm looking for any reassurance I can get, and trying to avoid another MRI.

Mims

Hi Mims,

Sorry to hear you are still having problems with the internal vibrations. I had some internal vibrations when I first stopped Lexapro. It felt like I had the chills on the inside. I don't think you could physically see me shake but it was very annoying. It always happened when I would try to relax, like my body still wanted to be moving. I'm not sure this is the same thing you are experiencing, but mine went away in a month or so.

Just remember Lexapro affects our nervous system and brain. It is going to take a while for your body to heal itself. Just think positive and we'll get through this.

Here is a link I find very informative about withdrawal from SSRI's. I hope it helps.

http://www.healthonhealth.com/Health...ation-syndrome

Anti-Drugs

[hope for the best]

Just wanted to check back in to update my daughter's situation after tapering off Lexapro. She has been off now for 3 months and is doing great. She's so much like her old self that I almost forget she had problems for awhile. For anyone tapering you might want to consider doing a very slow taper.

Her taper schedule from 10 mg:

Dropped to_______ stayed for
7.5 mg.................2 weeks
5 mg....................1 month
4.5 mg.................2 weeks
4 mg....................2 weeks
3.5 mg.................2 weeks
3 mg....................2 weeks
2.5 mg.................2 weeks
2 mg....................2 weeks
1.5 mg.................2 weeks
1 mg....................2 weeks
.5 mg...................2 weeks
.25 mg.................2 weeks
Off

Before she began tapering she started taking supplements and continued most of them through the whole process. They were Omega 3 fish oil, magnesium, lecithin, vitamin C, and sometimes inositol and choline. She also drank DanActive (yogurt drink) and often a whey supplement.

I wish you all well, please give yourself the time you need to slowly adjust to the changes you are subjecting your brain to.

[mims]

Thanks for your reply. It's primarily a problem when I'm trying to relax or sleep, even though it does happen in a mild form throughout the day, especially in the evening. It's scary to think this could be a long-term problem or permanent.

This has been going on for a long time, as it was happening the whole time I was tapering.

Like your chills, this is not visible at all. There have been a few times I could feel the trembling by touching my hand to my leg, but for the most part it's just deeply internal.

Thanks for the link also.

Mims

[SL500]

Hi all,

So I am currently tapering my lexapro. I have been tapering 1/8 of a 5mg pill (.62mgs) a time. It took me a while to get to 7.5mgs (I would hold no sooner than two weeks at a time - which 90% i would hold for 6 weeks). So I have been on 7.5mgs for almost 8 weeks and am having a really hard time. I have been having the most horrible anxiety for the past few days and have been getting this weird feeling in my chest when I wake in the morning. I know I am ok cause I had every test done under the sun to make sure - and Im only 28. I cant stop thinking about this and cant understand how I got to this point. I thought I was doing well my last cut - only a few setbacks and now after almost 8 weeks, I am feeling horrible. I cant stop thinking about it either. I try not to but its hard. I am not taking anything else or any supplements because I am afraid it may interact with the w/d effects. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? Do I go up to the last dose I was on? Should I stay here or continue tapering? I have so much coming up - my shower and then wedding - and I dont want to feel like this!! ugghhh!! Its so frustrating.

Any advice would help....

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by SL500

Hi all,

So I am currently tapering my lexapro. I have been tapering 1/8 of a 5mg pill (.62mgs) a time. It took me a while to get to 7.5mgs (I would hold no sooner than two weeks at a time - which 90% i would hold for 6 weeks). So I have been on 7.5mgs for almost 8 weeks and am having a really hard time. I have been having the most horrible anxiety for the past few days and have been getting this weird feeling in my chest when I wake in the morning. I know I am ok cause I had every test done under the sun to make sure - and Im only 28. I cant stop thinking about this and cant understand how I got to this point. I thought I was doing well my last cut - only a few setbacks and now after almost 8 weeks, I am feeling horrible. I cant stop thinking about it either. I try not to but its hard. I am not taking anything else or any supplements because I am afraid it may interact with the w/d effects. Anyone have any suggestions on what I should do? Do I go up to the last dose I was on? Should I stay here or continue tapering? I have so much coming up - my shower and then wedding - and I dont want to feel like this!! ugghhh!! Its so frustrating.

Any advice would help....

perhaps go up to the dose you felt stabilized. I've learned from Paxilprogress.org that just because you do a slow taper does not mean you will dodge the withdrawals. I know Julia here did an ultra slow taper from a low dose of Lex and she still went through w/d's. I, on the other hand, was tapered too fast and here I am, almost 8 months out and life has been a DRAG. It crosses my mind why I got off Lexapro in the first place if I did pretty good on it...

[SL500]

Originally Posted by Aeroman

perhaps go up to the dose you felt stabilized. I've learned from Paxilprogress.org that just because you do a slow taper does not mean you will dodge the withdrawals. I know Julia here did an ultra slow taper from a low dose of Lex and she still went through w/d's. I, on the other hand, was tapered too fast and here I am, almost 8 months out and life has been a DRAG. It crosses my mind why I got off Lexapro in the first place if I did pretty good on it...

Thanks. I've been doing a turtle taper myself. Its almost 8 weeks and I taper less than 10% a shot. I just dont know if I should stay here, go up or keep going. I never really felt good on it from the get go. I was also on klonzapan while on it so I dont know. I am off the klonz almost 5 months now so I am still in some w/d from that too.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by SL500

Thanks. I've been doing a turtle taper myself. Its almost 8 weeks and I taper less than 10% a shot. I just dont know if I should stay here, go up or keep going. I never really felt good on it from the get go. I was also on klonzapan while on it so I dont know. I am off the klonz almost 5 months now so I am still in some w/d from that too.

yeah, it does bite. Funny you mention wedding and all. Did your symptoms (before SSRI's) start when you got engaged? I never had a history of depression or anxiety until the year was engaged (2003). I was driving along with my wife (fiance at the time) and I got hit with my first panic attack. I didn't know at the time it was that. i thought I had some other medical condition going on and I was in and out of doc offices. Weeks went by and I encountered my first true depressive episode. I didnt want to do anything, etc..and at the time, I am thinking, why am I depressed? I have nothing to be depressed about! Sure enough, my general doc gave me Prozac and well, thats how I was introduced to antidepressants. I am sure we will all recover sooner or later, no meds. Take care.

[fmza]

I haven't posted in awhile, but i am in desparate need of help. I got off lex in feb after a two month taper off of 20mg. I had all the w/d symptoms, but one day at the end of may, i couldn't sleep all night, i was wired.

i went to the dr and he gave me xanax, and eventually klonopin and ambien cr. i eventually got some sleep on those drugs, but not enough.

i cut the klonopin and am still on ambien cr, but only getting about 3 hrs a night.

i haven't had sleep on my own since that day in may this all started. My cortisol levels are high, and the dr says my body is in constant fight or flight mode and won't calm down.

he says the only thing left to do is go back on an ssri, most likely lexapro, since that worked for me before.

i can't live like this, i am so tired i can't function. i need to sleep, but i don't want to go back on lex.

has anyone else had insomina this severe? i can't nap, not even a minute, and i used to be a good sleeper.

i don't know what to do, its been almost 5 months since the sleep thing started.

thanks in advance

[SL500]

Originally Posted by fmza

I haven't posted in awhile, but i am in desparate need of help. I got off lex in feb after a two month taper off of 20mg. I had all the w/d symptoms, but one day at the end of may, i couldn't sleep all night, i was wired.

i went to the dr and he gave me xanax, and eventually klonopin and ambien cr. i eventually got some sleep on those drugs, but not enough.

i cut the klonopin and am still on ambien cr, but only getting about 3 hrs a night.

i haven't had sleep on my own since that day in may this all started. My cortisol levels are high, and the dr says my body is in constant fight or flight mode and won't calm down.

he says the only thing left to do is go back on an ssri, most likely lexapro, since that worked for me before.

i can't live like this, i am so tired i can't function. i need to sleep, but i don't want to go back on lex.

has anyone else had insomina this severe? i can't nap, not even a minute, and i used to be a good sleeper.

i don't know what to do, its been almost 5 months since the sleep thing started.

thanks in advance

Is sleep the only issue you are having right now? Are you on all three meds at the same time? And how long were you on the klonzapan before you cut it? What does were you on - and how much did you cut at a time? Did you get any releif at all from taking those meds?

[SL500]

Originally Posted by Aeroman

yeah, it does bite. Funny you mention wedding and all. Did your symptoms (before SSRI's) start when you got engaged? I never had a history of depression or anxiety until the year was engaged (2003). I was driving along with my wife (fiance at the time) and I got hit with my first panic attack. I didn't know at the time it was that. i thought I had some other medical condition going on and I was in and out of doc offices. Weeks went by and I encountered my first true depressive episode. I didnt want to do anything, etc..and at the time, I am thinking, why am I depressed? I have nothing to be depressed about! Sure enough, my general doc gave me Prozac and well, thats how I was introduced to antidepressants. I am sure we will all recover sooner or later, no meds. Take care.

No, my symptoms started way before that but not to this extent - its more anxiety than anything esle. They got worse when they took me off of effexor and right on to lexapro. I didnt get engaged until after that. Why did they switch you from prozac to lexapro? And did lexapro work while you were on it? I am debating on updosing a little and hten take it even slower - however I dont know how Im goign to do that. I am doing a slow turtle taper. The anxiety is just so bad. I dont know what to do....

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by SL500

No, my symptoms started way before that but not to this extent - its more anxiety than anything esle. They got worse when they took me off of effexor and right on to lexapro. I didnt get engaged until after that. Why did they switch you from prozac to lexapro? And did lexapro work while you were on it? I am debating on updosing a little and hten take it even slower - however I dont know how Im goign to do that. I am doing a slow turtle taper. The anxiety is just so bad. I dont know what to do....

My shrink got me off Prozac because I was in "remission". About 6 months went by and my mood symptoms came back. Because I complained about the side effects of Prozac (weight gain and libido issues), he put me on Lexapro which was known to have less of the side effects (yeah, right).

Lex did work. My moods lifted and I was back to being motivated, energetic, sleeping well, etc. But again, the side effects were no good so I was tapered off 10mg within a month and about 3-4 months after that, the symptoms of depression and anxiety returned, bigtime. I have just been toughing it out...

[SL500]

Originally Posted by Aeroman

My shrink got me off Prozac because I was in "remission". About 6 months went by and my mood symptoms came back. Because I complained about the side effects of Prozac (weight gain and libido issues), he put me on Lexapro which was known to have less of the side effects (yeah, right).

Lex did work. My moods lifted and I was back to being motivated, energetic, sleeping well, etc. But again, the side effects were no good so I was tapered off 10mg within a month and about 3-4 months after that, the symptoms of depression and anxiety returned, bigtime. I have just been toughing it out...

What were your side effects?? I was contemplating on switching to prozac. I know a few people who swear by it.

[boogie30]

Short story---I'm 4 weeks into being off of Lexapro The anxiety and depression are awful. I also found out Friday that I have a nodule on my thyroid. I will have a biopsy tomorrow. I wake up sick every morning. I get some relief at bedtime. When are the withdrawal sysmptoms going to stop? One doctor wants me to try prozac and now another doctor wants me to try wellbutrin. What do I need to do. I agree that I am going to have to take something to help with the withdrawals, but which one will help the most? Thank you!

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by SL500

What were your side effects?? I was contemplating on switching to prozac. I know a few people who swear by it.

Side effects of Prozac for me were decreased libido (almost to 0) and I gained a lot of weight (30-40lbs). I would not advise switching to anything...because if you do, you may potentially have to deal with Prozac withdrawals. Its like starting all over again. That is why I am not getting back on anything. You would have to deal with Lexapro withdrawals, plus the new intro side effects of Prozac, PLUS w/d from Prozac. Just my .02

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by boogie30

Short story---I'm 4 weeks into being off of Lexapro The anxiety and depression are awful. I also found out Friday that I have a nodule on my thyroid. I will have a biopsy tomorrow. I wake up sick every morning. I get some relief at bedtime. When are the withdrawal sysmptoms going to stop? One doctor wants me to try prozac and now another doctor wants me to try wellbutrin. What do I need to do. I agree that I am going to have to take something to help with the withdrawals, but which one will help the most? Thank you!

Anxiety and depression are NORMAL w/d symptoms of Lexapro. 4 weeks is just the beginning. I am almost 8 months out and I am still dealing with depression. However, the intensity of the anxiety have diminished some.

I am sure your biopsy will come out negative...I am only 32 and I was checked for cancer in to separate areas in my body - both negative.

I wake up in very low moods, low energy, no motivation in the morning. I used to have the morning anxiety but they have diminished now right around the 6th month out.

Wellbutrin is VERY stimulating. I took it. It will cause more anxiety if you are already dealing with it.

Prozac is another older SSRI with a longer half life. As stated above, you may have to restart your w/d's again. Its all a risk and your choice. Only you know.

I started with Prozac in 2003 for a year and while it made me feel good, I had to put up with the protractive withdrawals at the end.

NO MORE DRUGS FOR ME - the cycle ends now, no matter how horrible I feel right now. This is not permanent people!

[mims]

Originally Posted by boogie30

Short story---I'm 4 weeks into being off of Lexapro The anxiety and depression are awful. I also found out Friday that I have a nodule on my thyroid. I will have a biopsy tomorrow. I wake up sick every morning. I get some relief at bedtime. When are the withdrawal sysmptoms going to stop? One doctor wants me to try prozac and now another doctor wants me to try wellbutrin. What do I need to do. I agree that I am going to have to take something to help with the withdrawals, but which one will help the most? Thank you!

Boogie, Maybe you could do a google search, or check this drugs.com site to see what other people (people who have used prozac or wellbutrin ) have to say about those drugs and their side effects and withdrawal effects.

Also, you can find (maybe on drugs.com, or the drug company's site), the package insert that lists usual side effects, warnings, contraindications, etc. Although we all know the info furnished by the drug company on Lexapro was extremely incomplete, to say the least, it still may be helpful to you to read the information furnished on prozac and wellbutrin.

Please don't take my word for this, I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure Wellbutrin is associated with a slightly increased risk of seizure -- but maybe only in people who already have some other risk factor for seizure. Ask some questions about that before you make a decision. On the positive side, I think wellbutrin also causes some weight loss. That may be good for some people, bad for others.

Are you seeing a psychiatrist or a primary care physician? Psychiatrists are much more familiar with the effects of all these ssri's, since they have prescribed them so much more often, so maybe you could have a consultation with a psych if you haven't already. However, just be aware that since they do typically prescribe alot of drugs, well ---- that's what they do, so you can expect to walk out with a prescription. However, it sounds like switching to another drug is what you are planning to do anyway. If you see a psych, you can always say "I want to take a med primarily to relieve these withdrawals and then taper off of it, and I want the lowest possible dose that would be effective for that purpose. "

Also, I'd be very cautious about taking anything that's new on the market. I think we've all been guinea pigs for Lexapro. I know there's a new drug recently introduced, SSRI or SNRI; my doctor suggested it for me; he has prescribed it already in a few patients, and they like it. But I said no thanks. I'm sure many people have been helped by antidepressants, but drugs are not the answer for me.

Aeroman, I'm so sorry you have felt bad for so long. It's too bad these drugs are prescribed so quickly. You were probably just concerned primarily with ruling out serious illness when you started having problems.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by mims

Aeroman, I'm so sorry you have felt bad for so long. It's too bad these drugs are prescribed so quickly. You were probably just concerned primarily with ruling out serious illness when you started having problems.

Thanks mims...life just hasnt been fun but I try not to dwell on the funk along with all the other w/d issues.

Just curious out there...anyone else develop chronic back pain since getting off the meds? I had episodes before but not like this...chronic, all the time low back ache/pain.

Acupuncture brings relief. i just started it about 3 weeks ago.

[boogie30]

Just got my tyroid biospy back from the doctor. Everything is ok--thank the Lord. I still haven't heard anything about my echogram--got the bill today, but not the results.hahah I am still wanting to get through this without taking any kind of medication. The last few days I have had terrible anxiety and depression. Do you think that anxiety and depression can cause heart problems or other health issues? I have got to get through this. Do you think that I am still having Lexapro withdrawal? Is there anything that I can do to help with the anxiety and depression? Sorry for so many questions. You have been a great help to me.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by boogie30

Just got my tyroid biospy back from the doctor. Everything is ok--thank the Lord. I still haven't heard anything about my echogram--got the bill today, but not the results.hahah I am still wanting to get through this without taking any kind of medication. The last few days I have had terrible anxiety and depression. Do you think that anxiety and depression can cause heart problems or other health issues? I have got to get through this. Do you think that I am still having Lexapro withdrawal? Is there anything that I can do to help with the anxiety and depression? Sorry for so many questions. You have been a great help to me.

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what did I tell you, huh!!!

The anxiety for me subsided around Month 6, give or take. I mean, I still have it but not as bad as before. Its kinda grey are there. However, my #1 complaint has been depression and I hate it. i have had it for almost 5 months. It started right around month 3. i think the depression can cause other health issues such as sleep disturbances (or maybe from Lex w/d itself), aches and pains, etc. i am not sure about heart problems. When I tend to exercise, I get heart palpitations and I have pretty much accepted these. I think it goes away from what I read. I take two blood pressure meds which I hope to get away from (i'm 32 years old).

As far as doing anything, I have been told Fish Oil helps with depression. i took it for a few months but it did not give me relief. Do you find the evenings easier to cope with compared to mornings? My mornings are VERY tough. I find it difficult to get out of bed even though I slept enough. I still have early morning awakening but I just get used to them. The morning anxiety has subsided but I would still get them here and there, even close to 8 months out. I also read that the Bach Remedy stuff helps with anxiety. I took it but didnt do a thing for me.

However, for anxiety, what has helped has been Dr. Weekes' method dealing with anxiety, panic attacks. Listen to her recordings plus Jim's story:


http://www.controllinganxiety.com/dsp_downloads.php

[boogie30]

Yes, you were right about the biospy!!!! My mornings are not so good. I wake up suddenly and have nausea. My legs are very weak and it feels like my heart is racing. But, by afternoon I feel better. I think I would feel better if I could control the anxiety during sleep and the nausea. I am going to try very hard not to take any medication. Does you chest ever hurt? This last few days my chest feels so tight. Thanks for responding and have a great day!

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by boogie30

Yes, you were right about the biospy!!!! My mornings are not so good. I wake up suddenly and have nausea. My legs are very weak and it feels like my heart is racing. But, by afternoon I feel better. I think I would feel better if I could control the anxiety during sleep and the nausea. I am going to try very hard not to take any medication. Does you chest ever hurt? This last few days my chest feels so tight. Thanks for responding and have a great day!

sure, no problem. Thats what this forum is about, comparing notes and helping each other out while enduring withdrawal. My chest has never hurt. The most I have felt is the heart beating hard and feeling that on my chest, like after climbing up a bunch of flight of stairs. I never had these issues before w/d. All the lightheaded, dizzy, nausea, etc symptoms came after quitting Lexapro.

[mims]

I'm sure that anxiety and depression can cause tense, tight feelings in the chest, and maybe lexapro withdrawal can, also; I'm convinced of that, but that's my opinion, not medically proven.

I have just been through a complete cardiology workup myself -- ekg, echo, thallium treadmill, the whole works. No problems were found, absolutely none, even though I've had all kinds of weird feelings in my chest including occasional shooting pains, tight feelings in center of chest, sensation of "missed" or irregular heartbeats, etc. A feeling of skipped heartbeat that gave me a "sinking" feeling when I tried to relax. My medical tests look really good. Makes me feel like a hypochodriac. At about 11 weeks off Lexapro, I'm feeling fewer chest symptoms than I did a few weeks ago. I'm not sure if that means lexapro was responsible, but it seems like a possibility.

I have seen a cardiologist for a number of years to keep an eye on a relatively benign heart condition called mitral valve prolapse. The cardiologist told me years ago that depression can cause you to feel more aware of the heartbeat irregularities. That's the main reason I decided to take an SSRI years ago (Paxil) during a period of stress in my life that increased the heart symptoms. At some point I quit the paxil, and later tried lexapro for other reasons --- (primarily PMS).

The only reason I had the full cardio exam recently was that I was having so many strange health problems (that I now believe were related to Lexapro withdrawal). When I started having chest symptoms I became concerned and decided to go ahead with the heart tests. Amazingly, the Mitral valve problem seems to have gone away -- did not show up on the tests at all.

I don't know how many people have heart symptoms due to anxiety or lexapro withdrawal, but I doubt we're the only ones.

I know you must be relieved to have your thyroid biopsy turn out OK.

When you have chest / heart symptoms, what else can you do but go have your heart checked out? You can't afford to ignore it. I've spent a fortune having tests that all turn out beautiful. Heart scan , brain scan, eye exams, blood tests -- AAUUGH!

I feel better on the days I take a long walk. I believe exercise must be helpful.

Thank God I never had much nausea. I can't take benadryl; it makes my heart feel jumpy, but if you are able to take it, I think it can be helpful for nausea, mainly because it makes you relaxed and sleepy.

[boogie30]

Today was not a good day. I woke up with rapid pulse rate and high blood pressure. I finally gave in and took a prozac-10mg (first one every). I don't think it helped any. My legs were so weak and sore most of the day. I am so tired. If I could get over the morning wake up call, I think I would be so much better. Any suggestions? Do you both still think that this is withdrawal? Thanks!!!

[boogie30]

I too have Mitral Valve Prolapse. Seems like we have a lot in common!

[mims]

Originally Posted by boogie30

Today was not a good day. I woke up with rapid pulse rate and high blood pressure. I finally gave in and took a prozac-10mg (first one every). I don't think it helped any. My legs were so weak and sore most of the day. I am so tired. If I could get over the morning wake up call, I think I would be so much better. Any suggestions? Do you both still think that this is withdrawal? Thanks!!!

Boogie, I didn't really have nausea or weakness with withdrawals, but it seems that we're all affected slightly differently, with some common symptoms and some that are "different" , like my internal vibrations. I'm fairly certain that's a w/d symptom for me, but only a few people on this forum seem to have experienced vibrations.

I have seen other complaints about nausea, so I'm sure that's a common w/d problem. And I did have sore, aching muscles for a while, but not weakness -- just a flu-like ache.

I had high blood pressure as a w/d symptom when I abruptly stopped taking lexapro. First time in my life I had experienced high blood pressure. It came right back down when I reinstated the lexapro, and it stayed normal as I tapered off.

I wish I could assure you that it's all connected with withdrawal, but I really don't know for certain , and I am still wondering whether my own problems could possibly be withdrawal after all this time. I do feel like I'm having gradual improvement with setbacks from time to time, but I'm starting to have some days when I feel OK for hours at a time.

A few of the people posting here who seemed to have the worst symptoms (including weakness to the point of falling down) ended up with a diagnosis of Lyme disease. Do you have any reason to think that might be a possibility? There's alot of overlap with the symptoms of Lyme and lexapro withdrawals.

I finally went ahead and had the Lyme test so I woudn't have to worry about it. ( negative, thank goodness).

Let us know if the prozac helps. Sorry you had to resort to a new drug, but it may be the best option if you can't get through the withdrawals otherwise.

[boogie30]

No, I don't think it is Lyme's disease. Wouldn't I have a rash if it was that? Plus, I'm not having headaches, thank goodness. I don't think I've mentioned to you that I am 50. Could I be going through perimenopause? My test shows that I am no where near menopause. I don't think it is that because of the sleep disturbance thing. But, I am having hot flashes.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by boogie30

Today was not a good day. I woke up with rapid pulse rate and high blood pressure. I finally gave in and took a prozac-10mg (first one every). I don't think it helped any. My legs were so weak and sore most of the day. I am so tired. If I could get over the morning wake up call, I think I would be so much better. Any suggestions? Do you both still think that this is withdrawal? Thanks!!!

YES it's still withdrawal! I still have the early morning wake up call however, the morning anxiety has practically diminished after enduring it for 3-4 months. It does go away...I still get it here and there but nothing like before.

wow, I just said something positive

depression is still my #1 bad guy

[mims]

Originally Posted by boogie30

No, I don't think it is Lyme's disease. Wouldn't I have a rash if it was that? Plus, I'm not having headaches, thank goodness. I don't think I've mentioned to you that I am 50. Could I be going through perimenopause? My test shows that I am no where near menopause. I don't think it is that because of the sleep disturbance thing. But, I am having hot flashes.

Well, 51 is the average age of menopause, so you're the right age for it. But I've seen other complaints on this site from people, I think both men and women, who had problems with excessive perspiration when quitting Lexapro - not necessarily a hot flash, but sudden sweats. (There may be a way to search this thread for those posts -- not sure.)

Lexapro and other SSRI's are pretty commonly prescribed for menopause symptoms -- helps relieve hot flashes -- so it's possible that when you were taking Lexapro it may have suppressed the perimenopause symptoms, and now they've come out to bite you. I'm 55 ---- I only had mild hot flashes, more like "warm flushes", as I went into menopause at age 50 or 51. I did have a couple of big ones that literally put me on the floor -- thought I was getting a virus, but it passed quickly. I only had those 2 that made me feel weak, so I don't know if weakness is typical. I was lucky with menopause. There was a time when I took lexapro several years ago, can't remember the exact dates, then I quit without all these terrible withdrawals, and later started back. I wonder if the lexapro helped me through perimenopause, and I just wasn't aware that the drug was making it easier.

If you're going into menopause, it might be a difficult time to withdraw from an SSRI.

During my google search of internal tremors/vibrations, I came across a site called "power surge" for women in menopause or perimenopause. There were quite a few vibrating women on that site who were blaming their vibrations on perimenopause. It made me wonder if I had altered my hormone levels by taking the Lexapro and then quitting cold-turkey.

Oh, yeah: Sleep disturbance is very common in menopause. Many people get their worst hot flashes during the night -- wake up with their sheets and nightgown wet.