[nate112]

If you are weening her off that slowly she really shouldn't be w/ding that bad. It might be in "her head" so to speak or its for real. Any i say stick to the plan and keep on keeping on.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by nate112

If you are weening her off that slowly she really shouldn't be w/ding that bad. It might be in "her head" so to speak or its for real. Any i say stick to the plan and keep on keeping on.

I disagree. Tapering slow will provide a greater chance to tolerate symptoms, if any. However, no one is immune to getting withdrawal despite the slow steady decrease of the drug. The brain can take 12-18 months to heal, post taper. Its not a question about the drug being in your system...its a matter of how your brain will adjust without the chemical (Lexapro). That can take awhile but for some lucky users, it can be short lived.

[Rosalinde]

Hi everybody. I haven't been around here in a long time, but wanted to give encouragement to anyone going through what I went through on that horrible poison, Lexapro.
I was on it for 1.5 years. I tapered slowly 10% every two weeks. I tapered from July '07 to April '08. After getting off, I was miserable, hurting, depressed for a few weeks. Then it all started to clear. I am about 8 months off the drug and it is getting BETTER every single month.
I can't write more now, but will be back later. Hang in there - there is light at the end of the tunnel and it is SO worth getting off. It takes time to recover.

[Anxiety47]

Hi everyone,

I'm a male 47 yrs old and recently started having axiety issues. At first my Dr. put me on 20mg Prozac and withing 2 weeks I had a full blown panic attack. He took me off that and has had me taking Xanax, .5mg up to 3 times a dayfor the last two weeks. This has helped a lot. Now he wants me to start taking Lexapro, starting at 5mg a day for 8 days and then increasing to 10mg after that. After ready many of the posts here, it seems like not many are happy they even started on Lexapro. Can anyone give me some insight why I should/shouldn't start taking Lexapro. I'm also getting the impression Xanax is not a good idea. What is the consensus best choice med for moderate anxiety? Need answers fast as I'm supposed to start Lexapro (the free samples) today.

[jenthebod]

Originally Posted by Anxiety47

Hi everyone,

I'm a male 47 yrs old and recently started having axiety issues. At first my Dr. put me on 20mg Prozac and withing 2 weeks I had a full blown panic attack. He took me off that and has had me taking Xanax, .5mg up to 3 times a dayfor the last two weeks. This has helped a lot. Now he wants me to start taking Lexapro, starting at 5mg a day for 8 days and then increasing to 10mg after that. After ready many of the posts here, it seems like not many are happy they even started on Lexapro. Can anyone give me some insight why I should/shouldn't start taking Lexapro. I'm also getting the impression Xanax is not a good idea. What is the consensus best choice med for moderate anxiety? Need answers fast as I'm supposed to start Lexapro (the free samples) today.

I knew a few people that took Lexapro before I started taking it and a majority of them said it was wonderful. Now, I'd like to kick all of them for recommending this to me. I would say the w/d stage is enough to not take it, let alone how awful I felt while taking Lex. I'm not a doctor, and maybe you'll be one of those who has success with Lexapro, but I'd just like to say that before you decide to take this drug, take a look at what's potentially causing your anxiety and try to work yourself through it. Talk therapy is also wonderful and did more for me than the pills ever did. Also, I would say be a bit apprehensive when listening to your doctor about this drug. I had total faith and confidence in my doctor that I had seen for years, but I think sometimes they prefer a quick fix, that they don't know much about, instead of telling you to pursue other non-chemical options.

Good luck and I hope you find something that works for you!

[jenthebod]

My time of feeling good was short. If it's not one thing, it's another. Physical symptoms have subsided (because of exercise, I think) but I've been feeling depressed lately and I must say I am getting very frustrated with this whole process and am so ready for it to be over. I am going to try hypnosis this week to deal with anxiety and I think that getting that out of the way will make it much easier for me to deal with the w/ds. I also wanted to share this information I found http://www.restoreunity.org/blocking...of_seroton.htm about eating foods to help with serotonin problems and would really appreciate your thoughts on it. I'm worried about trying to mess with my brain anymore, even with food! ha.

Also, I can't recall right now the names of those that lent their experiences, but I have to say thank you! Hearing how much better other people are feeling gives me much hope!

[thailandsam]

Originally Posted by ladyhanis

Hello auntybiotic!

I have been on Lexapro for one year now. The first 6 months I took 10mg but realized it wasn't enough. For the last 6 months I was taking 20mg but decided to wean off because I want to get pregnant. My psychiatrist recommended to cut the dose by half and I have been doing so for one week.

My main symptom is anxiety with a lot of mood swings, but mostly you coud say I'm just grumpy!! It's quite awful sometimes but it joined up with my PMS so I feel worse than usual. Since I live in the Netherlands I took some pot for a couple nights (a low dose was good enough), but I understand I cannot recommend that for your teenage daughter.

I lost a lot of weight while on Lexapro so now I also notice I am hungry all the time. I just hope I don't bounce up too high. Also, I feel unusually hot at moments and sweat at nights, which is something I have never had before. When I was taking the 20mg my dreams were quite pleasant always, but now I have very bad nightmares and the worst part is that I don't wake-up from them. I feel a bit disoriented in space and time and also a bit dizzy sometimes but not too bad. Headaches also come in every now and then but, again, not too strong.

I will take 10mg for 15 more days and from there we will see if I can graduate down to a smaller dose. Psycologically I feel I am not quite ready but on the other hand, I don't want to get too dependant.

Good luck to you and your daughter.

Hi Ladyhanis,

You said you were going to see if you stabilized after a couple weeks and then cut down again. I hope that you are doing better, but I would caution you to slow down your taper if you are already getting wd symptoms at 10mg. If you read back to Aunty Biotic's posts, her daughter struggled with reductions of 1-2mg over a long period of time. Some people have a great struggle getting off Lex--just read these posts, and others, well, if there are others out there they aren't posting here! But proceed with caution, work with your doctor, and listen to your body.

I was on 20mg from March through August, and decided that my situation had improved sufficiently that it made no sense to treat situational depression anymore. I started my taper in September and I am now taking 5mg daily. It's been slow going, but so far I have experienced no wd symptoms (knock on wood). I have been able to kick Prozac and Wellbutrin cold turkey in the past, but I'm taking it slow with Lex. Maybe I'm one of the lucky ones who are less susceptible to wd--I hope so! But it doesn't sound like you are. Reducing from 20mg to 10mg straightaway seems like it may have been too sudden given your complaints.

I would just say don't rush it, especially if you are already having a hard time. You may even want to consider going up a bit in dosage to stabilize to a point you can deal with those symptoms, rather than reducing again so soon. It may not be what you want to do if you are trying to get pregnant, but if you read through some of the posts here, people who struggle with wd have a rough time for months. That might make pregnancy much more difficult.

Best of luck,
Sam

[wherethehellami?]

hey anyone have any ideas why I'm overly sensitive to meat...is it because there is too many b vitamins? I really screwed myself over with this mess. I have been experiencing levels of fatigue at different points during the day in which bananas really give me a lot of energy. Magnesium malate seems to help me a bit as well when I get the pressure in my head. I am really weary of eating certain foods which is proving to be stressful itself. I was almost there when unfortunate circumstances happened. I keep trying to tell myself that I am going to get better but sometimes I am not so sure.

[jonathon7989]

Hello everyone! I've been experiencing severe panic attacks and anxiety for many years but lately they've been getting more frequent. On a daily basis. I had Acupuncture done and it helped a little. I took three Lexapro's 10mg doses (over three days of course) and I didn't like the way it made me feel. I haven't taken one in around 4 days and I feel drunk, almost in a dream-like state, hard to concentrate, zoning out etc. Is it possible to feel these symptoms just off of a few doses? Also, I get the brain-zapping thing but only when I'm trying to sleep. Does anyone know how to help cope with these or anything I can do to make it better? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Jon

[Old Mike]

Hi all. Thanks
for update ntoes.

Well, since I'd been without for a week or so, I cut my 10mgs in half when I got the refill. I've been on 5 mg for about 6 days. Can't say I feel too bad. No depression issues. Drowsy during the day, but I'm hoping that is from being off for a week. I'm hoping that getting off the Lex will get rid of constant drowsiness I've had since I started it.
No headaches, pain in neck and back seems to be absent.
I hope this keeps up. I think I'll stick with the 5 mgs for about a month, then try cutting those in half down to 2.5 and see what happens. I look forward to the day when I can flush the remainder of the script down the john.

I guess it's a good time of year to get off this stuff. Seems the occasional egg nog helps.....just kidding.

Mike

[mims]

Originally Posted by Old Mike

Hi all. Thanks
for update ntoes.

Well, since I'd been without for a week or so, I cut my 10mgs in half when I got the refill. I've been on 5 mg for about 6 days. Can't say I feel too bad. No depression issues. Drowsy during the day, but I'm hoping that is from being off for a week. I'm hoping that getting off the Lex will get rid of constant drowsiness I've had since I started it.
No headaches, pain in neck and back seems to be absent.
I hope this keeps up. I think I'll stick with the 5 mgs for about a month, then try cutting those in half down to 2.5 and see what happens. I look forward to the day when I can flush the remainder of the script down the john.

I guess it's a good time of year to get off this stuff. Seems the occasional egg nog helps.....just kidding.

Mike

Mike, Glad you seem to be doing well.

My own experience: Quit cold-turkey and felt terrible. It took awhile before I realized that my illness was caused by Lexapro withdrawal. Started back on 10 mg Lexapro, quickly went to 5 mg with no problem. Stayed on 5 mg for a month or two, and then I tapered to 2.5, still felt OK, or at least not terrible, Then I dropped to about half that, then quit.

I think the reason I'm still having long term problems may be that I became overconfident and tapered too fast toward the end. I don't know if that's the most important part of the taper, or if the problem is getting the dosage right when dividing the tablets, but I've noticed that other people posting here have had similar problems.

When you go from 10 to 5 and then from 5 to 2.5 without serious problems, it's easy to think you're home free after that, but my advice is: after 5 mg, it's very important to taper no more than 10% at a time, down to 0, even if you have to switch to a liquid or grind your pills and mix with juice as I have seen others report on this thread.

It's possible that I was going to have these problems anyway, because of the initial shock of sudden withdrawal. However, I would definitely advise a slow taper in hopes of avoiding long term withdrawal illness.

Some of my problems have improved, but the tremors/internal vibrations are not getting better. I'm really worried, and want to encourage anybody reading this to be very cautious about tapering and follow the slow and careful plan especially as you approach the "home stretch".

[mims]

Aero,

Did you say that you developed a back ache after about 4 months? Well, I haven't had a back ache in years, but guess what suddenly hit me for no reason? I'm about 4 and 1/2 months off Lexapro now.

Years ago, I took paxil for a while, and had a really terrible, debilitating backache; had no idea until recently that backache is now a known side effect of paxil. I think it may even be listed in the package insert now. Anyway, this one is not as bad as the one I had in the 1990's, but it hurts in exactly the same place as the one I had before!!

How are you doing with the back pain, and everything else? Hope things are improving for you.

[mims]

Originally Posted by jonathon7989

Hello everyone! I've been experiencing severe panic attacks and anxiety for many years but lately they've been getting more frequent. On a daily basis. I had Acupuncture done and it helped a little. I took three Lexapro's 10mg doses (over three days of course) and I didn't like the way it made me feel. I haven't taken one in around 4 days and I feel drunk, almost in a dream-like state, hard to concentrate, zoning out etc. Is it possible to feel these symptoms just off of a few doses? Also, I get the brain-zapping thing but only when I'm trying to sleep. Does anyone know how to help cope with these or anything I can do to make it better? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Jon

I feel like I've taken over this board because I've been posting so frequently, but I do have so much sympathy for those who are going through the withdrawals, or have concerns about this drug.

Jonathon, think about how bad you feel from those few pills and ask yourself if maybe you could try to find another way to deal with your panic attacks and anxiety.

Look back a few pages and see if you can find Aeromans mention of Claire Weeks, and a link to some recordings about panic attacks.

Could you try hypnosis to help with the panic and anxiety? I've experienced panic attacks before and I do know how terrible thay can be. Also try avoiding caffeine, alcohol, cigarettes, sugar. Eat foods that stabilize your blood sugar, like nuts.

This is obviously not medical advice since I am not qualified to offer that, but If you decide to stay with the Lexapro, maybe you should try 5 mg instead of 10, or maybe even drop back to 2.5 and see how you get along. If I were you, I'd use the least amount that I could get by with, so it will be easier to get off the drug when you finally say "I can't take it anymore".

[mims]

When I responded yesterday to your post, I thought you were planning to continue the Lexapro. A misunderstanding on my part.

Hope you're feeling better by now. I think it's rare, but not unheard of, to have long term withdrawals from only a few days on Lexapro, so you'll probably recover pretty quickly.

[mimmie2008]

I think withdrawal can be different for all people. Some people are just more sensitive. I myself know a person that took Lexapro for a solid year and just stopped taking it and had no withdrawals at all. Nothing. I took only 3 pills and it is still bothering me. It will be a year on January 1st. Granted, it is getting better. I still have a lot of problems with getting any type of motivation for anything. Thankfully I am not having anymore of the panic attacks. I had never had any of them until the Lexapro. I was given the lexapro for stress. Not for depression and not for panic attacks. Stress. After the 3 lexapro, I had massive depression and horrible panic attacks. Zaps, zings and bolts of lightning like surges would race all over me. Those are all gone now. The vertigo is gone but the ringing in my ears is still there, just not as bad. I still have the trembling hands too and blurred vision. I wish you all the best in this. It just takes more time for some of us. Hang in there, it will get better.

[mims]

Originally Posted by mimmie2008

I think withdrawal can be different for all people. Some people are just more sensitive. I myself know a person that took Lexapro for a solid year and just stopped taking it and had no withdrawals at all. Nothing. I took only 3 pills and it is still bothering me. It will be a year on January 1st. Granted, it is getting better. I still have a lot of problems with getting any type of motivation for anything. Thankfully I am not having anymore of the panic attacks. I had never had any of them until the Lexapro. I was given the lexapro for stress. Not for depression and not for panic attacks. Stress. After the 3 lexapro, I had massive depression and horrible panic attacks. Zaps, zings and bolts of lightning like surges would race all over me. Those are all gone now. The vertigo is gone but the ringing in my ears is still there, just not as bad. I still have the trembling hands too and blurred vision. I wish you all the best in this. It just takes more time for some of us. Hang in there, it will get better.

I wonder if this means that anyone who stops Lexapro, even if only 3 days of medication, would be well advised to taper instead of quitting suddenly. Or maybe it's just one of those things that happens due to a bad reaction to the drug, regardless of tapering.

Mimmie, I hope you will continue to stay in touch here. I'm very frustrated with my long-term problems, which seem to be getting worse again, and it helps to know you're still having improvement. I am so worried about my health.

When you said lightning -like surges, did this happen mostly at night, or all day? Did you ever have breathing problems associated with those surges? I didn't at first, but now (4 and 1/2 months later), I'm having something like that when I sleep, and my throat seems to have a muscle spasm and closes for a second. I think it's a muscle twitch similar to the other jerks and twitches I have been having. When I tell my doctors I think Lexapro caused this, they have never heard of any such problems from Lexapro, but they can't find anything wrong with me. I was feeling better for a while and now worse again.

I hate to continue having medical tests, when I think this is a drug withdrawal problem.

I'm having worse ear noises and "head" noises also. My ears don't really ring very often, but I can hear my pulse in one ear almost constantly. Also beeps, buzzes, and other sounds.

Before you took the three pills, were you ever on any other SSRI?
I hope you continue to feel better, and hope we all have complete recovery from these strange Lexapro effects.

[mimmie2008]

Originally Posted by mims

I wonder if this means that anyone who stops Lexapro, even if only 3 days of medication, would be well advised to taper instead of quitting suddenly. Or maybe it's just one of those things that happens due to a bad reaction to the drug, regardless of tapering.

Mimmie, I hope you will continue to stay in touch here. I'm very frustrated with my long-term problems, which seem to be getting worse again, and it helps to know you're still having improvement. I am so worried about my health.

When you said lightning -like surges, did this happen mostly at night, or all day? Did you ever have breathing problems associated with those surges? I didn't at first, but now (4 and 1/2 months later), I'm having something like that when I sleep, and my throat seems to have a muscle spasm and closes for a second. I think it's a muscle twitch similar to the other jerks and twitches I have been having. When I tell my doctors I think Lexapro caused this, they have never heard of any such problems from Lexapro, but they can't find anything wrong with me. I was feeling better for a while and now worse again.

I hate to continue having medical tests, when I think this is a drug withdrawal problem.

I'm having worse ear noises and "head" noises also. My ears don't really ring very often, but I can hear my pulse in one ear almost constantly. Also beeps, buzzes, and other sounds.

Before you took the three pills, were you ever on any other SSRI?
I hope you continue to feel better, and hope we all have complete recovery from these strange Lexapro effects.

I was on prozac about 10 years ago when I had a hysterectomy. They gave it along with hormone replacement. I took it for about 3 months and then stopped. I did have problems with my breathing after the lexapro but it has done better lately. I would wake in the middle of the night because I felt like i was choking. That has stopped also. Thankfully, my new doctor reassures me that everything that I have been going through will eventually even out and that i did not imagine any of it. The first idiot gave me valium to take with the Lexapro after the first one made me think that I was dying. He encouraged me to continue with them and thinking that he knew best, I did. Thankfully, I did not take more than the 3 and I was so awful for so long. I fully believe that had I not found this site and read EVERY message, then I dont think I would have had the hope that it would eventually GO AWAY. It is and it will work out. I have taken nothing since then. My doctor laughs at me now good naturedly when I had to take an antibiotic a few months ago for bronchitis. I am just very suspicious now of every drug. Stress was not a reason to be given a drug like Lexapro and they really should find some way to determine who cant or shouldnt take it at all. It will get better, it just takes time.

[mims]

Thanks for your reply, Mimmie. I feel better knowing I'm not the only one who has had that choking feeling at night. It helps to know you survived a similar experience. Last night I really thought I might not make it til morning. In fact, I got up at 3 am and stayed up for a long time, afraid to go back to sleep. My symptoms seem to mutate from one week to the next, and every time something different happens, I find myself thinking that I can't possibly have new withdrawal symptoms cropping up after months have passed. Then I start worrying about things like MS and myasthenia gravis, etc, again. Lately, I've been having more chills and numbness when I rest, also. Headache too.

I had about 3 weeks when I thought the whole w/d experience was almost over, then it came back.

You were fortunate to find a doctor who had some awareness of Lexapro withdrawal reactions. All the docs I've seen are unaware that Lexapro can cause long-term withdrawal effects. I took Lexapro once before and did not suffer like this when I quit.

It's terrible that you had so much trouble from only 3 pills.

[jca1928]

just dropping in to say hi to every one. and give an update. ive worked my way down to 2.5 mg of lexapro.ive been at 2.5 for a little over 2 months. iwas starting to feel pritty good again till last week. my head aches are back and i'm starting to feel realy depressed again. as of next month it will be 12 months since i first tried going off of lexapro. i'm realy thinking that it may be from the other meds that my DR had me try when i went off of lexapro last january. cause it seems like i'm going through full blown withdraw. kinda like i cold turkeyed. here is one of my last post from back in june i think. I have to say that this defenitly one of the worst things i have ever had to deal with. does any one here think that what i'm going through is with draw from any of the other drugs that i have been? ive not had a single day ware i can say that i have felt normal since before going off lexapro back in last january. all i know is i feel so beat and so tierd. i feel like this is never going to end. O and before i forget once again my DR has some how tlked me into trying something else. for the last 2 months ive been taking wellbutrin SR 100mg once a day. wich does seem to help a little. though it does seem to make me feel kinda loopy and and spacey. not sure if this good or bad. lol. i give up. all i can say is if this turns out to be, how its going be for the rest of my life. and i cant be leave i'm about to say this. i realy hope that i dont live very long. i just can't imagin living another 40 or 50 years like this. this is just so damn hard to deal with. to think at the beging of 2007 life was going so good for me things at work ware great was getting ready to move into a new aprtment, heck i even was able to give up smoking forabout 6 months, at the top of world i was. (or for me any way.) then this stupid little white pill was introduced into my life and now i'm lucky i can get out of bead and go to work.
any ones thoughts on this. i would be so thankfull for right now. if any one would like to e-mail me you can @ jca1925@yahoo.com.


old post from back in june.
hi erin thanks for the reply ok here goes. last spring (i think it was more like feb of 2007) i went to my doc about treatment of ADD. she pushed the issue that it was probbly GAD or Depression. and not ADD ( though i was diagnosed with ADD when I was A kid and was on ritilin for a wile wich i havent had since i was 16 i'm now 28) so she talked me into taking lexapro 10mg. I took the 10mg for about three weeks dicided that i didn't like it tried to go off. got nasty withdraw wich i didn't know what it was at the time. my mother who is an RN told me what it was so i went back on at 5mg. for about ten months. i stayed on it because of the fear of withdraw.
so here goes
lexapro 10mg three weeks
lexapro 5mg 10 months
nothing for 10 days after a 2 week taper off. DR advice. (thanks alot DR)
withdraw got to the piont ware got so dizzy and out of it on day 10 that i passed out at work for a few minutes. whent to my famlly DR he put me on Efexor xr 37.5 was on that for about three days and got realy manic and suicidel and this happend over the week end so i went to the hospital ended up in the physic ward for three days wile in there they uped my dose to 75mg and sent me home. went to see my famly dr for a folow up and he started me on taper off of efexor. droped me back down to 37.5mg ever other day for a week was off for for two days and was put on celexa 10 mg.
celexa 10mg for 8 weeks didn't do to much for me was realy depressed an still feeling suicidel. so my dr upeded it to 15mg for about a week not much change so it was uped to 20mg wich did make me feel a little better but for some reason i broke out in a rash and was all itchy. so iwas taking off of that and put back on 5 mg of lexapro was on that for 8 or 9 weeks and was still feeling depressed. dr saide that if i wanted to i could try uping my dose to 10mg. so after 10 weeks of being back on lexapro i uped it to 10mg wich ive now been on a little over a week. i feel maby tiny bit better on 10mg. i still feel down and depressed most of the time and tired. it scares the hell out of me to think of what has probbly happend to my brain from all of this. as fare suplments go i have had any sonce i broke out in a rash a wil back because i wasn't realy sure what it was from. i had been taking supps from the road back program body calm and body calm supreme. and protein formula. sry its such a long post i'm not sure how to make it any shorter lol
recap
lexapro 10mg three weeks
lexapro 5mg 10months
10 days nothing
Efexor xr 37.5 about three weeks and a few days of 75gm
2 days nothing
celexa 10mg 8 weeks
celexa 15mg and 20mg a week or so
no time off in between
lexapro 5mg 10 weeks
lexapro 10 mg 1 week

i hope all of this makes sence lol thanks AJ

[mims]

I can't really answer your questions about the other meds, etc, so maybe someone else will respond to your post.

I would like to say that it's very common for people to feel more depressed around the holidays, not to mention stressed and anxious. Also, many people find that their depression is worse due to shorter days this time of year (seasonal affective disorder). Well, I guess that depends on what part of the world you live in, but here in the US, days are shorter; there's less opportunity to get out and exercise and be exposed to sunlight.

Recently I've been feeling worse physically, and I wonder if the change from "daylight savings time" in addition to the shorter daylight hours and the approaching holidays have been contributing factors. My worst withdrawal problems have been physical symptoms, but even those seem to improve if I can get lots of outdoor exercise, which isn't always easy to do this time of year. When I take long walks outdoors regularly I tend to feel better physically and mentally. Walking in the mall on concrete floors under flourescent lights while shopping for Christmas gifts just isn't the same.

Anyway, many people who have posted on this site have pointed out that withdrawal from lexapro does not follow a steady path, but a series of improvements followed by setbacks, then more improvements, but over time we'll find ourselves getting better. I always get really discouraged and fearful when I have setbacks until someone like Mimmie2008 comes back on here to remind us that, over time, real recovery can take place. It's just a slow process for some of us.

[jenthebod]

Originally Posted by jca1928

just dropping in to say hi to every one. and give an update. ive worked my way down to 2.5 mg of lexapro.ive been at 2.5 for a little over 2 months. iwas starting to feel pritty good again till last week. my head aches are back and i'm starting to feel realy depressed again. as of next month it will be 12 months since i first tried going off of lexapro. i'm realy thinking that it may be from the other meds that my DR had me try when i went off of lexapro last january. cause it seems like i'm going through full blown withdraw. kinda like i cold turkeyed. here is one of my last post from back in june i think. I have to say that this defenitly one of the worst things i have ever had to deal with. does any one here think that what i'm going through is with draw from any of the other drugs that i have been? ive not had a single day ware i can say that i have felt normal since before going off lexapro back in last january. all i know is i feel so beat and so tierd. i feel like this is never going to end. O and before i forget once again my DR has some how tlked me into trying something else. for the last 2 months ive been taking wellbutrin SR 100mg once a day. wich does seem to help a little. though it does seem to make me feel kinda loopy and and spacey. not sure if this good or bad. lol. i give up. all i can say is if this turns out to be, how its going be for the rest of my life. and i cant be leave i'm about to say this. i realy hope that i dont live very long. i just can't imagin living another 40 or 50 years like this. this is just so damn hard to deal with. to think at the beging of 2007 life was going so good for me things at work ware great was getting ready to move into a new aprtment, heck i even was able to give up smoking forabout 6 months, at the top of world i was. (or for me any way.) then this stupid little white pill was introduced into my life and now i'm lucky i can get out of bead and go to work.
any ones thoughts on this. i would be so thankfull for right now. if any one would like to e-mail me you can @ jca1925@yahoo.com.


old post from back in june.
hi erin thanks for the reply ok here goes. last spring (i think it was more like feb of 2007) i went to my doc about treatment of ADD. she pushed the issue that it was probbly GAD or Depression. and not ADD ( though i was diagnosed with ADD when I was A kid and was on ritilin for a wile wich i havent had since i was 16 i'm now 28) so she talked me into taking lexapro 10mg. I took the 10mg for about three weeks dicided that i didn't like it tried to go off. got nasty withdraw wich i didn't know what it was at the time. my mother who is an RN told me what it was so i went back on at 5mg. for about ten months. i stayed on it because of the fear of withdraw.
so here goes
lexapro 10mg three weeks
lexapro 5mg 10 months
nothing for 10 days after a 2 week taper off. DR advice. (thanks alot DR)
withdraw got to the piont ware got so dizzy and out of it on day 10 that i passed out at work for a few minutes. whent to my famlly DR he put me on Efexor xr 37.5 was on that for about three days and got realy manic and suicidel and this happend over the week end so i went to the hospital ended up in the physic ward for three days wile in there they uped my dose to 75mg and sent me home. went to see my famly dr for a folow up and he started me on taper off of efexor. droped me back down to 37.5mg ever other day for a week was off for for two days and was put on celexa 10 mg.
celexa 10mg for 8 weeks didn't do to much for me was realy depressed an still feeling suicidel. so my dr upeded it to 15mg for about a week not much change so it was uped to 20mg wich did make me feel a little better but for some reason i broke out in a rash and was all itchy. so iwas taking off of that and put back on 5 mg of lexapro was on that for 8 or 9 weeks and was still feeling depressed. dr saide that if i wanted to i could try uping my dose to 10mg. so after 10 weeks of being back on lexapro i uped it to 10mg wich ive now been on a little over a week. i feel maby tiny bit better on 10mg. i still feel down and depressed most of the time and tired. it scares the hell out of me to think of what has probbly happend to my brain from all of this. as fare suplments go i have had any sonce i broke out in a rash a wil back because i wasn't realy sure what it was from. i had been taking supps from the road back program body calm and body calm supreme. and protein formula. sry its such a long post i'm not sure how to make it any shorter lol
recap
lexapro 10mg three weeks
lexapro 5mg 10months
10 days nothing
Efexor xr 37.5 about three weeks and a few days of 75gm
2 days nothing
celexa 10mg 8 weeks
celexa 15mg and 20mg a week or so
no time off in between
lexapro 5mg 10 weeks
lexapro 10 mg 1 week

i hope all of this makes sence lol thanks AJ

I just wanted to say that I hope you feel better, and although it seems never ending, please try to keep a positive attitude. It can do wonders. I also wanted to say maybe try talk therapy. It just helps to have someone listen and sort of give you that hope back and not just try to pump you full of other drugs. I know they can be pricey, but most of the time if you call a therapist they can recommend somewhere that has a sliding price scale or is just generally cheaper. Lastly, I started reading about foods and activities (meditation, exercise, meet up groups, etc) that help fight depression and anxiety. I know that while going through all of this I always thought that if I felt good, it would be easier to deal with the loopiness/******************** that accompanies withdrawals. You can just Google "depression fighting foods" and things, and pages and pages come up. Every little bit helps! Once again, best of luck and don't give up!

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by mims

I can't really answer your questions about the other meds, etc, so maybe someone else will respond to your post.

I would like to say that it's very common for people to feel more depressed around the holidays, not to mention stressed and anxious. Also, many people find that their depression is worse due to shorter days this time of year (seasonal affective disorder). Well, I guess that depends on what part of the world you live in, but here in the US, days are shorter; there's less opportunity to get out and exercise and be exposed to sunlight.

Recently I've been feeling worse physically, and I wonder if the change from "daylight savings time" in addition to the shorter daylight hours and the approaching holidays have been contributing factors. My worst withdrawal problems have been physical symptoms, but even those seem to improve if I can get lots of outdoor exercise, which isn't always easy to do this time of year. When I take long walks outdoors regularly I tend to feel better physically and mentally. Walking in the mall on concrete floors under flourescent lights while shopping for Christmas gifts just isn't the same.

Anyway, many people who have posted on this site have pointed out that withdrawal from lexapro does not follow a steady path, but a series of improvements followed by setbacks, then more improvements, but over time we'll find ourselves getting better. I always get really discouraged and fearful when I have setbacks until someone like Mimmie2008 comes back on here to remind us that, over time, real recovery can take place. It's just a slow process for some of us.

If you do get a touch of the SAD's and the weather does not accomidate walking outside I have a few reccomendations. (tried and true) First: check around at any local schools or college/ universities and see if they have an indoor track. If they do there is a good chance that you will be allowed to use their track for walking during the regular hours even though you are not a student. Some will require you to at least have a family member who attends the institution but, it is worth checking into. Second: Sun lamp, if you don't have or do not want to buy one then, you can purchase a cheap package at a tanning salon. I know the world is up-in-arms over skin cancer risk however, if you only tan minimaly say, 5 minutes once or twice a week just during the winter months when the "sads" hit then, you won't be risking much. You know your skin type so, go from there. It has actually been proven that light therapy ie, sun lamp/tanning bed helps lift deppression. Give it some thought and good luck to you...Peace...Erin

[erinkj]

Hello JC! it has been awhile, sorry to hear that you are still struggling through. Wellbutrin is usually pretty good for deppression if it is not to stimulating to you or cause anxiety. Your dose can be raised if you are fighting the lethargy and energy issues however, before you look into changing doses etc, you mentioned that you think the wellbutrin is making you spacey...Is it? My concern about that would be your diagnosis. As a child you were dx'd with ADD and then as an adult another dr changed your DX. Then, while on Effexor you got manic...hmm...I am questioning your diagnosis here. You have constant deppression which has been the main problem you sought treatment for. I am wondering if you have ever been tested to see if you may have Bi-Polar one disorder? Many children diagnosed with ADD/ADHD end up actually being Bi-Polar and vice versa. Many people who have Bi-Polar are unaware of it for YEARS but, it becomes more prominent and problematic with age...Then again you may truely have ADD. The problems with medications go on forever but, if you do not have a correct diagnosis you WILL NOT get the correct treatment. I am NOT trying to push more or different pills on you here O.K. There are other options to med's in treating almost all of the disorders/ problems that we all deal with. ADD for example can be very successfuly treated and controlled by diet and proper nutrition alone. I know 4 people who are living proof of this. Have you had your blood sugar levels checked? recently? Hypoglycemia (or borderline hypoglycemia) is VERY common with ADD/HD as well as deppression. Ask your mom about the hypoglycemic connection, as an RN she would likey know. Also, did you ever start back on supplements? if so, what are you taking currently? Sorry if this just adds to your confusion but, it seems to me that a big part of many of your problems over the last year have dealt with getting diagnosed and properly treated. ALL the symptoms you are having can of course be attributed to SSRI withdrawl but, I think it best to rule every possability out first..Let me know...Peace JC...Erin

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by mimmie2008

I was on prozac about 10 years ago when I had a hysterectomy. They gave it along with hormone replacement. I took it for about 3 months and then stopped. I did have problems with my breathing after the lexapro but it has done better lately. I would wake in the middle of the night because I felt like i was choking. That has stopped also. Thankfully, my new doctor reassures me that everything that I have been going through will eventually even out and that i did not imagine any of it. The first idiot gave me valium to take with the Lexapro after the first one made me think that I was dying. He encouraged me to continue with them and thinking that he knew best, I did. Thankfully, I did not take more than the 3 and I was so awful for so long. I fully believe that had I not found this site and read EVERY message, then I dont think I would have had the hope that it would eventually GO AWAY. It is and it will work out. I have taken nothing since then. My doctor laughs at me now good naturedly when I had to take an antibiotic a few months ago for bronchitis. I am just very suspicious now of every drug. Stress was not a reason to be given a drug like Lexapro and they really should find some way to determine who cant or shouldnt take it at all. It will get better, it just takes time.

Just wanted to say HELLO! I remember when you had your lexapro reaction and how horrible a time you were having. I am very glad that you have gotten through it and are doing well. It is wonderful that you are posting again....Everyone need's encouragement! Merry Christmas...Peace...Erin

[erinkj]

Originally Posted by Cafecrazy

I wonder if it is the increased cortisol (being on Lexapro) which caused acne for me?
I have been off now 8 days,and my face started clearing up almost as soon as I quit taking it.It is now perfectly clear like it was before I started on the lexapro,and my hair shedding has decreased immensely.

Last night I slept like a baby as too, without the help of any meds and I'am feeling in general just alot better today! I'am going to go exercise...

Glad you seem to be doing well/ I just wanted to comment on the Acne issue. Acne is VERY common with SSRI's. Some get acne while on the med and some afterward (short term). The primary reason for this is that our skin is our bodies largest organ. (yes, skin is an actuall organ) When we have toxins in our system the very first place that it is noticable is usually the skin. When your body detoxes itself, it purges the toxins through sweat, etc. So, the acne was most likely a result of your body detoxing. The fact that it has now cleared up is a very good sign that you have detoxed..And yes, cortisol levels absolutely contribute to acne..almost all hormonal fluctuations aggrevate and/ or cause acne..Oh Joy! ...Peace...Erin

[erinkj]

For the food/serotonin connection I reccomend reading:

Secrets of Serotonin, By: Carol Hart, PHD
ISBN#:978-0-312-37512-6

This is a GREAT book, I have read it several times. Aunty reccomended it to me a year ago. I bought the new updated/revised edition..This book is a MUST for ALL!

ALSO...
Prescription for NUTRITONAL HEALING 4th edition
By: Phyllis A. Balch, CNC
ISBN#: 158333236-7

Another Must read awesome refference book. Both are inexpensive or, you could check your local library..........Peace and good luck...Erin

[jca1928]

thank you so much for your replys. i was having a realy bad day when i made that post. it kinda scared the hell out of me that iwas feeling like that again. cause it realy felt like i did last january when i first went off of lex. and like ive saide in the past i don't realy have any one that realy understands whats going on, to talk to. it realy helps to have you to talk to. i havent been posting a whole lot becuase ive been trying to keep my mind off of it. thanks again aj

[jca1928]

i understand what you your saying about the bipolar it has crossed my mind in the past. but there is one thing here i have to clear up. before i was put on lexapro i was NOT depressed. i went for treatment of ADD. the reason that i wanted to get treated again for ADD was that i was thinking of going back to school. i thought maby it would be a good idea to get screened again due to the fact that i have always had a problem staying focussed. but as fare as the whole depression thing go's before being put on lexapro i cant remeber ever being realy depressed. now having aniety some times yes. but mainly just having trouble focussing on what ever task i mite be doing. my mind like to jump from onr thing to the next. wich i think may have been what caused my anxiety problems. i only seemed to have anxiety when i would be out in large group. reason is that its hard for me to focus on one thing at a time. putting me in a room with lots going on is always a chaleng cause my mind is every ware. though it does have it perks i tend know what going on around me more than most lol. thats why i'm fairly sure now that most of this is probbly withdraw. usauly this time of year i'm in such a great mood. I Love christmas more than any other holyday. but this year i am not feeling up to doing all the things i normaly would. so its kinda hitting me double time you mite say. i have seen some improvent over the last 11 months though. so i just try to tell my self that i'm not as bad as i was before. thanks again for you help erinjk.

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by mims

Aero,

Did you say that you developed a back ache after about 4 months? Well, I haven't had a back ache in years, but guess what suddenly hit me for no reason? I'm about 4 and 1/2 months off Lexapro now.

Years ago, I took paxil for a while, and had a really terrible, debilitating backache; had no idea until recently that backache is now a known side effect of paxil. I think it may even be listed in the package insert now. Anyway, this one is not as bad as the one I had in the 1990's, but it hurts in exactly the same place as the one I had before!!

How are you doing with the back pain, and everything else? Hope things are improving for you.

Hi Mims,

I havent been getting e-mail notifications when new posts are here! Sorry for replying late. Yeah, my low back pain is still present but not as bad as before...but it still hurts and annoys me. What gives? It was in Month 4 when my wife and I took a road trip. On the way back, it started hurting, non-stop. I've never had chronic pain before. Chiropractor didnt do a thing for me regarding the pain. I started acupuncture in October and after the second visit, I felt relief! The pain went down from a 7 to a 3 (1-10).

I am ALMOST 10 months off and I have improved compared to months 3-6, the summer months. Summer was hell where as now, I am just coasting along in depression. Sleep is better but not back to normal...appetite is better but again, not normal. I have anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure or enjoyment...just chugging along

[mims]

Thanks for your response. My back has actually improved alot since I posted about the back pain.

I had acupuncture for a while, also. I was hoping it would help my worst problems -- tremor/vibrations -- but I started the acupuncture just as I was coming off lexapro, so it was hard to know if it helped, since my symptoms changed so much from day to day.

I used to have really bad cramp-type pain in the buttocks muscle. Talk about a pain in the butt on road trips!

Anyway, I'm sure the acupuncture helped the buttocks pain and also improved my sleep. I'm tempted to try it again.

I'm still having really strange abnormal sensations that flash through my body in addition to cold chills and vibrations, breathing problems, sharp "nerve' pains like needles -- the 'needles' improved for a while and then came back.

Glad you're having better days than you had last summer, Aero.

I'm having some depression also, but not any worse than I had it while on the Lexapro. I still have a huge problem with making any decisions about anything, even little things, and have no motivation. Making very slow progress on getting ready for Christmas. It all seems like a big chore.