[lips72]

mims and rujoking, thanks for the info! I am certainly going to follow your advice and the advice of others.

Also, does anyone know about how Rhodiola Rosea interacts with SSRI's. The info I found so far says that there are no known conflicts but I would trust the experiences of people in the forum more than something I read on some random website. I did start taking Rhodiola Rosea a few days ago b/c I wanted to try some herbal supplements to replace the Lexapro. Now that I realize that I have a long taper ahead of me should I stay away from Rhodiola until I'm finished tapering? OR will it help in any way?

Thanks again.

[Tadopemu]

Hi all,
i've been tapering down off lexapro for a while now,
and i'm down to 1/4pill (about 2-3mg)

i've tried stopping a few times already, but keep going back on because the withdrawal side effects that show up when I cut it completely are pretty scary.

I dunno, I'm thinking about staying on this very low dose for a long time,
or just tapering really really REALLY slowly.

I've been going through probably one of the worst crisis in my life recently and am only just starting to come out of it, which is why it's scary to come off the lexapro at this point. Don't know if I can afford to "push it" yet.

But anyways, what do you suggest for my situation, if anything?

P.S. for all those tapering, from MY experience, i've found that as long as there's some lexapro in my body, then I don't experience side effects.
So i'm sure everyones different, but getting down to a low dose might be really a lot easier than ppl think? (just a guess) it's just going off it completely that's the big hurdle. But if you don't like the side effects of lexapro, a low low dose might not give you them, so it's worth trying to get down to

[swebs]

Ok, I apologize if my questions have already been on here before. But there are a LOT of pages to look through, and I did try running a search.

Yesterday I got my period, and this is the first period I've had since tapering down to 5mg per day (3 weeks as of yesterday, actually). I'm on birth control, my periods are regular, and I don't have any issues really. (But it did come a day earlier than usual, not sure if that means anything at all).

Anyway. I am an emotional WRECK! Last night I couldn't sleep, even after having freaked out and taken clonazepam. I was just up crying and crying. Everything today is making me SO sad.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not in any sort of crisis situation. I don't feel like harming myself or others. I am just really, REALLY sad.

I have never had depression as far as I know and have never taken Lexapro for depression, always for anxiety. I was just wondering if the withdrawal process does have any impact on menstrual cycles. Occasionally I have a cycle where I just get really emotional; I was wondering if this is one of those flukey things or if I have many more of these episodes to look forward to!

[amshcma]

I searched the rest of the posts but did not see anything similar to my situation so hopefully someone can help me out! I was on Lexapro 10 mg for 6 months for anxiety and mild depression. I stopped taking Lexapro 36 days ago and experienced mild brain zaps and shivers but went away in less than two weeks. However, about a week and a half ago my anxiety returned to an almost uncontrollable state. It seems to be worse than ever before and I am trying to find out if this is common for a withdrawal to show up this far after stopping the medicine or if I have to start worrying that I am having a relapse?

Also, to help with some of the affects, I am taking 350 mg magnesium and fish oil...any other suggestions and how long will it take until I notice the affects of these remedies?

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by lips72

Hi everyone. I'm new to this site and have spent the last few hours reading.

I have been on Lexapro for three years (started at 20mg) and have been on only 5mg for the last two years. I've decided it's time to get off! I started cutting back about a 6 weeks ago by going two days on one day off. After a week I went to every other day and did this for about two weeks. Then I started taking a pill every three or so days. About 8 days ago I completely stopped and after major brain zaps, lethargy, apathy and trouble sleeping I realize that I probably went way too fast. I took 5mg tonight and am going to start withdrawing much slower.

Will somone please give me some guidance as to what a good plan for withdrawing would be given what I've told you?

I'm so glad I found this forum in time. Thanks to all of you and I hope wish everyone the best of luck.

Taper off 10% every 4-6 weeks.

[Laryanita]

Originally Posted by amshcma

I searched the rest of the posts but did not see anything similar to my situation so hopefully someone can help me out! I was on Lexapro 10 mg for 6 months for anxiety and mild depression. I stopped taking Lexapro 36 days ago and experienced mild brain zaps and shivers but went away in less than two weeks. However, about a week and a half ago my anxiety returned to an almost uncontrollable state. It seems to be worse than ever before and I am trying to find out if this is common for a withdrawal to show up this far after stopping the medicine or if I have to start worrying that I am having a relapse?

Also, to help with some of the affects, I am taking 350 mg magnesium and fish oil...any other suggestions and how long will it take until I notice the affects of these remedies?

Amshcma
I experienced crazy anxiety like 8 or 9 months after quitting lexapro, so 1 month later certainly does not surprise me. The anxiety I experienced was unlike anything that I have ever gone through. I was put on the lexapro for depression, and never had problems with anxiety until after I tapered off.
Good luck!

[rujoking]

Laryanita

anxiety is plagueing me too.....are you still having it as much? What did you take to help it?

Lips -

I have looked at the Rhodiola too....it looks fairly safe - let us know if it helps!

Have a good weekend everyone - hang in there!

ruj

[mims]

Once I reached about 1.75 mg, I thought I could safely just drop the lexapro altogether, but I found the same thing you found. A tiny bit of Lexapro still was having a pretty substantial effect on my body. You would think it would be easy after going from 10 to 5 to 2.5, then about 1.75, it would be a piece of cake to drop down to nothing, but it's not so easy.

I did OK from 10 to about 2.5, after that I'm sure I was in too much of a hurry, or simply thought it would be easy to go all the way to zero. If I had it to do over again, I would grind those pills and taper more slowly, as has been recommended previously on this message board.

It makes me think that the last part of the taper may be the most important. I guess the easiest way to taper after getting to one-quarter of a 10 mg pill would be to switch to a 5 mg pill, so you'd have an easier time making the cut and getting the measurement right. Some people have used liquid lexapro, but some say it's hard to make the switch from tablet to liquid.

I did have some symptoms during my taper, probably because I stopped suddenly, was miserably ill, realized my mistake and went back on Lexapro about a month later, and tapered from there. So for me, it could be that the damage was already done, so to speak, by stopping suddenly. I didn't know any better, and didn't find this site until much later.

If you're willing to take it really really really slowly as you said, I think you'll be glad you did it that way!

[New Start]

I'm new to this site and like everyone else so glad I found you. I've never posted before so please bear with me if I make mistakes. I'm 51 and have been on celexa or lexapro for about 10 years. I guess it would be situational depression as I was dealing with ill parents, stressful job and a stressful relationship. The Dr put me on Celexa, I felt better within a few days. I don't remember any side effects, several years later I was switched to Lexapro, I'm not sure why and I don't remember. Again, I don't remember any side effects. Through the years it was dealing with one parent then the other dying, the breakup of my relationship, troubles with my teenage children. I trying going off AD twice, only to become depressed again. I now realize it was withdrawal. A year ago I fell and broke my kneecap, one week before my wedding. The past year was a struggle but I know feel I'm ready to get rid of the Lexapro. I had my 50,000 mile check up (so to speak) at the end of last year so I know I'm healty and all my blood profiles came back fine. I've been on 10mg for years. I knew I needed to taper but didn't know how fast or how much, that's when I found this site. I had already started by missing a dose the first week, the next week I took 5mg every third day. By that time I had read enough on this site to know that wasn't the right way. I'm on my 4th week and have started grinding my tablets and taking 8mg. My plan is to drop 1mg every 10 to 14 days depending on how I feel. So far I haven't had any brain zaps, I felt the flu type symptons the first few weeks. I want to sleep a lot and have the brain fog at times. I have a constant fairly mild headache and buzzing in my ears. The past few days I've had anxiousness that comes and goes. I've been taking fish oil, B vitamins, calcium and magnesium. I feel yucky but it seems my symptoms have been fairly mild compared to a lot of the others on this site. I'm been really concerned considering the amount of time I've been on these things. I can't wait to get off but realize the key is to go slow and take the supplements. Any advise will be appreciated. I apogize for the long post.

[mims]

Everybody, beware -- I'm blowing off some steam here. It has been 6 months for me since quitting lexapro completely, and I am having a bad time. Had some very annoying vibrations while trying to go to sleep last night (as I have the past week or so); used to go to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, just had trouble staying asleep; but now, it takes me an hour or 2 for the "tremors" to calm down a little. Then I wake up at 3 am, and that's it for the night. I had been sleeping so much better for a while, but now I've had a relapse.

this morning, I had "body zaps" from the time I woke up until I finally got up. About the same as a brain zap, except that it flashes through the body, instead of just the head. I've had some back pain, too. Not the crippling kind, but sometimes I get these "nerve" sensations from the area that hurts, and this morning some of the zaps seemed to come from that area. I think my entire nervous system is just fired up to the nth degree. And my vision is worse again also.

Anybody else having body zaps? They also seem to come after (or with) the muscle twitches/ myoclonic jerks. I'm also having that bladder squeeze sensation again, I think it's a muscle spasm. and sharp needle-like pains, some of those followed by an electrical zap.

And I'm getting really pissed off about it. I'm having times now when I get angry or frustrated, I just feel like throwing things. I'm trying to make use of that and I'm throwing things in the garbage can. My husband will be upset about that , he hates to throw anything away, but part of my frustration is that I have too much junk, and haven't been mentally "with it" enough to deal with it or sort through it, especially over the past year. It may be that I'm feeling so frustrated because I'm not getting enough sleep.

Stress is never fun, but lately, it just overwhelms me.

Anyway, so far being at the 6 month mark is not feeling very good.

Maybe it's just a surge of post-lexapro anxiety, coupled with having some legitimate things to worry about.

I'm not trying to make anybody feel worse, but I think Aeroman is right about this: we need to tell it like it is, as a warning to others about the dangers of this drug, and to let everybody else having the same problems know that they are not alone.

[New Start]

Can anyone tell me if you go through the slow withdrawal if you still have long term symptoms after you get off completely? The worst for me right now is short term memory loss and inablity to focus. I gained 30 pounds over the past 10 years but put on another 20 in just this past year. I've also noticed the belly fat is much more pronounced.

[rujoking]

New Start -

I sounds to me like you are doing all the right things! Even though you are tapering the way one should it still takes time to get thru. You may have some of the same symptoms but hopefully they will not be as severe or prolonged which is the reason slow taper is advised....I am sure others will jump in here but you have come to a good place to get information.

mims!-

hang in there buddy - this sounds pretty normal albeit frustrating! Remember I joined last month at the 6 month mark! I was doing okay and bam....all the frustration returned - remember anti-drugs okay?? she also said she had some bad moments in months 6-8 and she is doing so well now. Like you I get depressed with those setbacks...I get myself thru by remembering the 'windows' and comparing how I feel now to how BAD I felt 3 or 4 months ago - hang on hon - I am in your corner --

you sound like your anxiety is high which is no surprise with this setback - I have had the sharp needle pains and body spasms...myoclonic jerks? omg yes....god forbid the phone should ring when I am like that - I jump thru the roof!

One thing I am sure of - this is all made worse by the lack of sleep and I sure hope you find something to help with that.....your body is not getting a break even at night and you are wound up like a spring! Keep us posted okay?

[babybottom]

Originally Posted by mims

Everybody, beware -- I'm blowing off some steam here. It has been 6 months for me since quitting lexapro completely, and I am having a bad time. Had some very annoying vibrations while trying to go to sleep last night (as I have the past week or so); used to go to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow, just had trouble staying asleep; but now, it takes me an hour or 2 for the "tremors" to calm down a little. Then I wake up at 3 am, and that's it for the night. I had been sleeping so much better for a while, but now I've had a relapse.

this morning, I had "body zaps" from the time I woke up until I finally got up. About the same as a brain zap, except that it flashes through the body, instead of just the head. I've had some back pain, too. Not the crippling kind, but sometimes I get these "nerve" sensations from the area that hurts, and this morning some of the zaps seemed to come from that area. I think my entire nervous system is just fired up to the nth degree. And my vision is worse again also.

Anybody else having body zaps? They also seem to come after (or with) the muscle twitches/ myoclonic jerks. I'm also having that bladder squeeze sensation again, I think it's a muscle spasm. and sharp needle-like pains, some of those followed by an electrical zap.

And I'm getting really pissed off about it. I'm having times now when I get angry or frustrated, I just feel like throwing things. I'm trying to make use of that and I'm throwing things in the garbage can. My husband will be upset about that , he hates to throw anything away, but part of my frustration is that I have too much junk, and haven't been mentally "with it" enough to deal with it or sort through it, especially over the past year. It may be that I'm feeling so frustrated because I'm not getting enough sleep.

Stress is never fun, but lately, it just overwhelms me.

Anyway, so far being at the 6 month mark is not feeling very good.

Maybe it's just a surge of post-lexapro anxiety, coupled with having some legitimate things to worry about.

I'm not trying to make anybody feel worse, but I think Aeroman is right about this: we need to tell it like it is, as a warning to others about the dangers of this drug, and to let everybody else having the same problems know that they are not alone.

Mims, my body still jerks me awake, are those body zaps or whatever?Somethings I have, I never knew that they could be related.I am sleeping ********py and have tried everything.I'm hoping it just passes on it's own.I hope it gets better for you.I don't know if I replied back in the right area, o'well.Does the sleep issues get better and how long.

[mims]

Thanks for your replies and the encouragement. I hope this is just a temporary setback for me. Just last week I was bragging about sleeping almost all night, and here I am back to the old frustrating problems. Maybe I had one of those times aunty talked about when the lexapro that is bound to the protein in your body breaks loose and causes symptoms to recur. Or maybe stress sets me off. I think there's a vicious cycle: stress leads to less sleep, which leads to more stress, etc.

There are some very normal "sleep starts" that can make you jerk awake as you're falling asleep - I think everybody experiences those sometimes. The myoclonic jerks I have usually affect just one muscle at a time. It typically does happen as I am falling asleep, even though it is different from the all-over jerk that is "normal". The muscle will suddenly jerk ( often a shoulder for some reason, but can be any muscle), and that is sometimes followed by something like a flash of electricity through my body. That's what I am calling a body zap, since it is similar to the sensation of a brain zap. Sometimes the jerk is followed by a sort of sick feeling.

I have a friend who had the myoclonic jerks after a surgical procedure, caused by the anesthesia. she said it took a couple of years for it to completely go away, so I'm wondering if I'm in for a long recovery. She called it myoclonic seizure. sometimes I almost feel like some of this is seizure activity because it makes me feel so weird. but I am trying not to worry about that because it never happens when I am really alert, or driving,etc. Only when i am extremely relaxed and on the verge of sleep.

I think the sleep issues will get better for you, babybottom, gradually. I went through a period of time when I felt like my sleep was improving alot. I don't know why this is happening to me now, except that I know I haven't been getting as much exercise, and I have been worrying about financial issues, personal issues, etc. I think normal amounts of stress are taking a bigger toll on me, also.

New Start, your '50,000 mile checkup' comment made me smile despite my bad mood today.

rujoking, You said you had most of my same symptoms, but I didn't realize you had experienced the sharp needle pains. Sometimes those will hit the same little spot several times within one or two seconds. Makes me jump like crazy.

[RainyDays]

It has been exactly 7 weeks since stopping Lexapro. My sinuses have been infected since week 6 and are just now becoming bearable. I finally went to my doc for the sinus infection last week. Also told him about stopping Lexapro. He said that he usually prefers his patients to prepare for stopping in the spring since it is lighter and easier to get out and about. Just the past few days I have become extremely agitated for what seems like just a few minutes then it goes away. Hopefully it is from the sinuses and lack of sleep. The head zaps are still there as well as the 'off axis' feeling when I move my head too fast or my eyes without moving my head. Last night I swear a freight train ran through my head and woke me up! My vision is getting better and so is the light sensitivity. I asked my doc if it was the sinus infection or withdrawal symptoms causing the vision problems. Can you believe this man had the nerve to tell me there are no withdrawal symptoms and that is why it is prescribed!

[mims]

Originally Posted by RainyDays

It has been exactly 7 weeks since stopping Lexapro. My sinuses have been infected since week 6 and are just now becoming bearable. I finally went to my doc for the sinus infection last week. Also told him about stopping Lexapro. He said that he usually prefers his patients to prepare for stopping in the spring since it is lighter and easier to get out and about. Just the past few days I have become extremely agitated for what seems like just a few minutes then it goes away. Hopefully it is from the sinuses and lack of sleep. The head zaps are still there as well as the 'off axis' feeling when I move my head too fast or my eyes without moving my head. Last night I swear a freight train ran through my head and woke me up! My vision is getting better and so is the light sensitivity. I asked my doc if it was the sinus infection or withdrawal symptoms causing the vision problems. Can you believe this man had the nerve to tell me there are no withdrawal symptoms and that is why it is prescribed!

Rainy Days,

I haven't had any freight trains run through my head, but I've had buzzers, zippers, elevator bells (ding!), ladders falling, and some other noises in addition to the whooshing pulse of my heartbeat in my ear. I hope the freight trains don't come to my bedroom.

[pamjg]

Hello to all fellow Lexapro users.
Yikes i've read alot and am now convinced i need to get off this stuff. please be here for me. I havent said anything to my Dr. as yet but with or without him i'm going to do this. I've been on it 2 or 3 years and it has help with my anxity attacks i was a basket case. I suffer from agoraphobia. i do great with Lexapro 10 mg. once a day. and my panic isnt bad but.... my question is will the panic back? that is panic enough just thinking about if the panic will come back. I was so bad that i couldn't leave my homw or couldn't travel. should i stay on this stuff? as i can go and do things without much panic. I basically want to get off of it because I have NO and and I mean NO Libido. I'm married 35 years and in the last year and 1/2 no sex what so ever not even a thought of it and i feel sorry for my husband. I'm really afraid please help me. I have a new granddaughter that i watch during the day. am i going to freak out. will i lose controll? please i'm needing your help
thanks in advance pam

[Julia77]

Hello Group,

I used to post a lot last year and the year before. If someone remembers me....

So.....it's been 1 year and 2 days off horrible Lexapro. It's hard to believe even when I write it, however true. I've made it that far, and yes, I am proud of myself.

There is no comparison, and I won't even dare to compare my state of mind and body to 1 year ago. There have been lots of improvement in all areas, yet, yes, so soooooooooooooo slow. If I had to compare this process to something, I would compare it to a reel of threads, rolling out from the worst to the best. I don't know where I am now, I do hope that this is not truly my best, and that my best still awaits me.

I am no longer constantly scared, weepy, and depressed. I am SELDOM this way. Mind you: I am not saying no longer, or not at all. I am occasionally like this. One day I might think - look, it's dark and snowy outside, and I am feeling quite OK with that ( before meds, I used to like snow and nights, felt quite romantic to me), after and during meds, however, I was absolutely terrified of nights. Ooops, once I think that, I am ( all of a sudden!) petrified of an upcoming meeting, up to the extent that it sickens me to attend it. Once the meeting is over, I get scared of something else.......or sad. Or anxious. Or extremely, extremely nervous. Or terribly sad. It is all over minor things, ones that my logic says, "Relax, there is nothing to worry about." My mind agrees, but still overreacts dramatically.



I had a huge setback on Wednesday, and it was a family related thing. I still don't know if I overreacted, or it was my right to get that mad ( I was furious), but I felt VERY sad for 2 days. Today is much better though. I guess, even though I am not sure any more, that in my NORMAL state of mind I would've been far less upset by the same intensity incident. Today is the first day when I am feeling better.



Overall: I hope improvements still happen after 12 months off. I do hope so, because I am not 100% back to normal, however, I am not sure what normal feels like. I doubt that I am 100% back to normal now. One thing is certain: I feel more alive, and I feel life now. I feel good and bad things more. Even comparing to 5 months ago, I have improved SO MUCH. Yet I still hope for improvements, even little ones.



It's so funny: one day I am not scared of elevators, but not meetings, and the next day I am scared of meetings, but not elevators. The third day I am scared of both, the fourth day I am scared of none, and the fifth day I am not afraid of anything on the earth, but terribly sad. The sixth day I am nervous and anxious, and the seventh day I am mostly ok, and then the cycle starts all over again. I am sure that if I saw a psychiatrist I would've ended up with the most various diagnosis.

ADs are horrible. Horrible. If someone says you that they are not, don't believe them. They are, and we should never be on them. None of us, not our friends, not our enemies, if we have them at all. They ruin your life, and if there is anything you can do to get your life back now and get off them, do so. You won't regret it.


Blessings,



Julia

[Julia77]

Originally Posted by amshcma

I searched the rest of the posts but did not see anything similar to my situation so hopefully someone can help me out! I was on Lexapro 10 mg for 6 months for anxiety and mild depression. I stopped taking Lexapro 36 days ago and experienced mild brain zaps and shivers but went away in less than two weeks. However, about a week and a half ago my anxiety returned to an almost uncontrollable state. It seems to be worse than ever before and I am trying to find out if this is common for a withdrawal to show up this far after stopping the medicine or if I have to start worrying that I am having a relapse?

Also, to help with some of the affects, I am taking 350 mg magnesium and fish oil...any other suggestions and how long will it take until I notice the affects of these remedies?

Those are all "normal" reactions to discontinuation. Please stay assured that time is your only healer, and stay assured that they WILL pass. I promise. But it will take time.

[MaisieC]

I have a question for experienced people on this thread. I was taken off Lexapro and put onto a different SSRI and didn't experience any issues. Might this be a good way for people to get off Lexapro? To switch to another SSRI and taper off that? Because Lexapro sounds really beastly to get off of. Will all the SSRIs have the same effect, or is Lexapro a special problem?

Thanks for the info.

[mims]

Originally Posted by pamjg

Hello to all fellow Lexapro users.
Yikes i've read alot and am now convinced i need to get off this stuff. please be here for me. I havent said anything to my Dr. as yet but with or without him i'm going to do this. I've been on it 2 or 3 years and it has help with my anxity attacks i was a basket case. I suffer from agoraphobia. i do great with Lexapro 10 mg. once a day. and my panic isnt bad but.... my question is will the panic back? that is panic enough just thinking about if the panic will come back. I was so bad that i couldn't leave my homw or couldn't travel. should i stay on this stuff? as i can go and do things without much panic. I basically want to get off of it because I have NO and and I mean NO Libido. I'm married 35 years and in the last year and 1/2 no sex what so ever not even a thought of it and i feel sorry for my husband. I'm really afraid please help me. I have a new granddaughter that i watch during the day. am i going to freak out. will i lose controll? please i'm needing your help
thanks in advance pam

Pam, You can have plenty of control over this process. Take it slow and easy. No more than 10% reduction in dosage each time, then wait at least a few weeks before reducing again. The really good thing about it is that if you start to feel "panic", you're in charge -- you can always slightly raise your dose back to the previous level if you need to do so, then reduce again later. Talk to your doctor about keeping enough of a prescription on file, (refills) so that you can raise your dose again if you need to. See if you can find a copy of Joseph Glenmullen's book about getting off antidepressants (may be at your library).

As you reduce your dosage, you may find your interest in sex coming back. And I mean really coming back. If you read far enough back on this site, you'll find others who have said the same thing.

If you only feel comfortable at home with your grandchild, then stay at home while you have her, and venture out when you do not have her with you. Is that what you're afraid of- that you will somehow lose control while you are responsible for her?

The closest I came to a real full - blown panic attack as I came off Lexapro was when I suddenly found myself faced with driving over a bridge that I had not anticipated. I breathed into a bag, actually an umbrella case which was handy, until I felt OK, and then just proceeded to drive on over the bridge.

When did you start having panic attacks? Has this always been a problem for you? Believe me, I am very sympathetic. I have had panic attacks in my sleep while dreaming of driving over bridges. There are still some fears I have about bridges, but fortunately it is not a life-changing issue for me since I'm not required to do so regularly.

The reason I ask how long you've had this problem is this: If it just started around peri- menopause time, it could be related to hormone changes. Since you've been married 35 years, I assume you're in your 50's ...? Some people have a feeling of panic that is related to hot flashes. Also, as I said in a previous post last week, if you can predict when a panic attack is likely to occur, beta blockers may be helpful to take as needed. You'd have to ask your doctor about that. (Be aware beta blockers can cause depression if taken long-term.)

You may be able to dramatically reduce your dosage of lexapro (and the related side effects) even if you don't come completely off the drug. Some of us have found that smaller doses of lexapro have about the same effect as the full 10 mg. Maybe for the present time, you can focus on just reducing your dosage gradually, and I mean very gradually, and decide later if you want to completely give it up.

When it comes to getting off lexapro, I think that "Slow and steady wins the race" is the key to success.

We are definitely here for you.

[mims]

Originally Posted by MaisieC

I have a question for experienced people on this thread. I was taken off Lexapro and put onto a different SSRI and didn't experience any issues. Might this be a good way for people to get off Lexapro? To switch to another SSRI and taper off that? Because Lexapro sounds really beastly to get off of. Will all the SSRIs have the same effect, or is Lexapro a special problem?

Thanks for the info.

Maisie, Was it prozac that you were switched over to? Some doctors do switch people to prozac (fluoxetine), which has a longer half-life than lexapro, in order to taper. Prozac leaves your body gradually, unlike lexapro, so there is a natural tapering effect. Were you able to discontinue SSRI's? Please let us know the details. Thanks for posting here.

[mims]

Thanks for remembering us! Of course those of us who have been here awhile know you, and who have read back through previous messages. We're really glad to hear from you. Thanks for keeping us posted and offering encouragement, and for reporting setbacks as well as improvements. It helps those of us who are going through similar trials.

I know what you mean about fears of meetings, etc. I am trying to get out of the house and back into the "real" world, but being around people is sometimes very anxiety-provoking to me. Sometimes I am OK with it, and other times I just give in to the desire to stay at home and be reclusive. (Knowing that I will feel bad about it later.)

Keep posting when you can. It is so inspiring to hear from those who have been able to discontinue the lexapro and stay off it. Hope you continue to get better every day.

[pamjg]

I have had agoraphobia for about 31 years. i use to go to a shrink until i found out he was a quack. i got off the meds he gave me by myself . atterack (misspelled) i think it was. then i done okay but was still panicy. i did better for a several years but gloom and doom always lurked in the distance. never comfortable. unitl about 3 years a go i had a full blown panic attack and knew i wasnt going to go through that again so i went to my doctor and he gave me Lexapro. the only symptoms so far is the NO libido. I have slept better on lexpro than i ever have and i'm able to do things again. i just wonder if i should get off of it??? i just hate to be hooked on something\
getting off of this stuff isnt going to make me go off the deep end is it? i dont want to risk doing anything to my grandbaby. i would rather stay on this stuff if that is the case.

[mims]

Originally Posted by pamjg

I have had agoraphobia for about 31 years. i use to go to a shrink until i found out he was a quack. i got off the meds he gave me by myself . atterack (misspelled) i think it was. then i done okay but was still panicy. i did better for a several years but gloom and doom always lurked in the distance. never comfortable. unitl about 3 years a go i had a full blown panic attack and knew i wasnt going to go through that again so i went to my doctor and he gave me Lexapro. the only symptoms so far is the NO libido. I have slept better on lexpro than i ever have and i'm able to do things again. i just wonder if i should get off of it??? i just hate to be hooked on something\
getting off of this stuff isnt going to make me go off the deep end is it? i dont want to risk doing anything to my grandbaby. i would rather stay on this stuff if that is the case.

I understand your concern. We sometimes hear of people who have serious emotional swings when changing dosages of medicines, but I very seriously doubt you'd harm your grandchild. Nevertheless, for many reasons including your own personal health, if you do decide to cut back on the lexapro, you'd be wise to follow the very, very slow and systematic method of reducing no more than 10% at a time. If you reduce dosage gradually, your brain has time to adjust. It might take you months or even a year to get off it completely. Maybe your goal should be to just reduce your dosage, not get off completely for awhile.

Can you ask your husband to take notice of any behavior changes, etc as you reduce your dosage? Is there anybody else who can help take care of the baby for a while if you don't feel comfortable being responsible for a baby while reducing meds?

I felt physically terrible after coming off lexapro, and I still have some bad times, but I never felt like I might actually harm anybody. (Even on the days when I feel like throwing things and I am very short tempered at times, I do not feel like I'm at risk of hurting a baby.)

I understand your concerns, but I am definitely not a mental health professional and not able to address the possibility of going "off the deep end", so to speak. I guess we each have to take into consideration our own issues (panic, depression, etc) and make the best decision we can. I'd love to say talk to your doctor about this, but docs don't seem to be very understanding of lexapro withdrawal problems.

Hopefully Erin will see your message and offer some advice. I think she has been working on getting off lexapro very slowly for a long time, and she certainly seems stable and even-tempered.

Erin, do you have any advice to offer to Pam?

[rujoking]

Julia -
Yes I have read back and do 'know' who you are from old posts....thanks so much for checking in and letting us all know how things are going...

As someone who has been on AD's for a long time (prozac for 10 years until it 'pooped out') I can't help but reflect on your remarks as a newly released zombie.....it sounds very much like your are experiencing life....like many others do med free...

Over the past few months I have found myself being a whiner of sorts and my friends and family are noticing.....I will say gosh I feel anxious about a meeting....they look at me and say "yeah, so we all feel that way", I will say my back and shoulders are tight...they say "we all feel that way" I will say....man, can I drive home in this fog? It is freaking me out...they say " we are all scared of the fog".....I think I was putting off real life feelings and lost my ability to cope because of these damn meds as they numb you beyond belief....I do think it is now going to be a long re-learning process on how to cope with life's everyday challenges without fear and anxiety and pain.

Your post gives us hope as it appears you are honestly trying to get on with your life and remain med free...

congrats my dear..

ruj

[rujoking]

Maisie -

My withdrawals/bad reaction were with prozac.....I know everyone is different but just be cautious with any AD....the half life of prozac is longer .....if i had done it right and not quit cold turkey I would not be in the mess I am in now...because the half life is longer I believe it is taking longer to get completely off.....any AD is a danger....just a different danger for each of us..

[MaisieC]

Originally Posted by mims

Maisie, Was it prozac that you were switched over to? Some doctors do switch people to prozac (fluoxetine), which has a longer half-life than lexapro, in order to taper. Prozac leaves your body gradually, unlike lexapro, so there is a natural tapering effect. Were you able to discontinue SSRI's? Please let us know the details. Thanks for posting here.

I switched to Zoloft, which I am very gradually tapering off now. So far so good. I hope my mood will remain stable without the meds: if not, I'll go back on.

I asked about switching because there was a time when I was on Xanax. I heard AWFUL things about getting off Xanax, so we switched me to klonopin and I tapered off that with no problem.

Antidepressant medication saved my life. It distresses me to hear about people having such bad experiences with it. I do think the SSRIs are waaaaay over-prescribed, and it makes me wild when I hear about doctors who are not psychopharmacologists throwing these drugs around without properly evaluating the patient. But my experience has been very good. Some side effects that I don't love, but no regrets at all.

[rujoking]

Pam jg -

You could ask your doc about Wellbutrin which apparently does not affect libido? Just be advised that any med you take will involve withdrawal..... I tried beta blockers and although they helped the anxiety and heart rate and vibrations for a while I started having serious breathing issues on them and had to go off without a withdrawal...OMG...that was horrible...just horrible....I seriously thought I would have a heart attack .....if you have ever had allergies or asthma think very seriously about this option first ....wish I had! Good luck!

[pamjg]

you are all amazing.
think you for your insight. I am going to try 1/4 of my lexapro as i have been cutting my 20 mg. in half the whole time so i will half the dosage. Like you said Mims i can always go back to the half pill. I'm 55 years old and like i said before i have dealt with panic attacks since i was 27 years old. I'm a Christain and i do have Gods strength that i can to turn to also. That is how i dealt with it before. I will go back and read some more of the post today. although some of the times i feel i might take on other peoples symtoms if i read to much. Agoraphobics seem to do that haha. But seriuosly i'm glad i found you all. What truned me to Lexapro was i was having Burning mouth syndrome,has anyone here dealt with that?