[MeJenna7]

I can see there hasn't been much activity on this thread for some time. Oh, well, I've read all the posts here and have some advice and experience to offer - plus my own frustrations with antidepressants. I think the most important thing is that for many of us - these drugs have been the first lifelines ever thrown to us in our lives. They are not to be taken "lightly" for sure - but also - please know that without these meds to the rescue - I for one might not have made it out.
My first depression was postpartum, at 24 years-old. I suffered in silence for a whole year because I was too embarrassed to admit how I felt. I somehow made it through with no therapy or meds. The second major depression was when I was around 36 years-old. It was the most horrible thing I had ever experienced. I lived in a "hell on earth" of which for 4 months I could find no escape. I could not eat, chew or swallow because the anxiety was so intense. I could not lay down to sleep without feeling like I was choking. I felt death all around me. It was terrifying. I went from doctor to doctor. I didn't know what was wrong with me. Finally, a doctor insisted it was mental and I went to see a psychiatrist. I had to have an immediate, strong dose of Paxil - then finally up to 40mg. I had to take xanax 6 times a day between panic attacks so severe that I was calling 911 everyday. It took the Paxil a full 3 weeks to work. And one day - I felt I was walking on sunshine. What a feeling after living in hell so long. I'm grateful to meds for this. I did go off the meds later and yes it was a very slow, difficult process. And I gained a lot of weight on it. Please do not forget that some of us - like me- have a true chemical imbalance and we inherited this through generations of family, who suffered with no help. On the other hand, I sympathize with negative reactions to meds and withdrawals. I've experienced them all through the years. I don't believe meds should be given lightly - especially to teens. My case was so severe - I could not function to even drive my 4 year old to school. My docs say I have to be on meds for a lifetime due to my history and family predisposition. I'm on Lexapro 20mg, Wellbutrin, and 1 xanax to help me sleep at night. I've gained 20 lbs. and yes, I want to be off meds and I'm going to try again. But slowly. I have felt fine tapering from 20 to 10 for a few weeks - then to 5mg for a few days, then off. Yes, try all those healthy things like exercise and yoga, meditation - eat right, take care of yourself and avoid stressful situations. Get plenty of sleep. These are all things I do, and believe, in to combat this lifelong condition. I don't like the weight gain - and I can't cry at all. But I function, take care of my son, and work a full-time job. My life is not too stressful right now - so this is a good time to taper off. It may not work. I may have to have peace and a little extra weight. But I work out and try to eat healthy most of the time.
But please, don't think we who take meds are weak and haven't tried other things. These meds are the best science has to offer right now. And I thank God for them.
I understand, and greatly empathize with all of you, and I want you to not give up on your mental health. Our mental health is a complete package of taking care of yourself, eating as healthy as you can, exercising daily, taking your vitamins, and getting enough sleep. These are key components. I have had a lifelong passion for fitness and health, and I know it is because it has been my medicine, as well as the pharmaceuticals. Thanks for the listen.
take care,
Jenna

[mims]

Tapering to the lowest effective dose might be a reasonable goal for people who just can't get off SSRIs completely. Some people have said that they didn't really feel the worst withdrawals until dropping from a miniscule dose down to nothing.

I have wondered if post-partum depression might be a result of the anesthesia (or withdrawal from anesthesia drugs) used during delivery. The reason I wonder is that anesthesia usually affects your nervous system, and I recall after having my baby I shook uncontrollably for hours due to the anesthesia, (I was told that was the cause). Interestingly, shaking internally has been one of my worst side effects from quitting lexapro, even though it is a different sensation from the experience that night after delivery.

Just a theory based on my own experience.

Thanks for posting, Jenna.

[boogie2]

I am doing the same thing. For five week I wake up early feeling hot, heart racing, and sick to my stomach. The anxiety and depression are awful. Today I tried to take a nap and woke up in 20 minutes feeling the way. This is the 2nd summer that I have had to deal with this. I was on 10 mg of Lexapro for three years and weaned off of it last October. It took until November for me to stop having these episodes. I am 50 years old and believe that a lot of this is due to hormones. Hang in there; there are a lot of us going through the same thing.

[boogie2]

I can't find any of the post that I did last summer. What happens to them and why are they removed? Thank you!

[mims]

Originally Posted by boogie2

I can't find any of the post that I did last summer. What happens to them and why are they removed? Thank you!

Are you the same as boogie30?

[boogie2]

Woops, yes I was boogie30. No wonder I couldn't log in. Thank you so much!

[Pugcrazy]

Hi I have a question, as stated I have been off the lexapro for about 6 weeks now. I went through many of the withdrawal symptoms discussed but right now I am dealing with irritability and anger. In a few posts back a few of us discussed feeling out of love with our mate or I guess one could call it the inability to feel love. I have felt that in the past when I was withdrawing from the lexapro. So I really love and adore my husband and he really is a great guy and wonderful father and reassures me of his love constantly. Many people tell me how I am to have such a caring guy. My point is I trust him but I constantly have this odd feeling of being unloved. I know this is totally not true. I guess you could say I get super PARANOID. I even at times pick fights with him just so we have a fight and he has to "prove" he loves me. CRAZY I know and of course this only happens when I am in my irritable stages of withdrawal. I tell you there are other situations or times that I get that paranoid feeling also but just blow it off because I know its the lexapro. I wish i could blow off this feeling with him but I just can't seem to. I would tell you all if there was something wrong in our marriage but there is not. I have nothing to hide. I feel bad for my husband because he gets so upset and hurt that I feel get way. He said to me "It seems like you want me to run around and tell you how much I love you every minute of the day". He also cannot believe what an insecure person I have become. I dont have a reason to be and I never was insecure before. I never felt this way before the lexapro and I dont feel this all of the time now but when I do watch out. I of course take all of my frustrations and anger out on him. To tell you the truth sometimes I get so nasty I am surprised he stays around. He always forgives and we move on but I am worried one day it might be too late and he just wont be able to take it anymore. Do you think I feel this paranoia about his love because I know I take all of my problems out on him? And please tell me do you think this all has to do with the lexapro withdrawals?? I will say when I told him I thought I was withdrawing from lexapro he said to me that he did not think I needed it in the first place. As caring as he is his one huge fault is he has a very difficult time understanding mental illness. He was supportive when I first became depressed but he really has no clue whats its like to be depressed. Well thats enough of my talking. Let me know what you all think.
Pugcrazy

[mimmie2008]

I check in a lot. It helps me to read the posts. I suppose it reassures me that I am alright. I am not imagining what is going on. I guess that old saying is right. Misery loves company. In my case it's a reassurance that I am going to be okay. It's not just me.

I still have the vision problems, they just won't go away or get any better. I have to wear magnifier glasses over my last pair that I just got to be able to read. The doctor has no clue why my vision is fading so badly.

I still don't care if I am ever intimate again, or at least it feels that way. I know that I don't want that really but that's the way it feels right now.

I get stressed very easily by everyday things. If something goes wrong then I am not the one to turn to anymore. This really hurts me because I was always the one that took care of everything. I can't even take care of myself anymore.

I can care less if the house is ever clean again and cooking is out of the question. This is so hard on me too because I loved to cook.

The summer heat is unbearable to me and I have lived all my life in the south and it never seemed to bother me like it does now.

I am sleeping much, much better. That is a plus. I have a CPAP machine now because the apnea was so bad. It took a lot of work to be able to use it but I have made peace with it and I'm not having any problems now.

I am having a problem with low body temperature. I am never 98.6 now and if it does get to that temp then I am sick and have a fever. It usually runs about 95.9 to 96.7 now. Maybe that has something to do with me not being able to stand the hot weather anymore.

It also seems that I catch every cold, flu, stomach bug that comes along. I hardly ever got sick and now if someone coughs in my direction then I get it. Maybe a lower immune system? I don't know.

The zaps are gone. The shaking of the hands is better but I still can not oil paint yet or sew. The ringing in my ears is almost gone. It is worse when I am laying down. The dizziness only gets me now when I get up after I have been laying down. I still can't watch horror movies and I used to love watching them. The anxiety is mostly gone. There are still sometimes, not often, when I will wake up and freak out. This was the worst for me as I had never had anxiety in any form before the 3 nasty little pills. I can laugh again when something is funny and cry when something is sad. I really hated the numbness that I felt after the lex encounter. I just didn't feel anything. Numb. I think that I am better but it's still not right. I can only hope that it will get there eventually. Hang in there everyone.

[Pugcrazy]

Hi mimmie u sound so down. I wish I could do more than say hang in there. Please remember things will continue to get better. For what I take u have been off the lex for 18 months so have u tried the supplements,yoga , or going to see a NP? I am sure u have but I figures I would just ask. This is so tough and coming to this forum really helps me. Most of how u feel about no motivation to do anything is how I felt on lexapro. I called it the lexapro fog. Well I thinkin of u and hope each day u get better.
Pugcrazy

[mims]

Mimmie,

How long have you had the CPAP machine? I developed sleep apnea, also, and considered getting one. I feel like my condition is improving on its own, the breathing problems that I'm aware of seem to be getting better, little by little. So I decided to hold off on getting the CPAP - my doc said that's OK as long as I monitor to be sure it's not getting worse.

I wondered if apnea was causing alot of the other problems, and if CPaP would help everything. I read that sleep apnea can affect your eyes (pressure)as well as blood pressure-- think about the pressure that builds in your head when you hold your breath and "strain", which I think is what happens with sleep apnea. Maybe your eyes will stop getting worse after using the CPaP awhile. Desaturation of oxygen is bound to affect everything in your body.

I fortunately have not had colds, etc, but I've been taking the probiotics most of the time, and I know they are supposed to boost your immune system. Have you tried probiotics?

I'm still having some vibrations and muscle jerks, and most of your other problems; including the inability of my body to regulate temperature.
I haven't been measuring my body temperature, but I feel the effects of the weather so much more than ever. The worst for me was having chills all winter. Heat is bothering me now, too, and I always loved the hot weather.

18 months for you! That's supposed to be one of those milestones when things start to get better. Hope it happens for you, mimmie.

[mims]

Hi, Pug,

You're right - nobody understands mental disorders, and I guess that's what we have after lexapro, if not before.

I certainly wouldn't have ever understood all this if I had not experienced it myself. I'm sure people just think I've gotten really weird. You can't go around explaining to everybody that you act different because your brain is messed up from drugs.

You have so many good things to say about your husband and marriage - maybe if you remember to tell your husband regularly that you feel that way, it will help counteract some of the negatives when they do crop up.

It's easy to feel really insecure when you don't feel "normal" due to the effects of medication.

[Tiredofmeds]

OK here it goes!

I have been on lexapro for 6 years now, and im ready to get off. Here is my story. When i was 22 i had a huge panic attack, which then led to panic disorder, which then led to GAD. To this day i still suffer every single day with GAD and occasional panic attacks. I did not think anything of this med, untill i realized that

1- i work out all the time, but still weigh the same 190
2- I have developed bradycardia, which is a very slow heart rate, which the docs all seem to think this is ok and normal
3- i am dead tired every day
4- i get chest pains all the time.

My thing is this. I had these symptoms before, why do i need this stupid medicine anyway!

My problem is i have been on it so long. It is only 10mg, but still. I need to know the best way to get off of this med please! I cannot have all these symptoms of withdrawl as i work full time and am in grad school full time.

PLEASE HELP!

[Pugcrazy]

Mims that is what I try and do. I mean he is not perfect but neither am I. We have a great home and two wonderful kids. I am really trying hard. Thanks for the advice. It feels good to get advice from someone who knows what I am going through. Ya know if I tried to explain this to my friends they would think I was crazy. On to a different subject I remember when my first born was about a year old we were at the Pedi's office and I told him about my depression and was just wondering if my son had a higher chance of getting depression. This Pedi who is wonderful and I worked with him for many years when he was a reisdent and then went in to private practice said something to me that I really wished I listened to. I told him how I got so depressed after the birth of my child and most of it was because of the HUGE amount of weight I gained and a small amt was probably the baby blues. He really listened to me and said to me that he has known me for many years before and after preganancy and never thought I ever had a depressed moment in my life. He did not doubt the depression was there but he stated that he really did think my depression could be cured with therapy, exercise and diet. He believed to many MD's prescribed meds as an easy way out. He listened to my symptoms closely and asked if I had thoughts of killing myself and said no (which I never did). When he heard this he thought maybe I should see a ND instead of an MD and if a natural plan did not work I should then try an anti-depress drug. He made it clear as long as I was able to function and not sucidical what was the harm in trying the natural way. He strongly advised against the medication unless it was absolutely needed. He believed that the med's are good and life savors but are just given to easy. Boy do I wish I ever listened more to him. He gave me more great advice in that 15 minutes than the psych doctor gave me in 6 years. If I only listened. Well I guess ya just got to live and learn.
Thanks again mims. I feel better than yesterday but not terrific.
The advice is a great help
Pugcrazy.

PS. I have a pug who just adorable but at 3 years old is so stressed, constanty itches and licks her paws and just cannot calm down. I took her to the vet 2 months ago and we tried natural ways to help her behaviors but it did not work. So she started on Amitriptyline 12.5 mg twice a day yesterday. She is like a different dog but my point is the vet took the time to try other therapies before medicating her. BELIEVE ME SHE NEEDS IT!!!! LOL

[Christel417]

The withdrawl from Lexapro did NOT go well at all. I have started seeing a Shrink and my insurance got worked out so that I am now taking Pristiq. My insurance company nearly killed me in the process of proving I was allergic to Effexor...all because it was the "formulary drug".

As for my life since getting back on the Pristiq...I don't know who I was on Lexapro. I feel now like I lived in a fog the whole time I was on it. I couldn't feel or express my feelings towards anyone...my spouse still won't believe it was the meds, no matter what I do to prove it. I guess it's a case of "too little, too late" in that situation. While I was on Lexapro, everything was routine. I woke up, got ready, went to work, came home dealt with the kids (to the best of my ability), got online and played games, then went to bed. EVERY SINGLE DAY.

Now I SEE life. I enjoy being with my kids, I take them to do things, we TALK now. No every day isn't great, I have had a few bad days this month but I am dealing with them with shocking ease. I smile more at work (how I kept my job I'll never know), I smile and laugh with my kids and I can now show affection more cause I can FEEL it. Too bad it's just too late to show it to my spouse.

Lexapro SUX!!!!!! I wonder if it was truely the Lexapro or if the Pristiq is really working???

[erichansen007]

All through my 20's and 30's I was highly emotional and would cycle in and out of depression and irritability. It has been a familial disease. My girl said I had to do something because it was killing her. I started on Paxil. It worked great! It really changed my life...AND my sex life. YOU know what I'm talking about. I tried over and over to find a drug that helped my depression and irritabilty, but didn't mess with my libido. How's that working for you? I've tried so many things. Two years ago, the doc said let's try Lamictal. We added it, but I could not get off the Lexapro. Actually, I hold the Lamictal responsible for my multiple orgasms. Any way, The Lexapro has been a trouble for me sexually and when I tried to cut back, it made sex better, but my body was jonesing for the full dose and this was not a good thing.

A few months ago I'd decided I'd had enough of this Lexapro stuff and the side effects that go with it. I started cutting back. At 5mgs. sex got easier. Three weeks ago I decided to cold turkey it. It has been pretty tough with the brain zaps and the occasional feeling of a vice grip on my head. I believe I understand my emotions better at 52 than when in my 30's and I hoped that would help me cope better. I have had some bad moments when my head was swimming in a sea of brain zaps and awful feelings, but I know what to look for now and know to keep breathing and be quiet.

I wanted to give up a number of times because it seemed insurmountable, but I was resolute. The zaps are not as strong now. My creative energy is flowing again as well as the tears (and laughs). That's okay! I know to not let my blood sugar drop and to exercise and meditate a lot.

At that time, Paxil really changed my life and saved my relationship, but it's time to face life without these drugs. The doc says I'll always be the guy with depression and irritabilty, but I do not believe him because I DO NOT WANT TO BELIEVE HIM. I am the captain of this ship mother ********er!

Hi

Antidepressants have there uses, I guess. Recently A friend of mine was so depressed that he was seriously thinking of killing him self and physically could not go on any more and broke down. I don't know what the answer is to something like that? But without Ad's he might not be here. I am glad that Australia has a different Health care set up to the US, having to deal with being ill and insurance issues what a hassle. Antidepressants are over prescribed if you go to a Dr and say I feel stressed out, cant sleep, feel a bit down etc its a safe bet you would get offered a antidepressant. If you look at the crazymeds.us site it gives a good description of what "seriously mentally ill means" I guess you have to weigh up what is worse (insert illness here) or symptoms of the drugs....For me having low sex drive and diarrhea is WAY better than being constantly anxious and mildly depressed, at least I have some enjoyment of life as apposed to none. I still wish I was offered psychotherapy first, in a weakened state of mind its easy when you are told "Take these pills son and you will feel better" to accept and trust. Well thats my rant for today!

[mimmie2008]

Originally Posted by Pugcrazy

Hi mimmie u sound so down. I wish I could do more than say hang in there. Please remember things will continue to get better. For what I take u have been off the lex for 18 months so have u tried the supplements,yoga , or going to see a NP? I am sure u have but I figures I would just ask. This is so tough and coming to this forum really helps me. Most of how u feel about no motivation to do anything is how I felt on lexapro. I called it the lexapro fog. Well I thinkin of u and hope each day u get better.
Pugcrazy

I have tried everything and am still working on it. Meditation is the best thing that I have found for me so far. I am just tired. I am tired of the ups and downs. I keep waiting for more ups than downs. Sometimes I get so hopeful that its getting better and then it hits again. That's what is so frustrating to me. It's so annoying. It is getting better though, slowly but surely. Of course, I don't have a lot of patience and I really thought that this would all be gone by now. I think that the main thing is that I am discouraged. It was ONLY 3 pills. I am so afraid of medicines now that my doctor laughs at me when any of meds are changed. She knows how scared I am of any of them now so she has to explain each and every side effect or allergic reactions. I was very allergic to the lex and am very thankful that I found her and she knows what the dang drug is capable of in some of us. I will keep hoping and like I said, it is better, just frustrating that it wont pack ALL of its bags and leave all of us alone.

[mimmie2008]

Originally Posted by mims

Mimmie,

How long have you had the CPAP machine? I developed sleep apnea, also, and considered getting one. I feel like my condition is improving on its own, the breathing problems that I'm aware of seem to be getting better, little by little. So I decided to hold off on getting the CPAP - my doc said that's OK as long as I monitor to be sure it's not getting worse.

I wondered if apnea was causing alot of the other problems, and if CPaP would help everything. I read that sleep apnea can affect your eyes (pressure)as well as blood pressure-- think about the pressure that builds in your head when you hold your breath and "strain", which I think is what happens with sleep apnea. Maybe your eyes will stop getting worse after using the CPaP awhile. Desaturation of oxygen is bound to affect everything in your body.

I fortunately have not had colds, etc, but I've been taking the probiotics most of the time, and I know they are supposed to boost your immune system. Have you tried probiotics?

I'm still having some vibrations and muscle jerks, and most of your other problems; including the inability of my body to regulate temperature.
I haven't been measuring my body temperature, but I feel the effects of the weather so much more than ever. The worst for me was having chills all winter. Heat is bothering me now, too, and I always loved the hot weather.

18 months for you! That's supposed to be one of those milestones when things start to get better. Hope it happens for you, mimmie.

I have had my CPAP for awhile now. It has made a huge difference in everything that I do. I thought for years that I had an overactive bladder. I was getting up 7 or 8 times a night to go to the bathroom. I thought that I was waking up to go potty. Turns out that I was waking up because I was suffocating, would jerk awake and then would get up to go to the bathroom before going back to bed.

My apnea is acute. I can not sleep at all without the CPAP now. It has lowered my blood pressure too and eliminated the drug that I was having to take for it. The headaches that I was always having are gone and I don't have to take naps in the evening anymore. More importantly, I don't fall alseep sitting at the dinner table or in the tub or driving! Now that was scary and had made me stop driving because I just couldn't stay awake. Unfortunately, I did not find out about the apnea in time to keep it from doing damage to my heart. It messed up the mytral valve but it is slowly repairing itself. It will never be perfect but it has improved since my last check up.

Be very careful with your apnea. It is a silent killer. It causes problems that are so slowly manifested that you don't notice until it becomes serious. My oxygen levels while sleeping were dropping down to 70 percent before the CPAP because of holding my breath. No wonder I was so lethargic all of the time. My insurance paid for everything. Apnea is a recognized problem. Better safe than sorry.

All it takes is a sleep study where they will monitor you to see what is going on. The mask that you have to wear is the hardest part. I can't tell you how much I hated that thing for the first two weeks of use. I didn't think I would ever be able to do it. Now it's just routine. And it helps my asthma and COPD. When our power went out during an ice storm I was unable to sleep at all until the lines were repaired. I now how a battery pack for my machine.

Keep a close watch on yours. Don't sleep on your back because that makes it worse. I have a wedge pillow that I used until I got my machine. It seemed to help some but not enough. Hoping for the best for you, for all of us. Mimmie

[mims]

Thanks for the advice Mimmie. My doctor did warn me about the damage that can be caused by apnea, but thanks for telling me about this. It makes me take his warning more seriously.

At this stage, my oxygen desat is below 90% for just short periods of time. He calls my condition mild or mild-to moderate; I'm not falling asleep while driving or sitting at the dinner table, etc. So he thinks I'm OK with my wait-and-see attitude. He did say I would have to come back for a check-up in 6 months, and stay on top of this problem to be sure it is not worsening. He recommended weight loss, which we all know is nearly impossible after lexapro, but hopefully will get easier over time.

I guess you saw my previous posts about some medical doctors now recognizing that there is a connection between SSRIs and Apnea. Sounds like you had apnea before ever taking the 3 pills.

I was waking up to go to the bathroom at 3 AM every night, and now I'm able to sleep longer, sometimes 7 hours, so I really think I must be actually getting better, breathing better. Also my blood pressure has come back down. Sleeping on my side is something I'm trying to do, even though it makes me wake up with aches and pains. I'll look for a wedge pillow - sleeping with the tennis ball on my back was not great, but it did sort of train me to stay on my side for most of the night.

I hope you'll continue to recover.

[babybottom]

Mims, I'm glad your doing better I am too.I use to wake up atleast twice a night to go to the bathroom.That started getting better back in april.That does get better.I'm sleeping through the night, that's good.When I'm on my back dozing off my throat closes up.Isn't that normal?I don't remember.I sleep on my stomach so it doesn't happen much.Still have weight issue. No weight loss yet even after fifteen months off. Could that just be related to chronic stress?My living situation has not changed and stresses me out daily and so does family things.I have no idea how to control it.THat was always the one area I could control about me, my body.I have more little scars on my face from the extra added acne.Now I'm mostly just affected by smaller physical things, which are getting to me.I can't seem to fix them.Still frustrated I need reassurance as usual.

[MT55]

Hi,

Need a little advice. I hope someone can help. So I have been tapering off Lexapro for over 4 months now. I switched to the Liquid Lexapro and went down 10% per week or so starting at 10mg...Everything went fine until I hit about 3 mg. I never really slept well on Lex but I was sleeping a good 6 or 7 hours and wasn't tired during the day..Now I have been on 3 mg for about 3 weeks but I am tired all day..I am not waking up at night but every morning when I wake up I feel like I only slept 2 hours or so, I am exhausted all day long. So my question is for any that has successfully gotten of this stuff is should I hold at the 3mg until my sleep improves or should I continue down to 2 mg and see if that improves the sleep issue.

mt55

[mims]

Hi, babybottom.

No, I don't think it's normal for your throat to close when falling asleep, especially not at your age. (Apparently having alot of weight around your neck can cause sleep apnea, but I'm just barely over the BMI guideline for normal weight, and I don't have a really fat neck.) My sleep clinic doctor said post- menopause is a risk factor for apnea. When I told him about lexapro, he seemed (barely) open to the idea that could be a factor, but I guess he's just never heard of the SSRI connection before.

It's my understanding that sleep apnea is worst during deep sleep, but the throat block we're aware of as we doze off is probably a form of sleep apnea. The mayo clinic site has general info on sleep apnea.

I wish I knew more about how to get rid of the excess weight. My doc said even a 10 or 15 pound loss could help the apnea. Easy for him to say.

Here's the name of a book recommended to me by a physician: Eat Drink and be Healthy, by Walter Willett. The focus is good nutrition; it's not just a weight loss guide.

[babybottom]

Thankyou for responding.I eat good already.I would have to be almost anorexic to lose weight, which i'm not gonna do.I don't get it.I jogged four miles last night and told my husband that I wouldn't mind stepping up on the running if it worked.Nothing seems to work.Last night my throat closed up while I was on my stomach trying to sleep, I dozed off.There's a bird that starts chirping really loud around midnight till about four in the am.It's driving me crazy, aren't they supposed to be sleeping at that hr.Also, I am only one size over my weight too.I need to lose about fifteen to twenty.My neck is not big either.I keep looking up things related to lexapro withdraw like hormonal changes and other things and really never get an answer.I could handle short term affects, not longterm.THere making me mad.I am almost done with my 90 day power 90 workouts.I have not lost any weight only a few inches.My arms are pretty buff with an extra layer of fat surrounding all my new muscle.How could that be?How could you workout that hard and see not really much of a result is beyond me.It was never this hard.My tire of rubber around my waist is still ther just one size smaller, big deal.I have body image problems and have had eating disorders in the past.I stopped having them in 94 so I'm better but mentally I see myself differently than everyone else.That's why I talk about it so much.I just want change.I feel this is my last big change after lexapro withdrawal except for pain around joints which I guess I'll trade something off.No matter how I eat I don't go anywhere.I will check out the book you recommended.Hope you figure out about your apnea.Mine is not everynight, jst when I'm having trouble falling asleep.I also want a detox to get rid of the bumps on my skin.It's likeacne is just trapped under my skin and I'm not supposed to pick it out, how do I get rid of it!

[Aeroman]

Originally Posted by MT55

Hi,

Need a little advice. I hope someone can help. So I have been tapering off Lexapro for over 4 months now. I switched to the Liquid Lexapro and went down 10% per week or so starting at 10mg...Everything went fine until I hit about 3 mg. I never really slept well on Lex but I was sleeping a good 6 or 7 hours and wasn't tired during the day..Now I have been on 3 mg for about 3 weeks but I am tired all day..I am not waking up at night but every morning when I wake up I feel like I only slept 2 hours or so, I am exhausted all day long. So my question is for any that has successfully gotten of this stuff is should I hold at the 3mg until my sleep improves or should I continue down to 2 mg and see if that improves the sleep issue.

mt55

too fast.

try 10% every 3-6 weeks, depending on how you feel.

[mims]

"Only a few inches", "One size smaller", , etc -- what do you mean 'no big deal"!!! I really think that's great, especially considering the difficulty (expressed by so many of us) of losing any weight or inches at all, after coming off lexapro. I think you should be proud of your accomplishment, even if it's inches not pounds.

As time passes, the increased muscle may help you lose some weight. I have read that interval training (alternating jogging with walking, or other high - intensity workout alternated with lower - intensity) is the best way to lose weight, but I have no personal experience with that.

[babybottom]

I appreciate that but it's not enough to fit into my clothes from before lex.If you only knew the training I do.The effort I put out makes me shake my head in disbelief.I do intense training six days a wk and mostly alternating my cardio with weights.I do cardio everyday weight training everyother day.I am in shock by this.If i was putting out minimal effort I wouldn't not be surprised by the lack of weightloss.But what can I do ? Nothing. but wait.I can't afford to buy all new clothes so I need to fit into last yrs.I can hardly fit into anything that use to fit.Sorry for sounding like a downer.I appreciate your kind words.Can't wait till I can say, "I'm losing some weight now I feel better."For people with body dismorphic disorder it's a bit torturous.I struggle with seeing myself normally.I'm very hard on myself.I try to accept me but I'm always working on me.I wish you well.

[Pugcrazy]

Babybottom I could totally relate to your frustration in relation to weight loss. You are really dedicated to exercise and diet. I wish I had an answer to why the weight was not coming off. For me right now I was feeling so good last week, then I was irritable, got better and now for the past 24 hours I have been just miserable, angry, irritable and somewhat depressed. I have felt this all before when I stopped lexapro a while back. these are the feelings I experienced which always made me go back to taking Lexapro. Right now I am taking my supplements but the misery I am feeling is annoying. I cant stand how for days I can feel great and then all of the sudden I am miserable. I am able to function but I just want these withdrawal symptoms to leave!!! Well I guess i will just continue to take one day at a time because I refuse to go back on any antidepressant. Well I will keep you all updated. thanks for the support reading all of your postings really help me alot!!!
Pugcrazy

[babybottom]

You've done so well, don't go backwards.I thought for months that I would never feel normal again and believe me, I'm in a much better place.Nothing was good ,everyday sucked and i cried and wished for some medicine to take me away from my misery.The anger &frustration ,I felt like my insides were gonna explode if I got frustrated or flustered and too much on my plate.It will get better.It was not so great for months for me.Just hang in there and try to live stress free.I've been off for fifteen months with no taper.How bout you, I forget what everyone is at after I don't see the posts.How is your weight after coming off?keep up the good work.

[Pugcrazy]

Hi babybottom. Thx for your words of support. It may sound crazy bit right now I feel really good but who knows how I will be in a couple of hours. I have been off the lexapro cold turkey since may 15th of tthis year so more than 6 weeks. As for the weight loss I gained about 40 pds on lexapro and since going off I am down about 10 pds. After stopping the lexapro I noticed I did not have that bloated feeling anymore so I am sure that some of the weight loss is due to my body ridding of the excess water it held on to from the lexapro. I have a decreased appetite since coming off lex and have been dieting and exercising. It really bothers me that I went on lexapro after my doctor assures me that lexapro would not cause weight gain. I guess he did not know much about this med after all. Please keep posting the posts are very encouraging to me!!!!!!!!
Pugcrazy

[mims]

Haven't heard from you lately -- how are you?