Lexapro Withdrawal

sayyadina · #**10801** 10-19-2009, 06:25 PM

carolyn222, I also have PTSD, which started to give me a bit more trouble after coming off the Lexapro, and I've been helped a lot by homeopathy, which can also work for depression. Most naturopathic drs are familiar with homeopathy, though there are also people who are certified in homeopathy.
http://www.naturopathic.org/
http://www.homeopathy.org/

As far as withdrawal symptoms, I'm doing pretty well. Haven't noticed anything.

However, I'm still dealing with the sinus issue. Extreme pain & some fluid in my ears which is making me really, really dizzy. Feel okay as long as I'm sitting still, but I need to be able to be somewhat active on friday, since I have 21 alpacas that will need shots.

ray34iyf · #**10802** 10-19-2009, 06:30 PM

Ok this could be totally unrelated to the Lexapro, but when I went into the eye doctor a month or so ago, he mentioned that I have cataracts forming on the lens of both of my eyes.

I've been through alot of trouble with Lexapro the past 2 years, so it came to my mind that maybe this coming out of the blue of cataracts may be from the Lexapro. I'm hesitant to blame everything on Lexapro, because that would simply be stupid, but is it normal for a 22 year to have this problem??

Thanks,

Dan

mims · #**10803** 10-20-2009, 09:46 AM

Dan, It's unusual for a 22 year old, but not unheard of. Some drugs can cause cataracts -- cortisone or steroid type drugs - even cortisone skin creams and some of the prescription nose sprays like flonase. Some drugs make your skin and eyes more sensitive to sun.

I developed cataracts also, wondered about the SSRIs, but I am in my 50's -- which is still kind of young for cataracts.

Google 'prevent cataracts', or 'reverse cataracts'. You'll find this advice along with advice on supplements that might help: wear sunglasses, avoid smoking, eat plenty of vegetables especially greens, and not too much junk food, get aerobic exercise. If you can find the book Eat Drink And be Healthy by Dr. Willet, he has some advice on preventing cataracts - just a paragraph or two - just read that part while in the bookstore or find it in the library, no need to make a purchase for a couple of paragraphs! Even though the book has plenty of other good advice too.

vestabula · #**10804** 10-20-2009, 09:49 AM

On Lexapro's own site they list about 100 side effects and withdrawal symptoms for this horrible drug. Many of them have to do with vision issues, including cataracts, glaucoma...retina damage and the good ole blurry vision that may or may not go away. Then they state that only 2 people in 1000 with suffer ANY withdrawal...what a crock. I know that if only one person suffers a particular symptom they have to list it, and I have taken that into consideration. But... Chronic sinus issues? Severe gastric and GERD symptoms? Muscle and joint pain? I wish I hadn't looked at it but I wanted to know if I was suffering from withdrawals or should head off for a am MRI after going off this drug. Doctors are clueless. I was given this drug for anxiety and fibromyalgia pain. 'Do not take NSAID's if on this drug as it may cause excessive stomach/intenstinal bleeding'. My doc has me on NSAID's for fibro. It also says not to take it if you have varicose veins. I have severe varicose veins from carrying twins when I was pregnant. I also have high glaucoma readings and it warns not to take it if you have that. My doc knows all of these things yet prescribed it anyway.

I was addicted to opioids after a series of surgeries when I was younger, and that withdrawal was nothing like this. I will never ever take another drug of any kind without researching it first.

I heard a doctor on the news state that SSRI's and anti statins should be put in our drinking water as they are so beneficial. OMG, is all I have to say.

Donna

mims · #**10805** 10-20-2009, 10:31 AM

Dan, I just read that cataracts can be a side effect of accutane, also.
Most doctors will say that cataracts are not reversible, but some of the online sites ( see my previous post about googling -- I don't know how reliable they are), say that there have been cases of cataracts being reversed while in the early stages. Probably due to lifestyle and diet changes.

I think the best thing we can all so at this point is accept what has already happened, which is almost impossible to accept, and try to overcome it as well as we can by doing everything we can to improve our overall health with exercise, diet, etc.
What else can we do?

Donna, I'm very upset about the way our doctors casually prescribe drugs. I don't trust any of them anymore. In all honesty, they prescribe drugs every day that can cause terrible side effects - even ordinary antibiotics, which have saved so many lives, can also kill you. So I wonder if they just get used to dealing with that. If it's something like antibiotics for a potentially fatal or damaging condition, that's understandable, but for me, I didn't need such a potent drug as lexapro for the types of problems I was having. It's definiely a learning experience for me - I just hope I can recover enough to have a decent life.

I've been feeling better the past few days, so feeling a little more hopeful.

vestabula · #**10806** 10-20-2009, 10:58 AM

I'm with you Mims...my doctor is my husband's tennis partner and we see him often in social settings. I am having such a hard time keeping my mouth shut, as when I saw him for my depression after my mom, dad and brother all died within a short period of time I am sure he thought I needed something to control the crying. (I probably did, but not long term) That being said, he had a closet full of Lexapro samples and handed me a shopping bag of them, without doing any obvious research on them...at least in front of me. He said it would help with my fibro flares also. I really think he only knows what the drug reps tell him. I have never paid for this drug...which I guess I should be thankful for as we lost our health insurance when we moved from VA to NY. I know it is expensive. But. I had a urinary infection over the summer and he wanted to give me Levaquor...I refused to take it...then he wanted to prescribe Cipro. These are drugs given for serious, life threatening infections like the plague and anthrax poisoning. I asked for microbid (?) and it did the job just fine and was four dollars.

I mentioned the withdrawals to him and he told me to go back on them as they are designed for life time use. I am just so upset and like you, hope I can just keep on, keep on. It has been so hard. I am starting to be thankful if I can blink my eyes once or twice a day and not get zapped. For me, that is improvement!

Take care, my friend. We can get through this!

Donna

mims · #**10807** 10-20-2009, 11:45 AM

Yes -- my drugs were free samples also -- very expensive free samples, by the time I paid for all the scans and lab tests I had last year, and the ongoing health problems. I finally consulted a psychiatrist, who said that the withdrawal symptoms I had were typical, but should have gone away within a few weeks. Hopefully, yours will be short-term. Not everybody has long-term problems like mine.

I can't imagine how you felt after losing so many close family members - that must have been terrible. I'm sure your friend/doctor was trying to help, and had no idea how terrible the side effects could be for some of us. My doctors were certainly unaware of these extreme side effects. But after finding so many fellow sufferers online, I wonder how rare this really is. I think it's not all that rare- it's just rarely reported. I'm sure none of my doctors reported my experience. I'm still not sure they really believe me.

vestabula · #**10808** 10-20-2009, 12:38 PM

Mims...the side/withdrawal effects are not rare...they are typical. 92% of us going off any SSRI have brain/head sensations. And yes...some are lucky and they go away after a few weeks. After doing extensive research on this drug, many many people have symptoms for months after going off. My son, who happens to be a biologist and works in drug development/research has been 'off' this drug for two years and still has to take one 10 mg pill a week because of the extreme waves of nausea and sweating that still plague him. I know the length of time you have been suffering is so frustrating. But don't let any doctor tell you what is 'normal' and get upset because you are still having some disturbing symptoms. My Husband gets the Harvard Medical Journal and I believe that is where I read that SSRI's are the most difficult drugs on the market to withdraw from, and there is great concern for the elderly as they are prescribed like candy for the depression that some times comes with loneliness, etc. I have a friend whose father is in a nursing home and they put him on Zoloft, Cymbalta AND Ambilify because he missed his wife. What a lethal cocktail. A week later he threw a glass bottle at an aide and ended up in the VA hospital in restraints. It's very sad.

Donna

mims · #**10809** 10-20-2009, 01:03 PM

It's sad and frightening. The drug companies keep coming up with new studies, new similar but "better" drugs, and new indications for these drugs. Of course the newer better drugs are better only until they are in actual use, and then the truth comes out - somehow doctors just don't get the message. They are obviously not listening to their patients.

I hope your son knows that he can gradually taper off the med he is taking - is it lexapro? He could at least get down to a lower dosage. It might take a long time, but he is only prolonging his misery by keeping this going with one pill a week. I think one reason I have had prolonged difficulties may be that I took SSRIs off and on like that -- it can't be good for your brain/nervous system to flood it with drugs sporadically like that. I think he is making a big mistake by doing that. The people who skip doses or take on alternate days seem to have the worst withdrawal effects.

there was a conversation on this site or paxilprogress.org recently about a "new indication" for SSRIs after stroke. Can you imagine having to recover from a stroke and SSRIs? What a nightmare that would be.
I initially wondered if I was having a stroke due to the weird feelings in my head, and my blood pressure went haywire for a long time before finally settling down to normal.

I think that discussion was on paxil progress, and someone pointed out that you can include mental health drug requests on your medical ----uh - sorry my brain just pooped out-- what do you call the form you can sign stating your wishes re: medical care - right to die? Apparently you can sign a form stating your wishes about psych drugs, the form may be available through your mental health department. I never thought of myself as a mental patient, but I might have to sign one of those forms.

vestabula · #**10810** 10-20-2009, 01:28 PM

Yes...my son is on Lexapro. Yesterday he called and said the nausea and sweats had returned but he was not going to take a pill and just duke it out. The problem is, he has such a stressful job and he claims he can't afford to make mistakes as he works with blood that people depend upon to be HIV and Hep C free. I think I mentioned before that I called my pharmacist and asked her if there was anything I could take for the brain zaps. She told me she had been trying to withdraw from Lexapro for three years and the brain zaps were so bad she couldn't do her job and couldn't afford to take off work for a month so she could function...so she is still on it and very upset. Then she gave me her home phone number and asked me to call her if I found anything to relieve these symptoms. Of course, I haven't, as there isn't anything!

I normally have low B/P but am afraid to take it. Like you...these intense feelings in my head feel like I'm about to have a stroke or a seizure so I don't want to scare myself by discovering my blood pressure is raging. I'm at the point that if it happens...so be it. I am sooo over this. It would have been one thing if I could look back on my Lexapro experience and find something worth while in it. Did nothing for Fibro pain...and yes, I stopped crying. But I also stopped feeling anything at all...no emotion whatsoever. I'm lucky the hubby didn't leave me.

Donna

rujoking · #**10811** 10-20-2009, 02:17 PM

vestabula - I feel so very sad that the young people you mentioned (your son and pharmacist) feel so trapped on these damn meds - what a scandal these things are creating! No wonder pharma keeps pushing the envelope here - they are getting customers for life because people are duped into addiction! It is very sad about your friend in the nursing home - it is scary to think what these cocktails are doing to the elderly as well. Perhaps you could tell you doctor friend to have a look around at the many sites addressing this w/d issue - meant to be taken for life indeed!!! He should know that eventually all of these meds 'poop out' and where does that leave the victim??? you either have to up the dose or change meds which is a ******** shoot at best....what rubbish!

I just wanted to say that like mims, my blood pressure went nuts for a while in w/d and it has now (mostly) resumed normal levels - you are wise to let the dust settle so to speak, I believe it will level out - I made the mistake of letting my doc put me on beta blockers for the BP for a short time - they gave me asthma attacks and then I had a whole new set of w/d to deal with (horrible palps and racing heart) so many BP meds have nasty side effect and w/d's of their own! I read a book called "Selling Sickness" which addresses the issue of Big Pharma promoting (and artificially lowering the acceptable levels of) BP and cholesterol so they can peddle more meds, it all rings so true!

- so try not to worry or overtax yourself when you have those feelings - you will be fine. the body has an amazing ability to heal when given the right resources...

At almost 16 months I am starting to resume some sense of normality - I still have anxiety and some low blood sugar feelings but I am able to control those with breathing, rest and eating small healthy snacks often - my internal tremors are diminished greatly - sleep is much improved ( I do wake at least once a night but that may just be my age)

I am getting out more and evening went shopping a bit yesterday - It felt good to feel like a normal person for a while!

stay strong everyone - it does get better!!!!

ruj

mims · #**10812** 10-20-2009, 02:24 PM

I'm so sorry for your son. I'd hate to be responsible for anyone's life or health right now!

He should probably try to stabilize on maybe 5 mg daily for a while and then taper off in tiny reductions. But it's for him to decide, and I just hope he will be OK. Cold turkey is tough, but in all honesty, he's already keeping himself in something like a state of withdrawal by taking one pill a week, so maybe he's doing the right thing by just dropping it.

take care.

vestabula · #**10813** 10-20-2009, 07:05 PM

I'm so appreciative of all of you tolerating my frustration today and want to thank you. I should have known better before ever agreeing to start this drug...and I blame myself in part. My brother died of Hep C from a blood transfusion and when his liver finally failed he had horrible itching. What did the doc prescribe? Not benadryl or something logical like that. Zoloft. In some obscure study it showed that this SSRI can stop itching in some patients. After three doses, we found him in a snow bank thinking he had been abducted by aliens and dropped off there. These hallucinatons went away as soon as he stopped the drug. As my mom lay dying of cancer, the doctor added Zoloft(she was depressed that she was dying) to the twenty pills they were giving her a day. Within a day she developed Parkinson like symptoms and that's how I remember her final days...jerking and flailing around. I asked them to take her off the med, as she had none of these symptoms before the Zoloft and they agreed that was probably causing the jerking but they thought it was helping her crying jags.

I should have known better...that's all I can say. And yes..what better way to keep a drug from going generic but to claim it can stop itching, right before the patent is up!

So glad you are feeling better and able to get out of the house and do something fun! There is hope!

rujoking · #**10814** 10-20-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vestabula

I'm so appreciative of all of you tolerating my frustration today and want to thank you. I should have known better before ever agreeing to start this drug...and I blame myself in part. My brother died of Hep C from a blood transfusion and when his liver finally failed he had horrible itching. What did the doc prescribe? Not benadryl or something logical like that. Zoloft. In some obscure study it showed that this SSRI can stop itching in some patients. After three doses, we found him in a snow bank thinking he had been abducted by aliens and dropped off there. These hallucinatons went away as soon as he stopped the drug. As my mom lay dying of cancer, the doctor added Zoloft(she was depressed that she was dying) to the twenty pills they were giving her a day. Within a day she developed Parkinson like symptoms and that's how I remember her final days...jerking and flailing around. I asked them to take her off the med, as she had none of these symptoms before the Zoloft and they agreed that was probably causing the jerking but they thought it was helping her crying jags.

I should have known better...that's all I can say. And yes..what better way to keep a drug from going generic but to claim it can stop itching, right before the patent is up!

So glad you are feeling better and able to get out of the house and do something fun! There is hope!

vestabula - vent away my dear - we all came to this forum for the same reason.....we all "should have known better" but no sense beating yourself up for the blind trust we were all taught to have in doctors. I am very, very sorry to hear of the sorrow in your family from the side effects of these drugs - the best we can do now is stay educated and take an active role in our own health. For the most part I now trust the words of Aristotle...

"The wise doctor comforts the patient while nature takes it's course" -

true in so many ways - that is not to say if I had a real medical emergency I would not seek treatment, but for now, I am going with Grandma's remedies for the everyday discomforts - my grand parents live into their 90's...they never took a pill in their lives and the 'normal' BP in their day was 160/90....go figure....

best, ruj

vestabula · #**10815** 10-21-2009, 09:27 AM

Rujoking...I am 63 years old and still am lucky enough to have a grandfather who is 106...still lives alone and continues to do a little farming. My grandmother died a couple of years ago. They grew their own food and used the 'ole home remedies' that you talked about for their ailments. Up until two years ago, my grandfather had only been to a doctor twice in his life...once for ear wax and another time when he fell off the roof. To this day he has never taken a prescription drug and swears he never will..."he will die first!". At his 106h birthday party this year he caved in and used a walker to get to the park where they held it...300 relatives (he had 12 children) tried to take turns dancing with him and the old guy managed to do it! I was just informed that he and my grandmother are going to be put in the Guiness Book for the longest marriage ...84 years. So it just goes to show ya...what? No preservatives...no drugs and hard, honest work.

Donna

rujoking · #**10816** 10-22-2009, 12:22 AM

wow - what an inspiring family!!!! Just shows to go ya....modern medicine has it's place for life saving purposes but for the every day misery that is the human condition we have all been duped (myself included) that a pill will make it all go away.....NOT!

you hang in there vestabula...this battle is yours to win....

ruj

New Start · #**10817** 10-22-2009, 12:28 PM

I've been on lexapro for almost 10 years due to my parents illness and subsequent passing. I knew I couldn't stop cold turkey, so I started reducing my dosage and luckily found this site before I got too far into it. I've been reducing 10% of the current dosage and haven't had any brain zaps. It hasn't been a walk in the park, but I've certainly had a much easier time than if I'd gone cold turkey. I'm down to 2.1 mg and finding it much harder after I got to 3mg. I'm having to stay closer to 5-7% in order to function at work. This site has been a wonderful help in getting this far and I'd like to thank everyone who has posted their story.

babybottom · #**10818** 10-23-2009, 01:53 AM

Hi guys, I've been busy just doing life.I am almost at nineteen months off.I am doing pretty good despite my horrible financial situation .That sucks.I am sleeping good with an occasional off sleeping night.As you know last year was horrible for me and the worst part of my abrupt withdrawal lasted about nine months.Last spring after about a whole year off, I started feeling normal again.The severe depression and anxiety lifted.The anxiety is still a fear so therefore it becomes anxiety.It is not to the degree it was before.About three weeks ago I started a low carb diet and have lost six pounds.I am being very strict with my diet this time even still I workout five days a week.About two months ago I started a natural thyroid support and they said to take it for three weeks, so I don't know if it really helped or what.I'm not sure what helped what.As long as I drop the extra weight gained while taking lex I'll be happier.It's been a super long road.I cringe at the thought of being where I was a year ago.When I have some down days and friend's that take antidepressant's tell me to try another kind of ssri and I say, "I will never touch that stuff again.I would never want to be where I was a year ago.The absolute worst time of my life.Bad circumstances do not hellpl the situation.I am able to handle myself better and not be a lunatic.I was ready to explode before at anything that threw me off.
Rujoking- You are right behind me in the amount of time off.You sound good.That makes me glad.
Mims-I have to go over a few old posts I forget easily, How are you?
Seems weird but my memory has not gotten much better, I just don't freak out as bad when I can't remember.
I hope I am on the right track with weight loss, I am still not sure about my progress in the weight loss department.I hope I can lose all twenty pounds.It doesn't seem like a lot but it's not easy.
As I said before I am pretty well emotionally.I'mso thankful for that.No crying and feeling hopeless.
Oh, I still seem affected by digestion problems.I take digestive enzymes and probiotics for that.I don't know if those have been helping or not.I'm gonna stick with them for a while just to see.
Good luck to everyone.Your body will come around.You can come off the stuff without going back on.If I could do it and recover you can too.You just can't see the light at the end of the tunnel yet.You will get there.Hang in there.

pboy · #**10819** 10-23-2009, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by New Start

I've been on lexapro for almost 10 years due to my parents illness and subsequent passing. I knew I couldn't stop cold turkey, so I started reducing my dosage and luckily found this site before I got too far into it. I've been reducing 10% of the current dosage and haven't had any brain zaps. It hasn't been a walk in the park, but I've certainly had a much easier time than if I'd gone cold turkey. I'm down to 2.1 mg and finding it much harder after I got to 3mg. I'm having to stay closer to 5-7% in order to function at work. This site has been a wonderful help in getting this far and I'd like to thank everyone who has posted their story.

It's great that you have managed to wean that far down, well done!! What dose were you originally on?

Oh and babybottom thats a great story too!! Just shows that it can be done!!

mims · #**10820** 10-23-2009, 08:35 AM

Babybottom:
It's wonderful to hear that you're doing so well! Thanks for updating us on your improvements, that's very encouraging. Congratulations on the weight loss!

I think the magnesium made a big difference in my physical symptoms. Vitamin D may have been a factor too, and I do take some other supps also, but I'm giving most of the credit to the mag glycinate because it seemed to have some immediate benefits the very first time I used it. I was better for about a month or so, then had a 'wave' when I felt worse for about a week, and now I'm having a pretty good week this week. Overall, I'm feeling much better physically and more optimistic than 6 months ago. Still having some vision problems; still have many of my symptoms, but much less intense and less frequent. I'm about 15 months off lexapro.

New Start,
I hope you'll continue to get along well. Thanks for posting your tapering experience-- Let us know how this works out for you. Good luck!

ruj and vestabula
Oh, the wisdom of our grandparents!!! Modern medicine is great when you need it - the secret is to avoid it when you don't really need it. I enjoyed the story about your grandfather and your grandparents' long marriage, vestabula. Dancing at his 106th birthday party - now that's impressive!

vestabula · #**10821** 10-23-2009, 10:24 AM

Can I ask those of you who are taking magnesium for Lexapro withdrawal symptoms ...what dosage do you take? I may just be imagining this, but I started to take 250 mgs in the morning and the head sensations do not seem to be as severe for about six hours...then they start up again. My vitamin and mineral book says that 350mgs a day is the highest safe dosage. I tried Mag/malic acid and had such a tart, bitter taste in my mouth afterward that lasted so long...then I read Malic acid is made from citrus fruit rinds. I am so tempted to take another 250mgs in the early evening but don't know if this is safe. I know I should ask my doctor but he claims with the slow wean I did, I shouldn't have any withdrawals at all...and if I do, then to just go back on this horrible drug. Oh...or go on Cymbalta for weaning purposes. That's like going on Xanax to wean off valium...in my opinion.

Hope all the rest of you that have suffered through this nighmare are finally feeling better!

Donna

mims · #**10822** 10-23-2009, 11:12 AM

Maybe you could find a 100 mg magnesium tablet to take in the evening.
nih.gov has a fact sheet on magnesium - the upper limit recommended is 350 mg. If you google nih and magnesium, you can find the site. Some forms are more easily absorbed, and some, like mag citrate, are more likely to give you diarrhea.

I was advised by a doctor to take 200mg magnesium glycinate in the evening to help with the problems that were affecting my sleep.
I decided to start with only 100mg, which seems to be enough and does not cause diarrhea for me. I might go up to 200mg at some point, but I'm cautious about everything now.

the glycinate form can be hard to find in stores - I think pugcrazy found some at whole foods? Mine was special ordered, is made by Douglas Labs.

It's my understanding that the malate form is recommended for fibromyalgia.

I've heard of prozac for weaning, but cymbalta?? I hope you won't need to go that route.

New Start · #**10823** 10-23-2009, 12:46 PM

I started tapering from 10mg. At first I replacing one tablet a week with half a tablet. Then I found this site and started crushing my tablets and mixing with water. I cut aprox 10% every 10 to 14 days if I felt ok. I got the liquid lexapro and that helps a lot. Around 3mgs I started getting terrible headaches, memory problems, irritability, etc. so I started cutting back to aprox 5% every 2 to 3 weeks. It will probably take me as long to do this last 2mgs as it did to do the first 8. I find that lecithin has helped me feel better, I take it along with multivitamins and fish oil.

vestabula · #**10824** 10-23-2009, 12:47 PM

Thanks Mims. My bottle of Magnesium says the other ingredients in it are Mag oxide and Calcium Carbonate. I know I should probably try to overcome the bitter/sour taste of the malic acid but I am having so many other unpleasant symptoms at the moment I just don't want to deal with that too. Hopefully, when this is over, I'll go on the mag/malic acid, as I know it helps with fibro pain.

No Cymbalta for me...Or Prozac, or any other SSRI! Thanks again.

Donna

mims · #**10825** 10-23-2009, 01:48 PM

vestabula,
I'm no expert on supplements, but I do recall reading that calcium blocks the absorption of magnesium, so to get the best effect, you can take the mag and the calcium at different times of day. I was taking slow-mag for a while, until I found the glycinate, slow-mag is a combo cal/mag supplement.
My mag glycinate has a slight tartness, but that does not linger after I swallow the pill.

new start,
you seem to be doing the right thing with the very slow taper - I sure hope it will help you to avoid the problems the rest of us have had.

rujoking · #**10826** 10-24-2009, 01:43 PM

Hi all -

it might be beneficial to go to Carolyn Dean's ( she is an MD and an ND) website, there is a lot of info there on Magnesium - she wrote the book "The Miracle of Magnesium" -

I only take about 50mg mag/cal at night as my gut is very sensitive to the mag - it does help me sleep. I cannot tolerate it during the day however....

New Start - you are smart to to do this the right way - keep it up!

Vestabula - the head pain and fibro pain will diminish - it just takes time, we are all different but I am here to tell you, it does go....by the way - just wanted to share that my grandma dressed up like a Coors Light beer can for Halloween a couple of years before she passed!!! LOL !!!! She was 96 years old at the time .....

Baby Bottom - so very glad to see you here - thanks for checking in every now and then , I love it when you and Pugs and mimmie and the rest give us updates...- it is wonderful to hear that you have your life back - you are taking such good care of yourself - that weight will continue to drop off - slow as you know, is better as it is more likely to STAY off that way.

I am still doing pretty good - not much new to report - muscle aches and pains are still my chief complaint but they are improved. I will take that any day over the intense head pain, inner shaking, GERD, cognitive difficulties and anxiety.....I had every single on of those issues and MORE and although I still get anxious (CNS is very sensitive) I can breathe my way through the worst....

best, ruj

vestabula · #**10827** 10-24-2009, 02:49 PM

Well...I kept wondering why I got such vertigo attacks when I took my Omega 3 fish oil capsules. I have Meniere's Disease (fluid builds up in my middle ear and makes me spin) so I am on a no added salt diet...and have been for twenty five years. Anyway, I discovered the main fish in the pills I was taking was anchovies. A very salty fish even before they cure them for sale in those tins. So....went to the Health Food Store and bought Carslon's 1000 mg cod liver oil capsules as they were the only ones they carried without anchovies. I wonder what kind of explosive diarrhea I can expect from this...LOL! But I am will to try anything at this point. The sales girl promised me this was not a high enough dosage to give me the runs (she looked like she was about 16 years old but very sweet) and I sure hope she is right. I cannot believe what these withdrawals have cost me in the past month...trying this and that only to discover I can't tolerate half of what I buy. My brains are still swishing around in my head and my fav is the ole zap when I blink my eyes. I am so glad I found this forum and am assured this will pass. Oh...and I just LOVE the 'R' rated dreams I have every night...where on earth did I learn half this stuff...not in real life!

Donna

rujoking · #**10828** 10-24-2009, 09:21 PM

vestabula

I could never tolerate any fish oil at all - it really seemed to ramp up my anxiety - lots of people here swear by it though....I wish I could take it since my skin is very dry and it may help with that....

I had horrible nightmares for the first several months as well...mine were R rated but it they were more scary than anything....it did pass - now I do 'dream' a little but it is fairly simple stuff....

hang in there....

ruj

pboy · #**10829** 10-25-2009, 11:37 AM

A question for those off Lex...did your sex drive return? Or while you were tapering?

babybottom · #**10830** 10-25-2009, 06:19 PM

Yes, and the inability to climax went away.It'll get better.One time about five years ago I was on effexor for two to four weeks and then abruptly stopped,well within two days after coming off I felt that my sex drive was through the roof.I felt sex crazed.That was temporary though.I have never been that crazy before.I liked it.But normal sex drive comes back.That seemed to come back early on.I will continue to update every once in a while.


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