[Shifty]

quote:Originally posted by Mr Spock
Shifty, are you getting many physical effects from the withdrawal ie zaps, tingling, dizziness etc?

The zaps and dizziness seem to have gone away now that I have been sticking so well to my workout routine.

quote:
Shifty, I may have mentioned in an earlier post that there is an inverse relationship between Serotonin and Dopamine, so when your serotonin levels start to drop, you have a craving to increase your dopamine level. Dopamine, of course is the "pleasure" neuro-transmitter, and is released with nicotine, food, sex as well as many illicit drugs. This is why you are craving it, as it has been suppressed whilst you were on the SSRI. How's your appetite? I remember Body Electric about 60-70 pages ago saying the same thing when he was withdrawing from Lexapro.

I have been making things worse on myself by drinking alot of caffeine. To make matter worse, I also started taking a fat-burner supplement riddled with caffeine and other caffeine-like ingredients in an attempt to increase my rate of weight loss. I know better, but I did it anyways probably because I think im invincible when I get worked up. (just trying to live up to my bipolar reputation)

As of tonight I am cutting out all caffeine. Damn the caffeine!

I'll let you guys know how it works out.


---
I have taken : Paxil, Lexapro, Xanax, and Lithium
Currently: 450mg Eskalith CR (Lithium)

I was mis-diagnosed for 3 years. They thought I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder with a Major Depressive Episode. The real problem was Bipolar Disorder.
Quit Lexapro cold-turkey Dec 22, 2005.
Ask me anything, nothing is off-limits.

[Shifty]

quote:Originally posted by debbie724

riffraff, where are you??? I'm getting worried. Call me, email me, or write a post here. I'll keep checking in.

I'm ok, just out eating some steak

---
I have taken : Paxil, Lexapro, Xanax, and Lithium
Currently: 450mg Eskalith CR (Lithium)

I was mis-diagnosed for 3 years. They thought I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder with a Major Depressive Episode. The real problem was Bipolar Disorder.
Quit Lexapro cold-turkey Dec 22, 2005.
Ask me anything, nothing is off-limits.

[debbie724]

Shifty, well (I personally) am VERY happy to hear that you are okay. The steak sounds delicious... but too much caffiene is not good for depression, bi-polar, anxiety, etc. Email me or call me.


debbie

[lisa99]

Hello again everyone.

Tomorrow will be my last day on Lexapro. So far, so good, but again, I'm worried about future withdrawal issues since I went through them before. This time though, I'll be armed with knowledge that I've gained from this wonderful site!

I also experienced weight gain. Within six months, I've gained 15-20 pounds. Now that might not sound like much, but I was 105-110 pounds before this. I have always been a healthy eater and never put on weight easily.

I thought that maybe my weight gain was a result of going on a cruise or just getting older and my metabolism slowing down... but I'm just 28... I don't think my metabolism just died once I hit the big 2-8!

After reading this site, however, I truly believe this is a symptom of Lexapro. The weight is mostly in my stomach and I have a gut now (my thighs are a little bigger too). Meanwhile, my arms and calves are still small, so I look rather distorted with my belly sticking out like this.

What's odd is that I've been on Lexapro for 2.5 years and the weight gain just happened starting last July. Thank goodness it didn't happen earlier, but does anyone know why my weight gain might have just come out of nowhere all of a sudden?

[debbie724]

Good Morning ALL... and to ALL a Good Morning! I'm feeling another good day coming on. (Knock On Wood!) It's a BEAUTIFUL day where I live... 60 degrees... which is definately not normal for this time of year. I just got in from taking my doggie for a walk. My parrot keeps saying... "You're such a pretty bird"... that's the only sentence she knows. My daughter made it safely to Colorado. My kittie cat is practically laying on my keyboard. Here's hoping that everyone else has a good day today too!!! Mr Spock, I guess your probably presently sleeping... so I hope you are having pleasant dreams and a GREAT day to come! Lisa99, the weight gain question... that's why I stopped taking the Lexapro. In doing a lot of reading, it appears that the majority of us have that problem. I recently lost 7 1/2 pounds in 2 weeks... probably partly due to the increased energy I was experiencing. I followed that with a bad week and put a few back on. I'm looking forward to good weeks and less pounds!


debbie

[Torxis]

Hi all, It's another beautiful day in the great North East! Got no time to compose much but I just read the last two pages and wanted to let you know: >>>> YOU GUYS ARE GREAT! Each and every one of you. I can't get enough of this forum. Thank you all for being there.
Love all->>>>TOM

My Clean Date:09.09.05
My E-Mail:Idonursing5@aol.com
Remember, We Can Choose to Act or Be Acted Upon!

*NA RECOVERY LITERATURE**
http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm
HOW TO FIND LOCAL NA MEET
http://www.na.org/links-toc.htm

[mohannie]

HI everyone,

It looks like everyone is out enjoying the day, which is good. I posed a challenge to everyone, which was to make yourself smile. I made myself smile by getting my hair done and taking myself out to a late lunch. It made me smile, because I did these things alone and it didn't put me in a state of depression. I enjoyed spending time alone, and it felt good to be alone with my own thoughts without freaking out and thinking that no one loves me, I'm all alone, etc. I hope everyone had an opportunity to make themsemves smile, and I'll be checking back to see your progress.

[lisa99]

Thanks for the info Debbie and I'm glad to hear you've lost weight! I look forward to taking mine off and getting my energy back... I'm so out of shape and get out of breath easily doing things that never were that hard for me before!

It was a lovely day here in Michigan... ok, it was cold and snow was on the ground, but it turned sunny at about 11 a.m. and the snow melted when the temperature reached 40 degrees!

Keep on keepin' on everyone!

[Torxis]

Can't sleep, was wondering, Is there anybody out there?>TOM

My Clean Date:09.09.05
My E-Mail:Idonursing5@aol.com
Remember, We Can Choose to Act or Be Acted Upon!

*NA RECOVERY LITERATURE**
http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm
HOW TO FIND LOCAL NA MEET
http://www.na.org/links-toc.htm

[mohannie]

I'm up Tom, did you do the assignment that I gave to everybody?

[Torxis]

Hi Mohannie- Oh yes, I'm proud to say I successfully completed your assignment. I'm very glad you gave it too. Sorry it took so long to get back to you. My 3 year old niece was giving my sister a hard time so I ran over there and put her to sleep. Are you still up?

My Clean Date:09.09.05
My E-Mail:Idonursing5@aol.com
Remember, We Can Choose to Act or Be Acted Upon!

*NA RECOVERY LITERATURE**
http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm
HOW TO FIND LOCAL NA MEET
http://www.na.org/links-toc.htm

[Torxis]

Just checking new sig.

My Clean Date:09.09.05
My E-Mail:Idonursing5@aol.com
Remember, We Can Choose to Act or Be Acted Upon!

*NA RECOVERY LITERATURE**
http://www.na.org/ips/eng/index.htm
HOW TO FIND LOCAL NA MEET
http://www.na.org/links-toc.htm
Are Opiates Destroying Your Life?
http://suboxone.com/

[debbie724]

Tom, if you are still awake... I responded to your email.


debbie

[debbie724]

Hello Shifty, Mr Spock, Torxis, auntybiotic, mohannie, Miss Lee, Redbled, and all... how is everyone?

I had a weird day yesterday... but I made myself a LOT! I hope that today is a good day... stable would be nice.

debbie

[debbie724]

I sure do run my mouth a lot... I've already graduated to "junior member". Mr Spock... you okay?


debbie

[debbie724]

I sure do run my mouth a lot... I've already graduated to "junior member". Mr Spock... you okay?


debbie

[debbie724]

Sorry... posted that twice by accident.


debbie

[Shifty]

I'm not a junior member yet *feels jealousy*. I'm glad you had a good day debbie.

Torxis:
How are you doing? I'm sorry I didn't catch you last night, you must have posted just as I went to bed. I'm in GMT-6, so I'm usually one of the first to go to bed.

Mo:
I met a new friend recently that is really making me smile. I think allowing myself to have a friend was really the thing for me. I've always shied away from friends for some reason. I've always been too disturbed to keep a friend, so I stopped trying. "Normal People" don't understand why you are best friends for 6 months, then just dont want to talk for 6 months. It's just another revalation about myself that I never considered until I was diagnosed with bipolar.

To keep it short: My happy thing was to allow myself to have a friend, even though I don't know if I'll be successful at it. I will definately give it 100%.


---
I have taken : Paxil, Lexapro, Xanax, and Lithium
Currently: 450mg Eskalith CR (Lithium)

I was mis-diagnosed for 3 years. They thought I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder with a Major Depressive Episode. The real problem was Bipolar Disorder.
Quit Lexapro cold-turkey Dec 22, 2005.
Ask me anything, nothing is off-limits.

[debbie724]

Thank you Shifty... and I'm very glad to hear about your new friend. I hope that she continues to make you , [], [}], ... in many ways [:I]. Have a great day!

debbie

[debbie724]

Shifty, you didn't even mention if your friend was male or female... I just assumed. You know what they say about people that ass-u-me. For all I know... you could be happily married with a family at home. So, here's to hoping that your new friend (he/she) continues to make you [^].


debbie

[debbie724]

I have to wait around all day for some new furniture to be delivered... then I get to put it all together. Should be fun... but the wait is gonna kill you all. It's possible I'll be a "senior member" before the day is out! Just kidding!

Where is everyone? Everyone okay?


debbie

[Shifty]

You are so funny Debbie I've found that putting together furniture is one of my favorite yet more dreaded tasks all at once. I love the idea of assembling something with my hands and when I do it I always take great care since it's my furniture for a long time. On the other hand, it can sometimes feel like it will never end.

I'm glad you have a chance to make it all yourself. That should keep you busy for a while

---
I have taken : Paxil, Lexapro, Xanax, and Lithium
Currently: 450mg Eskalith CR (Lithium)

I was mis-diagnosed for 3 years. They thought I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder with a Major Depressive Episode. The real problem was Bipolar Disorder.
Quit Lexapro cold-turkey Dec 22, 2005.
Ask me anything, nothing is off-limits.

[debbie724]

I made my coffee (or so I thought)... took my dog for a walk... went to pour a cup... forgot to turn it on. I hate it when that happens! Just what I need... caffiene! I agree Shifty... anything that you take on and complete yourself is very rewarding. How's your day going?


debbie

[debbie724]

Shifty, has your friend made you smile yet today .


debbie

[debbie724]

Looks like I'm gonna be doing a lot of talking to myself today... glad it's a good day . I guess I could do something useful... like get my tools ready for the furniture or clean house.


debbie

[debbie724]

auntybiotic, it's so good to hear from you. I knew you were busy with your move and your new friend... so I wasn't to worried. Please check your profile where you registered and make sure you have your full proper email address listed. This may be where the problem is with getting emails to you. Just a thought. Relationships are always hard when they end... even the shortest one's can be hard... especially when you are a loving, caring, giving person... as you are. YOU have done NOTHING wrong... he's the a$$ hole that's thinking with the wrong head. He doesn't deserve you. I have a friend that had a wonderful marriage and four wonderful kids. One day a woman came into her husband's life and they began an affair. She said she was going to leave her husband... and he left his family. My friend was and still is devastated. It's been 6 years... the woman never did leave her husband! I understand your need for love and affection all to well. I think we are both very similar... emotionally. It has to be 10 times harder on you... still living in his home. I'm glad that you will soon be out of there. Things should look up... and time will heal your wounds. In the meanwhile... we all love you! Yes, I live near you... I'm in Maryland. I've got a desk, a shelving unit, a dining room table and six chairs to put together. I believe the assembly should be easy with this furniture. Unlike, Ikea... where each furniture item comes in about 100 pieces. Been there... done that too! It's pretty easy once you get started and you will take great pride in it once you complete it... and every time you look at it... you will know that YOU DID THAT! I do it all, hang shelves, blinds, curtains, etc. My dad was a handyman and I learned a lot from him. How's your daughter? Keep your chin up!


debbie

[debbie724]

I'm still waiting for my furniture. My whole Sunday spent indoors... and no one is around to talk to. Hurry home you guys... I'm really bored!


debbie

[Shifty]

Aunty,

I don't know where to start in my response to you, but here it goes:

Men are no good liars as a general rule. I know really well because I am one. It's not always a reflection on you.

Some men have an odometer on how many women they sleep with in their lives before they are happy. Some are just rolling stones who will never change. Then there is that small percentage of men who are neutered and faithful.

There is a lesson here, neuter you pets... i mean men.

He is ok with you moving on because it makes him feel less guilty about trading you in for another model (no brainer there). I hope I'm not coming across as insensitive, because I'm not. I'm just trying to tell the truth.

My suggestion is to take the good with you, learn from the bad, and move on without looking back. The more you try to make him pay or harass him, the less healthy you will be. If it wasn't meant to be then that means you have somebody even better waiting for you out there. Maybe someone with more mental maturity.

Maybe you will even find yourself, which is more valuable than any relationship.


---
I have taken : Paxil, Lexapro, Xanax, and Lithium
Currently: 450mg Eskalith CR (Lithium)

I was mis-diagnosed for 3 years. They thought I had Generalized Anxiety Disorder with a Major Depressive Episode. The real problem was Bipolar Disorder.
Quit Lexapro cold-turkey Dec 22, 2005.
Ask me anything, nothing is off-limits.

[GingerGirl]

Hello fellow travellers....I have been in the shadows of this thread since mid-December, and want to thank all you long-timers and newbies alike for sharing your stories. I'm sure there are countless sufferers who do not post, yet gain strength, knowledge, and hope (and the comfort of fellowship in their fear and despair). I thank you, for you cannot imagine how much your posts have helped me in coping through this Lexapro-induced nightmare.

I was especially compelled to post because I was always fervently searching for withdrawal success stories. At this point in my healing, I consider myself to be one of the lucky ones. I am very cautious, however, not to celebrate quite yet because my last dose was only a mere thirty-two days ago....

So I share my story in hopes that it might help someone....

Following is a brief recap of my journey:

Why I was prescribed medication: Anxiety

Duration: 1 year on Lexapro (10 mg) (after first trying Zoloft, then Wellbutrin, then Effexor with assorted problems)

Why I went off: Profound and alarming hair loss; complete and total loss of sexual self; weight gain (only 10 lbs, but I'm petite); never-ceasing menstruation; complete apathy.

How I tapered: One month splitting the 10 mg pill in half; two weeks splitting into quarter-doses... Last dose: December 21, 2005.

How I felt while weaning: Riddled with severe anxiety; night sweats; woke up in a panic...Irrational, severe worry; on the rare occasions that I slept, woke up in a panic with prickly, tingling sensation in arms; constant extreme heaviness and tightness in my chest; Mensus totally ceased upon my last dose. Found myself drinking more alcohol to quell the anxiety. Certainly not proud of it, but want to be honest with you. as well as myself (and hold myself accountable!) I'm well aware that alcohol is a depressant....not a good thing at all. Shifty, I can relate to you, of course. I look forward to your posts. Hopefully the alcohol won't become a major problem for either of us!!

How I feel 32-days post-Lex (Wednesday will mark my 5th week): I'm optimistic and hopeful, yet as I mentioned, extremely wary, since it is still quite early in my journey: Night sweating is subsiding; heaviness and tightness in chest is gone. Abdominal and facial bloating still an issue, but the scale is going down; very short fuse...easy to anger; dizzy; still very apathetic and anti-social, and I was always an energetic, social butterfly. Irrational worry is thankfully gone. Oh, and how could I possibly forget.... my hair is starting to grow back, and I'm starting to feel more sexual (*blush*) ...what a relief. That neutered feeling was getting pretty old, pretty quick!!! The alcohol cravings are lessening, but not by much....maybe a 12-step program is not in my immediate future, though I'm not ruling it out.

The common issues of hunger and crying that I read about again and again on the board thankfully do not apply to me. I have to force myself to eat, and I haven't cried in over a year! I also have yet to experience a brain zap, nor am I bothered by headaches. Of interest, is that I've always suffered greatly with headaches before anti-depressants. ???.

One of the biggest things that is bothering me at this point (even ahead of the dreaded weight gain and bloating) is my alarming lack of control over my speech! I sound like a bumbling idiot! I am not the least bit articulate. Hopefully this is temporary and that my wiring is not forever tainted. I know many of you are plagued by this.

Aunty... When one thinks of anniversaries, the thought conjures up celebration. You and your daughter are coming up on your one-year anniversary with this forum. Certainly nothing to celebrate. But you can find comfort in knowing that you have helped so many, many people with your posts. It's because of you that this forum continues to be number ONE in a Google Search! I think I can safely speak for all who come here that we applaud you!

I don't mean to leave out any of you other wonderful people....You all inspire me and give me hope.... the list could go on and on. Anxiousbabe (Florence), if you ever check in, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would love to hear how you are doing. I think your last post was around Thanksgiving. Hope you are doing well.

[debbie724]

GingerGirl, I'm glad to hear that you are doing so well. It's encouraging to hear success stories. Best wishes!

My furniture finally arrived... 12 boxes! Sorry auntybiotic... I'm gonna have my hands full putting this togehter. What have I done? [:0]
[:0]

debbie