[Redbled]

Ms. Lee,

That is super and I think you are super. I'm thrilled you are doing better. I am feeling better the last 2 days as well. My head has more moments of activity, but its the stuff the nat doc gave me I believe. My stomach is feeling very good, the charcoal I think is helping. We are winning, but I can't wait till we win. Hearing that you don't remember what its like to feel "different" will be the best news ever. Keep feeling better and hanging in there.

Only took Lexapro for 10 days, as a doctors response to my brief anxiety over a treatable medical condition. Took my last pill at the very end of August.

[tiger]

Hi.
Sorry for the delay. I just saw this.
My doctor told me the amount of withdrawal has to do with the amount
of mg. you are on, so, yes, less withdrawals for 5mg. But people are this forum seem to think it's not. But that's what my psych. said.
I think maybe you are taking too many mg. Because that's what happen to me. SHe put me on 10. and i was sick as a dog. I told myself, I will try 5 mg. and it's been great.You have to listen to yourself too.

Good luck,
Tiger

quote:Originally posted by Redbled

Tiger,

1. Does anyone think i'll have less withdrawls due to the fact i'm only on 5 mg?

I was only put on 10 Mg's for 10 days, and I'm still having withdrawals 5 months later, though much better than at first. You may or may not have them, but I don't think the amount you take is that important.

2. how do you know if it's just withdrawls or that you really need to be on the stuff because of a lack of production of seritonin?

This one I'm not to sure about, sure Aunty and Spock will help you on it.

3. do you think i'll be able to go to work? how long will this take?

I missed a handful of days of work the first month. It can be pretty bad. If you have a job that really needs your attention, you might need to take more, mine does not.

4. is it as torturous as how you felt before going on them and while your body was adjusting?

It was much worse for me, since I was wrongly prescribed this drug in the first place. I had no anxiety or problems at all before going on Lexapro.

Hang in there, this is the place to visit as you go through what you may go through. I hope you don't, but you will live through it.

To everyone,
My home internet connection is out. Just in case you wonder why I may be scarce the next few days.

Only took Lexapro for 10 days, as a doctors response to my brief anxiety over a treatable medical condition. Took my last pill at the very end of August.

[tiger]

SOrry. Your last question. My doc said if you get signs of depression, bad anziety, etc..all the things you went on it for, then
you may need to stay on it. She said only you know, so trust yourself. I'm coming off it now. One week so far so good, except not sleeping great but i think cause i'm alittle scared. I'm going off VERY slow. Went from 35 mg. a week, to 30. Next week 25. Wish me luck!!!

quote:Originally posted by Redbled

Tiger,

1. Does anyone think i'll have less withdrawls due to the fact i'm only on 5 mg?

I was only put on 10 Mg's for 10 days, and I'm still having withdrawals 5 months later, though much better than at first. You may or may not have them, but I don't think the amount you take is that important.

2. how do you know if it's just withdrawls or that you really need to be on the stuff because of a lack of production of seritonin?

This one I'm not to sure about, sure Aunty and Spock will help you on it.

3. do you think i'll be able to go to work? how long will this take?

I missed a handful of days of work the first month. It can be pretty bad. If you have a job that really needs your attention, you might need to take more, mine does not.

4. is it as torturous as how you felt before going on them and while your body was adjusting?

It was much worse for me, since I was wrongly prescribed this drug in the first place. I had no anxiety or problems at all before going on Lexapro.

Hang in there, this is the place to visit as you go through what you may go through. I hope you don't, but you will live through it.

To everyone,
My home internet connection is out. Just in case you wonder why I may be scarce the next few days.

Only took Lexapro for 10 days, as a doctors response to my brief anxiety over a treatable medical condition. Took my last pill at the very end of August.

[tiger]

Yes. It was just as torturous.
But hand in there. Give in 2 weeks. No more.

quote:Originally posted by Redbled

Tiger,

1. Does anyone think i'll have less withdrawls due to the fact i'm only on 5 mg?

I was only put on 10 Mg's for 10 days, and I'm still having withdrawals 5 months later, though much better than at first. You may or may not have them, but I don't think the amount you take is that important.

2. how do you know if it's just withdrawls or that you really need to be on the stuff because of a lack of production of seritonin?

This one I'm not to sure about, sure Aunty and Spock will help you on it.

3. do you think i'll be able to go to work? how long will this take?

I missed a handful of days of work the first month. It can be pretty bad. If you have a job that really needs your attention, you might need to take more, mine does not.

4. is it as torturous as how you felt before going on them and while your body was adjusting?

It was much worse for me, since I was wrongly prescribed this drug in the first place. I had no anxiety or problems at all before going on Lexapro.

Hang in there, this is the place to visit as you go through what you may go through. I hope you don't, but you will live through it.

To everyone,
My home internet connection is out. Just in case you wonder why I may be scarce the next few days.

Only took Lexapro for 10 days, as a doctors response to my brief anxiety over a treatable medical condition. Took my last pill at the very end of August.

[debbie724]

Hello Everyone, sorry it's been a couple days since I last posted. I've been trying to keep myself busy with my mom and dad. I've been feeling pretty good, so I think it definately helps me to get out and about.

NC, your sense of humor is welcome... as far as I am concerned. I love to laugh!

Mohannie, thanks for asking about me. How are you doing? I hope you are back to better days too.

Shifty, you okay? I'm here for you when you are ready to talk.

Mr Spock, How are you doing and how are you feeling?

Torxis, hello back to you! How's the packing going? Just this morning I printed some info on prozac for my sister-in-law. Like you, I wanted to provide her with actual experience from people on the med. My printer ran out of ink... so I have little to refer back to. What I did see was mostly good reviews, as long as the person is on the proper dose for them. Many complained about lack of interest in sex. One woman said... "that it seemed like my clitoris just shrunk away". I thought that was pretty funny. Not laughing at her, just the fact that she wrote it. Many said that they added Wellbutrin and this helped with their sexual problems. Many complained of weight gain. Some complained of sleeping more and lacking energy. Again, I am only providing information that I found through discussion boards... not unlike ours. Personally, I was once prescribed prozac. It was the WORST experience that I ever had. Suicide was all that I thought about! From what I have heard and read, feelings and/or thoughts of suicide can be a serious side effect that the paitient needs to be informed of. I was not! That's about all I can tell you.

I hope that everyone has a good day!


debbie

[debbie724]

I got so carried away with my response to Torxis that I forgot a couple others.

auntybiotic, how's the packing and/or the moving going?

Miss Lee, I too am very happy to hear that you are doing so well.

Redbled, I very happy to hear that you are feeling better.

To everyone else that I missed, how is everyone?


debbie

[Augusto99]

Hey everyone I know im new to this but all your expert feedbacks would be much appreciated. I am currently taking 10mg for 2 weeks now but i want to stop. Does everyone think Ill be fine going cold turkey. I know for a fact i feel the withdrawal side effects on the fact that i stopped after a week and on the 3rd day of stopping I felt so messed up but im sure i could live through them i just dont want to mess anything up in my head. If not cold turkey does anyone suggest some kind of weening off plan for me. I have only had 10mg for 2 weeks so im thinking maybe go a week with 5 then a week with 2.5 then a week every otehr day with 2.5 then stop. I really have no clue though. Thanks

[Redbled]

Augusto,

I took only 10 Mg's for 10 days and went cold turkey. Don't even think of doing that. Its been hell. Wait for others to tell you how to taper, its a must to do as Aunty and other say.

Only took Lexapro for 10 days, as a doctors response to my brief anxiety over a treatable medical condition. Took my last pill at the very end of August.

[Augusto99]

Thanks RedBled. Does anyone on here have any suggestions on how to taper off only two weeks of use. I still have like 15 pills. I really want to get off this stuff. The only thing i like it for is getting drunk faster. But everything else sucks. I just wanna feel like myself again. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!

[tiger]

7 days off the lexipro and NO SIDE EFFECTS SO FAR. But i'm going VERY slow. Went from 5 mg. to 4mg. This week i will do 3.75.
Any suggestions ANYONE? DOes it get worse or will i be OKAY?
THanks,
Tiger

quote:Originally posted by Augusto99

Thanks RedBled. Does anyone on here have any suggestions on how to taper off only two weeks of use. I still have like 15 pills. I really want to get off this stuff. The only thing i like it for is getting drunk faster. But everything else sucks. I just wanna feel like myself again. SOMEONE PLEASE HELP!!

[bluglass2]

quote:Originally posted by Miss Lee

Debbie-

My pains were directly behind my heart and in the front top of my cheast. It felt tight and sharp. I always said it felt like I have a elephant on my chest. I couldn't breathe deep enough. It was on and off.....Bad days it scared the #$%^ out of me. Good days it was a constant dull ache. Then it went away.

Miss Lee

I have this. There is actually a medical name for it -- it is long so please don't ask me to try and write it out. In any case, it is not in your head, or it might be. This is an imflamation of the muscle. It is caused by two things -- an injury which is really hard to do considering the location but if you work out it is entirely possible. And stress/anxiety. Stress/anxiety is the more common cause if this type of pain. My doctor prescribed Advil for it and to find the source of stress/anxiety and try to resolve it. If that wasn't possible, you have to endure and take anti-inflamatories which in this case will have to be Tylenol for pain. I suggest accupuncture and chiropractic. The women of my family all suffer from this. They all say it is stress related and comes and goes depending on what is going on in their lives. They are rather stoic about it and just seem to ignore it as best they can. Seemed like the more I was able to ignore it the less it bothered me and finally disappeared. Having been though this and been thorougly annoyed by it I think the trick here really is to seek medical attention to rule out anything really detrimental and confirming that, take hot baths and though it out. It all depends on how easily you are willing to be frustrated. If you raise your frustration tollerance then this is just an inconvenience that will go away sooner rather than later. And even if it is later, well...

I wish you speedy healing and a high threashold for pain. Good luck. Please make sure to confirm with your regular doctor jsut in case.

Blu

[bluglass2]

thoughts and some ideas.

Some remedies that I don't recall having seen on this board which I hope will be useful. You can use ginger tea or even just smell it for nausea and stomach distress. Sea bands used for sea sickness can also be effective or using accupressure on the same points. I am a firm believer in accupuncture and find it has helped with a variety of symptoms. I also use a lot of hatha yoga techniques and kundalini yoga breathing techniques for tremors and muscle spasms. As mentioned probiotics are a must either in supplement form or in live culture, organic form. Warm milk (I like almond but vanilla is nice too perhaps with a little honey) is great for leg cramping as well as helping to promote sleep. I forget specifically which chemicals are at work but it is just a glass of milk. You can also use lavender to promote relaxation. My daughter's sleep specialist, very tongue in cheek recommended this. Apparently, it has been studied empirically and found to actually work. It comes in dozens of preparations from baby bath, to essential oil which you can put on a cotton ball near where you sleep. I swear by it for calming effects on kids and adults alike. Pepperment oil rubbed on temples or smelled does wonders for headach. It also settles the stomach in a candy or tea. It makes smooth muscles relax which is why it is a good linament. So if you are having muscle zaps you might really like a peppermint salt scrub or my favorites in lotion and gel from the Body Shop. My last trick for upset stomach is soda crackers. Just a half a cracker before even sitting up in bed in the morning. In the beginning I had to take the drug with food to avoid heartburn. Even a bit of cracker did the trick.

And as to being a log-- well I've been depressed and robbed of motivation for years. It is debilitating to the body. I've run on empty for a long time. So now I'm just tired. I don't lack motivation or focus. As a matter of fact it is easier to plan what I want to do step by step. But I'm tired and I'm willing to let myself be tired for as long as I need to and I just get up and decide I'm going to do something despite my tiredness which I certainly couldn't do before. And if I don't get to things well I more likely to replan them than to beat myself up over not getting to them as I did before. I keep telling my coworkers what I did on the weekend and how I didn't get anything done and they marvel and point out that I did a dozen different things and don't I see that? And I don't I just think I sat and did nothing because I had so much time to sit and do nothing. Makes me wonder if I don't realize how much I get done so quickly that would have taken all day before.

Into week 8 on 10mg. I think my body is almost though adjusting to this dosage. My doctor asked me to give it a full 12 weeks. I doubted him because the loading dose time was so much shorter but he insisted that things would change over the weeks. I was skeptical but glad I kept an open mind. I wanted to go up more and a part of me still does but I think I'm going to stick here for a good while longer and see how things go. I need to learn who I am and how I can react at this rate before deciding if things need tweeking. This rate could be just fine. I have to live some life here to know what I've been missing all this time. You can't do that in a few days or weeks. Months are even too short to really know but there is that executive decision wanting to be made. Perhaps I will say poo on that and just hang out until I'm good and ready.

Thoughts as I travel though mental health land: The idea that more people have more illness due to the medical establishment having more new drugs which are prescribed is interesting but I think flawed in many ways. Does this take into account the fact that mental illness (for lack of a better description) which encompasses many things, was basically hidden for most of history? And the treatment of such illnesses was barbaric until say the last 30 to 40 years perhaps really less. We no longer have the classic snake pit as portrayed and popularized in movies. But being sent to a sanitarium no matter how nice or awful was truly done. How about the lobatomy? or shock therapy which is coming around again with new and improved understanding and application getting press that it is having good results? We just didn't have drugs until modern times. And mental illness was kept in the closet until it became chic I'd say dating to the Betty Ford Clinic. Even in the 70s when all of a sudden there seemed to be so much more teen mental illness (and we have personal experience in my family so I'm talking from first hand experience). All of a sudden it was o.k. to talk about your drug or alcohol problem. We are into the new days of momma's little helper and the new and improved valley of the dolls. Everyone has a problem of some kind and more and more these days people are sharing their experiences. We are not hidden away as a shame and embarrassment just as cancer was though the 60s. And yes, the medical establishment is playing at being doctor. We know so little and yet we see that drugs do help some people and in the name of trying to heal they prescribe. I'm sure it is not all so innocent but I just can't get that cynical to say it is all a conspiracy. There are people who say that the small pox vaccine was develped though conspriacy theory and the evidence is compelling. It also points the way to the man-made plague of AIDs though the testing process which used green monkeys and continued despite the evidence that something horrid was happening. And yes, they did test without consent in Africa on thousands of people. And I had lunch with John Gault today.

So far my personal experience on this drug has been quite intersting. I went into it with eyes wide open expecting nothing. Yes, it was a "trip" for the first couple of weeks. A legal high. But you know what. I was functional and the fast pace of the world and all its inconsiderate intrusions were trivial gnats. Just what they should be instead of distrubances to pay attention to. I could focus where I wanted to not where some outside influcence attempted to push me. I had control of my choice of how to respond. I had time back. Time to think. Sure I had a lot of side effects and yes they bothered me but I was stocial and rode them out just because I could. The pain under my chest and the brick sitting on it laboring my breathing evaporated. My heart beat has stopped skipping so much and the latest report is that it sounds like a 20something rather than a mitralvalve prolapse almost 50yr old. Go figure. Sure my hair is grayer and my perimenapause has changed. Yes, my bowel and bladder is different and my gums are bleeding a little more. But almost all the symptoms from hand tremmors, to stammering, to word loss, to difficulty driving, to fog, vivid dreams, dry mouth, jaw clenching, and a few I"m sure I missed have subsided 99%. The honeymoon effect is over to be sure. And yes, I still get angry and still yell. But there is a difference in my choice and intensity. These are human emotions that are part of life. Drugs don't take them away. And as to feeling numb, well I have always wondered at the depth of my emotions, when I cried for sadness or happiness. It came too easily and so hard. Seeing a homeless person on the street or a Save the Children commercial could reduce me to tears and dispare that would last for days. Strong is one thing but in hindsight it was too much. And yes I get misty still, but not so overwhelmed by every little thing that they are a hurricane of emotions that I can't get out of. Yes, life moves very fast and you don't get second chances any more. The cliche if at first you don't succeed try try again has limited application. We are all so over scheduled and in the car so much. People think I am strange because we don't have our kids in every sport and program and don't schedule play dates and like to spend time at home alone. Amazing what you can guilt yourself for. There is so much to question yourself about and second guess and be unsure of. There isn't a lot to be grounded on unless you don't mind being called crunchy granola or new age and scoffed at. So, yeah there is a lot more to be sick about and a lot more that can be done for those in need -- unless you can change society. There is a theory that says that ADD/ADHD is caused by the fast pace of society coupled with unrealistic expectations in school and a lack of green space play time. And on the other hand there is a theory which I have also discussed with my son's developmental pediatrician which says that ADD/ADHD is a new development ment to meet the demands of society and is misunderstood and schools just aren't built to meet how these kids need/can learn. Society needs to catch up or slow down.

[debbie724]

Blu, I think you are referring to "Costochondritis"... and in both Miss Lee's and my case it could very well be that. I actually have been diagnosed with that before (years ago), but I also suffer from and I am treated for severe anxiety. So, I guess in my case... I just have to deal with it.

Shifty, you ever feel like you are going CRAZY????? The last few days have been good ones for me... then came today. It's only 2:00, but as the day has been progressing I have been feeling agitated, angry, etc. and have already broken down crying! I hate this emotional roller coaster ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

On a good note, it's a BEAUTIFUL day here today.

Hope everyone is doing well.

debbie

[bluglass2]

Debbie: Thanks. That is exactly the word. For the life of me I couldn't get it out of my mouth and that problem pre-exists my Lexapro usage. I call them pre-senior moments but I've had them all my life.

As to emotions, well the weather isn't helping. It is not normal all over the U.S. let alone the world. The body is used to a certain biorythem and circadian rythem and they are both disrupted severely this year. It actually got sunny for a few minutes yesterday with sunlight flooding into our condo and I cannot tell you how much better I felt in the sunlight.

On a bad day, hey, everyone has bad days and you are entitled to have a bad day. Even if it seems that the pattern is a roller coaster, I would suggest that we are all on such a roller coaster. Some patterns are longer or flatter and some are not. Yours is no better or worse than anyone elses. It is simply what is. Why worry about what was yesterday. Be in the moment and deal with where you are at right now. You will stop noticing the ups and downs because where every you are at any moment it is flat. Whatever is happening to you right now will not be the same in 15 minutes and you will cease to be where you were. You can get though this simply by getting though it. It doesn't matter if it is messy or not. It will pass. And since it was a beautiful day which you bothered to mention so loudly why not capitalize on that. Continue to notice how the day was and that its beauty profoundly affected you. Nothing exists in a vaccuum so even in a beautiful day there is an opposite. For example my children lament in the summer the death and dying of beautiful flowers. I pointed out to them that just days before we were praising and blessing the beauty of the flower in bloom and to lament its passing was the next step in the progression of life. Sure it is sad but without the flowers passing there cannot be a new flower to come up behind it and so we looked for new buds and sure enough there they were. We rejoyced in the wonder of nature to know when a part can no longer be sustained and so all efforts are removed from it and directed elsewhere. Yes it is sad and sure it seems like a roller coaster but in reality it could just as easily be a flat transition from one state to the next. Just as electrons whirl around gaining and giving up energy to break apart and combine and recombine. Emotions are no different. The chemical dance goes on in your body and your emotions are a manifestation of them. I find that amazing, like magic and hard to wrap your head around. It is a fundamental miracle that something like an emotion happens because of a chemical interaction. You could just as easily grow tenticles and perhaps in some other dimension your emotions are percieved as a color or a shape or a sound or a mathematical formula. And that you can control your emotion -- to an extent -- means you are pushing the chemical reaction around to suit yourself. A conscious experiment if you will. Where can you push it next?
Blu

[debbie724]

Blu, thanks! I've enjoyed reading your posts today. And yes, I do feel better now. That time passed. Have a wonderful evening!


debbie

[debbie724]

WHERE IS EVERYONE??? [?]

EVERYONE OKAY??? [8D]

debbie

[debbie724]

auntybiotic, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! It has been 1 year today since you started this discussion board. I thank you, and I know that MANY other's do too!

debbie

[tamra]

Good afternoon! It's rainey, chilley, cloudy, & miserable here in Northeastern PA. I have found that my mood and productivity are influenced by the amount of sun shining in the sky. I've got a light therapy "sunbox jr." but the bulb blew...

I noticed "dental pain" & sinus issues in the possible side effects of withdrawal. I'm going to the dentist tonite to rule out a dental issue. Has anyone else had this problem? A few years ago, I had 2 abcessed molars that I had no clue were a problem..I just had dizzy headaches, nausea, no appetite, and felt very "ill"...I'm feeling much the same way now, is the dental problems returning or this wonderful little "happy pill's" dark side?

any comments?

Live every day to it's fullest!

[mohannie]

Hi Everyone,

I hope everyone has been having a good day today. I've been in my own little world the past few days. I'm not necessarily depressed, just been keeping to myself. I've needed this time to myself, and I'm enjoying it. I'm still taking Paxil, and now that it's in my system, I feel like I did before I started taking it. I hope everyone is having a good day and I'll check in with you guys later.

[Redbled]

Tamara,

I have had both sinus issues and tooth, or more specifically jaw pain. I'm pretty sure its the Lexapro for me. The sinus issues will just come and go. Its pretty annoying.

Only took Lexapro for 10 days, as a doctors response to my brief anxiety over a treatable medical condition. Took my last pill at the very end of August.

[Shifty]

Mo,

I felt fine on paxil for a month then started feeling ****py again just like you, but i think it was because of the bipolar.

I think Paxil worked because I felt high all the time and as soon as my body adjusted to the high it didn't work anymore.

Everyone,

I have an admission to make. I started up lexapro again yesterday because even though the Lithium helps my anxiety and agitation, it isn't helping the depression i feel from being trapped at work 8 hours a day.

Wish I had better news. Now I feel drugged up but at least im not missing work. I'm going to the doctor on thurs.

---
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.

[gettinolder]

hello all
i am having the worst **** going on in my life i ever have and im hoping that someone can help me shed some light on my situation or tell me how to cope with this.....i just recently was put on a detox drug suboxone as i was an addict to painkillers for a very long time close to 20 odd years and also about 1 month ago was put on lexapro for my depression. i thought this was best thing i had ever encountered as it made me feel awesome and nothing bothered me. ok so i now have to take the suboxone and i was also taking the lexapro with it....come to find that my husband asked the pharmacist one day to fill my lexapro perscription and instead of paying for the detox med at the doctor as usual we found it cheaper at the CVS, so we took the perscription to the CVS and the woman flipped out so bad we were scared!!! she wanted to know why my doctor was not informed that i was on a detox drug???....(he was) we asked why and she told us that taking these 2 meds together will cause permanent psychosis and once you flip your done for the rest of your life and you cant fix it. so she would ABSOLUTLY not fill them together. So since the detox med is more important right now and she said that the suboxone had somewhat the same type properties as the anti depressant i should be ok on the suboxone...WRONG i didnt even know there was a withdrawl to this lexapro until i found you guys here im a mess!!!
I cant sleep at night, having graphic nightmares when i do sleep, very depressed, manic mood swings/my vision is hazy where i use my side vision,my body is fatigued and i feel like i have the flu and my husband will say one little thing to me that is wrong and i almost but killed him one day by throwing something at him, poor thing he has dealt with every thing i have dished out in the past three years and i wonder why he even stays with me?? These withdrawl symptoms from the lexapro are so bad, can someone tell me exactly what they all are and what i can do to make them a little better to get over nad how long will they take to go away??? the detox med is working pretty good though......PLEASE HELP

gettin older

thanks a bunch

Summer

[gettinolder]

quote:Originally posted by shocker

im having a wierd jolting sensation like my whole bady jumps and scares me horribly...i could be somewhat sleeping and my whole body jumps so hard it wakes me up and it seems almost like my heart stops beating for that second i jolt...could this be from either the "comming off lexapro or the new taking of the suboxone"??

appreciate any help please
gettin older

thanks a bunch

Summer

[gettinolder]

quote:Originally posted by hanasante

I'm so glad I found this forum. I've been on Lexapro for over 2 years now. I started taking it because I was going through a terrifying experience in my life and felt very unstable. After talking with my doctor I started taking 10mg of Lexapro. I also starting seeing a therapist. I've gone been 10-20mg. About 9 days ago I ran out of the stuff and thought it wasn't a big deal. Boy was I wrong! I spent 5 days feeling like I was seriously ill. Only to find out yesterday when I went to see the on-call doctor that I was experiencing Lexapro withdrawal. He informed me that most doctors don't warn their patitent about this. He immediately wrote me a new prescription and have me samples to take home. Now, that I've read up on the not only the withdrawls but also the side effects, I don't want to continue taking Lexapro.

Has anyone experiences weight gain while taking Lexapro?

I hope to get my life back soon

EF

omg i thought i was the only one crazy as i packed on over 40 lbs from the lexapro and found that most of it was water weight gain...the doc gave me a script for some very potent water pills and still i gained a **** ass load of weight......try going on the treadmill everyday if you can for at least 30 minutes and sweat as much as you can ..youll sweat out the water gradually but you really have to stay on it or you will just keep packing on the weight and it will hit you hard.

thanks a bunch

Summer

[Shifty]

That's called a reboot or shock. It's perfectly normal for lexapro withdrawal. I understand they last longer if you have been on the drug longer. Happens with Paxil too (probably all SSRIs).

---
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, I don't blame you for going back on the lexapro. I think that I have been off of it for less time than you and I too have seriously considered going back on it. Some days I feel like I'm going crazy... emotionally. My anxiety and palpatations are only getting worse. I still have that dizzy feeling when looking from side to side. Then theres the "zaps", the nightmares, the headaches, the sleeping problems, etc. And, to top it all off... most everyone of us here seems to be on that same emotional roller coaster ride. We are just riding it at different times. Have we all been a bunch of rats? Are we experiments gone bad? Are we screwed???

debbie

[kimi_d]

Hey Guys,

So here's where I'm at.....like Debbie says, an emotional rollercoaster. Today I put in my 2 weeks notice at my job. They pretty much gave me an ultimatum...and my final decision was made because I chose my family over this "huge" corporation. I was basically forced into a decision I did not want. So now I am back into tears pretty frequently. I'm sad, I'm angry. And I often wonder "maybe the problem really is me".

I'm considering going back into therapy, just to sort out my emotions, but I'm worried I may get sucked into the therapy/antideppresant way again.

Gettin older, I'm glad you found this forum. If I can offer any advice....it helps to type things out, knowing others will listen and offer non-judgemental input and support.

I agree Debbie, I feel like a guinea pig. I've said it before...but wondering what the long term effects may be scares me more than anything because no one seems to know the answer.

In regards to a conspiracy theory via drug companies....my thoughts....I don't believe (and correct me if I'm wrong) other countries medicate people and youth to the excess that the U.S does...why? Perhaps our doctors are just as brainwashed, after all....their education is primarily backed by drug companies.
I don't mean to dismiss any mental illness that is truly helped by drug therapy.....I'm all for that......I just feel I was kept on Lexapro far too long and it was prescribed way to quickly without being given all the facts to make an informed decision .

Anyhow, I am rambling. Just wanted to check in.

MR SPOCK....I miss you and your posts. Are you doing ok?

AUNTY, I miss you too. Although it sounds like you are staying pretty busy.

and also Debbie,Torxis,redbled,mohannie,tamra,and all the new lexaposters.....sometimes I feel you're all I have.....I hope we can stick this out!

[debbie724]

kimi d, I'm not going anywhere. And, I'm sure that I can speak for most everyone. WHO would we have to speak SO openly about our feelings to, if not this discussion board? I started another discussion board for my brother and his wife. It's under "needs to talk", titled "bipolar and depression". I get the feeling that a lot of us hold back on expressing our true emotions in fear (for other people here) of losing sight of the meaning of this discussion board. If ANYONE feels that they can't say everything that they want to say here, and/or you are afraid of not being understood, or bringing others down... please go there and let it all out. I'm reading it, and I know Shifty is reading it. PLEASE don't misunderstand me, I will NEVER leave this discussion board, as I need it here too. It is here where I feel that I have SO many good friends, who truly do care. I just think that some of us are having more difficulty with depression, and/or simply living our lives... than just with the HORRIBLE lexapro withdrawal problems. Leaving us extremely confused and feeling alone. Many here, they mean SO well, and God bless them for trying to talk us into trying to ignor those "bad" feelings, but those feelings are real. SO real that you quit your job! SO real that I have been out of work for almost a year now. SO real that instead of bringing my daughter "up" on this day that was SO "down" for her... I could only contribute to her anger, sadness, etc. SO real that others are out of work and cannot get back there. And, SO real that some of those that are there are struggling to stay! I think we all need this discussion board to help us with the lexapro withdrawals. But, I also think that by sharing our feelings and stories umongst the friends that we know here... that truly care... would do us SO much more that "therapy" could ever do. I need you guys too! We are NOT alone here!

Mr Spock, I am getting pretty worried about you. It's been a couple days since your last post, or since I heard from you via the internet. PLEASE let us know you are alive. I know you are NOT okay, because I can sense that you are with most of us in that!


debbie

[Miss Lee]

Hey all-

Has anyone went to or heard of anyone going to a endocronologist to test their hormones after lexapro (since we know it messes with these systems)?

Miss Lee

[angel144]

hi guys, I have been gone for a while. I went off lexapro the beginning of Dec. Went threw the withdrawl and felt great. Like I could do anything. I was still taking my zanix to sleep. .25 I went into the hospital to get an hysterectomy and freaked out. So badly that they would not do the operation. Since then I tried to stay off of everything. But was having panic attacks all day long. (they only last around 14 min.)but I was having at least three an hour. So I went to my doctor and he put me on 5ml of Celexa. Does anybody have and information about this drug. I go to the web sites and they all say it is for depression the one thing that I don't have. If anybody knows please help me. Thanx[:I]