[debbie724]

Shifty, do you know if the toxins come out by way of our throat? Or, did you get me sick just thinking about your sore throat? I woke up this AM and my throat is killing me!

debbie

[debbie724]

I was kidding about all of that! I do feel like **** though! [xx(]

debbie

[tiger]

lisa,
how many days have you been off it?Do you take anything else?
How many mg? Are you having crying spells too? Same thing happened
to me that i missed up at work. Too dizzy and barely could read the
papers clearly.

sickofthis,
i feel SO guilty about my lack of sex drive. my poor husband. and i
feel like he won't be able to handle me coming off of this except that maybe i'll get horny again. He wasn't very good about it before.
But he says now that he knows what it is, he'll be better.


quote]Originally posted by lisa99

Ok, well I think I'm experiencing my first set of problems.

I have a job in which accuracy is paramount. Well twice today in my documents, I presented them with glaring errors. The first one made my normally cool boss go ballistic because of the magnitude of the error. I apologized profusely and then later that day turned in another document with a client's name written incorrectly! I know this client and had just talked to him minutes earlier... his name was right in front of me as I was typing the document!!!!

My boss said, "Lisa!!! What's going on?!!!"

I'm tempted to tell them what's happening because I normally am NOT like this... sure we all make mistakes, but I've never made mistakes of this level in my five-year work history. I'm just afraid they'll think I'm making excuses and not truly understand.

Also, I don't want to blame this on medication withdrawal, but I just feel like I'm in a total fog! THINKING is difficult for me! Things that I've been doing by rote for the last five years are suddenly impossible! ARGH!

Well... on a slightly better note (and one related to some recent posts), my sex drive has really come back with a vengeance! This started almost immediately after my last day on Lexapro and my hormones are going crazy! Too bad I'm not married nor in a relationship... [] So I'm liking that, even though I don't have an outlet for any newfound horniness. Darn.

I just hope this mental fog clears soon. This isn't good for my work performance.
[/quote]

[tiger]

Ban,
Are you feeling anxiety or depression come back? How many days now are you off it? Is that all you were taking?

quote:Originally posted by bansheebird

OH - cold turkey. Earlier in the month I was moving the doses down slightly, got to the end of the prescription and opted to not get it filled. I started on 20mg, went to 10mg for two weeks, then off cold. I don't have any in the house so I can't crater to the relapse.

I mentioned this post to my husband - and he said "do you think that was what last week was all about?" I forgot about that - last week, while still on the 10mg, I spent two days crying. (And I don't cry). It had him all freaked out. I would wake up at night crying, a couple of times with nightmares. Nothing he could do about it, I couldn't tell him why... well, now we know!

I thought I might be having gall bladder trouble cause my eating has changed big-time. A bite of meat, and nope, can't handle that. I am sustained on V8 and crackers right now. Anything else makes me want to up-chuck. I was fixing to go to the doc to talk gall bladder, but I think I'll wait it out a little while longer.

And then there is the sex drive - you guys don't know me, so I guess I can tell you about this... I had none before. Well, its a good thing that I am a faithful wife, cause that has come back like a freight train making up for lost time.

What I have gone through makes me know that I don't want to go back there. I want my body and my system clean of this nonsense.

thanks,
bansh

[tiger]

THANKS. i'm mosrtly worried about how my husband will take this. I'm
back on the 5 mg. and still feeling a bit dizzy.I should've just kept
going on the 2 weeks withdrawal. Anywya, I've put my husband through so much hell over 2 years and now finally we'be had a good year on the
meds except for the lack of sex, but i do it anyway for him , but i think maybe it's better if we just stay on it and wait until we have at least some good times. he says go off it cause he wants more sex!
BUT I TOLD HIM IT MAY BE HELL.



6

quote:Originally posted by bansheebird

Well, it was me who felt jilted by losing my drive. Actually, my husband is handicapped and is recovering from spinal fusion surgery. I realized that my lack of interest was allowing him to drift. He has to try to have interest given his physical condition. With me seriously waned due to the drug, we were at risk of watching that whole part of our life go away and we are too young for that. With the daughter no longer causing the issues that caused situational depression, I decided it was time for lexapro to go!

I have been on some sort of depression med for 5 yrs. Lexapro for two, 20mg. I dropped to 10mg for two weeks and then off completely. Completely off for five days.

I work full time. I have lots of interests - mainly parrot rescue and hobby farming. I distract myself from my own problems when I find them creeping in. There is always something needing a hug, an empty food dish, something to clean. The crying jag went for nearly 2 days straight - absolutely disturbing!

I am normally a very very strong person, but these last few weeks have been minimalizing that strength - but I know who I am and who I will be on the other end of this struggle. I just gotta get through the struggle no matter how long it takes. You have to find the reason you want off it and plan the things that are going to make it worth it. Write it down if you need to keep a list in front of you. You also have to figure out what you are going to do with yourself if you crater. But you have to keep showing up - whether that's to work or to the dinner table - you have to keep showing up. And you have to have someone in your life that you trust with the information.

I wish you well!

[tiger]

aUNTY,
nO. I WAS on 5, then tried to taper to 3.75 then chickened out and went back on 5. it's been a week now and i still don't feel back to
normal. still dizzy. i should've kept going but i can't miss work.
don't know what to do.

quote:Originally posted by auntybiotic

Hi Everyone,

Debbie,

The moajor moving is over. just a few carloads of boxes and clothes. The moving men put the furniture together for me for $50 extra dollars!! Horray!!

I still need to buy the matching dresser so I may need you for that as I understand it comes with a milliobn pieces!! Maybe bring a suitcase along as it may take a few days.

So glad you are having a few good days. This is typical with healing after SSRI's. Keep a recprd of the good days because when a bad day hits you may not remember that you actually felt good for awhile. We will remind you!!

Tiger, Rina, banshee, Lisa and GNP-990,

Welcome to the new members and hello to the recent new posters. Just wanted to remind everyone that I am NOT a doctor. Just a mother of a child withdrawaling from lexapro who has done a lot of research and have talked to many people who went thru lexapro withdrawal.

Please remember that any suggestion is just that. Check with your doctor ( if you are one of the few lucky ones that have a MD who is aware of Lexapro withdrawal).

Tiger,

Everyone is different but it could take about three weeks to stabalize. Remeber you went from 5 Mg to 3.75 so you were getting adjusted to that change then you quit all the lexapro. You should start to feel better.

Lisa,

The brain fog and mixing up letters and numbers is quite a common complaint in withdrawal from SSRI's. I have spoken to a few who have also had some memory loss after stopping their SSRI.

After stopping the Lexapro the sex drive becomes hyperactive for a few weeks then returns to normal. Jus like the emotions. Everything was put "in limbo" for a while and is returning, the emotions, the sex drive etc.

The withdrawals are real, not imagined. So many thousands would not experience the exact same symptoms if it were all in their minds.

GNYP-99o.

How long will the withdrawals last. There is not an answer. It depends on how quickly your body will rid itself of the lexapro. This depends on the functions of your liver. On average I would say about four months. Some who have cold tirkeyed may take about a lyear and others as Body Electric are back to normal is a few weeks.

Supplements will help heal the damage done by the lexapro. A Good Qulaity Vitamin and mineral supplement. Omega 3's 1000 Mg (or as suggested on bottle) will aid in the weight loss and moodiness, magnesium citrate will help the anxiety and muscle crampting.

Primal Defense by Garden of Eden will ease the stomach issues and bloating (available at heath or vitamin store).

Dramazine will help dizziness.

Benydryl will aid in the sleeplessness.

Plenty of water to flush out the toxins.

Patience and time............

Mr. Spock,

I will be mailing out the book on oday. We are expecting 6 to 12 inches of snow over the next several days...........that beach is looking very desirable. How you feeling..............any improvement at all??

[tamra]

Does anyone remember where the list of lexapro interactions is? I've got another cold from my kindergarten son & I'm going to the doctors...I'm pretty sure I've just aggravated a dormant sinus infection. Last month one of the doctors put me on Biaxin...with Lexapro....neat...I'd like to research anypossible reaction before they put me on something else with a "neat" reaction.

I haven't been on for quite awhile & haven't had time to catch up yet...but I'm on my 2.5 mg lexapro...I've got good days..ok days....and bad days....alot more foggy icky bad days than I'd like. I'll be glad when this is over. I've tried to concentrate on other things and it seems to help. I have a tendency to feel worse when I allow myself to think about it.

Hope everyones feeling good! Tamra


Live every day to it's fullest!

[lisa99]

quote:Originally posted by tiger

lisa,
how many days have you been off it?Do you take anything else?
How many mg? Are you having crying spells too? Same thing happened
to me that i missed up at work. Too dizzy and barely could read the
papers clearly.

Hi Tiger! Well, I've officially been off the Lex since Saturday, but this is not my first time attempting to taper. I went from my original dosage of 10 mg to 5 to 0, but that was too fast for me and I had horrible dizziness and nausea. So I went back on and took 2.5 mg for about a week or two and now I'm back off. The withdrawal symptoms are much better, but I'm still a little dizzy and the brain fog is much worse now compared to last week.

I haven't had crying spells yet, although I felt like having one yesterday after my work screwups!!! As Aunty said, I'm in the early stages of withdrawal so it's possible that more is on the way.

Also, Lexapro is the only medicine I was on. For a month last year (May, I think), I took Wellbutrin in addition to Lex, but it didn't make much of a difference so I stopped taking it and was fine.

I did tell my boss today that I was having a medication issue without going into too much detail. He was understanding and wished me luck and I told him that I would read my documents out loud to myself before turning them in and triple-check the facts. I think he appreciated that.

Aunty, thanks for the info on the mixed-up numbers/letters. That's EXACTLY what happened the other day... the first problem was a numerical one and the second involved names. I'll keep taking my Omega 3s and getting as much rest as I can so that I can get through this!

(And good to know that my sex drive will level off soon!)

[GingerGirl]

Debbie... Thanks so much for the link, http://www.prozactruth.com/ You're right, lots of valuable info on there. I finally got my period and assumed my bloating and weight gain would dramatically start to melt away. I eagerly hopped on the scale hoping for a happier readout only to be greeted with another 2 lb weight gain. I was aghast. I've been eating correctly, and exercising. I have NEVER had a problem with my weight... was always 112lbs and had a trim, flat stomach. Now I look like I'm 3-month's pregnant, with saddlebags to add to the fun. It's so discouraging because I've been free of Lexapro for over 7 weeks. I still have yet to hear a single success story on someone who has lost their Lexapro weight gain. If someone has, please shout it from the rooftops that there is hope!!

Per the recommendations on the Prozactruth website, I ordered two bottles of the Ultimate Omega 3's. I had been taking some from the health food store, but apparently you have to take quite a large dose to make it effective. It set me back $80, but if it works, no problem there. I'll keep you all posted. Until then, I'm off to have a healthy salad, then out for a run.

Here's another quote that I like that's helping me cope: "Find a new normal"

[GingerGirl]

Forgot to mention .... For those of you having trouble sleeping, I've been having a lot of success with 3mg of Melatonin before bed. Tylenol PM and Benadryl did nothing for me. Hope this helps someone. In addition to weaning myself off of Lexapro in December, I also weaned myself off of Klonopin (a benzo) in late October. Wow, that was a real bear... anxiety was off the charts. Sleep is finally coming a little easier and lasts longer with the Melatonin.

[debbie724]

GingerGirl, I started to lose weight once I got off the Lexapro... then I began to "stress" eat and promptly gained it back. I'm back on track now. Lost 4 pounds in 3 days. I'm taking Hoodia (look into that for help) and green tea supplements to help curb the appetite. Someone has to have a success story on weight loss after Lexapro and I have yet to find that someone... so I'm gonna try my damndest to make that someone me! I'll keep you informed.

debbie

[tiger]

HAS ANYONE OUT THERE SUCCESSFULLY GOTTEN OFF LEXIPRO AND ONLY LEXIPRO??????????? please share

[lisa99]

Hopefully, I'll be able to say yes very soon!

[bansheebird]

DOING BETTER

I am ONLY coming off Lexapro. The only other drugs I take are for blood pressure and hormone replacement.

TODAY the dizziness is less!!![8)] I can walk down the hall without needing to touch the wall!!! Its still lingering in the back of my head, but not so overwhelming today.

But, today I took a nice big gulp of cold water, got in the car and headed for work... got 10 miles down the road and had to pull over and puke [xx(]. I got that under control with a trusty peppermint and have been OK for the rest of today. I even ate fried catfish with gusto at lunch!!! I have been subsisting on water, v8 and crackers!

Although I am not prone to crying, my best friend told me today that her son's pregnant girlfriend is considering abortion and I just lost it in tears right here in my office. (yes, I realize this is a tragic matter, but I would not normally cry openly and in public)

I had a more normal night's sleep last night. Not quite able to fall asleep as fast as usual, but sleeping soundly for about 5 hours once I reach it.

Somebody mentioned foggy accomplishments at work - here's your AMEN!!! I find myself taking notes during phone conversations just so I remember who I am talking to and what we are talking about. Total ADD, total ambivalence to tasks, gotta mentally whip myself to not sit here and surf the web. (again, not like me AT ALL!!)

Hey, this is day 6!!!

[sickofthis]

Debbie!!

Thank you so much for responding to me. It means so much to know that I am not alone in this! I have stopped the Wellbutrin because I wasn't really doing well on it and the goal is to (as carefully as possible) get me off of everything so that I can have a base line to start from. I have been on psych meds for so long now that I just want to see where I am- with nothing. My doctor and everyone else is convinced that Ativan is the worst of them and that not only is it addicting, but dangerous

quote: How long will it take for my withdrawal symptoms to go away once I have stopped? I do not know and am concerned about trying to look for work etc... when I feel like [xx(]!! Please tell me more about you!

Thank you,

Michelle (Sick of thisOriginally posted by debbie724

sickofthis, you are not imagining ANY of this... nor are you alone! I'm not sure why you are stopping the Wellbutrin. I take Depakote, Wellbutrin, and Ativan... and I will continue to take them as long as they work for me. Lexapro... that's another story! Please don't stop everything at once! And, please don't forget that we are here for you.

debbie

[:0]

[sickofthis]

I am so sorry that you are going through this - it IS awful - I know. Why are they putting you on Wellbutrin? What are they thinking? 300mg is a lot to start, no? Did you cut your Lexapro 10mg pills in half? I have been wanting to do that...didn't know if it was safe. I am on 10mg now every other day trying to get off of this ****!!! I understand about the nausea etc...do you get body aches as well? I feel like I've been run over by a truck....or have a flu. I can't think worth a damn either...so forgive me if this makes no ****ing sense!! I feel like I am in a fog most of the time. I guess we just need to tough it out, right? I wish I could go away somewhere where no one would have to deal with me going through this....a spa/ detox rehab?? That would be lovely, no?

Best,
Sick of this (Michelle)

quote:Originally posted by gnp990

Holy ****,

This thing is aweful!

As you can guess, I, too, am suffering from Lexapro withdrawal. I've been taking 20mg for about 9 months, 10mg during the last month, and 5mg for a few days. I've also been taking 300mg of Wellbutrin SR. (In all their wisdom, they thought this would somehow help my BPD-like symptoms. It didn't, of course.) Then I just got sick of waiting to get off this thing and I stopped both.

The first few days were symptom-free. But the past five days have been marked by intense dizziness, almost fainting, especially while walking, fatigue, and nausea... oh my, the nausea is the WORST. I can scarcely describe it. It comes and goes, so every time I think I'm through it, there's a nasty surprise waiting after a while.

Did someone say "chemical imbalance?" Please, go do a commercial for Eli Lilly.

What a joke that chemical imbalance quasi-theory of the aetiology of depression is... Unscientific nonsense.

How long does Lexapro withdrawal take on average? I believe this is my 8th day, now. (Please, lie if you have to. )

Best,

[sickofthis]

Tiger,

What a pain in the rear, eh? It is hard enough going through this withdrawal...but then to have to tend to a man's needs? UGH!!!! It is understandable that he have needs and that they deserve to be met, but unless you have gone through withdrawal from this ****, he has no idea what it is....and regardless.....he on some level doesn't care....he NEEDS!! Hence, feelings of guilt, insecurity and fear on my part and frustration, resentment and anger on his.....great!!! This is why I wish I could just go away until I got "better", right? Either that or are there wonderful, gentle men out there who really understand and are not at the end of their rope? He judges me I know and I can't take it.... How about you?
best,
Sick of this

quote:Originally posted by tiger

lisa,
how many days have you been off it?Do you take anything else?
How many mg? Are you having crying spells too? Same thing happened
to me that i missed up at work. Too dizzy and barely could read the
papers clearly.

sickofthis,
i feel SO guilty about my lack of sex drive. my poor husband. and i
feel like he won't be able to handle me coming off of this except that maybe i'll get horny again. He wasn't very good about it before.
But he says now that he knows what it is, he'll be better.


quote]Originally posted by lisa99

Ok, well I think I'm experiencing my first set of problems.

I have a job in which accuracy is paramount. Well twice today in my documents, I presented them with glaring errors. The first one made my normally cool boss go ballistic because of the magnitude of the error. I apologized profusely and then later that day turned in another document with a client's name written incorrectly! I know this client and had just talked to him minutes earlier... his name was right in front of me as I was typing the document!!!!

My boss said, "Lisa!!! What's going on?!!!"

I'm tempted to tell them what's happening because I normally am NOT like this... sure we all make mistakes, but I've never made mistakes of this level in my five-year work history. I'm just afraid they'll think I'm making excuses and not truly understand.

Also, I don't want to blame this on medication withdrawal, but I just feel like I'm in a total fog! THINKING is difficult for me! Things that I've been doing by rote for the last five years are suddenly impossible! ARGH!

Well... on a slightly better note (and one related to some recent posts), my sex drive has really come back with a vengeance! This started almost immediately after my last day on Lexapro and my hormones are going crazy! Too bad I'm not married nor in a relationship... [] So I'm liking that, even though I don't have an outlet for any newfound horniness. Darn.

I just hope this mental fog clears soon. This isn't good for my work performance.

[/quote]

[Mr Spock]

Hello all,
Welcome to the new people. I wouild like to make some points that might be useful. First, these drugs such as Lexapro, if taken for longer than 2 months cause major (temporary but long-acting) changes with your neuro-transmitters. They may supposedly affect only serotonin, but also affect the relationship between serotonin and others such as dopamine (the pleasure neuro-transmitter) and nor-adrenalin. These changes can take a long time to reverse. My initial withdrawal (see page 63, or around there) was over 4 weeks after being on Celexa (virtually the same drug as Lexapro) for a year. I got the withdrawal effects, and then recommenced on only half the dose for 8 weeks with no effect. In hindsight, I should have gone back on the full dose. Then I stopped cold turkey, and still had withdrawals 4 1/2 months later!!! Admittedly, my liver is not in great shape, however, it is a long time, and can take much longer. After reviewing a lot of medical information, and also a suggestion by Aunty, I have commenced a slow taper with Prozac liquid, although only a 1/3 of the original dose equivalent due to the time I have already had cold turkey.. Prozac has a built in taper due to its longer half-life, and I am sure that once the initial side-effects wear off (which are, at present, quite debilitating), I will be tapering by 10% every few weeks. This will probably take a year at least. Aunty is slowly tapering her daughter from 20mg Lexapro, and it will take more tham 2 years total by the look of it. However, her daughter is able to function very well with this regime, so this is my aim as well. I would urge you all to consider this approach, as for (too) many of us, the withdrawals do not resolve in a hurry, and all we do is feel unnecessarily dreadful over this period and perhaps end up taking more time for this to settle..
Please read some of the earlier postings in this forum as there is a lot of valuable information. Also look at the Healy Protocol for SSRI withdrawal, Ann Blake Tracy, Joseph Glenmuller, and also WWW.Antidepressantfacts.com, an excellent site from the Netherlands.
Whilst my background is as a nurse, I am a complete novice with this area so any information I suggest is merely that, a suggestion, with virtually all of it taken off the net.
Accordingly, Banshee, your taper was far to quick, get back on it and taper slowly.
Tiger, I don't know how long it will take, but it should happen. Do NOT start taking more than 5 mg, though.
Michelle, please do not take your dose on alternate days. It does more harm than good. Reduce your dose gradually, but take it on a daily basis.
Lisa, still too fast from 2.5mg to 0. See Aunty's comments a few pages or so back in reducing 1/2mg a time...
To all of you, I really wish that there was an easy fix for us all, but unfortunately, there isn't. I do have great confidence for the future, and that I would like to encourage you all that this experience is going to make you a stronger wiser person, and far from the opposite, can actually help you empower yourself in the long-term, although at present, part of one's frustration is feeling powerless...
Aunty, I'm really excited by the book, thanks again. Congratulations on the move. No change yet. Feel very "pickled"!
Debbie, hi there.
Redbled, get out of the dungeon and let us know how you are going.
Miss Lee, still getting in to the chocolates and Ben and Jerry's.
Kimi, where are you?
Hi Mohannie, what are you up to?

Peace and Long Life.

[Augusto99]

Hi everyone. I have posted on here before and got a little bit of feedback but I still have a question about tapering. I have decided that I am going to stay on the lexapro for one more month. Once this is over I want to start my tapering process. I am going to ask the doctor for the liquid lexapro, but honestly I have no idea how to go about it. I mean I will have only been on 10mg for 2 months total, so I dont know if it would be ok to cut my dosage by 10 percent every week or if you guys think i need to go slower than that. I know 2 months is nothing near to waht some people on here but I just want off the drug...I hate having to worry about taking my pills, IM ONLY 20 for gosh sakes! Someone please help me cause everytime i ask my stepmom who is a nurse or my doctor they tell me that I can come off the drug no problem, but thats not what Ive read. I want to avoid the withdrawal symptoms as much as possible, I am an engineering student and I need to be able to think! GOD I WISH THEY GAVE ME A WARNING!!!! Thanks everyone

[gnp990]

Thanks Auntie and Michelle,

It seems like there are quite a few veterans on this board. I have to admit, your prognoses about how long it can take are scaring the hell out of me. I am a full time graduate student and need to be fit to do my work. I am not concerned about a recurrence of depressive symptoms or anxiety. My only concern are the withdrawal effects. Last time I had my blood work my liver function seemed excellent. ALT and AST enzymes were 18 and 20, if I remember correctly. But, correct me if I am wrong, why should liver matter that much? Isn't withdrawal length simply a question of the time it takes your body to upregulate receptors and/or produce more serotonin?

I can't help but recall what my first psychiatrist said about stopping Lexapro. He said, "it's no problem, you can quit it within a week." In retrospect, he is either grossly incompetent or a brazen liar...

For the past two days I've had such bizzare, such incredibly frightening nightmares, I can't even begin to describe them. Suffice to say, they mimicked hell as faithfully as possible... Since I never have nightmares ordinarily, not even "mild" ones, I suspect that the withdrawal is the culprit here once more. Although, it also makes me wonder if these medications somehow inhibit the full range of normal psychic life, which then erupts violently once you stop taking them.

Good luck everyone!

Best,
Goran

[quote]Originally posted by sickofthis

I am so sorry that you are going through this - it IS awful - I know. Why are they putting you on Wellbutrin? What are they thinking? 300mg is a lot to start, no? Did you cut your Lexapro 10mg pills in half? I have been wanting to do that...didn't know if it was safe. I am on 10mg now every other day trying to get off of this ****!!! I understand about the nausea etc...do you get body aches as well? I feel like I've been run over by a truck....or have a flu. I can't think worth a damn either...so forgive me if this makes no ****ing sense!! I feel like I am in a fog most of the time. I guess we just need to tough it out, right? I wish I could go away somewhere where no one would have to deal with me going through this....a spa/ detox rehab?? That would be lovely, no?

Best,
Sick of this (Michelle)

[auntybiotic]

quote:Originally posted by auntybiotic

augusto,

Try going to 9 Mg for 2 weeks, if you feel fine then proceed and reduce to 8 Mg for another two weeks. If you are experiencing withdrawals wait at least three weeks or until you stabalize before you taper again.

You will notice the withdrawals about the 4th to 10th day, they can be crying, anxiety, anger outbursts, chills, sinus issues, stomach cramping, sleeplessness, toothache,dizziness and the dreaded ZAPS which are electrical like shocks to the brain and extremities.

Hopefully you may have mild withdrawals because of the short time you were on lexapro, but Ms. Lee and Redbled were only on lexapro for 10 days and they are STILL suffering withdrawals.

The liver has a lot to do with withdrawals because lexapro can be recirculated thru the bile back into the system and therefore remain in the body for quite awhile. This happens for many months up to a year after withdrawal. People can feel fine and then some of the lexapro is released into the body and the withdrawal pop out of no where.

Mr. Spock,
Slow tapering is the only way to go...thanks for stressing this to new posters. It may even take my daughter over two years to come off lexapro depending on her response at lower doses but she has been able to mainain a A average in every subject at school and a social life during this crisis. There are several days a month that are draedful but she knows now that they are going to pass and she will stabilize after each taper. So far there has been no hopelessness but several bouts of uncontrolable crying.
She is more upset about the horrible weight gain that lexapro brings by messes with the metabolism. Her periods are quite haevy and painful also.

I can HIGHLY suggest SLOW tapering to all the new comers..no matter how QUICK you want off the lexapro.....to taper fast or quit cold turkey is going to do a great disservice to your neurotransmitters in your brain. It could take a year to recover by cold turkey or fast tapering off lexapro.

Waiting for 8 to 12 inches of snow.....................hope all are well.

[Cincygal]

I'm in the middle of tapering from Lexapro - 20mg, 10mg, and now 5mg. Just cutting my 20mg pills (now is hard the portions so tiny). I do not want to go back to my doctor for the liquid.

Even with taking antihistamine, I'm waking up with a stuffy nose. Sometimes when I get out of bed in the morning, I stagger, I suffer dizziness and nausea at times, and the stuffiness in the sinuses also creates a headache most days. It's not so severe, but I am going to take these last 5mg VERY slowly over weeks or a couple of months.

Just thought I'd share as some of you look at starting the taper. Also, I am concerned that when I'm completely off of Lexapro - I'll go back to my anxiety and hot temper/irritability with PMS. Those problems will not be solved - but to be rid of the Lexapro in my system (gained 30 pounds and abrutly in menopause) - for that I will be grateful!

Thanks, Y'all!

[rina]

Hey Tiger and everyone else! I need to get in the habit of checking this board much more often!! You all are an unbelieveable wealth of information and support!! WOW!! My deal is this: I started on Lexapro (only Lex- Tiger) back in October, 10mg a day. I was having some serious anxieties over lots of things- new job, 2 young kids, and this paralyzing fear that something was going to happen to me and I wouldn't be around for my children! My OB suggested the Lex and reassured me how wonderful it was for all of this anxiety, with no side effects and that when I got through this stressful time, it wouldn't be a problem to just stop!! HA HA HA HA!! [:0]

Things have really settled down in my life and about a month ago, I got really sick with bronchitis and a sinus infection- I was put on a ton of meds. I had already been considering withdrawing from the Lex- my poor husband- I had no sex drive at all, just like you were all describing-- but I especially wanted to quit taking it since I had all of this other stuff I needed to go on... plus, I'm just not a big "medicine" person... So, I quit cold-turkey the Lex and wow- just as everyone else has described- it has been hell. The dizziness started immediately and it was a constant feeling of drunkeness! I just feel like I'm floating most places. It does seem to be getting a little better, but just like (I think) Redbled said- I have good moments and days, where I think I'm done with all of the withdrawal symptoms, and then all of a sudden throw in a horrible day, where I'm back to extreme fatigue, dizziness and bouts with nausea.

Now- imagine this: I am also a preschool teacher!! It is so hard some days to keep going through the dizziness and fatigue!! Although, their little hugs do help out a lot on my tough days!! [:X]

I just can't say thank you enough to all who post here and especially the "veterans" and that you take the time to answer each poster and their specific questions! This is literally the only support I have with this! My husband is supportive, but just doesn't get it and probably thinks I imagine a lot of it!! I did call both my primary care doc and my OB over Lex withdrawal questions and they are literally clueless!! So, here I am!!

So, Tiger, to answer you and try to help- I was only on Lex and hope to be back to normal soon- I'm on 2 1/2 weeks cold-turkey. By finding this board, though, and knowing that there are other people out there going through the exact same thing as me, truly helps! Hang in there! And thanks again to everyone on here!!

PS- Where would I find that list of the possible Lex withdrawal symptoms? Is severely dry, cracked skin one??!!

quote:Originally posted by tiger

Mr Spock.
Thanks for your input. Yes, that's exactly right. I tried to taper for 2 weeks 3.75 and then i freaked so i went back to the normal
dose of 5 mg. but it's been 6 days already and i STILL don't feel
normal. How long will this take??? I don't know if i cry more from the guilt of how my husband suffers (lack of sex, disconnecting, etc)
or if it's this stuff. I HATE IT!!! I should've just stayed on it for
awhile longer so we could have some peace for at least a year after
2 years of wondering what the hell was wrong with me physically.
So, how much longer????

Rina,
Thanks for writing back too. Even though you don't know that much yet, it helps that you write. This is the only place i have to talk
besides my mom who drives me crazy. Always wants me to do it her way.
She's on lexipro too, but 20 mg. Rina, tell me what your going through...

TIGER.............

[sickofthis]

Hi Mr. Spock,
Thank you for taking the time to share your information....very interesting...and for mentioning me! My Dr. (of course) had told me to alternate but quite frankly it never made much sense to me. Still, can I cut my 10m Lexapro in 1/2? Why did no one suggest this to me? Also, does it really that THAT long to get over this withdrawal? It seems just crazy that it could stay in my system eternally....help!!

Thank you,
Michelle

quote:Originally posted by Mr Spock

Hello all,
Welcome to the new people. I wouild like to make some points that might be useful. First, these drugs such as Lexapro, if taken for longer than 2 months cause major (temporary but long-acting) changes with your neuro-transmitters. They may supposedly affect only serotonin, but also affect the relationship between serotonin and others such as dopamine (the pleasure neuro-transmitter) and nor-adrenalin. These changes can take a long time to reverse. My initial withdrawal (see page 63, or around there) was over 4 weeks after being on Celexa (virtually the same drug as Lexapro) for a year. I got the withdrawal effects, and then recommenced on only half the dose for 8 weeks with no effect. In hindsight, I should have gone back on the full dose. Then I stopped cold turkey, and still had withdrawals 4 1/2 months later!!! Admittedly, my liver is not in great shape, however, it is a long time, and can take much longer. After reviewing a lot of medical information, and also a suggestion by Aunty, I have commenced a slow taper with Prozac liquid, although only a 1/3 of the original dose equivalent due to the time I have already had cold turkey.. Prozac has a built in taper due to its longer half-life, and I am sure that once the initial side-effects wear off (which are, at present, quite debilitating), I will be tapering by 10% every few weeks. This will probably take a year at least. Aunty is slowly tapering her daughter from 20mg Lexapro, and it will take more tham 2 years total by the look of it. However, her daughter is able to function very well with this regime, so this is my aim as well. I would urge you all to consider this approach, as for (too) many of us, the withdrawals do not resolve in a hurry, and all we do is feel unnecessarily dreadful over this period and perhaps end up taking more time for this to settle..
Please read some of the earlier postings in this forum as there is a lot of valuable information. Also look at the Healy Protocol for SSRI withdrawal, Ann Blake Tracy, Joseph Glenmuller, and also WWW.Antidepressantfacts.com, an excellent site from the Netherlands.
Whilst my background is as a nurse, I am a complete novice with this area so any information I suggest is merely that, a suggestion, with virtually all of it taken off the net.
Accordingly, Banshee, your taper was far to quick, get back on it and taper slowly.
Tiger, I don't know how long it will take, but it should happen. Do NOT start taking more than 5 mg, though.
Michelle, please do not take your dose on alternate days. It does more harm than good. Reduce your dose gradually, but take it on a daily basis.
Lisa, still too fast from 2.5mg to 0. See Aunty's comments a few pages or so back in reducing 1/2mg a time...
To all of you, I really wish that there was an easy fix for us all, but unfortunately, there isn't. I do have great confidence for the future, and that I would like to encourage you all that this experience is going to make you a stronger wiser person, and far from the opposite, can actually help you empower yourself in the long-term, although at present, part of one's frustration is feeling powerless...
Aunty, I'm really excited by the book, thanks again. Congratulations on the move. No change yet. Feel very "pickled"!
Debbie, hi there.
Redbled, get out of the dungeon and let us know how you are going.
Miss Lee, still getting in to the chocolates and Ben and Jerry's.
Kimi, where are you?
Hi Mohannie, what are you up to?

Peace and Long Life.

[tiger]

Hi Everyone.
Rina-please let us know what's going on. How do you manage to work while withdrawing? I must be a wimp. Two weeks of only a small taper and i had to miss work and run back to the pill. I don't know when is a GOOD time to do it because my work requires me to be physical and FOCUS. Geeez...

Sick of this- yes. lost the sex drive. it comes and goes but it still isn't great like before. and you know, i forgot what it actually felt like until i withdrawaled for 2 weeks and got a quick zap of horniness and boy my husband was happy. I think he just doesn't understand so he gets frustrated. I don't blame him but it doesn't help me any!!

Aunty- and anyone who might know the answer to this----so you're saying, taper slowly, let your body get used to that (does it?), and then once it does, keep going? I wish i would've known that before i ran back to the pill. I was tapering to 3.75 from 5 and i got all the symptoms. so, i should've stayed there til my body and mind adjusted? and then kept going? is that what your sayin?

Cincy- how many days have you been withdrawaling? tampering? how r u doin? please keep us posted.

As for me-----i'm feeling much better but still dizzy. i went back on it after 2 weeks of trying to taper. i'm going to stay on it until i adjust back again and get more answers. i'm trying a new doctor. i'll let you know what he says. my husband got some good lovin so that'll hold him for a bit. boy, i forgot how good it was!!

quote:Originally posted by rina

Hey Tiger and everyone else! I need to get in the habit of checking this board much more often!! You all are an unbelieveable wealth of information and support!! WOW!! My deal is this: I started on Lexapro (only Lex- Tiger) back in October, 10mg a day. I was having some serious anxieties over lots of things- new job, 2 young kids, and this paralyzing fear that something was going to happen to me and I wouldn't be around for my children! My OB suggested the Lex and reassured me how wonderful it was for all of this anxiety, with no side effects and that when I got through this stressful time, it wouldn't be a problem to just stop!! HA HA HA HA!! [:0]

Things have really settled down in my life and about a month ago, I got really sick with bronchitis and a sinus infection- I was put on a ton of meds. I had already been considering withdrawing from the Lex- my poor husband- I had no sex drive at all, just like you were all describing-- but I especially wanted to quit taking it since I had all of this other stuff I needed to go on... plus, I'm just not a big "medicine" person... So, I quit cold-turkey the Lex and wow- just as everyone else has described- it has been hell. The dizziness started immediately and it was a constant feeling of drunkeness! I just feel like I'm floating most places. It does seem to be getting a little better, but just like (I think) Redbled said- I have good moments and days, where I think I'm done with all of the withdrawal symptoms, and then all of a sudden throw in a horrible day, where I'm back to extreme fatigue, dizziness and bouts with nausea.

Now- imagine this: I am also a preschool teacher!! It is so hard some days to keep going through the dizziness and fatigue!! Although, their little hugs do help out a lot on my tough days!! [:X]

I just can't say thank you enough to all who post here and especially the "veterans" and that you take the time to answer each poster and their specific questions! This is literally the only support I have with this! My husband is supportive, but just doesn't get it and probably thinks I imagine a lot of it!! I did call both my primary care doc and my OB over Lex withdrawal questions and they are literally clueless!! So, here I am!!

So, Tiger, to answer you and try to help- I was only on Lex and hope to be back to normal soon- I'm on 2 1/2 weeks cold-turkey. By finding this board, though, and knowing that there are other people out there going through the exact same thing as me, truly helps! Hang in there! And thanks again to everyone on here!!

PS- Where would I find that list of the possible Lex withdrawal symptoms? Is severely dry, cracked skin one??!!

[mohannie]

Hi All,

I know I haven't posted in a while, but I'm ok. I've just been feeling like being alone these past few days. Does this mean that I've been depressed? Yes. Have I been cutting? No. Thanks Mr. Spock (and everyone else) for your concern, but I'm ok. Just trying to figure out what I'm going to do with my life.

[Redbled]

The past few days I'm still in a slight downturn, though nothing like the last one a few weeks ago. I really do think the light is visible now. I wish I could help people more. Sometimes I wonder if due to the short time I took Lex if I'm in another category all together. Has to be something similar that I'm still having issues 5 months later, but wonder to the degree. With all the new posters lately I've had a hard time keeping up with the posts, but will try and do better.

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. 5 months now and feeling better most every week. There is hope, don't give up.

[TaylorG]

Hi everyone,
I just came across this blog to try to find out what causes head rushes. I was not expecting to find out it is from the Lexapro I have been on for two months!
A bit of info I'd like to share with people: Lex was making me feel sluggish after the first few weeks of taking it. I couldn't get up early in the morning, I felt kind of unfocused and definately sluggish. I found out that psychotropics are interpreted by our brains in one way but that our livers interpret them as toxins. I thought this might be what was making me feel sluggish so I went on the Fast Track Detox Diet which teaches you how to eat high fibre, healthy foods that support the organs that are reponsible for cleaning toxins out of your body. The detox takes 11 days, and by the end of it I was able to get up early in the morning, did not feel sluggish and no longer felt any negative side effects from the lexapro except for, apparently, head rushes.
I hope this helps anyone out there who might be experiencing some problems with the drug. I read the complaints and they sound like toxicity problems that may be treatable through changing to a healthy lifestyle (diet, exercise etc).
Take care and best regards,
TG

[debbie724]

mohannie, what's up? What is it that you are trying to figure out... about your life? Why were you put on the Lexapro in the first place?

Redbled, And why did you go on the lexapro in the first place?


debbie

[debbie724]

While it's no doubt that many of the physical effects that we are experiencing are possible withdrawals... I am NOT totally convinced that many people here are feeling down... because they need medication for their "chemical" imbalance because they suffer from depression. Afterall, why were most of us put on Lexapro in the first place. I'm not suggesting that ANYONE go back on Lexapro... as it obviously controlled our lives while on it. But, there are MANY other meds that are not SSRI's. Depression can show up in many different physical forms, as well as mental. Also, along with depression can come... anger, anxiety, ocd, etc. I come from a family with a history of depression and bipolar. I personally have suffered for more than 1/2 my life with bipolar disorder. Along with this came... anger, anxiety, ocd, panic attacks, etc. I feel think that I have been lucky thus far... not to fall back into my depression. But, lets not forget that I am taking 1500 mg. of Depakote, 300 mg. of Wellbutrin, and 1 to 2 mg. of Ativan daily. If anyone (mohannie, Redbled, Shifty, etc.) is actually suffering from a chemical imbalance and are not taking the proper medication(s) or any at all... maybe you need to look into trying something else. Just a thought. A thought that I have everyday!


debbie