[auntybiotic]

Blue Georgia,

You have tapered very fast. Manic like actions are normal with fast tapering. Crying and moodiness is also very normal with withdrawal from lexapro.

The bipolar like feeling should stabalize in three weeks...........then you will know that it is the withdrawal, which I am certain that it is.

Withdrawal can also bring out obsessive compulsive like actions so be on the look out for these. Bloating, nightmares, digestive cramping and distress are also part of withdrawal. Dizziness can be relieved with dramanine.

Hope all are doing weel. Mr. Spock, have you noticed and stabalization from the prozac?

Ms. Lee, you sound like you have almost made a full recovery. I am curious, have you been getting the acupuncture all this time, if so how often?

Debbie,
I will e mail you this morning, I am buying more Ikea furniture, a dresser with six drawers and a tv stand, does that sound like something you could handle. Each drawer has to be put together.

If anyone has any questions about tapering let me know. My daughter is off school for a week so I speeded up the taper a little.........hope this works.

[Redbled]

Hi All,

We got our power back on Sunday, so from Thursday through Sunday we had none. It was pretty bad. No heat, no water at all for part of it, and no drinkable water even now. We were truly back in the stone age. It really puts things in perspective when you're only real concerns are keeping your family warm, fed, and with water. We're all sick now, but at least we have power again.

Last week I had wanted to give an update on my progress. I'm nearing the 6 month point now. A week ago today I felt good enough to play basketball. It was the first time doing a sports since about August. I've always been pretty athletic, so it was good to actually feel I could do it. It was just a bunch of pick up games. What's interesting is this. I played two games and felt pretty good. Then I sat a game. While sitting, my stomach started to majorly bloat, it was very uncomfortable. So the goof I am I went back and played 2 more games. I had next to zero energy. I'm sure part of it was just being out of shape of late, but I also know some was still the withdrawal effecting me. I felt bad all that night and pretty much most of the next day. Then we lost power on Thursday, I came down with what I think was some sort of bug Friday morning, and I still feel pretty lousy today. Mostly in the mornings which makes me think I'm just in a Lex downswing again. Anyway, that is where I am, I will be back checking the board daily now, and look forward to hearing from all of my friends here. Thanks for letting people know I was alive Miss Lee

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.

[mandymcj]

On Sunday night I went down to 2.5 from 3ml. I can barely keep my eyes open. The fatigue is unbelievable. And it happened the day I went down...which worries me because don't the side effects usually hit around the 7th day or so? Also, don't a lot of people experience insomnia on withdrawal and not the opposite?

I went through a couple day of absolute hell (close to suicide)from the last taper, but then stablized, gave myself a couple days of rest, and now went down again.

I just wish that this wasn't happening the same week of a really important test and when I'm supposed to be finishing all these transfer applications. I think I've reached that state where I don't know if I'm dreaming or awake or what. It's very scary. I'm sure we all wish that this was happening at another time, it's not like Lexapro withdrawal will ever be convenient.

Meanwhile I'm worried about my ability to study and be productive this week. Anyone have any tips? I never have been big on caffeine, but how else am I going to stay awake?

Meanwhile, it's been so very long since I've felt like a normal person. I miss it. Though I don't really remember what it felt like. I have a friend coming into town this weekend. I haven't seen her in a year. She's extremely excited about coming...but I don't really feel anything. Plus I'm so exhausted...I don't know.

[Miss Lee]

Good Morning all!

I am back from my mini vacation and am feeling rested. I also have today off and can't wait to go hang out in the library! (oh the things I find exciting!)

Aunty- I stopped acupuncture about about two months ago.. I actually stopped everything (supplements) because my quality of life afterward was horrid. The amount of Lex in my system after the acupuncture was too much and not having the P450 Liver enzyemes at all to metabolize I would just have the toxic reaction again and again. I finally realized that f I just let my body do it on its own, It would take forever but i still could function. So that is the route I took.

Mandy- You sound deep in the withdrawal process. Let your friend come and take your mind off things. In the middle of the worse time for me I had to leave town for a party and DID NOT want to go. I cried the whole way there and being my best friends they just said "well cry away, we now that you are not sad but going through withdrawals". Then I had an ah=ha moment. I could keep living during all this. I didn't have to hole myself away till I was better. So go and enjoy. You are not alone with your feelings. We have ALL been there.

Red- So you up for some one on one? Pig? I could probably not beat you, but it would be worth the challange! (I am just kidding!) My sis is the BB star. i went through college on a track scholarship. So wanna race?? I am so glad the you are having clarity. AMEN!

So I still have a few lingering issues. Every once and awhile my heart will drop an beat and then my body goes all warm. I also have some constant pressure on the left temple. Still a little tired and happy to be near myself. Any comments on this would be apprecaited.

to all newbies- Glad to have you AROUND!

MISS LEE

[dalper]

I have just begun the withdrawal. I spent 2 weeks going from 30 to 15. Then 1 week going from 15 to 4.
Now its been 48 hours and I'm getting the dizzyness and occasional "shocks"
Are there any foods or vitamens that anyone can recommned that might help counter these?

Thanks all and good luck to everyone...

Dan

[hammer]

HELP!!!!!!!!!
Hi All. I have been on Lexapro 10mg for 3 years. After the first year, I tried to quit cold turkey on the advise of my doctor . I failed. After I.5 week I was back on it. Thought I was going crazy. I got married in June of last year and decided to try again to Quit.

From November 2005 I drop my dosage to 5mg. Feels ok. In Jan I was down to 2.5mg. Still feel great. On saturday I stop taking lexapro. I am still on 150mg wellbrutin. The first 3 days I was ok. Everything seem brighter. The red was really red again, not simplly red. .. This is my fourth day. I am dead Tired. I have been unable to sleep all night;Been up for most of the night. While I am dead tired, I am unable to sleep soundly. No dreams.

I am schedule to see my doctor on Thursday. I am pretty sure that she will recommend me taking Ambien. I am really sick and tired of these medicines. If I cannot dream, I know that I will loose it eventually. Its only a matter of time.

Does anyone have an alternative to the Ambien?

Thanks

The Hammer

[auntybiotic]

Hammer,

Why the drop from 2.5 to 0?? That's really BIG!!! You may want to try and taper to 2 Mg, then 1.5 Mg then 1 Mg and so on to make it easier on you.

I would not suggest Ambien because it goes thru the P 450 Cytochrome system and will just make it harder to get the lexapro out of your system.

Benydrl works excellent for sleeplessness and is not addictive.

Also magnesium also helps with sleeplessness. I will try and paste a article from another site later.
Lexapro depletes the body of magnesium and makes sleeping difficult.

Mr. Spock, You OK?? I am trying to look thru old emails to get your address, could you save me time and email me again.book is ready to go downunder, just need to find the blasted address.

Dalper,

Draminine will help the dizziness, Omega 3 Fish oil 1000Mg will help with the shocks and moodiness. Why did you taper so fast.....it is almost cold turkey and may be very hard recovering from such a fast taper. Usually waiting three weeks in between tapers, possibly two but three is best.
You should not taper more then 5 to 10 % of your present dose of lexapro. This is the safe way to taper. Let us know how you do with the withdrawals.

Primal Defense is geat for stomach issues. Magnesium for anxiety, restless legs and sleeplessness.

Fast tapers can bring nightmares and vivid disturbing dreams so be aware of this. Also crying jags and a horrible temper.

[Karl1000]

I have OCD with depression. Ive been through it a couple of times before and handled it without drugs. This time has been the toughest for me. Its been about 9 months dealing with it and I started feeling a little desparate. Today the depression wasn't a problem so maybe the small amount of Lex is doing something. Then again I have had random good days during this episode. Time will tell





[quote]Originally posted by sarita

Karl,
The same thing happened to me. Doc told me 10 mg. but that was WAY
too much so i went down to 5 mg. and stayed there for 6 weeks until
i stablized. i didn't sleep at all for 6 weeks until the medication
worked. I;ve been sleeping TOO much now amd I've been on it for 8 months and tried to go off once but
wasn't prepared and informed enough to handle the withdrawals. Just ordered a book Road to Recovery to teach you how to taper.
Why did you go on it in the first place and do you take anything else?

[Mr Spock]

Hello all,
Well, its 3 weeks tomorrow, and I don't feel very well I'm afraid. It's a combination of the withdrawal effects (still have the zaps, dizziness, weakness, dreams, neck and back of head pain) coupled with the early Prozac side-effects which include feeling flushed, teeth grinding, dreadful anxiety etc. So, it truly is the worst of both worlds. However, I did expect this. I remember the last time I went back on the 10 mg Celexa, I had these symptoms. I think, though that it will take about another 3 weeks for the Prozac side-effects to settle a bit and I am hoping that the Celexa withdrawal effects dissipate as well. I am seeing a new doctor today,get a full blood work up, and the clinic next week...
Aunty, I will send you an e mail in the next hour or so with my address, let me know if you do or don't get it. Good luck with your daughter's taper. What dose will that be down to?
Also, how are you settling into the new house?
Miss Lee, life sounds great for you, congratulations and well done.
Redbled, you must be down to that last onion layer at last. Did you get thaty e mail I sent you a few weeks back?
Blue, Hammer and Dalper, please slow down the tapers. Try and remember, 5-10% reduction every 3-4 weeks. If you rush it it will just end up taking longer... I know!
Peace and Long Life

[Redbled]

Miss Lee,

I'm game. My wife and I play sports against each other all the time. I can beat her in basketball, but she really makes me work in tennis. We have a court in our front yard and play daily in the spring and summer As for the temple pain, that is mostly gone for me. Is tough to say how I feel right now since I think I may still be sick. Its so hard to tell the real sickness from the lex.

Mr. Spock,

Keep hanging in there. I have thought of you a number of times of late. I believe I got your e-mail, but I thought I had written you back. My life has been a blur of late.



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.

[vaughny]

I'm on day 5 of w/d from Lex. I went from 10 to 7.5 mg. So far, so good. It may be too early to tell yet but I am feeling good so far. I have been exercising a lot and I felt great after a good bout on the elliptical machine tonight. I think the endorphins produced when exercising must help some.

[hammer]

quote:Originally posted by auntybiotic

Hammer,

Why the drop from 2.5 to 0?? That's really BIG!!! You may want to try and taper to 2 Mg, then 1.5 Mg then 1 Mg and so on to make it easier on you.

I would not suggest Ambien because it goes thru the P 450 Cytochrome system and will just make it harder to get the lexapro out of your system.

Benydrl works excellent for sleeplessness and is not addictive.

Also magnesium also helps with sleeplessness. I will try and paste a article from another site later.
Lexapro depletes the body of magnesium and makes sleeping difficult.

Mr. Spock, You OK?? I am trying to look thru old emails to get your address, could you save me time and email me again.book is ready to go downunder, just need to find the blasted address.

Dalper,

Draminine will help the dizziness, Omega 3 Fish oil 1000Mg will help with the shocks and moodiness. Why did you taper so fast.....it is almost cold turkey and may be very hard recovering from such a fast taper. Usually waiting three weeks in between tapers, possibly two but three is best.
You should not taper more then 5 to 10 % of your present dose of lexapro. This is the safe way to taper. Let us know how you do with the withdrawals.

Primal Defense is geat for stomach issues. Magnesium for anxiety, restless legs and sleeplessness.

Fast tapers can bring nightmares and vivid disturbing dreams so be aware of this. Also crying jags and a horrible temper.

The Hammer

[auntybiotic]

Mr. Spock,
I am sure you repeated this a hundred times but just once more....................what dose of celexa were you on and for how long. Exactly how did you taper off, what reductions and how much time in between reductions. I am trying to understand why the Prozac has not stabalized you as of yet.

How soon after you began tapering off of the celexa did you start to get the withdrawals and if you can remember, what were the withdrawals that you experienced? This will help me compare you to the others that has success with the Prozac.

My daughter is at 10.2 Mg.

I reduced her by .2 of a milligram last week but since she is off for a week we decreased it by another .1 Mg which in all will have brought her from 10.6 to 10.2 in a matter of three weeks which is fast for her, that's almost the 5%. I am hoping this does not affect her adversely. Fatigue and shoulder pain are her complaints.We did have a 5 hour long car ride the other day so I am wondering if shoulder pain is lexapro withdrawal induced or just from being cramped in car for so many hours.

[sarita]

AuntyB,
I heard you are the one to talk to here!! I desperately want to get off this lexipro.Can you help me? I have no sex drive and i'm tired
all the time. And I can't FEEL. Once i tried to taper (i'm only on 5 mg.) but after 2 weeks, i was so dizzy, i couldn't work. and i couldn't concentrate. and i really CAN"T MISS WORK. Is there anyway i
can do this w/out missing work?? Have you heard of the book ROad to
Recovery? I just ordered it for 1 cents. I went to a new doctor but he didn't even know what liquid lexipro was!! and he wanted to change me to Paxil because i suffer from mild panic disorder but not
depression and it's less sex effects. Is that true? Of course, when i tried to w/d, i cried alot.and i got spaced out. I dropped one mg.
Is that too fast? I wanted to start college in Sept. but it's sad that i'm so worried about these pills withdrawal that i may wait until the next year. I have to keep up a 3.0 and doubt i can even
concnetrate. please help....

To everyone...is anyone off the lexipro and finished with the withdrawls? Is there hope? Or are we all trapped???!!!!

quote:Originally posted by mandymcj

On Sunday night I went down to 2.5 from 3ml. I can barely keep my eyes open. The fatigue is unbelievable. And it happened the day I went down...which worries me because don't the side effects usually hit around the 7th day or so? Also, don't a lot of people experience insomnia on withdrawal and not the opposite?

I went through a couple day of absolute hell (close to suicide)from the last taper, but then stablized, gave myself a couple days of rest, and now went down again.

I just wish that this wasn't happening the same week of a really important test and when I'm supposed to be finishing all these transfer applications. I think I've reached that state where I don't know if I'm dreaming or awake or what. It's very scary. I'm sure we all wish that this was happening at another time, it's not like Lexapro withdrawal will ever be convenient.

Meanwhile I'm worried about my ability to study and be productive this week. Anyone have any tips? I never have been big on caffeine, but how else am I going to stay awake?

Meanwhile, it's been so very long since I've felt like a normal person. I miss it. Though I don't really remember what it felt like. I have a friend coming into town this weekend. I haven't seen her in a year. She's extremely excited about coming...but I don't really feel anything. Plus I'm so exhausted...I don't know.

[kimi_d]

To all my exalexafriends,

A moth and a butterfly

After a while
you notice the gray
in life
When you look close enough
you discover
black
and white
can't exist alone.

You see the subtleties
the differences
between
a
moth
and
a
butterfly

It's the gray of life
which breathes in me longing
breathes in me searching
for something
more
more than
simple deception
of
black
and
white

If hope is unseen
why
do my hands bleed
from holding
on to that
which is
not
seen

So I cling
in hopes that the gray will lift
and colors will burn my eyes
so I may
finally
see
that which separates
expectation
and hope.
Vivid colors
without doubt
clearly define
truth
from lies.

And even perhaps
where I once
saw
a
moth,
Therin may emerge
a wing
of
a
butterfly.

[TJP]

quote:Originally posted by mandymcj

On Sunday night I went down to 2.5 from 3ml. I can barely keep my eyes open. The fatigue is unbelievable. And it happened the day I went down...which worries me because don't the side effects usually hit around the 7th day or so? Also, don't a lot of people experience insomnia on withdrawal and not the opposite?

I went through a couple day of absolute hell (close to suicide)from the last taper, but then stablized, gave myself a couple days of rest, and now went down again.

I just wish that this wasn't happening the same week of a really important test and when I'm supposed to be finishing all these transfer applications. I think I've reached that state where I don't know if I'm dreaming or awake or what. It's very scary. I'm sure we all wish that this was happening at another time, it's not like Lexapro withdrawal will ever be convenient.

Meanwhile I'm worried about my ability to study and be productive this week. Anyone have any tips? I never have been big on caffeine, but how else am I going to stay awake?

Meanwhile, it's been so very long since I've felt like a normal person. I miss it. Though I don't really remember what it felt like. I have a friend coming into town this weekend. I haven't seen her in a year. She's extremely excited about coming...but I don't really feel anything. Plus I'm so exhausted...I don't know.

[annaoffmeds]

hello everyone,
I have been searching and searching for some help and I really like what I've seen from everyone on this forum. I am another one of those lucky people trying to get off Lexapro and would appreciate any help I can get (at the least the thought of having other people going through the same thing available to me is nice).
so I guess this is a sum up of my story.
I originally went on Lexapro for depression/ Generalized qnxiety disorder/ panic. I have always had depression and some anxiety (i can think back to 7th grade and being severely depressed), but the panic began the first time my husband left for training in the army for a few months. I had panic attacks so bad I couldn't function and had fear of public places, people...just about everything. I guess its really fear of fear- fear that you're going to have another panic attack. Anyways, so I went on Lexapro- all the way up to 20mg.
I've been on for almost two years and recently went off the lexapro..... followed the doctors orders, but it was way too fast. Going down by 5mg at a time I now know wasn't a good idea, but how was I supose to know? It wasn't until I found this site that I realized just how fast that really was.
I wanted to go off the meds- I decided I was going to do it because I can deal with the depression and anxiety- I've had it all my life, so I am well aware of the thing it can do to me....but now I know more about panic and how to help myself, so I feel I'm ready. My husband is deployed to Iraq right now, so somewould say I'm crazy for going off now....but I'm staying with family and this is probabaly the time in my life that I feel the most steady.
Anyways, sorry for going on so long...
I guess my biggest problem now is of course, the withdrawl symptoms. I have the shocks, rapid heart race, tension, fever, headache, nightmares- and all in all I feel like I have the flu while being shocked by defib. paddles...
I've always been prone to nightmares, and never really slept well...but now I'm remebering all my nightmares and i'm extremly tired while still feeling like I have 20 cups of coffee- so crazy!
I had a really bad doctor experience a few days ago- I just moved again, so I had to get a new doc- this one decided to tell me that "someon like me" should never be without meds and that I'm going to "come crawling back to him" for more meds- how rediculous is that?! So now i feel as if i can't really talk to him.
WHEW...so sorry that went on so long- I guess I'm a little frustrated.[xx(] Any ideas on what to do next? just wait this out?
Thanks for any help- hopefully I can offer some natural ways to deal with depression/anxiety/panic to anyone who needs it as well.

[Mr Spock]

Hi All,
Auntybiotic, I was on Celexa 20mg for 46 weeks then 10mg a day for a week, 10mg every second day for a week, 10mg every third day for a week, and then one 10mg tablet after 4 days to finish. I started getting withdrawals after a week, so a week after that I went back on (only) 10mg a day for 8 weeks, which I now think was a mistake as I should have gone back on the 20mg...
No real change during that time so I stopped cold turkey which lasted for 4 1/2 months. I still had dizziness, parasthesia, zaps, weakness etc. 3 weeks ago today, I started on the Prozac liquid (7mg), I feel quite flushed, weak, dizzy, anxious, tingling head and parasthesia. I saw a new local doctor yesterday by the way. Anyway, I really don't know if perhaps the Celexa withdrawals are settling, and they've been supplanted by the Prozac side-effects, or that my current state is a combination of both. I have some thoughts here. Firstly, I have had a break of 4 1/2 months, second I have an impaired liver, and third is that Prozac, due to its more gradual 1/2 life and onset, will take longer to become effective. I have read a few posts from people who, when they start Prozac, takes them about 6 weeks for them to shake off the initial side-effects and start to come good. I am hoping that this is true for me...
Congratulations on your daughter. She's slowly but surely getting there... Almost half way.
Did you get my e mail? I sent it to the reply to the e mail you sent me some time ago.
Kimi, thanks for sharing that delightful poem. How are you doing these days?
Redbled, no I didn't get a reply from you (yet). How's the snow?
Peace and Long Life

[mohannie]

Hi Everyone,

I know it's been a long time since I've posted, but that's because I've been ill. I've just gotten over strep, and I've been asleep most of the time. During this time, I failed to take my Paxil, and I'm feeling fine. It's been a week and a half since I've taken the drug, and I'm not experiencing any withdrawl symtoms so I'm just going to keep going day by day to see how it goes. I hope everyone out there is doing well. I must admit, I haven't read the past posts, but I would like to say to all new comers, welcome. This is a good place to find support as well as answers. I want you guys to know that I'm ok, and I hope you all are as well. I will start keeping up with what's going on again.

[safriend]

Anna, there are many good strategies that will help your anxiety and depression. You should be taking a good multivitamin and supplementing that with extra magnesium. Take the vitamin in the morning and magnesium at night. Be sure to exercise 30 minutes a day and for sure, you must get at least 30 minutes of sunshine daily. The best book i have read with excellent recommendations is the book, The Anxiety Epidemic by Billie Jay Sahley. She has many recommendations on best supplements/amino acids, including 5-HTP.

[annaoffmeds]

thank you so much for your advice!
I have been taking the multivitamin, but i will look into the magnesium. I also am trying to get better at exercising, but i live in a nice cold area, so i need to start getting used to gyms.
I will look into the book as well. I need any help I can get.
thanks again! much appreciated.

[lalalamort]

Hi everyone,

I have been browsing through this wonderful thread for the last few days and i decided to join.

My story is similar to others here with the common side effect ( Ive been from 10mg 1 month ago to 5 until 1 week ago i went cold turkey from 5 to 00. So ive had nausea, nightmares, depression, dizzyness.

Ive also had these crazy thoughts e.g. there is a slight chance that aliens could take over my body, and recently Ive thought more of death and is there possibly a hell i may go to.

I feel like I can never be happy again once ive thought of those situations and possibilties.

So in short, can anyone else relate and how long will i have these side effects? Will i ever feel better?

[safriend]

Anna, also go to google and look up "best tryptophan foods and best magnesium foods". Those should be in your diet daily. As a military wife I understand the stress of having a deployed husband. Hang in there and nourish your body and brain with good nutrition. I was too busy dieting (slim-fast and salads) and really deprived my brain of good minerals that it needed. I am determined to recover my health through nutritional medicine, exercise and sunshine without resorting to a pill. I understand the winter keeps us housebound but go outside anyway and get some rays through the clouds.

Lala, it might be better to take 5 mg every other day instead of cold turkey.

[auntybiotic]

lallalamort,

Welcime, I am not a doctor, just a mother who has been researching Lexapro withdrawals and have thankfully learned a lot from others who have and are going thru this ordeal.

You tapered too fast off of the lexapro. The withdrawals can last from 4 months to MUCH longer depending on your liver's ability to rid the toxins from your body.

You may want to check with your doctor about prescribing the liquid Lexapro and reinstate at the 5 Mg and wait until you feel stable again. Once stable you can slowly raper off of that amount by 5 to 10 % about every three weeks (or until you feel stable after the taper).
Once you are stable give your body a one week rest and then start the taper all over again. The withdrawals will still be there but will not be as severe or last as long.

Once you get the liquid you can start by waiting until you are stable again on 5 Mg. Then once stable you can reduce by 10% to see if you can handle that reduction. You would go from 5 Mg liquid to 4.5 Mg liquid. Ask the pharmacist for a BP 5 Ml/Mg and a 1 Ml/Mg syringe, they are free for the asking.

Your next taper after about three weeks would be about would be to 4.1 Mg, again wait three weeks to stabalize. It will take about 7 to 10 days to feel the effects of the tapers and about 21 days since tapering to start to stabalize. You will notice sleeplessness, anxiety, OCD, nightmares, sweats, chills, craving for carbs, and sinus and stomach discomfort with naseau.

From others experience on this forum, I think reinstating the lexapro would actually be the easiest on your system but of course the decision is yours. Good Luck and Welcome to the forum.

[autimom4ever]

Thank Goodness I found this forum....

Hi all. My name is Becky and I could really use some help/support right now...

I started on Lexapro after my last child was born (7 years ago). I started on 20 mg and changed to 10 mg 2 years ago.

I am so sick of being on this medication so after starting on a 3-5 day a week exercise regimen, I decided to stop taking Lexapro.
I was told by 2 physicians that there is low withdraw symptoms with this medication.... WHY A LIE!!!

I stopped Lexapro 4 days ago and here are my symptoms: MAJOR dizziness, nausea, some vomiting, irritability, crying spells and some palpitations. It is making me afraid to drive and do regular daily activities. I am having such a hard time with this, and from reading your posts, I am no where near the end of these symptoms.

I don't think my family (or my employer/patients... I'm a nurse) will or should have to deal with this for long...

I cannot call my doctor. She is getting tired of being a doctor and is out of the country 8/12 months...

I'm feeling so alone right now... I could really use some support/suggestions...

Thank you all so much for helping..

Becky




Becky

[autimom4ever]

Hi all

First let me say.. Thank goodness I found this forum.

I am feeling so alone right now and scared.

I started Lexapro 7 years ago after having my last child. I was told that this medication has very low withdraw symptoms (I was concerned about that)... I changed to 10 mg 2 years ago.

I am only in my 30's and I don't want to be on this medication forever, so I decided to take other avenues to help with stress. I started to exercise 3-4 times a week, which I have been doing for months.

I decided to stop Lexapro 4 days ago and have been MISERABLE ever since... Here are my symptoms: SEVERE dizziness (especially with turning my head), nausea , some vomitting, crying spells and irritability.

I cannot believe I was told by physicians that there are low withdraw symptoms on this medication. I feel so sick right now that I am having a hard time functioning and from reading some of your wonderful (but scary) posts, I am only at the beginning of this..

My family doesn't understand and my doctor is hardly ever around (she is tired of being a doctor and is out of the country most of the time).

I don't think my family (or employer/patients.. I'm a nurse) should have to or will deal with this...I cannot talk with co-workers... My jobs is one gossip city...

I could really use some support, suggestions, etc....
I'm feeling so lost/alone right now...

Thank you for listening..

Becky

Becky

[auntybiotic]

Sarita,

Welcome, You can taper with missing minimum days of school. My daughter has been tapering off of 20 Mg of Lexapro and was SO SICK from being put on such a high dose for TMJ jaw clenching due to what her doctor though may be anxiety. He was wrong, she needd braces and that is why she grinds her teeth.

If you go to your doctor and request Lexapro liquid, you can safely get off of this poison. Yoo will have it easy because you are only on 5 Mg...................you are so lucky.

My daughter has maintained a A average in every subject thru this nightmare following this very slow tapering plan. You can also. I would suggest that you taper by 5% so that the withdrawals and time out will be the least.

Get the liquid Lexapro and taper from 5 Mg to 4.75 Mg. This will be a approx. 5% taper. Get a % Ml BP Syringe to measure out the whole Milligrams and a BP 1 Mg/Ml syringe to measure out the percent of 1 Mg to be exact. Wait three weeks after you taper to stabalize and then an additional week to give your body a break and then taper again. The second taper will be to 4.50 Mg, this is approx 5 %. Follow the same guidelines until you are off.

You will STILL have withdrawals but you will be able to get thru them knowing that they will end in about ten days.
You can try darminine for the dizziness or Bonnie sea sick medication, magnesium citrate for the anxiety and sleeplessness, Fish oil Omega 3's for the moodiness. You will get thru this. You are SO LUCKY that you are just on 5 Mg..................Welcome to the forum.

Mr. Spock,

I think your thinking is correct, you should start to see some stabalization by six weeks on the Prozac. I was just wondering if the 7Mg was enough of the Prozac but you were not on the celexa too long and not at that high a dose, Others have been on 60 Mg, if you can believe that of the celexa. I have not checked all of my emails yet but will let you know if I do not get your address.

For Newcomers,
and Anna,

Your doctor is wrong, you will NOT come crawling back to him, it is these medications that make people THINK they are dependent because when they stop them and the withdrawals set in, people think they really need the medication when it IS THE MEDICATION THAT IS CAUSING the problem. The people here will help you get thru this ordeal.

Debbie,

I am worried about you as I have not seen a post for awhile, are you OK. Please let me know. I know I would look forward to your posts several times a day and they are missed. Please let us know how you are.

Kimi,
What a beautiful poem, it brightened my morning. Are you doing any better.

I have errands to run. If the above advice may not have answered newcomers questions, please repost your question and I will check in tonight. I think most wanted help tapering.

Mohannie,
It is so good to see you posting again, I know strep throat can knoock you for a loop. We have missed you and are glad you are feeling better.

Gotta Run.

[auntybiotic]

Becky,

Calm Down, Please give more details on how you stopped taking the lexapro several days ago. Did you taper over a period of time? If so please explain in detail. Did you just stop cold turkey?

Since it has only been a few days you will still be able to go back on the lexapro and SLOWLY taper off. This method is the best for your neurotransmitters in your brain and in the long run will be th best for you overall well being. Even if you cannot get a hold of the liquid lexapro because your doctor is out of town, you can crush the tablet and mix in cranberry juice to slowly taper off of the lexapro although it is not as accurate as the liquid ..................but is a heck of a lot better then going cold turkey. Give more details of your getting off lexapro, time frame and dosages. By slowly tapering, I can assure you that you will be able to get thru this ordeal. You will have withdrawals but they will not knock you flat on your back.Try dramamine or Bonnie (available at the drug store in sea sick medication section) for the dizziness.

Try Omega 3 Fish Oil 1000Mg or as directed for the crying and moodiness, try Primal Defense (available at health food store0 for stomach cramping and naseau. Ginger ale soda flat works well also for naseau.

You have just pulled the rug out from your brain, so to speak by quickly changing the chemicals which it has gotten use to for so many years. It can take 4 months up to a year for the body to adjust itself to these changes.

Compare what has happened to your brain as a brain injury. The neurotransmitters are unable to function as they once did do to the depletion of the reuptake action of serotonin. This also affects other hormones in the brain. With any injury or change in brain function, it can take up to 18 months for a natural repair, comare this to the brain repairing itself after a stroke. The reactions in the brain take quite a long time to heal. This is why SLOW TAPERING is the BEST way for the brain to slowly get use to the change in chemicals. As each month goes by the brain is slowly getting use to functioning with less and less reuptake of the serotonin, so therefore less serotonin. As time goes by the receptors that were not needed will reawaken and start producing serotonin as the body once did befor the SSRI use......this takes time....................in my opinion.......................I would rather slowly wean the neurotransmitters off of the lexapro so that the brain can readjust. Do not get me wrong, there STILL are withdrawals but you will be able to deal with the pain this way. Once off the medication, even after the slow taper, there are still withdrawals for several months following the last taper.

Please give more details of the taper off of Lexapro.............you DO NOT WANT TO COLD TURKEY as you may be unable to function at a level you would be happy with.



Welcome

[autimom4ever]

Thank you for your reply...

To think about it... My last dose was Monday.. So it was only
2 days ago.
What are your suggestions on how I should taper?
My dosage was 10 mg/day.

I will do anything to feel better (well.. almost)...

Thank you for your help.



Becky

[safriend]

I found,when i was trying to wean myself off of Paxil, Tyenol-PM helped me alot with the withdrawal symptoms. I got this tip from a guy online who said his pharmacist told him to try this.

Prayer helped me, too. Breathing/relaxation exercises also helped. Breathe deeply through your nose and exhale slowly through your mouth as you lift your arms with the inhale and drop your arms with the exhale.