[plain_zero]

You can add my girlfriend to the growing list of tragedies as a result of Lexapro withdrawal.

She was put on it last year after battling depression and anxiety for a while without medication. Some time in the last few weeks, she started taking it sporadically and then stopped altogether. I don't know the exact details of this but maybe as she recovers I will learn more.

A couple weeks ago she started showing symptoms of mania: insomnia, rapid-talking, grandious plans. I didn't know what it was and thought that maybe this sweet girl had somehow fallen for speed or cocaine. Her symptoms deteriorated rapidly and she began to have delusions, think people were conspiring against her, and she began to do terribly impulsive things that were totally out of character, and very hurtful to the people who love her.

It got so bad that her friends (I live in another city) had to take her to the hospital where she was involuntarily locked-up. She is still there and when I last talked to her a few days ago, she sounded better, but was like a different person. A person with the memories that my girlfriend had, but none of sweetness or devotion or compassion.

This thread was one of the first things I found when I started trying to figure out what happened. Of course the doctors say that she was incorrectly diagnosed and is in fact bipolar. But she was never bipolar until she stopped taking Lexapro. Recommended treatment: a lifetime of medication.

The majority of the symptoms they you guys are describing sounds like a fairly well-known condition called SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome. http://bipolar.about.com/cs/antidep/..._ssridisc1.htm Of course, I have never heard about this until now. Did any of your doctors warn you about this condition before you started on the drugs? Did they build a strategy with you to get you off the drugs safely before you ever started taking them? It appears from what I'm reading, that Lexapro is particularly severe and long-lasting when it comes to SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome. Was anyone warned about this? My girlfreind certainly wasn't.

I've found several reports that the symptoms of SSRI Discontinuation Syndrome can be so severe that they trigger mania and psychosis. In fact, some Canadian psychiatrists have a name for it: Antidepressant Withdrawal-Induced Mania. Here's a link http://www.cpa-apc.org/Publications/...03/may/ali.asp. What is scary is that their research only turned up a few dozen cases from all antidepressants, but right here in this thread I have read several cases of people or family members who seem to have this very problem. Could this problem be much more widespread than they realize?

This drug is supposed to be safe and mild, without side-effects or withdrawal problems. But it now seems to me to be much more dangerous and addictive than I ever imagined. What can we do? Who do we report this to? How do we stop this from happening to other people?

[Redbled]

Gabske,
The manic experiences you have had are a result of Lex, I have had them, and still do on occasion. It will get better with time.

Miss Lee,
I’m not a female of course, but I can almost guarantee you Lex is affecting your cycles still. While I am feeling so much better than before, I am definitely not right. My bowel is still not perfect by any means, I still have moments where I get angry like I would not have done before. I have been meaning to e-mail you, but figured I’d just post it here so others may get something from it as well.

Angel,
The joint issues you are having are normal for withdrawal. I didn’t have it as bad as you described, but did have it. The worst for me was my legs. I’d just be sitting there, usually in a car, and had the major urge to move them. If I kept them still I’d lose my mind.

Debbie,
I’m sure sorry for your loss. Its good to hear from you again. I too have been quiet of late, but still trying to read.

Tamra,
You hit on something that I think is very important for everyone to hear. The more you try to stay busy, the better you feel. I run an online business and the more time I was able to put into making it successful these past 6 months, the better I’d feel. It was the times I’d sit and do nothing that I’d feel terrible. Keeping the mind busy is a great relief from withdrawal.

Lamalamort and anyone else still struggling,
I am 6 months removed from quitting Lex and still have moments each day that I do not feel right. But the difference between now and 2 months ago, or even one month ago is wonderful. My wife told me just yesterday how nice it is to not hear me talk about how poorly I feel all the time. She also told me I’m nearly back to my old self temper wise. For me, I found the best thing to do was accept I needed time to heal, and only time. I used things to help with the symptoms, but stopped trying to find ways to speed the healing. I don’t think you can. I read that withdrawal effects can last 18 months and I’m prepared to not be fully normal until at least then. It helps to thing long term I think.



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.

[Gapske]

Debbie724,
I am so sorry for your loss.

[Gapske]

FAMILY!?!?!?[}][xx(][?]

I emailed my mom last night to tell her what was going on with me (like I said, it's very hard to get a word in when we're on the phone, sometimes even in person.)
I got an email this morning saying she hadn't realized I was on anti-depressants (she knows! I told her 2 years ago) and that she was wondering if my symptoms were caused by pre-menopause. Ugh! I can't totally blame her for forgetting, she is in her late 70's.

I think what I keep hearing from everyone's posts and feel so about myself is that we all need to realize that we were taking a DRUG that totally changed that way we thought and felt about things. Now we're coming off of it and we can actually experience things. Feelings, hearing, emotions. It's alot to take in. I know now that I was numb for the last two years when I think of all the things I decided not to do.

We all need to take each day, hour, minute, second as it comes and see how it feels, how we feel and think about things.

I for one am a very anxious person to begin with, I tend to think ahead about all I have to do and I get very overwhelmed. If I can just stay in the moment and do what's most important then, then I'm ok.

Any one else feel this way?
Group Hug!!!

[Gapske]

[?]Is it we don't feel right? Or that we're actually feeling? I don't know I'm just trying to get a grip on it.
Don't get wrong, I'm not dismissing the symptoms, when I'm so nauseated or my head feels like it's being squeezed in a vice or I'm abou to fall over from dizziness, I know how it's the withdrawals. I just am brainstorming.

[Gapske]

From the book I mentioned in an earlier post; (I keep rereading parts because it's really helping me put a perspective on things.)

"The return of your original problems represents a crucial test of your determination and abilities, as you will be challenged to accept and deal with these emotions and behaviors through constructive means other than drugs."

Hmmm, did my doctor warn me I was on an addictive drug before I started taking it? No. Did he mention how hard it would be to quit? No. So what was his motivation? To get me out of his office in under 10 minutes?? Ok, the blood is beginning to boil...breath....

Hang in there everyone, there's a pot of gold for all of us at the end!

[Gapske]

plain zero,
I'm sorry to hear about your girlfriend. She sounds like she's definitely going through withdrawal symptoms. From what I've read, it can be even harder on those who are younger. Auntbiotic sounds like she has a younger daughter who is having a really hard time withdrawing.

I am actually crying after reading your post again. (Being extremely emotional is a side affect of withdrawal.) She needs someone to listen to her and to tell her that it will all be alright and that it's not her, it's the drugs fault.

As I said before my doctor never warned me of any of this. Or the numbing while I was on it.
When I first asked about taking it the doctor said it was a good choice for women, low side effects, treats depression and anxiety. I went from 10mgs. to 20mgs. Almost got to the point I could use more.

I am like you in asking "how do we spread the word about this?" How do we compete against the big pharmecutical (sp?) companies that show us we can have it all by taking our pills?

Anyone have any ideas? I am all for helping out with something on the web or otherwise. I am just so mad about this. I will for sure be telling my doctor next time I see him.

[vaughny]

I'm on day 14 of witdrawal from Lex. I have been taking 7.5mg/day instead of my usual 10mg per day that I took for 2 years.

I feel a little guilty saying this based on all th people who clearly are struggling - but I haven't had any withdrawal symptoms to speak of. Maybe I'll go down hard next week I don't know - but it's been good so far.

For what it's worth, I am exercising regularly, supplementing with Lecithin and Acetyl-L-Carnitine and green tea extract, which has theanine in it. Theanine is know to calm anxiety. I think this routine is helping, ore maybe I've just been lucky so far. Again - I could have problems right around the corner but so far so good.

I am also trying to maintain a good optimistic attitude. I think this is necessary for success. Let me put it this way: I have been very good at causing physical symptoms through my thought process. By this I mean that I have worried myself into heart palpitations, high blood pressure, hyperventilation, and a whole host of other physcial symptoms that had me running to the ER two years ago. I have decided to turn the tables. If I am so good at having my thought patterns cause me trouble, I want to see if I can have them cause me success instead.

[Gapske]

vaughny
It's great that you feel fine and hopefully you won't have to suffer through any of the symptoms that everyone else has, once you do finally go off it. Here's the thing, you are still on Lexapro, you are still on the DRUG. If I was still taking my 10mg.s or probably even taking half that EVERY day I might not be going through any of this because the drug would still be in my system. I've been completely off it now for 16 days, I have things happening to me I have absolutely no control over and just try to deal with them.

I am trying my best every second of the day to maintain a "good optimistic attitude. I understand that that's the only way to live. I too used to cause my symptoms which led to alot of anxiety and panic attacks, which led me to Lexapro in the first place.

It's easy to have a great attitude when you still have something that can mask certain feelings. Sorry, it's true.

When I decided to go off Lexapro I knew that I was going to have change alot of my behavoirs. As I said in a post before "I am now creating my own reality."

I wish you luck when you do go off it and know that this support group is great when the real withdrawal symptoms occur.

[tamra]

[:0] Still snowing! Look beautiful..we haven't had nearly enough snow this year...we're inches behind our average. It's good to see something besides dead grass in the yard.

The past few posts have excellent points here. Yes, we're just starting to feel things again. My husband said that while I was on Lex, I'd let the boys do whatever they wanted provided they didn't hurt themselves...it drove him crazy. I must have been numb to almost everything around me. Now that I'm "back" to reality and feeling and noticing what's going on around me...it's much different. I feel like I'm part of life now.

So, yesterday, I took no vitamins and worked thru everything that came along and felt great...today...[xx(] I took a multivitamin and a fish oil 1000 mg...and an hour later I came outta my foggy headache. I'm thinking that there really isn't anything that I can do to prevent the yuk...just deal with it as it comes...each moment of the day will be different. Today was still much better than it was though.

My sense of humor and sarcasm is also coming back...sometimes good & sometimes bad. We're trying to teach our 6 yr old son about appropriate behavior. When/when not to burp. He's been practicing! He got a little over-enthusiastic at the dinner table...and forced out a burp with avengence....my husband tried to start the "appropriate behavior conversation" with a very stern tone and look....I had to leave the room! I was laughing uncontrollably! tears streaming down my face and everything. My husband just stopped talking. He knew it was useless to even continue the conversation. I may be quick to feel the negative side of my emotions...but I'm also quick to embrace the pleasure of a good laugh. (Sometimes inappropriately but it just struck me so funny!)

It really feels good to be able to "feel" again!




Live every day to it's fullest!

[vaughny]

Gaspe - I know you are completely right - I am still on the drug. And I may have many problems yet to come in my quest to wean off Lexapro. But I know that if I get myself worked up about the potential for trouble, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I am excellent at getting myself into a negative frame of mind. I know this and I have to look for the good in things however small the victories are (and I do consider coming down to 7.5 from 10 for two years with no w/d effects a victory). But I know I have a long journey ahead.

And I try to keep in mind a guy I know who was on Lex for about the same amount of time as me and who quit cold turkey and was w/d symptom free in two weeks. Now maybe he's the exception, but we look to exceptions as our heros all the time, in sports, business, and other areas in life. Setting yourself in the right frame of mind I believe has an enormous impact on what you can achieve. Personally, I just know that I could easily fail to come off the drug if I wanted to. It would be too easy to go back and be on it forever.

[lalalamort]

Intereting page.

To the person who isnt having withdrawal symptoms ( forget name sorry), i dont want to be devil advocate, but i was well and truely fine and actually feeling better until I went from 5mg to 0 mg. But i think im past the worst of it now. So its all good. keep up the exercising it realy helps relaz your mind which is basically the only thing you can try and do in this situation.

Someone mentioned that the withdrawal can hit younger people harder. Im only 17 and i would consider that it has hit me rather hard. Apparently, lexapro is banned for adolecents in many countries.

On the bright side there is no evidence that i know of that there are any permenant or dangerous side effects.

[sarita]

tamra
how many days have you been off? did you go cold turkey?

quote:Originally posted by tamra

[:0] Still snowing! Look beautiful..we haven't had nearly enough snow this year...we're inches behind our average. It's good to see something besides dead grass in the yard.

The past few posts have excellent points here. Yes, we're just starting to feel things again. My husband said that while I was on Lex, I'd let the boys do whatever they wanted provided they didn't hurt themselves...it drove him crazy. I must have been numb to almost everything around me. Now that I'm "back" to reality and feeling and noticing what's going on around me...it's much different. I feel like I'm part of life now.

So, yesterday, I took no vitamins and worked thru everything that came along and felt great...today...[xx(] I took a multivitamin and a fish oil 1000 mg...and an hour later I came outta my foggy headache. I'm thinking that there really isn't anything that I can do to prevent the yuk...just deal with it as it comes...each moment of the day will be different. Today was still much better than it was though.

My sense of humor and sarcasm is also coming back...sometimes good & sometimes bad. We're trying to teach our 6 yr old son about appropriate behavior. When/when not to burp. He's been practicing! He got a little over-enthusiastic at the dinner table...and forced out a burp with avengence....my husband tried to start the "appropriate behavior conversation" with a very stern tone and look....I had to leave the room! I was laughing uncontrollably! tears streaming down my face and everything. My husband just stopped talking. He knew it was useless to even continue the conversation. I may be quick to feel the negative side of my emotions...but I'm also quick to embrace the pleasure of a good laugh. (Sometimes inappropriately but it just struck me so funny!)

It really feels good to be able to "feel" again!




Live every day to it's fullest!

[sarita]

lala,
how did you taper? how long? i'm still scared to death to try this.
i'm on 5 mg 9 for 9 months)., tried to tape to 3.75. was fine for 2 weeks. then booooommmm...dizzy, crying, spaced out...so i went back on. i'm very sensitive to medication. my doc wanted to put me on 10 mg. but i only took 5 mg. and it worked fine.

quote:Originally posted by lalalamort

Intereting page.

To the person who isnt having withdrawal symptoms ( forget name sorry), i dont want to be devil advocate, but i was well and truely fine and actually feeling better until I went from 5mg to 0 mg. But i think im past the worst of it now. So its all good. keep up the exercising it realy helps relaz your mind which is basically the only thing you can try and do in this situation.

Someone mentioned that the withdrawal can hit younger people harder. Im only 17 and i would consider that it has hit me rather hard. Apparently, lexapro is banned for adolecents in many countries.

On the bright side there is no evidence that i know of that there are any permenant or dangerous side effects.

[Karl1000]

I have only been on Lex for only two months and never was able to handle going past 5mgs. I decided to go off a couple of weeks ago. I cut to approx. 3.75mgs. I am experiancing some short temper anger issues over very minor things. Not sure if this is the new me or a side effect of tapering off it. I seem to blow the smallest things out of proportion. Does anyone know if this is a side effect? Cutting back a little more tommorow.

[tamra]

Hi Karl! I had a day of extreme anger....it was like my emotions woke up on the wrong side of the bed. This was very short lived for me....thank goodness! Did you ever see the Bugs Bunny and Yosemite Sam cartoons where Sam runs out a curses and swears and jumps up and down? Yeah, that's what it felt like I had to do! The neighbors thought I was nuts!....well...um, yeah, anyway...lol

Sarita, I tapered pretty slowly but the advice given here was an even slower taper (glad I didn't listen to the quick taper technique from the Dr!)...I went from 20 to 15 to 10 within aabout 3 months. This was before I decided to even go off. I knew that 20 mg was too much. I "lost" Halloween to Christmas last year somewhere in the fog. I had 20 mg pills and cut them into 1/4's (not very accurate but I didn't want to have prescriptions all over of different doses.) At my next refill, I asked for 10 mg pills...to cut in 1/2 & 1/4...probably for about 2 weeks..and then I asked the pharmacy to order in 5 mg pills..to cut in 1/2....at the beginning of my next taper cycle...I took the larger pieces of pills and tapered to the smaller pieces and tried to piece together approx. doses. Like I said...not very accurate.

As long as I was getting some Lexapro each evening...I was much better. Now that I am taking none at all...my brain is forced to wake up and start doing things on its own. The withdrawal symptoms can be bad but it's all "relative" to what you've already been thru. Some of the w/d symptoms are familiar and I learned to cope. I have definitely had my bad days....but I can only gauge whether it's better or worse than the day before...after 2 days...the reality of it all fades...like childbirth?!?

Each person here has different ideas on what may or may not help. Everyone is willing to share what worked for them..and what didn't. It's a trial and error type thing...and before you know it, the day is over and time to go to sleep...and you've got another day under your belt. Today was day ??? 14. and I think I'm getting ANOTHER COLD!!! Damn those little kindergarten germs!!! (my son likes to share!).

I'd like to take a second and try to expand on my previous comment on relativity....I'm going to try to word this a little better than the way the thoughts are bouncing thru my brain....I'm a stay at home mommie with a wonderful husband and 2 boys...ages 6 and almost 3. I don't have the choice to stay in bed all day...however, I do have a choice on whether to get out of my PJ's since I do not work outside of the home. Every day, I say a prayer for each of you that are going thru this and trying to hold your heads together just to get to work and maintain some sense of well-being at work ( to try to keep your jobs!). I can't imagine the added stress in your lives.

For those of you that are doing this "on your own"....you are among wonderful friends here that care and are full of advice! I've had to rely on others experiences, knowledge and support many times...and I thank you all once again.

Now, (I hope this comes out right!) I can remember (back in the day...well, not that far back...lol) what it was like to be a teenager...knowing that there is no one out there that understands what I'm going thru. Looking back to that time in my life....I realize that the emotions that I was feeling at that time were very real to me, I questioned my purpose in life and felt lost. This is a normal part of "growing up" for all of us(God, did I say that?!? I think it's normal...isn't it?!?) For anyone going thru this ...it is very important that you can talk out your feelings with someone that is qualified to help you thru...not a boyfriend or girlfriend that says they understand...don't just lie in the bed and wait for all of this to be over...or wait for your mom to check on you. We've got our entire life ahead of us. We've all found each other because we share a common complaint...Lexapro We are all looking for support to get thru this and sometimes we just can't find comfort in talking things thru with anyone around us....the doctors only know what the sales rep told them...family..well..your parents really DON'T understand! a boyfriend/girlfriend/spouse can be supportive..but there's a common bond missing. We are all individual people trying to get thru this. There's no use in trying to make anyone understand something that they haven't been thru themselves. I'm struggling with this myself...and I know that there are others going thru the same thing...just because they're family, doesn't mean that they are going to understand. They can care about us, but they aren't "qualified" to see us thru all of life's situations....My husband and I have decided to embrace our own little family of 2 boys, a cat, a dog, and a fish....and go forward with life taking each new day as it comes. If mommie's having a bad day...we give mommie lots of hugs...if she's having a good day...we all play outside. It would be nice to have a casual conversation with my mom or mother-in-law ...but all it does is "tick me off".

I think that did me a world of good to put that into words! This same situation has been eating at me for the past few days! Did it make sense to anyone else? or is this a Lex w/d fog and I'm sitting here talking to myself? lol

The EXCEPTION: Aunty...a big HUG to you for helping your daughter thru this....(I'm sure that there are others out there also..so, please don't be offended by my thoughts, words, and observations)...speaking of observations...it's past my bedtime! Everyone's gone to bed and I'm sitting here looking at the computer screen ... like a moth drawn to light. I wonder how long it will take me to get to sleep tonite?!? oh, man! See Ya tomorrow!.....yeah, today was a little beter![:I]

Live every day to it's fullest!

[lalalamort]

quote:Originally posted by sarita

lala,
how did you taper? how long? i'm still scared to death to try this.
i'm on 5 mg 9 for 9 months)., tried to tape to 3.75. was fine for 2 weeks. then booooommmm...dizzy, crying, spaced out...so i went back on. i'm very sensitive to medication. my doc wanted to put me on 10 mg. but i only took 5 mg. and it worked fine.

Sarita,

I tapered from 10mg to 5 stright away and stayed on 5 for 2 weeks. After that I jsut went straight off them which probably wasnt a good move.Try tapering slower but also keep in mind that the worst period of withdrawal in around 2 weeks after the change ( or from my experience and from other sources in this thread). The worst day for me was actually day 14. Its day 16 now and its amzing how much things have changed. I'm not completely feeling better but im much much better. Try tapering slower and sitting it out for at least 3 weeks. Thats my advice, but im not a trained docter and Im sure others in the site could give you their opinions.

[Gapske]

tamra,

Amen to you girl!!! You said everything exactly as I'm feeling and wanting to say about myself.

I also am a stay at home mom, with a little more advantage than you, my kids are 12 and 14 away at school all day. I give you even more credit because I know how much harder it would have been to have them home all day while suffering through the withdrawal symptoms.[]

I finally did tell them this week what was happening with me and it brought me tears how they responded. They wanted to help me anyway they could and they understood that I would be a "witch" from time to time, but it wasn't their fault. They gave me hugs and told me they loved me.

I am starting to feel much better every day and can see myself getting closer to that "pot of gold," that "light at the end of the tunnel."

I've also noticed that when I wake up in the morning, I feel less lethargic, less heavy. It's a wierd feeling. For the past 2 years I would wake up and feel so tired and unmotivated, it's hard to explain. Now I wake up and pop out of bed with more energy (even if I didn't sleep good.) My question is this; if I was on Lexapro to make me feel happier and to help me feel better about my day and myself, why didn't I feel that way? Why did I end up feeling so numb? I guess I did in the first 6 months to a year of taking it, but then it just wasn't working that way.

Yesterday I was getting ready to see a good friend of mine who I hadn't seen for 5 years and I was excited, nervous, etc. I stopped and told myself that I wasn't going to blow this up to be a over nervous situation as I would before, turn it in to an anxiety attack. I told myself I was feeling this way because I was happy to see her and excited since it had been so long. Does this make sense to anyone?[?]

Not that this forum can replace seeing a real therapist; I was explaining to my husband just now how good this forum has been for me. Being able to vent and work through things. He said "it's like therapy for you, isn't it?" Yes! Definitely, it's been a wonderful experience. Thank you all!

[^]Group Hug!!!!

[Gapske]

vaughny,
I want to apologize for sounding so harsh before in response to your post.
You are doing well with what you need to do for yourself right now and your attitude is very positive which is good. I think that you will do fine once you get off the drug while keeping that attitude. Just know that you might feel very yucky[xx(] mad and sad, and that it will be over soon. And know that it's all because your body is trying to get back to normal and it will. Especially with your great attitude.

There was a couple times during my worst withdrawal days that I thought about going back on Lexapro and I had to fight the temptation very hard. (Wow does that sound like an addiction?) I thought, well why not jump back up to 5mgs a day rather than suffering, I'll feel much better. But I knew I couldn't go back and that I wanted to fight through it and be done. I hope for you, you can do the same some day.

[Gapske]

sarita and Kar1000,
Taper slowly and I think you'll do well. Read some of the previous posts and notice that when most of the people had their withdrawal symptoms they had them from anywhere between a week and a month, sometimes it seems like it could even expand in to a longer time.

I realized I tapered way too quickly. 20mgs. for 2 years, then 10mgs. for a month, then 10mgs. every other day for a week until I felt so good that I just quit. BIG mistake!!! Of course I didn't know any better until after the fact and ther was no turning back for me.
[xx(]

All of the symptoms you described, I've had. The short temper side effect was and is a big one for me. I was so numb from being on the drug that it surprises even me!

[sarita]

Gap and Lala and everyone you can answer this:

OK. SO...is this basically what's gonna happen?

I'm on 5 mg. go to like 4.75. I'll feel good for 2 weeks like nothing, then week 3, I'll start to feel the withdrawal (dizziness,
crying spells, foggie-ness, mood swings, etc.) but wait it out for
another 3 weeks or so and i'll stabilize back to "NORMAL."
Then, wait a couple weeks or however long i want, until the next
taper. Like 4.50. and so on and so on????

You guys are SO strong. I have to work. There's no way I feel I can
do this alone. My husband isnt' really emotionally supportive although he wants to be. He tries but it doesn't help when i see how
sad he gets. He can't do that while i'm going through this. Any
suggestions what to say to him to help me?????? I'm serious. I need
his support. That's what i'm mostly scared about. His reactions. NOt
being a cheerleader for me while I go through this.

Thanks for all your help. I love this forum. This has been a great deal of info. BTW, I bought the book "The Road Back-How to Get off
Drugs safely, and it says all the vitamins to take and when and how to taper like Auntie described.

Thanks again, Sarita

quote:Originally posted by Gapske

vaughny,
I want to apologize for sounding so harsh before in response to your post.
You are doing well with what you need to do for yourself right now and your attitude is very positive which is good. I think that you will do fine once you get off the drug while keeping that attitude. Just know that you might feel very yucky[xx(] mad and sad, and that it will be over soon. And know that it's all because your body is trying to get back to normal and it will. Especially with your great attitude.

There was a couple times during my worst withdrawal days that I thought about going back on Lexapro and I had to fight the temptation very hard. (Wow does that sound like an addiction?) I thought, well why not jump back up to 5mgs a day rather than suffering, I'll feel much better. But I knew I couldn't go back and that I wanted to fight through it and be done. I hope for you, you can do the same some day.

[vaughny]

Gapske - thanks for your input. I know there may be trouble ahead but like you say - I know in the end I will be better off without the meds. Else I could just resign myself to using it forever which is not too appealing.

I am on my 2nd day at 5mg now. I think in a week or 10 days I'll see what if any affects I face reducing the dose to this level. I plan to stay at 5mg for longer than I was at 7.5. I went to 7.5 for 2 weeks and maybe 4 weeks on 5 before reducing further. Want to make sure I can stabilize.

Thanks again for your encouragement.

[tamra]

Hi Sarita....in response to your situation with your husband...my husband was very supportive, but clueless as to what I was going thru. I tried to "explain things" to him, but it didn't help him very much. It wasn't until I suggested that he read some of the posts here that he felt "involved". He researched some healthier meal for us to have & he was the one that figured out that I was taking way too much B vitamins...it made him feel great that he could actually do "something" to help....which is exactly what I needed.

Here's an idea....I hope that a few others can jump in and help here...since you're in the "planning stages" of your taper, maybe it would help to get out a calendar and make some notes. For me, days 10-13 completely off Lexapro were the worst...so...as you are figuring what days to taper...maybe try to time the "average-feel the worst" time around a weekend...when you won't be at work. Plan that weekend to take care of yourself. Push thru the work week (if at all possible) and plan to do nothing on the weekend. Plan your weekends as if they were a time of rest....and plan on doing absolutely nothing...if you feel good...then that's a bonus. Maybe you can get some input from others on when there worst days were. I didn't really have a plan to taper...it just happened on a friday nite...and then I was able to count my days and weeks from fridays.

On the subject of mornings....I used to take my pills at nite. I found it much easier to get outta bed in the morning when I was taking Lexapro. Funny how each of us react differently. that's all for now...Tamra


Live every day to it's fullest!

[sarita]

tamara,
that is some great advise. thanks. my husband actually read this forum last night and i'll ask him to do some research.

i'm sorry but i don't understand. you went cold turkey? cause there's no way i can do that. and i don't have two days off in a
row of work unfortunately. so, are you completely off now? how
long? and do you feel good?

quote:Originally posted by tamra

Hi Sarita....in response to your situation with your husband...my husband was very supportive, but clueless as to what I was going thru. I tried to "explain things" to him, but it didn't help him very much. It wasn't until I suggested that he read some of the posts here that he felt "involved". He researched some healthier meal for us to have & he was the one that figured out that I was taking way too much B vitamins...it made him feel great that he could actually do "something" to help....which is exactly what I needed.

Here's an idea....I hope that a few others can jump in and help here...since you're in the "planning stages" of your taper, maybe it would help to get out a calendar and make some notes. For me, days 10-13 completely off Lexapro were the worst...so...as you are figuring what days to taper...maybe try to time the "average-feel the worst" time around a weekend...when you won't be at work. Plan that weekend to take care of yourself. Push thru the work week (if at all possible) and plan to do nothing on the weekend. Plan your weekends as if they were a time of rest....and plan on doing absolutely nothing...if you feel good...then that's a bonus. Maybe you can get some input from others on when there worst days were. I didn't really have a plan to taper...it just happened on a friday nite...and then I was able to count my days and weeks from fridays.

On the subject of mornings....I used to take my pills at nite. I found it much easier to get outta bed in the morning when I was taking Lexapro. Funny how each of us react differently. that's all for now...Tamra


Live every day to it's fullest!

[sarita]

lala,
so after 3 weeks, you felt good?

quote:Originally posted by lalalamort

Sarita,

I tapered from 10mg to 5 stright away and stayed on 5 for 2 weeks. After that I jsut went straight off them which probably wasnt a good move.Try tapering slower but also keep in mind that the worst period of withdrawal in around 2 weeks after the change ( or from my experience and from other sources in this thread). The worst day for me was actually day 14. Its day 16 now and its amzing how much things have changed. I'm not completely feeling better but im much much better. Try tapering slower and sitting it out for at least 3 weeks. Thats my advice, but im not a trained docter and Im sure others in the site could give you their opinions.

[tamra]

Definitely not cold turkey...I was on 10 mg for the 1st year, 15 the 2nd yr, 20 mg for 3 months...back to 15 mg for 3 weeks, 10mg for 3 weeks, about 7 mg for 2 weeks, 5 mg for 2 weeks, 2 1/2 mg for about 2 weeks, then about 1 1/4 mg....I was cutting 5 mg pills into 4 very tiny pieces...for about a week, then every other day for a week, then every 3rd day for a week & stopped.

This method is NOT what was recommended by the experts here...but it was a much, much more gradual taper than was recommended by the doctor. Thank God I didn't try it his way!

The last time that I took my last teeny-tiny piece of dust was 16 days ago. I'm still easily irritated, somewhat foggy, usually have a headache (to a certain degree), I am easily provoked into a mood (good and bad moods), I can feel very down and stressed out from dealing with my son...and then go to the mailbox at the end of the driveway & if the sun is shining...I feel great. Sometimes my belly is "icky" and I don't want to eat. I have gone thru extreme sensitivity to noise, dizzy, nauseous, achey...you name it....BUT....each day is different....I've learned to take it as it comes. Before you know it...another day is finished. Don't expect to have all of the symptoms...all of the time. I think all of my issues would be solved as soon as we get some warm weather & bright sunshine. It needs to be warm enough that I can open the windows and get some fresh air thru the house...and be able to go outside for a quick walk and feel the sun recharge my solar panels in my brain....That is when I think I'll be back to "me" only better...in fact...I'm looking forward to it!

Does anyone else feel like they are catching every single sniffle & sneeze & cough and ache? I'm on ROUND 4 since Christmas!! I've read where some of you have described flu like achey feelings...did you get a cough or cold afterwards? I can't seem to find that magic potion to help my body heal to the point where I've got some resistance to these Kindergarten cold germs! Any advice?? Thanks!

Live every day to it's fullest!

[tamra]

OOOPs! I forgot to answer the last part of your question, Sarita...do I feel good? well, not really "good"...but, I feel "human" and functional...the busier I stay, the better I feel...there are times (already) that I feel incredibly great for a little while during the day...and then my son gets into something, and the phone rings, then the dog needs to go out...and that's the end of the feel goods. lol

Live every day to it's fullest!

[Gapske]

[?]for all the females out there....

Have you had your period after going off of Lexapro, and if so have you noticed that you definitley feel way more emotional and nauseated?

I just started mine and WOW, I felt everything today.[xx(][}]

I was in tears about everything and couldn't handle any little bit of joking my husband was doing with me. I finally broke down and said, "I'm tired, I don't feel good, I can't handle the kidding around." He's so sweet, he told me to go take a nap.

Would love to hear about any body eles experiences with this and what might help.

Thanks

[lalalamort]

Sarita, it differs for every person.

But for me i was fine going from 10mg to 5. But after i wenr straight from 5 to 0 i started going downhill for about 2 weeks and then i started to feel better, of course not com-letely fixed, thats Hollywood stuff, but much much better. I also wouldn't go into it thinking that around a certain tiem something will happen because then it inevitably will.

[overeasy]

Hi -

I'm not sure I remember how long I've been on Lex, but it's probably a couple of years now.

A couple of days ago, after getting tired of the tiredness and a host of other things, I decided to just go cold turkey. Like many, I guess I thought, "How bad can it be?" Well, I found out!

It's the middle of the night as I write this. I just spent the last few hours having absolutely terrifying nightmares....and each time I awoke, I was more paranoid than the last. The house next door, which is empty, seemed ominous and foreboding. My big old cat, who was sleeping with us, seemed strange. I was seriously whacked out...and, like all junkies, I ran for a fix. At this writing, I'm sitting in the dark, hoping the "junk" will kick in. I'm afraid to go back to sleep, even though I have to get up early and go out.

Despite the fact that I've lurked on this site for months and read many posts, I'm still amazed at my withdrawl symptoms. I even feel sluggish as I type, as if I'm had a stroke. For anyone who's ever minimized what drug addicts go through, I would like to see them kick an SSRI!

So okay, I'm going to get through this, then begin a tapering regime. Learned my lesson :-)

Oh, there's one other thing I'd like to do (and this may be the withdrawl talking!) I'd like to have my Doc go through this...then tell me, as he did when he prescribed this stuff that, "It's not addictive..." Right.

Thanks all.

Easy