[Shifty]

quote:Originally posted by Choda

Wow, the wheels came off the bus last night! I thought i was home free with the physical withdrawals being over (except for what i will call "intestinal distress. coincindence??). Any way, last night i had an emotional break down, punched a hole in a wall (i am very laid back and have never punch anything in my life, never been in a fight, etc.). Then i cried for 2 hours straight. Keep in mind i am 6'5" and 250lbs (Thanks to Lexapro, i was never over 225lbs before i went on the Lexapro)and its a little strange to see a big guy curled up in the fetal position. Not one of my proudest moments!!! So my question is: is it normal to be hit so hard by emotions 2 weeks after quitting cold turkey? I have never been so ashamed and embarrassed, i have never lost it like that, i felt like i was watching a movie of someone flipping out!

Another question: I know i will have to go back on SOMETHING so i am wondering if people have had success with Wellbutrin and have they had the weight gain and lack of energy? Thanks. (have to go to Home Depot now and repair my wall...)

I believe the violence may have been an overreaction, but I wouldn't be so quick to count the crying in the "bad column". Didn't it feel just a little bit good to have a real emotion again?

Wellbutrin: GOOD STUFF!!! Take it from a another big dude (6'4" 260 pounds), it actually makes sex better! I'm Bipolar, so I take it with my lithium. The lithium cuts out the anger/irritation and the wellbutrin treats the depression.


---
Meds: 450mg Eskalith CR
You are listening to the opinions of a certified crazy person.

[TPayne4shizzy]

quote:Try wellbutrin, it is great because it actually makes sex better. It's not natural, but sometimes you just have to "do what you gotta do".

Is your anxiety more about fear or anger/irritation?

Shifty:
My anxiety is definately fear. Fear of death, fear of disease, fearful of everything (takes extreme case when in panic attack). I love the fact that Lexapro fixed my anxiety, but the side-effects are just too much. The Wellbutrin sounds like it would be good as far as the sexual part (The biggest problem with lexapro in my opinion).

Thanks for any advice anyone gives. This forum is a miracle

Tyler

"Day by day, in every way, I am better and better"

[Shifty]

I always ask about the anxiety thing because I went YEARS being diagnosed as GAD when I was Bipolar the whole time. The irritation vs fear thing was the first indicator that made the doctor suspect the misdiagnosis. The second indicator was the antidepressant-triggered manic episodes and thirdly of course my thick family history (which totally slipped my mind as I was filling out my family history on my first visit WHOOOPS!)

The fear of death thing is a tough one. I used to have the same problem. It got to the point of having panic attacks right before I went to bed at night (which of course led to insomnia). At night is when you have the longest, most unrestricted time to have a train of thought that leads to dark places. What worked for me (which sounds kinda silly as I type it out) was controlling what I watched on TV/read right before bed. Innstead of watching thought provoking shows like CSI/Star Trek/etc. I switched to only watching comedy/sitcoms right before bed and I kept the TV on all night. It was purely distraction that saved my sanity at the time.

Of course, we are a different type of crazy, so maybe my experience wouldn't apply in your case. I wish you the best of luck!


---
Meds: 450mg Eskalith CR
You are listening to the opinions of a certified crazy person.

[sarita]

hi ya'll.

the WORST part of lexipro is LACK OF SEX DRIVE and WEIGHT GAIN........the next worst is lack of feeling alive. living one
note in a song, and since i've tapered slowly down from 5 mg., i remember how beautiful the trees are, the sky, the birds and how great my husband is..........and i can't wait to finish up.

my story......about a year ago i had a miscarriage, i tore my knee out, and was out of work for 5 months. before that, i notice during my PMS'ing, i'd get panic attacks, but didn't really put it all together until i kept a journal......once i realized it was all hormonal, i wanted to get off of this drug and hopefully lose the 30 lbs. i gained.

i'm half way off the lexipro and have had so, so minimual side effects except for the time i screwed up and accidently took double my dose. but it only lasted 2 weeks. i've been on the roadback program and taking omega 3's and power barley. i will try some cognitive behavior therapy and will see my gyno to cure this problem once i'm off the lexipro completely.

hope ya'll learned something from my bio here, and please ask any questions you have....

[Choda]

I always feel a little weird writing here, like "who am i to think anyone here REALLY cares what the hell is going on with me", but it helps so what the hell! I am having NO Lexapro withdrawals! knock on wood! Question: i am noticing some of the "symptoms" that caused me to take it in the first place manifest again! Is this part of the withdrawal??? i know, wishful thinking, they are why i was on it in the first place, but which is worse, those "symptoms" or the Lexapro side effects?! What a fun roller coaster we are on...when can i get off????
So part of the reason i was on it was because last year i was diagnosed with ADD. I was 35 before anyone noticed and the only reason i noticed i had it was because my daughter who is 10 was said to have "ADD tendancies" according to her pediatrician. So i go to a local Doc that specializes in ADD and he says I tested one of the highest he has ever had! Turns out ADD isnt just a hyper kid bouncing off the walls. My switching jobs every 24 months on the dot was a classic symptom, my problems with long term relationships, and of course the inability to FINISH one GD project. not really condusive to a successful career/marriage/life. My Mom said "Of Course" when i told her, she hated seeing me struggle in school for years.
So why am i telling you this? Because the Lex really did help with this, the year i was on it i did not visit Monster.com once to find a better job and move on, i was able to finish tasks and have done very well at my current job. So last week i notice that for the first time in a year, when i got one of those Spam emails from recruiters that i always get, i actually opened it and looked at other jobs! I havent dont that while on Lex and i wonder if its a coincidence. When i told my wife she asked "when are we moving again?!" I am not sure but i dont think that was meant to be supportive! but she has been patient over 13 years of marriage (despite her impatient with my Lexapro withdrawals).
SO, MY BIG QUESTION: I know i need something to help me focus and also help with the underlying depression/anxiety that i never wanted to admit i have. Is there anything out there that anyone has taken that helps with the depression/anxiety/ADD and doesnt make you a fat, lazy, no libido zombie??? From what i have read Wellbutrin seems to be a popular choice but any suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated. maybe i am asking too much..

[Choda]

so i had a check up today, i was impressed that my doc wanted to see me after going off the Lexapro, just to "see how you are doing". Then he tells me that my weight gain and lethargy are NOT from lexapro. I said i am getting some of the feeling back and want to try Wellbutrin but not for awhile, i want to stay off all meds for awhile and get back to exercising and maybe some therapy but he kept pushing drugs, i swear he was a drug rep in a lab coat! And he said he wouldnt prescribe Wellbutrin for me anyway, only the lexapro or effexor, becaues "they will work best for me!" I am switching docs. Am i out of line to think that HE was out of line?! Doesnt listen to me...he's lucky it wasnt last week or i would have punched a hole in his stupid smiley face poster on his wall!!!!! (being able to laugh at ourselves is good, right?!?!?!)

Just had to vent about how bad SOME doctors are. I will say my doc before i moved was great, spent an hour with me each time, never hurried, took my BP like 5 times when it was a little high. just great! So if anyone knows a good GP in Minnesota let me know!

Thanks All!!!!

[sarita]

I've done TONS of research, and i wish some old people that made it off the drug would come back and help. i hope to be one of those people.

WEIGHT GAIN especially around the BELLY. UG.....i was told it'll come off. Whatever DOCTOR says you don't gain weight, is full of ****.

WITHDRAWALS for the man who punched the wall and tried like a baby, it's a BIG TIME withdrawal. crying spells and irritablility. go to www.labelmesane.com or www.theroadback.org for withdrawal symptoms and you can call them too with any questions and for help.

WAY TOO FAST ya'll withdrawing 50%? These doctors know NOTHING. they suck. You should only taper MAXIMUM 10% per week or two or three. then the next taper.

MORE WITHDRAWLS? stomach issues anywhere from gas to constipation, etc....moodiness. one minute happy, next minute something else.

PATIENCE....you MUST remind your spouse that you're having withdrawals every few days. they are ONLY HUMAN......tell them,"i'm having a hard time w/the withdrawals.i'm sorry for any pain i'm causing you but i need you to not take it personally, don't make faces, don't make me feel bad. it's not my fault"

[Redbled]

I'm still here from time to time, and willing to help where I can. I'm a year removed from the start of my withdrawal, and still getting better. Its a long road for some people. I still have bad days, but many more good. If anyone has questions, let me know. I'll check back in the next couple of days for sure.

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, 2005. There is hope, don't give up.

[bodyelectric]

Hi, it's me. Just checking in to see how folks are doing.

Like the previous poster, I'm about a year out from the beginning of the journey off of Lexapro.

And, I finally have a few things posted on my site: www.withdrawalsymptoms.us

It's not much yet, but I hope you'll come participate and make comments.

Most importantly, just know that it gets better.

-BE

[Redbled]

BE,

Are you fully over your withdrawal, or still having some issues?

Redbled

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, 2005. There is hope, don't give up.

[bodyelectric]

Completely over.

Haven't had a brain zap in months.

I've had some depression come and go, but that was a pre-existing condition, and I do my best to ward it off with exercise and regular contact with friends and family and some sort of spiritual life.

Take care!

-BE

SSRI withdrawal site: www.withdrawalsymptoms.us

[stormy8798]

Hi Everyone!

This is my second post. I am totally off of Lexapro now and am feeling great. I am posting this to let you know there is a light at the end of the tunnel! Unlike alot of you, I wasn't on it for a long time. But it affected me fast and hard. I had originally planned to take it for a year, and it took me over a week to finally take the pills the doctor had given me samples of. But I'm not a pill person and after having read all of these posts, I actually had a panic attack one day because I was so freaked out that I'd never be able to get off of a pill that was supposed to make me feel better! None of the things everyone has talked about (withdrawal symptoms) were ever mentioned to me. I also didn't realize you could 'poop out' of this drug.....I learned that means that you basically become addicted....you either up the dose or add another med. Yet both my doctor and psychiatrist said 'up the dose' when I had a panic attack while taking it. When I told them I wasn't upping anything, but rather was going totally off of it, they didn't push me or say I was an idiot for going off of it, but they were incredibly curious as to why I'd want to quit taking this 'wonder drug'. Anyhoo......I did taper off...I was on 10 mg...then went to 5 for a week. I have to say....at 10 mg I was a zombie. But at 5, it was actually enough to take the edge off, but still be 'me'. I felt like I was back in reality again, and actually considered staying on the 5 mg, but decided to go off. I went from 5 to 2.5 for another week, then every other day for a week and totally off. I am off totally now for 1 week and 1 day. When I tapered, I got 'sick'. Like the flu. I didn't know if it was because some people at work were sick, or from the lexapro, but since I rarely get sick, I attributed it to Lexapro. One night I got out of my car and was feeling great and about fell over from a sudden wave of dizzyness. Another day I was sitting in my office and was sweating up a storm. The a/c was on and was blowing on me and I thought I was going to pass out. But the whole time I kept thinking 'I'll be off of this soon and back to 'normal'...at least for me. It helped me keep going...to try to put every negative physical feeling into a positive thought. In therapy I learned that thoughts=feelings=actions, and it's true. And another day I suddenly became 'zombie-ish'. I had been lucid all day and then all of a sudden I felt like I was swept back to 'no-emotion' land and felt as if I wasn't really 'in' my body. But still.....these things were a small price to pay to be drug free. I feel for all of you that have it worse and I'm not in one bit downgrading what you're going through. But keep your chin up----I promise it'll be better. My husband is on Effexor and I'm begging him to go off of it after everything I've been reading. He's understanding though to what I'm going through and that helps too. If your family doesn't understand, keep coming back here or get some support from someone who does. What's weird though (to me at least) is that I went on this drug for anxiety...I was terrified of death and it had been going on for over 7 years. Death filled my every thought....how/when was I going to die? Lexapro did calm me...too much though. And this fight to be off of it has been a hard one, but I've noticed I don't worry so much about death anymore. I've been so excited to be off of it, I focus on LIVING...living without the drug and working with a psychiatrist and meditation to calm myself naturally and change my thought patterns. Wish doctors would push this method like they do drugs...but I suppose the drug companies would be out of business, huh???

Good luck to you all...

[bodyelectric]

Redbled -- thanks for the comment. Just put some new stuff up.

Stormy -- you're so right on. At the end of my lexapro life, I felt like I was walking around in a dream -- someone else's! Yoga (a meditation of a sort) is playing a big part in my recovery. And there's an article on Amazon that proposes that Lexapro was marketed (successfully) to doctors as a replacement for Celexa, simply because the patent on Celexa was running out! You can't patent meditation. So there's plenty of pharmaceutical politics involved in the mental health domain.

Of course, the pharmaceuticals also save a lot of lives, so it's a mixed bag...

SSRI withdrawal site: www.withdrawalsymptoms.us

[Choda]

had a big talk with the wife last night. she says she will try and be more patient. she made some good points about how i was when i was on Lexapro. She said for the last year (how long i was on Lex) that i was just sort of "there". I remember her begging me to have a converation with her or argue with her or SOMETHING! I realize she was right, my anxiety was better but i was not actively participating in my life. And although i was better anxiety-wise (not a word, i know) it wasnt fair to my wife or my kids to just be a zombie at home. I think diet, exercise and therapy are the way to go, and the meds on a short term basis can really help. and i agree some people will need them their whole lives and i will probably need them off and on, i just dont get how SO many doctors, based on the responses to this site and other sites on the internet, are prescribing these drugs and not even mentioning the withdrawals or side effects. And so many people will take whatever their doc gives them because "he/she is a doctor after all". there needs to be some checks in place and some accountability! OK, i will get off of my soapbox.

[Swoozie]

Hello everyone!
Have just found this forum recently and have been slowly catching up with the pages of posts - thanks all for sharing your stories, encouraging each other and for publishing all the brilliant advice and research on dietary supplements and coping techniques etc. This please has really been helping me.

Just thought I'd share my own story. I'm now 28 and living in East London with my boyfriend. I was put on Lexapro (Cipralex here in the UK) just over 18 months ago following a sudden anxiety episode. I had been feeling a bit funny for a while, but then one night was hit by a wave of paralysing fear that wouldn't lift for several days. I went to the doc, who gave me 10mg Lexapro, and then took 2 weeks off work sick and went home to my mum!

The pills really seemed to help and I was back on my feet quickly, trying to get past the anxious episode and back to normal as soon as I could. I had a bit of counselling and cbt which all helped, and after 4 months or so decided to stop the drugs. My doc told me to phase them out over 3 weeks, which I did, but suddenly a few weeks later my anxiety came back badly and I had to go straight back on.

That episode scared me so much that I thought I'd just stay put on the drugs for a few more months until I felt strong enough to try again. At that point I had no idea about withdrawals and had just assumed that my original problem had come back. However, my problems disappeared straight away when I took Lexapro again, so I worked out that the anxiety could have been brought on by the absence of the drug.

I ended up staying on for another year and felt totally fine (although I have put a bit of weight on!), but recently I tried to get off again and had problems. My doctor told me to drop from 10mg to 5 and come back in 6 weeks, but after a week of that I started feeling very nauseous, and then started feeling tense and getting an upset stomach. Finally, after about 4 weeks, I started to get anxious, which was awful and freaked me out. At that point I'd found this forum, which helped me make sense of it all, so I resumed my 10mg dose and have now levelled out again.

I'm going to the doc tomorrow and, thanks to all the info I've gained here, I'm going to tell him I want to withdraw VERY slowly. I feel so much more confident about this now, but I have to say I am quite scared of my anxiety coming back during or after withdrawal. Does anyone think that it's possible for Lexapro to 'cure' anxious episodes in the longer term, and to avoid relapses when finishing with the drug?

Sorry to ramble on, but I find it quite cathartic to tell my own tale! If you're still here, thanks for listening!

[bodyelectric]

Hi Swoozie,

Glad to hear you're now an informed advocate for your own health.

In answer to your question: No.

Lexapro/Cipralex doesn't "cure" anything. What it does is slow down the reuptake of serotonin, leaving more serotonin floating around in your system to give you a bit of a mood boost. Hopefully.

When you stop taking it, your serotonin levels should go back to whatever is a normal level for you. Eventually. As we here know, sometimes this can take awhile and the process is no fun.

In other words, the drug doesn't treat the underlying cause of the depression and/or anxiety. It just changes one aspect (serotonin levels) in a huge ratio of contributing factors, like genetics, your social network, your past, dopamine and epinephrine levels, diet, exercise, and God knows what else.

The closest thing to a cure is probably a lobotomy. Admittedly, there have been times in my life where I'd love to have been a vegetable. And there have been other times when I indeed looked like a vegetable. In the end, though, vegetative states lose their... er... appeal.

I hope you feel better. And if you find you need meds long-term, there's nothing wrong with that. We all have to make our own choices about how to live the best lives we can given the cards we've been dealt.

A distant member of my family reports fantastic results against anxiety and panic attacks on Prozac, which has relatively few withdrawal symptoms when compared to the worst offenders, like Lexapro and Paxil (arguably the worst). She's not in a place yet where she can look at the root causes of these problems, though it's obvious to everyone else -- unresolved anger against an abandoning father that pops up in every relationship she has. But I'm no professional, so what do I know.

SSRI withdrawal site: www.withdrawalsymptoms.us

[Swoozie]

Thanks for your reply, Body Electric (Walt Whitman if I remember correctly?)

You make sense; I can see that the drug just tinkers with brain chemistry rather than any cause. However, I've never suffered from anxiety prior to moving in with my boyfriend, which I did at a time of upheaval (new job, family illnesses etc.), and I hope I've worked through what was happening at the time. I have a couple of good friends who suffered from anxiety and panic for a few years and both are now perfectly fine, so they are my role models! For me the big problem is the fear of anxiety during withdrawal or in the future, but I'd rather face that possibility than depend on drugs. I hope I can get off one day.

Body E, you're cool. I like your vegetable reference! Thanks again for replying to me.

I wish everyone on this board all the best for your recoveries. Despite my fear, I can't help believing we'll all be OK in the end!

[uniqueperson]

Hi all, I am brand new here, I just now joined drugs.com and this is my very first posting. I'm a 44 year old female in the state of Minnesota. I've been on Lexapro for more than 2 years, but less than 6 years. I've wanted to get off of it because it affects my memory and I gained 30 lbs in one year (Feb 05 to Feb 06). I had always been thin before, so it feels weird to have a belly and see what I look like in the mirror. It bothers me.

In 2005, I tried unsuccessfully to get off of Lexapro. I really wanted off of it, so I searched online for assistance. I found http://www.theroadback.org - I liked what they had to say, but what they recommended cost too much. I can't remember when I was first looking at the site, but I think I must have finally decided to go for it in July because that's the date on the file I created to help me keep track of what I was doing. I gave in and ordered one set of the supplements they recommended (barley grass powder, Omega-3, vitamin E, and some sort of cherry pill that has melatonin in it) and started taking them in the middle of July according to what they recommended (except I didn't take the cherry because I was already taking a melatonin supplement).

But I didn't taper off of the Lexapro in the way they recommended. Their recommendation was to taper off 10% or less of your original dosage, which meant for me, starting out on 40 mg, then going to 36, 32, 28, 24, 20, 16, 12, 8, 4, 0. I was taking two 20 mg pills which could be easily split in half but to try to split them to get the reommended decreases was not something I was really wanting to do. So, since they recommended one week's time for each decrease, I just did the decreases by 10 mg and stayed on each decrease for two or three weeks. So after getting into the routine of taking all the supplements they recommended, I decreased the Lexapro to 30 mg and took that for two or three weeks. Then down to 20 mg. I wasn't experiencing any withdrawal symptoms at all.

Then last week I was to decrease it down to 10 mg. A friend had a massive heart attack and ended up in the hospital and my routine got messed up and I ended up forgetting to take the Lexapro for two days. I felt fine so decided to just not take it any more. Big mistake. It was last Friday and Saturday that I had forgotten to take them. So on Sunday, I started experiencing the manic-like withdrawal symptom and my head felt really weird. Those symptoms have been with me since Sunday and I didn't know what was causing them. At first I thought it might be due to the stress of my friend's heart attack, but after discussing it with some professionals, I wondered if it might be due to stopping the Lexapro.

So I went online and started searching. I found this web forum. I also found a good page with a list of withdrawal symptoms:
http://www.add-adhd-help-center.com/...withdrawal.htm
That page helped me realize I was having more symptoms than I thought. I kept thinking they were from the stress of my friend being in the hospital (restlessness and agitation, difficulty concentrating), from not getting enough sleep a couple of nights (the brain weirdness), or my body still trying to recover from a car accident (joint pain, weakness). (I should also note that I've been taking Trazadone since 1989, so I haven't had any issues with insomnia since it helps me sleep and I was already having vivid dreams and nightmares even before the trazadone.)

So anyways, I was taking the Lexapro in the morning, so I think tomorrow I will take 10 mg of it and stay on that dosage for a couple of weeks and see if the withdrawal symptoms go away. Then maybe I will try 5 mg for a few weeks and see how that goes. If that brings back withdrawal symptoms, I'll try what someone else did and take alternating each day with 5 and 10. Or maybe do two days of 10 and one day of 5. Or I could start out with taking 10 every day and just taking the 5 one day a week and slowly decrease it that way. But you get the picture.

Oh, and I did purchase 3 more sets of the supplements they recommended, but it costs a lot. But if it helps me successfully get off of Lexapro without experiencing such bad side effects as I have read on here, then it will be worth it. I'll let you all know how it goes. I'm also going to try to read all the messages, but at this point there are 150 pages and it might take a while. (I had a thought, here I've purchased all these supplements and I wish I had found this forum sooner because for all I know, you guys have posted something that would have helped me without having to purchase all these supplements. Oh, well.)

Oh, and they also recommended a supplement to help with the weight loss (CLA--Conjugated Linoleic Acid), I have been taking it for just a few days so I don't know whether it works or not yet, and I just re-read the page today and discovered I'm not even taking the full recommended amount, so will start that increase tomorrow too.

(I had at first thought that the weight-loss supplement was causing those Lexapro withdrawal symptoms so was google searching for the product to see what the dangers of it were and what side effects, but found none and that's when I thought it might be from the Lexapro and sure enough it was.)

So anyways, I think I've rambled enough for now, gotta get some sleep, got a busy day tomorrow.

Unique Person

[fedupwithdocs]

Hi everyone,
I have been on lexapro for about 3 years now and have been trying to get off of it for a while. My doctors have tried to switch me to other medications, but the withdrawal symptoms have been so bad, that they've put me back on the lexapro. My husband and I have decided that we want to start a family, so a few weeks ago I began the weaning off of lexapro. Every 5mg. that I went down I would feel dizzy and just not right for about 4-5 days, then it would subside... now I've been off for 9 days. It has been AWFUL!! I have had the same side effects that many of the people on this board have (trembling, nauseau, dizziness to no end, brain zaps, extreme fatigue, ect). I called my doctor who put me on valium to take the edge off of the dizziness... this made things worse. I called again and after being D***ed around finally got an appointment to see another doctor. This one told me that I should have expected this and that I needed to just "toughen" up and get through it. I was LIVID! After a bit more "discussion" she gave me prescriptions for more valium, lorazepam and meclazine, told me to take them every 4 hours and sleep for the next 48 hours..... Are you kidding me?!? But since I'm desperate, I tried this. It doesn't work! AND I now have two less days of vacation from work!
Right now I have called a naturaopathic doctor who is willing to see me right away and actually showed a lot of compassion towards my situation. Her office is actually closed today, but she is letting me come in. She says that she thinks she can fix this. I will post again later to tell everyone if it has worked, and what was done. I can sympothysize with everyone going through this. I cannot believe that doctors actually prescribe such a medication that can do this to people and then they have no answers for you.
Hopefully I will have good news when I return from this new doctor! Wish me luck!

[fedupwithdocs]

UPDATE: Back from the ND... She gave me a shot of b12 and folic acid, which immediately made me want to fall asleep. This is normal b/c apparently lexapro depletes the body of this and that is why you become so dizzy after stopping the medication, so once you have it, your CNS kind of breathes a sigh of relief, making you sleepy.
Anyways, I am now taking two B12 vitamins a day and have to do the shots for another week, depending on how I feel. I do actually feel like my body is trying to climb out of this, if that makes sense.
I will update again later to let you all know if this whole thing is successful!

[hopefulone]

Hi, I have been reading the forum for about a week now and am so happy to find it.

I started lexapro about 6 months ago for anxiety. Someone upthread asked another poster if their anxiety was fear or anger. No one had ever asked me that before but it struck me because I was experiencing an irrational fear of being fired (my boss was retiring and I was scared my new boss would fire me). Crazy I know but that is what caused me to start the lexapro. Anyway, since June when I went up to 10mg, I have gained 10 lbs. The weight gain has been very distressful for me and that is why I wanted to come off.

So now, I am going through the withdrawals from lexapro. They are a killer! I've had the brain zaps, crying spells, irritability, sweats, extreme fatigue, stomach troubles and nausea. I have visited site of theroadback.org and I'm now on omega3 but am looking to purchase the other recommended supplements.

Anyone have any luck losing the weight? How long did it take? How long did it take before you felt all the way better? The symptoms come and go but when they come, it's terrible.

Anyway, I just wanted to thank everyone for their posts. It really helps to know I'm not alone!

[bodyelectric]

Swoozie -- That sounds familiar. The fear of fear itself. Yet we feign sanity. And yes, you nailed the Whitman reference. I was trying to give my brain zaps poetic justice.

Unique and FedUp -- Whatever it is you do is the right thing. Just taking any action to feel better probably does more good than absorbing any particular ingredient or another of countless pills. That said, I am a believer in omega-3 and multivitamins.

It passes. It just takes time.

For the insomniacs among us, I'm attempting to post a guided relaxation on my site by the end of the weekend, so charge the batteries in your ipods.



SSRI withdrawal site: www.withdrawalsymptoms.us

[sexysue]

hiya all . am very new to this group . was put lexapro 10mg by my very ancient psychatrist . was on lexapro 10mg for only one month . i had to stop it very adruptly cos it was making me feel a 100 times much more worst . it also suppresseed my apetite , extreme fatigue , gave me massive migraines all day nearly everyday and it also gave severe insomnia . since stopping the lexapro , i have been having really severe withdrawal symptoms which includes severe burning sensations all my body which is unbearable , pressure in my head - feels like that it going to explode ,really weird visual distrubances ,a very strange feeling of being in cocoon amd being totally detached from the rest of the human race , suicidal feelings and thoughts , tension , anxious , agitated , violent behaviour , chills , extreme fatigue ,tense body , really painful aches thru out my body , lack of concentration , lightheadness , tremors , restless legs syndrome , memory loss , mood swings , loads of crying . had 5mg of lexopra a couple of days ago to stop the withdrawal symptoms , expecting it to give me some relief which it didn't . it made me a 100 times much much more worse than before . left it for a couple more days and the withdrawal symptoms are still getting a lot stronger . is there anything that i can take for these withdrawal symptoms ? and long do these withdrawal symptoms really last for ? any advuce welcome : sexysue

[Sylvie12]

Hello everyone and like many of those before me, I'm very glad to have found this site; the mere fact of not being alone in a really unpleasant situation helps alleviate the desperatness of it all.
I'm not sure but I think I may be one of the longest users of Lexapro in this forum which only serves to make me that more anxious! I really, really need some help and advice as I'm feeling very close to hurting myself in order to stop the hurt. I'm unable to stop crying even as I write this, ugh.. I started on Celexa and Wellbutrin about 7 years ago and then switched from Celexa to the "new and improved" Lexapro. I've been on 20mgs of Lex. a day for about 4 or 5 years and 300mgs of Wellbutrin. I take the Lex. at night and Wellbutrin in the morning. I first had my exposure to the "zaps" around 2000 and had NO idea what they were but as I was working in a high stress Finance environment and am not naturally a calm person myself, I thought that it was just a physical reaction to that - I admit - I was sporadic in my dosage taking and this was obviously the reason I was having them. Eventually, though, I realized that these zaps were not normal and after researching on the web I discovered the link between that and Lexapro withdrawal and got very scared and decided to become more responsible in my taking them. You see the alternative was not viable as I was terrified of succumbing to depression again ( I suffer from GAD and something a doctor described as depressive inertia...has anyone heard of this term before???). Long story short but I really, really, really want to stop the Lexapro: I hate being on so much medication - in addition to the Lex. and Welbutrin I'm on 30mgs Adderall as well. I want to know if anyone here has been on both Lex. and Welbutrin and if it's possible to cut out the lexapro but keep the Welbutrin and if this is totally adequate for keeping the depression AWAY. I HATE the physiological yoke that lexapro has me under and will be more than willing to go through the Hell that the withdrawal is if I won't just have to settle for a little depression coming out the other end. I don't want the depression and is Welbutrin adequate for this? I'm so sorry if I'm not being clear, I'm just at my psychological and emotional end and want it to be OVER!! My doctor is on holiday and I've run out of Lex. and the emotional and physical rollcoaster hell is starting already and, to be honest, I'm a little terrified I won't be able to handle this...

Please, any advice for NATURAL remedies to help me through the withdrawal - I found the suggestions of B12 vits and Bach's flower remedies encouraging. And I do run as I know keeping active is invaluable to overall well being. I'm sighing a bit because just writing this has made me feel more calm and less manic.

Oh, and I gained almost 50lbs (!!!)on Lexapro (and a troubled romance,heh) but I lost it all eventually through running and eating better so just stick with it but take it sloooowwww.

[fedupwithdocs]

Hi everyone,
I hope that most of you are starting to feel better. I have been on the b12 shots and vitamins for a couple of days now. I feel like the mornings are a lot better for me, but right around mid afternoon the dizziness gets really bad. Since its a holiday weekend, I'm having a hard time getting ahold of my ND to ask what to do about this. This dizziness and brain zaps are enough to kill a person. I can only hope that this will start to alleviate soon.

BTW I do know that wellbutrin can be used alone, docs often prescribe it with other anti-depressents b/c it gives a boosting effect. Hopefully it, alone, will keep your depression under control!
I don't know how effective it is, but St. John's Wort, and Omega 3's are also good herbal alternatives that are suppose to help with depression. Good Luck!

[bodyelectric]

Sylvie -- depressive inertia, meaning you're too down to have the energy to get started? Never heard the term before, but I can certainly relate.

Welbutrin, as stated by fedupwithdocs, is often used as a booster to other antidepressants and can also be taken alone. Welbutrin and Zyban are exactly the same thing -- people take it all the time to help stop smoking. Definitely talk to your doctor before taking yourself off meds, though.

Fedupwithdocs -- what do you think of the B12 shots so far?

I posted a guided relaxation to my site -- it's not high sound quality, but people might find it helpful nonetheless.


SSRI withdrawal site: www.withdrawalsymptoms.us

[Choda]

Hopefulone: Regarding weight loss. I have been off Lex about 3 weeks now and taking the supplements (mainly Vit E, Omega 3's and CLA) and have lost 7 lbs. Again, i think this has more to do with the fact that i no longer sit on my bed all day and have no energy. Went to the mall for school clothes yesterday and my wife actually pointed out that i have been more active and a part of the family in the last week than the last 12 months combined! It really took me two weeks to get over most of the withdrawals. interesting side note, when i spoke to my doctor last week and told him about my withdrawals he had the B*LLS to say "they are not withdrawals, just your system RE-ADJUSTING". I guess some docs like to play with symantics, it makes them feel better for prescribing the drugs in the first place. DEFINITION OF WITHDRAWAL (per Websters): Any of a group of physical and psychological symptoms occurring in an individual deprived of an accustomed dose of an addicting agent.
Sounds like what i had...but whatever helps the doc sleep at night!

Good luck and keep with it, it does get better. Sometimes just reading the posts here and KNOWING that it will get better is what got me through it! I think when you are in the middle of the withdrawals you get the feeling that it will never end, or like me you start to think you have some horrible disease and its not withdrawals! Just knowing that others have and are going through it and there is an end definately helps!!!

[Sylvie12]

BodyElectric: Depressive inertia is absolutely feeling too depressed to get started but more so. It's the feeling of being too scared to move...like if you do move it will only aggravate or 'whip-up' the depression further. It's hard to explain but you kind of feel bands of despair around your chest that just tighten if you don't keep still. Does this sounds familiar to anyone else? And I will definitely check out your website; how great that you've created one!!

Choda: It's really encouraging that you're feeling better after the Hell of withdrawal and definitely instills confidence that there is a light at the end of the tunnel! The more I hear about doctors' reactions to patients experiences going off SSRI's the more I lose any kind of confidence in their abilities as healthcare providers. Perhaps this country is so overwrought with liability fears that the medical profession has forgotten what it is to actually LISTEN.

[hopefulone]

Choda...

Thanks so much for your reply. Congrats on losing the weight! And for feeling better and more active. That's great!

It's funny you mentioned what your doctor said to you about your body "readjusting". I got a message back from mine when I mentioned the withdrawal symptoms I'm experiencing. She said there are no withdrawals, but a "discontinuance" something or other. Sounds like semantics to me!!

I am starting to feel better. The dizziness isn't nearly as bad as it was. My stomach is slowly starting to feel better. I felt good today. Now, I just need to lose the weight!

[Mr Spock]

Hi all,
The old-timers, or those who have read a lot of the old posts may recognise me, and today for some reason, I decided to check in an see how the old group was going as well as give an update.
First of all, I would like to congratulate Body Electric on his new website. It really does look classy, user-friendly and inviting, and it is understandable that it has taken a while to get up and running. I admire your dedication and wish you great things with it.
Second, I noticed that posts stopped to a standstill for a while, but things have picked up recently. Don't be shy, any of you, as I found the information, the friendship, and yes, the love, very powerful and inspiring at a time in my life when I needed it.
Well, the last post I made, about page 144 I think, I had been informed that I was, in fact, cured of my Hepatitis C after a false blood result initially stated the opposite. Since then, they have re-tested some of the actual blood from that sample and I have had a further test which has confirmed that I am free of the disease, ie Cured!!!!
However, the main reason I found and joined this site (see page 65 for my first posting) was withdrawal symptoms from Celexa which I took whilst on the treatment (46 weeks). I suffered withdrawals after I stopped over 4 weeks so went back on it half strength for 8 weeks with no change, and then stopped it cold turkey for 4 1/2 months. Still no change... So, I gave in and went back on a low reducing dose of Prozac liquid for 2 months, again with no change.
By this time I'd seen a neurologist, the gastro fellow, 2 local doctors, 2 naturopaths, and finally saw a doctor/homeopath who has diagnosed Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!!! When you think about it, some of the symptoms are similar to severe SSRI withdrawal. eg, Tingling in the hands and feet, fogginess, sleep disruption, poor concentration etc. CFS is thought to be caused by an immune system over-activity which leads to neurological and endocrine abnormalities, and I believe that it was caused by the Interferon that I was on for the Hepatitis which directly affects the immune system. Anyway, the prognosis for CFS is that the majority of people recover to same degree (although it usually takes between 2 -5 years), only about 10 % fully recover, and a small percentage of sufferers get worse and become bed bound!!! I am probably moderately affected, and as I have probably had it for about a year, I hope to have made a substantial recovery in the next year or so.
Perhaps the most relevant strategy to this group I am using, however, is, practising Yoga Nidra every day. One thing that CFS has in common with SSRI withdrawal is that there is no magic bullet so the best way to heal is for the body to heal itself. Our bodies generally have an innate capacity to restore our health, but it can take a variable amount of time as well as a bit of luck. Much of the discussions about managing withdrawal relates to physical means ie vitamins, diet, staying away from bad things. However, the other strategy I would like to suggest to you all is to optimise your mental and emotional reserves. It has been shown that meditation, even more-so than sleep, assists the brain in restoring or healing itself, so, like Body Electric has suggested, avail yourself of a practice like Yoga Nidra. It really is a win/win situation as not only is it really pleasant and enjoyable, but quit addictive, although with out the side-effects of other addictions!!!
Good to see you put in an appearance Redbled, I will try and send you an e mail. I will also try and contact the Matriarch of this group, Auntybiotic. I still keep in contact with Debbie 724, although not as often these days as she is working hard and long hours and is hopelessly in love!!!
To those of you battling these withdrawals, be assured, they will wear off eventually. But it does take time. However, during this time I would urge you to regard yourself as a pilgrim on a journey where you will gain great knowledge wisdom and patience rather than a helpless "victim", although you may be powerless to change your circumstances and or symptoms at present.
Live long and prosper.