[tavee]

LEXAPROYES


U HAVE NO IDEA HOW THIS DRUG IS UNLESS U WITHDRAWL.

WHEN U GET OFF IT WHY DONT U COME BACK HERE AND TELL US HOW U FEEL.

I WAS ON IT FOR 3 YRS AND YES IT DID MAKE ME FEEL BETTER, BUT NOW ITS TIME FOR ME TO DO THIS ON MY OWN.

I AM ON 5ML(LIQUID LEX) AND I HAVE BEEN WITHDRAWING FOR 3 MONTHS.

IMAGINE THAT!! THAT HOW HARD IT IS TO GET OFF THIS.

[Skywalk]

HelpMe: I'm so sorry about your mother, too. What an awful time to have to go through this. It's probably quite normal to feel like you are going to be left alone. I read that no matter how old you are, when your parents die in natural to feel orphaned. And with your husband gone, well...of course you are feeling this way. Try to think about your son. Is he your only child? Perhaps he will be your strength and hope.

My fiance goes out of town a lot for one or two weeks at a time and I've been staying with my parents when he does because of the way I feel on this drug. But it didn't work out this time because I think they have had enough of my "sickness" so my dad shut down on me (just ignores me because he's scared of this) and my mom lost her patience (she is bi-polar and is somewhat manic now so she doesn't really feel for me). It was so scary so I've had to find friends to stay with me overnight. Talk about feeling alone. This damn drug. Like you, I know I'm stonger than this. I'm 31 years old and never should feel like I need to stay with my mom and dad! It's not our fault.

Tavee: Yes, we should have a reunion some day. You're so cute. What state are you in? I'm in Oregon.

The depersonalization is with me all the time. It's only tolerable when I'm home in dim lights. That's the main reason I don't like to be alone. It really freaks me out because I don't feel like I have any control. My spirit is better today, though.

[liberty@comcast.net]

anyone had a musle stain after taking lexapro? I can't figure it out. I only tried one, 1/2 hour later I got an exteme lower lumber stain...couldn't move. now I'm afraid to try it again.[?]

[shelly73]

Hello All,
i have been off now for 9 days...today was the first i actually made it through a whole day without crying...YAY I do keep waiting for the other shoe to drop...but just hanging on...the sleepless nights are getting a bit boring....but hey least there is this chat line that i can read at 330 in the morning....I keep reading and to you all I just feel really bad for each...even though I know each wouldn't wish this on anyone it is great to have a support group to talk to...and hey I love the idea of a reunion there should definitely be a huge celebration for anyone who can finally make off and feel normal again.

Helpme - I just want to say I am very sorry for your loses and I do hope the best for your Mom...my thoughts are truly with you.

I am trying to stay positive...each of you on this chat are truly wonderful...you words of encouragment and support are great...and I may not reply alot but just reading through help me so much! Just knowing that what i feel even down to the oddest symptons are "normal" whatever normal is makes me seriously realize I can make it through another day.

take care and keep hanging in there all...

[HelpMe58]

Tavee,
I feel depressed, anxious, and I get this hot feeling all over. Not so much nausea as I feel so bloated and I am not eating much!
Thank you for your support and you are not out of line. Everyone tells me that! lol I am a caretaker of everyone except me! My son has been a great help since he is a senior in high school. He actually can get some things done for me when I am gone and I make sure I am home with him every other night and my brother is staying here the other nights. My brother is living in Cleveland so when he leaves I will be saying HHHHEEEELLLLPPPPP!

[HelpMe58]

Skywalk,
Yes, he is my only child and he is the only thing getting me through this...along with my brother being here...but he will return to Cleveland eventually.
I am sorry to hear your family shut down on you. It seems even though we look perfectly normal, no one can see the hell and torment going on inside. No one is very tolerant so you try to keep it to yourself and that makes it awful!
I will pray for you.
Helpme

[db3]

help me..i am so sorry for what you are going thru w/ your moms health issues.. I went thru something similar and remember clearly what i felt. what you are feeling is so normal.. you are frightened, and scared for your mom, and not even near over the loss of your dad and husband..try to stay strong, I know thats easy for everyone else to say, but its true. you have friends here..you are NOT alone..

[db3]

okay guys, i dont wanna toot my own horn , but..(toot toot)lol..
I am on day 10 of going from 20 to 10 mil of Lex and I feel great!! Other than 1 bout of dizziness days ago, Im feeling fine..
Could it be possible that I'll get thru this with ease..OR..
is it gonna hit me when i go down to 5 mil in a few days???

Go easy on me!!!!

db

[tavee]

DB3

U ARE TAKING A BIG CHANCE OF GOING DOWN SO QUICKLY.

I WOULD RECOMMEND U GO A LITTLE SLOWER THAN THAT. AGAIN THAT IS UP TO U.

I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT GO DOWN TO 5 FROM 10. THAT IS A BIG JUMP ESPECIALLY IF U HAVE BEEN ON 20.

U NEED TO GO DOWN 5 TO 10%.

TAVEE

[db3]

Tavee.
thx for that info..

since im really not too familiar with all of this, heres a stupid question-- Why is 10 to 5 so much different than 20 to 10?? If my body handled the 20 to 10 jump wouldnt it handle the 10 to 5 the same??

db

[tavee]

DB3
ure body has been used to a certain amount and that is 20 ml or mg.

It takes at least 1 or 2 weeks to feel the actual effects. Once u go down to an even lower dose then u are going to feel it even more. its almost like pulling a rug underneath u suddenly.that shocks ure brain and ure neurotransmitters which can not be good at all.
READ PAGE 46 FROM AUNTYBIOTIC. U WILL GET THE PICTURE!thats why when people go off it cold turkey its very bad and they
can feel everything. ure brain needs time to adjust to the lower serotonin levels each time u taper. u dont want to shock ure brain.

make sure u take ure omega3 supplements and a good multivitamin while u are tapering.

go to theroadback.com site. there is a lot of important info there and they can help u taper with supplements.

good luck
tavee

[chris4444]

hey i just started lexpro 10 mg 5 days ago and since then ive been feeling worse than ever, i was feeling so bad that i stoped taking it after the third day and im starting to feel a beter now but im really getting scared
these are my symptoms
confusion(prob the worst part)
dizzyness
very hard to concentrate on anything(cant even watch tv)
memory loss
feel very anxious
feel like ive got ADD
suisidal thoughts
feels like im goin crazy

please helP!!!!

[sarita]

chris,
i don't know your story of why you got on them in the first place. that could make a difference in what i have to say. however, those are normal side effects but after a few weeks you'll feel "better" but like i said, don't know why you went on in the first place. if it was just for alittle anxiety, GET OFF NOW WHILE YOU HAVE A CHANCE!!! and get a book on how to deal and what to eat, etc.......

tell us more

DB3
how long have you been tapering and how did u do it? i think it's harder to go from the smaller doses to nothing. be careful if you're not in a hurry, then don't torture yourself, but so far it sounds like your body is taking it well. why did u go on it the first place?

helpme,
how r u doin girl? you are very brave and strong to go through all this AND withdrawal. stress doesn't help the situation any. you'll be okay.

tavee,
how r u doin' on your taper?
me? i'm doing great. i tapered 3 days ago to my VERY LAST taper!!!!! i'm only taking 1/4 of a milligram. and i feel so alive. been taking yoga and now i'm able to see my life more clearly. i have more creative finally and will go full force on my small business as it went down hill when i got sick. i have a lot of goals and resolutions and just to be able to FEEL like i WANT to move forward is amazing. i am getting my old self back except that i'm still fat, mu boobs have gone from a 32A to a 36C (not complainging about that!! ha ha). and my sex drive isn't quite back yet although i think i need to jump back on the saddle!! yyyyyyeeeeehhhhhaaaaa!!!!!

[db3]

sarita..i started lex in May 2002..at the time i was going thru some drama in my life..i lost my mom few yrs before that..i had a major move to a new home, 3 little boys who I love more than life, and a great husband ( who unfortunatly couldnt help me as much as he wanted..he leaves for work at 5am, home late in the eve) i found a lump in my breast (turned out to be NOTHING, thank god) but i guess my body couldnt take it anymore and i just panicked..i thought I was going to die and leave my kids all alone..i couldnt sleep, wasnt functioning normally and I needed help..I originally started on Paxil, the dr switched me to Lex..Dont get me wrong, It helped me tremendously..I dont know what would have happened to me if I didnt start on SSRI's...i always thought people could handle their problems w/out meds..but i was SOOOO WRONG! I believe Lex helped me get my life back..I had a positive experience on this drug and am very thankful for it..but now its time for me to be free of this drug.. I gained so much weight, and my cholesterol and triglycerides are way up..I think it had a lot to do w/ the excess weight. I want to be healthy again..mentally and physically..
I will not taper from 10 to 5 mil now, i will listen to you and go from 10 to 7.5..but wouldnt u think after 11 days I would have felt something by now?? It sounds strange but im anticipating side effects!! I guess by me feeling something, anything, it will prove that the drug is leaving my system!!

[sarita]

db3,
if you haven't had any withdrawals after 11 days, i think you're home clear.just listen to your body. not having any withdrawals is a good thing, and i also feel it means you don't need it anymore. but please taper slowly at the end. don't drop from 5 mg to nothing. towards the end, i'd slow it more than at the beginning for you.

[db3]

sarita..

oh yes, i will most definitly listen to my body
if i get a warning! and i'll take your advise and definitly taper slowly..thanks soooo much..i'll keep you posted!!


db

[chris83]

quote:Originally posted by db3

Wait a minute, I need to grab a pen and put in my calendar
DAY 15 = Horns!!! haaaaaaa

Dr called yesterday w/. bloodwork..my cholesterol and triglycerides are sky high..I am convinced its from the 20+ lb weight gain..
My pressure was a little high too..
Anyone with this same problem?? And does it all go down after weight loss??

Day 6 for me..20 to 10..woke up 3am w/ waves of nausea..
is that a withdrawal symptom>>


db

Yup - EXACTLY! 20 lbs, high chol and triglic - slightly high BP - Dr called last Thurs with bloodwork results and decied it was weight gain / Lexapro - and I am on day 11 weaning, down from 40 mg to 25. Will taper more slowly now - no porblems as of yet. Dr switched me to Wellbutrin,

Good luck!

Chris

[db3]

Chris..Looks like we are in the exact same boat!!!!

Please keep me posted!!! Im already down 2 lbs..lol!!

db

[tavee]

hey sarita, skywalk and helpme
how are u guys?
sarita, u must be really happy!! i cant believe u are almost there girl!!

skywalk, how are things going with u? are u feeling ok? what dose are u on or are u completely off? how are u feeling?

helpme how is ure mom doing?
HOW ARE U DOING? KEEP US POSTED.

I AM OK!! IM SOOOO TIRED. IM SUPPOSED TO GET MY PERIOD TONIGHT OR TOMORROW SO IM REALLLLLLLY SLEEPY!!
BY NEXT WEEK ILL BE ON 4.5 IF ALL GOES WELL.


WE CAN DO THIS GUYS!!!!

TAVEE

[sarita]

tavee,
sounds like you're doing great on the slow taper. isn't it SO much easier than touturing yourself by cold turkey?

i'm doing awesome. this is my last taper (1/4 of a milligram) and i'll be FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!! i feel great. i'll continue taking the supplements for awhile. then i'll get a physical from the doctor in january to make sure everythings okay.

[tavee]

hey guys!!

I HAVE A QUESTION.
I HAD SOME TABLETS (10MG) LEFT OVER BEFORE I SWITCHED TO THE LIQUID LEX TO TAPER, AND I JUST CUT IT IN HALF AND TOOK THE 5MG SINCE I AM ON 5ML. I JUST TOOK IT NOW. I CALLED THE PHARMACY AND THEY SAID IT WAS OK SINCE IT IS 5. THEY JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS ACCURATE.


DO U GUYS THINK ITS OK TO SWITCH LIKE THAT FROM LIQUID TO TABLET FORM?

I GUESS I JUST WANTED TO FINISH MY TABLETS SO SOME OF THEM WONT GO TO WASTE.

NOW I WORRIED SOMETHING MY MIGHT HAPPEN. LOL

ILL TELL U THOUGH I HATE THE TASTE OF THE LIQUID YUCK!!!!ITS SO MUCH EASIER TO TAKE THE TABLET.

I COULD PROBABLY DO THAT WHEN IM DOWN TO 2.5. I COULD JUST CUT THE 5 IN HALF RIGHT??? UNLESS I GROW HORNS OR HAVE SOME KIND OF REACTION OR SOMETHING BY THEN!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL

TAVEE

[matthewb]

Sounds like Lexapro is one of the worst things phsychiatry and the pharmisuticle companys have come out with. Well one of them.

I hope you can all get off these terible drugs.

I wonder if it were posible to get together all the people who are suffering from withdrawls and get a class action law suite going against the people who pushed this stuff on you without warning you of the side effects and the withdrawls. That would be an interesting project.


Matthew Baldwin
http://www.cchr.com/
Citizens Commission on Human Rights

[sarita]

i think we could win a class action suit, but who will do it?

[Skywalk]

Hi everyone:

Sarita: That's great that you are almost off of this poison. Thanks so much for sticking around!

Tavee: Not sure about the liquid vs. tablet. I hope you can figure that out. Hmm... Are you funtioning OK otherwise?

I'm doing OK. Glad my fiance is home, but he came back with a really bad head cold. I've been scared because my poor body has taken such a hit from the withdrawals and a head cold on top of that would just be awful. So far, so good. I've kept my distance and it's been two days of exposure, so...

I had terrible exhaustion last night and when I went to bed I had vivid nightmares and remembered that I cried and screamed during them. This morning I had some dizziness and headache, but I made myself go out to breakfast and after I ate and moved around I've been a lot better. My fiance noted that some of my personality is coming back -- the "niceladyness" is starting to go away. I noticed it too. I feel some of my drive coming back. At least today. I also had energy to clean the house and do some errands. I get my test results back from my naturopath doctor this week and I'm so curious to see what this has done to me. I think she tested my neurotransmiters and cortisol.

I can't think about lawsuits right now because I need to just get better. Drug companies will intimidate and go through all your personal records. I'm not against it, and may look into once this nightmare is over, but for now I just want to get better and move on with my life. It's really scary what the FDA approves. A friend of mine feels like Lexapro saved her sanity, so many do well on it. What makes me mad is that NO doctor or the drug company warned that if you have adverse effects in the beginning, you should STOP the drug. I just went on with it thinking I would get better because I was told to give it six weeks. I also think there should be mandatory testing like the Mayo clinic does to see if you are a fast or slow metabolizer. I did not know 10mg was high and NEVER should have been started on a high dose. I did well on Paxil and Prozac before because I started very low and, in fact, a low dose was all I needed to help me. I know I'm a slow metabolizer; one drink and I feel it. And most important, withdrawal syndrome needs to be recognized! People need to know that a slow taper over months is the only way. It all just makes me so sick. I never want to take an SSRI again. I'll stick with exercise, diet and a good attitude.

[chris83]

Well, I am going off for the health reasons, weight gain, hi chol etc. I read back thru a lot here - you all have done such a great thing with this forun!

I Went from a sz 2 to sz 8 in 6 months, I also had bumped myself up to 40mg around then which is why so drastic. (dumbass) Other major issues that I got where jaw cleanching - oh the pain when i woke up!
Also INTENSE sweating - thought I was going into Menopause in my 30's! But my middle is ridiculaous. Needed new undies - belts - pants & then soon after - bigger ones again. Will this go away if I eat well or is it gonna be impossible to lose??

But, I do struggle with racing heart and trembling, both hands and sort of an interior type too. Lexapro so helped that. Will Wellbutrin? Which of these herbal ideas has anyone had success with for tremblilng - it is a hhorrile feeling. I like the walnut one.

Just be decresing my does over 11 days, I feel that tremor and heart race thing back



Chris

[Looking4Help]

I'm not gaining or losing weight, just expanding throughout the day and it is very uncomfortable, I believe it is the hormone surges everyone talks about. But, it still feels like I've gained weight, except in the am.

I'm having an extremely hard day/weekend...both personally and career-wize.

Been crying a lot, but have so much **** going on that I can't tell if it is because of withdrawals or if I'm just upset...on day 21 of cold turkey. The things I'm crying about are valid, but I feel awful, guess it is a combination of both.

Hope everyone has a good night.

[db3]

wow Chris..size 2 to a size 8 in 6 months!! thats unbelievable..I feel the same way with the sweating..it just comes on and within seconds my face is totally wet! feel like menopause in my 30's too!!
From what ive heard and read from these great people on this board, the weight gain is definitly, 110% ,caused by this drug! And so is the sweating..

[sarita]

db3,

i also went from size 2 to size 8 and size 32A to size 36C(THAT part i'm not complaining about!! hee hee), sweating and waking up in the night sometimes, migraines, and dizziness. but all of it has been mild due to a slow taper. day 6 of my last taper and i'm expecting a slighth withdrawal today or tomorrow.

[db3]

sarita..so its day 6 of your last taper?? good 4 u!! Im jealous, i wanna be that close to getting this drug out of my system..i hope you keep the 36c's!! Maybe that'll be your reward for tapering! LOL

the sweats (ugh) i can be perfectly fine one minute and then my entire face is soaking wet the next minute..i definitly will NOT miss that!

[sarita]

db3,
yes, this is my VERY LAST TAPER PEOPLE!!!! day 6 and i'm feeling okay except alittle dizzy but it may be from the migraines i have had for the past 3 days. UG>......it's been a long 8 months of tapering, but worth the slow taper. i hope i keep my boobs too!!!
i'm sure it's the weight gain, which i'll start to work on come janurary....

sounds like you're going through menopause!! i never sweat like that only at night. sometimes my face would get red.