[tiger]

Hi. I'm new here so i'm not sure if I'm doing this in the right place. I wanted some advice. I've been on only .5mg of lexipro for about 8 months
and really want to go off of it. Unless i'm in denial that i have a
chemical imbalance, I'm hoping to go back to my old happy self before
this pills. I must admit, I've been feeling better. So, why go off?
I hate medications and feel like i took they only cause i was so depresses and having anxiety attacks because of an injury that left me on the couch for 5 months, then i had a miscarriage, and a rupture cyst. I was a mess, but normally a happy person.

1. Does anyone think i'll have less withdrawls due to the fact i'm only on 5 mg?
2. how do you know if it's just withdrawls or that you really need to be on the stuff because of a lack of production of seritonin?
3. do you think i'll be able to go to work? how long will this take?
4. is it as torturous as how you felt before going on them and while your body was adjusting?

thanks,
tiger

[debbie724]

Tiger, the Lexapro discussion board where I responded to you before seems to be the current place to be. I personally haven't had bad withdrawls... but I do take Wellbutrin, Depakote, and Ativan. I've read were people have only been on Lexapro for days or weeks and have had worse withdrawls than I have experienced... non the less... they are real. I was on 10mg. for approx. 3 - 4 years and 20mg. for the past 6 - 8 months. I went from 20mg. to 10mg. for 1 week, to 5mg. for another week, to 5mg. every other day for 1 week. I've been completely off for approx. 1 week. Looking back... I've been shocked at the number of things that was going on with my body... that apparently was due to the lexapro. Yes, lexapro takes away the depression and the anxiety/panic attacks... but as many others have expressed... I became a zombie... emotionless... no energy or cares in the world. I gained almost 40 pounds. I ended up on stomach medication for severe acid reflux, anti-inflammatory medication for joint problems, muscle relaxors for muscle problems, medication for irritable bowel syndrome, etc., etc., etc. Since stopping the lexapro I have more energy than I have had in years. I haven't changed my eating habits one bit... and have lost 7 1/2 pounds... I'm no longer taking my stomach, joint, or muscle medication... nor am I suffering with problems of any of the above. I am having trouble sleeping, I have days that I itch so bad I have to take benadyl, I have some nerve issues going on... especially in my eyes when looking from side to side and aches and pains in my legs. I feel that I have been fairly lucky... especially considering the amount of time that I was on lexapro. Looking back... if I knew then what I know now... I would NEVER have taken it in the first place. Everything that I am saying or have said to you is my opinion only... I would recommend that you ask your doctor about Ativan (for anxiety)... while you wean yourself off the lexapro... if that is the route that you decide to take. Maybe your depression/anxiety was due to life events... maybe it is chemical... I can't tell you that. Personally, I think you may be fine (as far as withdrawl symptoms go) if you wean yourself off the lexapro SLOWLY. But, if you begin to become anxious or depressed... PLEASE look into something else. I know depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ocd, etc., etc. all to well. I have tried to be medication free many times in my life... it didn't work for me... which is why I take the 3 meds mentioned above and I will be on them as long as they continue to help me. I don't know if anything I've said has been helpful. I know you want answers and you want them yesterday... but like I said... sometimes you don't get a response from someone until the next day. Please be patient. I care.


debbie

[tiger]

quote:Originally posted by debbie724

Tiger, the Lexapro discussion board where I responded to you before seems to be the current place to be. I personally haven't had bad withdrawls... but I do take Wellbutrin, Depakote, and Ativan. I've read were people have only been on Lexapro for days or weeks and have had worse withdrawls than I have experienced... non the less... they are real. I was on 10mg. for approx. 3 - 4 years and 20mg. for the past 6 - 8 months. I went from 20mg. to 10mg. for 1 week, to 5mg. for another week, to 5mg. every other day for 1 week. I've been completely off for approx. 1 week. Looking back... I've been shocked at the number of things that was going on with my body... that apparently was due to the lexapro. Yes, lexapro takes away the depression and the anxiety/panic attacks... but as many others have expressed... I became a zombie... emotionless... no energy or cares in the world. I gained almost 40 pounds. I ended up on stomach medication for severe acid reflux, anti-inflammatory medication for joint problems, muscle relaxors for muscle problems, medication for irritable bowel syndrome, etc., etc., etc. Since stopping the lexapro I have more energy than I have had in years. I haven't changed my eating habits one bit... and have lost 7 1/2 pounds... I'm no longer taking my stomach, joint, or muscle medication... nor am I suffering with problems of any of the above. I am having trouble sleeping, I have days that I itch so bad I have to take benadyl, I have some nerve issues going on... especially in my eyes when looking from side to side and aches and pains in my legs. I feel that I have been fairly lucky... especially considering the amount of time that I was on lexapro. Looking back... if I knew then what I know now... I would NEVER have taken it in the first place. Everything that I am saying or have said to you is my opinion only... I would recommend that you ask your doctor about Ativan (for anxiety)... while you wean yourself off the lexapro... if that is the route that you decide to take. Maybe your depression/anxiety was due to life events... maybe it is chemical... I can't tell you that. Personally, I think you may be fine (as far as withdrawl symptoms go) if you wean yourself off the lexapro SLOWLY. But, if you begin to become anxious or depressed... PLEASE look into something else. I know depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ocd, etc., etc. all to well. I have tried to be medication free many times in my life... it didn't work for me... which is why I take the 3 meds mentioned above and I will be on them as long as they continue to help me. I don't know if anything I've said has been helpful. I know you want answers and you want them yesterday... but like I said... sometimes you don't get a response from someone until the next day. Please be patient. I care.


debbie

[tiger]

thanks debbie. that was so helpful and honest. i wish i NEVER got on this s-it. my mom got me on it. the reason? i started having stomach problems, leg weakness, night sweats, anxiety, crying attacks, fear of flying and closed places, etc..now i'm scared to death to get off of it. the good stuff? more in control of my emotions and my life, less migraines, sleeping great now, feel i can do anything and be ok
bad? sleepy all the time, less sex drive, gained weight, and now i have to go through the same symptoms going off of it that i did going on it!! i pray i don't suffer too bad.
i'm on 5 mg. for about 8 months. my doc says it's less withdrawls with less mg. is that true anyone??????? she said i'll just get dizzi and headache. if i weed slowly, very slowly, does anyone think it'll be less?? i'll do .4 for a week, .31/2 for a week, .3 etc..is that good?? if i get symptoms and can't handle it, and take a pill again, how long will it take for all those horrible withdrawls to go away?
thanks, tiger

quote:Originally posted by debbie724

Tiger, the Lexapro discussion board where I responded to you before seems to be the current place to be. I personally haven't had bad withdrawls... but I do take Wellbutrin, Depakote, and Ativan. I've read were people have only been on Lexapro for days or weeks and have had worse withdrawls than I have experienced... non the less... they are real. I was on 10mg. for approx. 3 - 4 years and 20mg. for the past 6 - 8 months. I went from 20mg. to 10mg. for 1 week, to 5mg. for another week, to 5mg. every other day for 1 week. I've been completely off for approx. 1 week. Looking back... I've been shocked at the number of things that was going on with my body... that apparently was due to the lexapro. Yes, lexapro takes away the depression and the anxiety/panic attacks... but as many others have expressed... I became a zombie... emotionless... no energy or cares in the world. I gained almost 40 pounds. I ended up on stomach medication for severe acid reflux, anti-inflammatory medication for joint problems, muscle relaxors for muscle problems, medication for irritable bowel syndrome, etc., etc., etc. Since stopping the lexapro I have more energy than I have had in years. I haven't changed my eating habits one bit... and have lost 7 1/2 pounds... I'm no longer taking my stomach, joint, or muscle medication... nor am I suffering with problems of any of the above. I am having trouble sleeping, I have days that I itch so bad I have to take benadyl, I have some nerve issues going on... especially in my eyes when looking from side to side and aches and pains in my legs. I feel that I have been fairly lucky... especially considering the amount of time that I was on lexapro. Looking back... if I knew then what I know now... I would NEVER have taken it in the first place. Everything that I am saying or have said to you is my opinion only... I would recommend that you ask your doctor about Ativan (for anxiety)... while you wean yourself off the lexapro... if that is the route that you decide to take. Maybe your depression/anxiety was due to life events... maybe it is chemical... I can't tell you that. Personally, I think you may be fine (as far as withdrawl symptoms go) if you wean yourself off the lexapro SLOWLY. But, if you begin to become anxious or depressed... PLEASE look into something else. I know depression, anxiety, panic attacks, ocd, etc., etc. all to well. I have tried to be medication free many times in my life... it didn't work for me... which is why I take the 3 meds mentioned above and I will be on them as long as they continue to help me. I don't know if anything I've said has been helpful. I know you want answers and you want them yesterday... but like I said... sometimes you don't get a response from someone until the next day. Please be patient. I care.


debbie

[bluglass2]

I would wean slower. Every two weeks. It takes time for your body to adjust. You will have to see how your body responds. But even if you adjusted quickly, you should give your body some extra time to rest before making it adjust again. Sure it will take you a couple of months but what is that compared to feeling like you got hit be a truck?

Good luck
Blu