[RichJON]

I don't know whether you can help, but just a quick question.

I was put on lexapro on January 2007. I was on it up till September 2008, and that is when the problems started. I was on a dose of 20mg and I cut down myself, gradually weaning myself off it over August and September. I woke up one morning in a dreadful panic and I was full of anxiety. The 'clinic' I was dealing with, put me back on it and instead of getting better I got worse: not able to sleep, panic attacks, nausea, not able to eat. Six weeks into treatment (and still no sign of getting better) I was put on Trazodone 150mg on top of the lexapro. After a week I developed burning sensations in my body. I reported this to the 'genius' of a consultant I was dealing with and 'he said we'll monitor it, see you in five weeks'. That night the burning got so bad I went into casualty who advised me to halve the Trazodone, which I did. The next day I visited a psychiatric hospital who then subsequently took me off the Trazodone; however whereas the burning sensations got better, I still experienced them. A week later I spent a night in that psychiatric hospital. I was eventually taken off the Lexapro and put on Zispin 35mg. This did help with my sleep and appetite, but the burning sensations intensified. I reported this to the junior doctors who dismissed this as anxiety. I then gave up and weaned myself off the Zispin and started to attend another psychiatrist privately: one who was going to give me his time. I am now six weeks off Lexapro and I will be five weeks on Sunday 4/01/2008 off all antidepressants. I did experience panic over Christmas Eve, but this has subsided and I am no longer experiencing nausea, palpitations or panic. The burning sensations are still there but have eased off considerably. My GP seems to think that what I am going through is withdrawal. I phoned a drug helpline the other day and they informed my that I could be experiencing this 'discontinuation syndrome' (a euphemism used by drug companies for withdrawal) for at least two more months. They have suggested acupuncture to get me over this. I personally think the whole thing is a disgrace, I took this drug on good faith, believing it to be non-addictive and that when I did come off it, the 'discontinuation symptoms' would be mild.

I am bit worried about the burning sensations, but I am informed by the drug helpline that this will eventually subside, they seem to think I was left to long on the drug on too high a dose.
This whole episode has impacted on my professional work, my personal life (I have lost my girlfriend), not to mention the distress it has caused members of my family. I was in such a bad state several weeks ago, that I visited this 'clinic' and was turned away by a nurse who told me they were only interested in emergencies and I was to go to the general hospital or visit a caredoc. I would g o as far as to say that I've been treated like garbage (excuse the French) by this clinic.

I just want to put one question to you, what is your take on the burning sensations and do you think I may have suffered some permanent neurological damage. As I have stated the panic, nausea has gone, my sleep and appetite has regulated and the burning has eased up?

Just want to get your take on all this.