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Isabel

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I did try magnesium citrate 200 mg a month ago. The first days I think it helped calm me. But I think it caused stomach issues. So I stopped. I tried again a week or so later and I think it increased anxiety. I read that if the body is severely depleated in mag the cells fight for it and therefore rev up the cells per say. Is this right? Alto, I've read you say that reinstatement at too high of a dose can be detrimental. Does this apply to me if I was on 1.0-2.5 x 3 years and then reinstated at 4? How do I know if I'm tolerant to the med and if so does continuing to take it make it toxic?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Did you reduce the dose to 3.5 Isabel?

 

 Your doctor had you reinstate a dose that was 5 times the dose your body was used to. This was NOT your fault, you trusted your doctor and he didn't know about the effects of these drugs. Your body didn't do well because it was too much but in the weeks that you took it your brain was trying to adapt to it. To lower it to 1mg would have caused more chaos, because your brain is struggling already so it needs to be lowered gradually. It takes 4 days for the lower dose to reach the level in your blood. Hold the 3.5 dose for AT LEAST  2 weeks. If you feel any better after 2 weeks, even slightly better, you can reduce again. 

 

You will get better, but must try not to panic. Log any new symptoms on paper, I found an appointments diary was invaluable. It is divided up into times throughout a day, for therapists etc.  You can log when you take a dose and when symptoms start, even when you eat. You can then look back and see if there is any pattern. 

 

I can't take magnesium citrate, it affects my stomach so I take only magnesium glycinate and epsom salts footbaths. It is much gentler on the stomach. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Thank you. I'm noticing the headaches more since on 3.5 and it's only been 3 days which I'm guessing they will get worse so I'm trying to be proactive with best route to treat that. A lot of people get nausea too, anything recommended?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Give it a bit longer, it could be coincidence. I have stem ginger in my cupboard and nibble a small piece for nausea. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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I'm rethinking everything and scared. I was hoping I would be an exception but sadly not the case. Feel that this is a guessing game just as much as a pdoc would say. Fourth day from dropping to 3.5mg. maybe the symptoms before were adverse but still withdrawal and I should go back up before it gets worse. Couldn't sleep then started feeling like my brain was getting ripped in half and scrambled and pictured myself sitting on couch rocking, vivid dream, nausea, crawling leg feeling, anxiety almost panic. This is just day 4 what's going to happen next and what should I do? Strang thing last night laying in bed I felt calm. Could that have been a window or finally stabilizing after 3 weeks only to cause upheaval again?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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I think when I don't sleep good and get anxiety during night and morning and it makes me nauseous. I read about akathesia and DR and think I have it which is probably all anxiety. But did feel odd head disturbances during night which happen 5 hours after dose which is when I've read it reaches steady state? Any thoughts?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Do you think 3.5 is too much of a drop?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Also I've read that DR is caused by hypersensitivity to seratonin. So wouldn't it make sense decreasing seratonin would help? But it seems during withdrawal when decreasing seratonin also caused by that? Is that why reinstating on too high a dose is so bad. Could Alto please clarify?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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before I got the digital scale I was just cutting doses. I tried to do go back and do that and weigh them and it varies so much. I'm afraid it could have been a higher range from 3.75-4.3 x 3 weeks. If this is the case, Going with 4.3 to now 3.5 is a 20% decrease. Is this too much of a decrease?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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I think my CNS is all mixed up because of inadequate dosing but I feel my dose at 3.5 may have been too big a drop?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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I just don't know how to know if its a bad drop. I cant call the dr and it takes a long time for a mod to respond so it's a lot to just sit it out when there are physical changes going on.

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Try and stay even if you can at that dose for now. Changing it could just exacerbate your symptoms more.

Yes, you're going too fast but if you can pick a dose and hold it for 2 weeks we can then review.

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
.
         

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So pick a dose meaning stay at the low end 3.5 mg even though its too fast or go up to 3.74-4 and hold that?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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So pick a dose meaning stay at the low end 3.5 mg even though its too fast or go up to 3.74-4 and hold that?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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I know it takes 4 days to reach steady blood level but I've read WD effects can occur days weeks or months out. So even the dose I'm taking might not make me stable? I feel close to the breaking point and yet all I'm told is I have to wait it out and all the symptoms I have are WD related and there is nothing I can do but ride it out. Gets me more panicked to think of the toll this takes.

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Thank you AliG I know I think about things obsessively. It just gets hard when I read more info on here that I hadn't seen before about withdrawal setting in months later and it gets me worried that I made the wrong choice and should have stayed closer to 4 because once the withdrawal sets in it takes so long to stabalize

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Isabel this is your first post. I've highlighted what we are working with and added explanations. 

I came to this in hindsight as I was niave about withdrawal.  I tapered to 1 mg Lexapro and stopped.   5 days later noticed insomina, change in appetite, thoughts coming back so I started back on 2.5mg as I didn't realize i needed to start back on the last dose used.   Added anxiety  ( reaction to higher dose ) and no changes in symptoms 2 weeks later the dr told me to increase to 5 mg.   This has been for 5 weeks and I notice no stabilization of symptoms, almost worse then before.   I'm not sure if I'm stuck in withdrawal because I am sensitized to lexpro and the high dose is too much and will become toxic because it isn't being reabsorbed?   Im worried that at my next appt the dr. will want to increase my dose or switch to new med.   I don't know if I can taper back down being this unstable.   

 

This was 4 weeks ago. Since then you've  been cutting the tablets and now realise that they have not been consistent.  This is one of the things that shakes up the nervous system and it will take time to settle. You felt worse after reinstating 2.5, then worse again on increasing to 5. Since then doses have been inconsistent and will take some time at one dose to settle. 3.5 should be fine as long as it is accurate and every day at the same time. We were advising you to reduce faster than we normally recommend because of the reaction but being careful not to go too fast and cause withdrawal.   

 

Try and take each day as it comes and focus on any moments that are an improvement however small. Research is good but everyone is different and the advice we give is based on each individual's circumstances and history so what was said to one person might not apply to another.  If you had reinstated at the dose you quit things might have been different but your doctor gave you a higher dose and then increased it even more after you were reacting to it. This was not your fault, you trusted your doctor and he hasn't a clue about the drugs he is prescribing. He is educated by the drug companies. We all trusted our doctors and many of us ended up here in a mess but we are all getting through it. You will get through it too but need patience. That is something that I found very hard to cultivate! We are all here right behind you and although you feel that as mods we have neglected you there are lots of mod replies but you are panicking too much to take it all in. We are all volunteers and all struggling with our own withdrawals and some are working full time too.  I feel for you so much, we all do. This will get better, it really will. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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Kittygiggles:  "what AliG is saying is that after about 3 weeks at 3.75mg the risk of an adverse reaction is now greater."

 

Can anyone explain the difference between adverse reaction to reinstatement at a high dose or withdrawal? I'm trying to determine if I should cut to 2.5 from 3.75mg to alleviate reaction but will I also be getting withdrawal symptoms? Emotionally ok but feel "shaky" in hands and head has burning and "busy" feeling that's hard to describe. Is this glutamate? I'm not taking my other supplements cause I'm afraid of reaction to those.

 

Hi, Isabel. When you get a bad reaction to an increase in dosage, that is an adverse reaction to the drug. When you get certain symptoms after reduction of a drug, that is withdrawal.

 

Either of these can upset your nervous system, which is a complex, delicately balanced web of interactions between many hormonal and chemical processes. That is what they have in common: Nervous system upset.

 

I just want to say thank you for editing my post and I am sorry for any confusion I caused by misusing the term 'adverse reaction'. I used the term in the pure dictionary sense and not in its specific meaning in terms of this website. Thank you Altostrata for clarifying that! There are a few new terms I am getting used to, so I'm sorry Isabel if my post led to, in part or full, to your question but it's good that you asked. 

 

I am sorry Isabel that you're having a bad time right now and I hope you feel better soon. I'm in a wave and feeling very jaded by this whole process too but just having faith that time will heal things has helped in the past so I'm trying again now! 

2012: 2 weeks of paroxetine, I cannot recall the dose. Strong side effects, stopped cold turkey, had intense, horrible withdrawal thereafter

2012 to 2016: Fluoxetine 40mg daily, sometimes 20mg daily, a couple of bad tapers under doctor's advisement, increasingly bad withdrawal symptoms with each major dose change

Oct 2016 to June 2017: 10-month reinstatement of 20mg fluoxetine daily to stabilize. A very difficult period but withdrawal gradually improved

July 2017: At 20mg (100%), started a linear tapering regimen using water titration (20mg fluoxetine into 300ml of water).

June 2019: Currently at 0.200mg (1.00%). I have many symptoms, most I attribute to fluoxetine, some to withdrawal, and the rest to hypothyroidism. Continuing to reduce anyway.

July 2019: Jumped from 0.066mg (0.33%) to 0.000mg (0.00%); I'm now free of the poison.

 

My introduction thread: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/14226-kittygiggles-generic-prozac-fluoxetine-stabilization/

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

MammaP, your posts are always a joy to read and a beacon of light.  Thank you!

Gridley Introduction

 

Lexapro 20 mg since 2004.  Begin Brassmonkey Slide Taper Jan. 2017.   

End 2017 year 1 of taper at 9.25mg 

End 2018 year 2 of taper at 4.1mg

End 2019 year 3 of taper at 1.0mg  

Oct. 30, 2020  Jump to zero from 0.025mg.  Current dose: 0.000mg

3 year, 10 month taper is 100% complete.

 

Ativan 1 mg to 1.875mg 1986-2020, two CT's and reinstatements

Nov. 2020, 7-week Ativan-Valium crossover to 18.75mg Valium

Feb. 2021, begin 10%/4 week taper of 18.75mg Valium 

End 2021  year 1 of Valium taper at 6mg

End 2022 year 2 of Valium taper at 2.75mg 

End 2023 year 3 of Valium taper at 1mg

Jan. 24, 2024: Hold at 1mg and shift to Imipramine taper.

Taper is 95% complete.

 

Imipramine 75 mg daily since 1986.  Jan.-Sept. 2016 tapered to 14.4mg  

March 22, 2022: Begin 10%/4 week taper

Aug. 5, 2022: hold at 9.5mg and shift to Valium taper

Jan. 24, 2024: Resume Imipramine taper.  Current dose as of Feb. 22: 7.6mg

Taper is 90% complete.  

  

Supplements: multiple, quercetin, omega-3, vitamins C, E and D3, magnesium glycinate, probiotics, zinc, melatonin .3mg, anti-candida, iron, serrapeptase, nattokinase


I am not a medical professional and this is not medical advice but simply information based on my own experience, as well as other members who have survived these drugs.

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Yes, thanks is due! I do get impatient and overthink things just trying not to make any more mistakes. I forget you all have lives and taking the time to do this is so great as this is the only source of feedback I get so as not to involve dr or family.

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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So scared as I think I had an episode of EHS with a loud noise and a different episode of white light. I understand this as being part of withdrawal but at what point does it need to be treated as seizure. I constantly feel "activity" in my brain a sort of moving around feeling all the time. Do I just wait and pray I don't actually have a seizure? I don't want to be in withdrawal I wasn't prepared for it. Alto, is this why people are prescribed Lamictal? I was on 1.5 mg for years. What if the receptors are downregulated. How does this all work?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Alto, in your personal experience and knowledge, reinstatement at too high a dose you have said is detrimental. If I was on 1.5 for years and then reinstated at 2.5 up to 5 is this considered detrimental? Would it be better to just stop the med? What if my receptors are not accepting the reinstatement? Is my situation similar to LexAnger? Please advise on these complicated issues?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Sitting and waiting this out is do uncomfortable. I think about going to Dr to get advice and think meds would be better then suffering. How do I get past this?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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I feel in the verge of a panic attack or seizure. I think the decrease was too drastic and fear worsening. Should I go up and to what 3.75, 4.0?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Also opinions on updosing if it helps or widening?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Worsening?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Hi Isabel, thank you for your kind words on my thread. I have been following your thread but sometimes I don't want to post because I know I don't actually have any answers for you :( I am sorry you had EHS and feel panic. I wish I knew what was causing your current symptoms. 

 

All I can offer you is a virtual hug for now. 

2012: 2 weeks of paroxetine, I cannot recall the dose. Strong side effects, stopped cold turkey, had intense, horrible withdrawal thereafter

2012 to 2016: Fluoxetine 40mg daily, sometimes 20mg daily, a couple of bad tapers under doctor's advisement, increasingly bad withdrawal symptoms with each major dose change

Oct 2016 to June 2017: 10-month reinstatement of 20mg fluoxetine daily to stabilize. A very difficult period but withdrawal gradually improved

July 2017: At 20mg (100%), started a linear tapering regimen using water titration (20mg fluoxetine into 300ml of water).

June 2019: Currently at 0.200mg (1.00%). I have many symptoms, most I attribute to fluoxetine, some to withdrawal, and the rest to hypothyroidism. Continuing to reduce anyway.

July 2019: Jumped from 0.066mg (0.33%) to 0.000mg (0.00%); I'm now free of the poison.

 

My introduction thread: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/topic/14226-kittygiggles-generic-prozac-fluoxetine-stabilization/

 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Isabel there are no quick fixes, you go from post to post changing from giving up because you are reacting, then in the next post you want to increase the dose of the same drug you are reacting to.  I have had EHS and it is frightening but it does pass.  If you believe that meds are the answer then you should see your doctor. We can't advise on other drugs, we are about getting off them safely. Your experience is limited to a few awful weeks with lots of changes. It will get better, I wish I could say you will be better in a week but I can't. If you can stay at 3.5 for a time then you can drop again. Or you could just drop right back to 1. In your first post you said you stayed at 1mg but your sig says 1.5?  

You were only off for a few days and all this is because the reinstatement was too high.  Please try to stay calm, you are panicking and making yourself more and more sick. Imagine you have a fear of heights, or boats, and had to go high up or in a boat. The terror would be all consuming unless you couls calm yourself.  You are frightened and have heightened emotions but you cannot take yourself away from the situation. THIS WILL PASS, you WILL get better. 

 

If you had a fear of heights you would not be watching mountain climbing online, or watching someone standing on the top of a tower. Please stop researching all the negative things you can find that are reinforcing your fear. The only way out of this is through and you WILL get through it. 

**I am not a medical professional, if in doubt please consult a doctor with withdrawal knowledge.

 

 

Different drugs occasionally (mostly benzos) 1976 - 1981 (no problem)

1993 - 2002 in and out of hospital. every type of drug + ECT. Staring with seroxat

2002  effexor. 

Tapered  March 2012 to March 2013, ending with 5 beads.

Withdrawal April 2013 . Reinstated 5 beads reduced to 4 beads May 2013

Restarted taper  Nov 2013  

OFF EFFEXOR Feb 2015    :D 

Tapered atenolol and omeprazole Dec 2013 - May 2014

 

Tapering tramadol, Feb 2015 100mg , March 2015 50mg  

 July 2017 30mg.  May 15 2018 25mg

Taking fish oil, magnesium, B12, folic acid, bilberry eyebright for eye pressure. 

 

My story http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/4199-hello-mammap-checking-in/page-33

 

Lesson learned, slow down taper at lower doses. Taper no more than 10% of CURRENT dose if possible

 

 

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I understand your frustration. But the adfition of worsening symptoms tells me I'm going too fast. I never had EHS at the higher dose. At what point is the worsening of things justify going back up to previous dose? I read immediate worsening you should go back up to alleviate. Isn't this immediate worsening?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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if my CNS truest wanted to get back to 1mg then would I be having these symptoms that I do.

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Are there any threads to follow of those that reinstated too high and were able to fairly quickly go down cause all the one I read are about reinstatement too high and protracted withdrawal

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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  • Administrator

Isabel, you reacted badly to 5mg. That is what's called detrimental.
 
Since you've been taking 3.5mg only 4 days, you are just starting to assess if it's the right dose for you. 
 
Are you keeping notes on paper as we've asked you to to do several times? What is your current symptom pattern? Has it gotten better, worse, or the same over the last 4  days?
 
You need to stay calm while evaluating your situation. Are you susceptible to health anxiety? If so, you need to manage it. Please read 
 
Health anxiety, hypochondria, and obsession with symptoms

"What if" thinking

and other topics about anxiety in the Symptoms and self-care forum.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.

"It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein

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Isabel there are no quick fixes, you go from post to post changing from giving up because you are reacting, then in the next post you want to increase the dose of the same drug you are reacting to. I have had EHS and it is frightening but it does pass. If you believe that meds are the answer then you should see your doctor. We can't advise on other drugs, we are about getting off them safely. Your experience is limited to a few awful weeks with lots of changes. It will get better, I wish I could say you will be better in a week but I can't. If you can stay at 3.5 for a time then you can drop again. Or you could just drop right back to 1. In your first post you said you stayed at 1mg but your sig says 1.5?

You were only off for a few days and all this is because the reinstatement was too high. Please try to stay calm, you are panicking and making yourself more and more sick. Imagine you have a fear of heights, or boats, and had to go high up or in a boat. The terror would be all consuming unless you couls calm yourself. You are frightened and have heightened emotions but you cannot take yourself away from the situation. THIS WILL PASS, you WILL get better.

 

If you had a fear of heights you would not be watching mountain climbing online, or watching someone standing on the top of a tower. Please stop researching all the negative things you can find that are reinforcing your fear. The only way out of this is through and you WILL get through it.

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Isabel. We are here for you . How are you going/ feeling ?

Many SSRI's and SSNRI's over 20 years. Zoloft for 7 years followed by Effexor, Lexapro, Prozac, Cymbalta, Celexa, Pristiq, Valdoxan, Mianserin and more - on and off. No tapering. Cold turkey off Valdoxan - end of May 2014

 

                                                  Psych Drug - free since May 2014
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Thanks Alto , AliG and mammaP for responses. Today ups and downs. Feel an overwhelming urge to get drug out of my body. I take it at night and feel like I'm on drugs. What has me troubled is one night I literally felt my brain feel like it was being ripped in two. Now I'm having issues on only one side of my body. Was this a stroke? What happens when I can't take care of this on my own? Ill have to go to the Dr only to be told more drugs! MammaP suggested just dropping to 1mg? Is this advised? I'm still having trouble distinguishing v drug effect and withdrawal. Aren't they the same?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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Do symptoms like nausea dizziness gradually come on and get worse or appear bad from get go? The reason I'm asking is cause I've had these since reducing but don't know if its cumulative? A lot of issues seem to arise 3-4 months is this cause it takes the receptors that long to up/down regulate?

Lexapro 10 mg February 2009tapered to 5 mg July 2009tapered to 1 mg March 2010went back up to 2.5 mg January 2013tapered to 1.5 mg and stayed till stopping February 2017. 7 days later reinstated 2.5 mg. After 3 weeks went up to 5 mg March 2017 <p>Hydroxine 12 mg March 2017 stopped hydroxine March 26. Reduced lexapro to 3.75 March 30th

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