ashes96 Reinstate?

[ashes96]

I did a 14 month Valium taper. I waited 2 months then did a 5 month Lexapro ( 30mg) liquid taper. I am 4 months out and the depression and anxiety is just too much to take. Which SSRI should I try to reinstate with? Which one is the easiest to come off of? I am becoming desperate.

[ashes96]

I did a 14 month taper of liquid Valium of 20mgs. I waited 2 months then did a 5 month liquid Lexapro taper from 30 mgs. I can not survive this deep depression and anxiety anymore. I would like to know what SSRI is the easiest to come off of? I need relief. I am 4 months out from the Lexapro taper.

[mammaP]

Hi Ashes, I think usually it's recommended that the anti depressant

is tapered first then the benzo. Someone who knows more than I do will

be along to help. It would be best for you to start your own thread in

the introductions forum here

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/3-introductions-and-updates/

 

This will be like your own journal and will be easier for the mods to advise you.

And if you can put your meds history as your signature that is very helpful for

then too. The forum gets very busy sometimes and it saves them having to read

right through all the posts in order to help. You can do that by clicking on your profilr,

the little arrow beside your name, top right hand side.

 

You are in the right place and the lovely people here will soon advise you on what

the best thing to do to feel better.

[lexicon]

I am so sorry you are hurting ..Please hang in there .

You are in good hands here ..Someone will come along shortly, to help you with their gentle care, support, and expertise ..

Sending you wishes of healing ..

Lexicon

[Altostrata]

Welcome, ashes.

 

I moved your first posts here to act as your Intro topic, where you can post questions and track your progress.

 

It sounds like you came off a very high dose of Lexapro too fast. If I were you, I'd reinstate 5mg Lexapro right away. It comes in a liquid form, see http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/406-tips-for-tapering-off-lexapro-escitalopram/

 

I would stabilize on a low dose for at least a month, then taper by very tiny decreases.

[primrose]

Hi Ash

 

How did you feel when you came off your benzo.

Did you do an ashton style taper?

 

I'm wondering if it's the benzo wd that is causing the depression because two months is still quite early off benzos.

Some people can take months to heal.

 

If this depression came specifically after stopping the lexapro, though, it sounds like it's the lexapro wd.

 

Have you considered trying ashwaganhha, 5htp, or other naturals?they can be more effective than antidepressants.

[Jemima]

I concur with Alto. I went off 10 mg. Lexapro over three and a half months and suffered awful withdrawal. 30 mg. of Lexapro is roughly equivalent to 60 mg. of most other antidepressants and tapering off that amount over 5 months is way, way too fast. When you reinstate, give the medication at least four full days to work and let us know how you're feeling at that point.

 

You've been off the benzos for 11 months now if I'm following your post correctly. It's very doubtful that you're experiencing benzo withdrawal at this point. Did you have any withdrawal symptoms during the two month gap between the benzo taper and starting the Lexapro taper?

 

As for supplements, please be advised that most of them are useless with the exceptions of good quality fish oil and magnesium. Some are downright dangerous, such as the combination of 5HTP with antidepressants, which can lead to a life-threatening condition called Serotonin Syndrome. (See 5HTP and Tryptophan). Since you're reinstating Lexapro, I wouldn't experiment at all with herbs that are supposed to work as antidepressants.

 

Welcome to the forum, Ashes. I hope you start feeling better very soon.