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Pokeshaw: tapering off Lexapro


Pokeshaw

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Thanks, Rhi – I really appreciate your feedback.

 

The PTSD rings very true for me. when i was at my worst, the doc and therapist both said i was definitely dealing with PTSD and i feel it rear up when i am in a wave. It’s like an alarm goes off that says – WHOAH – this is what happened before and  I have terrible memories of being in a very, very bad place. Suicidal, and physically so sick. And then I start posting about ‘what to do’!

 

I will continue at 0.5 and STAY at 0.5 for a while. I just refilled another month’s script.

 

 I hear what you and Bubble are saying

I'm inclined to agree with Bubble, that given your history, at this point your system really needs the chance to develop homeostasis, and changing dosages will interrupt that.

 

I will hold in my mind that the gut nerves are going to go thru windows and waves as well. That seems to be what is happening now. Yesterday I had a rough 2 hour wave and then a nice few hours of a window.

 

Today so far is not too bad.

 

I do keep a decent journal of my symptoms for reference and update it daily.

 

I also had a good session with my therapist last night and we continue to work on ways that I can take care of myself around the stresses in my life. I have the tools – and need to commit to using them daily.

 

Thank you  all once again for being there and for your support on this journey!  i feel hopeful today!

 

P

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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  • Moderator Emeritus

a nice few hours of a window + feeling hopeful = sounds great to me ;)

 

(and work with a therapist ;)

 

more good things to come ;)

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Sounding good, Poke. The way you describe your symptoms sounds encouraging to me, pretty much what I'd expect with a 10% cut on top of the prior history that you had. It sounds like you're getting that kind of three steps forward two steps back slow improvement. That's excellent.  The good times are going to start lasting longer and coming more often, and the bad times vice versa. Just hang in there.

 

Great for you that you're addressing the stresses of your life and working with a therapist--that kind of self-care and support is so important in withdrawal. Any support you can give your nervous system while it's balancing itself out is great.

 

Yep, I can really relate about withdrawal PTSD. I get it too. Less so now after such a long time of doing more controlled tapering, though.

 

When the time comes, I have a feeling that trying a microcut will be good for you.  It helps with the PTSD (because the withdrawal symptoms are less severe, plus you have so much more control and you can quickly adjust if need be). I think the small cuts might also be less of a shock to your enteric nervous system as well.

 

It's so great to see how well you're doing. Not necessarily "how well you're feeling", I understand that. But I've seen so many people come and go through this forum and others, and I can tell pretty quickly who's got the potential to do well. You're lookin' good.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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:) :) :)

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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Hi...we have alot in common.  Lexapro WD which is went thru a few years back and I am originally from Brooklyn Heights and I am in a 12 step program (Al-Anon).

 

A few times during my taper I did updose and was glad I did.  It worked each time in settling my WD symptoms.  I was not able to drop 10% I had to do it in smaller cuts.  I had bad WD from Lexapro.

 

At the end of drugs like paxil and lexapro it seems that lingering for longer periods of time and making smaller cuts helps.

 

You are at the end of your taper and that is wonderful....take is slow....

 

Hugs

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

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Hi...we have alot in common.  Lexapro WD which is went thru a few years back and I am originally from Brooklyn Heights and I am in a 12 step program (Al-Anon).

 

A few times during my taper I did updose and was glad I did.  It worked each time in settling my WD symptoms.  I was not able to drop 10% I had to do it in smaller cuts.  I had bad WD from Lexapro.

 

At the end of drugs like paxil and lexapro it seems that lingering for longer periods of time and making smaller cuts helps.

 

You are at the end of your taper and that is wonderful....take is slow....

 

Hugs

 

Hi Nikki - thank you for your response. and cool that you are from the Heights! i am originally from Canada but have been here in NY for 30 yrs (wow, time flies) and about 10 in Bklyn - Carroll Gardens. 27 yrs in 12 step program.

 

  i am definitely going to go slow with my taper now. i am just so grateful to have found this site and even though i was off the Lex for almost 10 months before reinstating and then was all over the place with dosage for over a year i am finally in a place where a solution is available.  

 

since my symptoms have slowly stabilized a bit over the past week or so i am going to stay at current dose of 0.5 mg for at least another month - that will make 3 months. and will wait til then to see how i am doing before making another cut. i will heed the advice of the wise folks here and next cut will be no more than 3%.

 

fortunately i have a psychiatrist who is willing to work with me on this. she is glad that i found this site and is interested in how things are going for me. i also have access to a compounding pharmacy so she calls in any script i need.

 

hugs to you too!

 

P

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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OMG......I was born and raised in Carroll Gardens.....President St.  My family (cousins) still live there.  I was born and the long island college hospital, so was my daughter.  My mom was a nurse practitioner there and I worked in the OR there.....

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

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Been doing OK the last few days but then - came down with a bug/cold. havent had a cold since last yr at this time. really hit me last night. aching all over, especially head, sore throat. couldnt sleep. the worst part is the PTSD brain freak out. but trying to breathe thru it.

 

work stress brought this on i think. last week was a bit insane with my manager giving notice - i was feeling pretty overwhelmed for a few days. i calmed down at the end of the week and figured out ways i will stand up for myself and not take on the weight of the world -  but then the cold came on. 

 

i've always had a bit of PTSD around fever/cold/flu/sinus symptoms since i had really bad ear infections as an infant and was hospitalized at 9 months an hour away from my home and my parents didnt stay with me. it was the late fifties in small town Canada - they took out my tonsils and parents came for me after a week. took a few yrs in therapy to make the connection. but now i understand what it is and can deal with it. it usually only bothers me if i am really sick. but it has reared up now - going to work from home tomorrow. and tuesday if necessary.

 

I dont normally take anything for cold symptoms. i try to let it run it's course. drinking alot of water since i have 101 fever. made some good soup and will try to sleep. before the A/D withdrawal i would have taken high doses of Vit C and some Astragalus but i dont feel comfortable taking anything now.

 

Any suggestions!

 

thanks all  for being there.

 

thanks all for being there.

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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Anybody have experience dealing with flu while going thru tapering??

 

I suppose it makes sense that my symptoms would get aggravated while i have this flu/cold whatever it is. feels flu-ish since i had such intense body and head aches (that is getting better) fever still up and down highest 101 and dry cough, no appetite.

 

My brain is doing ok but my gut symptoms are def aggravated.

 

will ride it out. havent taken anything.  glad i was able to sleep last night.  will work from home until i feel better.

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm glad your brain is handling things better than your gut .. I guess!! :) Have you tried weak, warm tea ?

 

RU

Fall 1995 xanax, zoloft. switched to Serzone

1996- spring 2003serzone/ xanax/ lightbox.

b]Fall 2003- Fall 2004? Lexapro 10 mg. Light box /4 mg. xanax.[/b]

2004 - Fall of 2009 10 mg Lex, 150 mg Wellbutrin XL % 4 mg xanax

November 2009- Sept. 2011 10 mg lex., 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax [/b

Sept.2012- July 2012 20 mg Lex 300 Well. XL, 4 mg Xanax

My mantra " go slow & with the flow "

3/2/13.. Began equal dosing 5 Xs /day xanax, while simultaneously incorporating a 2.5 % drop ( from 3.5 mg/day to 3.4 mg/day)

4/6/13 dropped from 300 mg. Wellbutrin XL to 150 mg. Difficult but DONE! Down to 3.3 mg xanax/ day / 6/10/13 3 mg xanax/day; 7/15/2013 2.88mg xanax/day.

10/ 1/2013...... 2.5 mg xanax… ( switched to tablets again) WOO HOO!!!!!! Holding here… cont. with Lexapro.

1/ 2/2014.. tapered to 18mg ( by weight) of a 26 mg ( by weight) pill of 20 mg tab. lexapro. goal is 13mg (by weight OR 10 mg by ingredient content) and STOPPED. Feeling very down with unbalanced, unpredictable WD symptoms.

1/2/2014- ??? Taking a brain-healing break from tapering anything after actively tapering something for 1.5 years. So… daily doses as of 2/2/2014: 18 mg by weight Lex, 150 mg Well. XL, 2.5 mg xanax, down from 26 mg by weight Lex., 300 mg well. XL, 4 mg xanax in August, 2012. I'll take it. :) 5/8/14 started equivalent dose liquid./ tabs. 5/13/14 1.5 % cut.

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Hi RU!  yes, very grateful that my brain is doing ok. when it first came on i spiraled a bit but now i seem to be able to hold it in perspective and know that i will get better.  head cold/flu/ear infections etc has always been such a trigger for me since i had a real trauma around it as an infant. separated from parents for a week and tonsils removed at 9 months. i always feel very hopeless and dark for a period. but something about this time - maybe just having support as i go thru this taper and get basic validation around the PTSD stuff - i am finding it easier to accept who i am and then i feel more hopeful.

 

i just soaked my feet in very hot water and will now have some hot herbal tea and then hopefully get another good night sleep!  the good news is that i have told my job that i am not coming in until i feel better. normally i would work from home one day and then tough it out shlepping in on the train etc.  so that has given me some peace of mind. it feels really good to stand up for myself.  Self care 101!! 

 

Pokeshaw in Bklyn

 

 

 

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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  • Moderator Emeritus

I'm very proud of you for this big step forward in self-care!

 

I did something very similar 2 weeks ago: felt bad after a cut and decided to take a day off to walk around in nature and enjoy spring and its healing. It was such a brilliant feeling to have recognised my need (for rest and nature) and put it first! a very significant change of pattern. That little time out made such a huge difference for me. I advise working people in WD to cut themselves slacks whenever possible and give themselves credits all the time because surviving this is indeed heroic.

 

You got one medal from Rhi and here is  another one from me as well :)

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Hi Bubble - Thanks for the medal!  i will keep it in mind today as my head is stuffy and i feel like crap - but i had a decent night's sleep, the sun is shining and i am lucky to be able to work remotely.  Made myself a big pot of vegetable soup this morning at 6 am.  staying in the moment and not pushing!

 

I love how you described your day off - It was such a brilliant feeling to have recognised my need (for rest and nature) and put it first!

these kind of moments truly are 'awakenings!' 

 

Have a good day!

 

P

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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Hi all - thought i was done with flu symptoms but fever, headaches congestion came back today and now i feel sicker, plus diarrhea - no fun. really kicking up the PTSD. brain is teetering on the 'OH MY GOD this feels like when i was so sick with W/D.'  having a bit of a challenge here.  it has been 5 days. 

not taking anything because of course i fear anything i take will aggravate or stimulate. 

suppose i just have to ride it out.

hopefully will get some sleep tonight!

 

Thanks,

 

Pokeshaw

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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  • Moderator Emeritus

Ride that wave P and it will pass.  All things are transient and this will change , just hang in there.

I hope you feel better soon and have a good nights sleep tonight.

**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 MammaP

 

I did have a good night sleep.

 

but still feeling pretty sick - and i have to get on the phone for a one on one with my boss - there is a re-org going on at my company and lots of meetings etc. i had worked from home all week (really should have taken a couple days off and stayed in bed) but felt i had to go in yesterday since my direct manager is leaving and we were having a little send off for him. not a good idea. fever etc. should have stayed home.

 

feeling rather teary and hopeless and scared this morning -  much like i did during the worst of the withdrawal and when i had to go on disability. world swirling around me and feeling very unstable. in a dark hole.  is this flu stirring up the w/d symptoms? it certainly has taken over my whole body, from head to gut.

 

i guess i needed to hear you say 'ride the wave and it will pass'  I am so hoping that is true.  i just have to hold on to how i was feeling before this flu hit me. i was taking some good actions and doing OK, experiencing  windows frequently enough to keep me hopeful.  this is a long and difficult wave -  but i will hold the faith.

 

Thanks

 

P

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

I like the way you are thinking. The weekend is coming so it should be a bit easier.

 

The nasty thing about waves is that they seem to annihilate all the progress we have made... But only seem. We all fight very hard not to buy their story. The real turning point in my recovery happened when I first experienced that contrary to my expectations and fears I didn't "drown" in the wave but that it just passed.

 

However, it always feels like back to square one, the horror is always equally strong.

 

Reading what you wrote reminds me of situations where I'm actually out of my depth, when I think the situation is too much for me or I'm simply too fragile to cope with it in a given momement. The kind of working environment you are currently in is extremely taxing so acknowledge that fact, try to keep things in perspective. These are some survival strategies I preach about. And now actually think (for myself) or at least daydream about what it woudl be like to pull out of the rat race. It also helps. Just to have this idea that you don't have to push yourself beyond human (your) limits. The world we live in has stopped being human and we are just victims. It doesn't necessarily mean that something is wrong with us because we have difficulties functioning in it. On the contrary.

 

On a different topic, I always found physical symptoms welcome allies to mask my mental unwellness. It's just that I can't come to work and say Oh I feel so depressed and anxious today but saying: I'm so fluish, have a headache, etc. is OK. I actually think my colleagues would be supportive if I said but I don't want to try it out. When I CT Lexapro i also got physically very ill: although it was August I came down with sinusitis of such proportions that I couldn't breathe through my nose at night. I spent many nights awake trying to unblock my nose. But when one has a fever the best treatment is physical rest and nourishing food. 

 

Look forward to hearing how things went...

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus
 
made me think of you...
 

Thanks everyone for the love and support, I don't have much words in me today, but that's not a bad thing, I'm actually feeling relaxed with minimal symptoms today, just got no energy or motivation, but feeling completely ok about it, which is sort of new.

 

For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone.

The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes.

To someone who doesn't understand growth it would look like complete destruction.~Cynthia Occeli

 

 

Thank you for posting this Amy.  It also reminds me about what happens to a caterpillar so that it can become a butterfly.  Caterpillars get some protection from the world while they are disintegrating and growing, but we have to do our transforming while carrying on life as usual.  My pj's are my chrysalis  :)

 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment

PS when sick all of our defenses are down.  It's a double whammy and it makes us/me feel very vulnerable.  In the mornings most of us feel scared, and teary.  The flu in and of itself brings people down emotionally.  Add the drug WD to the mix and it compounds the issue.

 

We all want to feel normal, healthy and happy.....Hugs

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Was thinking about how that Friday went for you... hope it wasn't too brutal with accumulation of everything...

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment

I like the way you are thinking. The weekend is coming so it should be a bit easier.

 

The nasty thing about waves is that they seem to annihilate all the progress we have made... But only seem. We all fight very hard not to buy their story. The real turning point in my recovery happened when I first experienced that contrary to my expectations and fears I didn't "drown" in the wave but that it just passed.

 

However, it always feels like back to square one, the horror is always equally strong.

 

Reading what you wrote reminds me of situations where I'm actually out of my depth, when I think the situation is too much for me or I'm simply too fragile to cope with it in a given momement. The kind of working environment you are currently in is extremely taxing so acknowledge that fact, try to keep things in perspective. These are some survival strategies I preach about. And now actually think (for myself) or at least daydream about what it woudl be like to pull out of the rat race. It also helps. Just to have this idea that you don't have to push yourself beyond human (your) limits. The world we live in has stopped being human and we are just victims. It doesn't necessarily mean that something is wrong with us because we have difficulties functioning in it. On the contrary.

 

On a different topic, I always found physical symptoms welcome allies to mask my mental unwellness. It's just that I can't come to work and say Oh I feel so depressed and anxious today but saying: I'm so fluish, have a headache, etc. is OK. I actually think my colleagues would be supportive if I said but I don't want to try it out. When I CT Lexapro i also got physically very ill: although it was August I came down with sinusitis of such proportions that I couldn't breathe through my nose at night. I spent many nights awake trying to unblock my nose. But when one has a fever the best treatment is physical rest and nourishing food. 

 

Look forward to hearing how things went...

 

Thank you, Bubble for your kind words. i really like the bit about not drowning in the wave!  And guess what?  i didnt drown in this wave! it was a tough week, no question about it.. doc confirmed i had the Noro virus and encouraged me to ride it out and rest. being flipped back to square one is so nasty. but you know, there is def something about 'getting thru it' that gives me hope for more improvement.

The worst has finally passed. got thru work stuff. had call with manager in England. expressed concerns i had around the re-org. even got a raise i had been asking for!  I can eat again, symptoms are down and now it is Saturday and i will keep it very simple.

grateful in Bklyn

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment

PS when sick all of our defenses are down.  It's a double whammy and it makes us/me feel very vulnerable.  In the mornings most of us feel scared, and teary.  The flu in and of itself brings people down emotionally.  Add the drug WD to the mix and it compounds the issue.

 

We all want to feel normal, healthy and happy.....Hugs

 

Thanks, Nikki - it def was a double whammy!  i survived. am feeling better. will rest this weekend as much as an OCD 'doer/fixer/cleaner can! ha

 

hope all is well with you!

 

PS

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment

 

 
made me think of you...
 

Thanks everyone for the love and support, I don't have much words in me today, but that's not a bad thing, I'm actually feeling relaxed with minimal symptoms today, just got no energy or motivation, but feeling completely ok about it, which is sort of new.

 

For a seed to achieve its greatest expression, it must come completely undone.

The shell cracks, its insides come out and everything changes.

To someone who doesn't understand growth it would look like complete destruction.~Cynthia Occeli

 

 

Thank you for posting this Amy.  It also reminds me about what happens to a caterpillar so that it can become a butterfly.  Caterpillars get some protection from the world while they are disintegrating and growing, but we have to do our transforming while carrying on life as usual.  My pj's are my chrysalis  :)

 

 

I love these!  so much about surrender to self acceptance. everything i thought i knew about surrender has been challenged by this experience. and this experience is teaching me i have more to surrender. so much to learn about acceptance. as they say in 12 step 'awareness, acceptance, action.'   i also heard a wonderful thing at a 12 step mtg one - a guy said: 'this is not program of self improvement, it is a program of self acceptance'. 

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

big like ;) and amazing achievements at all fronts!

 

I just so don't like when I achieve external success at the expense of my internal integrity. So I have now somehow learnt to be happy when other people are upset with me because I didn't play along but stood up for myself. When others find me bad, I know I've done something good for myself...

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment

Hi Folks - still recovering from flu that hit me 10 days ago. it went from respiratory to intestinal (just what i needed!) and really set me back. i am doing somewhat better but it really activated all my w/d symptoms and i am struggling with that. even the stomach inflammation has returned.

so - again dealing with all the gastro symptoms along with dizziness, anxiety/depression/panic.  hard to eat. all the energy of my gut is rising.  when i was at my worst my doctor had me take glutamine which really healed the inflammation and i was able to eat again.  a little nervous about taking it now since it seems anything i take is activating. i took a small pinch of probiotic and it made all symptoms worse.

 

Anyone have experience with glutamine?

 

i am holding out hope that i will regain the place i was before this flu hit me. that place was - experiencing ups and downs as i continued to adjust (after 2 months) to last cut from 0.55 to 0.50 mg lexapro. 

I'm just holding on to the memory of how i felt right before i got sick. i was having good enough windows that i was willing to hold at 0.5 rather than go back up a bit but now if feel worried that 2 months 1 week into this last cut i am getting worse. it's like i was ok for the first month then as time went on the w/d symptoms got worse.  or is it just that i got a virus and that threw everything off?

 

I know i should wait - wait - wait. but symptoms are taking me down and my brain is running around in circles. the good news is that i can sleep which i look forward to.

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Greetings from your resident non-expert ;)

 

I'm sorry this is taking so long! I'm giving my advice with the intention that my ignorance will inspire more experienced and knowledgeable people to react ;)

 

As before, I personally wouldn't change the medication because it was stability that patched me up. Of course, I may be wrong but I don't see that this infection is connected with AD except in the sense that withdrawal in general wreaks havoc on our immune systems (among other things): we seem to be more prone to infections and take longer to come out... So in my 'expert' opinion it's virus (especially since you were stabilising before it hit you).  

 

I actually had a pretty similar situation during Lexapro withdrawal, actually in the period of reinstating. I was feverish, extremely week and it lasted for 2 weeks after which I had a dreadful panic attack. Also developed a bladder infection (all possible viruses and bacteria attacked me). I had GI issues as well but I think they should be attributed to a business trip to Vietnam which I went to in the midst of everything that was happening to me.

 

You also had a stressful situation at work which might have exacerbated the situation with an already weakened immune system. So I would rather look into ways of how to boost it. I was eating lots of fruit of all sorts and various immune boosting supplements: honey, ginger, citrus squeeze... and nothing helped ;) it seemed like it just had to run its course and I had to rest (that is, sleep) a lot. I would say that this helped most and I'm very happy to see that you can sleep (but porbably can't afford it in the dose that you would want to..)

 

I hope somebody can advise on glutamine (or search for it here on the forum: if there's something that in the least bit alleviates our suffering, the guys here have found it and posted it ;)

 

hope things have moved for the better as I'm writing this...

 

somebody advised ginger tea on the thread of our member Skybert (also Leaxpro survivor hit with GI issues). Will probably look it up and post it for you...

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

what a great recollection I have ;) (and I'm also very modest ;)

 

but I found what i was looking for! it's something to do with vagus nerve which is located in the center of our body (stomach) and sends signals all the way to our brains thus making stomach our second brain with lots of receptors which also suffer in withdrawal (or something like that ;)

 

 

Hi Skybert, sorry you are having a bit of a wave.  I would try the probiotics, they made

a big difference for me, I also like the ginger tea. I bashed a ginger root with a rolling pin,

(very therapeutic   ;) ) Then peeled and grated it and store it in a jar in the fridge. A

teaspoon of ground ginger in hot water with a slice of lemon is very settling. 

 

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

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Hi PS....

 

Getting hit with the Noro Virus is murderous.  That takes everything out of a person, don't underestimate the impact it had.  Your body had to put up a fight.

 

When I was tapering Lexapro (I just shared this on another post) there were many times I had to updose and stay at that dose to feel better.  I remember holding was better for me.  I also remember on a few occasions that certain cuts were worse than others.

I think it happened twice when it was suggested for me to make another cut and I did and I felt better.  That was another support group way back in 2007 or so.

 

What I am saying is it is touch-and-go.

 

PS I have used this remedy many times for stomach issues......Drinking Aloe Vera Gel.  (Desert Lily).  I kept it in refrigerator and drank it in gulps.  I soothes the lining of the intestinal tract the same way it heals burns and cuts.  Worked for me.

 

My mother's famous recipe (she is a retired Nurse Practitioner from the Long Island College Hospital) ^_^
Take a teaspoon of baking soda and put it into room temp water.  Sip it.

 

Trust me this works all the time. 

 

Hugs

Intro: http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1902-nikki-hi-my-rundown-with-ads/

 

Paxil 1997-2004

Crossed over to Lexapro Paxil not available

at Pharmacies GSK halted deliveries

Lexapro 40mgs

Lexapro taper (2years)

Imipramine

Imipramine and Celexa

Now Nefazadone/Imipramine 50mgs. each

45mgs. Serzone  50mgs. Imipramine

Link to comment

Thanks, Nikki. i appreciate your being there and suggestions.  not sure exactly what i will do.

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment

 

what a great recollection I have ;) (and I'm also very modest ;)

 

but I found what i was looking for! it's something to do with vagus nerve which is located in the center of our body (stomach) and sends signals all the way to our brains thus making stomach our second brain with lots of receptors which also suffer in withdrawal (or something like that ;)

 

 

Hi Skybert, sorry you are having a bit of a wave.  I would try the probiotics, they made

a big difference for me, I also like the ginger tea. I bashed a ginger root with a rolling pin,

(very therapeutic   ;) ) Then peeled and grated it and store it in a jar in the fridge. A

teaspoon of ground ginger in hot water with a slice of lemon is very settling. 

 

 

 

Thanks, Bubble for your support. i appreciate it.  really not sure what to do. feeling very much on the brink of where i was when i ended up on disability. and i have to get dressed now, get on the subway and go to work. these days are torture. just holding on to the memory of a slightly better state before this virus hit. 

i havent been sick in a yr.  but this virus is really working its way thru my system. gastro for me is very sensitive since that was the area most impacted by yrs on Lexapro. everyone's home remedies and suggestions are nice but they dont really do much for me and some actually activate symptoms, so i keep it simple. what i am dealing with is damage to the gut/motility nerves.  too much lexapro - motility stops (gastroparesis that even caused my healthy GB to become inflamed and had to be removed), too little and it goes too fast and afterward a whole host of scary symptoms.  i spent hours and alot of money seeing top gastro docs and was down to 103 lbs and had every test under the sun only to finally find someone who said - it is a motility issue caused by the SSRI.  so here i am on the slow healing journey.  just that this wave is a killer.  anyway ...gotta go to work. thanks for being there.

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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the good news is that today was a little better than yesterday - just in the nick of time the window opened an inch or two!  was able to eat and gastro symptoms were manageable. brain was better.  really needed this. now can work from home tomorrow. will hold hold hold out hope that improvement will continue!!

what a rough patch -

 

thank you all for being there. dont know what i would do without a place to say - HELP!

 

Pokeshaw in Bklyn

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

knowing that you are at least tiny bit better means a lot to me.

 

It means we can all get better and that what we are doing is right. As I said, experiencing a window after a dreadful wave without doing anything about meds is such a breakthrough experience.

 

I sensed how despondent you were in your post yesterday, so I'm especially grateful for that tiny but major positive sign ;)

Current: 9/2022 Xanax 0.08, Lexapro 2

2020 Xanax 0.26 (down from 2 mg in 2013), Lexapro 2.85 mg (down from 5 mg 2013)

Amitriptyline (tricyclic AD) and clonazepam for 3 months to treat headache in 1996 
1999. - present Xanax prn up to 3 mg.
2000-2005 Prozac CT twice, 2005-2010 Zoloft CT 3 times, 2010-2013 Escitalopram 10 mg
went from 2.5 to zero on 7 Aug 2013, bad crash 40 days after
reinstated to 5 mg Escitalopram 4Oct 2013 and holding liquid Xanax every 5 hours
28 Jan 2014 Xanax 1.9, 18 Apr  2015 1 mg,  25 June 2015 Lex 4.8, 6 Aug Lexapro 4.6, 1 Jan 2016 0.64  Xanax     9 month hold

24 Sept 2016 4.5 Lex, 17 Oct 4.4 Lex (Nov 0.63 Xanax, Dec 0.625 Xanax), 1 Jan 2017 4.3 Lex, 24 Jan 4.2, 5 Feb 4.1, 24 Mar 4 mg, 10 Apr 3.9 mg, May 3.85, June 3.8, July 3.75, 22 July 3.7, 15 Aug 3.65, 17 Sept 3.6, 1 Jan 2018 3.55, 19 Jan 3.5, 16 Mar 3.4, 14 Apr 3.3, 23 May 3.2, 16 June 3.15, 15 Jul 3.1, 31 Jul 3, 21 Aug 2.9 26 Sept 2.85, 14 Nov Xan 0.61, 1 Dec 0.59, 19 Dec 0.58, 4 Jan 0.565, 6 Feb 0.55, 20 Feb 0.535, 1 Mar 0.505, 10 Mar 0.475, 14 Mar 0.45, 4 Apr 0.415, 13 Apr 0.37, 21 Apr 0.33, 29 Apr 0.29, 10 May 0.27, 17 May 0.25, 28 May 0.22, 19 June 0.22, 21 Jun updose to 0.24, 24 Jun updose to 0.26

Supplements: Omega 3 + Vit E, Vit C, D, magnesium, Taurine, probiotic 

I'm not a medical professional. Any advice I give is based on my own experience and reading. 

Link to comment
  • Moderator Emeritus

Hi Poke, I was going to suggest that you just hang in there, so I'm glad to see you're feeling a bit better. Since your withdrawal symptoms so predominantly involve your enteric nervous system, I'm not surprised that a GI virus threw you off so badly. But I think you were stabilizing before and if you hang in there you'll get back. In the usual waves and windows bumpy way, of course.

 

And as before, once you're stable I think you might do better with a very small microtaper (smaller cuts but more often) than with the bigger cuts. My feeling is that for you it's very important to try to keep things steady with as little disruption as possible.

 

I'm guessing you're way ahead of me as far as dietary stuff, but are you familiar with the GAPS diet or specific carbohydrate diet? I don't have anything like your kind of problems, so it's not really comparable, but I do find that keeping my gut flora happy helps keep me from getting blasted by those vagus nerve blasts so much. And for me the low to no starch thing helps with that.

 

Anyway, mostly, hang in there, avoid stress, allow your gut to recuperate, and I think things will settle down for you (bumpily) in the next couple of months.

Started on Prozac and Xanax in 1992 for PTSD after an assault. One drug led to more, the usual story. Got sicker and sicker, but believed I needed the drugs for my "underlying disease". Long story...lost everything. Life savings, home, physical and mental health, relationships, friendships, ability to work, everything. Amitryptiline, Prozac, bupropion, buspirone, flurazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, Paxil, citalopram, lamotrigine, gabapentin...probably more I've forgotten. 

Started multidrug taper in Feb 2010.  Doing a very slow microtaper, down to low doses now and feeling SO much better, getting my old personality and my brain back! Able to work full time, have a full social life, and cope with stress better than ever. Not perfect, but much better. After 23 lost years. Big Pharma has a lot to answer for. And "medicine for profit" is just not a great idea.

 

Feb 15 2010:  300 mg Neurontin  200 Lamictal   10 Celexa      0.65 Xanax   and 5 mg Ambien 

Feb 10 2014:   62 Lamictal    1.1 Celexa         0.135 Xanax    1.8 Valium

Feb 10 2015:   50 Lamictal      0.875 Celexa    0.11 Xanax      1.5 Valium

Feb 15 2016:   47.5 Lamictal   0.75 Celexa      0.0875 Xanax    1.42 Valium    

2/12/20             12                       0.045               0.007                   1 

May 2021            7                       0.01                  0.0037                1

Feb 2022            6                      0!!!                     0.00167               0.98                2.5 mg Ambien

Oct 2022       4.5 mg Lamictal    (off Celexa, off Xanax)   0.95 Valium    Ambien, 1/4 to 1/2 of a 5 mg tablet 

 

I'm not a doctor. Any advice I give is just my civilian opinion.

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Hi Rhi,

 

Thanks for getting back to me. i appreciate it. yes, the virus definitely set me back big time. especially the gut stuff.  i feel the flu symptoms both respiratory/sinus and gut are still coming and going a bit. one day i feel better the next i feel sick again.  i understand that this would def activate the w/d symptoms and it certainly has. i know i need to stabilize and i dont want to change dosage but it is tough right now. i did have a couple good windows right before i got sick so i am holding on to that. but right now, i am def having a hard time. work stress doesnt help. we are understaffed and there is alot going on. i happen to work in a kind of help desk type situation so i am dealing directly with the 'problems'.  not a good scene right now.

 

i do understand about diet and i keep it pretty simple as far as carbs. i cant take any probiotics or even fermented foods at all right now. too activating.

 

i do keep thinking that you all were so right about going from 0.55 to 0.5 was too much of a cut - it has now been about 9 weeks in and i am concerned that i wont stabilize. it seems that about one month in to the cut the w/d symptoms started taking over and that has basically been my state ever since (with a few windows here and there) and then the flu. 

 

i will get some sleep over the weekend and try to rest. i certainly dont want to updose but just not sure how much longer to wait.  if going up to 0.515 will be more stable then i'd be happy to do that and stay there for months.  sorry to sound like a broken record!

 

P

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

Link to comment

Hi P,

I just joined. your first post on this topic sounds almost exactly same to what I experienced and am still experiencing. One question before I got more time to write here that I want to ask is, are you taking the name brand lex or the generic? The generic did lots of damage to me.

 

I will try to read your rest posts see if anything else I can share with you

Drug free Sep. 23 2017

2009 Mar.: lexapro 10mg for headache for 2 weeks.

2009-2012: on and off 1/4 to 1/3 of 10mg

2012 June--2013 Jan,: 1/4-1/3 of 10mg generic, bad jaw pain

2013 Jan-Mar: 10 mg generic. severe jaw and head pain;

2013 Mar--Aug. started tapering (liquid ever since) from 10 to 5 (one step) then gradually down to 2.25 mg by July. first ever panic attack, severe head/jaw pain

2013 Aug.: back to 2.75 mg; Nov: back to Brand Lex. 2.75mg -- 3mg,

2014 June: stopped PPI, head pressure/numbness. up-dosed 4.5mg, severe reaction mental symptoms added on

2014 Aug--2015 Aug: Micro taper down to 3.2mg, .025mg (<1%) cut holding 2-3 weeks.

2015 Aug 15th, Accidental one dose of 4.2mg. worsening brain non-functional, swollen head, body, coma like, DR

2016 Feb., started dosing 10am through 11 pm everyday 2/13--3.2mg, 3/15-- 2.9mg, 4/19-- 2.6mg, 6/26--2.2mg, 7/22 --1.9mg, 8/16--1.8mg,8/31--1.7m g, 9/13--1.6mg, 9/27--1.5mg, 10/8--1.4mg, 10/14--1.3mg, 11/1--1.2mg, 11/29--1.1mg, 12/12--1mg, 12/22--0.9mg

2017: 1/7--0.8mg, 1/15--0.7mg, 1/17--0.6mg, 1/20--0.52, 1/21--0.4mg, 1/22--0.26, 1/23--0.2, 2/13--0.13mg, 2/20--0.06mg, 3/18--0.13mg, 6/1--0.12mg, 7/6--0.1mg, 7/14--0.08mg, 8/17--0.04mg, 8/20--0.03mg, 8/28--0.02mg, 9/6--0.0205mg, 9/8--0.02mg, 9/17--0.015mg, 9/20--0.01mg, 9/21--0.0048mg, 9/22--0.0001mg,

Link to comment

Hi P,

I just joined. your first post on this topic sounds almost exactly same to what I experienced and am still experiencing. One question before I got more time to write here that I want to ask is, are you taking the name brand lex or the generic? The generic did lots of damage to me.

 

I will try to read your rest posts see if anything else I can share with you

 

Hi - and welcome.  i take the brand lex in compounded form. briefly took generic at one point and had very bad side effects.

 

since you are new here, you might want to set up an introduction. lots of info here on how to do that  -  http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/forum/2-read-this-first/

 

 

 

 

7 yrs Lexapro 10 mg. Mar/2011 - 1 month taper. Severe W/D. Multiple symptoms.Gallbladder and parathyroid surgery in Aug and Oct. Disability 3 months.  Dec/2011 reinstated 5mg Lex and went back to work. very bad shape.

By Aug/2012 - self tapered to 1.25 mg cutting pills. -very bad shape. Nov/2012  Dr. Hinz neuro-replete. up and down. Aug/2013 at aprox 1.0 mg Lex stopped neuro-replete ~Oct 2013 Found this site  ~ began using compounded Lexapro and have been micro tapering since then and holding as needed.

11/6/2013 -  0.6 mg

2/1/2018 - .135 mg  Now reducing 5-10% per month 

4/1/18 - .1 mg

4/17/18 - changed delivery from compounded individual caps to aliquot. went from .1 mg to .09 aliquot

7/4/2018 - .09 mg Holding due to wave of W/D symptoms

7/22/18 updosed to .1 mg aliquot

9/30/18 - reduced to .0975 aliquot

2/1/19 - updosed to .1 mg aliquot due to instability bad wave W/D

9/12/19 - back to .1 mg individual caps since could not get stable using aliquot

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