Horns85: Lexapro withdrawal

[Horns85]

Good Morning Everyone,

 

I need some confidence despite knowing what I am going through must be withdrawal. My history; I was put on Lexapro (escitalopram) in October of 2012 after the birth of my wife and I's first child. It was a stressful delivery and that  coupled with the normal stress of a first time parent and starting a new business, it sent me into anxiety and panic attacks that I had NEVER experienced before. Anyway, after speaking with our friend/family MD he recommended Lexapro. I started in October of 2012 at 10mg. After a month I began to feel better and then in Feb 2013, my MD bumped to 20mg because that was the 'normal' dose for a 28 year old, 185lb man. I obliged because I was feeling better but still not great. By mid March of 2013 I felt back to normal, better than normal actually. June of 2013 I started to feel VERY shaky and weird. It felt like it was just too much. So per the MD's advice  I weaned back down to 10mg over 6 weeks time and felt fine. I had few withdrawal effects but not many for a few weeks. I stayed at 10mg from July of 2013 to April of 2014(10 months or so) and felt like 'normal'. I decided in April that I was over the weight gain, the lack of emotions, the lazy attitude and the tiredness. I felt like my anxiety was under control and the small bouts of depression I had were few and far between. I spoke with my doctor and asked if he would call in a script for Liquid Lexapro. I had read a few articles here and at PP about withdrawal and that the Liquid would make it easy to taper.  He obliged and at the end of April I began to taper 1mg every 2-3 weeks. This was after my doc said I should go faster and I thought 1mg every 2-3 weeks would be a slow enough taper. (I did not know about the 10% of the previous dose every 3-6 weeks). Anyway, I tapered over 5 months or so and Oct 1 of 2014 I was done.

 

I really didn't have many withdrawal effects while tapering. I felt a little worse the lower I got but nothing I couldn't handle. The first 8 weeks off were not awful. I had dizziness and gastro problems the first few weeks but those went away. Then, the end of Nov and Dec started and holy moly I have been hit with the worst anxiety of my life, shaky, terrible intrusive thoughts, doom and gloom even when I know everything is ok. I can cry at any moment over nothing and terrible irritableness and rage feelings. I still can't shake it. The anxiety is crippling both physically and mentally. My old anxiety before meds I could talk myself out of, this just pounds on me no matter how calm and accepting of it I am. Sleep is getting worse and I can't sit still to save my life.

 

From what I have read, this sounds like WD but I am scared and miserable here. Any words of encouragement, success stories, similar experiences are greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

[Ssriwarrior]

I don't have huge words of wisdom as I'm going thru lexpro withdrawl myself and I'm still at 2.5...I just wanted to say that I'm so sorry you are going thru this. I wish we knew how long wd lasts but it sounds like across the board it is very variable. Sending lots of love for healing.

[Horns85]

Thank you, SSRIWarrior. I appreciate the kind words. We will get through it! 

[Frustrated]

I don't have experience with your med but you are likely suffering withdrawals. My med was paxil and I am at the six month off mark. The symptoms you are having are familiar.

[Horns85]

I don't have experience with your med but you are likely suffering withdrawals. My med was paxil and I am at the six month off mark. The symptoms you are having are familiar.

Thank you, Frustrated. It's so frustrating when I feel like I have learned to handle any normal anxiety someone might have but I can't because it's this med induced super anxiety!!

[Horns85]

Can someone tell me how to edit my thread title?

Edited December 29, 2014 by Horns85

[mammaP]

Hi Horns85, welcome to SA.  It sounds like your doctor was happy to go along with your taper which 

is great because many doctors are so hostile towards anyone who wants to taper slowly. It's just a shame that

he didn't know about withdrawal but hopefully will take note of what is happening to you and learn from it. 

 

That doesn't help you right now though!  Do you have any liquid left? It's a very long shot but slightly possible

that reinstating a tiny dose might help the withdrawal.  0.5mg may be enough, it doesn't take very much when you 

have tapered and not quit C/T.   

 

Here is the topic on reinstating to stabilise. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3079-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-stop-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

If it helps, you should hold that dose for a few months to stabilise before starting to taper again. We recommend

10% of the current dose as you know, and liquid makes that quite simple to do. 

 

You can't edit your title but I can edit it for you, what would you like it to say? I will add your name to it too, members all have

their screen name in the title of their intro thread. 

[Horns85]

Hi Horns85, welcome to SA.  It sounds like your doctor was happy to go along with your taper which 

is great because many doctors are so hostile towards anyone who wants to taper slowly. It's just a shame that

he didn't know about withdrawal but hopefully will take note of what is happening to you and learn from it. 

 

That doesn't help you right now though!  Do you have any liquid left? It's a very long shot but slightly possible

that reinstating a tiny dose might help the withdrawal.  0.5mg may be enough, it doesn't take very much when you 

have tapered and not quit C/T.   

 

Here is the topic on reinstating to stabilise. http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/3079-about-reinstating-and-stabilizing-to-stop-withdrawal-symptoms/

 

If it helps, you should hold that dose for a few months to stabilise before starting to taper again. We recommend

10% of the current dose as you know, and liquid makes that quite simple to do. 

 

You can't edit your title but I can edit it for you, what would you like it to say? I will add your name to it too, members all have

their screen name in the title of their intro thread. 

Thank you, MammaP!

My doc is a good guy and understands needing to get off somewhat slowly but doesn't really understand withdrawal. At the end of the day he is PCP who was trying to help. Anyway, I am leary of reinstating since I am almost 3 full months off and I am very sensitive. I don't know.. I am miserable right now.

 

As far as my thread title. I was just going to add my name to it, so if you can do that, that would be great! Thanks again!

[mammaP]

I can understand why you don't want to reinstate, no-one ever wants to do it!  If you feel you can cope 

with the symptoms you are having then just hang in there and things will get better but there is no way 

of knowing how long it will take to get better. There will be windows and waves along the way, when you will 

feel better and think it's all over but be prepared for waves to follow the windows. The windows will get 

longer and the waves shorter and less intense. If you think about reinstating it is best to do it right away

because as time passes it is less likely to work. Here is a link to the windows and waves thread. 

 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/82-the-windows-and-waves-pattern-of-recovery/

 

I will edit the title now. 

[Horns85]

Thanks again, MammaP. I will update if I decide to reinstate. The waves and windows link is GREAT info! Gives me hope. Thanks again!

[Horns85]

Can anyone shed some light on the early morning waking w/ anxiety/dread? I have been off lexapro now for 3+ months and my anxiety is more manageable, but the last few days I seem to wake at least an hour before I would get up and CANNOT go back to sleep, even if I am able to calm myself down from any panic. It's very frustrating. Is the cortisol spikes I have read about?

[Ssriwarrior]

I have the same thing only my lasts all night. It is particularly bad in the early am about an hour before I'm supposed to get up. I think it is cortisol because I notice my heart pounding and panic and dread. Lexapro is an evil drug!

[Pugknows]

Hi Horns! Sorry you are feeling poorly. I have cortisol heart palps all day long with whooshing heartbeats in my head. Eases at night. Do you get relief around 6pm or so?

[Pugknows]

I took some taurine last night and this morning and now I have drunk spinouts in addition to cortisol palps. Do you take supplements? Think I'm going to steer clear of those for now.

[Horns85]

Hi Horns! Sorry you are feeling poorly. I have cortisol heart palps all day long with whooshing heartbeats in my head. Eases at night. Do you get relief around 6pm or so?

Hey Pug! Mine does ease at night. Sometimes its around 5 or 6pm and sometimes not until 9 or right before bed. If I exercise in the afternoon rather the morning, it tends to last later into the evening! It's been worse the past 5 or 6 days because my sleep has decreased significantly. I just got into my 4th month off Lexapro and it seems the insomnia and waking early has creeped in. I had not had it up until this point and I thought I might be one of the lucky ones to not have it...not so much.

 

I have read that months 3-6 of WD tend to be the worst? Does anyone else feel this way?

[Horns85]

I took some taurine last night and this morning and now I have drunk spinouts in addition to cortisol palps. Do you take supplements? Think I'm going to steer clear of those for now.

I have not taken any supplements yet. I am VERY sensitive to everything it seems. Even before WD. I am scared to throw anything else at my super sensitive brain at the moment.

[Horns85]

Does anyone else seem to get 'waves' after a stressful event? I had my first real bad wave after the holidays but it seemed to only last about 3 days and I got a little better. Then, a week ago my grandmother passed away(was expected but traumatic nonetheless). I seemed to be OK last week during the visitation and funeral, but Thursday evening after the funeral, till now has been the worst I have ever felt. Sleep has gone to hell and anxiety through the roof. Before meds I seemed to be able to handle anxiety but in WD it seems insurmountable. Anyway, curious anyones thoughts and journaling for future issues. Thanks!

[wantrelief]

I am sorry about your grandmother and I am sorry you are feeling badly. I really relate to what you are experiencing. I have experienced an inability to deal with stress as well during withdrawal and while tapering. I never had such horrible reactions prior to taking meds. I hope you feel better soon!

[Horns85]

I am sorry about your grandmother and I am sorry you are feeling badly. I really relate to what you are experiencing. I have experienced an inability to deal with stress as well during withdrawal and while tapering. I never had such horrible reactions prior to taking meds. I hope you feel better soon!

Thank you for the kind words! One day at a time, right? I hope you are feeling better..? I have read through your thread as well and feel for you. We will all make it through one day!

[wantrelief]

Thank you for reading my thread and for your kindness. I really appreciate the support. One day at a time, indeed - I feel that is definitely all I can do at the moment. I really hope this wave does pass for you soon.....I really feel for you too.

[ikam]

Does anyone else seem to get 'waves' after a stressful event? I had my first real bad wave after the holidays but it seemed to only last about 3 days and I got a little better. Then, a week ago my grandmother passed away(was expected but traumatic nonetheless). I seemed to be OK last week during the visitation and funeral, but Thursday evening after the funeral, till now has been the worst I have ever felt. Sleep has gone to hell and anxiety through the roof. Before meds I seemed to be able to handle anxiety but in WD it seems insurmountable. Anyway, curious anyones thoughts and journaling for future issues. Thanks!

Yes, I have. Usually stress requires more energy, so afterwards I feel much worse...

[Horns85]

 

Does anyone else seem to get 'waves' after a stressful event? I had my first real bad wave after the holidays but it seemed to only last about 3 days and I got a little better. Then, a week ago my grandmother passed away(was expected but traumatic nonetheless). I seemed to be OK last week during the visitation and funeral, but Thursday evening after the funeral, till now has been the worst I have ever felt. Sleep has gone to hell and anxiety through the roof. Before meds I seemed to be able to handle anxiety but in WD it seems insurmountable. Anyway, curious anyones thoughts and journaling for future issues. Thanks!

Yes, I have. Usually stress requires more energy, so afterwards I feel much worse...

 

 

Thanks, IKAM. It seems to be that way for me. Plus, since my sleep has gotten worse, it makes it harder to deal with life and WD. Man, I thought doing a 5 1/2 month taper might give me some WD but I never envisioned it would still be this bad. Yikes. Thanks again.

[Horns85]

Has anyone else noticed month 4 of WD to be really bad? 1-2 were manageable. 3rd month started getting a little rough but man month 4..WHAM. I have read the months 3-6 can be the worst. Has anyone else expierenced this? The newest symptom is doom and gloom about things I KNOW i need to not worry about. Also that i can literally go back and forth between happy and very sad literally minute by minute or house by hour. Very strange feeling. 

[greentrain]

Sorry you are going through this. I'm 7.5 months off Lexapro after being on for 7 yrs. months five and six were nightmares for me but a lot it was situational.

Life is still hard but when I look back at all of the symptoms the last year has brought I feel inspired by my body's ability to right itself. many of those early issues are gone or rare now. New ones have cropped up and I still struggle day-to-day but things don't feel as intense most days. As I look back, the number one thing I'd change is the amount of supplements I played around with -they almost always made things worse, AND In the same breath, I'd have gotten on a good probiotic from the beginning. Take a few granules at a time, whatever you can tolerate. For many of us, our gut falls apart sometime after the more urgent brain symptoms start to heal and by then you 're so hyperstimulated and your gut is injured that it may be difficult to tolerate a probiotic. Of course, your gut health previous to the ssri and the length of time you were on it will affect the degree of disequillibrium.

 

My moods started to improve greatly when I started taking a tiny amount of good bacteria. Don't push it too much, tho. No reason to suffer die- off.

 

Bravo to all of us for enduring the tough days to get our lives back!

[Altostrata]

Welcome, Horns.

 

Sorry to hear you're having protracted post-acute withdrawal syndrome.

 

Has anyone else noticed month 4 of WD to be really bad? 1-2 were manageable. 3rd month started getting a little rough but man month 4..WHAM. I have read the months 3-6 can be the worst. Has anyone else expierenced this? The newest symptom is doom and gloom about things I KNOW i need to not worry about. Also that i can literally go back and forth between happy and very sad literally minute by minute or house by hour. Very strange feeling. 

 

This was a sign that you were tapering too fast. The withdrawal effects can cumulate after a while -- that's what you were feeling in month 4.

 

Can anyone shed some light on the early morning waking w/ anxiety/dread? I have been off lexapro now for 3+ months and my anxiety is more manageable, but the last few days I seem to wake at least an hour before I would get up and CANNOT go back to sleep, even if I am able to calm myself down from any panic. It's very frustrating. Is the cortisol spikes I have read about?

 

Read this: Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

[Horns85]

Sorry you are going through this. I'm 7.5 months off Lexapro after being on for 7 yrs. months five and six were nightmares for me but a lot it was situational.

Life is still hard but when I look back at all of the symptoms the last year has brought I feel inspired by my body's ability to right itself. many of those early issues are gone or rare now. New ones have cropped up and I still struggle day-to-day but things don't feel as intense most days. As I look back, the number one thing I'd change is the amount of supplements I played around with -they almost always made things worse, AND In the same breath, I'd have gotten on a good probiotic from the beginning. Take a few granules at a time, whatever you can tolerate. For many of us, our gut falls apart sometime after the more urgent brain symptoms start to heal and by then you 're so hyperstimulated and your gut is injured that it may be difficult to tolerate a probiotic. Of course, your gut health previous to the ssri and the length of time you were on it will affect the degree of disequillibrium.

 

My moods started to improve greatly when I started taking a tiny amount of good bacteria. Don't push it too much, tho. No reason to suffer die- off.

 

Bravo to all of us for enduring the tough days to get our lives back!

[Horns85]

Sorry you are going through this. I'm 7.5 months off Lexapro after being on for 7 yrs. months five and six were nightmares for me but a lot it was situational.

Life is still hard but when I look back at all of the symptoms the last year has brought I feel inspired by my body's ability to right itself. many of those early issues are gone or rare now. New ones have cropped up and I still struggle day-to-day but things don't feel as intense most days. As I look back, the number one thing I'd change is the amount of supplements I played around with -they almost always made things worse, AND In the same breath, I'd have gotten on a good probiotic from the beginning. Take a few granules at a time, whatever you can tolerate. For many of us, our gut falls apart sometime after the more urgent brain symptoms start to heal and by then you 're so hyperstimulated and your gut is injured that it may be difficult to tolerate a probiotic. Of course, your gut health previous to the ssri and the length of time you were on it will affect the degree of disequillibrium.

 

My moods started to improve greatly when I started taking a tiny amount of good bacteria. Don't push it too much, tho. No reason to suffer die- off.

 

Bravo to all of us for enduring the tough days to get our lives back!

Thanks, Greentrain. Your post gives me hope. I'm doing better today. Sleep has been a little better the past few days. Still waking around 6a no matter what time I go to bed. Morning anxiety varies from day to day. Every now and then I'll have a great day only to return to crumminess. Waves and windows, I guess! Good luck to you!

[Horns85]

Welcome, Horns.

 

Sorry to hear you're having protracted post-acute withdrawal syndrome.

 

 

Has anyone else noticed month 4 of WD to be really bad? 1-2 were manageable. 3rd month started getting a little rough but man month 4..WHAM. I have read the months 3-6 can be the worst. Has anyone else expierenced this? The newest symptom is doom and gloom about things I KNOW i need to not worry about. Also that i can literally go back and forth between happy and very sad literally minute by minute or house by hour. Very strange feeling.

This was a sign that you were tapering too fast. The withdrawal effects can cumulate after a while -- that's what you were feeling in month 4.

Can anyone shed some light on the early morning waking w/ anxiety/dread? I have been off lexapro now for 3+ months and my anxiety is more manageable, but the last few days I seem to wake at least an hour before I would get up and CANNOT go back to sleep, even if I am able to calm myself down from any panic. It's very frustrating. Is the cortisol spikes I have read about?

Read this: Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems

Thanks, Alto. I had a feeling that is what it was. The culmination of a too fast taper bc I didn't have a ton of symptoms during the taper. O well, I will press on and one of these days be over the hump! All we can do right? Stay positive! Thanks again!

[Horns85]

Ugh. This early morning waking I can tell makes all my symptoms worse. Luckily, I don't have trouble going to sleep. The broken sleep, very strange dreams and early waking makes it difficult to work through anything when my brain feels exhausted. Almost like I'm going insane. So frustrating. I feel like it increases my anxiety 10x...

 

One day at a time.

[luv2knit]

Horns85, I was just looking over some of your more recent posts. I am (almost) 6 months out from a too-fast taper from Zoloft. I too found month 4 to be brutal. Came out of it, and even saw some slight improvement. Again, at 6 months, I am going through the same thing. Hope you are right about the 3-6 months, and things get better soon--for both of us!

[greentrain]

Thanks, Horns. Do you meditate? I've been running into sleep problems over the last two weeks after I had a good one month streak of getting 6-8.5 hours each night. When I can't sleep I try do a body scan or breath meditation to at least keep my body restful.

 

It's nice to know we're not alone in these struggles and that they will end eventually.

[Horns85]

Horns85, I was just looking over some of your more recent posts. I am (almost) 6 months out from a too-fast taper from Zoloft. I too found month 4 to be brutal. Came out of it, and even saw some slight improvement. Again, at 6 months, I am going through the same thing. Hope you are right about the 3-6 months, and things get better soon--for both of us!

Hi Luv2knit! Good to hear you came out of your month 4 horror. Thanks for your reply! I'm sorry to hear you are going through it again. Hopefully 3-6 is the worst of it. Good luck to you!

[Horns85]

Thanks, Horns. Do you meditate? I've been running into sleep problems over the last two weeks after I had a good one month streak of getting 6-8.5 hours each night. When I can't sleep I try do a body scan or breath meditation to at least keep my body restful.

 

It's nice to know we're not alone in these struggles and that they will end eventually.

Greentrain, I don't meditate. It's not a bad idea! Yes, it is nice to know that we are not alone in this suffering. Though I would not wish this on my worst enemy!

[Horns85]

Blah! Another restless night of only 3 or 4 hours of sleep. It's beginning to catch up with me and I feel like a zombie. My cortisol mornings, anxiety, sadness all seem 10x worse after not getting enough sleep. Difficult to function at work and the slightest thing can set me off. Not to mention I feel dizzy and every sense I have feels overstimulated. Like I was out all night drinking when in fact it was the complete opposite. If i could only rewind to two weeks ago when I had these symptoms w/ enough sleep. They didn't seem nearly as daunting!--Journaling

[greentrain]

Ok, Horns. Let's see what else we can do to help - try putting a relaxing meditation or peaceful sounds on a device with headphones. Have you tried Lactium or Mag Glycinate? They are very gentle and it helped me even when I was at my most reactive. Is your room pitch black? Also I wear amber glasses - $8 off Amazon - starting at about 7pm every night to encourage my body to wind down and produce melatonin. Kali Phos is a cell salt that is relaxing and gentle.

 

Try some EFT tapping in the AM.

 

I still use an energy tapping routine each morning to clear some of the toxic overhang. I swear by it. On youtube, google 5 minute energy routine.

 

Hang in there, fellow Lexapro sufferer. I'm trying to do the same.

[greentrain]

It seems a little crazy that tapping on these acupressure points helps clear some of that morning hangover / haze but I really see the benefits. Keep an open mind!

 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gffKhttrRw4