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Piscesrising - 3 years since gotten off of lexapro- my story since

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piscesrising Newbie

piscesrising

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Thanks for reminding me to come back and post on here. I want to give an honest update on how things have been.

 

Recap: I was on an SSRI, primarily lexapro for 13 years or so. I slowly weaned off in 2013. IT WAS SO FRICKIN HARD. I still get depressed, I still struggle with anxiety etc etc but nothing like I experienced during withdrawal. I remember literally rocking on the floor just sobbing and wanting to stab my eyes out and this happened more than not.

 

I am wired funky. I will always seem to have a harder time with being 'happy' than a lot of people. This is due to sooo many factors but here is the good news-I haven't had to go back and after that year I just couldn't. I don't ever want to have to go thru it again. My anxiety is much much better. The depression is up and down and I still greatly struggle with insomnia but this is due to other physical and emotional factors unrelated to the meds and I am trying to work on it in other ways.

 

One thing I found that greatly helps with anxiety for those of you in withdrawal- NeuroMag and Pharma Gaba. I also started taking a lot of ashwaganda.

 

This is controversial but I take 20mg dose of melatonin at night. 3 used to make me hungover but the Pure Encapsulations brand doesn't do this even at 20mg. Research has actually shown the high dose helps repair brain tissue.

 

I"m doing a very slow heavy metal detox program (thru food no chelating etc) because I know this has to do with my depression. I have mercury fillings and heavy metals are everywhere.

 

Hang in there. It feels like it's forever because one day of withdrawal is too long and I can't believe I got thru it (and I"ve gotten off of hard drugs and alcohol and I preferred that over SSRI withdrawal).You can get thru it. It really can get better. It's just a marathon not a race but maybe in a few years you will look back and be like 'omg I cant believe it's been that long' where as now it feels like it's your entire life..then you will realize you haven't thought about it in a long long time. Message me with any questions. Thinking of all of you and sending you light and love.

 

Natalie

Edited by JanCarol
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servadei Rookie

servadei

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Piscesrising, did you have derealization and depersonalization? If you did, did they go away?

CD off meds in July 2015, not on any medication since. Went through WD nightmare, now dealing with normal anxiety, but decided not to leave this forum yet because I want to support and give hope to others. ♡

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scallywag Newbie

scallywag

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Pisces / Natalie

 

Thanks for coming back to post how you're doing that you've been off Lexapro for 3 years. I appreciate that it may have taken considerable courage to post a story that isn't all about rose gardens, beaches, and sunrise. Your authenticity shines through. I hope things get better for you.

This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner.
1997-1999 Effexor; 2002-2005 Effexor XR 37.5 mg linear taper, dropping same #beads/week with bad results

Cymbalta 60 mg 2012 - 2015; 2016: 20 mg to 7 mg exact doses and dates in this post; 2017: 6.3 mg to  0.0 mg  Aug. 12; details here


scallywag's Introduction
Online spreadsheet for dose taper calculations and nz11's THE WORKS spreadsheet

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piscesrising Newbie

piscesrising

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I had some depersonalization and the only time I had that again was after an assault that happened on me last summer-so it was PTSD related but nothing med related. How long has it been happening for you?

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servadei Rookie

servadei

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Thanks for the answer. I had dp/dr since I stopped the meds.

CD off meds in July 2015, not on any medication since. Went through WD nightmare, now dealing with normal anxiety, but decided not to leave this forum yet because I want to support and give hope to others. ♡

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Mort81 Newbie

Mort81

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Thanks piscesrising for the amazing story! I had a question, when did you feel you turned the  corner and healing was happening faster with less intense waves?

Was on 30mg (Lexapro) for 7-8yrs20mg for 3 months (This was my choice my Doc wanted me to drop much faster)15 mg 2week10mg 2 weeks 5 mg 1 week0 since August 24th . PPI Dexlant  30 mg taper has begun. Cutting 20% currently.  using zantac as needed.  Benzo is currently 0.10mg 

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manymoretodays Grand Master

manymoretodays

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Hi.  Any other psych medications along with your 13 years or so of Lexapro or before?

 

It sounds great, your healing!  Can you give a general overview as far as what you do now in your life and your age, etc, other health problems? diet and sensitivities?............if you feel comfortable doing so.

 

Thanks for posting.  :)

Late 2023- gone to emeritus status, inactive, don't @ me, I can check who I've posted on, and I'm not really here like I used to be......thanks.

Started with psycho meds/psychiatric care circa 1988.  In retrospect, and on contemplation, situational overwhelm.

Rounding up to 30 years of medications(30 medication trials, poly-pharmacy maximum was 3 at one time).

5/28/2015-off Adderal salts 2.5mg. (I had been on that since hospital 10/2014)

12/2015---just holding, holding, holding, with trileptal/oxcarb at 75 mg. 1/2 tab at hs.  My last psycho med ever!  Tapered @ 10% every 4 weeks, sometimes 2 weeks to

2016 Dec 16,  medication free!!

Longer signature post here, with current supplements.

Herb and alcohol free since 5/15/2016.  And.....I quit smoking 11/2021. Lapsed.  Redo of quit smoking 9/28/2022.  Can you say Hallelujah?(took me long enough)💜

None of my posts are intended as medical advice.  Please discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical provider.  My success story:  Blue skies ahead, clear sailing

 

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btdt Newbie

btdt

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 NeuroMag? is that magnesium L-Thteonate.  I already know I can't take melatonin not even low doses.  I think this would be a great place for an update please. 

WARNING THIS WILL BE LONG
Had a car accident in 85
Codeine was the pain med when I was release from hosp continuous use till 89
Given PROZAC by a specialist to help with nerve pain in my leg 89-90 not sure which year
Was not told a thing about it being a psych med thought it was a pain killer no info about psych side effects I went nuts had hallucinations. As I had a head injury and was diagnosed with a concussion in 85 I was sent to a head injury clinic in 1990 five years after the accident. I don't think they knew I had been on prozac I did not think it a big deal and never did finish the bottle of pills. I had tests of course lots of them. Was put into a pain clinic and given amitriptyline which stopped the withdrawal but had many side effects. But I could sleep something I had not done in a very long time the pain lessened. My mother got cancer in 94 they switched my meds to Zoloft to help deal with this pressure as I was her main care giver she died in 96. I stopped zoloft in 96 had withdrawal was put on paxil went nutty quit it ct put on resperidol quit it ct had withdrawal was put on Effexor... 2years later celexa was added 20mg then increased to 40mg huge personality change went wild. Did too fast taper off Celexa 05 as I felt unwell for a long time prior... quit Effexor 150mg ct 07 found ****** 8 months into withdrawal learned some things was banned from there in 08 have kept learning since. there is really not enough room here to put my history but I have a lot of opinions about a lot of things especially any of the drugs mentioned above.
One thing I would like to add here is this tidbit ALL OPIATES INCREASE SEROTONIN it is not a huge jump to being in chronic pain to being put on an ssri/snri and opiates will affect your antidepressants and your thinking.

As I do not update much I will put my quit date Nov. 17 2007 I quit Effexor cold turkey. 

http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/1096-introducing-myself-btdt/

There is a crack in everything ..That's how the light gets in :)

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blueheron Newbie

blueheron

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Natalie --

I needed to read this today. Been tapering for two months, today is around five days of total abstinence after almost 14 years of Celexa or Lexapro. 

 

I also have almost 18 years of clean and sober time, and NEVER expected this to feel like a detox. Holy crap! Why don't the doctors warn us about this?

 

Anyway, I've tapered before and always gone back because I couldn't get through this part -- the crying, grieving, heart-feels-like-an-open-wound part. But this time I will, armed with stories like yours.

 

So thank you. So appreciative.

Bridget

11 Years on Lexapro/Celexa, Tapered Using Wellbutrin, Medication-Free April 2012.

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Peachy Newbie

Peachy

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Blueheron -

 

I see that you say that you tapered using Welbutrin, and you have been medication free since 2012...

 

Did the welbutrin help with the ssri withdrawal? Also, are you still having all these symptoms today, since being med free in 2012?

 

What dose of lexapro were you on? I have been on lexapro to manage Pure-O and depression for 15 years. I am trying to come off again now and it has been hell. I really want to have a baby, plus my meds started to turn on me :(

 

 

Need reassurance it can be done after being on them for such a long time!

 

XX

Erin

med history: 17 years total

Concerta: 2 yrs - cold turkey, brought on first "depression" 

Short trials of Zoloft and Effexor: 1-3 years - multiple cold turkey's brought on OCD intrusive thoughts for the first time

Lexapro 15-20 mg (16 yrs)  - tried to quit once, cold turkey, worst WD ever, had to go on to 20mg to stop WD

Welbutrin 150mg (8-ish yrs) NO w/d symptoms from CT

Adderall 5-7.5mg (8-10-ish yrs) quit CT, brought on many WD symptoms, but manageable. 

 

Begin taper March 2018 : Currently on 4.4 mg lexapro - down from 20mg

 

Symptoms : depression, horrible intrusive thoughts and urges, new onset PMS/PMDD, constant extreme irritation and anger, visual hallucinations, irrational thinking patterns, panic, nausea, dizzy, intolerance to working out, chemical sensitivities, noise sensitivities, memory issues, heart palps, etc. 

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Peachy Newbie

Peachy

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Natalie-

 

Can I ask what dose of Lexapro you were on, and if you had the anxiety and depression before you started taking them?

How long did you take to taper, and how long did it take before you started to feel that you had healed?

 

I am mostly having intense mental things going on with withdrawal. Its horrific. 

 

I'm super interested in your story bc I too have been on Lexapro 15mg, and 20mg for a long period of time. It is suppose to be a more potent drug. I have had a hard time finding anyone that has been on high doses long term successfully get off...

 

Best wishes, and congrats on your recovery!

med history: 17 years total

Concerta: 2 yrs - cold turkey, brought on first "depression" 

Short trials of Zoloft and Effexor: 1-3 years - multiple cold turkey's brought on OCD intrusive thoughts for the first time

Lexapro 15-20 mg (16 yrs)  - tried to quit once, cold turkey, worst WD ever, had to go on to 20mg to stop WD

Welbutrin 150mg (8-ish yrs) NO w/d symptoms from CT

Adderall 5-7.5mg (8-10-ish yrs) quit CT, brought on many WD symptoms, but manageable. 

 

Begin taper March 2018 : Currently on 4.4 mg lexapro - down from 20mg

 

Symptoms : depression, horrible intrusive thoughts and urges, new onset PMS/PMDD, constant extreme irritation and anger, visual hallucinations, irrational thinking patterns, panic, nausea, dizzy, intolerance to working out, chemical sensitivities, noise sensitivities, memory issues, heart palps, etc. 

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stan Newbie

stan

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i searched datas because 13 years taken and success after 3 years!!!!!!!!

 

i find only a few speech in 2013, no details, and now come 18 june, post and 19 june finished leaved

 

curious interesting success story, maybe i search wrong with my bad english

for anxiety 

12 years paxil - cold turkey 1,5 month - switch celexa 1 year taper; total 13 years on brain meds 

67 years old - 9 years  med free

 

in protracted withdrawal

rigidity standing and walking, dryness gougerot-szoegren, sleep deteriorate,

function as have a lack of nerves, improving have been very little 

 

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ChessieCat Grand Master

ChessieCat

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Hi there,

 

The staff at SA are wondering how you are.  We'd love to hear how you are doing now.   Would you mind dropping by and giving an update?

 

Thanks.

CC

* NO LONGER ACTIVE on SA *

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED:  (6 year taper)      0mg Pristiq  on 13th November 2021

ADs since ~1992:  25+ years - 1 unknown, Prozac (muscle weakness), Zoloft; citalopram (pooped out) CTed (very sick for 2.5 wks a few months after); Pristiq:  50mg 2012, 100mg beg 2013 (Serotonin Toxicity)  Tapering from Oct 2015 - 13 Nov 2021   LAST DOSE 0.0025mg

Post 0 updates start here    My tapering program     My Intro (goes to tapering graph)

 VIDEO:   Antidepressant Withdrawal Syndrome and its Management

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