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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
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Posted by calmlikeabomb on March 30, 2004, at 8:17:23
i have tapered off lexapro over a one-month period, and i'm not on my sixth day without it. i have this pervasive dizziness throughout the day.
i'm curious if anyone has experienced this and how long it might last. also, i'm hoping to lose weight that i gained while on paxil, effexor, lexapro.
currently, i take lamictal, and xanax every now and then for anxiety.
the only experience i have coming off an SSRI is when i got off paxil, which was horrible. now i'm off for the summer (during which i tend to get manic on anti-depressant).
any help is appreciated ...
peace+
Posted by LynneDa on March 30, 2004, at 10:00:48
In reply to withdrawal effects of lexapro, posted by calmlikeabomb on March 30, 2004, at 8:17:23
Hi Calm - I haven't stopped taking Lex, but wanted to comment that my symptoms were always worse in the summer too. I never met anyone else who mentioned cycling throughout the year. Most people feel better with the summer sun . . . not me, I get crazier from May to August! I'm really fair-skinned and don't tolerate heat well, maybe that's related.
Take care and good luck to you. You'll get through it, just take it a day at a time and let your body readjust! I hear that dizziness is part of the w/drawal and that Lex w/drawal is MUCH easier than Paxil!!!
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
i have tapered off lexapro over a one-month period, and i'm not on my sixth day without it. i have this pervasive dizziness throughout the day.
>
> i'm curious if anyone has experienced this and how long it might last. also, i'm hoping to lose weight that i gained while on paxil, effexor, lexapro.
>
> currently, i take lamictal, and xanax every now and then for anxiety.
>
> the only experience i have coming off an SSRI is when i got off paxil, which was horrible. now i'm off for the summer (during which i tend to get manic on anti-depressant).
>
> any help is appreciated ...
>
> peace+
Posted by calmlikeabomb on March 31, 2004, at 0:01:17
In reply to Re: withdrawal effects of lexapro » calmlikeabomb, posted by LynneDa on March 30, 2004, at 10:00:48
thanks for sharing your experience, lynneda. you might find this interesting in regards to seasonal issues.
this past summer was my first venture into anti-depressants during that season. unlike you, i have always been a summer person: dark skin, sensitive eyes (which i believe, though not sure, could mean your more sensitive to the sun's effect on you), increased interest in just about everything.
it's weird though. this past summer i wanted nothing more than it to be bitter cold or cloudy or whatever. anything but having to face the sun and the prospect of overstimulation. complete reversal of, really, my entire life prior.
so, the plan is to see how i react without ssri but keep with mood stablizer (lamictal). should be an interesting experiment.
so far, after what is now seven days of being off lexapro, i have found a number of things:
1.)i again long for warm weather and sun
2.) my dizziness is getting worse, and today, for the first time in the week off the ssri, i hit a depressive bottom i haven't felt since six months ago when i came off paxil and switched to something else. it's amazing how the body chemistry affects what seems to be your very soul. perhaps an overstatement, but it feels true.
3.) nobody understands what the hell you're talking about when you try to explain
if this is, like, a two or three week process of withdrawal, i can ride with that. i wish i knew of some assurance that it will end sooner than later. if that's what it's all about, i think i can handle off and on winter/summer. without the ssri, anxiety will flare up (as it did today) but i've got xanax to fall back on, though i don't like doing that. at least, i hope, i won't shoot into manic episodes that make me threaten my boss that i'm going to kick his ass (didn't get fired, thank god).
one big question i'd like to know is how long does it take your metabolism to speed back up. i'm used to being 6'0" 170, but right now am at about 200 pounds.
and, of course, the duration of withdrawal symptoms. if there is some kind of archive where this has been discussed i'd like any help in accessing it.
again, lynneda, thanks for taking the time to share with me. sorry for the length, but it's so difficult to speak of this publicly and with loved ones who just don't understand.
peace+
Posted by Simus on March 31, 2004, at 0:05:16
In reply to Re: withdrawal effects of lexapro » calmlikeabomb, posted by LynneDa on March 30, 2004, at 10:00:48
Hi Lynne,
I have dreaded summers for several years now. I am much worse in summer too (also fair skinned). I do not do well in the heat - anxiety and flu-like symptoms. I am having some more rather obscure, alternative treatment-type testing run next week (by my family doctor, though), and I will see if they find what I suspect.
Posted by LynneDa on March 31, 2004, at 12:10:19
In reply to Re: withdrawal effects of lexapro » LynneDa, posted by calmlikeabomb on March 31, 2004, at 0:01:17
Hi! That is all very interesting. I've never been a summer person, but for you to reverse yourself must have meant something was unbalanced somewhere! I'm glad you are getting back to normal. Maybe now that you were on meds, your body's chemistry will have been trained to get back to normal. You tapered off the Lex, right?
You know, what you feel is your soul is many times the outgrowth of the physical body's reaction to it's surroundings. So, changing your body chemistry can literally rock your world in so many ways. I'm sorry you hit a bottom, but I would imagine it's part of the adjustment. You're a guy right? We women have to ride that rollercoaster monthly! When the women in your life get wacky, now you can sort of understand :-).
Go to the archives and just put in withdrawal. It should bring you to lots of posts about others' experiences. I have heard that it takes a few weeks to get it out of your system, rarely have I heard longer.
The metabolism speed up I don't know about. I hope it only takes a few weeks for you!
Angry manic episodes are hard to deal with and can obviously be career-ending :-). Hopefully your mood stabilizer and xanax will be enough to control that!
Hang in there, I would give it a couple more weeks and I bet your withdrawal symptoms will taper off. If not, keep taking the xanax til you can talk to your doc about it.
Good luck to you!
~ Lynne
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Posted by calmlikeabomb on March 31, 2004, at 12:19:40
In reply to Re: withdrawal effects of lexapro » calmlikeabomb, posted by LynneDa on March 31, 2004, at 12:10:19
thanks, lynneda, immensely supportive and helpful. your comment about the soul is a compelling take on that murky and scary aspect of mental illness.
thanks.
peace+
Posted by LynneDa on March 31, 2004, at 12:19:46
In reply to Worse in summer too » LynneDa, posted by Simus on March 31, 2004, at 0:05:16
Hi Simus -
How are you???? Thanks for responding! I feel the same way about summers and feel so unusual & weird because of it!!!My p-doc says that we swing daily, monthly and yearly so I guess we shouldn't be surprised. I'm better once it cools off in September. So the true test of the Lex will be at the end of May thru the end of August. I don't dare consider going off of it til I've gone thru summer!
I'm very curious to hear what sorts of tests you are having done and the outcome. I am trying to find a good holistic and/or Eastern practitioner in my area. I'm trying anything to keep myself healthy - lots of different herbs, energy work, even feng shui-ing my house :-). It's been a long time coming and now that the Lex is working and I feel a bit better I can look after myself better.
Take care of you! I'll be out of town a while, but looking forward to any response you feel like sharing next week :-).
~ Lynne
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Hi Lynne,
>
> I have dreaded summers for several years now. I am much worse in summer too (also fair skinned). I do not do well in the heat - anxiety and flu-like symptoms. I am having some more rather obscure, alternative treatment-type testing run next week (by my family doctor, though), and I will see if they find what I suspect.
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