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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 16 of 16. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by theconfusedone on November 21, 2008, at 3:53:25
I've been on Lexapro 20mgs for the last 3years andI've been weaning off them slowly for the last two months (5mgs at a time) and finally for the last two weeks 2 and a half mgs and then nothing for the last 4 days. I must say it has been a horrific experience,I constantly have this buzzing feeling in my head with like a zapping thing going on and constantly feel as if I have the flu.Mentally I'm sound enough so far although this could change because of the withdrawls I'm battling on a day to day basis. Is this normal and is there anything I could do to stop this except taking more lexapro again as I really do not want to as it is effecting my concentration at college. How long more can I expect this to go on for? Has anybody else had this experience or am I going nuts??
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2008, at 12:25:11
In reply to Lexapro withdrawl, posted by theconfusedone on November 21, 2008, at 3:53:25
Hi welcome to babble sorry no one has answered your thread. Sounds like you've weaned slowly enough and this is under your pdocs advise? The zaps are normal horrible. Some use a bit of benydryl or a bit of prozac to help. Have you checked the withdrawal board could be some posts that may help others withdrawing from lexapro. Then there is the Dr. Bob search bottom of page click on Dr. Bob side looking at computer left side and type in lexapro withdrawal and other posts will appear. Good luck to you. Love Phillipa
Posted by theconfusedone on November 21, 2008, at 13:33:54
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl » theconfusedone, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2008, at 12:25:11
Thanks Phillipa, I will search right away!!
Posted by Justherself54 on November 21, 2008, at 14:31:15
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl » theconfusedone, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2008, at 12:25:11
The dreaded brain zaps! They are awful. Are you going on a different med? Sometimes you can avoid them by starting the new med (as long as it's compatible). I started Cymbalta when I was tapering off Lexapro and had no discontinuation symptoms. I've gone off Lexapro before and had the brain zaps for about a week after taking the last dose. Hopefully things will improve for you quickly. Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.
Posted by theconfusedone on November 21, 2008, at 17:19:45
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl, posted by Justherself54 on November 21, 2008, at 14:31:15
No I'm not going on a different med, trying to deal with my anxiety through counselling and some CBT which are proving to be quite effective for anxiety. I've really felt that I'm on them long enough but I have to say they really did work apart from the loss of libido which in itself can cause it's own problems. Had a fairly bad day today so I am now going to go on 2.5mgs for another week and then maybe every second day to see will it level out a bit better.
Posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2008, at 19:28:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl » Justherself54, posted by theconfusedone on November 21, 2008, at 17:19:45
Sounds like a great plan. Phillipa
Posted by theconfusedone on November 22, 2008, at 2:34:40
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl » theconfusedone, posted by Phillipa on November 21, 2008, at 19:28:40
Well fingers crossed it will all work out! I have made a lot of changes to my life style already, diet,excercise,moved away from the fast city life, left the crappy job I was in for 18 years, sober 4 years and begun a degree course in psychotherapy (which I am now in year 2) and to be quite honest I find it invaluable, plenty of counsellors around me and such a pleasent understanding inviorment to be in although I really never discussed with anybody in there about my antidepressents. Why I didn't I dont know, maybe I was embarrassed that as a future counsellor I was still going to be on them, but as I started on the personal development side of things and started to learn abut dealing with anxiety, my eyes opened and I realised it was quite a natural thing for the human body to experience and I was thought of ways to control it. Also as a student of the college we are entitled to free counselling (so they wont know what hit them when I start)
Posted by Justherself54 on November 22, 2008, at 11:44:01
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl, posted by theconfusedone on November 22, 2008, at 2:34:40
I've also used a small amount of clonazapam daily during that hard last week when I'm discontinuing an AD. It's helped, with the exception of Nardil, where I had brain zaps as soon as I started titrating down and had to struggle through 6 weeks of them. It helps a bit knowing what they are, but it's still a very unpleasant experience.
Let us know how you're feeling, even if it's just to vent!
Posted by theconfusedone on November 22, 2008, at 14:35:31
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl, posted by Justherself54 on November 22, 2008, at 11:44:01
Today so far,slight dizziness and nausea and a little anxious,took another 2.5mgs and strangely enough not long after taking it I mellowed a bit. I didn't think they worked that quick but there goes.The zaps seem to be worse in the morning, I will be seeing my Doc on Monday morning so I might say it to him but to be quite honest he's not the best and doesn't believe there's any withdrawls associated with lexapro.I have noticed my sleep pattern has gone very erattic since tapering off them as well.
Posted by theconfusedone on September 17, 2009, at 13:56:02
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl, posted by theconfusedone on November 22, 2008, at 14:35:31
I eventually hit a major bad patch 6 months from lexapro withdrawl and slowly went back on them, My psych has now put me on 40mgs for the last 2 months, I'm also tapering off librium to 20mgs a day due to alcohol relapse 3 weeks ago.(I was alcohol free 4 and a half years)
It lasted two days thankfully and I sought help but cravings came back full blast. I've told docs I have a tendency to become addicted to xanax so my scripts are at the bare minimum of the above, only prob now is I still have horrific anxiety. I'm also recieving addiction counselling and attending AA regularly but I so feel like chucking the towel in. Every day I'm so miserable lately and anxious. Is there any meds for anxiety that are not too addictive that work relatively quickly should I start to feel panicky, even a cigarette can start me to full blown anxiety. I have introduced decaf and I hate it but it's better than nothing.
Posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2009, at 20:24:48
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl, posted by theconfusedone on September 17, 2009, at 13:56:02
How bout naltexalone or subtonex sp? Used for opium addiction know some on it say helps anxiety? Also heard campral helps specifically with alchohol. Good luck Phillipa
Posted by theconfusedone on September 18, 2009, at 2:50:19
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl » theconfusedone, posted by Phillipa on September 17, 2009, at 20:24:48
Thanks Philipa, you are always there for me even after such a long time since I posted.
But would psychs or docs think it cheeky of me to suggest a med to them!! you know the way they can be..
My doc wants me to go on Betablockers for my bloodpressure but he wont precribe them until I kick nicotene but at present I'm really in no fit state to take the cigs away as well.
Are the above meds you've mentioned addictive??? Is it possible lexapro has run it's course cause I've been on them 4 and a half years.
They tried changing my meds to Seroxet and I had a very bad experience with them, suicidal thoughts, anxiety throught the roof, high blood pressure and then I abused xanax to try calm my self thinking I was just getting panic attacks,I believe this is where the slippery slope happened. I am also on Zimovane 7.5 x 2 for sleep at night, they are'nt the greatest and meant to be non-addictive, my anxiety got so bad one day I popped 2 to see if I got any relieve and I did strangely enough but they did make me slightly groggy.
I really don't want to be self-medicating but I think these days the addict is only semi-believed. but I really am being so up front with them.
Thank you again.
Posted by Phillipa on September 18, 2009, at 20:08:30
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl, posted by theconfusedone on September 18, 2009, at 2:50:19
I don't think they are addictive. Just suggest them to the doc I always have? Phillipa
Posted by theconfusedone on October 10, 2009, at 0:02:10
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl » theconfusedone, posted by Phillipa on September 18, 2009, at 20:08:30
Hi all, My story to date is I went to my psych and told him my anxiety and deppression is clearly getting worse since he upped my lexapro dose to 40mg but he says stick with it.
I was suffering crazy paranoid thoughts and horrific night sweats with uncontrollable anxiety and depression.
I went to my doc 3 days later who is very nice and attentive and he decided I should get off lexapro by tapering down so he has now but me on a different med called zyprexa 2.5mgs which seemed to make me feel a lot better after a few hours of taking it.
I dont know much about the drug only that it can increase weight gain but hopefully all going well it may work.
Posted by Phillipa on October 10, 2009, at 19:17:26
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl, posted by Justherself54 on November 21, 2008, at 14:31:15
Atypical antipsychotic yes notorious for weight gan. Phillipa
Posted by theconfusedone on October 18, 2009, at 23:57:26
In reply to Re: Lexapro withdrawl » Justherself54, posted by Phillipa on October 10, 2009, at 19:17:26
Hi there, it's nearly two weeks since I started on 2.5mgs zyprexa and tapering down from 40mgs of lexapro to 20mgs.
I dont know how these actually work, but I have a mild sedated feeling for the first few hours after taking them accompanied by a ravishing hunger but I have been getting some serious bouts of anger which is something I wouldn't normally get..It may be that for once I'm able to speak my mind and it's not going down to well with the person involved.
I really feel that the strength I've been put on of the zyprexa is not quite enough.
Could anybody shed any light from similar experiences as psychs and docs don't seem to understand where I'm coming from I think..
Thanks..
This is the end of the thread.
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