thescamp Cipralex (Lexapro) - a month on 5 mgs

[thescamp]

Hello guys,

I have been given this site from benzobuddies. Because of a major depressive episodes, i have been to psychiatrist who put me on Ciraplex. I dont trust pills anymore (I was on Clonazepam for  couple of months with alwful withdrawal effects), so i didnt take the pills on the dose he prescribed them. I started on 2.5 mgs, for couple of weeks, then went on 5 mgs instead of 10. The problem is i feel very bad when i take a dose. I feel like a zombie, i feel depressed and at times suicidal. I am afraid to increase the dose, and i am afraid of what happens when i decide to quit. Will i again discover hell ?

My questions are.

Could i develope dependency on a month of regular (some day i skip the dose for couple of hours) use ?
If i stop them now will i see  withdrawal effects ?
Is it normal to feel that bad, with alot of DP/DR and cognitive impairment ?
Is there going to be damage on the cognitive functions, because when i take those i feel like i cant think.
Should i continue taking them in order to feel the positive effects if there are some ?

I am afraid to be in position when taking them makes me feel worse, and being afraid of stopping because of withdrawal. What do you think about memory and cognitive impairment.

[Altostrata]

Welcome, thescamp.

 

It's hard to tell what's going on, but if I were you, I'd stop experimenting with Cipralex entirely.

 

You may be a person who is very sensitive to psychiatric drugs. They could cause a lot of damage to you.

 

You will need to learn non-drug ways to cope with whatever is bothering you. See Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

[thescamp]

What do you mean by stop experimenting with it Altostrata ? Do i stop taking it or take it as perscribred ?

[Altostrata]

If you don't like how it makes you feel, I would not take it at all. Do not take it occasionally, that could make you sick.

[bubble]

It would also help us to understand your situation better if you could put your drug history in your signature as described here: Withdrawal History in Signature OR Complete your Signature from Phone or Tablet

[thescamp]

Yes, i dont like how it is working by now. But should i taper it, or can i quit it CT, because i have been taking it for not more than a month. I mean should i wait more until it starts working, or do i need to stop it before i have developed dependency. Or have i already developed one ? I have been taking it responsible, not skipping a day. I am quite confused of how it is working, is it worse than benzodiazepines, because i have some experiense with them which is not very positive.

My most important question is should i stop it abruptly from 5 mgs, or go gradually now and taper it off. Maybe i am from the sensitive to medication people, but i needed some relief from the depression i have been struck with. I have appointment with doctor in the beggining of the next month.

[bubble]

Thank you for giving more details about your drug history. Could you maybe improve on it bu giving at least approximate dates of how long you were on drugs?

 

We frequently see antidepressants being prescribed for benzo withdrawal (which is your case) and vice versa. As somebody who got stuck on both I can't say one is worse than the other. They are equally bad, only in slightly different way. 

 

Are you aware that you are going through a prolonged benzo withdrawal?

 

It seems you were not taking clonazepam for a long period of time although I can't really find this info here. You were also doing well (at least initially) managing your symptoms with non-drug remedies. Have you tried any form of talk therapy? We see that whatever symptoms led us start taking using these drugs after initial relief they cause much worse symptoms when we try to stop taking them.

 

After one month you can try dropping by 0.25 mg and see how you feel after a week. We recommend 10 % taper but I don't think it is necessary that you stay on the drug longer than you were taking it. You have your initial symptoms, benzo withdrawal symptoms, reaction to Cipralex and now stopping Cipralex will be added to the mix... It will be hard to tell what is causing what. But as you have already seen, adding drugs to the mix usually only makes things worse...Your brain is now sensitised with benzo withdrawal so it might be challenging but stay in touch and we will see how things develop. 

 

Best,

Bubble

[JanCarol]

Hey scamp - 

 

I agree with Bubble, you may have had symptoms from the clonazepam withdrawal, especially since that was cold turkey.  Often the total cost of withdrawal is delayed, sometimes a year or more!

 

If you want to come off the cipralex, try cutting it in half for a week, and then if that doesn't upset your system too much, cut it in half for another week (1/4 original dose) before discontinuing.  That way you will step down gently, even though it hasn't been in your system long.

 

There are some people who have had problems from just one tablet, so it does no harm to be careful.  

 

You can stop it immediately, as Alto suggests, and there's a good chance you will be fine.

It may be important for you to not take any psych drugs again in the future, as you are sensitive to them.

 

How are you feeling?