JS11: So close to being free of Escitalopram/Adderall. Now side-effect RX nightmare

[JS11]

Oh darn the bad luck!  Mort81, I had started to write a reply when BrassMonkey's message popped up, so I answered that one and hit reply, only to find that the few words I had typed were posted as well.  Trying to figure out how all this stuff works.  

Budding computer genius?  I think not!   

[brassmonkey]

No problem Mort.  If you think digging up information of ADs is tricky, trying to find out about supplements is a whole another ball game.  BTW we do highly recommend magnesium, just start low and see how you react.  Lemon Balm and Passion Flower have very mixed results and need to be treated carefully. 

[Mort81]

10 minutes ago, JS11 said:

Oh darn the bad luck!  Mort81, I had started to write a reply when BrassMonkey's message popped up, so I answered that one and hit reply, only to find that the few words I had typed were posted as well.  Trying to figure out how all this stuff works.  

Budding computer genius?  I think not!   

Oh no ! I've done that plenty of times!  I'm no tech wizard either! 

[JS11]

Well, this is the third time I have tried to write, type, post a reply.  Oh my short-memory is getting quite a work out!.  So, again:  Your words make me feel so much better.  I am going to quickly post this and then try and continue....Oh the humanity!  

[Mort81]

8 minutes ago, brassmonkey said:

No problem Mort.  If you think digging up information of ADs is tricky, trying to find out about supplements is a whole another ball game.  BTW we do highly recommend magnesium, just start low and see how you react.  Lemon Balm and Passion Flower have very mixed results and need to be treated carefully. 

Thanks for pointing this out , yes I do believe that!   Ya def any supplements you start to help with wd symptoms  needs to be started as low as possible.  I prob have 100$ worth of stuff that doesn't agree with me and that I don't use . 

[Mort81]

Just now, JS11 said:

Well, this is the third time I have tried to write, type, post a reply.  Oh my short-memory is getting quite a work out!.  So, again:  Your words make me feel so much better.  I am going to quickly post this and then try and continue....Oh the humanity!  

Hahah thank you JS AND don't worry,  take your time, even if you post tomorrow,  I know how difficult it can be 

[JS11]

12 minutes ago, brassmonkey said:

No problem Mort.  If you think digging up information of ADs is tricky, trying to find out about supplements is a whole another ball game.  BTW we do highly recommend magnesium, just start low and see how you react.  Lemon Balm and Passion Flower have very mixed results and need to be treated carefully. 

I can only imagine!.  I saw something on PBS about the lack of regulation, although I think they had a Canadian company (Go Mort81)  that a major U.S. manufacturer was trying to model itself after so that what was indicated on the label was actually present in the bottle.  Whew.  First the Antis then the supplements.

[JS11]

2 minutes ago, Mort81 said:

Hahah thank you JS AND don't worry,  take your time, even if you post tomorrow,  I know how difficult it can be 

Well, it's not as though it was a future publication of some notoriety, but I haven't even been making sense to myself of late so I at least wanted to try and make sense to someone else.  Oh goodness, this has given me a good laugh, which I desperately needed.  So, an added bonus.  And yes, I may post tomorrow as it will give me something to look forward to when I wake up rather than the icky roller coaster which plagued me this a.m.

[JS11]

Wow, I feel exhausted just trying to respond to your gracious words. Which I suppose is good as I really wanted to try and get some good sleep.  Last night, anxiety decided to rear its ugly head when mine hit the pillow.  Nasty stuff that.  

Just a few things before I forget again:  I'm sorry about your tooth.  Blasted caps.  Have a couple myself.  I know down here we all rave about Socialized medicine, well, some of us rave with great admiration.  I don't even want to speak about the others....But I know here, such dental procedures are expensive, even with insurance.  So I am hoping that you have a kind, gentle and very inexpensive dentist who will fix you back up promptly.  At least you won't have to lie when they ask if you are flossing?  I was once such a fanatic about it, but haven't kept up my usual standards so have to hang my head in shame when the question is asked.  Always under that darned bright light, like an interrogation.  Never have been a very good liar.  

take good care, Mort81

Have a lovely evening and I will be back on the 'morrow.  

Goodnight.

JS

[nz11]

Just saw a flag that said this thread was 'Hot' !!

 

Greetings

D Trump

[JS11]

Hahahaha...Oh I needed that!  Crashing and burning at the moment

 

[JS11]

Thank you NZ11....Oh, I'm an 11 too....

[JS11]

Oh I just read your quote from, D. Healy.  I think I printed it out.  Either that or I'm imaging the whole thing, and am far worse off than I thought.

 

And by the way Donald, isn't it a little early for you?  Don't you usually wait until 3am to wield your "Presidential" power?

Oh, my mistake.  I am on the West Coast and it is the witching hour in the other Washington.

 

Regards,

Go Hilary!

Goodnight

[Mort81]

52 minutes ago, JS11 said:

Wow, I feel exhausted just trying to respond to your gracious words. Which I suppose is good as I really wanted to try and get some good sleep.  Last night, anxiety decided to rear its ugly head when mine hit the pillow.  Nasty stuff that.  

Just a few things before I forget again:  I'm sorry about your tooth.  Blasted caps.  Have a couple myself.  I know down here we all rave about Socialized medicine, well, some of us rave with great admiration.  I don't even want to speak about the others....But I know here, such dental procedures are expensive, even with insurance.  So I am hoping that you have a kind, gentle and very inexpensive dentist who will fix you back up promptly.  At least you won't have to lie when they ask if you are flossing?  I was once such a fanatic about it, but haven't kept up my usual standards so have to hang my head in shame when the question is asked.  Always under that darned bright light, like an interrogation.  Never have been a very good liar.  

take good care, Mort81

Have a lovely evening and I will be back on the 'morrow.  

Goodnight.

JS

Lol thank you very much much appreciated !  Ya we have coverage , but I'm hoping it doesn't go over what I have . But my dentist is a family friend ,however I've been looking at holistic dentists now because I don't trust anything anymore that's one thing this experience will do to you. Well at least it did that to me , I don't trust too many things anymore.  

 

Flossing I don't mind to do but my dentist told me not too because of what I had going on oh well . What's done is done.

 

But don't exhaust yourself this can be overwhelming even responding to too many emails etc.. It kinda all depends on how your wd symptoms are . 

 

Anxiety from this or any wd symptom can be much worse when your not distracted.  So when the head hits the pillow and all the distractions are gone   I would think is pretty common.  For me it is !

 

Okay have a good one!  

 

 

[JS11]

9 hours ago, Mort81 said:

Lol thank you very much much appreciated !  Ya we have coverage , but I'm hoping it doesn't go over what I have . But my dentist is a family friend ,however I've been looking at holistic dentists now because I don't trust anything anymore that's one thing this experience will do to you. Well at least it did that to me , I don't trust too many things anymore.  

 

Flossing I don't mind to do but my dentist told me not too because of what I had going on oh well . What's done is done.

 

But don't exhaust yourself this can be overwhelming even responding to too many emails etc.. It kinda all depends on how your wd symptoms are . 

 

Anxiety from this or any wd symptom can be much worse when your not distracted.  So when the head hits the pillow and all the distractions are gone   I would think is pretty common.  For me it is !

 

Okay have a good one!  

 

 

Hi Mort81, 

It's nice to have a dentist that is a friend too.  And I understand totally about the holistic stuff.

I don't know if your dentist is in on a Saturday.  That's what friends do, though.

Here it is Labor Day weekend, so Monday is a holiday.  Traditionally, at least when I was growing up, kids started school the day after so it was a last hurrah before going back to class.  Now they throw them in a little earlier, Aug. 31, so they have time to recover from 2 days of school.

 

Oh, questions and any help that you can provide are appreciated.  Last night the anxiety started around 11:00 ish and I was not so good, crying, oh just panic.  I don't usually get nighttime anxiety.  I was taking the Hydroxyline before bed, however.  I took this the first time on August 1, started very low, 25mg to 50mg then increased.  Looking at symptoms in my calendar, the anxiety was going strong.  But this was also when I went from 4mg Lex/Escitalopram to 10mg.  

 

So, I took  the last dose of Hydroxyline (75mg total) on August 28, and then added Gabapentin.  100mg, 1st day, 200mg 2nd day 100mg last day which was August 30.  

 

I realize it is only September 2, and I have only been on Lexapro at 8.5 mg for three days in the middle of all this chaos but I have never had this dizziness before.  I am just wondering, thoughts, opinions as to whether I have now desensitized myself to this stuff.  

 

I have had seemingly adverse reactions to I think the last 6 RX's I have been prescribed, one of which was an antibiotic.  That one sent me to the emergency room three consecutive days and resulted in thousands of dollars of tests, possible stroke, saw neurologist, cardiologist, I was popular but not in a good way.

 

I suppose I am now just extremely paranoid and frightened.  Terrified really.

Life besides the withdrawal is very precarious now as well, with major changes.  These would produce anxiety in anyone I know but the other stuff....I had Vertigo once and would not wish that on anyone.  Like being a landluber aboard an ocean vessel in a storm.  Hideous stuff.

 

So, if you are able any knowledge?  You got off Lexapro in freight train fashion.  I kept going back and forth not wanting to listen to my psychiatrist, doing what I wanted, which is to not increase the dose of Lexapro (I was at 4mg and went up to 5mg)  I just feel such regret and....loss. And throw some anger in there too.  

 

Thank you for listening...I just don't know and my decision making skills don't seem to be so hot either.

take care,

JS

[JS11]

P.S.  I did get some of the fizzy magnesium and have sipped on that.  I guess the terror in part, comes from the almost immediate dizziness and anxiety...15 minutes after my RX's.  I do 3.5mg Lex in Liquid form  I was feeling immediate anxiety when I switched to the liquid before and blamed the Lexapro.  My Psychiatrist said it was anxiety.  Then it started immediately when I woke up before taking the Lexapro, so I wasn't sure.  Doubted myself.  That is one of the things which led me to the smorgasbord of medications.  

 

I guess I just need an opinion from someone who doesn't just want me to take another pill.....

[bubble]

Hi the both of you, 

So nice to hear from you both.  Oh yes, to sleep.  I'm so glad you got some Scorpio.

I'm sorry the anxiety is plaguing you.  It is a demon isn't it?  

 

I didn't used to get it at bedtime or maybe I did and happily repressed the memory but now, oh ugh.  Last night I was rather beside myself.  

 

Oh my gosh I was just reading your signature, Scorpio,  You have had burning in said nether regions too?  I've been, well, beside myself.  

 

Thoughts from both of you on my dose of Escitalopram/Lexapro.  If you look at my signature, it tells of the chaos.  I too think I have developed extreme sensitivity as have had adverse reaction to pretty much anything I have taken including an antibiotic.

 

I have been having such dizziness too, like you Scorpio.  Especially upon waking.  I don't know about you Bubbles. I had Vertigo once and this is nastiness.  A bad flashback.

 

I don't know what either of your thoughts are on trying to stabilize my dosage of Lexapro.  I was totally off for 4 months, reinstated at behest of Psychiatrist.  There was plenty of anxiety present, however, now I know it was withdrawal.  I was lowering my dose of Adderall XR from 10mg to 5mg.  

 

I initially did Lex at 2.5 then up to 3.75.  Psychiatrist kept wanting me to increase.  I kept wanting not to.  An oddly whenever I started the liquid Lexapro, the anxiety came on first thing after I took it in the morning.  Once or twice it happened before so then I started to believe that it was truly the anxiety, as suggested by the psychiatrist and not the Lexapro, which is what I thought.  

 

So again, I crept up on the dose.  I was holding at 5mg but still that horrendous stuff.  So back and forth I went.  And NOW, what do I do?  Any thoughts.

 

I need to stabilize my dosage.  Yes, I have only been on 8.5 mg (5mg tablet and 3.5mg liquid) but that same sensation has happened.  This morning, not even 15 minutes after I took the liquid, the anxiety was there.  The dizziness started almost immediately after I got up.  

 

So do I go still lower?  I don't want to mess up my system anymore than it already is but as I tried to explain to the nurse before I reluctantly agreed to this and then a slew of other medicines to help my anxiety and ironically to assist with the side-effects from taking the Lexapro which was supposed to help me:  My psychiatrist, although very, thoughtful and caring, is handing me a poison apple.  I keep telling her it is poison and she keeps telling me it is nutritious.  

 

And we know what happens when we take a bite of a bad apple.  

 

I hope the Magnesium foot soak has helped ease your symptoms somewhat, Scorpio.  

 

And Bubble, what a gem you are.  Those souls at the institution no doubt were more recipients of your kind generosity.  What we all need.  Some love and comfort.  I know I do.

If either of you could offer up your suggestions.  How do you decide how much poison to ingest?

Thanks again for your kindness and for being there.

take care,

JS

 

 

It seems I just can't copy pase the quote grrrrr.

 

I think it is important for it to be on your thread. I will look into your situation in more depth tomorrow because I'm sooo wasted after my outing. 

 

Briefly, I would say healing can only happen when we stop adjusting the dose. Unless suffering from adverse reaction, it is best to pick a dose and stick with it. In my case in took me 4 months to see noticeable improvements. There are no quick fixes. 

 

This thread is very helpful: 

 

In addition to fiddling with Escitalopram, you discontinued Gabapentin and Zolpidem. (can you add it in your signature how long you were taking those drugs and what dose, when you discontinued and at what dose).

 

Also we would find your symptom pattern vere useful in relation to when you take your drugs. Something like: 7 am wake up, high anxiety, 8 am take Escitalopram anxiety increases, dizziness and so on.

 

More tomorrow

[JS11]

Thank you, Bubble.  I hope you are getting some much needed rest after your excursion.  

 

Yes, I have been on a smorgasbord of medications in the last couple of months in addition to the up and down dosage adjustments.  In my reluctance to re-up the Escitalopram, I did a bad, bad thing..

 

I have been looking at my chart records and have forgotten all the medication changes I have made in that amount of time as well.  I'm not sure how much to put in my signature as the recent past has sooooo many changes to it.  I will try to compose a more complete record.

 

Hope you are healthy and well,

take care,

JS

[Mort81]

11 hours ago, JS11 said:

Hi Mort81, 

It's nice to have a dentist that is a friend too.  And I understand totally about the holistic stuff.

I don't know if your dentist is in on a Saturday.  That's what friends do, though.

Here it is Labor Day weekend, so Monday is a holiday.  Traditionally, at least when I was growing up, kids started school the day after so it was a last hurrah before going back to class.  Now they throw them in a little earlier, Aug. 31, so they have time to recover from 2 days of school.

 

Oh, questions and any help that you can provide are appreciated.  Last night the anxiety started around 11:00 ish and I was not so good, crying, oh just panic.  I don't usually get nighttime anxiety.  I was taking the Hydroxyline before bed, however.  I took this the first time on August 1, started very low, 25mg to 50mg then increased.  Looking at symptoms in my calendar, the anxiety was going strong.  But this was also when I went from 4mg Lex/Escitalopram to 10mg.  

 

So, I took  the last dose of Hydroxyline (75mg total) on August 28, and then added Gabapentin.  100mg, 1st day, 200mg 2nd day 100mg last day which was August 30.  

 

I realize it is only September 2, and I have only been on Lexapro at 8.5 mg for three days in the middle of all this chaos but I have never had this dizziness before.  I am just wondering, thoughts, opinions as to whether I have now desensitized myself to this stuff.  

 

I have had seemingly adverse reactions to I think the last 6 RX's I have been prescribed, one of which was an antibiotic.  That one sent me to the emergency room three consecutive days and resulted in thousands of dollars of tests, possible stroke, saw neurologist, cardiologist, I was popular but not in a good way.

 

I suppose I am now just extremely paranoid and frightened.  Terrified really.

Life besides the withdrawal is very precarious now as well, with major changes.  These would produce anxiety in anyone I know but the other stuff....I had Vertigo once and would not wish that on anyone.  Like being a landluber aboard an ocean vessel in a storm.  Hideous stuff.

 

So, if you are able any knowledge?  You got off Lexapro in freight train fashion.  I kept going back and forth not wanting to listen to my psychiatrist, doing what I wanted, which is to not increase the dose of Lexapro (I was at 4mg and went up to 5mg)  I just feel such regret and....loss. And throw some anger in there too.  

 

Thank you for listening...I just don't know and my decision making skills don't seem to be so hot either.

take care,

JS

Hey JS well I have some insight to what's going on,  You have become very sensitive to any drug. Once your system is destabilized it's like you don't know what's gonna happen as far as drugs. Supplements or foods . How you will react . It's something that's hard to grasp because its like nothing we have dealt with .  

 

So it's like a train going off the track kinda , and what happened to me was exactly that . The dizzyness I had was very infrequent for the first while,  I didn't get it often . But at a certain point it became my dominant symptom . It was as bad as you could imagine . I don't need to scare you. But it also may have been the reason some of my other symptoms drastically improved.  That's my hunch .  It's the brain trying  to balance . At 16 yrs old I had alcohol poisoning and couldn't lift my head up etc.. This wd  dizzyness was worse than that and lasted a ridiculous amount of time .

 

So what you did was different but also not so much because you have been zig zagging with doses and adding the 4 drug coctail.  However you did good by kicking the gaba after 3 days and the wellbutrin  .

 

But what we are all going through here is the same things , our brains are all trying to stabalize  . The best way to do this,  is to taper off your drug very slow while not adding any other drugs. 

 

Well most of here tapered off way too fast and lots of us added drugs . All because we are getting terrible advice.

 

Now symptom wise these drugs can produce a wide variety of symptoms.  Eventhough we were on same drug we may get different symptoms . And at different strengths that last different amounts of time.  

 

Lexapro alone can produce some wicked effects,  extreme anxiety is one that's foresure . 

Now did it get worse when you were off and went from 4-10? Very possible.  I don't know. But if you stayed off it prob would have gotten worse anyway.  Will it get worse if you cut from 8.5 ? I don't know . Its very hard to predict . Most people once they get destabilized can take awhile to stabalize.  

 

I don't know much about the allergy drug,  is that the only one your on besides the lex now?  Or also the thyroid one?  

 

You can ask more questions if you want . I had to go off the Lex because it was wearing down my body . I was in the ER 5 times and had dozens of tests . I was blacking out  . Nobody's told me it was the lex,  but deep down I think I knew. Er rooms are so quick to dismiss these drugs of causing any harm . It pretty unbelievable that this is happening.  These drugs wreak havoc on the body and overtime cause a multitude of problems.  If I didn't answer all  your questions.  You can ask again , sometimes I get confused as what I answered 

[Mort81]

I guess what your trying to ask , is what should you do next ?  You rapid tapered off the Lex,  than went back to 10? Then to 4 ? Then to 5 and to10? Than back to  8.5? 

 

The idea on this website is to try and stabalize on the lowest doses possible but keep the dose steady . And then when more stable start a slow taper .  But you think maybe the drugs are making you worse? 

 

Its hard to know the right direction to take.  I came here after being off lex for 6-8months . I Was told reinstating could help or make me worse . I thought anything worse and I'm a dead duck.  So I stayed off . It's been hell as I've said . And long.  I don't know if I made the right decision.  It's kinda like you have to make a decision and stick with it . You can always change on the fly but steady is best way to stabalize.  

 

You have been on the 8.5 for 4 days ?  

 

I don't know if stabalizing on a lower dose would be better or staying with the 8.5 . It's a tough one , I know . I don't think anybody knows foresure.  Sometimes gotta go with your gut and stick to it . Very tough.  

 

 

[JS11]

5 minutes ago, Mort81 said:

Hey JS well I have some insight to what's going on,  You have become very sensitive to any drug. Once your system is destabilized it's like you don't know what's gonna happen as far as drugs. Supplements or foods . How you will react . It's something that's hard to grasp because its like nothing we have dealt with .  

 

So it's like a train going off the track kinda , and what happened to me was exactly that . The dizzyness I had was very infrequent for the first while,  I didn't get it often . But at a certain point it became my dominant symptom . It was as bad as you could imagine . I don't need to scare you. But it also may have been the reason some of my other symptoms drastically improved.  That's my hunch .  It's the brain trying  to balance . At 16 yrs old I had alcohol poisoning and couldn't lift my head up etc.. This wd  dizzyness was worse than that and lasted a ridiculous amount of time .

 

So what you did was different but also not so much because you have been zig zagging with doses and adding the 4 drug coctail.  However you did good by kicking the gaba after 3 days and the wellbutrin  .

 

But what we are all going through here is the same things , our brains are all trying to stabalize  . The best way to do this,  is to taper off your drug very slow while not adding any other drugs. 

 

Well most of here tapered off way too fast and lots of us added drugs . All because we are getting terrible advice.

 

Now symptom wise these drugs can produce a wide variety of symptoms.  Eventhough we were on same drug we may get different symptoms . And at different strengths that last different amounts of time.  

 

Lexapro alone can produce some wicked effects,  extreme anxiety is one that's foresure . 

Now did it get worse when you were off and went from 4-10? Very possible.  I don't know. But if you stayed off it prob would have gotten worse anyway.  Will it get worse if you cut from 8.5 ? I don't know . Its very hard to predict . Most people once they get destabilized can take awhile to stabalize.  

 

I don't know much about the allergy drug,  is that the only one your on besides the lex now?  Or also the thyroid one?  

 

You can ask more questions if you want . I had to go off the Lex because it was wearing down my body . I was in the ER 5 times and had dozens of tests . I was blacking out  . Nobody's told me it was the lex,  but deep down I think I knew. Er rooms are so quick to dismiss these drugs of causing any harm . It pretty unbelievable that this is happening.  These drugs wreak havoc on the body and overtime cause a multitude of problems.  If I didn't answer all  your questions.  You can ask again , sometimes I get confused as what I answered 

Oh my gosh you are so very thoughtful and thorough too!  No, just reading through all of this and a lot of the information on the site has been so very useful.  

 

I don't know if I was ever sensitive before.  I just took one pill and then another newer, better, stronger, faster one.  Sometimes because of bad side-effects but often because there was a newer one on the market.  I took Prozac for years at a very high-dose 80mgs, I was very scrawny at the time and after reading about it causing people suicidal ideation, wonder if that is the reason for my nightly reading of the obituaries and death fixation.  I think I was maybe 29 years old.  

 

I have tried to go off Antidepressants a multitude of times.  The worst when I was in London taking a summer course, cold turkeyed on Prozac and had to have my mother ship me some. Must have cost a fortune as I'm sure she did it expedited shipping.   I guess it didn't occur to me that the Brits took it too.   

Before visiting this new psychiatrist, I was told to get off Escitalopram.  I was on 20mgs at the time and remember my doctor or maybe her nurse being uncharacteristically upset because I was taking so long.  I think I went from 20 to omgs in a little less than 2 months.  I remember feeling super human but then, oh my.  Face first and running back for more.  I now wonder if this may have set up the extreme sensitivity.  

 

I have been reading things posted by Alto about Lamotrigine/Lamictal and how it is helpful for tapering.  I refer to that drug as the serial killer in training medicine.  I was on it for maybe  weeks?  I titrated 25 to 50 mg.  At first, I had difficulty speaking, and walking,  But did I stop.  No Then, it got odd.  I had no emotions, nada, zip.  I think that's depersonalization? I wanted to go and tell people exactly what I thought of them.  Not that there was a huge group, mind you, just a select group of former co-workers at a particularly horrendous job.   I could have said anything to anyone without a care.I was bulletproof.  And my feelings usually get hurt quite easily.  Then, I had this great urge to go purchase a gun.  Yes, I know I am an American, but I don't like them.  Long-live Bambi!  I am a carnivore in denial. When I called the psychiatrist slurring my words (I am sober) and asking what to do, she said she had never, ever had anyone have that reaction before.  Ah, to be special.  I looked at the Center for Disease Control or maybe the Food and Drug Administration website, whichever keeps stats and out of 54,000 + reported reactions, only 1% had a homicidal reaction.

 

After that, I had a whopper from 2 doses of an anti-boitic.  Emergency Room 3 consecutive days, every conceivable test.  Adverse Reaction/Neurotocity.  Also one of those 1% things.

 

Sorry, got a little carried away with memory lane.  I guess the more I think about it, the more I realize how tragic it is.really.  

 

I am a very finicky and rather boring eater, but I do hope I am not sensitive to any foods.  I do so love to feast!  Weird though, I have not even wanted my morning cuppa or rather pot of tea.  Probably a good thing.  

 

Yes, unpredictability seems to be the name of the game.  I wonder if your alcohol poisoning situation at such a young age made you sensitive as well.  

 

I ditched the allergy drug, Hydroxyline.  I think it was making me anxious when it was supposed to calm me down.  Those paradoxical effects.  I am going to hold steady at Adderall 5mg, Thyroid 112mcgs and Escitalopram 8.5.  It may actually be closer to 8.2 as I can't quite tell on the markings.  I think the night and daytime anxiety and dizziness are what have frightened me.  I am sad to hear that you are plagued by dizziness as well.  I had vertigo once.  Worse thing ever.  I had to hold onto the walls to walk.  Never did like carnival rides much either.  So, doesn't help in that respect.

 

Yes as well to the terrible advice, although I know my Psychiatrist  truly believes what she says.  The adage do no harm certainly takes on a different meaning though.  Good thing I am so very stubborn although not apparently enough as I just couldn't take the nightmares and P.T.S.D. stuff.  But at least now I know.

 

I hope you had a lovely day and your dentition is much improved.  Oh, speaking of teeth--hope this doesn't cause any pain--did your teeth ever chatter?  The past couple of days I was like a kitty I once had whose teeth would just rattle when she say a squirrel.  Has happened when I am waking up.  Oddest thing.  Seems to have vanished thank goodness.  Rather like a horror show.  All these things popping up right and left.

 

Can't imagine what you went through with your lightening withdrawals.  I felt fabulous the first time I quite Escitalopram but went running back a week later.  The second time, I felt wonderful too, but I was also on a boatload of Adderall.  When I reduced that, not so much.  Looking back through this odyssey, I now see all the journal entries about anxiety, panic, sadness, crying jags.  I had all those symptoms but didn't realize it was from too fast a taper.  So no, I definitely want to take this slow. If there is any bright spot in the whole thing, I did find this site.  Without which, I might have gotten yet another pill.  Think I would have had to be put somewhere on an involuntary basis.  Couldn't take much more.

 

take care, Mort81, 

I am considering bed.  Would be lovely to get there before anxiety tries to visit.  

JS

 

[JS11]

27 minutes ago, Mort81 said:

I guess what your trying to ask , is what should you do next ?  You rapid tapered off the Lex,  than went back to 10? Then to 4 ? Then to 5 and to10? Than back to  8.5? 

 

The idea on this website is to try and stabalize on the lowest doses possible but keep the dose steady . And then when more stable start a slow taper .  But you think maybe the drugs are making you worse? 

 

Its hard to know the right direction to take.  I came here after being off lex for 6-8months . I Was told reinstating could help or make me worse . I thought anything worse and I'm a dead duck.  So I stayed off . It's been hell as I've said . And long.  I don't know if I made the right decision.  It's kinda like you have to make a decision and stick with it . You can always change on the fly but steady is best way to stabalize.  

 

You have been on the 8.5 for 4 days ?  

 

I don't know if stabalizing on a lower dose would be better or staying with the 8.5 . It's a tough one , I know . I don't think anybody knows foresure.  Sometimes gotta go with your gut and stick to it . Very tough.  

 

 

Yes, for 4 days.  I know not an easy decision.  There are so many major things going on in my "other" life which I have not been participating in, I'm not sure how much longer I can just avoid them.  I have been incapacitated by the side-effects, withdrawals, sensitive or adverse reactions, whatever you want to call them.  The hard part is that almost immediately after taking the 3.5mgs of liquid along with the 5mg tablet of Escitalopram, the anxiety starts.  Today it was maybe 12 minutes.  It did this at a very low dose too, 4mg.  Once or twice it happened before the dose, but usually it is directly after.  That is why I think I kept playing with the dose.  Psychiatrist says increase as your anxiety is exponential, I don't want to shove another pill or liquid down my throat as as soon as I do, BAM!  If only we had a magic ball.  

 

Although I had waves of the anxiety and dizziness today, I was also able to remain upright, at least at times.  So, that is an improvement.  

 Anyway, such is our dilemma.  How to choose, how to choose.  I say this rather nonchalantly now, but I can feel my heart starting to pound.  Seems like the 11:00 o'clock hour is my time....

 

Oiy vey, and I'm not Jewish, but it seems like an appropriate phrase.

Be well and take care,

Thank you always,

JS

 

[JS11]

16 minutes ago, JS11 said:

Oh my gosh you are so very thoughtful and thorough too!  No, just reading through all of this and a lot of the information on the site has been so very useful.  

 

I don't know if I was ever sensitive before.  I just took one pill and then another newer, better, stronger, faster one.  Sometimes because of bad side-effects but often because there was a newer one on the market.  I took Prozac for years at a very high-dose 80mgs, I was very scrawny at the time and after reading about it causing people suicidal ideation, wonder if that is the reason for my nightly reading of the obituaries and death fixation.  I think I was maybe 29 years old.  

 

I have tried to go off Antidepressants a multitude of times.  The worst when I was in London taking a summer course, cold turkeyed on Prozac and had to have my mother ship me some. Must have cost a fortune as I'm sure she did it expedited shipping.   I guess it didn't occur to me that the Brits took it too.   

Before visiting this new psychiatrist, I was told to get off Escitalopram.  I was on 20mgs at the time and remember my doctor or maybe her nurse being uncharacteristically upset because I was taking so long.  I think I went from 20 to omgs in a little less than 2 months.  I remember feeling super human but then, oh my.  Face first and running back for more.  I now wonder if this may have set up the extreme sensitivity.  

 

I have been reading things posted by Alto about Lamotrigine/Lamictal and how it is helpful for tapering.  I refer to that drug as the serial killer in training medicine.  I was on it for maybe  weeks?  I titrated 25 to 50 mg.  At first, I had difficulty speaking, and walking,  But did I stop.  No Then, it got odd.  I had no emotions, nada, zip.  I think that's depersonalization? I wanted to go and tell people exactly what I thought of them.  Not that there was a huge group, mind you, just a select group of former co-workers at a particularly horrendous job.   I could have said anything to anyone without a care.I was bulletproof.  And my feelings usually get hurt quite easily.  Then, I had this great urge to go purchase a gun.  Yes, I know I am an American, but I don't like them.  Long-live Bambi!  I am a carnivore in denial. When I called the psychiatrist slurring my words (I am sober) and asking what to do, she said she had never, ever had anyone have that reaction before.  Ah, to be special.  I looked at the Center for Disease Control or maybe the Food and Drug Administration website, whichever keeps stats and out of 54,000 + reported reactions, only 1% had a homicidal reaction.

 

After that, I had a whopper from 2 doses of an anti-boitic.  Emergency Room 3 consecutive days, every conceivable test.  Adverse Reaction/Neurotocity.  Also one of those 1% things.

 

Sorry, got a little carried away with memory lane.  I guess the more I think about it, the more I realize how tragic it is.really.  

 

I am a very finicky and rather boring eater, but I do hope I am not sensitive to any foods.  I do so love to feast!  Weird though, I have not even wanted my morning cuppa or rather pot of tea.  Probably a good thing.  

 

Yes, unpredictability seems to be the name of the game.  I wonder if your alcohol poisoning situation at such a young age made you sensitive as well.  

 

I ditched the allergy drug, Hydroxyline.  I think it was making me anxious when it was supposed to calm me down.  Those paradoxical effects.  I am going to hold steady at Adderall 5mg, Thyroid 112mcgs and Escitalopram 8.5.  It may actually be closer to 8.2 as I can't quite tell on the markings.  I think the night and daytime anxiety and dizziness are what have frightened me.  I am sad to hear that you are plagued by dizziness as well.  I had vertigo once.  Worse thing ever.  I had to hold onto the walls to walk.  Never did like carnival rides much either.  So, doesn't help in that respect.

 

Yes as well to the terrible advice, although I know my Psychiatrist  truly believes what she says.  The adage do no harm certainly takes on a different meaning though.  Good thing I am so very stubborn although not apparently enough as I just couldn't take the nightmares and P.T.S.D. stuff.  But at least now I know.

 

I hope you had a lovely day and your dentition is much improved.  Oh, speaking of teeth--hope this doesn't cause any pain--did your teeth ever chatter?  The past couple of days I was like a kitty I once had whose teeth would just rattle when she say a squirrel.  Has happened when I am waking up.  Oddest thing.  Seems to have vanished thank goodness.  Rather like a horror show.  All these things popping up right and left.

 

Can't imagine what you went through with your lightening withdrawals.  I felt fabulous the first time I quite Escitalopram but went running back a week later.  The second time, I felt wonderful too, but I was also on a boatload of Adderall.  When I reduced that, not so much.  Looking back through this odyssey, I now see all the journal entries about anxiety, panic, sadness, crying jags.  I had all those symptoms but didn't realize it was from too fast a taper.  So no, I definitely want to take this slow. If there is any bright spot in the whole thing, I did find this site.  Without which, I might have gotten yet another pill.  Think I would have had to be put somewhere on an involuntary basis.  Couldn't take much more.

 

take care, Mort81, 

I am considering bed.  Would be lovely to get there before anxiety tries to visit.  

JS

 

Oh here I am again.  I am supposed to put my schedule in my thread.  Not sure where my thread is. So, I may just put it here for now as Bubbles, another Lexapro/Escitalopram user,  said she would look at my dose as well.    

7am:  Adderall XR 5mg, Thryroid 112mcg Escitalopram 5mg tablet, 3.5mg liquid.

7:15am Anxiety, dizziness, panic in general

 Magnesium Fizz (slight relief but not a lot)

8:30  Numbness

10am waves of dizzy and constant anxiety

Omega 3's Magnesium Fizz 

Noon:  dizzy/ anxiety back at it

2L45: dizzy/anxiety

3pm Magnesium

4:30 anxiety

6:00 anxiety, dizzy. fearful

7pm dizzy, anxeity, fearful

7:30 ditto, take 1.5 mg Melatonin, Tylenol

slight headache

stopped keeping goood track

Waves of anxiety every hour or so.

11:00 anxiety. heart pounding. icky fear  stop go away don't come back another day

11:18  gonna hit the hay I hope

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Mort81]

28 minutes ago, JS11 said:

Yes, for 4 days.  I know not an easy decision.  There are so many major things going on in my "other" life which I have not been participating in, I'm not sure how much longer I can just avoid them.  I have been incapacitated by the side-effects, withdrawals, sensitive or adverse reactions, whatever you want to call them.  The hard part is that almost immediately after taking the 3.5mgs of liquid along with the 5mg tablet of Escitalopram, the anxiety starts.  Today it was maybe 12 minutes.  It did this at a very low dose too, 4mg.  Once or twice it happened before the dose, but usually it is directly after.  That is why I think I kept playing with the dose.  Psychiatrist says increase as your anxiety is exponential, I don't want to shove another pill or liquid down my throat as as soon as I do, BAM!  If only we had a magic ball.  

 

Although I had waves of the anxiety and dizziness today, I was also able to remain upright, at least at times.  So, that is an improvement.  

 Anyway, such is our dilemma.  How to choose, how to choose.  I say this rather nonchalantly now, but I can feel my heart starting to pound.  Seems like the 11:00 o'clock hour is my time....

 

Oiy vey, and I'm not Jewish, but it seems like an appropriate phrase.

Be well and take care,

Thank you always,

JS

 

No problem glad to help,  okay I think I got a hold of me most of your stuff . I totally can relate to being incapacitated by these things.  The "other life"  will be tough to fully partake in until things settle down . That's the tough part , and it varies in wd , depending on your symptoms it usually dictates on what your capable of doing 

 

Okay so I got an idea of what your doing now and what your on . The adderal you take at the same time as the Lex.  Not that you need to take it at a different time but maybe it's playing into your symptoms.  The lex by itself can produce all these symptoms so it's tough to know if adderal is helping or hurting.   Did you start the adderal 3-4 months ago with the other drugs ?  

I know it must be frustrating to explain all this ! 

 

But it  seems to me you get slammed after taking the meds .my hope is that hopefully all or most of this is from the Lex . And with a steady dose you will at least see some improvements . Because I know first hand how devastating Lex wd or reactions can be . I mean it can be completely incapacitating . But maybe you can search around the site and see if you can figure out if the adderal is best kept at steady dose or perhaps to micro taper off .  Since you have zig zagged around so much it may be best to hold.  But if you have been on the adderal a short amount of time,  than maybe it would be best to get off . 

 

 

The adderal was prescribed for what?  When you had lex wd symptoms?

 

For me I had tons of new drugs being prescribed for every wd symptom I was getting.  I had terrible stomach pain which I was giving a bad drug.  I took for a month stopped . Than the same process repeated as I was trying to figure out why my body was in such chaos . However I refused all the other drugs .

 

[Mort81]

58 minutes ago, JS11 said:

Oh my gosh you are so very thoughtful and thorough too!  No, just reading through all of this and a lot of the information on the site has been so very useful.  

 

I don't know if I was ever sensitive before.  I just took one pill and then another newer, better, stronger, faster one.  Sometimes because of bad side-effects but often because there was a newer one on the market.  I took Prozac for years at a very high-dose 80mgs, I was very scrawny at the time and after reading about it causing people suicidal ideation, wonder if that is the reason for my nightly reading of the obituaries and death fixation.  I think I was maybe 29 years old.  

 

I have tried to go off Antidepressants a multitude of times.  The worst when I was in London taking a summer course, cold turkeyed on Prozac and had to have my mother ship me some. Must have cost a fortune as I'm sure she did it expedited shipping.   I guess it didn't occur to me that the Brits took it too.   

Before visiting this new psychiatrist, I was told to get off Escitalopram.  I was on 20mgs at the time and remember my doctor or maybe her nurse being uncharacteristically upset because I was taking so long.  I think I went from 20 to omgs in a little less than 2 months.  I remember feeling super human but then, oh my.  Face first and running back for more.  I now wonder if this may have set up the extreme sensitivity.  

 

I have been reading things posted by Alto about Lamotrigine/Lamictal and how it is helpful for tapering.  I refer to that drug as the serial killer in training medicine.  I was on it for maybe  weeks?  I titrated 25 to 50 mg.  At first, I had difficulty speaking, and walking,  But did I stop.  No Then, it got odd.  I had no emotions, nada, zip.  I think that's depersonalization? I wanted to go and tell people exactly what I thought of them.  Not that there was a huge group, mind you, just a select group of former co-workers at a particularly horrendous job.   I could have said anything to anyone without a care.I was bulletproof.  And my feelings usually get hurt quite easily.  Then, I had this great urge to go purchase a gun.  Yes, I know I am an American, but I don't like them.  Long-live Bambi!  I am a carnivore in denial. When I called the psychiatrist slurring my words (I am sober) and asking what to do, she said she had never, ever had anyone have that reaction before.  Ah, to be special.  I looked at the Center for Disease Control or maybe the Food and Drug Administration website, whichever keeps stats and out of 54,000 + reported reactions, only 1% had a homicidal reaction.

 

After that, I had a whopper from 2 doses of an anti-boitic.  Emergency Room 3 consecutive days, every conceivable test.  Adverse Reaction/Neurotocity.  Also one of those 1% things.

 

Sorry, got a little carried away with memory lane.  I guess the more I think about it, the more I realize how tragic it is.really.  

 

I am a very finicky and rather boring eater, but I do hope I am not sensitive to any foods.  I do so love to feast!  Weird though, I have not even wanted my morning cuppa or rather pot of tea.  Probably a good thing.  

 

Yes, unpredictability seems to be the name of the game.  I wonder if your alcohol poisoning situation at such a young age made you sensitive as well.  

 

I ditched the allergy drug, Hydroxyline.  I think it was making me anxious when it was supposed to calm me down.  Those paradoxical effects.  I am going to hold steady at Adderall 5mg, Thyroid 112mcgs and Escitalopram 8.5.  It may actually be closer to 8.2 as I can't quite tell on the markings.  I think the night and daytime anxiety and dizziness are what have frightened me.  I am sad to hear that you are plagued by dizziness as well.  I had vertigo once.  Worse thing ever.  I had to hold onto the walls to walk.  Never did like carnival rides much either.  So, doesn't help in that respect.

 

Yes as well to the terrible advice, although I know my Psychiatrist  truly believes what she says.  The adage do no harm certainly takes on a different meaning though.  Good thing I am so very stubborn although not apparently enough as I just couldn't take the nightmares and P.T.S.D. stuff.  But at least now I know.

 

I hope you had a lovely day and your dentition is much improved.  Oh, speaking of teeth--hope this doesn't cause any pain--did your teeth ever chatter?  The past couple of days I was like a kitty I once had whose teeth would just rattle when she say a squirrel.  Has happened when I am waking up.  Oddest thing.  Seems to have vanished thank goodness.  Rather like a horror show.  All these things popping up right and left.

 

Can't imagine what you went through with your lightening withdrawals.  I felt fabulous the first time I quite Escitalopram but went running back a week later.  The second time, I felt wonderful too, but I was also on a boatload of Adderall.  When I reduced that, not so much.  Looking back through this odyssey, I now see all the journal entries about anxiety, panic, sadness, crying jags.  I had all those symptoms but didn't realize it was from too fast a taper.  So no, I definitely want to take this slow. If there is any bright spot in the whole thing, I did find this site.  Without which, I might have gotten yet another pill.  Think I would have had to be put somewhere on an involuntary basis.  Couldn't take much more.

 

take care, Mort81, 

I am considering bed.  Would be lovely to get there before anxiety tries to visit.  

JS

 

Wow JS you have really been through the mill !! Holy crap , I have also been put through it very bad .  I have a deep story too , my journey into this mess is quite the whopper aswell ! And the one thing that's constant is that I was getting damming and harmful advice . The mental health system is a black hole ! Only a few people luck out and see a medical professional who can help treat the situation with care. 

 

Somebody needs to watch the FDA because they are as guilty as anyone.  Most of  the harms of these drugs are catoragized as something else . Usually the uneducated or brainwashed doctors cant tell the difference, so when adverse reactions happen they dont get reported . which still blows my mind . So your not special on that regard ! I'm not sure what symptoms the depersonalization were but you def were getting some nasty ones!  

 

My teeth haven't chattered but I've gotten a boatload of things that are hard to decribe.  You mean you wake up like being shot out of a cannon ? That could be the cortisol spikes ? 

 

The dizzyness ya it's that tough one , I  think its Brian's way of trying to balance everything out !

 

The alcohol one I don't know I lf it made me sensitive ,it could have , my teenage years were a bit crazy and I've done a few things that may be made me sensitive . But can't go back . We all got into this mess somehow . And some people react as bad as we do to just 1 pill . We have people on the website who took a few pills and ended up with a huge recovery period . These might be the most dangerous drugs on the planet . Nice to know eh !?

[Mort81]

Forgot to say Long live Bambi lol !! Very funny.   Well I hope this site helps you out going forward.  You have been put though a lot.  And being on the lowest amount of drugs will help you.  But it won't be easy that's the tough part.  Getting on lower doses and getting stable can be difficult although it does happen.  Pill after pill after pill is not answer and ends up inflicting a ton of pain and suffering.  I really wish they knew the kind of effects these drugs produced before they offer them up.  Pretty surreal 

[JS11]

10 hours ago, Mort81 said:

No problem glad to help,  okay I think I got a hold of me most of your stuff . I totally can relate to being incapacitated by these things.  The "other life"  will be tough to fully partake in until things settle down . That's the tough part , and it varies in wd , depending on your symptoms it usually dictates on what your capable of doing 

 

Okay so I got an idea of what your doing now and what your on . The adderal you take at the same time as the Lex.  Not that you need to take it at a different time but maybe it's playing into your symptoms.  The lex by itself can produce all these symptoms so it's tough to know if adderal is helping or hurting.   Did you start the adderal 3-4 months ago with the other drugs ?  

I know it must be frustrating to explain all this ! 

 

But it  seems to me you get slammed after taking the meds .my hope is that hopefully all or most of this is from the Lex . And with a steady dose you will at least see some improvements . Because I know first hand how devastating Lex wd or reactions can be . I mean it can be completely incapacitating . But maybe you can search around the site and see if you can figure out if the adderal is best kept at steady dose or perhaps to micro taper off .  Since you have zig zagged around so much it may be best to hold.  But if you have been on the adderal a short amount of time,  than maybe it would be best to get off . 

 

 

The adderal was prescribed for what?  When you had lex wd symptoms?

 

For me I had tons of new drugs being prescribed for every wd symptom I was getting.  I had terrible stomach pain which I was giving a bad drug.  I took for a month stopped . Than the same process repeated as I was trying to figure out why my body was in such chaos . However I refused all the other drugs .

 

Hi Mort81,

You must be a late nighter.  And no, it is not frustrating to describe all of this.  I am just so very grateful to you for listening and giving me guidance.  The anxiety and all the accompanying fear are so very tough to bear.  

 

I take all my RX's at the same time.  I was trying to be clear on my signature.  I have been on Adderrall for some time.  Started to taper the dose around last Fall from 25mg, originally. I was down to 5mg of the Extended Release tablet, then crossed over to the Immediate Release tablet at 5mg.  I also started to lower the Lex as well which is when major symptoms, Nightmares, P.T.S.D., unbearable restlessness started.  I switched back to the Extended Release form of Add.  Shortly after that I began the cascade of other drugs and the updosing of the Lex as well. I don't think I want to mess with my dose of Adderall just now.

 

 I am still so uncertain about the Lex. though.  I don't know if the liquid could be causing the sudden surge, the constant changes in dosage, the addition and subtraction of all the other medications.  It is hard to know but any additional thoughts are appreciated.  I just shudder when I start to take my medicine. Last night, the symptoms seemed to make a resurgence around 11pm and just kept coming in floods throughout the early a.m.  The anxiety has been constant and seems to be increasing.  Sigh.   

 

As per the Adderall:  About 9 years ago I was prescribed something called Providal.  It is for shift workers and helps regulate sleep.  I have Fibromyalgia (much improved since that time) and had been unable to sleep forever, usually going to bed between 3 and 5am.  I think I was a zombie for years, long before it became popular.  For the first time in ages, I was not only able to sleep at so called "normal" hours, but I could get up early as well.  That drug eventually gave me headaches and then went on a series of similar ones and finally Adderall XR which is the only one that did not have that side-effect, even after prolonged use.  Although I do definitely have some of the ADD symptoms (male family members as well), I don't know if I would say, that diagnosis is a good fit.  I now wonder if all the years of Lexapro and other antidepressants sedated me to such an extent that I wasn't able to function.  Both times  I got off the Lexapro, I had so much energy, but then I was on a generous dose of Adderall as well.  So, that original prescription of Providgal which ended up as Adderall, may have actually been to off-set the fatigue produced by the Lexapro?  Gotta wonder.   What a tangled web we weave....

 

And yes, the reaction I have after I take my prescriptions is almost immediate.  I have added the liquid Lex back into the picture though.  When I first went from tablet to pill form, I had that same reaction.  There were so many variables though. I did have mornings before all these other additions where taking the prescriptions stopped the anxiety.  

 

Now, I just dread taking it. Last night was rugged.  Fitfull sleep.  Anxiety and that pesky dizziness too.  

 

Woke up at 5am with anxiety, thought maybe a little of the Lex would help, so I took the 3.5mg liquid.  No relief.  

5:30 I took the other 5mgs of Lex and the AddXR 5mg and thryoid as well.  

Constant anxiety since.  Weird numbing sensations in odd places as well.  And that frieight train in the chest feeling.  Ugh x 10.  It feels kindof warm?  too.  My stomach has that I just dropped in the elevator feeling.  Just unrelenting today.  I did try the Magnesium fizz  I'm not sipping it if that is what you are supposed to do but rather chugging the stuff.  Just all nasty stuff Mort81.  I know you can relate, which is comforting.

 

Makes me angry that I got into that desperate reaching for and clutching at a bottle mode.  Anything to make the unbearable anxiety go away.  I am kindof grasping at the Magnesium that way and must be aware of this fact.   Too much of anything...

 

I have had odd stomach jabs here and there which began when I upped the Lex again.  Not constant though, thankfully.  A month of stomach distress.  Oh my gosh.  Was the drug you were given that produced your stomach trauma an anti as well.?  You mentioned earlier about being in the hospital and thinking it was the Lex but wasn't sure.  I wonder if doctors even look for this?  I know when I had my Adverse/Neurotoxic reaction, it was one of my pharmacists who caught it.  Thank goodness for him.  

 

Your stomach issues did eventually subside?  Were you in the process of eliminating Lexapro then?    You are wise that you stopped accepting the new medications.  I do wonder what my psychiatrist will say about all of this.  I see her in a couple of weeks.  

 

Thanks Mort81

For all your support.  How is the tooth today?

take care,

JS

 

 

 

[Flowers]

Hi JS

 

Thanks for visiting my thread!

 

I am so sorry you are in the situation that you needed to come to this site. You have been and are having a rough time. 

 

It looks like you  are settling in nicely  though and are getting loads of support and information from Mort and the moderators.

 

There are so many questions we have when we first discover what these meds are doing to us but you are in the right place to get all the tools you need to get well.

 

It is tricky the first few weeks while you get your meds sorted out etc but I hope you soon start to feel better.

 

Wishing you all the best.

 

Love from Flowers xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

[bubble]

Hi JS,

 

Still feeling run over here and don't expect it to lift soon. I've been pushing myself hard for weeks so some serious downtime is in order.

 

There was a lot to catch up here I think you are getting it. This is your thread and Mort gave you some very good summary of your situation.

 

Thank you for doing such a great job with your signature and symptom pattern. Actually after everything your brain has been through recently and over years, you are doing very well!

 

I agree with Mort that what you urgently need is stability. No more going up and down in search of a soft spot. There is no such thing. You are suffering from destabilisation and not need for a particular dose. Stability in the way of applying the same dose at the same time every day will help OVER TIME. It can take weeks or months but it will happen.

 

This is an opportunity to learn non-drug ways of coping with your symptoms. Google surviving antidepressants plus non drug coping skills and also brain remodelling. Some great stuff.

[JS11]

50 minutes ago, bubble said:

Hi JS,

 

Still feeling run over here and don't expect it to lift soon. I've been pushing myself hard for weeks so some serious downtime is in order.

 

There was a lot to catch up here I think you are getting it. This is your thread and Mort gave you some very good summary of your situation.

 

Thank you for doing such a great job with your signature and symptom pattern. Actually after everything your brain has been through recently and over years, you are doing very well!

 

I agree with Mort that what you urgently need is stability. No more going up and down in search of a soft spot. There is no such thing. You are suffering from destabilisation and not need for a particular dose. Stability in the way of applying the same dose at the same time every day will help OVER TIME. It can take weeks or months but it will happen.

 

This is an opportunity to learn non-drug ways of coping with your symptoms. Google surviving antidepressants plus non drug coping skills and also brain remodelling. Some great stuff.

Hi Bubble,

I started to respond then got a notification from Scorpio, then couldn't find your blasted post again.  Learning curve!

 

Do you get anytime today to just rest and recover today?  Well, I guess it is almost bedtime there so hopefully you had some time.  

 

 I spent an inordinate amount of time working on my signature yesterday. Deciding which colors.  Funny, how in the past the only people I talked to about doses and such were my doctor and pharmacist.  

 

Yes, Mort has been so very kind and helpful.  As has everyone.  Means the world.  No, I am trying to hold steady dose wise. Amazing the changes in my physiological response, as to severity, in such a short period of time.  Does so make me wonder, what all these things have done. Would be interesting to take a look inside.   I am in here somewhere.  

 

Yes, I have been reading a lot on this site.  Thank you for your suggestions as well.  Will give them a try.  

 

Enjoy whatever you are up to in your day or night.

take care,

JS

 

 

[JS11]

1 hour ago, Flowers said:

Hi JS

 

Thanks for visiting my thread!

 

I am so sorry you are in the situation that you needed to come to this site. You have been and are having a rough time. 

 

It looks like you  are settling in nicely  though and are getting loads of support and information from Mort and the moderators.

 

There are so many questions we have when we first discover what these meds are doing to us but you are in the right place to get all the tools you need to get well.

 

It is tricky the first few weeks while you get your meds sorted out etc but I hope you soon start to feel better.

 

Wishing you all the best.

 

Love from Flowers xxx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your well wishes Flowers.  Your name caught my eye.  I had some figures on my wall as a child, still have them in fact, with Bambi and of course, Flower the skunk.  Maybe that is why it caught my eye and made me smile.

 

Yes, so much kindness has been shared with me.  Helps to ease that alone and panicky feeling.  I am getting used to going around on the site and must admit it feels a little odd to read all these things at first, not wanting to invade others' privacy, but it is very interesting and hopeful as well.  

 

I have never been to Spain but once lived in London so long ago.  Whenever I see anyone who is from abroad, it always gives me a boost.  How amazing it is that we are all over the world.  I am learning what some of the same drugs are called in different places too.

 

Take care,

It is lovely to meet you,

JS.    

 

 

 

 

[JS11]

14 hours ago, Mort81 said:

Forgot to say Long live Bambi lol !! Very funny.   Well I hope this site helps you out going forward.  You have been put though a lot.  And being on the lowest amount of drugs will help you.  But it won't be easy that's the tough part.  Getting on lower doses and getting stable can be difficult although it does happen.  Pill after pill after pill is not answer and ends up inflicting a ton of pain and suffering.  I really wish they knew the kind of effects these drugs produced before they offer them up.  Pretty surreal 

Oh I know isn't it.  If only we could counter for every drug commercial with an alternative or stories from those in the know.  Are they allowed to have those ads on TV in Canada?  I know that cigarette ads are no longer allowed and you can't see someone drinking a beer for example.  Just the glass raising, the auditory effects and the glass going down again.  As if we are fooled.  So odd.

 

Yeah, I am so hoping the roller coaster will calm down.  Lots of other life to contend with as we all have.  A little anxiety holiday or permanent vacation away would be so very welcome.

take care,

JS

[JS11]

14 hours ago, Mort81 said:

Forgot to say Long live Bambi lol !! Very funny.   Well I hope this site helps you out going forward.  You have been put though a lot.  And being on the lowest amount of drugs will help you.  But it won't be easy that's the tough part.  Getting on lower doses and getting stable can be difficult although it does happen.  Pill after pill after pill is not answer and ends up inflicting a ton of pain and suffering.  I really wish they knew the kind of effects these drugs produced before they offer them up.  Pretty surreal 

And you've gotta love Bambi.  I feed deer much to the chagrin of some of the neighbors although I know they do as well.  Can't fool me.  

[JS11]

Hi,  Can any one please advise on how to remove a drug from your signature.  I have discontinued two of those suckers and want them outta there!

Thank you!

[baroquep]

Hi JS11, just noticed that you started a new topic in the Intro forum and have merged it back into your original thread.  Please note that it is important to ask all of your questions, connect with other members and provide updates in your original thread so that we can keep all of the information pertaining to your situation in one spot.  Here is the link to update your signature Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

BTW, I inadvertently changed the title of your intro thread with your new topic and am in the process of having it changed back.  Sorry for the confusion, I am new at moderating and still getting used to the software.  You should see the change to your title soon.

 

JS11: So close to being free of Escitalopram/Adderall. Now side-effect RX nightmare

[JS11]

8 minutes ago, baroquep said:

Hi JS11, just noticed that you started a new topic in the Intro forum and have merged it back into your original thread.  Please note that it is important to ask all of your questions, connect with other members and provide updates in your original thread so that we can keep all of the information pertaining to your situation in one spot.  Here is the link to update your signature Account Settings – Create or Edit a signature

 

BTW, I inadvertently changed the title of your intro thread with your new topic and am in the process of having it changed back.  Sorry for the confusion, I am new at moderating and still getting used to the software.  You should see the change to your title soon.

 

JS11: So close to being free of Escitalopram/Adderall. Now side-effect RX nightmare

Thank you, trying to learn where to go...