Mutfael: try to recover

[Mutfael]

10 minutes ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Possibly a cortisol spike.

 

early-morning-waking-managing-the-morning-cortisol-spike

 

Thank you, I feel so happy when I find someone to answer my silly questions😔But please bear with me 🙏

 

Thank you, I don't know how to reward you.. Thanks again🌹

[ChessieCat]

When we know what something is then we don't get so worried and stressed about it.  When we worry and stress about something then we can add more symptoms to the original symptom.

[Shep]

On 8/24/2022 at 3:57 PM, Mutfael said:

Hello dear, yes I requested it when I was in the middle of the wave and it was so intense that I had to take sedatives.

 

On 8/26/2022 at 11:51 AM, Mutfael said:

I have had asthma and shortness of breath since I was young and have been using medicines to expand the airways on a daily basis and continuously for 30 years.. I have used Ventolin and Symbicort 160 and this increases heart palpitations strongly. 

 

Cipralex and bronchodilator medicines  They all cause heart palpitations

 

Mutfael, you may want to put all of the drugs - your antidepressant, any sedatives you're taking, and asthma medications - into a drug interaction checker. Some of your symptoms may be drug interactions.

 

Drug Interaction Checker

 

If you find any drug interactions, you may want to space out when you take your drugs so the conflicting drugs are kept at least 2 hours apart. This will help minimize drug interactions. 

 

I've known people who were able to stop smoking by tapering their cigarettes just like they tapered their psych drugs. Even if all you're able to do is remove 1 cigarette a day each month, by the end of a year, you'll be smoking 12 less cigarettes a day. 

[Mutfael]

Can I raise the dose to 7 mg?  Since I can't stand depression and fear of death at all, my body is horrible, exhaustion and heart palpitations, and I can't attend events or talk to people at all!  😔 I want to raise the dose and decrease it more slowly, about 5% every two months.. but I am afraid that it will not bring a satisfactory result

[Mutfael]

On 8/29/2022 at 12:29 AM, Shep said:

 

 

Mutfael, you may want to put all of the drugs - your antidepressant, any sedatives you're taking, and asthma medications - into a drug interaction checker. Some of your symptoms may be drug interactions.

 

Drug Interaction Checker

 

If you find any drug interactions, you may want to space out when you take your drugs so the conflicting drugs are kept at least 2 hours apart. This will help minimize drug interactions. 

 

I've known people who were able to stop smoking by tapering their cigarettes just like they tapered their psych drugs. Even if all you're able to do is remove 1 cigarette a day each month, by the end of a year, you'll be smoking 12 less cigarettes a day. 

Using albuterol together with escitalopram can increase the risk of an irregular heart rhythm that may be serious and potentially life-threatening, although it is a rare side effect. You may be more susceptible if you have a heart condition called congenital long QT syndrome, other cardiac diseases, conduction abnormalities, or electrolyte disturbances (for example, magnesium or potassium loss due to severe or prolonged diarrhea or vomiting). The risk exists even when albuterol or similar medications are given by oral inhalation directly into the lungs, and more so if these products are overused. Do not exceed the dose and frequency of use recommended on the product label or prescribed by your doctor. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns. Your doctor may already be aware of the risks, but has determined that this is the best course of treatment for you and has taken appropriate precautions and is monitoring you closely for any potential complications. You should seek immediate medical attention if you develop sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, fainting, shortness of breath, or heart palpitations during treatment with these medications. It is important to tell your doctor about all other medications you use, including vitamins and herbs. Do not stop using any medications without first talking to your doctor.

 

Yes, there is a conflict, unfortunately, I do not know what to do. Do I tolerate chronic shortness of breath or leave Lexapro ... the situation is confusing

[Mutfael]

Today is the worst day ever since I started decreasing..a horrific psychological breakdown and a very horrible exhaustion in the body..fear, depression, and obsessiveness that I am going to die, feeling faint, falling and ending everything... extreme lethargy..nausea.. the strange thing is that in seconds  I feel very fear and despair about my condition, then after a few seconds it eases a little, then after an hour a feeling of severe despair, fear, sadness and frustration comes, and then it eases a little!!

[Shep]

23 hours ago, Mutfael said:

Can I raise the dose to 7 mg?

 

According to your signature, you're down to 2.9 mg Cipralex. You haven't been on 7 mg since November 2021. It's likely you're nervous system would hyper-react if you went up that high. If you feel you need to updose, I wouldn't updose more than 10% of where you're currently at. That would be 0.29 mg increase. 

 

You also are taking other drugs for other health conditions and have noted adverse reactions from the drug interaction checker. Instead of increasing your antidepressant, you may want to space out your drugs so you're not taking them at the same time. Make sure there's at least 2 hours between when you take drugs that have adverse interactions. 

[Mutfael]

On 9/1/2022 at 2:06 PM, Shep said:

likely you're nervous system would hyper-react if you went up that high.

Why is there an overreaction of the nervous system?  During the past 18 years, I have been decreasing quickly, then I leave the medicine for 3 months, then go back to the full dose and there is no problem.. What is the problem of going back to 7 mg and then decreasing very slowly again?

[ChessieCat]

Because the effect of going on and off different drugs and doses multiple times has a cumulative effect on the nervous system.  It adds up.

 

There are members of SA who have done this in the past with no issues and then one day they do the same thing and it doesn't work the same way that it did in the past and they start feeling worse than they did.  Their nervous system has become sensitised.  Many of them say that they wish they had left things alone and been satisfied with how they felt and that they didn't realise that they could feel worse than they had done.

 

It is important to understand that there is no "perfect dose".

 

You might find it helpful to keep notes for yourself.  Also, compare how you are feeling now with how you felt at your worst, not how you felt at your best or how you want to feel.

[Shep]

12 hours ago, Mutfael said:

During the past 18 years, I have been decreasing quickly, then I leave the medicine for 3 months, then go back to the full dose and there is no problem.. What is the problem of going back to 7 mg and then decreasing very slowly again?

 

All of the ups and downs you've done over the years may be the reason you're finding it so difficult to get off this drug now. As ChessieCat wrote, it's cumulative. Please see:

 

Hypersensitivity and Kindling

[Mutfael]

Today is a medium window, thank God, compared to the strong waves yesterday and the day before yesterday

[Mutfael]

Today I was able to travel to a town near my city and also went out for a walk, but before that I could not at all as I felt very tired as if I had never slept and felt tired in my legs as if I ran for 10 km without stopping!

 

Thank you for stopping by my topic🌹

 

[Mutfael]

Today depression 100% 😔 Concentration Dizziness 20% Fear 40% Inactivity 40%..... I have a question.. Before I started decreasing when I was taking the full dose I used to have episodes of depression or anxiety but they are somewhat apart that lasts for one to two weeks knowing that I am taking  The full dose!  But there is a point, which is that I am not obligated to take the dose at the specified time, I may be two hours late or advance and so on

[Mutfael]

The worst symptom that can affect you is phobia!  Yes, the phobia has increased, and I know that it is one of the symptoms of withdrawal from the poison Lexapro..Imagine that I cannot go to my friends because of the fear!!!!!!!!  ..... There is a new pain in my entire body. I do not know if it is muscle pain or bone pain. The important thing is that it is a terrible pain!!!!

[Mutfael]

The lack of concentration has gone, the severe heart palpitations are gone, the dizziness and fear of falling when standing are gone, the obsessiveness of stroke and heart attacks is gone, the symptoms of high and low pressure and diabetes are gone..... All of that disappeared 🤔 but!...... came other strong and severe symptoms, which are phobias  Social .. Currently I can not stand and talk to people and I cannot go to my friends I feel palpitations, confusion and fear!!!!!

[Mutfael]

Today is an extraordinary event!!  Early in the morning I ate breakfast with tea and then the first cigarette and the situation was normal.. Then an hour later I ate the second cigarette, but the unthinkable happened!  The heart started to beat a little, then it started to increase and then it started beating so intensely that I thought I was going to die!  The throbbing lasted for about an hour and it was intense for 15 minutes and I thought it was the end!!!!!!  How did it happen and why I don't know 😔

 

I'm still afraid of this event now I'm on my bed I'm going to sleep and feel the fear of what happened to me this morning until I feel something in my head I don't know what it is...

[ChessieCat]

2 hours ago, Mutfael said:

first cigarette and the situation was normal.. Then an hour later I ate the second cigarette, but the unthinkable happened!  The heart started to beat a little, then it started to increase and then it started beating so intensely that I thought I was going to die!

 

Do an internet search for the term:   does nicotine smoking raise heart rate

 

 

[Mutfael]

20 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

 

Do an internet search for the term:   does nicotine smoking raise heart rate

 

 

 

Certainly smoking raises the heart rate .. But I always smoke in the morning and did not feel this severe palpitation .. Today the same routine and the same smoking, and there was no severe palpitations and terror, I do not know what is the reason

[ChessieCat]

Q:  Do you sometimes have a cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning but not every day?

 

It might be a cortisol spike.  I sometimes get them during the early hours of the morning when I wake up.

 

early-morning-waking-managing-the-morning-cortisol-spike

 

I have NOT read this but it might have some helpful information in it:

 

https://optimistminds.com/morning-anxiety-and-cortisol/

[Mutfael]

9 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Q:  Do you sometimes have a cup of caffeinated coffee in the morning but not every day?

 

It might be a cortisol spike.  I sometimes get them during the early hours of the morning when I wake up.

 

early-morning-waking-managing-the-morning-cortisol-spike

 

I have NOT read this but it might have some helpful information in it:

 

https://optimistminds.com/morning-anxiety-and-cortisol/

I alternate coffee daily. If I abstain from coffee, I cannot stop smoking. Both of them cause heart palpitations and increase anxiety, especially in the early morning, when the first cup of coffee is very effective, as well as the first cigarette that causes severe anxiety, heart palpitations and fear... What I feel now is fear.  .  Yesterday I went with my car in the afternoon, the temperature was 40 degrees, I went to the farm, 20 km away, and I was in the middle of the road. The tire of the car exploded and I had a panic attack and fear of death due to the heat of the weather and I was far from the city and I called my brother, thank God he came quickly... I don't know what happened to me

Is one of the symptoms of withdrawal is fear and panic.?

 

[ChessieCat]

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

[Mutfael]

On 9/17/2022 at 11:31 AM, ChessieCat said:

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's WD Symptoms Checklist

I can't stay in the hot weather and I can't stand it.. Also I can't go out in the hot sun. I feel very tired and my brain is boiling!  Is that a withdrawal symptom?  I hope you can tell me

[Mutfael]

Now 5 months on a 3 milligram dose.. no stability has occurred so far! It seems that my continuation on a 3 milligram dose is of no use!  I cannot decrease the dose, I cannot raise the dose, and I cannot keep the dose.. What should I do in this case!!!

[ChessieCat]

I think your >10% tapers have caught up with you.  Many members find that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go, reducing less and/or holding for longer.

 

I think it would be a good idea to continue holding on your current dose.  You might find it helpful to read back through your topic since August 2021 and take note of the symptoms you have had and whether anything has improved in the last 3-4 months.

 

All except one of your reductions have been more than 10% of the previous dose:

 

2021

Aug 12.5 to 9         28%

Sep 9 to 8             11.11%

Oct 8 to 7              12.5%

Nov 7 to 6             14.28%

Dec 6 to 5             16.66%

2022

Jan 5 to 4.5          10%

Feb 4.5 to 4          11.11%

Mar/Apr 4 to 3.5  12.5%

May 3.5 to 3         14.28%

 

Lexapro / escitalopram / Cipralex is a very strong drug (Seroxat is the same as Paxil):

 

On 5/27/2011 at 12:16 PM, Altostrata said:

If you are taking 5mg of Lexapro, it's not tiny, it's equivalent to 10-20mg Paxil or Celexa.

 

  

On 5/27/2011 at 12:16 PM, Altostrata said:

Consequently, when you taper off escitalopram, you should be careful to decrease by small amounts, as each drop is magnified by escitalopram's extra potency. If you find withdrawal symptoms from a 10% decrease to be too difficult, after 3-4 weeks decrease by a smaller amount.

 

[Mutfael]

I went through a window for the previous two days and the withdrawal symptoms were few and I was able to travel outside the city and I had optimism, determination and love for life, but today the withdrawal symptoms started to become severe, so it was depression, lethargy and anxiety.. Also, I woke up and felt a slow heartbeat, as it reached 48 beats per minute, and this bothered me  I don't know if it is normal or is it a new symptom?!  Also, severe migraines and inexplicable anger

[Mutfael]

On 9/22/2022 at 1:53 PM, ChessieCat said:

I think your >10% tapers have caught up with you.  Many members find that the lower their dose gets the slower they need to go, reducing less and/or holding for longer.

 

I think it would be a good idea to continue holding on your current dose.  You might find it helpful to read back through your topic since August 2021 and take note of the symptoms you have had and whether anything has improved in the last 3-4 months.

 

All except one of your reductions have been more than 10% of the previous dose:

 

2021

Aug 12.5 to 9         28%

Sep 9 to 8             11.11%

Oct 8 to 7              12.5%

Nov 7 to 6             14.28%

Dec 6 to 5             16.66%

2022

Jan 5 to 4.5          10%

Feb 4.5 to 4          11.11%

Mar/Apr 4 to 3.5  12.5%

May 3.5 to 3         14.28%

 

Lexapro / escitalopram / Cipralex is a very strong drug (Seroxat is the same as Paxil):

 

 

  

 

Yes, it is true.. I kept the dose for 4 months and I did not find stability and I thought that the problem was continuing the same dose, so I tried to go down..

[Mutfael]

Violent migraine headache that lasts for two days with depression

 

 

[Mutfael]

Today, severe lethargy and it is psychological lethargy more than it is physical..!!  I have no desire to do any of the simple daily chores at all.. I have no desire.. with the intolerance of my children. I could not bear them, their playing or their screaming. I suffer from anger and extreme fatigue.

[Mutfael]

Pain in the legs and legs in general. I feel that I cannot walk. I feel very tired and tired in the diaphragm area below the sternum. Severe general fatigue in the first hours after waking up, then it begins to ease a little, but it is present and strongly present.

[Mutfael]

I forgot to mention that I go through flashes of strong depression and then it goes quickly and then comes back quickly and so on

[Mutfael]

Status update... In the past month I was suffering severely from social phobia and severe confusion and unwillingness to meet or talk to people because of the apparent confusion.. I had very large heart palpitations and panic attacks and panic as well as lack of focus in the brain and also I was doing frequent examinations  On a daily basis, about pressure and diabetes.. But now, thank God, the phobia has gone in an average way. It is no longer the same as it was a month ago. Also, the focus was at an average level. The heart palpitations were also less than the previous month. Also, I did not repeat the diabetes and pressure checks anymore..But at this time I suffer from depression  And this insomnia is what I suffer the most at this time

[Mutfael]

A wave attacked me last night and today as well as difficulty sleeping, severe depression, fear and a sense of terror as if something terrifying was coming!  Also lethargy and complete psychological collapse, as well as pain in the tendons of the legs and legs when walking.. and the difficulty of doing normal daily activities😔

[Mutfael]

It is strange and I mentioned it in a previous comment.. Yesterday I slept at 3 am and woke up at 11 am at a rate of 8 hours and after 5 hours of awakening I was attacked by lethargy and a heavy sleep as if I had not slept for two days!  On the contrary, I sleep two hours before sunrise and then wake up at six in the morning, with an average of 3 hours of sleep, and I stay active throughout the day!

[Mutfael]

I'm giving up.. I'm raising the white flag, the situation has become very difficult, I can't even do the daily chores and I'm the head of the house!  I can't walk or go to work except with great difficulty. Even when I'm lying down, I feel very tired and lethargic!  Even spending trips on the car has become very tiring, lethargy and psychological breakdown follow me everywhere and every time since I woke up in the morning until night and I am in a great fight and jihad. Today I have completed four months and I do not go out of the house. I cannot visit my friends because of the phobia and my fear of their looks!  I don't talk to anyone as I can't focus and it shows on my features so I'm like a prisoner in solitary confinement isolated from the whole world,, I hated my life and I hated everything I feel very bored and a dominant depression that doesn't budge even when I take the full dose but now it's much stronger and stronger, smoking  Like a vicious circle, if I smoked a cigarette, the pain, lethargy and depression increased, and if I didn't smoke, depression and anxiety increased, forgive me, I can't continue, I can't, I cry so hard,, My mother died, may God have mercy on her, and my father died, may God have mercy on him. What I feel now is greater than the days of their death, but it is much worse!!  This vile, vile poison has completely destroyed me, it has paralyzed me and made me paralyzed, I am tired I am so tired

[brassmonkey]

I've read back through the last few pages of your posts, and I can see that there have been many improvements. This tells me that you are experiencing a bad wave right now and it will pass. I also see from ChessieCats post on Sept 22 that you have been making reductions that are larger than advised. That would also help cause the problems you are experiencing. I suggest you try a small updose, back to 3mgai, that should help take the edge off of things.

[Mutfael]

1 hour ago, brassmonkey said:

I've read back through the last few pages of your posts, and I can see that there have been many improvements. This tells me that you are experiencing a bad wave right now and it will pass. I also see from ChessieCats post on Sept 22 that you have been making reductions that are larger than advised. That would also help cause the problems you are experiencing. I suggest you try a small updose, back to 3mgai, that should help take the edge off of things.

Hello my dear friend, do you think 3ml will be feasible?  When I was on 3 ml, I had the same feeling, depression, and lethargy, in your opinion. If I go back to 7 ml, is it appropriate?