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Dee12h: weaning from a low dose of Lexapro


Dee12h

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Looking up the symptoms of akathesia, I've definitely experienced these during these last few years but I don't know that I've noted them specifically in a result to drops, more triggered by life events.  Those are the worst feelings. 

 

Not sure on the length of time to stabilize but sticking to one dosage for a long while would be good. Brassmonkey mentioned holding for a period of months which sounds right for letting the body settle.  I'm holding too right now.  Hang in there.

Lexapro/Escitalopram history: 2012 to 2020 20 mg

July 2020 10 mg November 2020 5 mg 2/15/21 1/2 a 5mg pill ~2.5 mg 2/25/21 3/4 a 5mg pill ~3.75 mg 3/25/21 1/2 a 5mg pill ~2.5 mg

4/20/21 switched to liquid 2.8 mg, made a couple more increases over a week and a half to 3.5mg

5/14/21 increased further up to 3.8 mg, held there until Oct 2021

Decreasing steadily since 10/1/21

Latest change 3/15/24 .14mg

Current supplements:  Once per morning: men's multivitamin, vitamin c, selenium, zinc, magnesium chelate (100mg per pill), fish oil (1000 mg per pill)

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Also, if you have Netflix and want some mindless relaxing shows, I've found these to be what I needed during bad times:

Great British baking show

Worlds most amazing vacation rentals

Get Organized with the home edit

Dream home makeover

 

Great British baking show I legitimately like, the others are dumb but sometimes that's what I've needed.  Sorry you're going through so much right now.

Lexapro/Escitalopram history: 2012 to 2020 20 mg

July 2020 10 mg November 2020 5 mg 2/15/21 1/2 a 5mg pill ~2.5 mg 2/25/21 3/4 a 5mg pill ~3.75 mg 3/25/21 1/2 a 5mg pill ~2.5 mg

4/20/21 switched to liquid 2.8 mg, made a couple more increases over a week and a half to 3.5mg

5/14/21 increased further up to 3.8 mg, held there until Oct 2021

Decreasing steadily since 10/1/21

Latest change 3/15/24 .14mg

Current supplements:  Once per morning: men's multivitamin, vitamin c, selenium, zinc, magnesium chelate (100mg per pill), fish oil (1000 mg per pill)

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  • 4 weeks later...
On 5/16/2024 at 5:38 PM, Dee12h said:

I am on .06 and holding no matter what. Barely holding onto life by a thread.

those who got AKA from playing around with doses, how long to stabilize?

Hi Dee, I got absolutely heinous AKA from playing around with doses and almost didn’t survive. It was horrific for an about 2.5 months and then it improved a lot. Now it’s more of a mild restless legs but not bad enough to even really bother me if that makes sense. 

2006 - 2008 Lexapro, trazadone. wellbutrin, prozac. zyprexa, cymbalta 2008 - 2014 Effexor 112.5 - 187.5 mg March 2014 Rapid taper off 150mg, crashed in May May 2014 Reinstate 150 mg effexor and add 100mg Lamictal Sept 2017 150mg Effexor and 150mg Lamictal May 2018 Rapid taper off effexor, crashed in July August 2018 Reinstate Effexor 150mg August 2018 - November 2022 112.5mg - 187.5 mg Effexor and 150 mg Lamictal

Nov 2022 187.5 -> 150 mg effexor March 2023 150 -> 112.5 mg effexor October 2023 112.5mg -> 75mg effexor January16  2024 Accidentally took double dose of effexor, smoked weed and then crashed January 30: 76.2 mg effexor. February 10: 77.4 effexor March 20: 82mg effexor, kindled after three days March 26: 78mg Effexor

Currently: 78 mg Effexor 150 mg Lamictal

Holding indefinitely

 

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7 minutes ago, KimMk said:

Hi Dee, I got absolutely heinous AKA from playing around with doses and almost didn’t survive. It was horrific for an about 2.5 months and then it improved a lot. Now it’s more of a mild restless legs but not bad enough to even really bother me if that makes sense. 

Was that in March? Glad you’re feeling better.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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1 minute ago, Dee12h said:

Was that in March? Glad you’re feeling better.

Yes it was

2006 - 2008 Lexapro, trazadone. wellbutrin, prozac. zyprexa, cymbalta 2008 - 2014 Effexor 112.5 - 187.5 mg March 2014 Rapid taper off 150mg, crashed in May May 2014 Reinstate 150 mg effexor and add 100mg Lamictal Sept 2017 150mg Effexor and 150mg Lamictal May 2018 Rapid taper off effexor, crashed in July August 2018 Reinstate Effexor 150mg August 2018 - November 2022 112.5mg - 187.5 mg Effexor and 150 mg Lamictal

Nov 2022 187.5 -> 150 mg effexor March 2023 150 -> 112.5 mg effexor October 2023 112.5mg -> 75mg effexor January16  2024 Accidentally took double dose of effexor, smoked weed and then crashed January 30: 76.2 mg effexor. February 10: 77.4 effexor March 20: 82mg effexor, kindled after three days March 26: 78mg Effexor

Currently: 78 mg Effexor 150 mg Lamictal

Holding indefinitely

 

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7 minutes ago, KimMk said:

Yes it was

Are you sleeping better?

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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1 minute ago, Dee12h said:

Are you sleeping better?

I am now, yes. In fact, last night I started to doze off while I was reading which is something that hasn’t happened in six months. 

2006 - 2008 Lexapro, trazadone. wellbutrin, prozac. zyprexa, cymbalta 2008 - 2014 Effexor 112.5 - 187.5 mg March 2014 Rapid taper off 150mg, crashed in May May 2014 Reinstate 150 mg effexor and add 100mg Lamictal Sept 2017 150mg Effexor and 150mg Lamictal May 2018 Rapid taper off effexor, crashed in July August 2018 Reinstate Effexor 150mg August 2018 - November 2022 112.5mg - 187.5 mg Effexor and 150 mg Lamictal

Nov 2022 187.5 -> 150 mg effexor March 2023 150 -> 112.5 mg effexor October 2023 112.5mg -> 75mg effexor January16  2024 Accidentally took double dose of effexor, smoked weed and then crashed January 30: 76.2 mg effexor. February 10: 77.4 effexor March 20: 82mg effexor, kindled after three days March 26: 78mg Effexor

Currently: 78 mg Effexor 150 mg Lamictal

Holding indefinitely

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Update:

I have seen some improvement since holding my .06 dose for 6 weeks. I still feel like crap a lot. Windows & waves, which I’ve never had before.

 

Improved: appetite, bowel movements, sleep, akathisia, muscle twitching, morning cortisol, bad SI (from aka)

 

Still there: depression- very bad like I’ve never had before, but I do get windows breaks from this! If this would improve, I feel like I could tolerate my life again. still need help (melatonin & mag threonate) to sleep & wake up early am for another mag pill, crushing mental fatigue (do get breaks from this as well but fewer)

 

Symptoms I had before my crash & still have: dizziness, dysautonomia (heart rate, BP, heat intolerance, shakiness), brain fog, muscle jerks, head pressure, some headaches, anxiety, panic attacks if out & about beyond comfort zone

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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@brassmonkey You may not be able to help, but I’m 6wks out from a huge crash, have improved since then. There are some medical appointments I need to do, but they give me panic attacks. I used to take a low dose of xanax PRN for these with little issue. But now IDK if it’s worth it.
 

Do I 1-go without & risk the stress setting me back

2- take xanax or something like passion flower (also used in the past) & risk that setting me back

or 3- not go at all. 
They are chiropractor- this one I probably have to do as I’m having bad neck pain keeping me up @ night.

MRI for ongoing dizziness, etc.

and mammogram- I had an abnormal one (with “all benign markers”) a yr ago & am overdue for a followup one.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • Moderator

I would just go and then deal with the stress. You've had these types of appointments in the past and gotten through them alright, so, this time shouldn't be any different.

20 years on Paxil starting at 20mg and working up to 40mg. Sept 2011 started 10% every 6 weeks taper (2.5% every week for 4 weeks then hold for 2 additional weeks), currently at 7.9mg. Oct 2011 CTed 15oz vodka a night, to only drinking 2 beers most nights, totally sober Feb 2013.

Since I wrote this I have continued to decrease my dose by 10% every 6 weeks (2.5% every week for 4 weeks and then hold for an additional 2 weeks). I added in an extra 6 week hold when I hit 10mg to let things settle out even more. When I hit 3mgpw it became hard to split the drop into 4 parts so I switched to dropping 1mgpw (pill weight) every week for 3 weeks and then holding for another 3 weeks.  The 3 + 3 schedule turned out to be too harsh so I cut back to dropping 1mgpw every 4 weeks which is working better.

Final Dose 0.016mg.     Current dose 0.000mg 04-15-2017

 

"It's also important not to become angry, no matter how difficult life is, because you can loose all hope if you can't laugh at yourself and at life in general."  Stephen Hawking

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Well, I wasn’t so unstable then. My symptoms were all very manageable until April of this yr.

 

I took 1 passion flower & did the chiropractor today. It helped a lot, and I made it through with definite anxiety, but manageable.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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Hi Dee12h, thank you for sharing your story on this thread. 

 

I see you are experiencing WD symptoms like anxiety and the panic-attacks and almost fainting. All very relateable. I am at a low dose of Lexapro now (.32 mg), and also have been rather unstable the past weeks. Like you, I thought I was doing my taper really slowly and holding on frequently to stabilize. I have started to have the same WD symptoms. The (near) panic-attacks are really rough and I am at loss what to do. 

Have you been feeling any better the last days? What is your way of coping with the (near) panic-attacks? 

 

 

2016 - started with Lexapro 10 mg tablets, increased from 5 mg to 8 mg [updated starting year] for chronic depression / dysthymic disorder most likely caused by childhood trauma

2020 - first attempt of tapering, but quickly reinstated initial dose. Moved to 20mg/ml drops. 

2022 - tapering as of January from 8 mg, October 2022 - 0.90 mg, 2023, May & June - 0.65 mg 

2023 June 23 - 0.6 mg Lexapro, 2023 August 5 - 0.59 mg Lexapro, 2023 September 1 - 0.5mg Lexapro, 2023 November 1 - 0.48mg

2024 January 15 - 0.40mg, March 1 - 0.38 mg, April 7 - 0.36 mg, April 15 - 0.35 mg, May 18 - 0.33 mg, June 29 - 0.32mg - currently on hold due to panic attacks/sleep symptoms

 

1 fish oil tablet and 1 Magnesium tablet a day

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 7/6/2024 at 7:22 AM, Sveta81 said:

Hi Dee12h, thank you for sharing your story on this thread. 

 

I see you are experiencing WD symptoms like anxiety and the panic-attacks and almost fainting. All very relateable. I am at a low dose of Lexapro now (.32 mg), and also have been rather unstable the past weeks. Like you, I thought I was doing my taper really slowly and holding on frequently to stabilize. I have started to have the same WD symptoms. The (near) panic-attacks are really rough and I am at loss what to do. 

Have you been feeling any better the last days? What is your way of coping with the (near) panic-attacks? 

 

 

Not sure why I’m not getting notifications for my own thread 🤔
I am not doing well. Got some distressing news last week, and maybe that’s why. Before that, I was improving & getting some good windows. But it’s been 5 days. 😢

I just wait it out, try to watch tv, go for a walk. Sometimes moving can help; sometimes I just sit & cry. I’m not much help rn.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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1 hour ago, Dee12h said:

Not sure why I’m not getting notifications for my own thread 🤔
I am not doing well. Got some distressing news last week, and maybe that’s why. Before that, I was improving & getting some good windows. But it’s been 5 days. 😢

I just wait it out, try to watch tv, go for a walk. Sometimes moving can help; sometimes I just sit & cry. I’m not much help rn.

Sending you all the love, Dee. I know how hard it is for you right now. We will get through this together. We will get back to that good place we were at before this ❤️‍🩹

Zoloft  3/2022 4 doses- adverse reaction

Lexapro  4/2022 10mg

Taper began 6/2022: 5.0mg

End of 2022: 3.2mg

End of 2023: 1.8mg

2024 taper:

2/3/24: 1.76mg

3/2/24: 1.7mg

4/15/24: WD symptoms 

4/24/24: updose 1.72mg
Propranolol  30mg 3x day 4/15/2425mg 3x day 5/13/24 

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

I have never seen anyone on here have such a short “acute” phase (3 weeks), followed by “recovery” for 6 weeks (with some waves) and then back to acute again- even worse & longer. Everyone here told me it couldn’t happen. It can’t be a wave, because it’s lasted 4 weeks now, longer than my acute phase. No dose changes this whole time, no new drugs. No triggers that would warrant this kind of backslide.
 

Everyone says waves get easier & shorter as you go. False. Everyone said that “recovery” period of 6 weeks with no aka, where I was actually almost basically back to normal was a good sign that meant that I was healing. False. My WD counselor is stumped. No “ok” days at all in 4 weeks. And all this after tapering so carefully for so long. It’s BS. Something else has to be wrong.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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  • 1 month later...

How have you been doing since taking the iron? Any improvements? 

Started tapering Paxil 20mg July/August 2023.  Got to 5mg January 2024 and started to have vision issues from Withdrawal.  February 2023 severe withdrawal issues started, reinstating to 10mg Tuesday March 5th.  Plan on trying to stabilize at 10mg.  

8/19/24 2% decrease 9.8mg

 

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On 9/13/2024 at 1:01 PM, Schmeg82 said:

How have you been doing since taking the iron? Any improvements? 

I was improving, but now feel like I’m going back into a wave. 😭 I don’t think I can do this again. 
 

I don’t think it was the iron; I didn’t take any today to see, and it was the worst day yet. But I know there has to be something else going on with me. As slowly & carefully as I tapered, and now it’s been 4months of hell after my crash. No way only WD can cause this. No way. My iron, vit D, potassium, & sodium are all low. I’m getting tests for more stuff. Going super slowly adding anything. All I’ve added in 4 months is a low dose of iron & tried different magnesiums.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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3 minutes ago, Dee12h said:

I was improving, but now feel like I’m going back into a wave. 😭 I don’t think I can do this again. 
 

I don’t think it was the iron; I didn’t take any today to see, and it was the worst day yet. But I know there has to be something else going on with me. As slowly & carefully as I tapered, and now it’s been 4months of hell after my crash. No way only WD can cause this. No way. My iron, vit D, potassium, & sodium are all low. I’m getting tests for more stuff. Going super slowly adding anything. All I’ve added in 4 months is a low dose of iron & tried different magnesiums.

What are your symptoms in your waves?  I’ve heard of people slowly tapering and still having withdrawals unfortunately 🙁

 

a little improvement is good though! That’s a good sign!

Started tapering Paxil 20mg July/August 2023.  Got to 5mg January 2024 and started to have vision issues from Withdrawal.  February 2023 severe withdrawal issues started, reinstating to 10mg Tuesday March 5th.  Plan on trying to stabilize at 10mg.  

8/19/24 2% decrease 9.8mg

 

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39 minutes ago, Schmeg82 said:

What are your symptoms in your waves?  I’ve heard of people slowly tapering and still having withdrawals unfortunately 🙁

 

a little improvement is good though! That’s a good sign!

Extreme anxiety & depression, to the point of akathisia. Insomnia, muscle twitching & heart palps. 
 

I’m sry to hear you’re in a wave as well. What symptoms are you dealing with?

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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16 minutes ago, Dee12h said:

Extreme anxiety & depression, to the point of akathisia. Insomnia, muscle twitching & heart palps. 
 

I’m sry to hear you’re in a wave as well. What symptoms are you dealing with?

I get the muscle twitching it’s annoying, usually only when I lay down or in the morning.  I have akathisia bad but thankfully it comes and goes and isn’t constant.  My heart palps have calmed down a bunch. I have the internal tremors bad, up in my shoulders, head and neck! (That can be iron related too or dehydration)  I’m hoping this wave passes for you! As it should 

Started tapering Paxil 20mg July/August 2023.  Got to 5mg January 2024 and started to have vision issues from Withdrawal.  February 2023 severe withdrawal issues started, reinstating to 10mg Tuesday March 5th.  Plan on trying to stabilize at 10mg.  

8/19/24 2% decrease 9.8mg

 

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14 hours ago, Dee12h said:

was improving, but now feel like I’m going back into a wave. 😭 I don’t think I can do this again. 


this is the nature of the WD beast… you will recover. From my experience, the best windows come after a wave. Keep holding and you will come out of it once again! 

Sertraline 25 mg (Jan 2016)
50 mg (Feb 2016) Down to 25 mg for second pregnancy (2019) 75 mg due to PPA (Sept 2019) Down to 25 mg for third pregnancy (2020) 50-> 75 mg ->100 mg (Jan 2023) Felt good for long while so reduced to 75 (Nov 2023). Back up to 100 after some symptoms of anxiety (Dec 2023) 125 (Dec 2023) didn’t help so->150 mg (Feb 2024) Horrible adverse reaction to 150/kindled 
Doc suggested lowering Sert and add Buspar. Started 2.5 mg 3x per day same day at going down to 100 mg Sert. 

March- CT’d buspar and dropped down to 87 mg Sert. 
Intermittent .25 or .50 Xanax use. Like once a week. Haven’t taken it since April 2024. 
Found SA, stopped the madness.
(April 2024) hold at 87 mg -micro tapered a few mg over 1-2 months but should’ve held longer after stabilizing at 87

(8.31.24) 84.6 mg • (9.22.24) 83.9 mg accidental small drop due to scale malfunction; plan to hold here for at least a month. 

(Current: Natural Calm: 50-100 mg per day in water, 0.5 mg melatonin nightly) 

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On 9/18/2024 at 7:37 AM, AAOffZ said:


this is the nature of the WD beast… you will recover. From my experience, the best windows come after a wave. Keep holding and you will come out of it once again! 

I still haven’t had a “good” window yet since the bad July wave. A few better days but no great/steady window.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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On 9/17/2024 at 5:53 PM, Schmeg82 said:

I get the muscle twitching it’s annoying, usually only when I lay down or in the morning.  I have akathisia bad but thankfully it comes and goes and isn’t constant.  My heart palps have calmed down a bunch. I have the internal tremors bad, up in my shoulders, head and neck! (That can be iron related too or dehydration)  I’m hoping this wave passes for you! As it should 

How often is your akathisia? Does it come every day or like a few weeks on/few weeks off, or…? Hope you’re feeling better soon.

May 2019 started lexapro 2.5 mg; 2020 went to every other day; 2021 beginning of Mar, tried to stop but had insomnia; Mar 30, 2021 reinstated 1.25 ev other day, WD symptoms, not enough

April 19, 2021 started liquid, .85 mg/day; May 1, 2021 .8 mg, May 6 .75 mg; June 6 .7 mg, June 20 .65mg, June 30  .6mg, Jul 24 .55 mg, Oct 17 .5 mg, Dec 5- .45 mg; Jan 26, 2022- 4mg,  April 18- .375 ; April 24- .35; April 29- .3; Jun 12- .25 mg; Jun 28- .2 lex; Sept- .15 mg, Nov .1- long hold, never got better

June ‘23- PPPD started 🙁, Jun- .09, Jul- .08, Oct- .07, Dec- .06, Jan ‘24- .05! 
Played around with my dose since Feb & became very unstable w/ extreme acute WD symptoms. Holding @ .06 since May 13.

Taking Magnesium, melatonin, & electrolytes 

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1 minute ago, Dee12h said:

How often is your akathisia? Does it come every day or like a few weeks on/few weeks off, or…? Hope you’re feeling better soon.

Mine is sporadic but since my last taper I’ve had it every single day, most in the evenings anywhere from 30 mins to 3 hours.  Sometimes in the morning also but not as bad.  It will go away for days and sometimes a week or two then come back with a vengeance.  I’m not feeling well at all but I went back to work in the mornings for a distraction. 

Started tapering Paxil 20mg July/August 2023.  Got to 5mg January 2024 and started to have vision issues from Withdrawal.  February 2023 severe withdrawal issues started, reinstating to 10mg Tuesday March 5th.  Plan on trying to stabilize at 10mg.  

8/19/24 2% decrease 9.8mg

 

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