Jeannecash Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Hello After nearly 3 weeks of stopping escitalopram after a relatively long taper , I suffer from restless legs at night, it gives me some anxiety because insomnia was my major panic attack trigger. I really don’t want to go back on the medication so I wondered what helped other restless legs sufferers in the post - withdrawal phase. June 2018 2 weeks of lyrica then huge panic attacks. June 2018- July 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and Valium 10 m slow taper and stopped both. November 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and valium 10 mg again december 2020 after slow taper of 6 months stopped valium at 0,3 mg june 2021 after slow taper of 6 months stopped escitalopram at 1 mg now : nothing Link to comment
Moderator Go2zero Posted July 19, 2021 Moderator Share Posted July 19, 2021 Hello Jeannecash, Welcome to this support site. Before we can answer your questions, please give us more information first. Can you please give us specific information about your drug history for all drugs you are on and have been on, especially for the past 18-24 months? It would be especially helpful to have the details of your drugs in a concise list (no symptoms), only drug names, specific dates (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day) and dosages of each medication decrease or increase. Please read the link below for instructions. This will allow us to give you the best guidance. How to List Drug History in Signature Please inform us especially what you last drug dosis was when you jumped to zero 3 weeks ago. It is very common that withdrawal starts after 2 weeks or more after quitting or after a too strong taper. With escitalopram withdrawal even can start (or worsen) after 3-4 months after a (too) big drop in dosage or stopping. 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one. Link to comment
Jeannecash Posted July 20, 2021 Author Share Posted July 20, 2021 Thanks for your reply , I just made my signature. I thinks my withdrawal from escitalopram was a bit quick but it’s because after the end of valium, I started having very strong restless legs and I saw on the escitalopram notice that it can be a side effect so I was a bit in a hurry to stop it. And now I still have this symptom and it’s my main problem. June 2018 2 weeks of lyrica then huge panic attacks. June 2018- July 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and Valium 10 m slow taper and stopped both. November 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and valium 10 mg again december 2020 after slow taper of 6 months stopped valium at 0,3 mg june 2021 after slow taper of 6 months stopped escitalopram at 1 mg now : nothing Link to comment
Moderator Go2zero Posted July 20, 2021 Moderator Share Posted July 20, 2021 1mg escitalopram still gives a very high serotonine receptor occupancy (SERT) around 45%. At 10 mg the SERT is around 80%. So that shows why stopping at 1mg is still a very big jump to zero! This may cause withdrawal effects and they may worsen (don't have to) over a period of months. So be careful what happens. Maybe reinstating a dose less than 1 mg would be appropriate if WD would worsen (let's hope not). 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one. Link to comment
Jeannecash Posted July 20, 2021 Author Share Posted July 20, 2021 Ok , i didn’t realize that. My psychiatrist thinks I am a “ difficult patient “ and told me nobody has had problem stopping after 2 weeks at 5 mg every other day. I really hope I don’t have to take it again , let’s see. And for the restless legs does anybody has a “ trick “ to lessen it ? June 2018 2 weeks of lyrica then huge panic attacks. June 2018- July 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and Valium 10 m slow taper and stopped both. November 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and valium 10 mg again december 2020 after slow taper of 6 months stopped valium at 0,3 mg june 2021 after slow taper of 6 months stopped escitalopram at 1 mg now : nothing Link to comment
Moderator Go2zero Posted July 20, 2021 Moderator Share Posted July 20, 2021 Your psychiatrist seems to think and act like most of them. They nearly all say withdrawal does not exist and they call it nearly always relapse when a patient shows WD effects. So they put patients on medication again. Going on and off meds, changing dosages and meds make everything worse. You just have to look around on this website to get an idea what is going on.... I cannot help you specifically with the restless legs. I guess it is a WD effect. If that is all you experience, you are very very lucky. If WD does not become worse, I suggest you give it time. Time heals WD effects! 1993 Anafranil (Clomipramine) for a few months. Later in 1993 Paxil for a few months 1993- 2006 No medication 2006 Effexor, Cymbalta, some Benzo’s. All for short periods. Later in 2006 Lexapro (escitalopram) 10 mg and shortly after Wellbutrin XR 150mg, against side effects Lexapro Since 2006 until end of 2015: Several times on and off Lexapro and Wellbutrin and several slight dosage changes. Mostly taken dosages: 5mg Lexapro and 150mg Wellbutrin 2016 Dosage change Lexapro from 5mg to 2,5 mg. Wellbutrin stayed om 150mg November 2016 – April 2017 Down from 2,5mg to 0,6mg Lexapro (in steps) without much problems. Wellbutrin down from 150mg to 66mg. Also without much problems. April 2017 – March 2019 Lexapro 0,6 mg April 2017 - August 2018 Wellbutrin in small steps down from 66mg in to 37,5 mg . Quite heavy WD after each step. March 2019 – May 2019 Lexapro down from 0,6 to 0,3mg then Prozac to 0,6 mg switch because severe discontinuation effects (may also have been from Wellbutrin..) Wellbutrin down from 37,5mg to 35,3mg October 2019 Seroquel 12,5 mg for 4 weeks because of extreme sleeping problems, then weaning off in 2 weeks Prozac up dosage to 1,2 mg March 2020 Wellbutrin in 2 steps down from 35,3mg to 33,3mg Extreme withdrawal effects during 8 months. Stopped tapering Wellbutrin until total off Prozac. February 2020 – November 2020 Prozac down in steps from 1,2mg to 0,57mg. Jan 2021 : Prozac down to: 0,55> 0,53>0,51mg, Feb 0,47mg , Mar 0,42mg, Apr 0,37, longer hold because of WD symptoms July 0,36 and hold again, Sept 19 0,35, Sept 26 0,34mg, Oct 3 0,33mg Long hold of 172 days until March 2022 January 20, 2022: Wellbutrin from 33,3 to 32,3mg March 22, 2022 Prozac down from 0,33mg to: 0,30mg, Apr 0,29, May 0,28, 0,27, June 0,26, 0,25, July 0,24, 0,23, 0,22, 0,21, Aug 0,20, 0,19 Sep 0,18, Oct 0,17. 0,16, 0,15, Nov 0,14 Jan 2023 0,13, 0,12, 0,11 Feb 0,10, 0,09 Mar 0,08 , June 0,07 , July 0,06, 0,05, Aug 0,04, 0,03, Sept 0,026, 0,024 Nov 0,022, 0,019, 0,016, 0,013 Dec 0,012, 0,011, 0,010, 0,009 Jan 2024 0,008, 0,007, 0,006, 0,005, 0,004, 0,003, 0,002, 0,001, Feb 0,0007. 0,0005, 0,0003, 0,0001, Feb 23, 2024: 0,00000 Wellbutrin resume tapering: Apr 2024 31,6mg, 30,8, 30 Supplements: Fish Oil (3000mg), Magnesium 100 mg, 2 drops of Lavender Oil, only when feeling extreme anxiety. 50mg of L-Theanine only when severe discontinuation effects caused by Wellbutrin Please note this is NOT a medical advice. Discuss all your medical issues with a doctor who understands psychical drugs and really knows how to withdraw from them. I wish that you will find one. Link to comment
Administrator Altostrata Posted July 21, 2021 Administrator Share Posted July 21, 2021 Welcome, Jeanne. Did you get withdrawal symptoms while you were tapering? When did the restless legs start? Many people find fish oil and magnesium supplements helpful, see https://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/36-king-of-supplements-omega-3-fatty-acids-fish-oil/ https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/ Magnesium in particular, taken in small doses throughout the day, is good for restless legs, as is stretching. You might try a little bit of one at a time to see how it affects you. This is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a knowledgeable medical practitioner. "It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has surpassed our humanity." -- Albert Einstein All postings © copyrighted. Link to comment
Jeannecash Posted July 21, 2021 Author Share Posted July 21, 2021 Hello The restless legs started as soon as I stopped Valium and it went on all the way through my tapering. I’ve just started omega 3 and magnesium after reading some topics on this forum. I’ve also stopped taking vit b because I’ve read here that it might to stimulant for my brain. thanks June 2018 2 weeks of lyrica then huge panic attacks. June 2018- July 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and Valium 10 m slow taper and stopped both. November 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and valium 10 mg again december 2020 after slow taper of 6 months stopped valium at 0,3 mg june 2021 after slow taper of 6 months stopped escitalopram at 1 mg now : nothing Link to comment
Jeannecash Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 Hello I think it’s interesting to know that my restless legs stopped as soon as I stopped taking my vit b supplement, really amazing. This supplement was specifically for stress !!! But a month now with 0 meds I still have quite a bit of insomnia and anxiety when I don’t sleep. Thanks again because it’s on this forum that I found this vit b info. June 2018 2 weeks of lyrica then huge panic attacks. June 2018- July 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and Valium 10 m slow taper and stopped both. November 2019 : escitalopram 15 mg and valium 10 mg again december 2020 after slow taper of 6 months stopped valium at 0,3 mg june 2021 after slow taper of 6 months stopped escitalopram at 1 mg now : nothing Link to comment
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