Zion78: Seizures from anxiety meds

[Zion78]

Hi everyone, 

Im new here am wondering if anyone has had experiences with seizures while taking anxiety meds or while attempting to taper off them. My story begins about 13 years ago when I started taking Zoloft. I was in grad school and struggling to manage my stress, so my primary care put me on this medicine and that’s when the chaos began. It did help tremendously with my anxiety, but I was also having these strange blackout episodes. The first was when my husband and I had gone to a concert, had some beers, and walking back to the hotel I started having trouble walking. Almost like my brain forgot how to tell my legs to move. I collapsed on the sidewalk and couldn’t move or speak for about 15 minutes. I did come out of it and was fine, but only after the EMT’s showed up and had no clue what was happening. Then it happened again a couple months later. My friend was over and we were drinking wine. I went to the bathroom and again collapsed, not able to speak or move, etc. At this point my doctor switched me to Effexor (150mg) and I was fine for years until I stopped taking the Effexor and started having seizures again shortly after. Because of the seizures I was put on lexapro and again was fine for a long time until I recently ended up in the ER twice again with the seizures. Both times I was drinking with friends (nothing out of control, some wine and cocktails). I have full recollection of the events until I didn’t and woke up in the ER. Doctors told me the seizures were Delirum Tremens, but I don’t drink often and certainly not enough to have withdrawal seizures. And I did have the seizures in the past while I was completely sober. I’ve had all the various tests done to rule out neurological disease and am perfectly healthy on paper. So why the seizures??? Mixing with alcohol is so stupid and I know a very bad idea. But even a moderate amount can cause seizures??? There’s no other explanation I can think of. And about 45 days ago I slowly tapered off 20mg of lexapro that I was taking for about 5 years. I also stopped drinking all alcohol and am taking the best care I ever have of myself. And I feel horrible. So dizzy and unsteady I worry I’m going to collapse and have seizures at any moment. I can barely function and don’t know what to do. I’m terrified. So just wondering if it’s just me? If there’s something very wrong doctors can’t find. If it’s all in my head? Any advice, please share…

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  I'm sorry to hear that you are dealing with seizures, and also with feeling horrible.  I have a few questions for you.  

 

1) Did you ever have any seizures at all, before you started on your first antidepressant (Zoloft)? 

 

2) When you had your seizure when you were sober, was it when you were currently on one of the antidepressants? Which one?

 

Also, your signature says you are on 20 mg. Lexapro, but at the end of your post you say "And about 45 days ago I slowly tapered off 20mg of lexapro that I was taking for about 5 years."  What dose of Lexapro are you on now? 

 

Thanks for giving us a general drug history.  Can you please flesh this out with more 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 vertical 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.  Use this format:

 

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Drug name: date, dose, date, dose, date, dose…

Etcetera

 

Please read the link below for instructions.  This will allow us to give you the best guidance.  

 

How to List Drug History in Signature

 

Here is some information about how these drugs actually work.   This explains why we get symptoms from going off of these medications, and why it's so important to taper slowly and carefully, and be very cautious about changing our doses: 

 

How Psychiatric Drugs Remodel Your Brain

 

 

This helps you understand what withdrawal syndrome is: 

 

Video on Recovery from Psych Drugs

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

What is Happening in Your Brain

 

 

Tapering is best done extremely slowly, and we generally taper by 10% of the current dose no more than once every 4 weeks, so that the reduction becomes exponentially smaller.

 

 Why Taper by 10% of my Dosage  

 

Tips for Tapering Lexapro

 

 

Also, as we are recovering, we suggest keeping things slow, simple, and stable. 

 

Keep it Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

Here is a link with checklists of common WD symptoms: 

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen Withdrawal Symptom Checklists

 

 

Here are some techniques to cope with symptoms: 

 

Non Drug Ways to Cope with Withdrawal Symptoms

 

 

We don't suggest many supplements, but 2 that many of us find helpful are magnesium and omega-3 fish oil. Here are the links for info about those. It is suggested to add one at a time, and start with a low dose to see how it affects you. 

Magnesium

 

Omega 3 Fish Oil

 

Let's go back to the seizures. I did a little research, and apparently, there was a study done with rats that showed a positive correlation between treatment with SSRI's and the rats developing epilepsy (epileptogenesis). Here is a link to that post: 

 

Chronic antidepressant treatment accelerates kindling epileptogenesis in rats

 

The other thing is that, as I'm sure you know now, combining alcohol with SSRI's is not a good idea, even in moderate amounts.  Here is what drugs.com says about this.  Ethanol is alcohol.  Escitalopram is Lexapro. 

 

Interactions between your drugs

Moderate

ethanol  escitalopram

Applies to: Alcohol (contained in alcoholic beverages) (ethanol), Lexapro (escitalopram)

Using escitalopram together with ethanol may increase side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, confusion, and difficulty concentrating. Some people may also experience impairment in thinking, judgment, and motor coordination. You should avoid or limit the use of alcohol while being treated with escitalopram. Do not use more than the recommended dose of escitalopram, and avoid driving, operating machinery, or engaging in potentially hazardous activities requiring mental alertness and motor coordination until you know how the medication affects you.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 12, 2022 by getofflex

[getofflex]

On 2/10/2022 at 10:31 PM, Zion78 said:

45 days ago I slowly tapered off 20mg of lexapro that I was taking for about 5 years. I also stopped drinking all alcohol and am taking the best care I ever have of myself.

It's a really good start that you stopped the alcohol, and are tapered/tapering off the Lexapro.   When I know more details about your Lexapro taper, and answers to my other questions above, we can advise you about things to do to help you with withdrawal.