Joshimitsu: Withdrawing fromLexapro and pain.

[Joshimitsu]

Hi everyone. I should probably start by saying that I'm 29 and Autistic, and have lived with a degree of anxiety and depression for I would say probably my whole life.

 

I left my casual job back in 2016, which was all I could manage, because it had started to make my anxiety and depression considerably worse. My GP prescribed me lexapro, and I eventually upped the dose to 20mg.

 

In 2018 I decided I wanted to come off the meds, and did so with really no issues. I was off for about 8 months, until in early 2019 I decided I needed a new medication, so went on Fluoxetine, my apologies, but I don't remember the dosage. During this time, I experienced a panic attack whilst driving and developed panic disorder, so with my GP I came off Fluoxetine and went back on Lexapro. My GP also prescribed me Lorazepam 1mg to be taken as needed.

 

Half way through 2021 I got with my partner. After around a year of being together, the sexual side effects of Lexapro were starting to really get to me. Basically I had no feeling in my penis, and I could get it up, but I couldn't finish. This accompanied with around a 20kg weight gain really got to me, and I decided to start tapering off Lexapro in July of this year. I tapered down over roughly 2 and a half to three months, and whilst it definitely wasn't fun, it wasn't horrible.

 

Anyway, in the time it's been since being off the lexapro, around 2 and a half months now, I'd probably say that I've been worse than I was when I was still on them. The only real plus side is that the sexual side effects have gone away. The thing that is hands down getting to me the most, is that I've developed body pain, which I'm experiencing pretty much everywhere, and it seems to have slowly gotten worse. I spent almost a week at my partners house with them helping them to look after their pets while their parents were on a holiday. Since I've come back this past Thursday I've had very bad pain in my back, barely been able to sit up or get out of bed. Just now as I'm typing this, I've just gotten home from being out for about an hour and a half with my support worker, and the pain has flared up again a bit and I had to go straight to lie in bed.

 

I should note a couple of other things, I took 7 lorazepam, 3 in one day, 2 the day after, and then 2 a couple of days after that in the last week and a half. Mainly because there were a few things I had to do that cause me quite some anxiety. Also, both my partner and my sister have fibromyalgia, my partner was diagnosed 10 years ago.

 

Now I've seen my doctor about the pain, had blood tests done, and been prescribed naproxen. I have no inflamation in my blood and the naproxen doesn't seem to work. My GP says I could have fibro and that it's common for pain to come on after stopping anti depressants. I just don't really know what to do. I can deal with mental pain by itself, but then throw in physical pain too and I feel like I just can't handle it. I'm going back to see my GP on Thursday, but I feel at a bit of a loss at the moment to be honest.

 

 

Edited December 3, 2022 by manymoretodays
name to title, merged topics, combined titles

[Joshimitsu]

Hey everyone. So my journey with Anti Depressants first started back in 2016 after I left from my job. Some background I have autism and always found it difficult to hold down a job. This particular job worsened my anxiety and depression, so my doctor prescribed me 20mg of lexapro.

 

I was on the lexapro until 2018, when I decided to go off of them because I wanted to go to uni and felt like I didn't need them. I came back on them with no real issues. Around early 2019 I wasn't doing too great and decided I probably needed to try some again, so that's when my doctor prescribed me fluoxetine, I apologise, but I don't remember the dose. During this time, I had a bad panic attack whilst driving and desired panic disorder, so in late 2019 I went off Fluoxetine and back on Lexapro, going back up to 20mg. She also prescribed me lorazepam 1mg to use as needed.

 

Everything seemed to be going okay, and in mid 2021 I began going out with my partner. After a while, the sexual side effects and the 20kg weight gain I had from the lexapro started to really get me down, so I decided I wanted to try coming off them, and after my partner was succesful in coming off their meds early this year, I was optimistic about it.

 

I tapered down from the 20mg to eventually being off them over around 2-2 and a half months, and have been completely off them for around 2-2 and a half months now. It was hard coming off for sure, and at first I was doing okay, but over time I seem to have been doing worse. I've developed body pain since coming off my meds which I didn't have before, and I do think that my anxiety and depression is getting worse.

 

I went to stay at my partner's house to help look after their pets while their parents were on holiday. I got home last week on Thursday, and then on Friday I woke up with terrible back pain. The pain has been there for a week now and is only kept at bay with an ice pack. I had an xray done yesterday and will get the results next week. I've also been experiencing some nausea and headaches. During my time at my partners, I had to take 7 lorazepam as there were a few things that I had to do which made me particuarly anxious.

 

Both my partner and my sister have Fibromyalgia, and I'm worried that I've developed the same thing. I feel like I can handle the mental pain by itself, but add in physical pain too and it just feel too much to handle. I'm going to see a hypnotherapist in about a week for my anxiety and am hopeful that will help at least a bit.

 

I just want to know that this is going to get better, because it's very hard to deal with feeling like this. It all just feels like too much.

[getofflex]

Hello, and welcome to SA.  We are a volunteer-run community of people who have been or are getting off of psychiatric drugs.  Thank you for your patience - the site is currently short of staff, as several of us are traveling.  I'm glad to hear that your withdrawal wasn't horrible.  However, I understand your concern about the pain that you are experiencing.  Rest assured that if this pain is from withdrawal, that it will eventually go away, assuming you take good care of yourself.  Is Lorazepam the only thing you are taking now?  On average, how often do you take this?  

 

Can you please give us more specific information in your signature about your drug history for all drugs and supplements 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 specific dates, include the day (as best you can say for example early March if you don't recall the day), drug names, 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 Your Drug History in Your Signature

 

Here is some important 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

 

 

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

 

Stability is really important when we are tapering off psych meds.  Please read the link about stability:

 

Keep It Simple, Slow, and Stable

 

 

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

 

Here is a link to a list of our threads where members discuss the symptom of physical pain, and how they deal with it.  This is a common WD symptom.  Someday this will get better.  

 

Search List for Topics on Pain