Crielle Posted February 2, 2023 Posted February 2, 2023 Hello. I’m new to this board. Last year I had my first baby and a few days after I got postpartum anxiety pretty bad. I already had an anxiety disorder and I was on antidepressants and anti anxiety meds for over ten years but had just weaned off everything and was doing well until right after I had my baby. Now I’m back on my meds and having trouble with the doctors not being able to help me. I was on 25mg Zoloft and went up to 50mg Zoloft, then we switched to 20mg escitalopram and then my doctor told me to take a three day break from antidepressants before a switch to Effexor. I stupidly listened to her and took the break and on the third morning woke up with horrible discontinuation syndrome symptoms. I reinstated the escitalopram and didn’t start the Effexor. I was too scared. I fired that doctor and found a new one. The escitalopram was causing some side effects that I didn’t like so I asked if I could go back to my 25mg Zoloft and she said yes. I went to 37.5mg instead because I thought that would be best to start at since I was use to 50mg. I started to feel really bad a couple of days ago and yesterday was the worse. I found out by searching online that the equivalent dose of 20mg escitalopram and 37.5mg Zoloft are completely different and that I was taking way more escitalopram and that now I’m in discontinuation syndrome for basically lowering my dosage more than 75%. I see my doctor today and I need to talk to her about this. Can you please let me know how much Zoloft do you think that I should be taking or if there is some anti-depressant equivalent dose conversion chart that I can show the doctor that she will see as valid? I was on 20mg escitalopram. Also I want to get back to 50mg Zoloft. How should I do that? Should I taper and if so how should I taper it to get to 50mg Zoloft? I need the medicine now but I hope to taper off after a year. Thank you. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Moderator Emeritus Onmyway Posted February 2, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Posted February 2, 2023 Dear @Crielle Welcome to SA. We are a withdrawal forum and can't help you with the choice of what drug to take or what equivalent doses are. I can tell you that Effexor is a very difficult drug to come off of and escitalopram is quite hard too. I can also tell you that stopping and switching drugs makes the nervous system sensitive to subsequent drug introductions and withdrawals and whatever drug you take next may not be able to take your symptoms away and might make things worse. Your best bet to avoid these reactions is to reinstate the drug that caused the withdrawal which in this case would be escitalopram in my understanding and stabilize. You were taking a very high dose of escitalopram by the way. Happy to provide tapering advice if you need it but suggest stabilization first on your previous drug. OMW "Nothing so small as a moment is insurmountable, and moments are all that we have. You have survived every trial and tribulation that life has thrown at you up until this very instant. When future troubles come—and they will come—a version of you will be born into that moment that can conquer them, too." - Kevin Koenig I am not a doctor and this should not be considered medical advice. You can use the information and recommendations provided in whatever way you want and all decisions on your treatment are yours. In the next few weeks I do not have a lot of capacity to respond to questions. If you need a quick answer pls tag or ask other moderators who may want to be tagged. Aug 2000 - July 2003 (ct, 4-6 wk wd) , citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn, wellbutrin for a few months, trazodone prn Dec 2004 - July 2018 citalopram 20 mg, xanax prn (rarely used) Aug 2018 - citalopram 40 mg (self titrated up) September 2018 - January 2019 tapered citalopram - 40/30/20/10/5 no issues until a week after reaching 0 Feb 2019 0.25 xanax - 0.5/day (3 weeks) over to klonopin 0.25 once a day to manage severe wd March 6, reinstated citalopram 2.5 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 mg for sleep 2-3 times a week Apr 1st citalopram 2.0 mg (liquid), klonopin 0.25 once a week (off by 4/14/19- no tapering) citalopram (liquid) 4/14/19 -1.8 mg, 5/8/19 - 1.6 mg, 7/27/19 -1.5 mg, 8/15/19 - 1.35, 2/21/21 - 1.1 (smaller drops in between), 6/20/21 - 1.03 mg, 8/7/21- 1.025, 8/11/21 - 1.02, 8/15/21 - 1.015, 9/3/21 - 0.925 (fingers crossed!), 10/8/21 - 0.9, 10/18/21 - 0.875, 12/31/21 - 0.85, 1/7/22 - 0.825, 1/14/22 - 0.8, 1/22/22 - 0.785, 8/18/22 - 0.59, 12/15/2022 - 0.48, 2/15/22 - 0.43, 25/07/23 - 0.25 (mistake), 6/08/23 - 0.33mg Supplements: magnesium citrate and bi-glycinate
Crielle Posted February 2, 2023 Author Posted February 2, 2023 Ok thank you. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Crielle Posted February 12, 2023 Author Posted February 12, 2023 Hello. I was taking 50mg of Zoloft and 5mg of Escitalopram (Lexapro) for one week (prescriber said to take for only one week and then stop) of a taper off of the Escitalopram and my tinnitus went away. I went down to 2.5mg of Escitalopram and have stayed at the 50mg Zoloft two days ago and since last night my tinnitus is back. Should I go back up to the 5mg and just hold it or do I stay on the 2.5mg and continue the taper? 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 14, 2023 Administrator Posted February 14, 2023 Hello, @Crielle Please add questions to your Introductions topic here. When you posted February 2, you didn't say anything about tinnitus. When did that symptom start? It seems your doctor is supervising a switch from escitalopram to Zoloft? Do you intend to stay on Zoloft? Have you told your doctor that you got tinnitus again? To help us out, follow these instructions Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature You may need to use a computer to do this. 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.
Crielle Posted February 14, 2023 Author Posted February 14, 2023 The tinnitus started not long after I started to take the Escitalopram. I think it might have something to do with the type of pill that I was taking. I was taking a 5mg pill recently but then to make the 2.5mg I was cutting a 20mg pill and that’s when the tinnitus came back. I’m switching from Escitalopram to Zoloft. My doctor just prescribed me a month of 5mg of the Escitalopram that I was taking to take with the Zoloft. For some reason these doctors don’t know how to safely switch us or wean us. I eventually want to taper the Zoloft. First I have to taper my clonazepam and then I will taper the Zoloft maybe a year later. I’ll add my summary below and put it in my signature later when I get the chance. I’ve been keeping notes on my phone. November 2022 - 25mg Zoloft December 2022 - 50mg Zoloft January 2023 - 20mg Escitalopram January 2023 - dr. made me take three day break to switch to Effexor and got discontinuation syndrome symptoms, started back on Escitalopram 20mg 01/25 stopped E and started 37.5mg Zoloft 01/26 same 01/27 same 01/28 same 01/29 same 01/30 same bad discontinuation symptoms 01/31 50mg Z 02/01 same 02/02 75mg Z 02/03 50mg Z and 5mg of Escitalopram 02/04 50mg and 5mg of E 02/05 50mg and 5mg 02/06 50mg and 5mg 02/07 50mg and 5mg 02/08 same 02/09 same 02/10 50mg and 2.5mg 02/11 same 02/12 75mg Z 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 14, 2023 Administrator Posted February 14, 2023 Not sure how we might help. We do not assist with doctor-directed drug switches, sorry. Please let us know when you're ready to taper off your drugs. 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.
Moderator Emeritus Shep Posted February 14, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Posted February 14, 2023 8 hours ago, Crielle said: First I have to taper my clonazepam and then I will taper the Zoloft maybe a year later. This is a bad strategy. Here is why: Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first? As Altostrata noted, we don't assist with doctor-directed drug switches, just in tapering off.
Crielle Posted February 14, 2023 Author Posted February 14, 2023 13 hours ago, Shep said: This is a bad strategy. Here is why: Taking multiple psych drugs? Which drug to taper first? As Altostrata noted, we don't assist with doctor-directed drug switches, just in tapering off. Hello. I understand what that is saying and thank you for that but I tapered off Clonazepam before while taking Sertraline. I had to get on sertraline in order to help with the withdrawal from the clonazepam. After I tapered the clonazepam, I was doing great on the sertraline. I just wanted to get off because I was pregnant but it helped me immensely while tapering the benzodiazepine. Taking benzodiazepines is dangerous for the simple fact that it’s hard to find doctors that will prescribe them on a monthly basis in order to withdraw. On the other hand, anti depressants don’t come with that issue because the doctors don’t see them as addictive. I’d rather get off the benzo first like before and then taper the antidepressant extremely slowly because I can’t risk getting cut off by a doctor. I don’t like being dependent on a doctor’s prescription in order to not go into psychosis from cold turkey benzo withdrawal because a doctor won’t prescribe it. At least with an antidepressant, I can get a prescription fairly easy from anyone who prescribes medication. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 15, 2023 Administrator Posted February 15, 2023 Before any further discussion: Please summarize your drug and withdrawal history in your signature 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.
Crielle Posted February 15, 2023 Author Posted February 15, 2023 Ok I put the summary. Sorry I forgot. I have had a pretty bad memory since giving birth. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 15, 2023 Administrator Posted February 15, 2023 I am confused. You went off Zoloft in September and In November, you developed postpartum anxiety and "baby blues"? How did you go off Zoloft in September 2022? 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 19 hours ago, Altostrata said: I am confused. You went off Zoloft in September and In November, you developed postpartum anxiety and "baby blues"? How did you go off Zoloft in September 2022? I tapered the Zoloft. Then I had my baby on November 19 and a few days later started to have mental health problems. I had some anxiety and things now that I can look back and see but I didn’t go downhill until after I gave birth. It was a traumatic birth as well which could have contributed. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 How did you taper the Zoloft that you stopped in September 2022? 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 11 hours ago, Altostrata said: How did you taper the Zoloft that you stopped in September 2022? I don’t remember. I think I might have tapered it over one or two months. It wasn’t a slow 10% taper though. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 My guess is the anxiety you experienced after your baby's birth was withdrawal symptoms from Zoloft, perhaps exacerbated by postpartum hormonal changes. 20mg Lexapro is somewhat stronger than 50mg Zoloft, so it's likely you had a paradoxical reaction to that. How did you feel after you took 37.5mg Zoloft in late January 2023? Did you add 5mg Lexapro on February 3? 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 When I stopped the Lexpro and went to the 37.5mg Zoloft, originally I was supposed to go to 25mg Zoloft (because my prescriber said that I could switch because I complained of ringing in my ears), something told me to go a little higher, I can’t remember what or why, so I was taking the 37.5mg on my own (prescriber thought I was taking 25mg). I felt fine from 01/25-01/29 and then I started having classic discontinuation syndrome symptoms but I didn’t know what it was. I thought that I was having a paradoxical reaction to the benzodiazepine because I was taking .25mg every day because I was getting ready to start my taper by taking it like that for one month and then doing down 10%. I was so scared to take the benzo. I went on benzobuddies freaking out about it. When I got the courage to take it, I took 1mg and the symptoms almost completely went away. I made an appointment with my prescriber. My prescriber told me that she told me to taper the lexapro while starting the Zoloft at the same time but she didn’t tell me that and I have proof because we were messaging in the health portal. Now I don’t trust her. I have an appointment with a new doctor next week. Hopefully he knows what he’s doing. 02/03/23 was when I started taking the 50mg Zoloft with the 5mg lexapro. The prescriber put me on that for one week to help me with the withdrawal symptoms and she said that I should be ok after that with just a couple of lingering symptoms. Come to find out, after I was out of the lexapro 5mg, that I started to feel exactly how I felt in January. I found out that 5mg lexapro is equal to 25mg of Zoloft and that I was having discontinuation syndrome symptoms again. I had to take my clonazepam again and it set me back once again. I’ve been so focused on getting off of the benzo again that I’m not paying attention to how these prescribers are putting me in a lot of danger with the antidepressants. I’m stupidly listening to them as well. Like I totally forgot how dangerous these meds are and am just blindly doing what they tell me to do. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Now I’m back on the 50mg Zoloft and 5mg lexapro and I got a milligram scale today from Amazon and I also got some pill cutters and crusher and I’m going to slowly taper the lexapro and the Zoloft (10% monthly cuts?) because I think that you are correct about what happened to me after birth. Maybe the pregnancy hormones were what was keeping me from going into discontinuation syndrome because I know that the progesterone can act on gaba and once I gave birth, I just went full blown into discontinuation syndrome? 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 3 minutes ago, Crielle said: I felt fine from 01/25-01/29 and then I started having classic discontinuation syndrome symptoms What were those symptoms? 5 minutes ago, Crielle said: I found out that 5mg lexapro is equal to 25mg of Zoloft and that I was having discontinuation syndrome symptoms again. You added 5mg Lexapro to 50mg Zoloft, correct? What were those symptoms? How often have you been taking clonazepam since November 2022? Were there any stretches when you were taking it every day? 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 2 minutes ago, Altostrata said: What were those symptoms? You added 5mg Lexapro to 50mg Zoloft, correct? What were those symptoms? How often have you been taking clonazepam since November 2022? Were there any stretches when you were taking it every day? I had tingling in my body, pins and needles in my hands and face, uncontrollable crying, severe anxiety, problems with the lights and just an all around bad feeling. When I added the 50mg Zoloft and the 5mg lexapro the symptoms weren’t bad. The only thing is the lightheadedness from the Zoloft and I think itching (this time not last time) from the lexapro. The ringing is getting better. Here’s my list that I’ve been keeping for the clonazepam: November 25, 2022 - .25mg daily December 2022 - .25mg as needed. Usually twice a week. Thurs 01/26 .25mg clonazepam Fri 01/27 .25mg c Sat 01/28 .25 c Sun 01/29 .25 c Mon 01/30 .5mg c ringing got better but got anxiety when took it anxiety got better later the next day but ringing got worse. Tue 01/31 .5 ringing got better but got anxiety when took it. In the morning had bad anxiety. Bad agitated feeling in body. Weird sensations in face. Crying. Stop taking it. Was antidepressant not clonazepam. 02/01 1mg 02/02 1mg 02/03 none 02/04 @ 2:25am .5mg 02/05 none 02/06 @ 8:28pm 02/07 none 02/08 .5mg 02/09 none 02/10 .5mg 02/11 none 02/12 1mg 02/13 .5mg 02/14 .5mg 02/15 none 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 5 minutes ago, Crielle said: November 25, 2022 - .25mg daily How long were you taking clonazepam daily in November? 5 minutes ago, Crielle said: When I added the 50mg Zoloft and the 5mg lexapro the symptoms weren’t bad. The only thing is the lightheadedness from the Zoloft and I think itching (this time not last time) from the lexapro. The ringing is getting better. What new symptoms did you get when you added 5mg Lexapro to 50mg Zoloft? What happened with the itching? When did the ringing start getting better? 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 3 minutes ago, Altostrata said: How long were you taking clonazepam daily in November? What new symptoms did you get when you added 5mg Lexapro to 50mg Zoloft? What happened with the itching? When did the ringing start getting better? I think that I was taking it daily until the middle of December maybe. I’m not totally sure. My doctors appointment was on the 14th. I don’t remember stopping taking it everyday right that day. I think I might have started taking .25mg as needed the week after. The only new symptom is itching. I was itching all over my body yesterday while I was working. It has gotten better since then. I noticed the ringing was better last night. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 14 minutes ago, Altostrata said: How long were you taking clonazepam daily in November? I would say that I took it everyday from November 25 to around December 19. I also had a big cocktail of drugs for my c section and afterwards at the hosptial but I only went home with the Zoloft, clonazepam, Labatelol for preeclampsia and anti inflammatory (ibuprofen) medication. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 When did you deliver your baby? 7 minutes ago, Crielle said: I think that I was taking it daily until the middle of December maybe. I’m not totally sure. My doctors appointment was on the 14th. I don’t remember stopping taking it everyday right that day. I think I might have started taking .25mg as needed the week after. It is possible that you also suffer from benzo withdrawal syndrome since you stopped taking clonazepam regularly. Your doctor also may have mistaken this for postpartum anxiety disorder. 7 minutes ago, Crielle said: The only new symptom is itching. I was itching all over my body yesterday while I was working. It has gotten better since then. What times o'clock do you take your drugs, with their dosages? The itching sounds like you have developed an allergy to the 5mg Lexapro. You also got tinnitus as an adverse effect when you started it in January. Since you've been taking it only 2 weeks, if I were you, I'd stop it. My guess is the symptoms you identify as withdrawal symptoms are from Zoloft or clonazepam, not Lexapro. 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 3 minutes ago, Altostrata said: When did you deliver your baby? November 19 What times o'clock do you take your drugs, with their dosages? 8:30pm 50mg Zoloft and 5mg lexapro. I don’t take the Labatelol anymore. Don’t take the ibuprofen anymore just Advil sometimes if I have muscle pain. Clonazepam is at different times. Sometimes day sometimes evening and different dosages depending on the symptoms. My guess is the symptoms you identify as withdrawal symptoms are from Zoloft or clonazepam, not Lexapro. ok thank you 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 It appears that the "postpartum anxiety" was withdrawal from Zoloft, clonazepam, or both, and that you're allergic to Lexapro, which isn't doing anything helpful. How do you feel about dropping the Lexapro? Tracking your current symptoms will help us unravel this. Please keep daily notes of times of day you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time of day on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. This can show if your symptoms are adverse effects from one of your drugs. 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 I don’t feel comfortable dropping the lexapro because without it I have the ringing in my ears but if it’s an allergy then I have to stop it. Ok I’ll start keeping a record like you stated. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 Please verify: The tinnitus started AFTER you stated Lexapro in January 2023. 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.
Crielle Posted February 16, 2023 Author Posted February 16, 2023 1 hour ago, Altostrata said: Please verify: The tinnitus started AFTER you stated Lexapro in January 2023. I had it for several years but what started after I started the Lexapro has been louder and more electric and sometimes pulsating. It use to be just something that I noticed if I was trying to sleep and the room was too quiet and could easily get drowned out by white noise. This is louder with white noise and regular noise and more silent without noise. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 16, 2023 Administrator Posted February 16, 2023 Tinnitus is a known adverse effect of antidepressants. Is there any reason for you to continue taking 5mg Lexapro? 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.
Crielle Posted February 17, 2023 Author Posted February 17, 2023 1 hour ago, Altostrata said: Tinnitus is a known adverse effect of antidepressants. Is there any reason for you to continue taking 5mg Lexapro? I was going to continue taking it because when I was on the 5mg my tinnitus got better and I figured that I need to slow taper the Lexapro and stabilize on it in order to stave off the withdrawal symptoms. So I was going to take this 5mg for couple of weeks or a month and then start to taper. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Crielle Posted February 17, 2023 Author Posted February 17, 2023 On 2/16/2023 at 1:38 PM, Crielle said: Yes I think you are correct after looking at how long that I’ve been on the Lexapro I don’t think that my symptoms are from the Lexapro. I think it’s from not going back to the 50mg Zoloft. I think it could also be some withdrawal from the clonazepam for only taking it twice a week at .25mg. I also think that I might be having a bad reaction to the Lexapro. Maybe something in the pill. When I took the 5mg the first time, everything was fine. This new 5mg is a different brand so it probably has an ingredient that’s not working with me. I’m going to start back at the 50mg Zoloft and see how I feel but I’m gonna start taking the .5mg clonazepam daily (or more if I need) until I can talk to this new doctor. I’ll have the info with by symptoms and doses later tonight once it gets to the 24 hour mark. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Crielle Posted February 17, 2023 Author Posted February 17, 2023 THE LAST 24 HOURS 02/16/23 2:06 pm - itching, weird sensations in face. Anxiety, crying. 3:30 pm. - Took .5mg Clonazepam. 3:52 pm - restless legs and dizziness with anxiety and tired feeling. 4:16 pm - feel better. Anxiety is better. Still have an itching or like small crawling and itchy sensations. 7:28 pm - Itching is gone unless I think about it. 08:54 pm - 50mg Zoloft and 5mg Lexapro. 10:19 pm - anxiety 11:00 pm - tinnitus more noticeable 02/17/2023 5:48am - weird shocking pains in ankle and head and stomach, headache, twitching leg muscles, anxiety, weird sensations in legs and hands (burning restless sensations) 5:57am - 0.5mg clonazepam 6:02am - 0.5mg clonazepam, laid down fell back asleep 8:26am - symptoms much better. Still a little tinnitus and twitching leg muscle. 9:07am - weird shock pain sensation in my right ankle 2:43pm - 2 second headache 3:36pm - muscles in legs popping after went for a walk 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Crielle Posted February 18, 2023 Author Posted February 18, 2023 I also have better dates because I went into my account for my pharmacy and saw when I got the prescriptions so I’m going to update my signature so that you can see. 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
Administrator Altostrata Posted February 18, 2023 Administrator Posted February 18, 2023 It appears to me that you had withdrawal syndrome from going off Zoloft. Then, after you started Lexapro on January 12, it made your tinnitus worse. After you went off Lexapro January 22, the tinnitus got better, because Lexapro exacerbated your tinnitus. The withdrawal symptoms you feel are probably from Zoloft, not Lexapro for 10 days in January. 10 days of Lexapro would not bring on withdrawal. The 5mg Lexapro is unnecessary and it appear you might be allergic to it. Your irregular dosing of clonazepam also might cause you problems that you are mistaking for withdrawal, such as interdose rebound and paradoxical reactions. @Frogie, will you kindly consult? 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.
Moderator Frogie Posted February 18, 2023 Moderator Posted February 18, 2023 @Crielle As @Altostrata stated, irregular dosing of clonazepam can cause a lot of problems. Your body becomes dependent on in about 2 weeks. So taking it "as needed" is not a good idea at this point. You could cut your dose in half and take 0.25 mg in the morning and take 0.25 mg in the evening. You just want to make sure you take it at the same time everyday and approximately 10-12 hours apart. So you could take it at 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. Let me know if you have any other questions. PREVIOUS medications and discontinuations: Have been on medications since 1996. Valium, Gabapentin, Lamictal, Prilosec and Zantac from 2000 to 2015 with a fast taper by a psychiatrist. Liquid Lexapro Nov, 2016 to 31-March, 2019 Lexapro free!!! (total Lexapro taper was 4 years-started with pill form) ---CURRENT MEDICATIONS:Supplements:Milk Thistle, Metamucil, Magnesium Citrate, Vitamin D3, Levothyroxine 25mcg, Vitamin C, Krill oil. Xanax 1mg 3x day June, 2000 to 19-September, 2020 Went from .150 grams (average weight of 1 Xanax) 3x day to .003 grams 3x day. April 1, 2021 went back on 1mg a day. Started tapering May 19, 2023. July 28, 2023-approximately .87mg. Dr. fast tapered me at the end and realized he messed up. Prescribe it again and I am doing "slower than a turtle" taper. Last dose June 24, 2024 19-September, 2020 Xanax free!!! (total Xanax taper was 15-1/2 months-1-June, 2019-19-September, 2020) I am not a medical professional. The suggestions I make are based on personal experience.
Crielle Posted February 18, 2023 Author Posted February 18, 2023 21 minutes ago, Frogie said: @Crielle As @Altostrata stated, irregular dosing of clonazepam can cause a lot of problems. Your body becomes dependent on in about 2 weeks. So taking it "as needed" is not a good idea at this point. You could cut your dose in half and take 0.25 mg in the morning and take 0.25 mg in the evening. You just want to make sure you take it at the same time everyday and approximately 10-12 hours apart. So you could take it at 8:30 am and 8:30 pm. Let me know if you have any other questions. Ok thank you. 1 2022 - completed slow taper 0.5mg clonazepam. Fast taper 25mg Zoloft. 11/22/2022 - 25mg Zoloft and 0.5mg clonazepam. 12/14/2022 - 50mg Zoloft. 01/01/2023 - .25mg clonazepam twice a week or as needed. 01/12/2023 - 20mg Lexapro. 01/19/23 - Stopped Lexapro. 01/22/23 - Lex 20mg 01/25/23- stopped Lex/started 37.5mg Zoloft. 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 01/31 - 02/01: 50mg Zoloft 02/02 - 75mg Zoloft. 02/03-02/09: 50mg Z & 5mg Lex. 02/10 - 02/11: 50mg Z & 2.5mg Lex. 02/12 - 02/13: Stopped Lex. 75mg Z. 02/14 - 50mg Z and 5mg Lex, 0.5mg clonazepam as needed. 02/17 - stopped Lexapro.
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