Popular Post SunPrism Posted February 16, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted February 16, 2023 My story echos many others' here. I was started on 5mg Lexapro 12/2021 for depression. Just getting on the drug proved to be difficult. I was experiencing derealization/depersonalization, feeling "high", colors looked too bright, and I felt deeply emotionally blunted. When I brought these concerns up to my doctor, I was told that I was on such a small dose that it couldn't possibly be causing those symptoms and to continue taking the medication. I decided to try to stick it out because I knew it could take some time to get used to it, and so it wasn't until three months later when I hit my breaking point. I was making a chili and accidentally cut my finger on a can of tomato sauce. I vividly remember standing there watching the blood come out of my finger and not caring whatsoever that I was bleeding. That lack of concern somehow sparked this fear inside of me that something was terribly wrong and I needed to get off the drug. After reading all the stories here, I talked with my doctor and she agreed to let me taper with the liquid Lexapro. I started going down 1 mg every week or so and felt relatively okay until I got down to 3mg. When I tried to taper any lower, I was met with severe brain zaps, inability to concentrate, nausea, and a constantly elevated heart rate. I started to go down by 0.25mg every week and eventually I was off completely. Those first couple weeks completely off were the worst of my life. I was suffering from extreme anxiety and irritability, bizarre existential thoughts, and DPDR to a degree where I felt like I had completely lost touch with reality. I was bed-bound for most of the day, unable to leave my house to even get the mail, and was just waiting for time to pass. I remember not being able to concentrate on a TV show so I ended up just closing my eyes and laying in the fetal position on my couch. I was terrified I'd be stuck this way forever and my thoughts got a bit dark for awhile. I had these severe withdrawal symptoms for about six weeks. The next few months after that were a rollercoaster where the symptoms would get a bit better one week and then the next week they worsened and I felt like I was back at square one. That unpredictability was awful and truly demoralizing. But - I noticed over time that despite having set backs, the overall trend was heading towards recovery. I kept a journal and wrote a list of "little victories" - so something even as small as making it to the grocery store made it on that list. Having that to look back on was a huge help. And now here I am after an entire year has passed since I got off Lexapro. I'm here to add to the long list of recovery stories and maybe provide some hope to someone who is struggling. Withdrawal once consumed my every waking thought and now doesn't even cross my mind at all anymore because I am recovered and back to living my life. What I think helped me most was exercise (light walks every single day), therapy, this website, sunlight, good nutrition, magnesium glycinate, AND TIME. The biggest thing I learned from my withdrawal experience is that our bodies KNOW how to heal. We just need to give them the chance to do so. Remember that nothing is ever permanent and just because you think it, doesn't make it true. If I can get through withdrawal, so can you. ❤️ 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Emeritus getofflex Posted February 20, 2023 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted February 20, 2023 Congratulations for getting off Lexapro! That is a major accomplishment. And, we are very grateful you came back to post your success story. People in WD need to read these, to give them hope that they, too, can and will recover! You are absolutely correct - the main thing is time, and natural self care. Please do not private message me. Only tag me for urgent questions about tapering and reinstating - thank you. ***Please note this is not medical advice. Discuss any decisions about your medical care with a doctor who understands psych meds and how to withdraw from them, if you can find one. Lexapro Started Apr 15 2010 - 10 mg; started taper August 2017, recent taper info: Apr 2 '20 0.18 mg; Jul 16 0.17 mg, Aug 23 0.16 mg, Oct 7 0.15 mg, Nov 8 - 0.14, Jan 16 '21 - 0.13, Feb 7 - 0.12, Feb 22 - 0.11, Mar 26 - 0.10, May 21 - 0.09, June 15 - 0.08 Aug 16 - 0.07, Oct 6 - 0.06, Nov 21 0.05, Dec. 17 0.04, Jan 14 '22 0.03, Feb 19 0.02, Apr 18 0.01, May 15 0.005, Jul 8, 0.00. Psych Drug Free as of July 8, 2022!! Woohoo!!! other meds: Levothyroxine 75 mg magnesium in small amounts at 4 AM, before bed suppl AM: fish oil, flax oil, vit C, vit E, multivitamin, zinc suppl 8 PM: magnesium 350 mg, extended release vitamin C, melatonin 2 mg Paxil 2002 - 2010, switched to Lexapro 2010 Trazodone 50 mg. 2002 - 2019, fast tapered in 2019 Xanax 0.5 mg as needed 2002 - 2019, up to 3x weekly Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mentor Moonpie Posted February 21, 2023 Mentor Share Posted February 21, 2023 Wonderful! So happy for you! .025 Xanax 3 x daily Start date 10-13-2013 through 8-13-2014. Started tapering 6-2014 to 8-2014. Some small discomfort. 25 mg Zoloft - Start date 5-1-2014. 50mg. 6-2014. through 7-14-2014 . Started tapering 7-14-2014, stopped tapering 10-2014. I did 1/4 of the dose a month. small discomfort. These next 3 were prescribed when I made some seriously bad choices with my thyroid medication. Was in ER twice for possible heart attack. INTENSE anxiety, panic, fear. Lost 30 pounds in 2 weeks. Thyroid levels bounced to extremes for 8 months. Dr. prescribed Zoloft 50mg 9-2105. After 2 doses had a bad reaction passed out in my bedroom. Also prescribed Xanax .025 at the same time. 3 times daily, 4 if needed. Was only on it about 2 weeks. Was not working. Trip ER they gave me an Ativan IV and it worked and lasted. switched to Ativan. 9-24-2016. 1.5 mg Ativan - .5 mg three x daily -start date 9/24/16. Attempted taper start 12-16-2016. Was shaving Pills and alternating tapering AM, PM and midday dose weekly. Buspar .5mg -2.5mg. am and 2. 5mg. pm start date 9-26-2016 . Lexapro .10mg start date - 10-26-2016. Found SA and began 10/14/2017 tapering .001 by weight of pill every 4 days Held longer if there were was WD. Was very sensitive to Ativan. 3-15-2018 Off midday dose - 7-16-2018 Off PM dose - OFF ATIVAN! 11-17-2018 10 mg. Lexapro. PM - 5 mg start date 10/11/2016 increased to 10 mg 2/2/17. 1-1-2019 Began tapering Lexapro. .001 gm every 4 days. Held longer if there was WD. Last doses some I held a month. OFF LEXAPRO! 2-21 2021 5 mg. Buspar divided into two, 2.5 mg doses AM and PM- Start date 9/26/2016 Cold turkey on Dr. direction, AM and Pm doses. Reinstated 9-22-16. Began Buspar taper 1-29-23, .001 mg by weight of pills. N.P. Desiccated Thyroid. 1-2023 Labs okay but not where I feel best. 60 mg. daily now but adding 15 mg. more twice weekly for a few months then check. Bioidentical hormones. Bi-est/Prog cream, 1/4 tsp. 1 time daily My intro: Moonpie:. Need help and supporting tapering off of Ativan My benzo thread: Moonpie: Need help Ativan weight tapering Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eileen1111 Posted February 21, 2023 Share Posted February 21, 2023 On 2/16/2023 at 2:05 AM, SunPrism said: Just getting on the drug proved to be difficult. I was experiencing derealization/depersonalization, feeling "high", colors looked too bright I remember experiencing this when I started Lexapro !! As well as in withdrawal. These drugs are so powerful, it's scary On 2/16/2023 at 2:05 AM, SunPrism said: our bodies KNOW how to heal. We just need to give them the chance to do so love this ❤️ I'm glad you're doing better Sept 2021 - CT sertraline 25mg. told it was a 'placebo dose', knew nothing about the dangers or mechanism of these drugs Nov 2021 - Jan 2022 - failed reinstatement attempt which exacerbated symptoms as it gave me severe serotonin syndrome, unrecognised by doctors who told me to double my dose (!!!!). this was a very awful period, was still trying to work and go to uni, eventually had to quit everything & move back in with family. horrific 'altered reality' symptoms of dissociation, hallucinations, insomnia, chemical dread, racing heart, agitation, nausea, burning & more Jan 14th 2022 - 0mg SSRI Currently, 2023: in recovery from drug-induced neurological dysfunction/PAWS. only meds- 10mg amitriptyline at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edub26 Posted March 24, 2023 Share Posted March 24, 2023 Thank you for sharing! I was ripped off 60mg Prozac and had to be reinstated on 30mg. I can’t wait to be where you are at. I just feel like it’s going to be forever Zoloft 100mg 2018-2020 Prozac Fall 2020-Present September 2022- 60mg of Prozac, wanting to come off. October 2022- completely off of Prozac November 2022- extreme anxiety and withdrawals. November 13, 22- reinstated 10mg November 26, 22- reinstated 20mg December 9th, 22- reinstated 30mg March 30, 23- reinstated 40mg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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