Lexapro WD Causing Romantic Disconnect?

[led5033]

Hi all, I tapered down to 0mg Lexapro about three weeks ago. I started at 4mg in November, and I know that it was faster than this site usually recommends, but I had a lot of support with meditation, various supplements, and therapy. I didn't feel much in the way of WD, though I'm still experiencing some brain zaps when I'm in bed with my eyes closed. The big thing I've noticed is that I feel like there's this gaping chasm of space between myself and my husband where our connection used to be. We have been having problems over the last year, but this feeling of complete disconnect is new. I'm wondering if it could be with withdrawal, even though I don't have much else in the way of WD symptoms right now. Of course there's a ton of anxiety, but it seems to be a result of this disconnect I'm feeling rather than the cause or something separate. I hope this makes sense. I'm new here, so compassion is appreciated. Thanks.

[Gridley]

Welcome to SA, led5033.  Thanks for completing your signature.  I'm sorry you're going through this.

 

As you've said, your taper was faster than we recommend.   It's hard to say what's attributable to withdrawal in each individual case.  Given the fact that the central nervous system underlies everything we do and feel, and the fact that powerful drugs like Lexapro (which I was on for many years) can radically alter that system, and the fact that stopping those drugs can further alter that system (again radically), my personal experience has been that withdrawal is very often "the elephant in the room."

 

The feeling of disconnect you describe is very familiar to me and is one of my most far-reaching symptoms.  It can play deep havoc with relationships.  Here's one of our threads.

 

Apathy, anhedonia, emotional numbness, emotional …

 

The fact that you're having brain zaps and anxiety along with this feeling of disconnect, coupled with the length of time you were on Lexapro and the discombobulations from your 2022 taper and reinstatement and your 2023 taper would indicate to me that you are experiencing withdrawal.  Here are some links to help in understanding:

 

What is withdrawal syndrome.

 

Brain Remodelling 

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

You describe the gaping chasm between yourself and your husband and that that though you'd been having problems this disconnect is new.  As I said, withdrawal can really disrupt relationships.  It can take what was a relatively minor problem between two people and exacerbate it all out of proportion.   

 

So what to do?  One possibility is to reinstate a very, very small dose of Lexapro.  Reinstatement is the only known way to reduce withdrawal symptoms.  It doesn't always work but it's the best tactic available  Reinstatement works best if done within 3 months of your last dose.  The alternative is to wait withdrawal out, but there's no way to predict how long this will take.  While for some people the time period is relatively short and for others much longer.  Please read:

 

About reinstating and stabilizing to reduce withdrawal symptoms. -- at least the first page of the topic

 

If this is something you want to explore, let us know and we can suggest a reinstatement dose, which as I said will be very small.  Please do not reinstate without letting us suggest a dose.

 

We don't recommend a lot of supplements on SA, as many members report being sensitive to them due to our over-reactive nervous systems, but two supplements that we do recommend are magnesium (glycinate is a good form) and omega 3 (fish oil). Many people find these to be calming to the nervous system. 

 

Magnesium, nature's calcium channel blocker 

 

Omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) 

 

Add in one at a time and at a low dose in case you do experience problems.

 

This is your introduction topic -- the place for you to ask questions, record symptoms, share your progress, and connect with other members of the SA community.  I hope you’ll find the information in the SA forums helpful for your situation.  I'm sorry that you are in the position that you need the information, but I am glad that you found us.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[led5033]

Thanks so much for your thorough response. I'll take a look at all of this and get back to you!