OneDayStronger: Lexapro Withdrawal - Terrible Months Long Insomnia

[OneDayStronger]

Hello,

 

I have been on Lexapro for almost 19 years—only off one year was I was pregnant with my firstborn. After 10 years of being on Lexapro (10mg), after dealing with my mother’s death and a newborn baby, I had developed insomnia and anxiety and was put on Trazodone (100 mg) and then later klonopin .5mg taken as needed.  Been taking Trazodone for about 8 years now and klonopin on and off for 5. 
 

in January of this year after following my doctor’s advice, I tapered lexapro over the course of 6 weeks. Well, obviously it was too quick and hell broke loose shortly after I March. Along with crippling anxiety, panic, crying spells, body jolts, depression ,depersonalization, etc., my biggest and most prominent symptom has been insomnia. Most of the week I sleep a broken 1-4 hours. If I’m lucky, one night a week I will crash and sleep for 8-9 hours. I take klonopin only twice a week max if I hadn’t slept in days and I’m getting in a really bad place (I know this is not optimal, but I feel I’m out of options.) I must note that I also stopped taking my birth control pills at this time, as well and not sure if lack of hormone are also contributing to insomnia.

 

I had reinstated  at 2.5 at the end of March, and thought I was feeling okay but May even though my sleep was still off, so foolishly I dropped to 2.2mg. When this happened, I lost all control and had to go back up to 2.4 after 6 weeks of hell and no signs of stabilization. 
 

It’s been 3 weeks since I’ve been at 2.4 and my sleep is as bad as ever. I read horror stories about people’s sleep never returning  or it taking years. I’ve already been dealing with this for 6 months. I have tried everything from magnesium to melatonin to glycine to weighted blankets and black out curtains—nothing works.

 

Am I doomed to never sleep again? Every area of my life has been affected by this…my marriage, my children, friends, work, etc. I feel like I’m really losing myself and feeling pretty hopeless.

 

 

[Altostrata]

Welcome, @OneDayStronger

 

I am sorry your doctor gave you bad advice about tapering and you got withdrawal syndrome. 

 

You reinstated 2.5mg escitalopram in March. How did it affect you then? How has your symptom pattern changed since you reinstated 2.5mg?

 

Any change in your symptom pattern after you went back to 2.4mg escitalopram June 30?

 

What times o'clock do you take your drugs, with their dosages?

[OneDayStronger]

Hi @Altostrata,

 

Thanks for responding. I had a rough time after reinstating 2.5mg in March. I had feelings of pure panic, depression, crying spells, depersonalization, electric jolts throughout my body and still had insomnia. I started to stabilize after 8 weeks, although sleeping was still hit or miss. 
 

When I dropped to 2.2mg at the end of May, everything went haywire-had suicidal ideation on top of all my previous symptoms I had in March, and of course insomnia. 

When I updosed to 2.4 about 4 weeks ago, I felt more stable mentally, however the crying spells came back and my sleep seems to have suffered even more. I wake up every hour to two hours unable to fall back asleep for hours at a time or I wake up at 1-2am for the day. I do take klonopin 1mg only twice a week max when I have net slept in days, but lately even that is hit or miss. However, I was able to sleep last night somewhat normally without taking any klonopin, but this doesn’t happen often.

 

I take my lexapro in the morning, trazodone at night and klonopin, if needed, at night. I don’t know if it matters, but I used to take lexapro at night before tapering. Could this be making a difference with my sleep? I assume my nervous system is all out of whack from the inconsistent dropping and upping of the lexapro. I am not looking to drop anymore until I stabilize more with my sleep, however I have heard sleep is the last thing to normalize so I’m feeling a bit hopeless at the moment.

 

Thank you

[Altostrata]

On 7/27/2023 at 5:47 AM, OneDayStronger said:

I used to take lexapro at night before tapering.

 

Did Lexapro make you sleepy before?

 

When did you start trazodone? Has it ever helped you sleep?

[OneDayStronger]

I never thought lexapro made me sleepy. I’ve been taking trazodone for almost 8 years and although it one time had an effect, it has no effect on me currently. I’m afraid to stop taking it for fear it might make my withdrawal worse, but I want to come off it eventually. 
 

The lack of sleep is really getting to me. I can’t sleep longer than an hour or two at a time and have early morning waking on top of it. It’s really affecting me to the point I feel depressed and apathetic to everyone and everything (including my children) which has been making me feel unbelievably guilty. I’m so tired but can’t even take naps during the day. It’s like my body won’t let me sleep. It’s been going on like this for 5 months and I just need some reassurance it will get better, because right now I’m really struggling.

[Altostrata]

Please put ALL your drugs in this Interactions Checker and post the report or a link to it in this topic.

[OneDayStronger]

@Altostratahttps://www.drugs.com/interactions-check.php?drug_list=703-357,1013-565,2228-0

 

There’s a major interaction between trazodone and lexapro. In the past I had gone to a cardiologist for heart palpitations/arrhythmia and everything turned up normal. That was a few years after I started lex and traz. But just last week, I started experiencing heart palpitations/ arrhythmia and attributed it to lexapro withdrawal. I have been taking it for almost 8 years. This makes me very nervous.
 

Would you suggest I pause my lexapro taper and try to taper trazodone? Should I wait to stabilize on lexapro first?  

[Altostrata]

You hadn't mentioned palpitations before. When did they start? Are they worse at any particular times of day?

[OneDayStronger]

@Altostrata I had them a few years ago, and then they went away until they started again last week. They lasted for about two or three days. They started in the evening after my 4 year old was having a tantrum, so I figured stress started it. They haven’t resumed since.

[Altostrata]

On 7/27/2023 at 5:47 AM, OneDayStronger said:

I take my lexapro in the morning, trazodone at night and klonopin, if needed, at night. I don’t know if it matters, but I used to take lexapro at night before tapering. Could this be making a difference with my sleep?

 

What times o'clock do you take your drugs, with their dosages? When did you make a change in your drug schedule?

[OneDayStronger]

@Altostrata  I’m take Lexapro 2.4mg in the morning around 10am. I take trazodone 100mg an hour before bed so usually around 8pm. 
 

I only take klonopin once-twice a week max in the evening around 6-7pm, however it’s not helping with sleep anymore so taking it more infrequently.

 

I changed taking my lexapro from nighttime to the mornings when I started tapering. I’m not sure why. I think I heard it can be stimulating so I made the switch to the morning.

[Altostrata]

When did the palpitations start?

[OneDayStronger]

They started last week, lasted for two days, but I haven’t had them since. 

[Altostrata]

19 hours ago, OneDayStronger said:

I changed taking my lexapro from nighttime to the mornings when I started tapering.

 

What date was this? How did you make the change?

[OneDayStronger]

I made the change when I reinstated Lexapro from basically cold turkey at the end of March. I began using the liquid form at this time as well. 

[Altostrata]

Please keep daily notes of times o’clock you take your drugs, their dosages, and your symptoms throughout the day. We need to know how you feel before and after taking each drug, and any significant symptoms in between. Post 24 hours of notes at a time in this topic, in a simple list format with time o’clock on the left and notation (symptom or drug and dosage) on the right. This can help identify symptoms that are adverse effects from one or more of your drugs.

[OneDayStronger]

Has a terrible night last night—barely any sleep and leg pain which feels like sciatica. A lot of sadness and anxiety.

 

 7/30

 

6:30am: woke up with leg cramps/sciatica feeling/disjointed sleep

7am: ate breakfast

8am: took probiotic (acidophilus 1 tablet, no mg count)
9am: took 2.4 Lexapro
10 a.m: went for 45 min walk and stretching to help with leg pain
12:00pm: ate lunch
1:00pm: fell very depressed/anxious

2:00pm: gardening - try to take my mind off depressed feeling
4:45pm: eat dinner - still have leg pain
5:00pm: feel sad and anxious
6:00pm: take 600mg magnesium glycinate
7:30pm: take trazodone 100mg, melatonin 3mg
8:45pm: fell asleep
10:15: woke up, feeling a bit anxious
12:30am: fell back asleep
2:00am: woke up - legs hurt again. Feel restless.
5:00am: got out of bed after tossing and turning for 3 hours unable to fall back asleep, felt anxious.
6:00am-8:00am: laid in bed, could never fall back asleep. Feel anxious, depressed, exhausted, legs still sore.

[Altostrata]

Have you had sciatica before?

[OneDayStronger]

A little bit, but never this bad. Used to get restless legs a few years back, but haven’t had it in awhile.

[OneDayStronger]

7/31

 

8am - got out of bed after very little sleep. Felt tired, agitated and anxious.

8:15am - breakfast

10:00am - took lexapro 2.4mg, probiotic (one pill)

10:30am - 40 min walk - felt tired, but okay

1:00pm - Lunch - still had some leg pain.

3:00pm - felt agitated and restless

5:00pm - dinner

6:00pm - took 1mg klonopin (needed sleep), took 600mg magnesium

7:30pm - took 100mg trazodone

8:15pm - fell asleep

1:00am - woke up to use bathroom, fell right back asleep.

6:10am - up for the day - felt rested, but a bit groggy. Very slight leg pain

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

Suggest you look into physical therapy for the leg pain, also stretching, acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage.

 

Please continue your daily notes.

[OneDayStronger]

8/1 - been sleeping better the last two days. Still irritable and anxious yesterday, but today felt like an even mood all day.
 

6:10am - woke up with slight leg pain. Felt okay.

8:30am - went to get blood work, had to fast so skipped breakfast, still feel okay

9:30am - breakfast

10:00am - went to gym - very tired 

11:30 - took 2.4ml lexapro, probiotic

12-1pm- feel tired, anxious

1:30pm - ate lunch

3:00pm - hip/leg hurts 

4:00pm - feel irritable

5:00pm - ate dinner

6:15pm took 600mg magnesium

7:30pm - took 100mg trazodone

8:45pm - fell asleep 

1:00am - got up to use bathroom

5:30am - woke up

6:30am - got out of bed

 

 

 

 

 

[OneDayStronger]

8/2

6:30am - get up

7am- breakfast

9am- took lexapro 2.4 ml, probiotic

10am - still have some leg/hip

pain, think it may be lower back related

12:15pm- lunch 

Felt really good mentally there rest of the afternoon. Haven’t had a day like this in awhile.

5pm - dinner

6:30pm - magnesium 600mg

7:30pm - trazodone 100mg

9-12am - sleep

12am - up to use bathroom

12:45am - daughter needed me. I couldn’t fall back asleep until 3:30 am after this and the. Sleep was terribly broken…only sleeping an hour at a time before waking.

2:30am - took 3mg melatonin

3:30-4:30am - sleep

5:00am-6:15am - sleep

6:15am - up for the day, feel tired and irritable

 

 

[Altostrata]

6 hours ago, OneDayStronger said:

10am - still have some leg/hip

pain, think it may be lower back related

 

Do you sit at the computer a lot?

[OneDayStronger]

No, I’m actually pretty active during the day when my symptoms aren’t overwhelming. The pain has just popped up within the last week. It’s not bad today. 

[Altostrata]

The lower back and leg pain sounds like a postural or body mechanics issue. Withdrawal might make you more sensitive to it, but physical therapy, stretching, acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage can help.

[OneDayStronger]

Thank you. I’ve been doing stretches to target the area and it has been helping. 

[OneDayStronger]

I barely slept last night. I couldn’t stay asleep longer than an hour. Second night of terrible sleep. This has been going on for 5 months now. Feeling desperate as this seems to be never ending and don’t know how to cope with not sleeping. 
 

8/3

6:15am - up - feel very tired

7:00am - breakfast

9-10am - lay in bed but can’t sleep. Feel groggy, tired and irritable

10:00am - take 2.4ml Lexapro, probiotic

10:45-11:30- take long walk even though I’m tired. Feel depressed and want to try to stay positive.

12:pm - go to church, pray - feeling pretty depressed.

1:15pm - lunch

2-5pm - neck pain, headache, fatigue

6pm - take 600mg magnesium 

7pm - 100 mg trazodone , 2mg melatonin

8:30-9:30 - sleep, wake up after an hour

10:30 -11:30 - sleep, wake up after an hour

11:30 - take 1 mg melatonin 

11:30-3:45 - up, can’t sleep. Feel panicky, angry, depressed, anxious.

3:45 -4:45 - sleep

4:45 -7:15 - lay in bed, can’t sleep, angry, irritated, depressed. Have a lot of neck pain, too.

 

 

This is usually how a bad night of sleep goes and it happens a few times a week. I just need hope it will get better, but honestly, not very hopeful as this has been going on for many months. I will probably have to take klonopin tonight to sleep, which I hate doing, but my brain and body need sleep. I also would like to be off trazodone as it does nothing for me anymore, but I know I would have to taper that and I’m already tapering lexapro. Feel like I have mountains ahead of me.
 

 

 

[Altostrata]

11 hours ago, OneDayStronger said:

2-5pm - neck pain, headache, fatigue

 

Does this occur every day at this time?

[OneDayStronger]

@Altostrata No, just yesterday. 
 

8/4

 

7:15: get out of bed, feel anxious and tired 

7:30am- breakfast

8:30am - lexapro 2.4ml and probiotic

9:30-10:30 - exhausted, feel depressed.

10:30- 11:45 stretching, yoga and epsom salt bath - feel better mentally

12:30pm - lunch

5pm - dinner

5:30pm - very tired after dinner

6pm - Take 600mg magnesium and klonopin 1 mg for sleep

7:30pm - take 100mg trazodone

8:15pm-12:30 - sleep, got up to use bathroom

12:30-5:15 - sleep

6:15-6:45 - fell back asleep

7:00am - up for the day, feel slightly lightheaded, but passes.

 

 

 

 

 

[OneDayStronger]

8/5

 

7:00am: get up, lightheaded.

7:30am: breakfast

8:00am: take lexapro 2.4ml, take probiotic 

8:30am - feel better after eating

9:00-10:00 - exercise

12:00pm- lunch

5:pm - dinner - went out to eat with my husband and had a glass of wine

8pm - took 600 mg magnesium, 109mg trazodone

9:45 - 12am - sleep

12-3:45am - up, can’t sleep, take 3mg melatonin

3:45-5am - sleep

5am-7am - toss and turn, can’t fall back asleep. 
7am -feel exhausted, depressed, groggy, neck pain 

 

I am regretting having the glass of wine at dinner as it probably contributed to yet another night of terrible sleep.

 

Feeling hopeless that I’ll ever sleep well again.

 

 

 

 

 

[Altostrata]

I do not see significant withdrawal symptoms in your daily symptom pattern but you may be making yourself worse whenever you drink alcohol. How often do you do this?

[OneDayStronger]

I don’t normally drink anymore. Yesterday was the first time in weeks (maybe months?) since I have had alcohol. Before my withdrawal started in January, I would have about 2-3 drinks a week. Since then, it’s been very, very sparse.
 

Today I have been an anxious mess. My anxiety is through the roof, feel so depressed, hopeless and scared. I keep playing the worst case scenarios in my head and I can not stop crying. I feel terrible. Not sleeping hasn’t helped these symptoms, but the wine definitely triggered worse symptoms. 
 

I am at the point where I am becoming desperate to sleep. I have young children that need me and since the beginning of this year, I feel like I have been a subpar mom. Could being on trazodone be making my issues worse instead of better? I feel like it does nothing but make me groggy in the morning. I want to stabilize, but know sleep is the last thing to come back and the idea that this terrible sleeping pattern can last for years (as it’s already been 5 months) scares me. 

 

[Altostrata]

On 7/21/2023 at 7:54 AM, OneDayStronger said:

I must note that I also stopped taking my birth control pills at this time, as well and not sure if lack of hormone are also contributing to insomnia.

 

Have you tried taking the same birth control pills again?

 

It's possible the escitalopram is interacting with trazodone in a way that is keeping you from sleeping.

 

You might try reducing trazodone by 10%, see Tips for tapering off trazodone -- but change only one drug at a time, so you can tell what's doing what.

[OneDayStronger]

I thought about taking my birth control pills again, however I did just get a full panel of blood work including my hormones tested and everything looks normal. 
 

I have thought about pausing the Lexapro taper and starting a slow trazodone taper to see if that helps. Thank you for the info.

[OneDayStronger]

So, I still have been struggling greatly with sleep. I feel like most of my withdrawal symptoms are gone except for some bouts of anxiety. The main issue that constantly persists is sleep. There was one or two nights last week where I slept 8 hours although still broken. The last two nights have been absolutely terrible. Klonopin doesn’t even help me sleep anymore. I do wonder if it’s because I made a 10% reduction in Trazodone this week? I decided to start tapering Trazodone and put a hold on Lexapro, but feel it was the wrong decision. I was able to sleep the first few nights of the reduction, but now I keep waking up with a full blown panic attacks and have developed sleep anxiety. However, I wasn’t able to sleep before the trazodone reduction either, so I really don’t know.

 

The last two days I have been feeling hopeless, despondent and have had thoughts that I’d be better off dead than live a life like this. I feel like this greatly coincides with lack of sleep. 
 

I have also wondered if I should go back on my birth control pill to see if it helps regulate my sleep, but I’ve been off of that for 5 months and am afraid to take anything else as I don’t want to further destabilize.
 

My questions are: Do I stop the trazodone tapering? Should I go back on my bc pill? Shouldn’t my sleep have stabilized a bit more after reinstating 5 months ago?

 

I am getting to a point where I’m really unsure if sleep will ever return to normal and not sure how I will ever be able to go living the rest of my life like this.