SunAndSnow: I want to stop lexapro

[SunAndSnow]

Hello to all

My joiurney with depression, anxiety and lexapro started in 2017 before which I had absolutely no clue about the nightmare I’d be stepping into. At my worst point I was on 20 mg of lexapro in the year 2020.

 

 Since then I’ve reduced to lexapro 5 mg after slowly cutting doses. I’m afraid to go down from here but desperately want to get off this medicine. 
 

I have several side effects from lexapro like sore breasts and night sweats for which I’ve been taking evening primrose oil which has led to even more problems with my menstrual cycle.

5 mg lexparo hasn’t been working very well for me the past year so I’ve been using cbd gummies, which also has been giving me side effects and I’ve had to stop it. I’m not sure if it was the cbd giving me side effects or the lexpro side effects worsening because of cbd. I was taking charlottes web full spectrum gummies 10 mg a day. I did some online research and found that taking cbd increases the concentration of lexapro in the body and can cause side effects to worsen. My doctor had no clue about anything and told me it was safe to take cbd with lexapro which is what led to this disaster.

 

now I don’t know whether

i should increase lexapro and go up to 10 mg and start going down from there to eventually stop

or

start decreasing right now from my current dose of 5 mg lexapro

 

im not taking any other medications as of now, but can’t deal with lexapro anymore..please help me..I’m basically tired of having to deal with the constant side effects and taking one thing after another for my body to feel balanced and good.. is there a way out of this?

[SunAndSnow]

I’m on the same journey, trying to quit off 5 mg lexapro. I came down from 20 to 5 somehow, but at the time I was unaware of this forum and made so many mistakes like stopping cold turkey, reducing dosages too fast etc. I’m so confused whether I should go up to 10 and then start taper or taper now from my current dose of 5. Sometimes I wish had never started on this medication but seeing the success stories gives me some hope..

Edited November 3, 2023 by manymoretodays
split from Success Stories to members Introduction

[LotusRising]

Hi @SunAndSnow

 

Welcome to SA,

 

As you may have already read on the site, we recommend tapering by no more than 10% per month of your most recent dose. This approach seeks to minimize WD symptoms. See: Why taper by 10%. 

 

As you are tapering, you can expect The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization.

 

Although these drugs can affect our hormones, have you considered that sore breasts and night sweats could also be symptoms of perimenopause? Are there other symptoms you believe to be related to decreasing your dose of lexapro? This link might help: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=143

 

Taking supplements, drinking alcohol or adding substances like CBD, have the potential to destabilize your nervous system while you're tapering. This link Keep it simple, slow and stable explains how to maintain stability. 

 

I want to reassure you that there is indeed a way out of this, but since you have been decreasing quickly, your body may not have caught up to the reductions. How did you feel back in Sept, just before you reduced to 5mg? If your symptoms are manageable, you may want to hold your dose for a while longer. 

 

Please see below for tips to taper lexapro:

 

 

Lotus Rising

[manymoretodays]

On 11/1/2023 at 11:15 AM, SunAndSnow said:

I’m on the same journey, trying to quit off 5 mg lexapro. I came down from 20 to 5 somehow, but at the time I was unaware of this forum and made so many mistakes like stopping cold turkey, reducing dosages too fast etc. I’m so confused whether I should go up to 10 and then start taper or taper now from my current dose of 5. Sometimes I wish had never started on this medication but seeing the success stories gives me some hope..

 

Hi there SunandSnow and welcome aboard, @SunAndSnow

I just moved your second post back here as it helps, to have all your information in one place, as well as your questions in your topic.

 

What kind of symptoms are you experiencing?  Here's a copy of Dr. Glenmullen's WD(withdrawal) symptoms checklist:

  

On 10/1/2023 at 5:31 PM, Emonda said:

Here is a screenshot of the symptom checklist link I posted above from Dr Glenmullen:

 

 

 

And yes, CBD can alter the concentration of Lexapro......and so not a great idea:

Cannabis, marijuana, hashish, THC and CBD/cannabidiol or Hemp oil

 

There is another response to your Intro. post above mine as well. 

 

Welcome again.  Post questions around your case right here.  Thanks for getting your signature done.  I would just HOLD at your current dose of 5 mg. escitalopram right now, while giving us some more information so we can best help. 

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

[SunAndSnow]

Thank you for replying. 
I appreciate all your help in this journey.

I have been feeling very low and depressed since last few days after I stopped cbd and evening primrose oil which were giving me side effects. I am still on 5 mg lexapro but I feel like it isn’t helping me by itself. I’m not sure if it is withdrawal or relapse. I have severe health anxiety as I have some gynaecologist visits next week where they want me to do scans and imaging, to see if they can find something. This has triggered off my anxiety through the roof, I have been unable to sleep or eat well, and have panic attacks/palpitations every morning and in my sleep. 
This may not be the right time to come off lexapro, but I’m hopeful once my physical health is taken care of next week, I can be back to taking care better care of my mental health and eventually quit all medications in the next few years.. 

I don’t know if it will ever happen.. but I’ll keep posting here in hopes I get the courage and opportunity to..

I wish I had discovered this site earlier when I first tried to stop medication, I listened to my doctor twice when she told me I could just stop at 5 mg lexparo, she said it was a very small dose and would have no effect on my body, I trusted her and have been paying for it ever since.. 

 

 

[SunAndSnow]

On 11/1/2023 at 3:50 PM, LotusRising said:

Hi @SunAndSnow

 

Welcome to SA,

 

As you may have already read on the site, we recommend tapering by no more than 10% per month of your most recent dose. This approach seeks to minimize WD symptoms. See: Why taper by 10%. 

 

As you are tapering, you can expect The Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization.

 

Although these drugs can affect our hormones, have you considered that sore breasts and night sweats could also be symptoms of perimenopause? Are there other symptoms you believe to be related to decreasing your dose of lexapro? This link might help: https://www.survivingantidepressants.org/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=143

 

Taking supplements, drinking alcohol or adding substances like CBD, have the potential to destabilize your nervous system while you're tapering. This link Keep it simple, slow and stable explains how to maintain stability. 

 

I want to reassure you that there is indeed a way out of this, but since you have been decreasing quickly, your body may not have caught up to the reductions. How did you feel back in Sept, just before you reduced to 5mg? If your symptoms are manageable, you may want to hold your dose for a while longer. 

 

Please see below for tips to taper lexapro:

 

 

Lotus Rising

Thank you lotus.. I’ll try to answer all your questions..

I’m 42, just turned 43 and my docs say it’s early for menopause or peri menopause.. I’ve been on so many varying doses of lexapro I see a definite connection between the amount of it in my system and the severity of my night sweats, sore breasts and even hair loss. When I got off it both times all these symptoms stopped but of course I had hell to go through with withdrawal.. because of my doctor making me stop lexapro straight at 5 mg.. I wish I knew better then, I endured hell and it still scares me thinking of what I went through those 2 times..

 

this time after getting down lexapro to 5 mg from 20 I was ok for a few months and then felt like it wasn’t working for me anymore. This was last October. So I started cbd gummies. But now that I can’t take it I’m back to symptoms

like anxiety, racing mind at times, loss of interest in activities, less appetite, crying spells and thinking the worst. I was ok on 10 mg and then ok on 5 mg for around a year following which it got worse.. I felt like I need to increase my dose to 10 again but didn’t want to because of the side effects so I started cbd but here I am again with the same side effects.. 

 

now I am at a loss.. what do I do from here..

 

[SunAndSnow]

1 hour ago, manymoretodays said:

 

Hi there SunandSnow and welcome aboard, @SunAndSnow

I just moved your second post back here as it helps, to have all your information in one place, as well as your questions in your topic.

 

What kind of symptoms are you experiencing?  Here's a copy of Dr. Glenmullen's WD(withdrawal) symptoms checklist:

  

 

 

And yes, CBD can alter the concentration of Lexapro......and so not a great idea:

Cannabis, marijuana, hashish, THC and CBD/cannabidiol or Hemp oil

 

There is another response to your Intro. post above mine as well. 

 

Welcome again.  Post questions around your case right here.  Thanks for getting your signature done.  I would just HOLD at your current dose of 5 mg. escitalopram right now, while giving us some more information so we can best help. 

 

Love, peace, healing, and growth,

manymoretodays(mmt)

Thank you..I won’t be taking cbd anymore..but now I feel like I need something more than the 5 mg of lexapro to help me function when in fact my goal was to get off of it.. I know I can’t function like this and it will get worse the next few months, what do I do now... I’m caught in this vicious cycle of side effects and dependency on this medicine and I don’t know if I will ever make it out of this

[LotusRising]

33 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

I’m 42, just turned 43 and my docs say it’s early for menopause or peri menopause

 

This is absolutely not true. Perimenopause can start for some women, in their mid-30's. I'm 46 and started experiencing symptoms of perimenopause at the age of 40. This is another area where unfortunately, a general doctor will fall short in their knowledge. However, psych drugs do a number on our endocrine systems, so this could be a contributing factor to at least some of your symptoms. I'm sorry, I know the additional stress of not knowing what's happening with your health can be alarming. Please have a look through this link, it might help: 

 

Going forward, you may want to track your symptoms in a journal to see if there is any kind of pattern. 

 

33 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

I was ok on 10 mg and then ok on 5 mg for around a year following which it got worse.. I felt like I need to increase my dose to 10 again but didn’t want to because of the side effects so I started cbd but here I am again with the same side effects..

 

As mentioned, we don't recommend tapering by more than 10% of your current dose each month, so it's possible that your nervous system hasn't had enough time to adapt to the changes you've made recently. Q: So, you were on 10mg in June, and then dropped to 7.5mg in July. How did you feel after you reduced in July? What dates did you reduce in June, July and September?

 

Please don't feel like you won't make it out of this. You absolutely will. Have a look through these links when you have a chance.

 

 

 

Edited November 3, 2023 by LotusRising

[SunAndSnow]

On 11/3/2023 at 1:59 PM, LotusRising said:

 

This is absolutely not true. Perimenopause can start for some women, in their mid-30's. I'm 46 and started experiencing symptoms of perimenopause at the age of 40. This is another area where unfortunately, a general doctor will fall short in their knowledge. However, psych drugs do a number on our endocrine systems, so this could be a contributing factor to at least some of your symptoms. I'm sorry, I know the additional stress of not knowing what's happening with your health can be alarming. Please have a look through this link, it might help: 

 

Going forward, you may want to track your symptoms in a journal to see if there is any kind of pattern. 

 

 

As mentioned, we don't recommend tapering by more than 10% of your current dose each month, so it's possible that your nervous system hasn't had enough time to adapt to the changes you've made recently. Q: So, you were on 10mg in June, and then dropped to 7.5mg in July. How did you feel after you reduced in July? What dates did you reduce in June, July and September?

 

Please don't feel like you won't make it out of this. You absolutely will. Have a look through these links when you have a chance.

 

I

 

 

On 11/3/2023 at 1:59 PM, LotusRising said:

 

I looked up my diary and found the dates, I’m sorry I didn’t mention it earlier, I updated my signature too and added the dates..

may 25th 2021 I reduced to 10 mg, july 27 reduced to 7.5 mg, sept 2 reduced to 5 mg. 
after each reduction I had anxiety and palpitations for 10 days after reduction after which I was ok

 

after that I was ok for a year on 5 mg after which I did an intense fasting in November of 2022. After that day I was suddenly experiencing anxiety symptoms again, like fear, waking up with a racing heart, disturbed sleep etc. so I started using cbd gummies which were helping until now but now the side effects are getting too much so I stopped the gummies.. 

 

In 2020 September before I started lexapro I was also given mirtazapine and lorazepam to try but none of them worked for me so I stopped in less than a week and then was put on lexapro.. thank you for your support and positivity.. I’ve been so anxious the past few days I’ve been walking on eggshells.. I might have to increase my dose again, I don’t know..? I have an appointment with my psychiatrist on Thursday, I was hoping I would be able to stop lexapro this year and get my life back but looks like I’m going the opposite way.. I have a feeling if not for the cbd gummies, I would probably have to up my dose last year itself.. I don’t know if it’s anxiety and depression which is making my body need medicine or withdrawal from the high dose 

 

 

 

[SunAndSnow]

I’m definitely planning on therapy this time for health anxiety and hoping it helps. I tried therapy in the past for other issues but it didn’t really help me, the therapist was cold and indifferent and totally put me off the idea of therapy but I’m determined to try again this time with a different person.. 

 

my sore breasts and night sweats have gone for now and I’m dreading these side effects being back if I’ve to go back to 10 mg 

 

if I do have to dose up, how long would I have to wait until I can start tapering again to stop? 

[LotusRising]

 

Thanks so much for updating that info in your signature.

 

2 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

after which I did an intense fasting in November of 2022. After that day I was suddenly experiencing anxiety symptoms again, like fear, waking up with a racing heart, disturbed sleep etc.

 

Ok, that's interesting. Fasting can force our body to run on emergency hormones (cortisol), which can actually mess up our other reproductive hormones. It can be a pretty big stress on the body, especially if it's already stressed. Do you fast often, or was that kind of a one-time thing? Imbalanced blood sugar can be a pretty big trigger for anxiety since it increases cortisol. If you're able, you might try eating consistently throughout the day, if you're not already.

 

2 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

I tried therapy in the past for other issues but it didn’t really help me, the therapist was cold and indifferent and totally put me off the idea of therapy but I’m determined to try again this time with a different person.

 

Definitely shop around. I've had terrible therapists, but also really good ones. You may not be able to find one that completely understands the withdrawal process, but finding someone to help with health anxiety and other things shouldn't be too hard to find. 

 

2 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

if I do have to dose up, how long would I have to wait until I can start tapering again to stop? 

 

If you have to updose, you might just try going up to 7.5mg, rather than 10mg to see how you do. Do you recall how you felt in July when you were on 7.5mg? Also, I would give yourself a good month to stabilize on that dose before tapering again, but also listen to what your body is saying. You might find that you need to hold longer than that. Or, ideally, you'll start feeling better on the 5mg, but only you can decide that.

[SunAndSnow]

I’ve tried fasting a couple times, but end up feeling weak and tired instead of seeing any benefits. it’s isn’t something I’m doing regularly or even will be doing at all in the future. I’m eating well now at regular intervals and weigh 107 lbs, my height is 5’1..  

 

I spoke to my pcp today who gave me a prescription for 7.5 mg, so I’ll watch for a few days and see if I need to updose to 7.5 like you say.. will pursue therapy on the side as well..

 

I hope to be back here in the near future and follow a plan for quitting lexapro.. hopefully early 2024.. my fingers are crossed.. this forum is truly inspirational and i want to thank you for all the support and replies to my questions.. is there anything at all I can do right now to help me prepare for the taper.. or just wait and come back after a month or two

[getofflex]

Hello, what withdrawal symptoms are you having right now?  

 

Why do you want to increase your Lexapro from 5 mg to 7.5 mg?  

 

 

[LotusRising]

@SunAndSnow

 

Finding a therapist sounds like a good idea.

 

I would work at practicing your coping skills as well, so you're better prepared to handle anxiety, or other symptoms that might pop up. Keep in mind that updosing may not be the answer you're looking for. When you're ready to taper, please remember that we recommend reducing by no more than 10% each month of your most recent dose. This is meant to minimize WD symptoms.

 

Not sure if I already sent you this link:

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

[getofflex]

Hello @SunAndSnow.  It is important that you answer our questions and work with us, before you jump up to 7.5 mg Lexapro.  

 

Q: What do you mean by 5 mg is not working?  Please explain further.  What are the symptoms of "not working"?  

 

Q: When do you take your drugs?  What time o'clock?  

 

Q: When are the symptoms worse?  Are they worse after you take the drugs, before you take them, morning, evening, etc?  

 

Have you skipped or missed any doses?  Have you taken the drugs off-schedule?  Have you had any alcohol?  Have you had extra stressors, been extra active physically, travelled, taken any other mood altering stuff, had any sudden weather changes, or anything else?  

 

I could also be that the time change has affected you (going off daylight savings).  

[getofflex]

Also important to note: fasting will cause low blood glucose levels, and this causes an increase in cortisol, which will aggravate symptoms as well.  I suggest you stop fasting.  I'm glad you are eating well now.  This could be the source of your recent symptoms.  

[SunAndSnow]

1 hour ago, getofflex said:

Hello @SunAndSnow.  It is important that you answer our questions and work with us, before you jump up to 7.5 mg Lexapro.  

 

Q: What do you mean by 5 mg is not working?  Please explain further.  What are the symptoms of "not working"?  

 

Q: When do you take your drugs?  What time o'clock?  

 

Q: When are the symptoms worse?  Are they worse after you take the drugs, before you take them, morning, evening, etc?  

 

Have you skipped or missed any doses?  Have you taken the drugs off-schedule?  Have you had any alcohol?  Have you had extra stressors, been extra active physically, travelled, taken any other mood altering stuff, had any sudden weather changes, or anything else?  

 

I could also be that the time change has affected you (going off daylight savings).  

Hi getofflex 

When I went down from 20 mg to 5 mg two years ago, I felt fine and felt no symptoms of anxiety or depression (at the time I wasn’t aware of this site so I cut down doses too low but made sure to stick to doses for a month and feel good before the next cut) . When I got to 5 mg, I was hopeful I could start tapering and eventually quit. I felt fine for a year on 5 mg but was putting on weight because of lexapro so I tried fasting.( I wasn’t serious about stopping lexapro at that time because we had just moved to usa but it was in my mind,), so because of weight gain and to try and detox, i did a 24 hr fast after which I felt symptoms like anxiety during regular things like driving or going to an appointment, palpitations, waking up with a racing heart, hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach, sleep disturbances like feeling of waves (not sure how to explain this..like going in and out of sleep), low appetite. This went on for 3 months, and then I started feeling loss of interest in daily activities, crying spells, depressed feelings. At this point I was scared my depression was coming back so I started taking cbd gummies full spectrum 10 mg daily in addition to the 5 mg lexapro. It made me feel so much better and all my symptoms disappeared but everytime I stop the cbd my symptoms are back in around a months time. I can’t take the cbd anymore so I stopped it in September and now I’m experiencing all the above things again. 
 

I take 5 mg lexapro once a day in the morning after breakfast along with vitamin d

 

My symptoms seem worse in the morning and afternoon. I feel better and almost feel normal In the evenings after 4 pm and early at nights,, every evening I feel like I should stop my medication, but it gets worse again in the early mornings aroubd 3 or 4 am with the same symptoms I mentioned above and I wonder how I think of stopping.. 

I have never skipped or missed doses, no alcohol, no smoking, no drugs, I eat vegetarian diet and do daily yoga, walk and meditation. when my symptoms are bad I have to really push myself to do it.. but for now I’ve been able to manage.. I’ve had increased health anxiety in the past month with a few changes in my own health, still undergoing gynaecology exams and tests to figure out a few things (spotting, white discharge from 3 months, all tests like Pap smear, uti, yeast, urine culture have come back normal so need to go for ultrasound, also have mammogram due which I’ve been avoiding but going to get it done this week). A friend was diagnosed with breast cancer couple weeks back and the news made my anxiety worse.. I find myself googling my symptoms and the panic sets in..  other than this health anxiety everything else has been the same in my life with no changes.. 

 

I feel like if I don’t updose now, my symptoms are going to get worse and I’m scared I might need much more than 7.5 or 10 mg and all the dreaded side effects will be back..  

 

 

 

[SunAndSnow]

16 hours ago, LotusRising said:

@SunAndSnow

 

Finding a therapist sounds like a good idea.

 

I would work at practicing your coping skills as well, so you're better prepared to handle anxiety, or other symptoms that might pop up. Keep in mind that updosing may not be the answer you're looking for. When you're ready to taper, please remember that we recommend reducing by no more than 10% each month of your most recent dose. This is meant to minimize WD symptoms.

 

Not sure if I already sent you this link:

 

Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms

 

I don’t understand.. how do I get rid of the physical symptoms if I don’t updose.. even with no anxiety I’ve been having physical symptoms which don’t seem to go away unless I took the cbd.. i hope the therapy helps me but will it be able to get rid of all my symptoms that I mentioned above… if yes, should I wait some more before I go to 7.5 and give it a shot..? I really don’t want to increase unless I have to..I feel like crying just thinking about going back up with the doses because it feels like 10 steps back in my journey instead of progressing towards freedom from these medicines.. thank you for all your advice, I truly appreciate it…

[LotusRising]

As mentioned, it could be that you've disrupted your system with fasting, and although the cbd gummies seemed to help at the time, it may be that stopping them further destabilized your nervous system. 

 

Early morning waking is a very common symptom of WD, but could also be due to the excess stress you've been experiencing - it sounds like you've been under a lot more than usual. Since cortisol peaks in the morning, some of us experience a worsening of symptoms at this time, which slowly settle throughout the day. Stress can also make cortisol peak when we don't want it to, which might be why you're waking early with symptoms. Since the symptoms you're experiencing could also be attributed to hormonal imbalance, I would hate for you to try correcting them by upping your dose. Have you considered seeing a naturopath or holistic health care provider? While we don't recommend a lot of supplements, alternative therapists may be able to help you with things like diet and lifestyle - even simple practices like balancing blood sugar, eating enough calories and and seed cycling can help to regulate anxiety, hormones etc. Just something to think about . . .

 

47 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

I feel like if I don’t updose now, my symptoms are going to get worse and I’m scared I might need much more than 7.5 or 10 mg and all the dreaded side effects will be back..

 

I would try not to get stuck in this pattern of thinking. These are "what if" situations and there's no guarantee that this will happen. Have you ever tried CBT? I'm going to post a couple links here that might help you while you're waiting for a therapist. The book by Claire Weekes is really helpful for a lot of people.

 

I hope they help you 💖

[SunAndSnow]

1 hour ago, LotusRising said:

As mentioned, it could be that you've disrupted your system with fasting, and although the cbd gummies seemed to help at the time, it may be that stopping them further destabilized your nervous system. 

 

Early morning waking is a very common symptom of WD, but could also be due to the excess stress you've been experiencing - it sounds like you've been under a lot more than usual. Since cortisol peaks in the morning, some of us experience a worsening of symptoms at this time, which slowly settle throughout the day. Stress can also make cortisol peak when we don't want it to, which might be why you're waking early with symptoms. Since the symptoms you're experiencing could also be attributed to hormonal imbalance, I would hate for you to try correcting them by upping your dose. Have you considered seeing a naturopath or holistic health care provider? While we don't recommend a lot of supplements, alternative therapists may be able to help you with things like diet and lifestyle - even simple practices like balancing blood sugar, eating enough calories and and seed cycling can help to regulate anxiety, hormones etc. Just something to think about . . .

 

 

I would try not to get stuck in this pattern of thinking. These are "what if" situations and there's no guarantee that this will happen. Have you ever tried CBT? I'm going to post a couple links here that might help you while you're waiting for a therapist. The book by Claire Weekes is really helpful for a lot of people.

 

I hope they help you 💖

Thank you. I will take a look at the book..I’ve been going through all the links you shared.. 

in the past I’ve tried Ayurveda and homeopathy for my anxiety depression symptoms but none of them helped. With homeopathy I found no change at all, it was like I wasn’t taking anything, and I kept getting worse until I gave up. Ayurvedic herbs always seem to give me gi issues. I’m one of those people who is sensitive to anything and everything.. I am unsure of what a naturopath does.. do they provide similar medicines like herbs or they help with lifestyle changes.. I eat healthy, am not overweight and blood sugar is normal in my blood work.. I haven’t done seed cycling and willing to try..  I looked up in my area and couldn’t find many naturopaths, at least none covered by my insurance but I will look deeper.. thank you for that suggestion

 

I have an appointment in December with a new psychiatric who is into holistic treatments.. do you think that would help.. he does therapy as well and looks promising.. should I see a different naturopath.. I’m confused because this is the first psychiatrist I will be seeing after coming to the US, so far I was only prescribed medicines by nurse practitioners in a big practice but no real psychiatrists or doctor..

 

[SunAndSnow]

I also want to mention that over the last few days as my anxiety symptoms have worsened, I’ve been feeling increasingly tired and breathless. I’m not able to exercise or do my regular chores as much as before without feeling fatigued. All my bloodwork, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol etc is normal. Ive seen similar shortness of breath  in the past during withdrawal and tried breathing exercises which I still do everyday but this feels more like fatigue than anything else.. 

[LotusRising]

39 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

I am unsure of what a naturopath does.

 

A naturopath will look at ALL aspects of your diet and lifestyle. Tests run by your doctor will confirm if your levels are in "normal" ranges, whereas a naturopath looks at "optimal". They can do more thorough testing of hormones, gut health etc. I can't speak to the insurance details in the US, but in Canada, a portion is often covered by employer, and/or extended health care insurance plans.

 

13 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

Ive seen similar shortness of breath  in the past during withdrawal and tried breathing exercises which I still do everyday but this feels more like fatigue than anything else..

 

Do you recall when in the past you felt this? I'm also curious to know how you felt after your reductions in May and then July, and before you made that reduction to 5mg in September?

 

45 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

I have an appointment in December with a new psychiatric who is into holistic treatments.. do you think that would help.. he does therapy as well and looks promising

 

This does sound promising. It's very rare to find a psychiatrist in Alberta that does anything other than prescribe medication, so I hope that isn't the case with this one. 

[Altostrata]

9 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

I also want to mention that over the last few days as my anxiety symptoms have worsened, I’ve been feeling increasingly tired and breathless. I’m not able to exercise or do my regular chores as much as before without feeling fatigued. All my bloodwork, blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol etc is normal. Ive seen similar shortness of breath  in the past during withdrawal and tried breathing exercises which I still do everyday but this feels more like fatigue than anything else.. 

 

Hello, when did this period of feeling poorly start? Where are you in your menstrual cycle?

 

12 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

I take 5 mg lexapro once a day in the morning after breakfast along with vitamin d

 

My symptoms seem worse in the morning and afternoon. I feel better and almost feel normal In the evenings after 4 pm and early at nights,, every evening I feel like I should stop my medication, but it gets worse again in the early mornings aroubd 3 or 4 am with the same symptoms I mentioned above and I wonder how I think of stopping.. 

 

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

 

What symptoms occur around 3 or 4 a.m.? How do you feel in the morning, before you take Lexapro? Do you feel better or worse after you take it? Which symptoms are worse in the morning? Do they happen at any particular time?

 

You start to feel better at about 4 p.m., then worse later at night? What are those nighttime symptoms like? How long do they last?

 

[SunAndSnow]

20 hours ago, LotusRising said:

 

A naturopath will look at ALL aspects of your diet and lifestyle. Tests run by your doctor will confirm if your levels are in "normal" ranges, whereas a naturopath looks at "optimal". They can do more thorough testing of hormones, gut health etc. I can't speak to the insurance details in the US, but in Canada, a portion is often covered by employer, and/or extended health care insurance plans.

 

 

Do you recall when in the past you felt this? I'm also curious to know how you felt after your reductions in May and then July, and before you made that reduction to 5mg in September?

 

 

This does sound promising. It's very rare to find a psychiatrist in Alberta that does anything other than prescribe medication, so I hope that isn't the case with this one. 

I’m looking into naturopaths in my area and found one close to me, I will call them today and see if I can get an appointment soon, I don’t know how much longer I can wait. Yesterday I felt very low and unmotivated in everything, I cleaned the house and did some jobs, next thing I know I was crying because my husband forgot to do something I asked him to, I went into an argument with him and started feeling desperate and helpless. I feel very fragile for lack of a better word, and crying for every little thing

you asked Do you recall when in the past you felt this? I'm also curious to know how you felt after your reductions in May and then July, and before you made that reduction to 5mg in September?

 

in the past I felt like this around 2 to 3 months after I stopped lexapro cold turkey at 5 mg in 2019 December (and previously 2018 June) , i was going through the worst withdrawals. I had whooshing sounds when I moved my eyes which I later found was Lexapro withdrawal, I thought I was going crazy because my doctor refused to believe it had anything to do with stopping the drug. I had panic attacks all day long, crying all day, was in bed all day, extremely suicidal, feelings of being a burden, extreme guilt, fear of the future, fear of what was happening to me, what would happen to my kids if I ended my life, zero appetite, was eating one meal a day, weight loss (in 5 months I lost 13 pounds and weighed in at 92 lbs), low blood pressure, feeling breathless and like I couldn’t catch a deep breath even if I tried deep breathing, at times I was just shaking  back and forth and hyperventilating and shivering. I felt like this for 8 months, and finally decided to start lexapro again in august 2020 after Covid hit and my dad passed away.. all my symptoms went away one by one in the next 4 months

 

after I made the reductions in May, July and then to 5 mg in September (please note these reductions were in 2021), this is what I wrote in my diary

May 9 2021 - reduced lexapro to 12.5 mg

May 30, 31 - feeling anxious, fearful, palpitations. June 8th - feeling increased anxiety. 
 

Then I started feeling well with no symptoms except side effects of lexapro

july 27 2021 - reduced to 7.5

Aug 11, 12, 13, 14 - increased anxiety, palpitations, hollow feeling in stomach in the mornings. Aug 29th period

Again feeling better after except for side effects

Sept 2- reduced to 5 

Nov 26, 27, 28, 29 anxious, small things make me skip a heartbeat, sleep disturbance in the morning like drifting in an out of sleep due to anxiety

 

Then better except for side effects..

 

at this point even though I was on 5 mg, I was still experiencing lot of side effects which I believe is from whatever lexapro was remaining in my system from the earlier high doses. Up until July 2022 when I started using evening primrose oil after which my sore breasts and night sweats were 90 percent gone. 
 

I then did small fasts in July, august, big fast 24 hrs in November. And the November fasting triggered me in some way that I was back to feeling like the anxiety and depression returned..

 

 

 

 

 

[LotusRising]

Hi @SunAndSnow,

 

1 hour ago, SunAndSnow said:

started feeling desperate and helpless. I feel very fragile for lack of a better word, and crying for every little thing

 

I understand and can empathize at least a little,  as I remember feeling this way too. It will certainly get better! It's just a lot of things all at once.  

 

54 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

I felt like this for 8 months, and finally decided to start lexapro again in august 2020 after Covid hit and my dad passed away.. all my symptoms went away one by one in the next 4 months

 

What dose did you reinstate in August? You said that all your symptoms went away in 4 months, but in your signature, you started experiencing severe side effects in October? What side effects?

 

57 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

Then I started feeling well with no symptoms except side effects of lexapro

 

And then again you mentioned starting to feel well again, except side effects from lexapro - what side effects were you getting?

 

When we take medication, the CNS responds by making changes over time and when the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all these changes. Going on and off medication can make the CNS hypersensitive. Please see Hypersensitivity and Kindling. Also, I think I mentioned that additional stressors like alcohol, or in your case CBD and fasting, could have destabilized your system, along with previous CT's and fast tapers. The nervous system likes stability. See Keep it simple, slow and stable.

 

12 hours ago, Altostrata said:

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

 

What symptoms occur around 3 or 4 a.m.? How do you feel in the morning, before you take Lexapro? Do you feel better or worse after you take it? Which symptoms are worse in the morning? Do they happen at any particular time?

 

You start to feel better at about 4 p.m., then worse later at night? What are those nighttime symptoms like? How long do they last?

 

It would help if you could answer these questions above as well. Hoping to understand what might be WD symptoms vs. drug effects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SunAndSnow]

8 minutes ago, LotusRising said:

Hi @SunAndSnow,

 

 

I understand and can empathize at least a little,  as I remember feeling this way too. It will certainly get better! It's just a lot of things all at once.  

 

 

What dose did you reinstate in August? You said that all your symptoms went away in 4 months, but in your signature, you started experiencing severe side effects in October? What side effects?

 

 

And then again you mentioned starting to feel well again, except side effects from lexapro - what side effects were you getting?

 

When we take medication, the CNS responds by making changes over time and when the medication is discontinued, the CNS has to undo all these changes. Going on and off medication can make the CNS hypersensitive. Please see Hypersensitivity and Kindling. Also, I think I mentioned that additional stressors like alcohol, or in your case CBD and fasting, could have destabilized your system, along with previous CT's and fast tapers. The nervous system likes stability. See Keep it simple, slow and stable.

 

 

It would help if you could answer these questions above as well. Hoping to understand what might be WD symptoms vs. drug effects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In august 2020 I started at 5 mg lexapro, then went up.. I’m sorry for my confusing language.. ☺️ by symptoms I meant the anxiety and depression or withdrawal symptoms ( I don’t know what it was) that I mentioned, those disappeared. But as the drug started building in my system I started getting side effects which are very sore and heavy breasts, a pricking feeling in the nipples on any stimulation for eg if I turn the tap on to wash the dishes and the water is cold, my nipples would hurt.. (I’m sorry for this if it tmi but I want to explain all I experienced)and night sweats. These side effects would be worse before my period. I never had any of these when I wasn’t on lexapro and barely had any pms symptoms, my periods were always regular with or without lexapro. I asked my doctors who refused to believe it had anything to do with lexapro but after stopping and starting this drug multiple times, I am hundred percent convinced that it is the lexapro giving me these side effects but I don’t know how. The severity of these side effects is always proportional to how much of it is in my system. Now I’m on 5 and it is almost negligible though still there slightly. On 20, 15, 10 and so on it was the worst. And when I was going down on doses, it kept declining slowly.. I used evening primrose oil 1500 mg and it helped but I have white discharge everyday now from past 3 months and I wasn’t sure if I should continue the primrose oil since I read that it increases cervical mucus, so I stopped. 

[SunAndSnow]

12 hours ago, Altostrata said:

 

Hello, when did this period of feeling poorly start? Where are you in your menstrual cycle?

 

 

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

 

What symptoms occur around 3 or 4 a.m.? How do you feel in the morning, before you take Lexapro? Do you feel better or worse after you take it? Which symptoms are worse in the morning? Do they happen at any particular time?

 

You start to feel better at about 4 p.m., then worse later at night? What are those nighttime symptoms like? How long do they last?

 

I’ve been feeling increased anxiety since September when I had to figure out what was causing the white discharge, had multiple doctor visits, tests, Pap smear, all this increased my health anxiety. And at that time I also stopped cbd. That’s when I started feeling like my anxiety is back. It’s getting worse each month, especially after my period I feel very much low and anxious. Right now I am probably 10 days  away from my next period. I find the breathlessness is not constant but when I climb up stairs or slightly overdo exercise or when I get panic attacks. In the past when I was in severe withdrawal after stopping cold turkey the breathless feeling was constant. I feel like I’m experiencing the same thing but milder. I’ve had ecg done in the past but they were normal.

 

I take 5 mg lexapro at around 11 am, I have my breakfast around 10.30 am. 
at 3 or 4 am some days I am good, but some days I wake up and can’t go back to sleep. Some days I have palpitations, and anxiety attacks in and nightmares often these days. I get up at 6 and I’m good once I’m out of bed, I send the kids to school and get back in bed around 8 am , sometimes I try going to sleep for an hour again but lately haven’t been able to because I feel like when I’m drifting off to sleep I get awakened by what I can describe like a slight jolt of anxiety..this happens multiple times sometimes lasting an hour till I am able to catch 30 mins or so of sleep, or I just get up and go.. I’m sorry I’m having a hard time explaining properly but hope you understand what I’m trying to say..

 

I don’t feel any better or worse immediate after I take lexapro but I know it works when I had or have depression.. around 11.30 or 12 am I find myself restless, I think around 2 hrs after breakfast is what I notice.. if I don’t have much to do or think about, I have less symptoms but the day I have to book an appointment or go somewhere or be someplace I find myself anxious and restless, which always ends up in tiredness and crying spells later in the day..

so I can’t pinpoint particular times of the day but it is more throughout the day at this point.. 

I feel like everyday is different these days, 2 days ago I had a good day all day though I still felt like I had to be careful. A day ago I had a bad morning but better evening, yesterday I was low all day but managed to do my jobs until I crashed in the evening and night with frustration and crying spells. I went to sleep around 11 am and slept well till 4 am, then found myself overthinking my health, tried to distract my mind with some online videos, went back to sleep at 5 and got up at 6. Around 8 I tried sleeping again but couldn’t due to the same drifting in and out feeling I mentioned above

[SunAndSnow]

Yesterday was a slightly better day for me, the support from this forum is encouraging me to not be afraid of ups and downs in my medication.  it gives me hope this is temporary and someday I will be able to quit. My eldest was home yesterday from college and seeing him after months made me cheerful.

im still very panicky, anxious, obsessive thoughts about my health (I have a mammogram and pelvic scan today, my anxiety is through the roof as I constantly think they will find something, but I slept well from 11 pm to 7 am. Woke up at 4 to use the bathroom and found intrusive thoughts but was able to go back to sleep.. 

 

a couple things I forgot to add in my last post was along with all my side effects I mention, I also have this pain in both my hips, it is always on,y at night when I’m sleeping. If I sleep on one side, it pains so much I have to roll over to the other side, and then other side starts paining. I don’t know if it is muscle pain but it feels like pain in the joint or bone, it is always when I’m on lexapro so I know it is a side effect, when I’m sleeping at night and I never have it in the daytime when I’m up or doing anything except sleeping.. 

 

 

[LotusRising]

Hi @SunAndSnow

 

23 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

I feel like everyday is different these days, 2 days ago I had a good day all day though I still felt like I had to be careful. A day ago I had a bad morning but better evening,

 

23 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

I find the breathlessness is not constant but when I climb up stairs or slightly overdo exercise or when I get panic attacks. In the past when I was in severe withdrawal after stopping cold turkey the breathless feeling was constant. I feel like I’m experiencing the same thing but milder.

 

It certainly sounds like you're experiencing windows and waves, which as I mentioned may have been triggered by the fasting and CBD gummies, though of course I don't know this for sure. I personally have had the deep bone-type pain in both hips, as well as other areas. For me, it was a withdrawal symptom, though for you it could certainly be an adverse effect.

 

23 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

very sore and heavy breasts, a pricking feeling in the nipples on any stimulation for eg if I turn the tap on to wash the dishes and the water is cold, my nipples would hurt.. (I’m sorry for this if it tmi but I want to explain all I experienced)and night sweats.

 

No worries, not TMI. I've had these sensations too, anytime I get a sudden shock, or surprise. It sounds to me like the drug is activating your nervous system. This drug really does not sound like it's right for you.

 

4 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

l very panicky, anxious, obsessive thoughts about my health (I have a mammogram and pelvic scan today, my anxiety is thr

 

This is a normal response to a life stressor. It's okay to feel this way, plus this response can be exacerbated by an already hypersensitive nervous system. But please do continue to work on the breathing and the health anxiety. I know this is easier said than done because I still experience it from time to time myself, but it really will help, and hopefully the outcome of the tests will be reassuring.

 

[getofflex]

5 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

Yesterday was a slightly better day for me, the support from this forum is encouraging me to not be afraid of ups and downs in my medication.  it gives me hope this is temporary and someday I will be able to quit. My eldest was home yesterday from college and seeing him after months made me cheerful.

I'm very glad to hear this.  Yes, this is temporary, provided you don't jump around on your drug doses, and are very cautious and prudent when you do resume your taper.  You will be able to quit someday!  I quit Lexapro, even though it took me a long time.  

 

5 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

My eldest was home yesterday from college and seeing him after months made me cheerful.

Nice!  I'm cheerful too, when my youngest is home from college.  🙂

 

5 hours ago, SunAndSnow said:

im still very panicky, anxious, obsessive thoughts about my health (I have a mammogram and pelvic scan today, my anxiety is through the roof as I constantly think they will find something,

There are lots of non drug techniques for managing anxiety.  It's great that you got some good sleep!  That is a very good sign that your system is stabilizing.  

 

video: Claire Weekes: Managing Anxiety

 

 

video: Claire Weekes on Anxiety and Panic

 

Emotional Spirals

 

Acknowledge Accept Float

 

Music to Calm Anxiety

 

Breathing Technique for Anxiety

 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help ...

 

15 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Female voice - getselfhelp.co.uk

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Male voice - getselfhelp.co.uk

 

Meditation

 

[SunAndSnow]

3 hours ago, LotusRising said:

Hi @SunAndSnow

 

 

 

It certainly sounds like you're experiencing windows and waves, which as I mentioned may have been triggered by the fasting and CBD gummies, though of course I don't know this for sure. I personally have had the deep bone-type pain in both hips, as well as other areas. For me, it was a withdrawal symptom, though for you it could certainly be an adverse effect.

 

 

No worries, not TMI. I've had these sensations too, anytime I get a sudden shock, or surprise. It sounds to me like the drug is activating your nervous system. This drug really does not sound like it's right for you.

 

 

This is a normal response to a life stressor. It's okay to feel this way, plus this response can be exacerbated by an already hypersensitive nervous system. But please do continue to work on the breathing and the health anxiety. I know this is easier said than done because I still experience it from time to time myself, but it really will help, and hopefully the outcome of the tests will be reassuring.

 

I can’t believe you described the pain exactly how I experience it but I couldn’t put it in words.. deep bone type pain in hips is right.. hundred percent what I experience.. I’m waiting for my appointment with my new holistic psych doctor next month and hope he can help me in managing these side effects.. I made it home from the mammogram and pelvic scan tests in one piece lol.. now is the part where I have to wait a week and hope everything is normal.. I’m trying not to think of it too much and go on with my household chores.. I’m still uncertain whether I should updose to 7.5 though.. 

[SunAndSnow]

2 hours ago, getofflex said:

I'm very glad to hear this.  Yes, this is temporary, provided you don't jump around on your drug doses, and are very cautious and prudent when you do resume your taper.  You will be able to quit someday!  I quit Lexapro, even though it took me a long time.  

 

Nice!  I'm cheerful too, when my youngest is home from college.  🙂

 

There are lots of non drug techniques for managing anxiety.  It's great that you got some good sleep!  That is a very good sign that your system is stabilizing.  

 

video: Claire Weekes: Managing Anxiety

 

 

video: Claire Weekes on Anxiety and Panic

 

Emotional Spirals

 

Acknowledge Accept Float

 

Music to Calm Anxiety

 

Breathing Technique for Anxiety

 

Anxiety Stuff - all kinds of stuff about anxiety attacks and things that help ...

 

15 hours ago, ChessieCat said:

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Female voice - getselfhelp.co.uk

 

Audio:  First Aid for Panic (4 minutes) Male voice - getselfhelp.co.uk

 

Meditation

 

Thank you for your support and encouragement. Success stories like yours are truly inspiring.. I hope I can do what you did someday 🙂

I have family around me until Monday so hopefully I’ll be less anxious and not overthinking. It’s weekdays I’m alone that are hard.. I’ll go through the links to see if there is a technique which will help me.. thank you 

[getofflex]

17 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

still uncertain whether I should updose to 7.5 though

Please explain your rationale for why you think it would help you to updose to 7.5 mg.   
 

You’ve explained  about what you think are side effects to the drug. So to updose would be likely to increase your problems not decrease them.   
 

It’s very common for people to think that if they just find the exact right dose of their psych med, it will take away the problems. But I’ve seen many many people do that and it’s ended up making most of them worse not better.   The key is to learn to live with some discomfort and some nondrug coping skills. And then to hold on your dose for a while until you stabilize.  At least that is what I would do.  

[LotusRising]

35 minutes ago, SunAndSnow said:

I’m still uncertain whether I should updose to 7.5 though.. 

 

Given the adverse effects that you've experienced from taking the drug at higher doses, and since you appear to be on a path toward stabilization, if it were me, I would be inclined to stay where I was at. This is of course your decision, but it seems to me you were doing well at 5mg, prior to the fasting and CBD? There is no reason why you wouldn't get there again.

[SunAndSnow]

19 hours ago, getofflex said:

Please explain your rationale for why you think it would help you to updose to 7.5 mg.   
 

You’ve explained  about what you think are side effects to the drug. So to updose would be likely to increase your problems not decrease them.   
 

It’s very common for people to think that if they just find the exact right dose of their psych med, it will take away the problems. But I’ve seen many many people do that and it’s ended up making most of them worse not better.   The key is to learn to live with some discomfort and some nondrug coping skills. And then to hold on your dose for a while until you stabilize.  At least that is what I would do.  

I thought I’d probably feel better than I’m feeling now in terms of anxiety, crying spells, feeling low etc if I increase slightly and then I’ll be in a better position to come back down to 5, and this time I’ll do it without fasting.. I also did think the same thing you mention about the right dose, maybe 7.5 would be just enough to help me without the nasty side effects since 10 was giving me side effects.. I’m not happy to go up after 2 years on 5 but thought maybe it would be right considering 

1. it will help me through this phase of my gynaecolgy tests, scans and health issues of white discharge etc  where my anxiety is at a higher lever than it has been in the last 2 years

2. I will be in a better position to come down to 5, this time being more careful not to fast or take cbd
 

However with that being said, I do understand now that these health issues and scans, tests, mammograms, whatever health problems I’m having are a part of life and going up on psych meds will not be my answer nor will it help my goal of quitting antidepressants one day, as much as therapy will.. thank you for helping me see that.. 

 

another big part of why I was thinking of going up is pressure from doctors and my spouse. My pcp told me 5 was too low a dose for adults and looks like I need more, this was when I went for an appointment for my Pap smear and we were nowhere on the topic of psych meds at all  she probably thought I was extra anxious.. my husband means well but thinks I need more because I’ve been up and down a lot lately compared to what he saw when I was on a higher dose, more calm, not worried etc..  this pressure from everyone to increase meds gets to me because I fear I’ll wait too long and go into extreme withdrawal, and this time it will be worse on my family..because the last 2 times it happened, I was in my home country with my parents around, extended family, help at home and though I was bedridden for close to 6 months due to withdrawal, we were able to pull through with help from them. This time it’s just me, my husband and kids here so I feel the added burden of keeping myself well for them.. 

 

I had another day of feeling good yesterday, morning was tense as I went through my scans and tests, and I was worrying about what might come in my results,  obsessive thoughts about the worst, by noon I tried to talk myself into accepting what comes one step at a time.. took some time but I had a good rest of the day. decorated my house with lights for the festive season, made some good food, watched tv and had a good dinner. Had another good nights sleep which I’m happy about.., woke up anxious but once I was out of bed, I’ve been feeling good so far.. 

[SunAndSnow]

19 hours ago, LotusRising said:

 

Given the adverse effects that you've experienced from taking the drug at higher doses, and since you appear to be on a path toward stabilization, if it were me, I would be inclined to stay where I was at. This is of course your decision, but it seems to me you were doing well at 5mg, prior to the fasting and CBD? There is no reason why you wouldn't get there again.

Yes I was.. thank you for giving me hope.. 

is it possible in anyway that I was ok on 5 mg only because the previous higher doses( until I got to 5) was still somehow in my system for the next one year.. I hope not.. I wish I hadn’t fasted but that’s over and done now so no use mulling over it.. 

I have been feeling good the last 2 days barring the anxiety during and immediately after the tests, but I’m functioning, eating, sleeping, taking care of my family’s needs and not crying or depressed.. so I’m very very hopeful I will continue to stabilize on 5 in spite of the mistakes I made with cbd and fast