LostInSpace: Help with Lexapro withdrawal :(

[LostInSpace]

I tried it, didn't work.  I don't have tension in the neck, it's kind of a tension (or energy?) that moves around my whole head.  It started where the brain zaps originally started.  It throbs sometimes too.  It moves around my forehead, sinuses, gums, teeth, roof of my mouth, down my throat, ears, everywhere.  There's nothing that has alleviated it so far. 

[LostInSpace]

I really do appreciate that though!

[gemini]

Sometimes all you can do is hang on and wait, let time heal you

[gemini]

Believe me, I know it's torture, but you can endure it. I had to ease into my pains and parctice radical acceptance of my situation.

[LostInSpace]

.

[LostInSpace]

I work from home, so there's very little brain stimulation.  I'm trapped with my warped psyche all day.  I know it's getting better, but I'm getting REALLY impatient.  This thing that moves around my head, I call it "the nothing"... like from the Neverending Story.  You can't see it, but it wreaks havoc.    

[gemini]

I understand.

[ang]

Hang in there,   at 9 months out, I found I was so much better...........   9 months ago, couldnt dress, shower, go out of the house..........   I am working now, luckily an easy job!.

 

Little things improve, and then you just realise something else has just settled/improved.    I was clamping and grinding my teeth, now I wake up with a relaxed jaw............    it just takes so damn long, patience is needed!

 

reinstating didnt work for me.......(except for the seroquol, as a sedative)............. only now am I so grateful for the advice on this site, if I had jumped back on a big dose of a drug that no longer worked, I dont think I would have survived.

[LostInSpace]

Thanks Ang! Yah, it made me feel like crap, even this morning. I will ride it out. I really appreciate the feedback!

[LostInSpace]

Has anyone tried essential oils of any kind?

[LostInSpace]

Hello

 

It's been 9 months since I stopped taking Lexapro.  The SSRI discontinuation syndrome is still quite bad, but definitely better.  Since all of this, my system has become extremely sensitive to any substance I put in my body.  Also I have adverse reactions to medicines.  Does anyone else have this problem?  For example, if I take a serving of creatine, I will be in bed all day (or 2) with bad depression, it's debilitating.  I took glucosamine for joint pain, had to stop it due to anxiety and borderline psychosis.  I tried Kava Kava and it made the depression quite bad for a couple days.  I can't share this story with too many people, they have no clue or tell me it's not happening.

 

I may need a cortisone shot for herniated discs, but... if I have a bad reaction to that, I just can't stop it.  It will be in my back for months.  At least that's the way I understand it.

 

Does anyone else have this issue or experience with this topic?

 

Thanks

 

Aaron 

[Horns85]

Hey Aaron,

 

I am suffering from Lexapro WD as well. I 'tapered' over 4-5 months using liquid Lexapro. Just dropped 1mg every couple of weeks. Had no real side effects until I was off. Even then I didn't get hit real bad until 8 months off when derealization hit me while driving! Sometimes I think because I somewhat tapered, my symptoms were delayed. Anyway, I tell you this because I feel you pain and I am also sensitive to meds and supplements.

 

A very low dose a magnesium is all I can handle. Even Advil makes me feel sick now! In sorry you are experiencing this too.

 

I see you tried reinstatement and it didn't really work? I have been considering as well...

[LostInSpace]

Hello

 

It will get better on its own, but the time it will take depends on every person.  I'm extremely sensitive to everything, it's crazy.  It's like my psyche is being warped to the point of snapping when I take anything... even ibuprofen.

 

Reinstating, I tried just 1mg of liquid Lexapro.  It "shook" me... couldn't deal with it.  F'd me up for a few days. 

 

RIIIDE it out!!  There's a reason you stopped in the first place, don't go back on unless you're at the end of your rope.

[Horns85]

Yes sir it will!

 

You hang in there, Aaron.

 

I took Advil for the first time at about 7 months and I got so nauseous and irritable. Took me about an hour to figure it out because is F'ing Advil. Anyway, crazy what these drugs can do.

[Petunia]

Hi Aaron,

I joined the new topic you started here with your original intro/update thread, its one per member. You can use this thread as your ongoing journal to track progress, write about symptoms, ask questions and communicate with the community, add to it whenever you want.

 

Increased sensitivity to various substances is quite common in withdrawal, see:

 

Chemical Sensitivity - Symptoms and self-care - Surviving ...

 

Food sensitivities - Surviving Antidepressants

 

The rule of 3KIS: Keep it simple. Keep it slow. Keep it stable.

 

 

[LostInSpace]

Okay, thank you.

[DavidStone]

Fellow Lexapro WD'er here. Like you I work from home which is a big help. Hang in there even when it feels like no progress is being made your brain is slowly healing. What makes it difficult in part I think is that our perspectives on everything is also affected by the WD. It's difficult to know sometimes what to do and not do. That's why this forum is so great. Others here are further down the road to recovery and can offer encouragement and practical advice when we need it most.

[LostInSpace]

Hi David

 

The sensitivity to medicine is horrendous.  I tried glucosamine for 3 days... that was almost 2 weeks ago, I'm still a little messed up from it.  These setbacks in the midst of the WD is really hard to deal with.  Makes me want to go off on a bender... painful.

[LostInSpace]

Has anyone had any luck with therapists that might specialize in this SSRI withdrawal?  

[Horns85]

Hello

 

It will get better on its own, but the time it will take depends on every person. I'm extremely sensitive to everything, it's crazy. It's like my psyche is being warped to the point of snapping when I take anything... even ibuprofen.

 

Reinstating, I tried just 1mg of liquid Lexapro. It "shook" me... couldn't deal with it. F'd me up for a few days.

 

RIIIDE it out!! There's a reason you stopped in the first place, don't go back on unless you're at the end of your rope.

Hey Lost, when you say reinstating shook you? What do you mean?

[LostInSpace]

It sent a shock through my mind and body.  Even at 1 mg, I experienced very unpleasant side effects.  I knew it could take time for the reinstating to work, but I didn't think it was supposed to make things worse.  It felt all wrong so I stopped right away.  It took several days to get back to my normal withdrawal condition.    

[Horns85]

It sent a shock through my mind and body.  Even at 1 mg, I experienced very unpleasant side effects.  I knew it could take time for the reinstating to work, but I didn't think it was supposed to make things worse.  It felt all wrong so I stopped right away.  It took several days to get back to my normal withdrawal condition.    

 

Thanks, Lost. I am going to give it a shot and see how it goes.

[LostInSpace]

Did you try reinstating?  

[LexAnger]

Just finished reading your entire thread, lost.

Sign, after two years body and soul breaking experience tapering lexapro, I feel speechless to our fellow lex victims.

 

Just to confirm experience from you all, I can't take anything except for fish oil, pain killer is the number one trigger, Mg gives me muscle spams, one pill of vitamin D almost made my head explod, PPI is one of the original trouble maker (increase lex efficacy up to 50%), , I have to tough out all other health conditions, such as cold, heart burn, tooth work, all types of crazy head pain 20/7.

 

Going to gym is also my only rescue. I use trade mail, sauna, swim everyday which is so far the only thing helped. I am actually desperate to go to gym to feel some relieve. Swimming is in particular always helps with relaxation and pain. My face usually looks kind of normal after gym for the day ( also align with the daily pattern feeling better in evenin).

 

I never stopped the drug, but increased dose couple of times with bad reaction.

[LostInSpace]

Pain Killer, really?  I thought that would calm it down.

[LexAnger]

Oh, I read somewhere it is one of the meds interact with ssir.

Even without any research assurance, my own experience tells it has been the sole cause of my roller coaster. 3 times during my relative steady taper, every time I got a cold to take a few pain killer, I would have an absolute intolerable tension headache which the only way to stop is to increase lexapro which will throw me off the path causing the bad reaction and super sensitivity of my system. I was not doing bad at all before such incidence.

 

My guess is, after what ever the situation (CT, dose change etc) that made our CNS in chaos, anything new can be a trigger to the already panic system.

[LexAnger]

Also, re. Therapist, I feel it a complete waste. It works for natural psyc issues but not the artificial ones like induced by meds. I tried couple even before I started tapering, the talks are way too common sense for a person who already went through long term self struggle and adjustment of ones understanding and acceptance. It's almost annoying hearing others to talk the baby things you learned the hard way.

[LostInSpace]

I have degenerative arthritis in my back.  I see the ortho tomorrow.  I won't be able to take the corticosteroid if he wants to give it to me.  Also I pulled my neck while sleeping about a month ago, it still hurts.  

 

Every 2 weeks, I have to be in the office.  So here I am, hunched over slack jawed in my chair... the weather is getting dark... my back is hurting, my neck is hurting, the tinnitus is severe in both ears, a solid 9-10.  I'm especially whacked out today... people are looking at me like WTF is this dude's problem.  I don't know how my boss hasn't fired me.  In past months, not too long ago, he would ask me questions and I would just make idiotic giggling sounds while squirming in my chair hoping it would end soon.  He would eventually release me back to my cell (office).  I don't know what he could possibly been thinking... I'm very luck to have him as my boss.  He must think I have Aspergers combined with psychosis.  It's so hard, i want to dies sometimes.  I put my fingers in my mouth pretending to blow my brains out thinking the pain would be all over.    

[tgirl]

Lost,

It will get better! Hang in!

Tgirl

[LexAnger]

I'm in the exact same situation, lost.

I am allowed to work from home half of the time and the severe physical pain and brain nonfunctional most of the morning disabled me for any work as I have to spend the entire morning walking, stretching, massage before I feel a bit better able to go out for work. I don't know how long this will work for me to keep the job. I am desparaly holding and hoping for some stabilization so I can do better for the job.

 

Are you able to show up in office for everyday at least?

[LostInSpace]

Hi Lex

 

No, I wouldn't want to show up in the office everyday.  I don't look right at all.  I have kind of an intense look to me and my anxiety is really bad.  Walking from the car to the front door is a tough task.  

[LexAnger]

I completely understand.

I hope you can hold on and keep your job until you feel better for it

 

Use sick/ vacation days to buffer a bit.

[DaddyCee]

Hi All.

 

I'm 2 years out and can say that it does get better. Those windows do get wider. I'm not 100% yet but feel closer to 90% than I did at the beginning of this year.  We all heal in time and unfortunately that is what we have to wait for.  My main advice is to AAF when those horrible feelings arise and pay no attention to the thoughts they are just that 'thoughts'.

 

I found reading Paul David books and listening to Claire Weekes very beneficial.  I also practice mindful meditation daily.

 

Another bit of advice is to try not to get too worked up, stress for me is a major trigger for my anxiety and unfortunately my job is pretty stressful, but I am coming to terms with this and slowly feel as though I am adapting to it.  Plenty of me time at the weekends to de-stress as well, though the weekends seem to be shorter and shorter these days. lol.

 

Namaste.

[LostInSpace]

Thanks Big Daddy.

[AliG]

A.A F.  ?   What is that ?

 

Just catching up on a bit of your thread.    It sounds like you're doing ok. 

[brassmonkey]

AliG-- Acknowledge, Accept, Float.  A concept stolen from Clair Weekes.  It is a process for handling situations that you have no control over.  Acknowledging the situation/symptom, getting to know it on a personal level.  Accepting that the situation/symptom is there, its real and there is nothing you can do about it. Letting the Situation/symptom Float off as you get on with your life as best as you can.  It's sort of like dealing with an unwanted house guest.  At first you get to know them and make them comfortable.  Then you realize they are not making any effort to leave and there is nothing you can do, but ignore them as best as you can until they go away.