oceanside659 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 I am new to this site but having problems finding posts related to a Lexapro reaction. Any input or advice would be really appreciated. I took Lexapro 10mg's for 8 days and it was pure hell. I ended up in the ER for what appeared to be serotonin syndrome. I went days without sleeping and was in an extremely agitated state. My skin burned and I have angry outbursts for no reason. I have since discontinued taking the Lexapro but I am having a really hard time. It is extremely hard to sleep and my short term memory is totally shot. I have always done well in school / college but now I really struggle. I just have no motivation and even the most mundane things seem insurmountable. My life is totally falling apart. I love my family but they don't understand and I'm so tired of hurting them. I guess I am looking for some hope. I am so scared that this could be permanent. I have found posts online where someone is still hurting years after stopping the Lexapro. Has anyone experienced anything like this? There are a lot of posts about withdrawing from Lexapro but has anyone experienced anything like this? Also, I have never been a heavy drinker but now my drinking is becoming a problem as I struggle to get through this. Please help. Thank you. Link to comment
LoveandLight Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 No, no this is not permanent..lots of people have gone through this and healed, it will be ok in the end. Someone with more experience will be along to advice. 2000 - sertraline for job anxiety low confidence (17 years old) ..which turned the next 16 years into nightmare! On/off sertraline severe withdrawals every time. 2014 - felt better as reduced dose of sertraline no more inner restlessness. Doctor rushed off again. Hit severe withdrawal. Lost the little I had in life. Couldn't get stable again on 12.5mg. Was switched to prozac. Had severe reaction to prozac..came off in November 2015 at 6mg as felt more confused and damaged on it..Even more withdrawal ..rage, depression, dyphoria, near constant suicidal ideation, self harm impulses, doom, concrete block in head, unable to do much of anything with this feeling in head..went back on 6mg of sertraline to see if would alleviate anything. It didn't..reduced from December to June 2016 came off at 2.5mg sertraline as was hospitalised for the severe rage, suicidal impulses, and put on 50mg lofepramine which in 2nd week reduced all symptoms but gave insomnia which still have..psych stopped lofepramine cold turkey..no increased withdrawal symptoms new symptoms from lofepramine except persistant insomnia which has as side effect. Taking Ativan for 8 months for the severe rage self harm impulses 1-3 times a week (mostly 2 times a week) at .5mg. Two months (I'm unsure exactly when the interdose started to happen) ago interdose withdrawal seemed to happen..2 days I think after the Ativan. Nightmare that could have been avoided! Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus dalsaan Posted October 15, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 15, 2015 Love and light is right, you will heal. The best thing you can do is find ways to soothe your nervous system, minimise stressors And find non drug ways to manage your emotions. We have lots of suggestions for this in the symptoms forum. Don't take supplements, even vitamins can trip off a highly sensitised nervous system You'll be ok Dalsaan Please note - I am not a medical practitioner and I do not give medical advice. I offer an opinion based on my own experiences, reading and discussion with others.On Effexor for 2 months at the start of 2005. Had extreme insomnia as an adverse reaction. Changed to mirtazapine. Have been trying to get off since mid 2008 with numerous failures including CTs and slow (but not slow enough tapers)Have slow tapered at 10 per cent or less for years. I have liquid mirtazapine made at a compounding chemist. Was on 1.6 ml as at 19 March 2014. Dropped to 1.5 ml 7 June 2014. Dropped to 1.4 in about September. Dropped to 1.3 on 20 December 2014. Dropped to 1.2 in mid Jan 2015. Dropped to 1 ml in late Feb 2015. I think my old medication had run out of puff so I tried 1ml when I got the new stuff and it seems to be going ok. Sleep has been good over the last week (as of 13/3/15). Dropped to 1/2 ml 14/11/15 Fatigue still there as are memory and cognition problems. Sleep is patchy but liveable compared to what it has been in the past. DRUG FREE - as at 1st May 2017 >My intro post is here - http://survivingantidepressants.org/index.php?/topic/2250-dalsaan Link to comment
KT38 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Hi oceanside659! You sound like me, but you LUCKILY stopped after 8 days. I did one week on Zoloft and then 5 weeks later did 2 months on other SSRIs/SNRIs (yeah, Lexapro is no picnic!). WHATEVER YOU DO DO NOT GO BACK ON ANY SSRIs! You probably cannot take them and don't let any sneaky Dr tell you you can. You will recover much faster. It all depends on each individual body. I just finished 6 months off and still very much struggling. But I definitely think you dodged a bullet my friend. Seriously, everyday I kick myself for going back on this stuff. Dec 2014 I tried Zoloft 25mg for one week (adverse reaction - extreme anxiety and felt like I was on an amphetamine). Dr. said to quit cold turkey, so I not only quit Zoloft but also 2 weeks of Xanax .25mg -- extreme dizziness, hyperarousal and anxiety began! On Jan. 29, 2015 my psychiatrist put me on new stuff and this is how my next 2 months and 7 days looked like (I was having the same bad reactions to all of these):Effexor XR 37.5mg (3 days) - throwing up, heart palpations, night tremors/convulsions or something where whole body shakes for a second, Prozac 10mg (15 days), Prozac 20mg (7 days) - internal restlessness, electric current through body/brain (not zaps), agitation, intense fear and could no longer nap at this point (still can't today because of this), Lexapro 5mg (4 days) - same as Prozac, a horror show...extreme internal agitation, Lexapro 7.5mg (2 days), Lexapro 10mg (16 days), Zoloft 12.5mg (3 days)...she said try it again since my blood relative does well on it, Zoloft 25mg (7 days) - same as before and getting worse!! Zoloft 50mg (6 days), Zoloft 25mg (4 days and then came off cold turkey on April 8, 2015). I used Xanax .25mg about 7 times per month through all of this until June 30, 2015 (my last benzo dose). Extreme anxiety, nervous system traumatized, mental akathisia, anger triggered by nothing but the brain totally going off on its own, feeling of a pressurized electric current going through me like my brain and body are trying to explode, stress reaction x10000 to everything, waking in terror lasting all day, fear, very sensitive, brain can't keep up, don't know what to do with myself, feeling like everything is going too fast and I can't keep up, helium head, deep depression like something is ripping out my soul, out of my mind, can hardly drive or be alone, cognitive issues, simple tasks are so complex and straining, feel disturbed because the brain can't process anything right even though your brain tries so hard and it makes you go mad, episodes of deep anguish with a sick toxic poison feeling (like you have some unknown virus). Link to comment
oceanside659 Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 Have you noticed any improvement over the last 6 months? I feel like Im just existing rather than actually living life. Link to comment
KT38 Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 I was launched into H3ll the week I got off. Not going to lie. Thought I was going to get better like the psych said "2 weeks and you will be fine"...then got worse......had some windows for some hours and some days after month 3.....got worse going into month 7 and here I am. I started getting anger around month 5....like rage....I still have it, which is why I can't really go in public. It's like an evil force in me because I'm suffering so much. But I doubt you will be this bad. I tried med after med for 2 months so I had plenty of time to wreck me. Dec 2014 I tried Zoloft 25mg for one week (adverse reaction - extreme anxiety and felt like I was on an amphetamine). Dr. said to quit cold turkey, so I not only quit Zoloft but also 2 weeks of Xanax .25mg -- extreme dizziness, hyperarousal and anxiety began! On Jan. 29, 2015 my psychiatrist put me on new stuff and this is how my next 2 months and 7 days looked like (I was having the same bad reactions to all of these):Effexor XR 37.5mg (3 days) - throwing up, heart palpations, night tremors/convulsions or something where whole body shakes for a second, Prozac 10mg (15 days), Prozac 20mg (7 days) - internal restlessness, electric current through body/brain (not zaps), agitation, intense fear and could no longer nap at this point (still can't today because of this), Lexapro 5mg (4 days) - same as Prozac, a horror show...extreme internal agitation, Lexapro 7.5mg (2 days), Lexapro 10mg (16 days), Zoloft 12.5mg (3 days)...she said try it again since my blood relative does well on it, Zoloft 25mg (7 days) - same as before and getting worse!! Zoloft 50mg (6 days), Zoloft 25mg (4 days and then came off cold turkey on April 8, 2015). I used Xanax .25mg about 7 times per month through all of this until June 30, 2015 (my last benzo dose). Extreme anxiety, nervous system traumatized, mental akathisia, anger triggered by nothing but the brain totally going off on its own, feeling of a pressurized electric current going through me like my brain and body are trying to explode, stress reaction x10000 to everything, waking in terror lasting all day, fear, very sensitive, brain can't keep up, don't know what to do with myself, feeling like everything is going too fast and I can't keep up, helium head, deep depression like something is ripping out my soul, out of my mind, can hardly drive or be alone, cognitive issues, simple tasks are so complex and straining, feel disturbed because the brain can't process anything right even though your brain tries so hard and it makes you go mad, episodes of deep anguish with a sick toxic poison feeling (like you have some unknown virus). Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus Petunia Posted October 16, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 16, 2015 Welcome Oceanside, I'm sorry you had an adverse reaction to Lexapro, it does happen, some people are sensitive to serotonergics and should never take them, but the good thing is you only took them for 8 days, you will recover. When did you last take it? Have you taken any other medications since? It would be great if you would put your drug and withdrawal history in your signature. Doing this helps people understand your context, it appears below each of your posts. Here are instructions for how to do it: http://survivinganti...your-signature/ Avoid alcohol, along with other neuroactive substances and this will help with recovery. A good diet and healthy lifestyle will also help. You may find some ideas for improving sleep here: Important topics about symptoms, including sleep problems I'm not a doctor. My comments are not medical advise. These are my opinions based on my own experience and what I've learned. Please discuss your situation with a medical practitioner who has knowledge of tapering and withdrawal...if you are lucky enough to find one. My Introduction Thread Full Drug and Withdrawal History Brief Summary Several SSRIs for 13 years starting 1997 (for mild to moderate partly situational anxiety) Xanax PRN ~ Various other drugs over the years for side effects 2 month 'taper' off Lexapro 2010 Short acute withdrawal, followed by 2 -3 months of improvement then delayed protracted withdrawal DX ADHD followed by several years of stimulants and other drugs trying to manage increasing symptoms Failed reinstatement of Lexapro and trial of Prozac (became suicidal) May 2013 Found SA, learned about withdrawal, stopped taking drugs...healing begins. Protracted withdrawal, with a very sensitized nervous system, slowly recovering as time passes Supplements which have helped: Vitamin C, Magnesium, Taurine Bad reactions: Many supplements but mostly fish oil and Vitamin D June 2016 - Started daily juicing, mostly vegetables and lots of greens. Aug 2016 - Oct 2016 Best window ever, felt almost completely recovered Oct 2016 -Symptoms returned - bad days and less bad days. April 2018 - No windows, but significant improvement, it feels like permanent full recovery is close. VIDEO: Where did the chemical imbalance theory come from? VIDEO: How are psychiatric diagnoses made? VIDEO: Why do psychiatric drugs have withdrawal syndromes? VIDEO: Can psychiatric drugs cause long-lasting negative effects? VIDEO: Dr. Claire Weekes Link to comment
Moderator Emeritus JanCarol Posted October 16, 2015 Moderator Emeritus Share Posted October 16, 2015 Hey Oceanside, it's horrible to hear that this has happened to you. When you went to ER, did they give you more drugs? Did they recognize serotonin syndrome? Often, it happens that the doctors see a drug reaction as "symptoms of illness," instead of symptoms of the drug. Most people heal from these drugs, and that you were on it such a short time. If you want, go to Google and type in Surviving Antidepressants and Lexapro and find other people who have experienced this drug. Were you on anything else when you took the drug? There are a few things, like NSAIDs and valerian or St. John's Wort, which can make the drug stronger in your system. Not that we can do anything now, but it might make you more aware in future. Please, be patient with yourself. While you were only on the drugs 10 days, they have had time to change your neurotransmitters, and it may take some time to get them back to normal. Meanwhile, consider some Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms Welcome to SA! "Easy, easy - just go easy and you'll finish." - Hawaiian Kapuna Holding is hard work, holding is a blessing. Give your brain time to heal before you try again. My suggestions are not medical advice, you are in charge of your own medical choices. A lifetime of being prescribed antidepressants that caused problems (30 years in total). At age 35 flipped to "bipolar," but was not diagnosed for 5 years. Started my journey in Midwest United States. Crossed the Pacific for love and hope; currently living in Australia. CT Seroquel 25 mg some time in 2013. Tapered Reboxetine 4 mg Oct 2013 to Sept 2014 = GONE (3 years on Reboxetine). Tapered Lithium 900 to 475 MG (alternating with the SNRI) Jan 2014 - Nov 2014, tapered Lithium 475 mg Jan 2015 - Feb 2016 = GONE (10 years on Lithium). Many mistakes in dry cutting dosages were made. The tedious thread (my intro): JanCarol ☼ Reboxetine first, then Lithium The happy thread (my success story): JanCarol - Undiagnosed Off all bipolar drugs My own blog: https://shamanexplorations.com/shamans-blog/ I have been psych drug FREE since 1 Feb 2016! Link to comment
oceanside659 Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 Thank you for your responses. I took 10mg's for 8 days and then stopped so I didnt taper. I never had an alcohol problem prior to taking an SSRI. All of this has been so devastating. Its hard to read posts where people say these symptoms last for years. I would be very interated in hearing from someone who has recovered. Thnk you Link to comment
oceanside659 Posted October 16, 2015 Author Share Posted October 16, 2015 Does anyone know of anyone on this site who had such a severe reaction and has overcome it? I would be very grateful if I could message them. Thank you again- Link to comment
LoveandLight Posted October 16, 2015 Share Posted October 16, 2015 Antoniette x 2000 - sertraline for job anxiety low confidence (17 years old) ..which turned the next 16 years into nightmare! On/off sertraline severe withdrawals every time. 2014 - felt better as reduced dose of sertraline no more inner restlessness. Doctor rushed off again. Hit severe withdrawal. Lost the little I had in life. Couldn't get stable again on 12.5mg. Was switched to prozac. Had severe reaction to prozac..came off in November 2015 at 6mg as felt more confused and damaged on it..Even more withdrawal ..rage, depression, dyphoria, near constant suicidal ideation, self harm impulses, doom, concrete block in head, unable to do much of anything with this feeling in head..went back on 6mg of sertraline to see if would alleviate anything. It didn't..reduced from December to June 2016 came off at 2.5mg sertraline as was hospitalised for the severe rage, suicidal impulses, and put on 50mg lofepramine which in 2nd week reduced all symptoms but gave insomnia which still have..psych stopped lofepramine cold turkey..no increased withdrawal symptoms new symptoms from lofepramine except persistant insomnia which has as side effect. Taking Ativan for 8 months for the severe rage self harm impulses 1-3 times a week (mostly 2 times a week) at .5mg. Two months (I'm unsure exactly when the interdose started to happen) ago interdose withdrawal seemed to happen..2 days I think after the Ativan. Nightmare that could have been avoided! Link to comment
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