Stanoly: Introduction

[stanoly]

I asked for and started taking 10 mg Lexapro for social anxiety mid 2015.

I don't think it's making much difference so decided to get off it.

 

I thought it would take a few weeks on half dosage but this site has corrected that impression.

 

i particularly like the parabolic graphs that show the need to take extra care at very low dosages.

[ChessieCat]

Hi Stanoly and welcome to SA,

 

Thank you for creating your signature.  Did you ever try dropping by 50%?  If yes, please add that to your signature.  Or did you find the information about 10% tapering before that?  If yes, great!!!

 

Is Lexapro the only drug you are taking?  So that we can offer suggestions based on your own situation please include all prescription, non-prescription drugs and supplements you are currently taking.  Thank you.

 

You might find these interesting and helpful.  I know I have:

 

Brain Remodelling

 

Video:  Healing From Antidepressants - Patterns of Recovery

 

I will also give you some other links just in case you haven't yet seen them:

 

Why taper by 10% of my dosage?

 

Dr Joseph Glenmullen's Withdrawal Symptoms

 

Windows and Waves Pattern of Stabilization

 

The only 2 supplements that SA recommends are Omega-3 Fish Oil and Magnesium.  Try each one separately and only try a small amount to start with.

 

There are a lot of existing topics and discussions on this site.  To search the site I use google and type in survivingantidepressants.org + topic.

 

It's good to get Non-drug techniques to cope under your belt:

1. Acceptance
2. Acceptance and Mindfulness
3. Acupuncture - Posts #6 & #8 (not detox or stimulation)
4. Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System
5. "Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms
6. Change cognitive framing - Redirect - Another Way
7. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression
8. Cognitive Behavior Therapy lessons
9. Guided Meditations, Calming Videos, Sleep Hypnosis
10. Yoga for calming (very simple poses can help greatly)

This is your Intro/Update topic where you can ask questions and journal your progress.  Click "Follow" top right and you will be notified when someone responds.

[stanoly]

Thanks CC

I googled before making any changes to my dosage, today was day one of my taper.

 

I use paracetamol and ibuprofen for aches and pains weekly.

 

900mg of aspirin at the onset of a migraine, I used to have an attack a year but it's increased to almost weekly, relationship stress I think, I read today that lexapro is specifically given to prevent migraine, that was a bit of a shock, it clearly isn't working for me

 

I have used meloxicam a nsaid for wrist pain, my wrist improved after a month so I stopped as the dr requested.

 

Great site and support, thanks.

[stanoly]

Plus I take 10 mg of a statin to lower cholesterol

[mammaP]

Hi Stanoly, welcome from me too, I am pleased to see that you googled and found your way here before starting your taper. CC has given you some valuable info that will help  you have a successful taper. 

 

Please be careful taking aspirin and ibuprofen, as both tend to thin the blood and could cause bleeding if taken together,  

 

If you go to drugs.com and put yor drugs into the interactions checker it will tell you of interactions. 

 

https://www.drugs.com/drug_interactions.html

[Petunia]

Hi Stanoly,

I was taking Lexapro too, but came off it much too fast, so now I get to 'enjoy' protracted withdrawal, so I'm glad you found this site before starting your taper. You will avoid lots of suffering.

 

Something I wanted to mention was that my migraines increased when I was on anti-depressants, as did a lot of other common little physical issues which I experienced occasionally.

 

Antidepressants seem to be prescribed for almost everything these days from normal emotions, to unexplained pain and menopause, but more often than not, they don't help and in fact cause a lot of the symptoms they are given for.

 

I wanted to share my little migraine remedy. At the first sign of a migraine I would take 2 aspirin, 2 panadol and a strong cup of coffee. They seemed to work synergistically to stop the migraine in its tracks. Maybe one aspirin and one panadol with the coffee would have worked too, but that's what I used to do. I rarely get migraines now that I'm off the lex. But for some people, migraines can also be a withdrawal symptom as well as being a side effect.

 

Our nervous system and brain chemistry can really get messed up by taking psychiatric drugs, its like tinkering with our operating system without knowing what we are doing.

 

Social anxiety is fairly common, could actually be considered normal in certain circumstances. Or culture tends to put unrealistic expectations on us, to measure up to impossible standards in all areas of life. Some people are just not as naturally social as others. Its not an illness to be different. There are much healthier ways to manage difficult aspects of life, maybe CBT and/or lifestyle changes.

 

I'm also wondering if your relationship stress started soon after you started taking Lexapro. These drugs have a way of changing personalities, slowly at first so you don't really notice. They numb emotions, cause apathy, can make you lose your passion and feelings of love. They have been the ruin of many good relationships. Just something which occurred to me as I was reading your post.

[stanoly]

Just updating with thoughts so far.

 

I'm tapering a little faster than 10% per month.

 

I'm hoping I'll be ok as:

I'm older, so my brain was fully formed

I don't have a long history of using and only used the one type of psych drug

 

I'm not suffering any symptoms from the 'glen mullen' list beyond mild,

only a few of those and nothing I didn't have before starting using

I've started using DailyO to track mood and hopefully it's flexible enough to track symptoms

 

I wouldn't say I was under any pressure but there is an expectation from my support that I could just quit in a few weeks If I wanted to.

I won't do that as I expect it to get harder from now 

 

I just cut the pills with a knife which isn't very accurate

planning to reduce to 1/2, 1/4 1/8 and flakes of a 10mg tablet added in combinations

in mg  5, 3.75, 2.5, 1.9, 1.25, 0.6, 0.3 ??

may stick to a month as the decreases are larger than suggested

[Gridley]

I recommend the Gemini 20 scale, available on Amazon, for more accurate measurement, especially when you get down to the low doses.

[stanoly]

Ordered.

[stanoly]

Off lexapro for a few days now. Going OK.  Last drop was from 1mg!

 

I'm ramping up my meditation, going to a 10 day retreat soon and determined to maintain afterwards.

 

Done in 6 months, Hooray!!

 

 

 

 

[Madeleine]

Congratulations!  Good to hear the taper went well.  

Sounds like you are in the know and are going to take it easy over the next few months, which is great.  It's important to be mindful of how you feel in the months ahead -- as some people get delayed withdrawal, even a few months down the line.  You weren't on too long, just two years, so most likely you will be fine.  

Unfortunately, when I got delayed withdrawal, I panicked.   My symptoms were not too bad, but I did not realize what was happening.  Panicking was a huge mistake -- as I ended up reinstating on a huge dose and had to start tapering all over again :-(   So, it's good that you are going to a retreat.   Watch for any symptoms and make sure to take it easy and relax over the few months.  And, I look forward to reading about your experiences in the Success Stories section of this Forum.

With very best wishes! 

M.