Buffynk: just started Lexapro. Should I stop?

[Buffynk]

Hi I'm totally new to any of this.  I have been suffering from anxiety and depression since October and just started Lexapro 5mg yesterday.  I'm feeling quite awful and after reading things on here I'm quite scared of staying on this stuff.  Not sure what sort of response I'm hoping for here but can I quit this stuff easily since I've only taken 2 doses.

[snostorm]

I'm in good company here when I say I wish I never started an SSRI. I was told it was effective, safe, and easy to stop.  All totally false.  If I could go back in time 15 years ago.....after taking 2 doses of Paxil...I would have flushed the rest of my prescription down the toilet ASAP.

 

Im a firm believer that I would have been better served addressing my issues in a more natural way with nutrition, supplementation and therapy. 

[dini84]

I'm in good company here when I say I wish I never started an SSRI. I was told it was effective, safe, and easy to stop.  All totally false.  If I could go back in time 15 years ago.....after taking 2 doses of Paxil...I would have flushed the rest of my prescription down the toilet ASAP.

 

Im a firm believer that I would have been better served addressing my issues in a more natural way with nutrition, supplementation and therapy. 

 

I second that!

 

I never had issues prior to going on Sertraline. No depression or anxiety or anything aside from typical, normal situational or anticipatory anxiety everyone feels from time to time during huge stressors or life events. These WD symptoms are utter hell. The most common ruminating thought I have is "I wish I would've stayed away from this stuff, if I could do it all over again I would've flushed this crud down the toilet and never taken even one pill."

[Buffynk]

I was really hoping this would be the answer to getting my life back but think I would be better served to not take them.  I feel a little hopeless.

[brassmonkey]

Hi Buffy-- welcome to SA.  You found us just in time. Having only taken 2 doses of the Lexapro there should be no problem with just stopping.  From members we have seen in the past, you will probably have a reaction for a few days.  Don't let it panic you, things will settle down.

 

The original problem that brought you to the drugs will still be there however.  We have a lot of resources for self help which will be very helpful for you regaining control without the drugs. Any self exploration and soothing takes time and practice to learn, but the techniques will last a lifetime.  Read around the site and ask questions.

 

Welcome. 

 

Brassmonkey

[ChessieCat]

Hi Buffy and welcome to SA.  It's really great that you have researched and found SA.

 

It is very important that you learn non drug ways of coping with anxiety.  Please check out the following list:

 

1. Acceptance
2. Acceptance and Mindfulness
3. Claire Weekes' Method of Recovering from a Sensitized Nervous System
4. "Change the channel" -- dealing with cognitive symptoms
5. Change cognitive framing - Redirect - Another Way
6. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) for anxiety, depression
7. Cognitive Behavior Therapy lessons
8. Guided Meditations, Calming Videos, Sleep Hypnosis
9. Journalling - Therapeutic Writing & Health Benefits
10. Light boxes for depression and sleep disorders
11. Magnesium
12. Non-drug techniques to cope with emotional symptoms
13. Non-drug techniques for dealing with physical pain
14. Non-drug treatments for restless legs
15. Yoga for calming (very simple poses can help greatly)

I've included the link for magnesium.  I have found it helpful for taking the edge off my anxiety.

 

Dr Claire Weekes was an Australian doctor who suffered from anxiety.  She learnt and taught was to help.

[rowinghippy]

Hi Buffy,

 

Just my two sense. Obviously we here are a bit biased, if it were. There are people who swear by these drugs.

 

I think the most unbiased answer I can give is this: these drugs are like russian roulette. I personally would have never started them for my anxiety, but I was desperate and uneducated at the time. 

 

I would personally stop. As others said, you may feel the effects for a week or so. But if you choose later on to come back to them, they will always be here. 

 

In the mean time, yoga, diet/exercise, acupuncture, massages, countless forms of therapy, literally countless other things exist to combat these issues in a less invasive way. There is a lot of good info here. Ask if you don't see what you're looking for.

 

 

Whatever you choose, best wishes.

[Aeroman]

For anxiety, Dr. Claire Weekes!!!!  Hope and Help With Your Nerves.  get the book off Amazon and listen to her mp3s ; just google her.

[Buffynk]

So I decided to stop the lexapro.  I had severe insomnia last night, nausea, hot flashes.  I got up this morning and feel so awful.  Like I got hit by a truck and im incredibly nauseated.  Hoping these feeling pass quickly.

[snostorm]

So I decided to stop the lexapro.  I had severe insomnia last night, nausea, hot flashes.  I got up this morning and feel so awful.  Like I got hit by a truck and im incredibly nauseated.  Hoping these feeling pass quickly.

 

these feelings you are feeling.  Let them be motivation and validation that you did the right thing.  If you took two pills this will be short lived. 

[Buffynk]

Im not sure if I belong in this forum since I'm not really withdrawing from anything but I keep reading people's stories and find it inspiring how everyone is surviving through the symptoms which seem similar to what I was going through before even trying lexapro.  Though I will say the 2 days I was on it set off a horrible episode and now I'm dealing with all of that right now.  I'm just wondering if I can get through my depression and anxiety without medication.  I know my psychiatrist will recommend trying something else.  My therapist is really good and I've been working with him since October but with no major improvements thus trying lexapro.  

[ChessieCat]

Hi Buffy,

 

" I have been suffering from anxiety and depression since October"

 

There are many and varied non drug ways of dealing with these.  I think it's a case of finding the right one for you.  Dr Claire Weekes was a doctor who suffered from anxiety and learnt and taught ways of coping with it.

 

I truly wish that I had received counselling and been taught non drug techniques for coping.  I am 59 and have been on ADs for 25 years.  That's an awfully long time to be "numbed".

 

Video:  Simple Truths About Psychiatry - Series of 10 by Dr Peter Breggin

 

I suggest you learn about the history of these drugs and then you will be able to make an informed decision.  Antidepressants can actually cause the issues which they are supposed to fix, and/or cause new issues.

 

Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect by Irving Kirsch (link to full article)

Excerpt:

How Did These Drugs Get Approved?
....
The FDA requires two adequately conducted clinical trials showing a significant difference between drug and placebo.  But there is a loophole:  there is no limit to the number of trials that can be conducted in search of these two significant trials.  Trials showing negative results simply do not count.  Furthermore, the clinical significance of the findings is not considered.  All that matters is that the results are statistically significant.
....
(NB:  emphasis in abstract and excerpt are mine)

 

Video:  Irving Kirsch:  Emperor's New Drugs:  Antidepressants and the Placebo Effect (1 hour 20 minutes)

 

 

Gwen Olsen was a pharmaceutical rep for 15 years

 

Video:  Ex-Big Pharma Rep:  We’re Trained To Misinform -The Drugs ARE Dangerous (6 minute video)

Interview:  Confessions of an Rx Drug Pusher (51 minutes Gwen Olsen - ex pharmaceutical representative)

[nz11]

 I'm just wondering if I can get through my depression and anxiety without medication.  I know my psychiatrist will recommend trying something else.   

Yes you can get through it without chemicals.

Please dont take anymore lexapro, please consider not seeing a psychiatrist (they are very dangerous) and please consider a different path to trying a different drug.

These drugs actually induce a depression and anxiety and it is galaxies worse than any natural form of it.

Did you know that most depressive episodes will run their course and terminate with virtually complete recovery without specific intervention. So why not be patient go for hugs not drugs.

Do i sound militant well i sure wish someone had have stepped into my life and told me this when i was only on my second dose.

These drugs are on the extreme right handside of the addictive continuum and it is very difficult to get off.