Alice1: Lexapro withdrawal

[Rosetta]

You will.  I have a little girl, too.  This has been such a nightmare.  
 

I hope this is just a short trip back to all that for you, and you will stabilize soon.

 

Rosetta

[Alice1]

@Rosetta

I wish you healing as well Rosetta.  Thank you for your support.  
 

Jeff 

[Fightinghard]

Hey Alice-  just stopping by to send send some support your way.  I’m with you in this Akathisia front.  Mine just got worse in the past month or so and I’m not sure why. I’m 11 months off.  Every day i get a new group of symptoms with some windows here and there.  I’m just curious if you’ve taken Melatonin during your journey?  I think it’s causing me some issues.  In tried reducing it right around when things got worse.  I jumped back up 2 days ago but I’m thinking i need to jump off all together with a slow taper.  
 

anyway, just curious and I’m hoping things are improving on your front. 

[Phoenixmama]

@Alice1 I'm here on the sidelines rooting for you , I also have a little girl ❤️

[mva96]

Hey @Alice1how are things going for you? Sending my support.

[Alice1]

@Fightinghard @Phoenixmama @mva96Thanks for checking up on me.  I’m hanging in there.  I’m almost 7 months out from my setback. I’m in a huge wave at the moment.  Still working full time and remaining as functional as possible.  I started feeling better 3 weeks ago and got careless and did some strenuous activity and that threw me into a severe wave. That’s happened 3 times now.   Start feeling decent, do strenuous stimulating activities and boom, in a terrible wave for a couple months.  I’ll update as soon as I get one.   Thanks 😊 

[Alice1]

@brassmonkey

Hey Tom , 

I wanted to ask your opinion on something.  You told me once that waves follow a trend of starting suddenly, building, peaking, and subsiding. Can a wave take a month or longer to build and peak ?  Also, can a waves intensity follow the cause intensity? Meaning, if I overdid things a little and got a wave, would the wave be worse if I overdid things a lot ?  
 

Once again I started seeing a few better days and did some overstimulating stuff.  Only this time I overdid it substantially and I am really paying for it.  No booze or substances, just plain overstimulating activities.  

It’s been 4 weeks since and it seems like it’s building still.  
 

@Altostrata

Hi Alto, 

Back when this setback started you told me that my CNS would settle as long as I “didn’t stir it up again”.  You were right. It was starting to settle.  Am I correct in assuming you meant ANYTHING that can stir it up, not just medications ?  Stuff like over exertion and all the stuff I can’t seem to not do ? 
 

Jeff 

[Altostrata]

1 hour ago, Alice1 said:

Hi Alto, 

Back when this setback started you told me that my CNS would settle as long as I “didn’t stir it up again”.  You were right. It was starting to settle.  Am I correct in assuming you meant ANYTHING that can stir it up, not just medications ?  Stuff like over exertion and all the stuff I can’t seem to not do ? 
 

Jeff 

 

If it's settling, you haven't over-exerted yet. Just be careful.

[Alice1]

@Altostrata

It was settling.  I over exerted myself tremendously and now I’m 10 times worse.  I guess I’m not careful enough.  

[Leo1983]

Alice,

 

Can i ask - You were on 20mg Lexapro for 2 year? Did a 6 week taper and you are still not better?

 

Hope your ok. 

[Yersinia]

On 3/12/2017 at 9:03 PM, DrugfreeProf said:

Keep reminding yourself, especially, that what you are going through is withdrawal, nothing more and nothing less. There is nothing "wrong" with you, and in the long run, you WILL get better, AND you'll have the advantage of being drug-free!

Thank you for writing this. Gives me hope.

[Alice1]

8 hours ago, Leo1983 said:

Can i ask - You were on 20mg Lexapro for 2 year? Did a 6 week taper and you are still not better?

Yes I was on Lex for 2 years and did a 6 week taper.  I did get better. About 80% better, but then I had a kidney stone and the pain meds and antibiotics set me back.  Then I was getting better from that and I went through a 6 week period of stress and high degree stimulation. Now I’m in an acute state again.  

[Alice1]

@brassmonkey

Hey Tom , 

I wanted to ask your opinion on something.  You told me once that waves follow a trend of starting suddenly, building, peaking, and subsiding. Can a wave take a month or longer to build and peak ?  Also, can a waves intensity follow the cause intensity? Meaning, if I overdid things a little and got a wave, would the wave be worse if I overdid things a lot ?  
 

Once again I started seeing a few better days and did some overstimulating stuff.  Only this time I overdid it substantially and I am really paying for it.  No booze or substances, just plain overstimulating activities.  

It’s been 4 weeks since and it seems like it’s building still.  

[brassmonkey]

I sorry to hear that you are having such an awful wave. If there is a nice thing about waves, it's that they do end.

 

Waves are so unpredictable it is funny. They can stay at a low level for a while and then disappear. They can crash down on you  and fade in a day or two. They can slowly build over weeks and then stop over night. And each one can be different.

 

What causes them is anyone's guess. We do know that drinking alcohol is an excellent way to trip them off, not the case for you though. Also suddenly doing intense activities if you are starting to feel good is a great way to trip them off. It is hard to admit that we are so damaged  but we really have to take it as easy as possible. I am all in favor of pushing the limits, but gently at first until one learns their limits.

 

Be kind to yourself, take it easy, but stretch the envelope.

[Altostrata]

Yes, any kind of over-exertion can stir up withdrawal syndrome.

 

Please be patient and protect your nervous system from big stimulus for a while. It wants to fix itself.

[Alice1]

@Altostrata @brassmonkey

Thank you. 

[Leo1983]

@Altostrata @brassmonkey

 

Thanks for the advice.

 

Can i just confirm is there a point you dont have to live keeping your system at bay?

 

I.e exercise and have a decent coffee again. Or not wake up in panic etc. 

[Alice1]

@brassmonkey

@Altostrata Hey Tom , Alto  

Real quick, I was sitting on my porch last night and my neighbor came over to chat.  He was drinking bourbon or scotch or something and I could smell it really strong for 10-15 minutes.  I’m in this really severe wave so every day is bad, but today seems extra bad.  Is it possible his alcohol breath affected my situation ?   The rational side of me says “No Way” , but the anxious side is wondering off the charts.  Thoughts?  

[brassmonkey]

You should be able to slowly increase you physical activity as you taper. Pay attention to how your body reacts and pace yourself accordingly.

 

I would avoid coffee and other stimulants until well after "0".

 

I doubt that your would be getting a "contact high" from your neighbor. It's possible that you could be sensitive to the smell but I don't think it would intensity a wave.

[Leo1983]

Tapering? 

[Alice1]

@brassmonkey

HeyTom ,

Its me Jeff. I CT’d Lexapro 5 years ago and was getting better, then I had the kidney stone treatments and was set back severely.  You deal with a lot of people so I totally understand the confusion.  
 

Yes, I agree that the smell of my neighbors drinking isn’t affected me, but I’ve been in a super severe wave for the last month and my withdrawal brain is wondering like mad.  

[brassmonkey]

Sorry about that Jeff, It's easy to get lost sometimes.

[Amira]

Hello @Alice1 if it is possible could you please describe how did it feel to be recovered from aka, dp, fear and emotion numbness and all weird wd symptoms?

[Alice1]

@Amira

Well, you kinda just start living life again with the symptoms and not notice them as much.  I still got spikes but I knew they were going to pass and they did.  The constant intensity goes down and you gain confidence substantially.  But be careful when that happens. There’s a separate community of people who got better and then we’re setback because of carelessness.  Just because you start feeling better doesn’t mean your CNS is capable of big stimulation yet.  

[Alice1]

@Altostrata

Hi Alto, 

I was wondering if you could share your opinion on something.  
 

8 Months ago I had an adverse reaction to antibiotics and pain medication due to a kidney stone.  I was in a severe acute state for about 5 months until things started to settle somewhat.  Once things started to settle I had an intense series of stressful and stimulating events take place.  Needless to say I have returned to that severe acute state again for the last 2.5 months.  
 

This return to severe acute due to stimulation is repeating the same way the medication reaction did. Meaning, they both have built and built over the course of 3 or so months.  
 

I guess my question is, can a medication reaction and a severe stimulation reaction produce the same severe acute like wave ?  
 

My primary symptoms are Akathisia and Panic/severe anxiety. I have all the others too but these three are the worst.  Over the last 11 weeks they have just increased in strength, but everyday is different so it’s hard to gauge. I’m not treating it with anything other than coping strategies.  My sleep is broken but it’s there.  
 

Im just puzzled because the reaction to the antibiotics and pain medication produced an incredible amount of discomfort for 4-5 months before showing signs of settling. Now this stimulation I had 11 weeks ago is producing the same discomfort. 

Does this make sense ?  
 

Hoping it settles like the last time. 
 

 

Jeff. 

[Alice1]

@brassmonkey

Hey Tom, 

I was wondering if I could get your opinion on something.  Just to refresh your memory on my case I CT’d Lexapro 5 years ago and recovered about 75-80%.  Then I had a kidney stone that sent me way way back into acute madness.  The antibiotics and pain medication made my Akathisia so so bad.  After about 5 months everything started to settle somewhat.  Then I had an intense series of stimulating and stressful events take place and I am right back to where I was after the kidney stone treatments.  
 

It seems like the kidney stone treatment wave and the stimulation wave are doing the same thing. Meaning, the severity is building and building over the first few months.  
Hopefully this time the stimulation wave settles like the kidney stone treatment wave did.  
 

In your opinion, can a severe stimulation wave be just as damaging to the CNS as a medication wave ?  
 

Jeff. 

[brassmonkey]

Any kind of "stimulation" can be very disruptive to the CNS while in ADWD. I don't think there is any real damage, but rather a setback in healing. The stimulation caused by a situational source should cause less of a setback, all be it just as intense as a medication caused setback, because it lacks the chemical component for the body to overcome. Working on grounding, acceptance and just trying to relax should speed things up, but it can take time, more time than we would like, for a shock to settle out.

 

I remember it taking the best part of a year to recover from my kidney stone. Granted I did have to delay treatment for four months, which was "Interesting". But still, after they went all "Star Wars" on it with lasers and ultrasound it was many months before I began to feel normal again. That was three years ago and I still get small reminders.

 

So if you throw some intense situational stimulation on top of a situation like that I can see it taking a long while for your body to calm back down.

[Alice1]

@brassmonkey

Thank you Tom. 
Im guessing I’ve started the recovery clock over again with the situational stimulation.  It sure feels that way.  Good news is all the situational stress and stimulation should be over with.  I hope I see some lessening or improvements soon.  Something for the ole psyche ya know ?   

Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions.   
 

Jeff 

[Alice1]

@brassmonkey

By the way.. What do you think is considered a long while ? LOL !!  Just for giggles ..

[Altostrata]

5 hours ago, Alice1 said:

I guess my question is, can a medication reaction and a severe stimulation reaction produce the same severe acute like wave ?  

 

Yes, a destabilized nervous system is a destabilized nervous system.

 

I'm sorry you're having these symptoms again. Are you able to tolerate magnesium?

 

https://survivingantidepressants.org/topic/15483-magnesium-natures-calcium-channel-blocker/

[Alice1]

@Altostrata I don't think I can tolerate Magnesium. I think I just have to let it settle down again.  I remember you telling me it would settle before, and you were right . Even if it takes months again . Maybe a dose of your special motherly reassurance if you don't mind .  

[brassmonkey]

I usually think in terms of two to six months. Some people get lucky and stability happens quicker while some can take two to three times as long. Most stability tends to fall in that range though.

[Altostrata]

@Alice1, you'll have to be patient and let your nervous system settle down again.

[mva96]

@Alice1how are you doing my friend?

[Alice1]

On 10/6/2021 at 9:04 PM, mva96 said:

how are you doing my friend?

Hey ,  I’m functioning, but very very acute still.  Hoping to break out of acute soon.  I get little pockets of improvement that last 2-5 minutes several times a day, but still very fried.  I’ll update as soon as I break through acute.  

[mva96]

Sorry to hear it man. You’re incredibly tough and really quite inspirational to me. I hope things start to improve soon.